The Foundation For The Horse

What The Foundation For The Horse does

The Foundation for the Horse is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization incorporated in Kentucky in 1994 as the philanthropic arm of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). Headquartered at 4033 Iron Works Parkway on the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, the Foundation operates with a 1-10 employee staff and is governed by leading equine veterinarians and industry stakeholders. Dr. Tracy Turner serves as President and David Foley as Executive Director, with Kevin Hinchman directing information technology and Jay Buckner leading marketing. The Foundation shares facilities and staff with AAEP, providing it direct access to the U.S. equine veterinary profession as its primary distribution and engagement channel.

The Foundation's portfolio comprises three functional pillars delivered through named programs: (1) scholarship programs for veterinary students, including ten named scholarship funds such as the Coyote Rock Ranch Veterinary Scholarships (four $75,000 awards annually), Zoetis Foundation Scholarships (ten $10,000 awards annually), and others administered through 16 universities; (2) research grant programs including Innovation & Discovery Research Grants (up to $50,000 per year for two years), Young Investigator Research Grants (up to $20,000 for one year), and Research Career Awards co-sponsored with the EQUUS Foundation; and (3) Horses at Risk programs covering Equine Care & Vaccine Support Grants, Working Equid Grants, and Disaster Relief Grants for rapid response to wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and tornados. The Chromatic Fund, launched in 2025 with $200,000 from Ariat International, US Equestrian, and KC Branscomb, extends the portfolio into sport horse welfare research.

The Foundation generates no commercial revenue; its operating model is funded entirely by charitable donations from individuals, horse owners, corporations, and other charitable organizations, plus named scholarship and grant endowments from partners including Zoetis Foundation, Merck Animal Health, Coyote Rock Ranch, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, and EQUUS Foundation. It has awarded more than $1 million annually historically and a record $3 million in 2024 in honor of its 30th anniversary, with cumulative disbursements totaling $7 million, supporting 296,000 horses helped, 23,000 students, 54 research projects at 18 institutions, and over 100,000 horses protected through the Merck vaccine partnership.

Name

The Foundation For The Horse

Legal name

The Foundation for the Horse

Website

https://foundationforthehorse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Foundation for the Horse is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and charitable arm of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, awarding scholarships, research grants, disaster relief, and at-risk horse support programs funded by individual and corporate donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equine Welfare Charitable Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC), Equine Rehabilitation, Layup & Retirement Facilities (AFAEAGAJ)

Keywords

• Equine veterinary scholarships
• Equine health research grants
• Horse welfare programs
• Equine disaster relief
• Veterinary education funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: The Foundation receives donations from individuals, horse owners, corporations, and other charitable organizations to fund its mission of improving horse health and welfare through education, research, and disaster relief.
2. Named Scholarships and Grants: Third-party organizations and individuals fund specific scholarship programs (e.g., Zoetis Foundation, Coyote Rock Ranch, Merck Animal Health) administered by the Foundation.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Foundation For The Horse is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization serving as the charitable arm of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). It provides veterinary student scholarships, equine health research grants, disaster relief funding, and horses-at-risk welfare programs, supported entirely by donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations.

Product overview

The Foundation for the Horse is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization that serves as the charitable arm of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). The organization offers a portfolio of scholarship programs for veterinary students (including Coyote Rock Ranch Scholarships, Ellen DiBella Memorial Scholarship, E.T. Hagyard 1876 Scholarship, Merck Animal Health Scholarships, Dr. Tom Riddle Theriogenology Scholarship, Dr. Bill Rood Leadership Scholarship, Anne and Richard Stirlen Scholarships, Dr. William H. Sweeney Memorial Scholarship, Dr. Ty Wallis Memorial Scholarship, and Zoetis Foundation Scholarships), grant programs for equine research (Innovation & Discovery Research Grants, Young Investigator Research Grants, Research Career Awards), and Horses at Risk programs including Equine Care & Vaccine Support Grants, Working Equid Grants, and Disaster Relief Grants. The Foundation also manages The Chromatic Fund for sport horse welfare research. All offerings work together to transform the lives of horses through education, research, and direct support for horses in need.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Chromatic Fund: A collaborative initiative dedicated to improving the welfare of horses through education and research, particularly for sport horses.
• Vet Direct Safety Net

Products and services

• Veterinary Student Scholarship Program
• Equine Health Research Grants
• Horses at Risk Program
• Equine Disaster Relief Program
• The Chromatic Fund
• Vaccine and Emerging Disease Equine Care Program
• Equine Veterinary Career Awards

Quantifiable outcome

• 296,000 horses helped
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994The Foundation is the charitable arm of AAEP, incorporated in 1994 by AAEP. It is governed and stewarded by AAEP's leading equine veterinarians and industry stakeholders. The organizations share staff and headquarters facilities at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.
• Merck Animal HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time partner providing core vaccines through the Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign (now Equine Care & Vaccine Support Grant). Provided 7,000 doses to 237 facilities in 2025. 17-year partnership protecting over 100,000 horses.
• Thoroughbred Education and Research FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to co-fund critical equine research projects. Awarded $37,400 in 2025 for research initiatives.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• American Horse Defense Fund: AHDF is a smaller equine advocacy nonprofit focused on horse welfare and legislative protection. Comparable as a peer equine welfare nonprofit with overlapping advocacy and at-risk horse programs, though smaller in scale.

Others

• Zoetis Foundation: Zoetis Foundation is a major financial partner of The Foundation (since 2021, $35M in cumulative grants distributed) and an animal health-focused corporate foundation. Comparable as a corporate-affiliated animal health grantmaker with multi-year scholarship programs.

Broad incumbents

• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): HSUS is one of the largest animal welfare charities in the U.S. with broad animal protection mission including equine welfare. Comparable as a broader animal welfare nonprofit donor competitor and advocacy partner, though operating at much greater scale and across species.
• PetSmart Charities: PetSmart Charities is one of the largest animal welfare grantmakers in North America, funding veterinary care access and welfare programs. Comparable as a broader animal welfare grantmaking organization with similar funding-for-veterinary-care model, though focused on companion animals.
• American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP): AAEP is the parent organization of The Foundation for the Horse and the leading professional association for equine veterinarians (8,000+ members). Directly comparable as the professional ecosystem anchor that the Foundation builds upon, with shared staff, leadership, and headquarters at Kentucky Horse Park.
• Morris Animal Foundation: Morris Animal Foundation is one of the largest nonprofit animal health research funders, with a $100M+ annual research budget across multiple species. Comparable as a broader animal health research grantmaker with similar research funding programs but at greater scale and across species.

Direct peers

• EQUUS Foundation: EQUUS Foundation is a direct grantmaking peer and active co-sponsor of The Foundation's Research Career Awards. Both are equine welfare nonprofits funding horse-related grants and advocacy, with overlapping donor bases and educational missions.
• Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation: Grayson-Jockey Club is a leading funder of equine veterinary research, awarding millions annually to research projects at universities. Directly comparable as a peer equine health research grantmaker with similar grant programs and academic institution network.
• American Quarter Horse Foundation: AQHF is the charitable arm of the American Quarter Horse Association, funding equine research, scholarships, and welfare programs. Directly comparable as a breed-association-affiliated equine welfare nonprofit with similar scholarship and research grant programs.
• Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation: TERF is an active co-funder of The Foundation's research grants (co-awarded $37,400 in 2025). Directly comparable as a peer equine research grantmaker focused on Thoroughbred health, with overlapping applicant pool and academic network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FoundationfortheHorse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-foundation-for-the-horse

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Foundation For The Horse