Help a Horse Home: ASPCA Equine Adoption Challenge

The Help a Horse Home Challenge^SM kicks off every year on April 26. It's a date chosen for its significance to the ASPCA’s long history of horse protection. In 1866, ASPCA founder Henry Bergh stopped a cart driver from beating his horse, resulting in the first successful arrest for horse mistreatment on April 26 of that year. The protection of horses has been a core part of the ASPCA’s lifesaving efforts ever since. Each year, we host a national grant competition to elevate the work of equine rescues that help at-risk horses who’ve been abused, neglected or find themselves homeless.

In 2019, we're celebrating our sixth annual Help a Horse Home Challenge with a nationwide, two-month contest aimed at finding good homes for horses. The ASPCA will be awarding grant funding to the organizations that adopt out the greatest number of horses into safe, loving homes.

We're thrilled to announce the winners of the ASPCA 2019 Help a Horse Home Challenge and the recipients this year's grant funding. Congratulations to the winners and to all participants who helped find more good homes for horses.

Grand Prize
Yavapai Humane Society: $35,000

Division D 
New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program: $25,000
Dumb Friends League: $15,000

Division C
This Old Horse, Inc.: $20,000
Hope’s Legacy Equine Rescue, Inc.: $10,000

Division B
Morgan Safenet Foundation, Inc.: $15,000
M&M Acres NFP: $5,000

Division A
Carolina Equine Rescue & Assistance (CERA): $7,500
Asheville Humane Society: $1,250
Owl Hollow Farm: $1,250

Hoofy Awards: Best in Social Media
New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program: $5,000
Humane Society of North Texas: $5,000
The Foxie G Foundation: $5,000

 
Why Do Horses Need Our Help?

Thousands upon thousands of horses across the country are at risk of homelessness and poor welfare. Equine rescues and shelters work tirelessly to house and care for many of these horses but they need help to sustain their life-saving programs and find new homes for the horses in their care. When a horse is adopted, it means more horses can be helped by these groups.

The good news is that studies indicate there are many homes available for at-risk horses. ASPCA research suggests there could be at least 2.3 million adults in the U.S. with the resources and desire to adopt a horse in need. Our Help a Horse Home competition will encourage horse rescue and welfare groups to find new homes for horses and commit to helping horses get adopted.