Purina Horse Feed has donated $10,000 to the Southern Illinois University – Carbondale (SIUC) Equine Science Program in an effort to help rebuild the SIUC Horse Center after a severe storm struck Carbondale, Ill., on May 8, 2009. The SIUC Equine Science Program and Horse Center has been instrumental in past research and field testing of Purina’s Equine Senior horse feed.

The SIUC Equine Science Program provides food and shelter to 50 horses and educates future professionals in the horse industry. The 2,000 acre SIUC farm system is the heart of the Equine Science program and various research endeavors. Purina’s donation will help facilitate reconstruction and other immediate needs.

“It’s going to take a long time and a lot of construction before we can establish safe access to all of our pastures,” said Sheryl King, PhD, director of the SIUC Equine Science Program. “There is an estimated $450,000 worth of damage to the entire Horse Center.”

The 50 horses housed at the SIUC Horse Center were unharmed during the storm, however, all animal support facilities were destroyed or heavily damaged, including barns, feed mills, and miles of fencing surrounding the horse pastures