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EQUUS Foundation Designates 13 Horse Whisperer Grant Award Recipients for 2014

Michele E. Arnhold Memorial Horse Whisperer Grants

GallopNYC - Horses Help in the Big Apple!

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New Canaan Mounted Troop "Super Troopers"


Daniel D. Barkan Memorial Horse Whisperer Grants

Brook Hill Farm - Before (Above) and After (Below)

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ReRun - Trooper Before and After!


The Ann T. D'Addario Memorial Horse Whisperer Grant

High Hopes - Mounted and Unmounted - Just Being Around Horses Helps!


Rusty & Ashley Holzer Horse Whisperer Grants

Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center - Anthing's Possible!

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Days End Farm Horse Rescue - Success Stories!

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Thoroughbred Placement Resources - Wait No Longer!

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Touchstone Farm - The power of a horse's touch!


Richard L. Parish, Jr., Memorial Horse Whisperer Grants

Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding - Horse Show!

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Green Chimneys - Sam & Myra Ross created an innovative program of animal-assisted therapy for children with emotional and mental health issues.

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Life is good at Mitchell Farm


The Split Rock Farm Horse Whisperer Grant

Kentucky Equine Human Center - Adopting is Easy!



WESTPORT, CT - September 5, 2014 - Over $272,000 in grants were awarded to 79 equine charities by the EQUUS Foundation in 2014. Of these 79, 13 have been designated as Horse Whisperer recipients.

Horse Whisperers is the Foundation's named grant program for a special group of people and organizations with an extraordinary kinship with horses who wish to sustain the magical and powerful impact horses have on our lives.

Horse Whisperers annual and multi-year pledges of $5,000 or more are used for the award of grants to exceptional organizations devoted to the well-being of horses and fostering the use of equine assisted activities and therapies (EAAT). Horse Whisperer grants are named by the donors in honor of a family member, friend, associate, or in the memory of a loved one or a loved equine companion. Learn more about the Horse Whisperers here.

The EQUUS Foundation is proud to announce that the following organizations were designated as Horse Whisperer recipients this year:


Michele E. Arnhold Memorial Horse Whisperer Grants
Established in 2008 by the family of Michele E. Arnhold in memory of her pursuit of excellence and her commitment and contribution to the equestrian sport, the EQUUS Foundation awards $10,000 annually to worthy equine organizations in the name of Michele E. Arnhold. Two $5,000 grants are awarded.

Giving Alternative Learners Uplifting Opportunities, Inc. (GALLOPNYC)
Brooklyn, New York

GallopNYC's mission is to improve the lives of children and adults in New York City facing developmental, emotional, social, and physical challenges through the proven benefits of therapeutic horsemanship. The grant will be used to provide scholarships to low-income children with disabilities.

Data from the most recent Census indicates that 1 in 5 NYC residents is now living in poverty and that poverty among children under 18 has risen to 30 percent. GallopNYC offers the rare opportunity to expose the New York urban community to positive and profoundly effective interactions with horses.

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New Canaan Mounted Troop
New Canaan, Connecticut

Since its founding in 1939 as a chapter of the Junior Cavalry of America, the mission of the New Canaan Mounted Troop (NCMT) has been to build leadership, responsibility and confidence in youth through sound horsemanship.

In September 2012, NCMT embraced a new dimension aimed at optimizing the use of their facility by launching its Super Troopers program. Now a fully established program, the grant will be used to support the Super Troopers to provide therapeutic horsemanship to individuals from the local community with special physical, emotional and cognitive needs from varying socio-economic backgrounds.


Daniel D. Barkan Memorial Horse Whisperer Grants
Established in 2013 by the family of Daniel D. Barkan, a quiet philanthropist and gentleman, in memory of his life-long love of horses, the EQUUS Foundation awards $10,000 annually to worthy equine organizations in the name of Daniel D. Barkan. Two $5,000 grants are awarded.

Brook Hill Farm
Forest, Virginia

Brook Hill Farm provides rehabilitation and safe haven for unwanted horses, while maintaining a unique opportunity for personal growth and equine education for area youth and adults. With over 170,000 unwanted horses, lame horses fall through the cracks of the traditional rescue system as these rescues are full, acquiring their horses from seizures, starvation or neglect cases. Fully accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, Brook Hill specializes in healing lame horses and re-training lame horses for a new career.

Brook Hill also operates an equine assisted activities program which in turn helps more horses by giving these horses a job. One of their most innovative programs, United Neigh, matches unwanted horses with at-risk youth ages 12-18. As a United States Pony Club Center, United Neigh uses the Pony Club curriculum to teach basic horse care, horse rehabilitation, riding skills and personal accountability with the goal of decreasing the high school drop–out rate.

