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18 Best Grants for Starting a Horse Business

Yes. There is a wide range of grants for individuals and groups looking to start a horse business in the United States. Truth be told, finding funding to start a horse business can be quite challenging, and even if you find, note that the type of grant your business is eligible for will depend on the type of business, the location, and whether it is a for-profit such as a training center or boarding stable, or if it is nonprofit business, such as an equine rescue or rehabilitative riding center.

According to reports, the United States government and other smaller state and local governments still make available a wide range of grants to help small businesses.

Also, a good number of horse businesses will qualify as small businesses and may be eligible for additional help depending on some of the factors noted above. Also note that there are grants developed specifically for minorities who are looking to start a horse business.

The official government business website, Business.gov, provides links to various grant programs and information. It’ll also let you search within the site for state and local information that can be of enormous benefit to your horse business. Nonetheless, here are available grants for starting a horse business in the United States.

18 Grants for Starting a Horse Business

  1. ASPCA Equine Fund

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is known to make available a wide variety of grants annually through its Equine Fund.

These grants are primarily for already existing businesses that support animal welfare, such as equine rescue organizations; rehabilitative training for displaced horses, retired race and sport horses; gelding efforts; and anti-cruelty programs.

  1. After the Finish Line

After the Finish Line (ATFL) is a 501© (3) charitable organization known to award Monthly Grants to aftercare organizations across the United States! Note that this grant is made available and awarded to qualified tax-exempt organizations nationwide to help offset costs of care for Off Track Thoroughbreds.

  1. SARE Funding

If your horse business is a farm or ranch with sustainable agriculture practices, such as a small farm that uses horse and other animal power rather than machinery to work the fields, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education foundation offers various grants, including education/outreach grants and professional development grants.

The granting organizations are divided into four regions, comprising of north-central, northeast, southern, and western divisions.

  1. American Horse Rescue Network

American Horse Rescue Network (AHRN) is a charitable organization that is dedicated to the welfare of equines and works to save and improve equine lives. They also offer grants to eligible tax-exempt organizations nationwide that meet all grant eligibility criteria.

  1. American Humane

The second Chance Grants program is known to provide financial assistance to tax-exempt animal welfare organizations nationwide to ensure they can offset medical costs associated with rescuing animals who have suffered from abuse/neglect.

  1. Banfield Foundation

The Banfield Foundation is a 501© (3) nonprofit organization with the sole aim of serving pets and the people who love them. They also offer grants to qualified tax-exempt organizations nationwide that provide veterinary assistance to pet owners and work to keep pets in homes with their families.

  1. Doris Day Animal Foundation

The Doris Day Animal Foundation (DDAF) is a national, nonprofit 501© (3) Public Charity established in 1978 as the Doris Day Pet Foundation by legendary performer, Doris Day, with the sole aim of helping animals and the people who love them.

They offer grants to tax-exempt animal welfare organizations nationwide to help defray the costs of care, food, veterinary treatment, and/or adoption preparations, primarily for senior companion animals.

  1. EQUUS Foundation

The EQUUS Foundation is renowned as the only national animal welfare charity in the United States entirely dedicated to guaranteeing the comfort and dignity of America’s horses throughout their lives. They offer grants to tax-exempt organizations nationwide that are Equus Foundation Equine Welfare Network Partners and meet all grant eligibility criteria.

  1. Gus Hawthorne Foundation

The Gus Hawthorne Foundation (GHF) was founded primarily to provide financial support to animal nonprofit organizations for care of abused, abandoned, feral, at-risk domestic or exotic animals; or care and/or release of injured/orphaned wildlife.

They provide grants to tax-exempt animal welfare organizations nationwide that provide care for at-risk animals and meet all grant eligibility criteria.

  1. Rural Business Enterprise Grants

If your horse business is nonprofit or if it is part of a town or community effort in a rural area, you may be eligible for a rural business enterprise grant (RBEG) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Note that these grants can be used to acquire or develop land for a community or nonprofit facility, such as an equine event center.

  1. Thoroughbred Charities of America

They raise and distribute money to approved charitable organizations helping with Thoroughbred rehabilitation, retraining, and rehoming; backstretch and farm employee programs; and equine-assisted therapy programs. They provide grants to eligible tax-exempt organizations nationwide that advance TCA’s mission of providing a better life for Thoroughbreds, both during and after their racing careers, and helping the people who care for them.

  1. California Retirement Management Account/CAMRA (California only)

CARMA is a charitable 501© (3) with the sole aim of providing funding for the rehabilitation, retraining, and/or retirement of California-raced Thoroughbred horses. They offer grants in the state of California to tax-exempt organizations that retire, retrain, and re-home Thoroughbreds that have raced at partnering tracks in California.

  1. Thelma Doelger Trust for Animals (California only)

The primary objective of the Thelma Doelger Trust for Animals is to support those organizations that seek to make better the lives of animals, both wild and domestic, through direct intervention and education. They make available grants to tax-exempt animal welfare organizations that operate in the state of California, in accordance with eligibility guidelines.

  1. Animal Assistance Foundation (Colorado only)

This organization advances the welfare of companion animals in CO, as a resource and agent for positive impact, via community investment, collaboration, and leadership. They are known to make available grants in the state of Colorado to tax-exempt animal welfare organizations that enhance the Five Freedoms for companion animals.

  1. Miccio Foundation (Iowa only)

The Miccio Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established for benevolent and educational purposes. They make available grants to organizations licensed by the State of Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship towards efforts like facility renovation, animal medical care, and adoption support that will have a fast, direct, and measurable impact on improving animal welfare in a target community.

  1. Equine Protection Fund (New Mexico only)

Since 2010, they have offered assistance to over 1,000 equines all across New Mexico, thanks to the immense generosity of their donors and supporters, and to the families and agencies who partnered with them to help equines in need.

They also offer grants in the state of New Mexico for expenses concerning gelding, emergency hay, medical care, disaster recovery, and euthanasia.

  1. Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust (Ohio & Great Lakes region only)

According to reports, the Trust has distributed more than $950,000 in grants to nonprofit humane organizations, mainly in Ohio and other states in the Great Lakes region.

They are known to offer grants to tax-exempt animal welfare organizations that enhance the well-being of animals in Ohio and elsewhere in the Great Lakes region (including IL, IN, MI, WI, Western PA, Upstate NY, and Northeastern MN) in accordance with eligibility guidelines.

  1. Kirkpatrick Foundation (Central Oklahoma only)

Kirkpatrick Foundation provides financial support to organizations with projects and programs that align with the mission of the foundation, within its areas of interest: arts and culture, education, animal wellbeing, environmental conservation, and historic preservation.