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The EQUUS Foundation is committed to putting an end to the abuse and neglect of America's horses by increasing opportunities for horses to flourish as athletes, companions, teachers and healers. We focus our efforts on empowering equine charities nationwide that provide protection, rehabilitation, retraining and re-homing of America's at-risk and transitioning horses and opportunities for horses to elevate the lives of people.

While the Guardian Seal is not an endorsement of the organization and not a guarantee that the organization will receive financial support from the EQUUS Foundation, only organizations designated as EQUUS Foundation Guardians are eligible to be considered for financial support from the EQUUS Foundation.

The EQUUS Foundation has one of the most comprehensive and impartial verification processes to inspire donor confidence in the charities selected to receive grants each year. Financial support is provided only to those organizations that are both fully transparent & accountable to the public. The Guardian information serves as the grant application. Submission of a separate grant application is not required.

The EQUUS Foundation awards financial support on the basis of the organization's equine welfare practices and the assurance that any activity that incorporates equine interactions and/or the equine environment, mounted or ground-based, including any Equine Assisted Services (EAS) and/or Community Outreach programs, must safeguard the comfort and dignity of America's horses and make the quality of life of our equine partners paramount. Review our guidelines here.

The amount of financial support from the EQUUS Foundation awarded annually depends on the amount of funds raised by the EQUUS Foundation over the course of the year and the evaluation by the EQUUS Foundation of the merits of the organization's equine welfare practices, the needs of the organization and the organization's operating budget.

For organizations that conduct Equine Assisted Services (EAS) programs, the organization must publicly attest that they operate in compliance with the EQUUS Foundation Guidelines for Organizations Conducting Equine Assisted Services (EAS), abide by and utilize the definitions contained in the document, EAS-Definitions-Guide-for-Researchers, and ensure that the interactions between their equines and people are mutually beneficial and conducted in accordance with the Guidelines for Human-Equine Interactions.

To ensure a future for America's horses, it is critical to identify and invest in the equine charities in the US operating at the highest standards of horse care with the most-effective programs that increase adoptions of horses in transition, provide safe haven to aged horses, and increase opportunities for more people to benefit from the magic and power of horses.