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EQUUS Awards over $300,000 to 50 Charities in 2008

September 7, 2025

WESTPORT, CT - September 6, 2025 - The Board of Directors of The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., is pleased to announce the award of over $300,000 in grants to 50 charitable organizations. Grants were awarded in three funding areas: public welfare -organizations that use the horse to benefit the public; horse welfare - organizations involved with horse health and welfare; and equestrian sport - organizations devoted to the elevation of the sport.

Public welfare grants were awarded for therapy for individuals with physical, emotional, behavioral, and learning disabilities, individuals with life-threatening or other serious illnesses, and “at-risk” youth, including scholarships, financial aid, riding apparel and equipment, certified riding instructors, transportation, and horse care.

Horse welfare grants were awarded for horse rescue, rehabilitation, adoption and retirement, including feed, supplements, tack, grooming supplies, horse gear, farrier, veterinary care, equipment, and capital improvements. They are also awarded for veterinary education and research and equine ambulance services.

The grants awarded to organizations involved with the sport will be used for scholarships, awards, youth involvement, relief for equestrians in need, and programs to promote public education and awareness.

“We are thrilled that with the award of over $300,000 in grants this year, we are topping $1.1 million in grants since our first awards in 2003, achieving this almost entirely from two special events. 50 very worthy charities were awarded grants, but we received over 130 requests, many of which were also worthy of support.

As we enter our new year this month, we will be working hard to increase our donor base to generate enough funds to accept all the grant requests that meet our requirements. In the coming year, we hope to share the compelling stories of our grants recipients to fulfill our mission to raise public awareness of the valuable role horses play in our society. New for our 2008-2009 year, we are adding a third event at the Syracuse Invitation Sporthorse Tournament, and have established the EQUUS Horse Whisperers program”, said Jenny Belknap, Chairman.

EQUUS Horse Whisperers are donors who wish to make a perpetual commitment to the charities that EQUUS deems worthy of support. EQUUS 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, and may be designated for a specific interest.

Giant Steps School & The American Institute for Neuro-Integrative Development in Southport, CT was selected to receive the $10,000 Michele E. Arnhold Grant. The grant will be used to underwrite the cost of the certified therapeutic riding instruction for the school’s therapeutic riding program at the Fairfield County Hunt Club, which donates the use of its facilities and horses for the program. Volunteers from the Club membership and the surrounding communities serve as leaders and side walkers for 12 autistic children, participating weekly in Fall, Spring, Winter, and Summer sessions. The program runs for 3 hours one day a week and there are 3 to 4 children in a class accompanied by 3 volunteers (2 side walkers and a leader). The Bridgeport Police Mounted Unit, an EQUUS Grant Recipient, also supports the program by donating larger horses for the older children involved.

Days End Farm Horse Rescue based in Lisbon, Maryland, was selected to receive The $5,000 Visse M. Wedell Grant. Days End Farm Horse Rescue provides shelter, rehabilitation encompassing medical and psychological intervention and care, training, foster care and qualified adoption to abused, neglected and unwanted equines, operating both a Critical Care Unit and an Extended Care program.

In addition to its rescue and rehabilitation programs, Days End conducts education and outreach programs to bring attention to the prevalence of horse abuse and neglect, and also provides disaster relief along the East Coast in major natural or manmade disasters. The farm is currently operating at maximum capacity caring for 70 equines. The grant will be used to offset the cost of veterinary care, which totaled over $28,000 in 2007.

For additional information, visit our website at www.equusfoundation.org or contact us by email, mail or phone at The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., 168 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880; Tele: (203-259-1550; [email protected].

2008 Grant Recipients:

* AAEP Foundation, Inc.
4075 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511. Funding for five $2,000 AAEP EQUUS Foundation equine veterinary scholarships.

AIDB Foundation - Marianna Greene Henry Special Equestrian Center
205 East South Street, Talladega, AL 35160. Therapeutic horseback riding and equine-assisted activities for individuals who are deaf, blind and multi-disabled.

* American Hunter-Jumper Foundation
PO Box 369, West Boylston, MA 01583. Emergency Relief Fund for equestrians in need.

* American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
520 Eighth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10018. ASPCA Equine Fund for specific non-profit equine welfare U.S. organizations

Blue Ridge Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship
P.O. Box 438, Boyce, VA 22620. Therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities for individuals considered “at risk” and those with diagnosed disabilities or mental health conditions.

Blue Shadows Mounted Drill Team
9721 Hierba Road, Agua Dulce, CA 91390. Funding to support an Equestrian Youth Drill Team.

