Good horse owners try to do the best they can for their horses—often to a fault. But what happens when a good owner finds themselves in a potentially perilous financial situation when their horse has an emergency?

In the past, some of these horses would have been relinquished to adoption or rescue organizations or even sent through auctions out of sheer desperation as the owner tried to give the horse a shot at getting the care they could not afford.

Now, however, thanks to a grant program jointly administered by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), The Foundation for the Horse (AAEP’s charitable arm), and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), owners have other options to get their horses the care they need.

The Vet Direct Safety Net Program was created with one goal in mind: To help keep owned horses in homes. The program does this by providing owners with a stipend of up to $600 to assist with a horse’s emergent welfare need. The funds are available on a per-horse—not per-owner—basis, allowing owners to receive even more assistance should they find themselves with multiple horses in need.

Timing is Everything

Lizz Ficara of Louisville, Ky., has always taken impeccable care of her horses. In 2023, Ficara had major back surgery that prevented her from working as an equine dental tech. Like most horses, Ficara’s Quarter Horse gelding, Tony, had incredible timing (sarcasm intended) and needed emergent medical care while she was out of work and funds were short. But for Ficara, foregoing his care wasn’t an option.

She began searching for programs or grants she could apply for to help offset the medical bills her horse was about to incur. During one conversation, the Vet Direct Safety Net program was mentioned, and she began coordinating efforts between the program and her veterinarian so funding would be available to her horse—and to other horses in similar situations.

Medical Attention Needed

While Ficara was out of work, Tony had developed open, oozing sores on three of his four pasterns. He had significant granulation tissue that was incredibly painful and itchy. After trying to resolve it herself with myriad salves and creams, Ficara called her vet, as Tony was clearly uncomfortable and the wounds were not healing.

Sarah Grigoleit, DVM, of Kentucky Equine Hospital in Simpsonville, Ky., diagnosed Tony with significant suspected summer sores on three of his four legs. A parasitic disease linked to the life cycles of stomach worms, summer sores are caused by larvae deposited in areas where they cannot complete their life cycle (often around the nose, lips or genitals), causing inflammation and ulceration where they are laid—in Tony’s case, on his legs.

Unfortunately, summer sores are notoriously stubborn to heal. Treatment often requires a veterinarian to debride the wound multiple times, as well as administer ivermectin, corticosteroids and topical products. In addition, Tony had to have his legs wrapped to keep them as clean as possible.

Getting the Funding

In total, Tony received three months of at-home treatment for his legs, including bi-weekly granulation debridement treatment that was essential to his healing and well-being. All the vet visits added up in a hurry, and Ficara was thankful for the financial breathing room Vet Direct funding offered her.

“The program funding was not hard to access,” says Ficara. “The only caveat was that my vet—or someone with her clinic—had to be a current AAEP member. As long as one vet is a member, the whole clinic has access to Vet Direct funds for their clients.”

Though veterinarians are often enrolled in the program first and then offer it to their clients in need, in this case, Ficara reached out to the Vet Direct team directly and encouraged her vet clinic to become enrolled.

Her persistence and insistence that the program could assist not only horse owners but the clinic itself by helping to offset open invoices will no doubt have positive ramifications for years to come.

Today, Tony is summer sore-free and enjoying his life, and Ficara is looking forward to the day when she’s comfortable enough to ride again.

“I am deeply thankful for the Vet Direct Safety Net Program,” she says. “The funding applied toward my invoices was incredible and allowed me a bit of peace of mind during an already stressful time. We all love our horses and want to do the best for them. The Vet Direct program allowed me to continue to offer Tony the type of care he was used to receiving even though I was in a tough spot financially.”

