ASPCA Celebrates 150th Birthday at Hampton Classic Horse Show

NEW YORK—For the tenth consecutive year, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is partnering with the Hampton Classic Horse Show to raise awareness of critical animal welfare issues and find loving homes for local shelter animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits and horses. In honor of the ASPCA’s 150^th birthday this year, the animal welfare group will be hosting several events throughout the week with special appearances by ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors Hayley Barnhill, Georgina Bloomberg, Brianne Goutal, Stacia Madden, Jill Rappaport and Jessica Springsteen.

“The protection of horses has been a core part of the ASPCA mission since our founding 150 years ago,” said Valerie Angeli, director of special projects for the ASPCA. “We are proud to partner with the Hampton Classic Horse Show once again to raise awareness about critical equine welfare issues, and we thank our ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors for using their voices to share their passion and encourage the equine community to make adoption their first option."

On Monday, August 29, the ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors will join national TV animal advocate Jill Rappaport to host the seventh annual ASPCA Adoption & Animal Welfare Day. This event will feature local shelter and rescue groups who will have animals available for adoption on site throughout the day and a live, inter-active equine welfare program featuring ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors and adoptable rescued horses.  Rabbits that were rescued by the ASPCA and NYPD from a neglectful situation in Brooklyn, NY in January 2015 will also be available for adoption. Participating groups include:

• Ani-care Animal Hospital
•  Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons (ARF)
• Cauz for Pawz Animal Welfare Thrift Shop
• Gimme Shelter Animal Rescue
• Kaeli Kramer Foundation Horse Rescue and Sanctuary
• Last Chance Animal Rescue
• Our Farm Equine Rescue
• ReRun Thoroughbred Rescue
•  Ruff House Rescue
• Shelter Chic
• Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation
• Tails of Courage

At the ASPCA’s 150^th Anniversary Town Hall Event on Friday, September 2, the Ambassadors will join ASPCA experts to discuss contemporary issues impacting horses and the humane alternatives to horse slaughter to inspire attendees to help make a difference. This event will also feature top show jumper Debbie Stephens, who will share how she became passionately committed to ending the slaughter of American horses after her horse Phedras De Blondel was tragically stolen and butchered in 2015 for his meat. Daisy Freund, director of ASPCA Farm Animal Welfare, will also share the ASPCA’s new “Shop With Your Heart” campaign, which encourages consumers to improve the lives of farm animals by seeking higher-welfare products that are certified by third-party animal welfare certifications.

“We are grateful to advocates like Debbie who share their stories to help educate the public about the terrible fate that awaits hundreds of thousands of American horses shipped to Canada and Mexico each year to be slaughtered for human consumption,” said Nancy Perry, senior vice president of ASPCA Government Relations. “This barbaric trend will not stop until Congress passes the SAFE Act to permanently ban horse slaughter in the U.S. and prohibit the transport of American horses to other countries for this purpose, so we encourage all advocates to contact their representatives to urge them to protect our horses.”

Other highlights during the week include the ‘Jump for the ASPCA” challenge, sponsored by the generosity of the Ferrara Family, which will trigger a donation to the ASPCA every time a rider clears the ASPCA jump on show grounds. Visiting public figures and top riders are invited to join the ASPCA throughout the week at the “ASPCA Patio and Animal Advocacy Station” located near the VIP parking and across from the public grandstand of the Grand Prix Ring, where they can take #Voices4Horses “selfies” to raise awareness and inspire action for horse welfare. Barns, equine businesses and horse rescues can also stop by the ASPCA Patio to sign up to stand with the ASPCA against horse slaughter and all advocates interested in speaking up for horses in their community can join the ASPCA’s Horse Action Team (HAT) to learn more about how they can be directly involved in helping animals around the country.

The ASPCA’s long history of equine protection includes supporting equine welfare through legislation, public advocacy, professional development, horse rescue, and targeted grants. Most recently the ASPCA launched a broad “Adopt a Horse” public service campaign featuring “2 Broke Girls” actress and horse advocate Beth Behrs and her rescue horse Belle, who encouraged potential horse owners to make adoption their first option. The campaign highlights the many benefits of adopting a horse from one of the nation’s hundreds of equine rescue groups. It also aims to connect horses in need of permanent homes with the 2.3 million Americans who, according to a recent survey, say they have adequate space, resources and strong interest in adopting a horse.

To learn more about the ASPCA or to join the Advocacy Brigade, please visit www.aspca.org. 

For more information on the Hampton Classic, please visit www.hamptonclassic.com.