EQUINE PROTECTION FUND PASSES MILESTONE OF 400 EQUINES ASSISTED; FUND CONTINUES TO BE LEADER IN PROVIDING HUMANE OPTIONS FOR HORSES

Source: New Mexico Community Foundation

As of mid-July 2013, the New Mexico Equine Protection Fund (Equine Fund) has brought relief to over 400 equines (horses, donkeys, and mules) across New Mexico via the Equine Fund’s humane programs, the first such efforts available statewide.

“When we started the Equine Fund in 2009, the needs of homeless and abused horses were being addressed only by a handful of struggling equine shelters doing the best they could. Other humane options were not available for many equines and the people who care about them,” said Phil Carter, Equine Campaign Manager for Animal Protection of New Mexico (APNM), which administers the Equine Fund in partnership with the New Mexico Community Foundation (NMCF). “The Equine Fund was designed to remove barriers to doing the right thing for more of our state’s horses.”

“Now more than ever, the Equine Protection Fund is crucial to our state, and we’re very pleased that, through the generosity of many supporters, the Fund has directly reduced the suffering of over 400 horses, donkeys, and mules,” said Jenny Parks, President and CEO of New Mexico Community Foundation.

The Equine Fund’s programs include Emergency Feed Assistance, which provides temporary financial support for horse owners in purchasing horse feed. The Equine Fund also provides assistance with veterinary care for needy equines, including Gelding Assistance vouchers to prevent unwanted breeding, humane euthanasia for suffering animals via the Trail’s End program, and aid with emergency veterinary care for equines seized by or relinquished to law enforcement agencies.

At just under $70,000 spent on all assistance programs to date, the Equine Fund continues to demonstrate that, with strategic thinking, humane treatment of New Mexico’s equines is not unattainable, least of all on a financial level. Emergency Feed Assistance maintains its historical average of less than $100 per animal per month while ensuring nutrition in crises, while the veterinary care programs average from $93 to $178 per equine.

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In celebrating the recent milestone, APNM and NMCF are asking the public to become stakeholders in solutions to prevent horse suffering by contributing to the Equine Protection Fund. Carter notes that even small donations go a long way toward ensuring help for at-risk equines, with an average of less than $200 spent per animal across all Equine Fund programs. Over 97% of all contributions to the Equine Fund go directly to assistance.

In 2012, the Equine Fund marked both the 200th and 300th animal assisted; now, as of July 2013, the programs have doubled their impact in just over a year, reaching over 400 equines.

Recently, the Equine Fund has seen a dramatic increase in program activity. “Over the past year, we’ve had a high volume of requests coming from the rescue shelters and law enforcement for help with veterinary fees,” said Carter.

 “These agencies and facilities are tasked with responding to abuse of horses. By providing support for gelding, euthanasia, and other necessary care, we can help ensure the prompt seizure, treatment, rehabilitation an adoption of second-chance animals.”

​For more information on the Equine Protection Fund, including ways to donate, visit helpourhorses.org