Our Mission
The EQUUS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity established in 2002, is the only national animal welfare charity and accrediting body in the United States 100% dedicated to the dual mission of protecting America's horses from peril and strengthening the bond between people and horses. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.
Our Vision
• All horses will naturally transition from one chapter to the next without risk of abuse, neglect and slaughter;
• All horses involved in any role and in any capacity - as athletes, companions, laborers, teachers and healers - are safe, healthy and treated with dignity as partners.
The EQUUS Foundation was born from love of the equestrian sport and the critical need to provide care to horses after their sport careers are over. The EQUUS Foundation awarded its first grants in 2003 to seven equine charities based in Connecticut and the metropolitan New York area. Now, after 20 years, we support hundreds of equine charities nationwide.
While there has been significant progress in reducing the number of America's horses destined for slaughter, there are still over 20,000 shipped across our borders for slaughter each year and tens of thousands are still subjected to abuse and neglect. NO HORSE should be subjected to this inhumane fate. There are solutions within our reach for America's horses that need a lifeline.
The EQUUS Foundation is against horse slaughter and is against the sale or transport of equines or equine parts in interstate or foreign commerce for the purposes of human consumption, as well as the sale or transport of equines or equine parts in interstate or foreign commerce for the purposes of consumption by other animals.
That being said, the EQUUS Foundation does not engage in any activities that may be construed by the Internal Revenue Service as 'attempting to influence legislation'. According to the IRS, an organization is regarded as 'attempting to influence legislation, i.e. lobbying' if it contacts, or urges the public to contact, members or employees of a legislative body for the purpose of proposing, supporting, or opposing legislation, or if the organization advocates the adoption or rejection of legislation. Organizations classified as 501(c)(3) organizations run the risk of losing their tax-exempt status if the organization actively or regularly engages in these activities.
We believe that the best way to help these horses is to transition them into a new life, role and purpose by providing viable options to owners when their owners cannot, or no longer wish to, care for them before they end up in the slaughter pipeline and by increasing not only competitive and recreational programs involving horses, but also programs providing equine-assisted therapeutic services. Programs where people partner with horses to enhance their well-being offer limitless career opportunities for horses in transition.
