The mission of The Heart Of A Horse Foundation (HOAH) is quite simple when considering ethical and humane care, treatment and rescue of our equine companions. With 7 million horses in the United States alone The American Horse Council estimates there are over 170,000 unwanted and uncared for horses. Each year, 100,000 American horses are slaughtered unnecessarily. The Heart of a Horse Foundation’s mission is to maintain and stimulate the unwavering well-being of horses in America.
The primary goals held by HOAH are to rescue horses via horse welfare, support safe, monitored horse involved sports and natural horse retirement.
The Heart of a Horse Foundation conducts horse rescue by providing support to horses in need. Whether they have been neglected or abused it is our duty to remove said horses from destructive environments and rehabilitate them into loving homes. The Heart of a Horse Foundation also works directly with the horse community providing welfare assistance in the form of hay, medicine and educational programs.
Board of Directors
- Mr. & Mrs. Robert Duvall
- Tab Hunter
- Mr. & Mrs. Alan Thicke
- Mr. Steve McEveety
- Mr. Craig Snider
- Jonathan Daniel
- Rep. Ed Royce
- Ms. Phyllis Gorby
- April Horowitz
- Jon Kibble
- General Paul E. Vallely
- Marian Vallely
- Lee Purcell
President and Chief Executive Officer: April Horowitz
Mailing Address:
Heart of a Horse Foundation
14148 Magnolia Boulevard
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423-6414
THE HEART OF A HORSE FOUNDATION
PROGRAM PROPOSALS
The Heart of a Horse Foundation would like to initiate an Emergency Grant available for farms, fellow non-profits associated with horses (rescue, therapy, community outreach) and individual horse owners struggling to feed their horses. With hay and straw prices going up as much as 30% during the recession many people are finding it hard to feed their horses adequately.
Regulatory Measures:
i. Each case will be evaluated through an application process.
ii. Referrals can be made if assistance is needed in addition to our contribution.
iii. Grants are given on a monthly basis to 2 recipients.
iv. Grants range between $500 and $1,000 and will not exceed 10% of our organization’s annual operating budget.
v. Applicants can receive only one Emergency Hay Support Grant within a twelve-month period.
vi. Within six months of receiving a grant, groups/owners must submit receipts totaling or exceeding the amount of the grant.
vii. Each applicant will provide financial statements showing a financial need for assistance.
viii. Non-Profit organizations will provide valid IRS Determination letters and supporting documentation for application purposes.
Emergency Medicine Support Grants
The Heart of a Horse Foundation will provide a grant for farms, fellow non-profits associated with horses (rescue, therapy, community outreach) and individual horse owners needing support and assistance obtaining medicine. Horses are being slaughtered and put down for reasons otherwise handled by proper treatment and medicine; this grant will help rectify these cases.
Regulatory Measures:
i. Each case will be evaluated through an application process.
ii. Our volunteer veterinarian Dr. Kevin Smith will evaluate each case.
iii. Grants are given on a monthly basis to 2 recipients.
iv. Grants range between $500 and $1,000 and will not exceed 10% of our organization’s annual operating budget.
v. Local farms, fellow non-profits associated with horses (rescue, therapy, community outreach) and ranches can receive only one Emergency Medicine Support grant within a twelve-month period.
vi. Within six months of receiving a grant, groups/owners must submit receipts totaling or exceeding the amount of the grant.
vii. Each applicant will provide financial statements showing financial need for assistance.
viii. Non-Profit organizations will provide valid IRS Determination letters and supporting documentation for application purposes.
With the success of our recent kill pen rescue Covergirl Cool, The Heart of a Horse Foundation wants to publicize the horrendous process of kill pens and decrease it’s presence in the equine community. In conjunction with the program proposal below (retirement program) The Heart of a Horse Foundation plans to rescue more horses sent to slaughter and drive unwarranted horse slaughter out of the equine community.
Regulatory Measures:
i. The Heart of a Horse Foundation will take reports from local and nation wide horse owners who feel they have no other choice but to send their horse to a kill pen.
ii. We will arrange transport and board for said horse and promptly find a home for it.
iii. We will also have a hotline in place for people to report possible horses in need of rescue from kill pen situations.
iv. Horses taking part in the Kill Pen Rescue Program will all be seen by our volunteer vet Dr. Kevin Smith.
v. All boarding and transport will be done with approved places that have experience in rescue horses.
vi. The Kill Pen Program is limited to 1 horse/month.
vii. Referrals will be made for horses we are unable to help.
Horse Retirement Program
The Heart of a Horse Foundation will help farms, fellow non-profits associated with horses (rescue, therapy, community outreach) and individual horse owners house horses nearing or at retirement age and health. The Heart of a Horse Foundation will work with other programs aimed at older/senior horses and their comfort as a natural alternative to slaughter. The Heart of a Horse Foundation supports safe and responsible incorporation of horses in sports and understands the high demand for a suitable retirement center for older or out of commission racing and polo horses. The goal of this program is to supplement the Kill Pen program and offer an alternative to older horses that cannot perform.
Regulatory Measures:
i. The Heart of a Horse Foundation will take requests for horses in need of retirement.
ii. Horses qualify for retirement if they are injured or unable to perform an expected task by its owner or if it has reached a mature age (*this varies depending on breed and size.)
iii. The Heart of a Horse Foundation will support no more than 5 horses and will take on more as room becomes available.
iv. Horses will receive medical care and support but more importantly the opportunity to enjoy their remaining years.
v. We support natural humane methods of retirement and will maintain the horse in a grazing/pasture manner.
Education Program
The Heart of a Horse Foundation will use its resources to produce educational videos on how to properly care for horses and the responsibilities that come with owning a horse. HOAH believes that children should learn from a young age what it takes to own a horse; the love effort and dedication it takes as well as the equine community with which horses fall into. Proper education in equine sports and care after a sporting career are also important learning topics The Heart of a Horse Foundation wants to emphasize within schools and the equine community. Precautionary literature will be circulated to alert people of the scams and misconceptions being dispersed in our communities.
Regulatory Measures:
i. Printed literature will be distributed to local schools.
ii. A documentary will be produced (which is being donated by producer and director donors of HOAH)
iii. Horse Care videos will be distributed to colleges and schools done by our volunteer equine vet
Professionals Corner
Sponsors
Thank you, Build-A-Bear, for your recent grant award. We cannot fully express how appreciative our foundation is for this grant. Many horses will benefit from your organization’s generous donation. Together, we can end the suffering of horses everywhere.
