The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, both based in Lexington, Ky., are collecting donations for horses and horse owners affected by the severe storms and tornadoes that ripped through several states last week.

"The duo of tornadic storms that devastated the southeast United States last week left a wake of splintered wood, shattered glass, downed power lines, despair, and shock for the residents of towns like West Liberty, Ky., and Harrisburg, Ill., to clean up and recover from," a USEF press release read. "If that wasn’t enough, one of the region’s heaviest snowfalls of the year came down on Sunday night (March 4) and further hindered an already difficult recovery process. For some effected residents the physical and monetary burdens of recovery are intensified by the need to care for their horse or horses. It is in times like these that the United States Equestrian Federation calls on you to aid them by donating to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund."

The USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund was formed after hurricanes Katrina and Rita to help ensure the safety and well-being of horses during trying times, the press release said. The release continued, "Money donated to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund is used to prepare for disasters and assists equids of any breed who are victims of disasters including but not restricted to hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, blizzards, and fires."

Donations can be made online at https://www.usef.org/_AUAIFrames/DisasterRelief/DisasterRelief.aspx. Checks can be made out to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund and mailed to: The United States Equestrian Federation, 4047 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511. The USEF holds money donated to the disaster relief fund in an account restricted for this purpose, and funds can only be disbursed upon the USEF Chief Executive Officer’s authorization