The National Education Association's Twelve Point Plan for Reducing the School Dropout Rate pinpoints "community-based, real-world learning experiences for students" and involvement in small after school groups as a key factor in increasing the rate of high school graduation. Brook Hill's unique program utilizes equine facilitated learning to provide just such an experience for at-risk youth in the Central Virginia area.

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ReRun
Virginia Beach, Virginia

ReRun pioneered the concept that when Thoroughbreds' racing days are over. Horses in almost all conditions are accepted into the program. ReRun records their tattoo and registration numbers, and voids the horses' Jockey Club registration papers (which come with all registered Thoroughbreds like a title comes with a car) preventing the horses from being able to race again.

ReRun also collects all medical information on the horses from the track vets. Once horses have been cleared by their vets for exercise, they are placed into a training program to teach them the basics of becoming riding horses. The retraining program is paramount for proper placement of the horses and adds value to their future owners.

ReRun has a stringent application screening process for potential adopters involving the completion of an Adoption Application, providing photos of their farm/boarding facility, professional references from their veterinarian and farrier, and personal character references. After the initial screening phase, the Adoption Coordinator interviews them extensively to determine the best-suited ReRun horse for them. If approved, the adopters complete the ReRun Adoption Contract, which requires a one-year commitment to the horse otherwise the horse is returned and prohibits them from selling, racing, breeding, or transferring the horse for the contract period. Adopters are required to provide bi-annual updates with photos and veterinary verifications on an ongoing basis.


The Ann T. D'Addario Memorial Horse Whisperer Grant

High Hopes Therapeutic Riding
Old Lyme, Connecticut

High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center provides equine assisted activities and therapies to children and adults with disabilities. For individuals who cannot typically participate in group sports – for either physical or emotional reasons – the horse allows them to have a recreational experience in which they simultaneously accomplish individual and group goals. Their interactions with horses foster independence, improve confidence, communication and problem-solving skills, and provide challenging individualized therapeutic and educational activities to a population with limited resources.

The grant will be used specifically for the scholarships to ensure that financial barriers do not preclude participation for individuals in need. High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center is a PATH Internal Premier Accredited Center operating its programs 46 weeks per year and serving 260 clients. The programs are healing activities conducted in a peaceful, rural setting that provides both a sense of ease and sensory stimulation that cannot be duplicated in a gym, clinic or other standard rehabilitation setting.


Rusty & Ashley Holzer Horse Whisperer Grants

Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center (CTRC)
Longmont, Colorado

The Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center (CTRC) not only do they changes the lives of people with disabilities through equine assisted activities, they also operate a sanctuary for their therapy horses that can no longer provide service. CTRC is a PATH International Premier Accredited Center, the highest level certification that can be achieved by an equine therapy facility. CTRC is also accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS).

The Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center is one of the largest therapeutic riding programs in the country, maintaining a herd of 26 to 30 therapy horses who serve more than 120 individuals with disabilities each week. CTRC established its Sanctuary in response to the dramatic increase both in Colorado and nationwide, in unwanted horses, making it more and more difficult to find adopted homes. From the time that horses join their herd, through the end of their lives, CTRC ensures that their horses receive optimum care.

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Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR)
Lison, Maryland

Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR) rescues, rehabilitates, trains and adopts horses. The number of abused/neglected horses continues to escalate in Maryland and across the U.S. All horses that come to DEFHR suffer from malnutrition, hoof disease/deformity, parasitic infestation, physical abuse and/or painful ailments.

Through Days End's many varied and successful programs, horses are given a second chance at life with caring humans, and people flourish and thrive as contributing members of a compassionate community. The bonds that are formed between horses and adopter/foster caregiver make the world a better place.

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Thoroughbred Placement Resources, Inc. (TPR)
Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Thoroughbred Placement Resources, Inc. (TPR) exists to improve the lives of Thoroughbred racehorses by finding the best homes possible for them upon retirement from racing. TPR successfully transitions and retrains racehorses for other disciplines and uses these techniques and philosophies to help others learn these skills. They strive to improve the reputation of the Thoroughbred by providing the correct information about this wonderful breed of horse.

TPR's philosophy is that racehorses need to get off the track as soon as possible upon retirement from racing. The longer a horse remains at the track once his racing days are over, the greater the risk that the horse will end up euthanized or in the slaughter pipeline.

TPR uses a network of local foster farms as safe-way stations while horses are being let down and re-trained. TPR foster farms undergo a thorough “vetting” process including interviews, reference checking and site visits. At these farms, horses can feel safe and secure among a small number of well-tended horses while they receive individual care. From these farms the horses are transported to TPR's facility at Leighton Farm, where they receive weekly training. By visiting these farms, prospective adopters can see the individual horse in a setting similar to their own barn or boarding facility.

