Applications are being accepted until Sept. 1 for The Foundation for the Horse Past Presidents’ and EQUUS Foundation Research Fellows scholarships for 2021.

These annual scholarships are awarded to American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) member veterinarians who are beginning their careers in equine research in graduate school. Each recipient will receive a $5,000 scholarship during the AAEP’s 67^th Annual Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, Dec. 4-8.

The Foundation for the Horse Past Presidents’ Research Fellow and the EQUUS Foundation Research Fellow, established in 2006 and 2011, respectively, emphasize the importance of equine research while rewarding researchers for their personal contributions.

The Foundation for the Horse created the research fellow scholarships to acknowledge and support the increasing need to train future equine veterinary researchers.

“Companion animals—dogs, cats, and horses—play a central role in our quality of life,” said Jenny W. Belknap, chair of the EQUUS Foundation. “Horses thrill us as athletes, grace our lives as companions, instill confidence and teamwork in equestrians of all ages, and perform miracles for people with special needs. The impact of horses on our well-being is significant. It is crucial now, more than ever before, that we continue to improve their health and welfare.”

These scholarships are made possible through the monetary contributions of AAEP past presidents and the EQUUS Foundation.

“Although it is common for veterinary graduates with an equine interest to pursue residency training in a clinical specialty, it is difficult to get them to the next level of pursuing a career in research and teaching, mainly due to economic constraints,” said Richard Mitchell, DVM, MRCVS, Dipl. ACVSMR, chairman of The Foundation for the Horse Advisory Council. “If our knowledge of horse health is going to continue to advance, we must encourage more veterinarians to become researchers. We can’t thank the EQUUS Foundation and AAEP’s past presidents enough for supporting those pursuing careers in equine research.”

Ideal candidates for the research fellows are graduates of an AVMA-accredited school/college of veterinary medicine who have experience conducting equine research and are nearing completion of a residency or doctoral program. Applicants who are seeking funding for their research project or have secured funding from other organizations are eligible to apply, as the scholarships focus on supporting the researcher, not the project.

The scholarship descriptions and applications are accessible on The Foundation’s website. Applicants need only apply once to either Fellow program to be considered for both awards.