EQUUS Foundation For The Love of Horses
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December 4, 2023

Our Horses, Our Healers - We Need Them As Much As They Need Us!

It's the end of the day, and you are leaving the barn for the night. But before you go, maybe you might pause to listen to the soft sound of contented horses chewing hay, and smile knowing they are secure, well-fed, and well-loved. Perhaps you stop to give one more scratch on the withers of an old retired friend, or drop a carrot into the feed pan of a beloved lesson horse, or straighten the blanket on a rambunctious youngster.

It is these small acts of care which strengthen the bond we all share with each of these special animals, building a connection so unique it is almost impossible to define. Our horses fill many roles - athlete, companion, laborer, teacher, healer - as do our other equine partners, donkeys and mules. But no matter the niche they occupy, the EQUUS Foundation believes that all equines deserve to be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.


Our Horses, Our Healers


For two decades, the EQUUS Foundation has remained dedicated to its dual mission to protect America's horses from peril and to strengthen the bond between humans and horses. Thanks to the support of our generous donors, as we approach the end of the celebration of our 20th Anniversary, we are proud that we have disbursed over $6 million in grants to equine charities that have undergone a rigorous review of their equine welfare and business practices and have made significant progress in achieving the four initiatives established at the start of our 20th Anniversary.

• To raise public awareness that America's horses enhance our lives and need our protection - and build consensus within the equine industry to embrace solutions for equines in transition other than shipping them across our borders for slaughter, we established the ongoing #HorseProtector Pledge campaign.


• To support local and regional safety net programs, such as feed/hay banks, veterinary care, euthanasia, gelding assistance, farrier assistance, and equine placement service, aimed at helping to keep horses with their owners, assisting with re-homing, and providing counseling and end-of-life services when needed, thanks to the support of Cheryl Olsten, the owner of the EQUUS Foundation Equine Ambassador, Lafitte De Muze, we established the Lafitte De Muze Safety Net Grant program.

• In our efforts to encourage equine organizations nationwide - both non-profit and for-profit - to adhere to the EQUUS Foundation’s standards for equine welfare practices, we implemented new guidelines to require transparency of all participating charities on the EQUUS Foundation Equine Welfare Network. We also re-structured the EQUUS Foundation Forever Farms program to recognize private farms and for-profit equestrian facilities that adhere to these standards.


• To encourage the pursuit of careers in the equine industry, we established the new Equine Studies Scholarships to provide scholarships to students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate equine studies programs at the educational institutions on the EQUUS Foundation Equine Education Network.

We are ready to do more with your help!
Please consider making the welfare of America's horses a priority in your charitable giving
and donate to the EQUUS Foundation.


MARK YOUR CALENDAR! DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT!
NATIONAL DAY OF THE HORSE - DECEMBER 13, 2023!
LAFITTE DE MUZE MATCHING GIFT CAMPAIGN

Celebrate the National Day of the Horse with a Gift!

equusfoundation.org/match

On December 13th, the EQUUS Foundation will honor the horse's ongoing contributions to our well-being through the #NationalDayoftheHorse. Thanks to EQUUS Foundation Equine Ambassador, Lafitte De Muze, his rider, Amanda Steege, and his owner, Cheryl Olsten, all gifts made on December 13 to the EQUUS Foundation, or to one of its Guardian Charities, will be matched up to $20,000. These charities uphold the highest standards of care and demonstrate a commitment to public transparency that ensures your donor dollars will be used for the greatest good. What better way to celebrate the connection, love, and partnership we share with our beloved equines during this season of giving?


Lafitte De Muze Matching Gift Campaign

ABOUT EQUUS FOUNDATION: 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 that is 100% dedicated to equine welfare and with the dual mission to protect America's horses from peril and strengthen the bond between people and horses. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Contact the EQUUS Foundation, Inc., at 168 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880, Tele: (203) 259-1550, E-Mail: mail@equusfoundation.org, Website: equusfoundation.org.