We’re excited to share an important announcement with our members, highlighting some of the critical work that supporters like you are helping to make possible in communities across the nation.

Each year, we host a national grant competition to elevate the work of equine rescues that help horses who’ve been abused, neglected or find themselves homeless. Registration is now open for the 2019 Help a Horse Home: ASPCA Equine Adoption Challenge, a nationwide grant competition for equine rescues, shelters and sanctuaries designed to find good homes for horses in need. 

“The ASPCA is dedicated to supporting the many groups around the country working to help more horses find loving homes,” said Dr. Emily Weiss, Vice President of ASPCA Equine Welfare. “The Help a Horse Home Challenge provides an effective way to reach the untapped equine adopters that our research suggests are out there, and we can’t wait to see what innovative and thoughtful ideas equine organizations come up with to help save more horses’ lives.”

In 2018, equine organizations adopted out more than 1,000 horses during the ASPCA’s two-month Help a Horse contest period, proving that there are more homes out there for horses in need. To build on the success of the 2018 contest, the 2019 challenge has been reimagined and renamed—Help a Horse Home: The ASPCA Equine Adoption Challenge, with $150,000 in grant funding available to equine rescues, shelters and sanctuaries who secure the biggest increase in adoptions compared to the previous year. Any US-based 501(c)(3) organization or governmental agency capable of receiving grant funds and fulfilling an animal welfare or protection mission that adopts out horses or other equines is eligible to participate. 

If your organization would like to participate or would like more information, please visit our contest entry page. Registration for this challenge closes on Thursday, April 4, 2019, at 5:00 P.M. ET. 

The Help a Horse Home Challenge kicks off officially on April 26—a date chosen for its significance to the ASPCA’s long history of horse protection. On this day in 1866, ASPCA founder Henry Bergh stopped a cart driver from beating his horse, resulting in the first successful arrest for horse mistreatment. 

We hope that this year’s challenge elevates our message and finds even more horses safe, comforting homes.  We also hope that you will join us this year in our efforts to improve equine welfare nationwide. Read more about this exciting endeavor to help at-risk horses and see how you could adopt a horse yourself.