Equine Land Conservation Resource

What Equine Land Conservation Resource does

Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization founded in 1999 and headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, that serves as the national resource for equine land conservation in the United States. ELCR addresses the systemic loss of open land threatening equestrian activities by providing educational resources, planning tools, webinars, advocacy support, and best management practices to equestrian organizations, landowners, community planners, and horse farm operators. Its core deliverables include the Conservation Partners Program, a comprehensive Conservation Resources Library, educational webinars, and an online donation and membership platform.

ELCR operates a community-led go-to-market model, building strategic alliances across the conservation, planning, and equine sectors to influence land-use policy and trail access. Its revenue is derived entirely from charitable contributions, individual and business memberships ($28 and $100 annually), corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants, with no disclosed product or service fees. Premier Conservation Partners include USEF, USHJA, USDF, EQUUS Foundation, and the Masters of Fox Hounds Association, with formal federal engagement through an MOU with the U.S. Forest Service. The organization employs 6 staff and is governed by a Board of Directors and Advisory Council. ELCR released a 2026-2028 Strategic Plan guiding its mission to secure land for horses and futures for communities.

Name

Equine Land Conservation Resource

Legal name

Equine Land Conservation Resource

Website

https://elcr.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Equine Land Conservation Resource is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides educational resources, advocacy, and partnerships to conserve equine lands across the United States, serving equestrian organizations, landowners, and community planners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Equine Care & Stable Management (EDAOAOAE)

Keywords

• Equine land conservation
• Trail access advocacy
• Land use planning
• Conservation education
• Horseman preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington, KY

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Contributions and Donations: ELCR is wholly funded by charitable contributions and memberships. The organization accepts one-time and monthly donations, stock donations, planned giving through bequests, and honor contributions for memorials.
2. Membership Program: Annual Conservation Partner membership program available for individuals and businesses, with gift membership options available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides education, advocacy, and resources to preserve equestrian lands and trail access in the United States. It offers conservation planning tools, educational webinars, publications, a Conservation Partners Program, and an online resource library, while supporting landowners, communities, and equine organizations in protecting horse lands from development pressure.