Further Reading
◆ How Equine Safety Net Programs Are Making a Difference
◆ Horse Safety Net Programs Helping Horses and Owners in Need

This article about the Vet Direct Safety Net Program appeared in the May 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post How the Vet Direct Safety Net Program is Helping Horse Owners appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Open Admissions Grant

Laurie Jackson, executive director of Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary (HTFAS) in Ravenna, Ohio, knows firsthand the value of being a grant recipient. Happy Trails was recently awarded financial assistance as part of the ASPCA’s goal to expand its open admissions programs. Grant funding, available to ASPCA Adoption Partners, enabled her organization to expand its reach to help more horses.

Jackson has been with the 22-year-old program for the last 10 years. During that time, she has witnessed a shift in referrals, thanks in large part to the grant, from law enforcement to owner relinquishment. This means horses are receiving early, proactive help, keeping them safe and healthy before they fall at further risk of becoming neglected.

“I think one of the unique things about us is that we were afforded the grant after we had become Partners of The ASPCA Right Horse program, and we latched on to the example they were setting,” Jackson says. “That’s when we went from a mission statement that only accepted law enforcement cases to modeling our organization to the examples and guidance they have given us.”

The grant further allowed the organization to promote the open admissions model.

“One of the things the grant did was provide funding for a staff member that could focus on our equine outreach and evaluation,” she says. “It also gave us a push and support to show us that we could do it.”

Jackson says that there are always going to be horses in need out there. “But they are out there whether or not they are on our waiting list.”

With the grant, she says, they are no longer afraid of the waiting list.

According to HTFAS Equine Placement Coordinator Audra Agnone, the grant has advanced the organization’s ability to bring horses in before they reach the point that they would be considered an equine cruelty case. For example, last year, with only a 12-stall barn, the organization was able to help 62 horses.

“You don’t need a 100-stall barn,” says Jackson. “There are other ways to help horses than to bring them in and take them into your charge.” She adds that the program has even been able to provide counseling for humane euthanasia when that was the best option for an individual horse.

It’s that welcoming and guiding approach that allows the organization to create a relationship that facilitates locating where the true problem stems from and then using that information to proactively help equines, whether that be by receiving veterinary care at home or going to Happy Trails for safe rehoming.

Vet Direct Safety Net

A second equine safety net program is known as Vet Direct Safety Net (VDSN). The essence of the program is groundbreaking in that it seeks to keep horses at home. In 2016 and 2017, the ASPCA completed surveys to determine why owned horses were being surrendered and/or sent to auction.

“They found out that many horses had an immediate welfare need at the same time the owner had some kind of financial emergency,” says Sarah Coleman, VDSN administrator. “These horses are loved, but the owners knew they couldn’t provide the medical care needed, so they opted to send the horse to an auction or rescue in hopes that someone would be able to afford to address the issue.”

The potential success of this program was evident from the beginning.

“It worked so well that when the ASPCA piloted it in 2020, they gave the program over to the Foundation for the Horse [the charitable arm of the American Association of Equine Practitioners] to administer,” says Coleman.

Upon this discovery, the ASPCA went back and asked the owners if they had a grant of funds that addressed their equine’s emergent need, would they have kept the horse? The overwhelming response was yes.

How It Works

Detecting this led to the development of VDSN. Coleman explains that when the program shifted to the Foundation, the ASPCA provided a $50,000 grant with the reins of the program to keep it funded and moving forward.

The funding is used to provide one-time financial assistance of up to $600 per horse to care for an immediate welfare need for an owner who is struggling financially. Proof of need is not required.

Funds are dedicated for immediate, practical welfare needs where if the horse is not assisted, his health and wellbeing will suffer. Coleman lists examples of permissible expenses as choke, stitches, staples, non-surgical colic, and even humane euthanasia when that is the best option.

Veterinarians involved with the program have the autonomy to identify at-risk equines in need of services, and reimbursement is free of red tape. Many participating veterinarians share that they want to help all equines and owners, and this allows them to do good work for vulnerable horses in their community—work that they might have been doing unpaid previously. VDSN provides a sustainable way to help.

So far, 169 solo practitioners are enrolled in the program, which also boasts 106 enrolled veterinary practices.

