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horse-welfare-after
The welfare of horses is of great importance to the Parelli Foundation. Nothing promotes equine wellbeing more than humans learning to communicate with horses in a way horses understand naturally.
We fund education initiatives for horse rescue centers that improve the welfare of the horse and increase adoptability. We also support showmanship and competition when performed using natural horsemanship principles. Rescue center education raises awareness of how natural horsemanship can help rescued horses have a future.
“We’ve seen first–hand the difference that Natural Horsemanship can make for horses in need and we hope that Romeo’s life story will help reduce the number of equines in the rescue world by providing people with training solutions that work, not only for the horse, but also for the human. Our best goal of all would be that horses like Romeo and the Parelli Rehoming 4 Life Challenge will be so successful for years to come, that it eventually puts all rescues out of business!” Kim Meagher, Wild Horse Rescue, Arizona
“The training that I have received from Nancy Slater over the past few months has opened a door to understanding horses that I thought I had already learned. It was as if she had unlocked all the random bits of information that I had in my head and brought it to a higher level of understanding. I find that now I can puzzle solve more difficult issues where before I would find myself stuck self-doubting. She gave me a clearer picture of what to look for and now I see much better whether a horse is connected and understanding. I could always talk the talk but now I am beginning to be able to walk the walk and our horse and our volunteers are so much better for it!
“All of this will carry over to getting our ambassador horses confident enough to go to more events to get the word out about horse abuse and that natural horsemanship should be a “best practice” at all rescues and sanctuaries.” – Robin Cain, Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary, Florida
Grant Reports: If you are a grant recipient and need to file a report, click here.
We grant funds for projects within the United States which further our mission of:
“Helping create a better world for horses and humans through natural horsemanship education”
Special note to our international friends: The Parelli Foundation is a United States company. We provide grants for non-profit organizations in the United States. We are sorry that currently we are unable to provide grants for organizations outside the United States.
Grants may be given for any combination of the above and will be considered for other related activities. Grants may range in size from $500 to $5,000.
Applications to fund unrelated projects and expenses, such as land, feed, veterinary care, improvements and other non-education related expenses will not be considered by the Parelli Foundation.
If you are considering applying and need help to determine if your grant request falls within our mission, please contact us.
To be considered for a grant, an organization must meet the following minimum qualifications:
All grant applications are considered for funding without knowledge of the identity of the applicant.
If you are interested in applying for a grant, please proceed to the next step below.
The Rehoming for Life program is an ongoing effort by the Parelli Foundation to demonstrate that rescue horses are not “throwaway” horses. We currently offer grants for the development of select horses through our Horse Welfare grant program.
Through a grant to Wild Horse Ranch Rescue 3* Licensed Parelli Professional Ashley Dudas is developing “Merlin”. Follow Merlin as he learns how to be a partner.
In 2018, the Parelli Foundation provided a Horse Welfare grant to the SPCA of Texas. This partnership effort included a video demonstration with Pat Parelli and a horse from the SPCA of Texas for the promotion of horse welfare through natural horsemanship education.
Follow this video series as Master Horseman Pat Parelli demonstrates how to build a partnership with “Wendelin”, a three-year-old filly found running with a feral herd running wild in south Dallas, Texas. Wendelin had not been handled before her capture and though had been with an outside trainer for four months prior to this series, many steps had been skipped in her education. More below…
When this video series was taken, Wendelin had been with the SPCA for about 4 months, had received some basic training, been ridden a few times, but she lacked confidence and had “a bit of an attitude.” Pat shows us the holes in her education and how to fill them using natural horsemanship. Watch as Pat uses various natural horsemanship methods to build a basic relationship with a rescued horse.
As more horses are finding themselves without homes, humane shelters are often opening their doors to equines in need and many equine rescues are filled to capacity. Too often horses are sold, abandoned, or euthanized because of undesirable behavior or lack of access to proper training.
Using natural horsemanship methods, rescue organizations can improve the lives of equines in transition and improve adoptions. Parelli Foundation’s Horse Welfare program provides grants to help do just that.
Rescue horses have unique needs and safety is paramount for both horses and the humans who care for them. The Foundation’s Rehoming for Life Workshops were created to offer education by Parelli Professionals designed for the rescue staff and volunteers. We offer Rehoming for Life workshops regionally by request.
