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

For the tenth consecutive year, the ASPCA partnered with the show to help raise awareness of critical animal welfare issues and find loving homes for shelter animals including dogs, cats, rabbits and horses. We also hosted several events throughout the week in honor of the ASPCA’s 150^th birthday this year, including special programs and appearances by ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors Hayley Barnhill, Georgina Bloomberg, Brianne Goutal, Jill Rappaport and Jessica Springsteen.

We kicked things off on Monday, August 28, with our seventh annual ASPCA Adoption & Animal Welfare Day. ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors joined national TV animal advocate Jill Rappaport for an adoption event that featured adoptable animals from local shelter and rescue groups, as well as live riding demonstrations from Jessica Springsteen and Hayley Barnhill that showcased adoptable rescued horses. Rabbits that were rescued by the ASPCA and NYPD from a neglectful situation in Brooklyn, New York, in January 2015 were also available for adoption.

Adoptions were held throughout the week, and as of today, 18 animals from this event—including 14 dogs, two rabbits and two horses—have been adopted into loving homes, including retired Thoroughbreds Lead Singer and Petite Warrior. Petite Warrior was the beneficiary of a grant from the ASPCA’s Rescuing Racers Initiative. 

On September 2, the Ambassadors joined ASPCA experts to discuss contemporary issues impacting horses in our 150^th Anniversary Town Hall Event. The event featured top show jumper Debbie Stephens, who shared 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, also shared 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.

Other highlights from the week included the “Jump for the ASPCA” challenge, sponsored by the Ferrara Family, which triggered a donation to the ASPCA every time a rider cleared the ASPCA jump on show grounds.

The protection of horses has been a core part of the ASPCA mission since our founding 150 years ago, and continues through our recent “Adopt a Horse” public service campaign featuring 2 Broke Girls actress and horse advocate Beth Behrs.  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! Visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center to take action to improve our nation’s laws for equines and other animals all year long.