* Bridgeport Police Mounted Unit
300 Congress Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604. Horse Health & Welfare.

* Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center
950 Amherst Street, Buffalo, NY 14216. Therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities for mentally and physically abused or challenged children.

* Camp for All
10500 NW Freeway, Suite 220, Houston, TX 77092. Therapeutic horseback riding and equine-assisted activities for children with chronic illnesses.

Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding
P.O. Box 146, John’s Island, SC 29455. Therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities for individuals with a wide variety of disabilities.

* City Slickers, Inc.
20 Wolf Hill Road, #7A, Wolcott, CT 06716. Therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities for at-risk youth.

* City to Saddle
PO Box 456, Weston, MA 02493. Therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities for at risk youth.

Colorado Horse Rescue
10386 North 65th Street, Longmont, CO 80503. Horse rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption.

Community Alliance To Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses - CANTER - Michigan
2760 East Lansing Drive, Suite 5, East Lansing, MI 48823. Horse rescue, rehabilitation & adoption for ex-race horses. Funding for MSU Equine Vet Student Program which provides veterinary care to CANTER horses.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County - Project SOAR
423 Griffing Ave, Suite 100, Riverhead, NY 11901. Funding for PROJECT SOAR, an alternative tutoring program for adjudicated youth, aged 13-17, to participate in sessions at the Dorothy P. Flint Nassau Country 4- Horse Day Program.

* Days End Farm Horse Rescue
1372 Woodbine Road, P.O. Box 309, Lisbon, MD 21765. Horse rescue, rehabilitation & adoption. **Recipient of the Visse M. Wedell Horse Whisperer Grant.

* Equestrian Aid Foundation, Inc.
11924 West Forest Hill Boulevard, Suite 22-377, Wellington, FL 33414. Funding to provide financial assistance to equestrians suffering from catastrophic injury or illness.

Equestrian Land Conservation Resource
4037 Iron Works Parkway, Suite 120, Lexington, KY 40511. Funding to support a full-time educator to educate horse people and encourage partnerships with conservationists and other user groups to save land for horses.

* Equi-Kids Therapeutic Riding Program
PO Box 4095, Virginia Beach, VA 23454. Therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities for individuals with physical, mental, emotional, social, and learning disabling conditions.

* Equine Orthopaedic Research Center, Colorado State University
300 W. Drake Road, Fort Collins, CO 85026. Funding for veterinary research to benefit horses.

Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center
16497 Snyder Road P.O. Box 23129, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023. Therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities for individuals with physical, cognitive, sensory or emotional and psycho-social disabilities.

* Garfield Park Academy
PO Box 189, Willingboro, NJ 08046
Equine assisted equine assisted psychotherapy for children with severe learning, emotional and behavioral disabilities. Funding for 16 students to receive weekly EAP sessions.

* Giant Steps School & The American Institute for Neuro-Integrative Development
309 Barberry Road, Southport, CT 06890. Therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities for autistic children. **Recipient of the Michele E. Arnhold Horse Whisperer Grant.

* Green Chimneys Children’s Services & School
400 Doansburg Road, Box 719, Brewster, NY 10509-0719. Funding for clinical psychological studies examining the effectiveness of animal-assisted activities on the cognitive, emotional and social functioning of the residents and students at Green Chimneys.

* HEART Equine Ambulance
179 Acorn Hill Drive, Madison, VA 22727
Funding to support the safe and humane transport of horses that have been injured in the course of competition at equestrian events or become ill while at equestrian events.

* Heritage Schools
5600 N. Heritage Schools Drive, Provo, UT 84604. Funding to support therapeutic riding and equine-assisted activities for a residential treatment center serving over 150 at-risk youth.

* High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
36 Town Woods Road, Old Lyme, CT 06371. Therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities for individuals with cognitive, physical, and emotional disabilities.

* Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
555 Long Wharf Drive, New Haven, CT 06511. Therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities for children with life threatening and other serious illnesses.

* Hope for Horses
PO Box 1790, Woodinville, WA 98072. Horse rescue, rehabilitation & adoption.

* H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut, Inc.
43 Wilbur Road, Washington, CT 06777. Horse rescue, rehabilitation & adoption.

Horsepower, Inc.
8001 Leabourne Road, Colfax, NC 27235. Therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities for individuals who are mentally, physically, emotionally, behaviorally and/or socially challenged.

* Horses in the Hood
P.O. Box 573249, Tarzana, CA 91357-3249. Funding to provide the opportunity for low-income, largely African-American and Latino community of Watts within the South Central section of Los Angeles to participate in horse day camps.