Past Rehoming for Life Workshops:
Best Friends Animal Society’s Horse Haven
The Parelli Foundation’s first Rehoming For Life Workshop
Kanab, UT
March 18-23, 2014
Sonoma Equine Rescue Rehab and Adoption (SERRA)
A story about the regional group that developed as a result of the Rehoming for Life Workshop at SERRA, Petaluma CA
May 16-17, 2015
We will continue to offer Regional Rehoming for Life Workshops if a group of recues in a region would like to contract with us to do so. Mnimum guaranteed registration 25. For additional information contact us.
We are grateful for the support of the ASPCA for our workshop.
The Right Horse Initiative of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA®) hosts a collective of industry professionals, equine welfare organizations, and advocates working together to reframe the conversation around equine adoption and improve the lives of horses in transition through a dialog of kindness and respect.
“Together we will continue to improve the lives of countless horses through innovative programs, training, and increased public awareness.” Dr. Emily Weiss, Vice President of ASPCA® Equine Welfare.
A Tennessee Walking Horse rider participates in the 2014 Walk on Washington event to garner support for the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act. (Courtesy of Victoria Broehm from AVMA.com)
What is the PAST Act? This bill will close loopholes in the federal Horse Protection Act and end the abject cruelty of soring, a practice in which Tennessee Walking Horses (TWH) are tortured with chemicals, chains and heavily weighted stacked shoes and other horrific practices to perform the exaggerated gait that is referred to as the “Big Lick”. The PAST Act would abolish the use of the torturous shoes, chains, and chemicals that are fundamental to the soring process, as well as increasing penalties and stop the self-policing of the TWH industry, which has failed to stop this practice.
The bill passed the House this July with the support of well over 300 bipartisan cosponsors! With this momentum and over 40 cosponsors in the Senate, it is now more important than ever that people contact their Senators and urge their cosponsorship of PAST.
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A Tennessee Walking Horse’s leg with multiple heavy chains, which hit the sensitive and sometimes chemically sored, ankle and heavy stacked shoe. Courtesy of Bradley Dick Photography
Help support horse welfare: Find your Senator’s contact information and email and/or call them today to ask for their support of the PAST Act (HR 693). If your Senator is a co-sponsor, please contact them to offer your thanks.
Donate to Parelli Foundation’s Programs, each helping to promote the welfare of horses and other equine through natural horsemanship education.
More information:
• Interested in doing more for horses? Follow @ThePASTAct on Twitter to share information and tweet at legislators.
Thermographic image shows excessive warmth (seen as red and orange colors), which may be caused by inflammation from soring. The pattern seen is consistent with soring using a chemical agent. © USDA
• PAST is known formally in the House as HR 693, and S.1007 in the Senate. The House bill is titled U.S. Senator Joseph D. Tydings Memorial PAST Act. Senator Tydings was known as the “Father of the Horse Protection Act,” the original legislation of 1970 that first outlawed the practice of soring.
• Why is the Horse Protection Act not sufficient? Loopholes in the law have allowed abuse of Tennessee Walking Horse to continue, due mostly to allowing the Tennessee Walking Horse show industry to be self-policing; allowing trained third-party individuals to serve as inspectors at Walking Horse shows.
• This abuse known as soring and taking advantage of the loopholes of the Federal Horse Protection Act has been occurring for decades and is well-documented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and various interest groups. Change can only occur for these beautiful animals if these practices cease and this must be done through federal legislation in the form of the PAST Act.
Built up pads, called “stacks”, held on by a band over the top of the hoof, are used in some performance divisions. Credit APHIS veterinarian Todd Behre, USDA
• This legislation has hundreds of endorsements from the American Horse Council and dozens more industry groups, the American Veterinary Medical Association,American Association of Equine Practitioners, Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, every state’s veterinary medical association, National Sheriffs’ Association, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, all major animal protection organizations, and others appalled by this ongoing abuse.
X-Ray image of a “performance package” on a Tennessee Walking Horse, showing shoe, “stacks”- the multiple pads, multiple extra nails placed in pads to add weight and possibly pressure (known as “pressure soring”) and band across hoof to hold it all on. Credit USDA
The Parelli Foundation is a previous grant recipient from the Humane Society of the United States “Now that’s a Tennessee Walking Horse” program and this grant was used for a natural horsemanship course geared toward gaited horses. We have long promoted opportunities for the use, care and training Tennessee Walking Horses and other gaited breeds through natural horsemanship.
Horses at risk, especially those in their golden years and those blind, are well off at the Maryland Horse Rescue Rehabilitation and Adoption in Mount Airy, Md. A Parelli Foundation grant in 2018 furthered their ability to partner with humans after training by 2* Licensed Parelli Professional Dru Lucia Roia.
