Horse Illustrated Magazine

Edited Press Release

Historic flooding across Colorado has destroyed thousands of homes and farms. Thousands of horses have been displaced or are stranded across 4,500 square-miles of flood-ravaged terrain. This area is densely populated with horses, including many large breeding and training facilities all along the Front Range.

Hay and feed are being airlifted to hundreds of stranded farm owners and delivered to hundreds more in dire need of feed for their horses. Recovery from a disaster of this magnitude will be arduous and ongoing, but not impossible. When the flooding stops, the recovery is only beginning. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is calling on the equestrian community to aid fellow horse owners by donating to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund.

With the support of USEF CEO John Long, the USEF asks that equestrians, equestrian fans, and all people who share a love for horses make a donation to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund. These recent storms have struck the heart of Colorado’s horse country and have made the cost of relocating, feeding, and caring for horses overwhelming. With the support of the community, the fund will help make sure horses are not overlooked, forgotten, or abandoned, and help to relieve the burden of affected horse owners and caretakers in this, and in future, times of crisis. This fund was established with the goal of delivering aid in the most effective manner possible.

“It is important to understand this fund is a dollar in and a dollar out,” says Long. “Nothing is withheld.” Any donation to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund equates to timely and efficient help for horses and horse owners.

Originated during the aftermath of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund was formed to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of horses during trying times. Money donated to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund is used to prepare for disasters and assists any breed of equines that are victims of disasters, including but not restricted to hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, blizzards and fires. The USEF holds money donated to the fund in an account restricted for this purpose, and funds can only be disbursed upon the authorization of the USEF Chief Executive Officer.

Donations may be made online at www.usef.org.

To contribute by check, please make it out to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund and mail it to:

The United States Equestrian Federation,
4047 Iron Works Parkway,
Lexington, KY 40511.

Further Reading
Disaster Preparedness Information for Horse Owners