Product overview

The Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) is a non-profit conservation organization rather than a traditional technology product company. ELCR operates a website platform that serves as the primary channel for its mission to save horse land and preserve equestrian landscapes. The organization's offerings include an informational website with educational resources, a Conservation Partners Program for yearly memberships, educational webinars on trails and land conservation, an online donation platform, and planned giving options. ELCR does not offer a software product or technology platform with modules or integrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ELCR Educational Website and Resource Hub The organization's primary online platform serving as the central hub for information on planning for horses in communities, conservation tools, trail access, and best management practices. Used by equestrians, landowners, planners, and advocates nationwide.
• Conservation Partners Program Annual partnership program allowing individuals and businesses to support ELCR's mission of conserving horse lands; partners receive recognition and benefits while contributing to local land conservation efforts.
• Conservation Members Program Membership program offering Individual ($28/year) and Business ($100/year) tiers with gift membership capabilities, providing donors ways to support equine land conservation efforts.
• Online Donation Platform Digital fundraising platform accepting one-time and monthly donations, credit cards, PayPal, checks, and stock donations to support ELCR's conservation work.
• Conservation Resources Library Comprehensive online library of publications, guides, and links covering community land use planning, conservation tools, liability issues, trails access, farms and ranch land best practices, and equine economic impact research.
• Educational Webinars Online educational presentations covering topics such as equestrian trail design, sustainable trail management, equine land conservation, community planning for horses, and best management practices for horse properties.
• Planned Giving Program Estate planning and legacy giving options including bequests, charitable remainder trusts, and charitable annuity trusts for long-term supporters of equine land conservation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 24,000 trail projects enabled through Recreational Trails Program advocacy
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Horse CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 July 2025Joint webinar collaboration on Economic Benefits of Horse Trails in the American Economy. American Horse Council serves as a key partner in advocating for the horse industry at federal, state, and local levels.
• Daily ActsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2023Co-hosted webinar on Sustainable Equine Management addressing water, flood, and mud management for horse properties.
• Trails are Common Ground (TaCG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021ELCR joined unprecedented consortium of advocacy groups, brands, and organizations to create public awareness campaign elevating respectful, inclusive, safe trail experiences.
• Masters of Fox Hounds AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 January 2018Recipient of the Anson W. Taylor, Jr. Equine Land Conservation Leadership Award, recognizing exceptional contributions to equestrian land preservation.
• United States Dressage Federation (USDF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2017Joint launch of the Equine Land Conservation Achievement Award to recognize outstanding conservation achievements in the dressage community.
• Phelps Media GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 April 2012Premier Conservation Partner providing media and communications support.
• EQUUS FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 January 2012Premier Conservation Partner focused on equine welfare and land conservation.
• United States Equestrian Federation (USEF)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 November 2011Premier Conservation Partner providing mutual visibility and support for equestrian land conservation efforts.
• United States Hunter Jumper AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 November 2011Premier Conservation Partner supporting equestrian land preservation through member outreach.
• U.S. Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2011Signed MOU to benefit equestrian land use. Joint advocacy for trail access and recreational trails program funding on federal lands.
• Bayer HealthCare Animal HealthcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 May 2011Exclusive Sponsor of the Conservation Partners Program, providing funding and support for outreach initiatives.
• Coalition for Recreational TrailscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerELCR participates as organizational member in advocacy for equestrian and all trails, monitoring legislation impacting the trails community and supporting the Recreational Trails Program.
• Michigan Equestrian Trails RepresentativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Trails Safe Passing Plan (TSPP): STOP! SPEAK and STAND BACK educational initiative to elevate trail safety.
• Roaring Fork Valley Horse CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Trails Safe Passing Plan trail sign development and educational materials for trail safety.
• American TrailscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for webinars on equestrian trail design, best practices, and trends. Multiple co-hosted educational webinars.
• My Horse UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple co-hosted webinars on trails, trail design, and equestrian topics. Partnership for educational content delivery.
• Back Country Horsemen of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive coalition member representing equine community interests. Joint advocacy for equestrian access to backcountry trails and public lands.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Land Trust Alliance: National membership organization supporting land trusts and conservation-easement practitioners. Provides the broader policy and standards infrastructure that ELCR draws on for equine-specific conservation easement guidance.
• The Nature Conservancy: Large, global conservation organization working on habitat, land, and water protection. Adjacent rather than directly competing; both operate in conservation advocacy and easement-based land protection, but TNC's scale and biodiversity focus dwarf ELCR's equine-specific niche.
• Trust for Public Land: National land conservation nonprofit operating across many geographies and land types. A larger incumbent in the broader land-conservation space where ELCR focuses, with overlapping conservation-easement and policy expertise.

Direct peers

• American Trails: National nonprofit advancing the development, protection, and use of trails. Long-standing ELCR webinar and advocacy partner; comparable education-and-advocacy model focused on trail access and design.
• Back Country Horsemen of America: National volunteer organization advocating for sustainable trail use, including equestrian access to public lands. Direct ELCR partner with overlapping mission on equestrian trail preservation and stewardship.
• American Horse Council: National nonprofit trade association advocating for the U.S. horse industry at federal, state, and local levels. Directly comparable to ELCR in mission scope (equine policy and industry advocacy) and audience (breed associations, individuals, businesses).
• EQUUS Foundation: National nonprofit dedicated to equine welfare, including preservation of horse lands and access. Premier Conservation Partner of ELCR; comparable funding model (donations, memberships) and similar advocacy orientation toward equine well-being.
• Coalition for Recreational Trails: National coalition of trail-related organizations that ELCR participates in to advocate for federal Recreational Trails Program funding. Highly comparable advocacy function, with shared federal-policy engagement.

Regional players

• Greenbelt Alliance: Regional (San Francisco Bay Area) land conservation nonprofit listed as an ELCR partner/peer organization. Comparable community-led conservation advocacy model but operates in a different geography with urban-edge focus.

Emerging players

• American Farmland Trust: National nonprofit focused on farmland preservation and agricultural land use policy. Adjacent mission (protecting productive agricultural land) but with a broader crop/livestock scope that intersects with ELCR's equine-land preservation focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EquineLandConservationResource
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/equine-land-conservation-resource
• Instagraminstagram.com/savehorseland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Equine Land Conservation Resource