The ASPCA, along with horse-lovers from near and far, headed out to Bridgehampton, New York, this week for the prestigious and star-studded 40^th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show.

For the ninth consecutive year, the ASPCA partnered with this iconic week-long show to promote animal adoption and raise awareness of critical equine cruelty issues with two special ASPCA-hosted events.

Things kicked off on Monday with our annual ASPCA Adoption and Animal Welfare Day, during which spectators got the opportunity to meet rescue horses face-to-face, hear their rescuers’ stories and learn ways they can make a difference for equines. Several local animal shelters and rescue groups were on site throughout the day to find loving homes for adorable, adoptable animals, including dogs, cats and, of course, horses. Even some formerly wild mustangs made an appearance!

Attendees were invited to the ASPCA Equine Town Hall just days later to hear experts from the ASPCA’s Government Relations department and Our Farm Equine Rescue  discuss critical issues impacting horses today, like horse slaughter, homelessness and neglect, and how to rescue, rehab and re-home horses from the slaughter lot.

To make the events even more special, the ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors team of top international riders, including Georgina Bloomberg, Brianne Goutal, Hayley Barnhill, Stacia Madden and our newest ambassador, Jennifer Gates, were on site during the week to answer questions and greet show-goers. Network correspondent and animal advocate Jill Rappaport, who is also an ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassador, hosted Monday’s event.

The protection of horses has been a core part of the ASPCA mission since our founding nearly 150 years ago. The Hampton Classic allows us and our Welfare Ambassadors to share that passion with the equine community and spectators of the show, and to encourage them to serve as a voice for animals.

Did you miss the event? You can still help horses right now! Watch our ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors speak out against horse slaughter, then visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center to tell your U.S. senators and representative to ban the cruel practice once and for all.

The Hampton Classic Horse Show runs through this Sunday, August 30, in Bridgehampton, New York. For more information, visit www.hamptonclassic.com.