“These are multi-doctor practices,” Coleman says. Every practice with one enrolled veterinarian qualifies to take part in the program. So far, 156 horses have been helped, with 23 necessitating humane euthanasia.

Spreading the Word

Enrolling in the program is a simple process that is open to any AAEP member veterinarian. Veterinarians interested in taking part should first contact the Foundation for the Horse at SueStivers@aaep.org. Next, two forms will need to be completed, along with a 20-minute telephone onboarding completed by Coleman.

Enrolled veterinarians are immediately eligible to use funds for clients they feel fit the program. If it was not a euthanasia case, someone from the ASPCA will contact the owner within a few months of the equine’s emergency to see if they still own the horse.

“Those numbers, so far, have been overwhelmingly positive,” Coleman says. “A one-time financial gift allows horse owners to keep owned horses in their homes, which frees up shelter and rescue space to care for those horses who are truly in need.”

Christie Schulte Kappert, senior director of ASPCA Equine Welfare, recommends making your veterinarian aware of the VDSN program and asking them about their willingness to participate.

“We’re trying to create a large network of veterinarians out there that can do good and get paid for their work,” she says.

This article about equine safety net programs appeared in the November/December 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post How Equine Safety Net Programs Are Making a Difference appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

When a person encounters a speed bump like a financial crisis or health issue, it can be challenging to cope. But for horse owners, it’s even more difficult to manage these obstacles. Many don’t know where to turn for help, which puts their horses at risk. However, a growing number of resources are now available to assist horse owners having a hard time providing essential care for their horses. These safety net programs provide vital support that can help horses stay in their homes.

“The goal of a safety net is to be able to provide the support necessary to keep a horse in [his current] home when that’s in the best interest of the horse,” explains Emily Weiss, Ph.D., American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) vice-president of equine welfare.

“Ultimately, we want fewer horses coming into shelters and rescues,” says Weiss. “Elevating the visibility that these solutions exist can help keep those horses from neglect or having to come to a shelter and be relinquished.”

One key program working to do just that is the United Horse Coalition’s Equine Resource Database (UHCERD). Launched in 2020, this searchable online database of over 1,200 horse rescues, sanctuaries and shelters puts help a click away. Owners can search by state and by type of help needed, from hay and feed to euthanasia and disposal, as well as rehoming and other forms of assistance.

Horse health issues are a common setback where safety net services can make a difference. The Vet Direct Safety Net program managed by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and The Foundation for the Horse in partnership with the ASPCA was created to help horse owners in need pay for emergency vet care.

Horse rescues are also working hard to meet people where they are and to provide broader assistance beyond relinquishing and rehoming horses.

Helping Horse Owners

Recent numbers from the Equine Welfare Data Collective, a research program of the United Horse Coalition, focus on quantifying and understanding the horse rescue pipeline. They reveal that 77 percent of horses coming into rescues and shelters are surrendered by their owners or confiscated by law enforcement. Owner finances are the most common reason reported for surrender, followed by owner health.

“This reaffirms through data what we already knew anecdotally—that to make the biggest change for at-risk horses and stem the tide, we have to start at the source, and that is by helping horse owners who have fallen on hard times,” says Ashley Harkins, United Horse Coalition (UHC) director. “This is at the heart of what UHC does, and why the UHCERD exists—to promote responsible horse ownership and provide options for horse owners.”

To date, the UCH’s Equine Resource Database and Covid resource sites have had over 24,000 visitors.

“Through this database, we are able to give horse owners a vital lifeline and point them in the right direction to get the help they need before their horse ends up at risk,” says Harkins, noting that there are programs available in every part of the country. “If people need help, we can direct them to whatever resources they are in need of, or barring that, with the people who can help.”

In 2021, the ASPCA expanded their services in Oklahoma, establishing the Equine Transition and Adoption Center pilot program to provide compassionate help and free services for equines in need, including subsidized veterinary care when it’s best for the horse to stay at home with the owner; compassionate euthanasia if needed to prevent suffering; or safe relinquishment so the horse can receive care before being placed in a loving new home through adoption.