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Touchstone Farm
Temple, New Hampshire

Touchstone Farm provides a variety of equine based educational programs for individuals of all ages and abilities. The grant is being used to support a week long residential reintegration camp in November, 2014 for active duty and recent veterans experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

One in five returning soldiers from Afghanistan and Iraq has been diagnosed with PTSD – almost 300,000 individuals. The impact is real, and a national issue. Active duty servicemen and women are committing suicide at the rate of 1 per day, eclipsing deaths in combat. Veterans are committing suicide at the rate of 22 per day, or once every 65 minutes. Veterans account for 20% of US suicides.

The week long camp will host 8-12 servicemen or women, providing multi-faceted therapy support including Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy, talk therapy (individual and group), yoga, mindfulness, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (“EMDR”). The clinical team, all holding the appropriate national certifications and licensures and experienced in working with PTSD, will be in residence to provide round the clock support.

In addition to clinical support, Touchstone's entire facility is geared towards enabling veterans to relax, focus on healing, and build community, veteran to veteran. The Lodge at Touchstone is an exceptionally welcoming place, creating a community environment with home cooked meals and the support and camaraderie of both farm and clinical staff, in partnership with the horses and farm animals.


Richard L. Parish, Jr., Memorial Horse Whisperer Grants

Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding (CATR)
Johns Island, South Carolina

Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding (CATR) based in John's Island, South Carolina, is a PATH International Premier Accredited Center, the highest level certification that can be achieved by an equine therapy facility.

According to the Office of Exceptional Children, there are over 5,500 special education students in Charleston County alone, and beneficial and affordable activities for these children are limited in the area. The CATR Public School Program provides therapeutic riding to four to six self-contained special education classrooms for twelve weeks every school year. Each group spends 1.5 hours per week participating in therapeutic riding, horse care, grooming and other fine motor activities. The funding from EQUUS Foundation allows not only students to improve physically, cognitively and but also teachers, parents, administrators and volunteers to witness firsthand the remarkable benefits of equine assisted activities and therapies.

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Green Chimneys Children's Services
Brewster, New York

Founded in 1947 by Dr. Samuel B. "Rollo" Ross, Jr., and headquartered on a farm and wildlife center in Brewster, New York, Green Chimneys Children's Services is recognized as an innovator in animal-assisted therapy and nature-based education, therapy and recreation. The Equine Education program is comprised of equine-facilitated learning, therapeutic riding, vocational training in the barn, equine sport, a small driving program, vaulting, and equine massage.

Almost all of the horses that come to Green Chimneys are donations, usually retiring from a more strenuous schooling schedule or competitive career. Many of these horses are capable of the lighter work that the lesson program entails but do have limitations due to former injuries and their advanced age. The veterinary budget covers all basic maintenance and preventative care within reason for the over 200 animals at the farm/wildlife center. The funding will be used for additional treatments that will extend the longevity and comfort of the school horses. Philosophically at Green Chimneys, it is important that all the animals are extremely well cared for so that the children they serve also have the confidence that they will be well cared for.

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Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement
Salem, Connecticut

As an accredited sanctuary by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), Mitchell Farm Equine Retirements provides a safe and comfortable retirement alternative for aged and infirm horses to live out their lives.

The great numbers of unwanted horses in the United States, estimated at 170,000, are over-stressing rescue organizations. Permanent sanctuaries are necessary to take the older or infirm horse out of the mix - a benefit to the horse as well as the horse world.

Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement not only provides a permanent home for a number of these animals, it also serves as a model sanctuary and educates the public about animal welfare and the proper care for older horses.


The Split Rock Farm Horse Whisperer Grant

Kentucky Equine Humane Center (KyEHC)
Lexington, Kentucky

The mission of KyEHC is to provide humane treatment and shelter while working as a clearinghouse to seek adoptive homes for Kentucky's unwanted equines, regardless of breed. KyEHC is also committed to educating the public and raising awareness for responsible horse ownership so that fewer horses end up in crisis. Their goal is to work with and serve as a model for organizations with the same mission in other states: to save America's equines from inhumane treatment.

KyEHC takes in horses that are owner surrendered or seized by Animal Control, and assumes all financial responsibility for the horses' care and feeding, as well as training. Approximately 100 horses pass through the Center over the course of the year with an average length of stay of eight months. Over 95% of the horses that arrive at KyEHC are compromised physically in some way because they have not been taken care of properly. They are often times underweight, have not been vaccinated, have not had their teeth floated or their feet trimmed, and they are in desperate need of some attention and love. Providing them with needed veterinary and farrier care is fundamental. The grant funds will be used to offset veterinary and farrier costs so that they can be taken care of physically and re-homed.


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The EQUUS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity established in 2002, also known as Horse Charities of America, is dedicated to improving the quality of life of horses, enabling the therapeutic use of horses for those in need, fostering the horse-human bond, and educating the public about the horse's unique ability to empower, teach and heal. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Contact us by phone at 203-259-1550 or by email at mail@equusfoundation.org. Visit us at equusfoundation.org.