Yesterday, April 26, marked Help a Horse Day, a day dedicated each year to increasing awareness around equine welfare and encouraging adoptions of horses in need. To coincide with our fifth annual Help a Horse Day grants contest, the ASPCA launched a new national campaign called “Raise the Barn,” which encourages animal lovers to take meaningful actions for the benefit of horses throughout the months of May and June. Every year, thousands of horses across the country are at risk of cruelty, neglect or homelessness. But people like you can help make a difference for America’s horses by signing on to become an ASPCA Equine Ambassador. Ambassadors can take action for horses by adopting or fostering a horse, supporting legislative efforts to protect horses or donating to help abused and neglected horses. 

Currently, more than 120 equine rescues, sanctuaries, and shelters across the country are competing in the contest, which runs from April 26 to June 30 and has been expanded to offer 17 grant prizes—totaling $110,000! Celebrity ambassadors like Kaley Cuoco and Martha Stewart are also getting involved this year by spreading awareness around the importance of protecting our nation’s horses. 

Help a Horse Day provides a great way for equine rescues and sanctuaries to garner essential community support for their lifesaving work. Since 2014, the ASPCA has awarded equine groups more than $300,000 in grant funding through the Help a Horse Day contest. 

Recent ASPCA equine research suggests that there could be approximately 2.3 million adults in the U.S. with both the resources and desire to adopt a horse in need. Inspired by this information, Help a Horse Day 2018 is focused on finding good homes for horses. Participating groups will be judged on the number of adoptions and adoption commitments they secure, the amount of funds they raise during the contest period, the best overall adoption campaign and most compelling adoption video. The contestants have been separated into three divisions based on budget, capacity and number of adoptions they achieved last year.

“Help a Horse Day has always been about elevating equine welfare and we are grateful to all of the contestants for their willingness to stretch and grow with us this year, as we learn how to find more good homes for horses,” said Dr. Emily Weiss, Vice President of Equine Welfare for the ASPCA. “The ASPCA is excited to empower these organizations with the tools they need to engage their communities and supercharge adoptions to safely place more horses in loving homes.” 

We hope that during this campaign, we can count on people like you to take action for horses in need. Learn more on how you can Raise the Barn today!