This variety of services offers flexibility to provide the solution that’s right for that horse and owner at that moment.

“If you can’t keep your horse, we can take him and help him get a home,” says Weiss. “Or we can work together to see what solutions there are to help you keep your horse home. We see that as the solution, to be able to support horses within a community. It becomes a community resource.”

Tom Persechino, director of equine welfare for the ASPCA, notes that most horse owners reaching out to the Equine Transition and Adoption Center in Oklahoma have been able to hold onto their horses with just that little bit of support—often as simple as basic nutrition advice, treating an infection, managing minor lameness, or getting a horse up to date on vaccinations and routine care.

“If we can help horse owners get over whatever that challenge is that they’re facing in the moment, if there’s a safety net program that can help them get past that, we’ve proven that they can keep their horses long-term, they can keep them healthy, and they very rarely need to return for services or seek to surrender or relinquish them.”

Of all the services offered through the program, access to affordable vet care has proven to be significant. Simply providing support for metabolic issues like Cushing’s disease or treating dental problems can make a dramatic difference in keeping a horse healthy at home.

“Folks have reached out when their horse is losing significant weight and they think something horrific has happened, when he is simply not able to chew his food,” says Weiss. “That’s an issue that is easily resolved.”

Vet Direct Safety Net

Vet emergencies cause financial stress for both owners in need and veterinarians who want to be able to help them and their horses.

Through the AAEP’s Vet Direct program, equine veterinarians who register to participate can provide up to $600 of veterinary services per animal to assist horse owners in need. This allows vets to identify and provide care for at-risk equines in their communities and offer relief to horse owners who are unable to afford veterinary care.

“Vet Direct was launched as a way to see if there were horses that could remain in the home rather than being surrendered when they faced a medical issue at a time when their owner needed some sort of help due to circumstances they were facing,” says Keith Kleine, AAEP director of industry relations.

The program has assisted owners who were experiencing financial difficulty due to things like medical issues (themselves or immediate family members), loss of job or income, or other temporary situations. But long-term, Kleine says, if they could get help with some practical veterinary care, they could keep their horses.

The Vet Direct Safety Net covers urgent vet care such as wound treatment, eye issues, neurologic problems, choke, and non-surgical colic care, as well as euthanasia and disposal if recovery is unlikely.

Since its inception in 2017, the Vet Direct program has helped many equines. This includes horses like Trixie, who got the help she needed to overcome an ongoing eye issue. A donkey named Perk would have been euthanized after a dog attack without the financial support of Vet Direct. Another horse, Sugar, was lame and in so much pain she could hardly walk. Thanks to funds from Vet Direct, radiographs helped with a diagnosis, and with foam pads and regular trims she was able to walk comfortably again.

Tracking this program over the last few years shows that most horses receiving treatment through Vet Direct remain safe and healthy in their homes, according to the ASPCA.

For those cases where euthanasia is recommended as the most humane option to alleviate pain and suffering, Vet Direct is also able to help with those costs.

“The number of horses that suffer simply because the owner can’t afford euthanasia and disposal is significant,” says Weiss. “A number of owners hold off because it’s difficult to talk about. Having a veterinarian come to you through this program to navigate that [situation] is incredibly helpful.”

Asking for Help

Rescues are trying to be more proactive by providing short-term assistance to owners who qualify and acting as a resource in times of need, says Harkins.

The AAEP reminds horse owners that it’s important to ask for help before situations become dire. These organizations and programs are poised to help more horses if they are called upon before the animals are starving, says Kleine. Most importantly, there is no shame or judgment in asking for help. Vets, safety net administrators, and others involved in equine welfare recognize that hard times can happen to anyone.

“Asking for help is difficult, but it is incredibly admirable,” he says.

That’s why these programs exist—they want to provide assistance.

“When somebody raises their hand and says, ‘I’m having trouble and I want to do right by this horse and I need your help,’ that’s why we’re here,” says Weiss.

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