In June, Animal Guardians Horse Rescue, Inc. (AGHR) in central California used a Parelli Foundation Horse Welfare grant to buy Parelli Natural Horsemanship (PNH) tools and hire 4* Licensed Parelli Professional (LPP) Susan Nelson Thibault. In the high desert town of Tehachapi in the southern Sierra Nevada mountain range, the group gathered for a Parelli Charity Fundraiser Clinic at 3L Ranch, which Susan operates with her husband, Maurice, also a 4* LPP.
Resources for those seeking help in other areas beyond natural horsemanship related to horse welfare such as:
We are continually updating this list. If you have a favorite link or resource that you would like us to consider adding to the list, please send the link using our contact us form.
Competition related abuses in training, racing, and other arenas
Background Information:
Issues impacting equine welfare in competition
Despite improved regulations in these areas and improving judging standards, penalties for infractions are often not serious enough and are applied inconsistently.
Current Resources/Organizations devoted to this issue:
Standards for facilities and care
Current Resources/Organizations devoted to this issue:
Equine Sanctuary and Rescue Facility Guidelines
Local agricultural associations/farm bureaus have courses on farm and equine management.
Background Information:
The need for space at rescue centers may be 10 times the current availability (roughly spots for 6000 horses annually). Data compiled by the Equine Welfare Alliance indicate that the cost of feed is the most important factor leading to unwanted horses.
The 2007 UHC Survey identified several factors leading to the number of unwanted horses: downturn in economy including change in owner employment, loss of owner interest, closing of processing facilities, indiscriminate breeding, unmanageable horses, old age/injured horses.
Current Resources/Organizations devoted to this issue:
Indiscriminant breeding
Background Information:
It is estimated that there are nearly 10 million horses in the US.
Current Resources/Organizations devoted to this issue:
Background Information:
Pregnant mare urine (PMU) is processed to make the hormone replacement Premarin. Concerns about the living conditions for Premarin mares and foals as well as the high probability of these horses being sent to slaughter are real.
The Thoroughbred industry produces thousands of “nurse mare foals” each year due to the practice of using nurse mares. This practice stems from the inability to use artificial insemination in the breeding of Thoroughbreds. Read more about this issue from Last Chance Corral.
Current Resources/Organizations devoted to this issue:
Equine Advocates: Pregnant Mares’ Urine (PMU) Industry
Saving Horses, Inc: PMU/Nurse Mare Foal Rescue
North American Equine Ranching Information Council: Consensus Report
The American Association of Equine Practitioners proposed an alternative to impregnate mares to produce a nurse mare International Veterinary Information Service: How to Induce Lactation in Non-Pregnant Mares
Unintentional Abuse: lack of knowledge and skills
Background Information:
Unintentional abuse by novice owners, trainers, and riders results from lack of the knowledge and skills needed to own, care for and ride horses. Many resources exist to provide education and improve the lives of horses and the people who love them.
Current Resources/Organizations devoted to this issue:
State Horse Councils or Boards vary in their missions and programs. See what your state Horse Council or Board has to offer.
Humane euthanasia and disposal
Background Information:
It has been suggested that the cost of euthanasia and disposal of unmanageable, old, and injured horses contributes to the number of horses abandoned, sent to auctions or rescues, or transported for slaughter.
Current Resources/Organizations devoted to this issue:
Wild horse/burro management
Background Information:
Here is an article that presents an overview of the wild horse situation with suggestions for management improvements. This is a very controversial topic.
Current Resources/Organizations devoted to this issue:
We are devastated to know that many horses and people continue to be affected by the natural disasters currently facing the United States. The effects now stemming from various wildfires and hurricanes can be life threatening and may seem insurmountable, especially when added to those challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Parelli Foundation is making a commitment to help those equines at risk and the people who love them during this very difficult time.
Our mission and programs remain relevant over time and circumstance, and we are dedicated to providing the right help at the right time for as many horses and humans as we can. In this pursuit, we have made available this new grant opportunity with the hope and intention of helping non-profit organizations across our nation continue to provide care for the equines in their programs as they are faced with the unexpected challenges that natural disasters present.
Equines at Risk Emergency Grant funds may now be requested for the following purposes: hay, emergency board when evacuation is necessary, veterinary costs associated with illness or injury stemming from natural disaster, or other costs related to your herd due to the current wildfires or hurricanes.
Information:
To be considered for a grant, an organization must meet the following minimum qualifications:
If you are considering applying and need help to determine if your grant request falls within our mission, please contact us.
Special note to our international friends: The Parelli Foundation is a United States company. We provide grants for non-profit organizations in the United States. We are sorry that currently we are unable to provide grants for organizations outside the United States.