Idaho Youth Ranch
5464 W. Irving Street, Boise, ID 83706. Therapeutic horseback riding program and equine-assisted activities for 56 at-risk boys and girls who benefit from the unique attributes of a ranch environment.

* Intercollegiate Equestrian Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 108, Fairfield, CT 06824
Scholarships for individuals to encourage, foster, and promote equestrian education at the college level and intercollegiate equestrian activities.

* Living Bridges International Inc., Glenyeare Equestrian Program
P.O. Box 506, Lumberton, NJ 08048. Funding for “Cowboy Poetry”, an experiential learning program using horses for disengaged youth in New Jersey public schools.

* Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
350 South Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130. Horse rescue, rehabilitation & adoption. Funding to support the Equine Ambulance Program.

Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement, Inc.
300 East Haddam Road, Salem, CT 06420. Horse retirement.

* New Canaan Mounted Troop, Inc.
22 Carter Street, New Canaan, CT 06840. Project Outreach Scholarship Riding Program for economically-disadvantaged children.

* Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
310 Peach Lake Road, Brewster, NY 10509-1715. Therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities for physically, emotionally and developmentally challenged individuals.

* R.W. Mutch Educational Foundation, Inc.
14224 Stroller Way, Wellington, FL 33414. Funding to support a junior rider scholarship allowing the recipient to study with some of the top equestrians for two weeks at WEF or HITS Thermal or Ocala.

Reins of Life, Inc.
55200 Quince Road, South Bend, IN 46619. Funding for Mini Horse Visitation Outreach Program to schools and medical facilities.

ReRun, Inc.
P.O. Box 113, Helmetta, NJ 08828
Horse rescue, rehabilitation & adoption for ex-race horses.

Rocking Horse Ranch Therapeutic Riding Program, Inc.
1721 Blue Banks Farm Road, Greenville, NC 27834. Therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities for individuals with physical, cognitive, and psychological disabilities.

sharingVillage Cancer Survivor Groups - Driving for Surviving
P.O. Box 682, Far Hills, NJ 07931
Funding for the Driving for Surviving program for children & adults with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament
2 Richards Road, Casenovia, NY 13035. Funding for the “Horsin Around” Public Education Program for 1,400 elementary school students at 14 schools in the Syracuse community.

* United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
4047 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511. Funding to support the USEF Youth Council.

* United States Equestrian Team Foundation
PO Box 355, Gladstone, NJ 07934. Funding for High Performance Developing Rider Program.

* Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center
13300 6th Ct. N., Loxahatchee, FL 33470. Therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities for individuals with developmental, physical, and psychological disabilities.

* We Will Ride Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
PO Box 1155, Ridgefield, CT 06877. Therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities for individuals with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities.

* Work To Ride, Inc.
Chamounix Equestrian Center, 98 Chamounix Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19131. Funding to provide disadvantaged urban youth from Philadelphia with constructive activities centered around horsemanship, equine sports, and education.

*Prior Year Recipient
ABOUT THE EQUUS FOUNDATION, INC.

The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., established in August 2002, as a 501(c)(3) grant giving foundation, seeks to raise public awareness of the value of the horse in society through education and the award of grants to charities that use the horse to benefit the public, promote the health and welfare of horses, and elevate the equestrian sport as a whole.

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors, which is responsible for the selection of the grant recipients. The Board includes: Jenny Belknap, Chairman, Catherine Herman, Vice Chairman, David T. Goodwin, Secretary/Treasurer, Lynn Coakley, President, Pam Allardice, Margaret Bondy, Flavia Callari, David Distler, Gray Fadden, Julie Frank, Richard Mitchell DVM, James Newhouse, Clea Newman Soderlund, George N. Venizelos, and Visse Wedell.

Thanks to the generosity of its donors, The EQUUS Foundation helps thousands of people and horses each year. Over $1.1 million in grants have been awarded since the first awards in 2003. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

For additional information, visit our website at www.equusfoundation.org or contact us by email, mail or phone at The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., 168 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880; Tele: (203-259-1550; [email protected].
Save The Dates:

EQUUS Deal or No Deal, Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament/National Horse Show, Syracuse, NY on Friday, October 31, 2025

EQUUS Equestrian Idol, Winter Equestrian Festival, Wellington, FL, on Friday, February 6, 2026

EQUUS Grand Prix Luncheon, Fairfield County Hunt Club, Westport, CT on Saturday, June 20, 2025


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