June 17, 2014 — Lexington, KY — USA Equestrian Trust has awarded nearly $300,000 in grants to help fund more than a dozen projects by equine non-profits. Since the inception of the Trust’s grants program, the organization has awarded more than $1.8 million in grants.
The projects funded as part of the grant application period ending in May were:
AMERICAN MORGAN HORSE EDUCATIONAL CHARITABLE TRUST ($44,500) to develop an online home school module that teaches courses through horsemanship and to purchase online testing software, which can also be used in other programs. Additional funded projects include researching new programs to engage youth and launching a series of educational videos and podcasts.
CALIFORNIA DRESSAGE SOCIETY — SACRAMENTO VALLEY CHAPTER ($5,000) to support PSS University, a two-day equine educational event in Northern California.
EQUUS FOUNDATION ($5,050) to expand its Equine Welfare Network online database that allows website visitors to search for equine organizations near their homes. With the expansion, the database will include information on equestrian sport and recreational horseback riding facilities, as well as colleges and universities offering equine studies programs.
HARNESS HORSE YOUTH FOUNDATION, INC. ($500) to offer field trips during a summer camp held at the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame.
HEALING HORSES & ARMED FORCES ($15,600) to assist its equine therapy program for veterans.
MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ($37,164) to help its safety and ambulance program purchase a new truck and replace a mannequin horse used for training.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP INTERNATIONAL ($17,700) to webcast educational sessions from its annual conference so they can be viewed by members unable to attend.
SACRAMENTO AREA HUNTER JUMPER ASSOCIATION ($5,000) to offer a free training clinic to its members, who are entry-level exhibitors and low-budget owners. The money for this grant was allocated from funding reserved for Hunter/Jumper activities in California and Nevada.
USEF EQUINE HEALTH RESEARCH FUND ($74,706) to support research projects at Auburn University, University of California and The Ohio State University. The projects examine the effect of arena surfaces on the fore and hind limbs of jumping horses, the impact of mare behavioral drugs on foal performance and fertility, and the use of intravenous magnesium sulfate in horses.
USEF U.S. SADDLE SEAT EQUITATION WORLD CUP AND YOUNG RIDERS TEAMS ($90,000) to assist the teams in attending events from 2015 to 2017. The Trust previously provided funding to support the U.S. Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup team’s 2012 victory in South Africa, as well as the upcoming 2014 World Cup hosted in the United States. This funding will support the team at the 2016 Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup that’s expected to be held in South Africa. The grant will also support the 2015 and 2017 Saddle Seat Young Riders Teams, which develop riders for future World Cup competitions.
The Trust’s next application period will begin early in 2015. Equine non-profits wishing to make a request for funding during that application period will be required to fill out the online application form at http://trusthorses.org. To be notified once the application period has opened, please email grants@trusthorses.org.
About USA Equestrian Trust
USA Equestrian Trust is a New York Not-for-Profit Corporation whose mission is to assist in preserving and/or enhancing the quality of equestrian sport in the United States of America. Its objects and purposes are exclusively charitable, educational and dedicated to the fostering of equestrian sports. The Trust is a private foundation pursuant to the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
