AAEP Foundation

In 2018 the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation has approved $701,723 to fund 28 organizations, projects, and programs committed to its mission of improving horse health and welfare.

The Foundation Advisory Council at its summer meeting selected recipients from a group of applications and ongoing projects seeking continued AAEP Foundation support. The AAEP board of directors ratified the council’s recommendations.

Scholarship support to help financially stabilize students’ transition into practice received the lion’s share of proceeds, with $340,000 approved to fund 49 scholarships. The disbursement also includes support for a record 10 Equitarian (working equid) programs.

Less than a year after hurricanes and wildfires inflicted a considerable physical and emotional toll on humans and animals in the U.S. and Caribbean, disaster training and preparation are spotlighted with funding of a pair of training programs at veterinary schools. These programs will be available to veterinarians, students, first responders, and horse owners. The Foundation also funded an equine disaster planning session for veterinarian leaders and industry stakeholders, likely to be hosted in 2019.

Among new programs receiving support are the recently launched Equine Welfare Data Collective, a collaborative effort to enhance programming for transitioning and at-risk horses; development of iBooks at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine; and development of up to four $20,000 first-time faculty awards for research projects.

Recipients, by mission category, include:

Benevolence

  • Equine Advocacy/Unwanted Horses
  • Equine Welfare Data Collective
  • Unwanted Horse Coalition/Operation Gelding Program

Equitarian Programs

  • Equitarian Projects in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru and South Dakota
  • Equitarian Young Leader Development Scholarships
  • Fast Horse Seminar and Herder Training in Mongolia
  • Veterinary Agent Training in Haiti
  • Working Equid Owner Education Program

Disaster Preparedness and Relief

  • Equine Disaster Planning Session
  • Louisiana Tech University Foundation Disaster Preparation Training
  • University of California, Davis, Veterinary Emergency Response Team Disaster Preparation Training

Equine Research Awards and Projects

  • AAEP Past Presidents’ Research Fellow
  • EQUUS Foundation Research Fellow
  • First-time faculty awards for research projects

Education Programs and Projects

  • World Equine Veterinary Association Congress
  • University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine iBooks development
  • Equine Veterinary Student Educational Programs:
    • AAEP Annual Convention student programs
    • Focus on Students summer programs
    • Student chapter Essential Skills Workshops
    • Student chapter activities

Equine Veterinary Student Scholarships

  • AVMA Congressional Fellowship Program
  • Coyote Rock Ranch Scholarships
  • Merck Animal Health Scholarships
  • Northwestern Pennsylvania VMA Equine Symposium Scholarships
  • Oakwood Charitable Trust Scholarships
  • Winner’s Circle Scholarships (in partnership with the Race for Education, Platinum Performance, and the AAEP Foundation)
  • Zoetis Scholarships

For more information about the AAEP Foundation and its effect on horse welfare, visit aaepfoundation.org and click the “Our Impact” link.