January 18, 2024 – Harrisburg, PA – Each year, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show (PNHS) Foundation makes grants available to therapeutic riding and equine rescue organizations. Now, the success of the 77th annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show – held in October 2023 – has allowed the Foundation to make its largest grant contributions to date, awarding more than $75,000 across a record total 46 groups for 2023.
“Our PNHS team is so appreciative to each of our sponsors, donors and exhibitors who have made it possible for us to continue to increase the PNHS Foundation’s giving each year,” said Susie Shirk, Executive Director of the PNHS, held at the PA Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA. “The Foundation is such an important part of what our horse show is all about, and we have big goals to further our positive impact on therapeutic riding programs and equine rescues in the future.”
Applications for grant funding were reviewed by the PNHS Foundation Board of Directors, with the following 46 organizations named the 2023 grant recipients.
- A Broken Spur Riding Academy – Beaver, WV
- Avenues Schuylkill County Therapeutic Riding Program – Pottsville, PA
- Beyond Wishes Therapeutic Riding Program – Hinton, WV
- Bonded By Strength Equine Rescue Inc. – Lewisberry, PA
- Bridlepath Equine Center – Quarryville, PA
- Capital Area Therapeutic Riding Assoc. – Grantville, PA
- Therapeutic Riding at Centenary University – Hackettsville, NJ
- Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding – Johns Island, SC
- Chastain Horse Park – Atlanta, GA
- Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding Inc. – Abingdon, MD
- Cloverleaf Equine Center – Clifton, VA
- Days End Farm Horse Rescue – Woodbine, MD
- Dream Catchers – Taono, VA
- Equi-librium, Inc. – Nazareth, PA
- Equine Assisted Living of South Florida – Coconut Creek, FL
- EquiTeam – Dallastown, PA
- February Star Sanctuary, Inc. – Knoxville, MD
- Franklin Co 4-H Therapeutic Riding Center – Chambersburg, PA
- Gateway Horse Works – Malvern, PA
- Graceful Acres – Halifax, PA
- Horses & Horizons – New Ringgold, PA
- Kindle Hill Foundation Charity – Blue Bell, PA
- Leg Up Farm – Mt. Wolf, PA
- Lifeline Horse Rescue & Rehabilitation – Gaithersburg, MD
- Mane Stream Therapeutic Riding – Oldwick, NJ
- Maryland Therapeutic Riding – Crownsville, MD
- Manito Life Center – Allentown, PA
- Metropolitan Equestrian Team – New York, NY
- Morning Dove Therapeutic Riding, Inc. (Herd of Hope) – Zionsville, IN
- Northwinds Rescue & Healing – Deerfield, WI
- Omega Horse Rescue – Airville, PA
- Pal-O-Mine – Islandia, NY
- Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy – Philadelphia, PA
- Prairie Fire Farms, Inc. – Grantville, PA
- Promise Landing Farm, Inc. – Upper Marlboro, MD
- Reins of Life – Landenburg, PA
- Reins of Rhythm – Fayetteville, PA
- Ride with Pride – Staunton, VA
- Sebastian Riding Associates – Collegeville, PA
- Shining Stars Therapeutic Riding Program, Inc. – Gettysburg, PA
- Special Equestrians – Warrington, PA
- Storm Harbor Equestrian Center – Slippery Rock, PA
- The Children’s TherAplay Foundation, Inc. – Carmel, IN
- The Helping Horseshoe Therapeutic Riding Club – Andover, NJ
- Therapeutic Riding of Tuscaloosa – Cottondale, AL
- Walnut Grove Therapeutic Center, Inc. – Dover, PA
The grant applications ranged in funding requests from $100 to $15,000, with the majority of applicants requesting between $1,000 – $3,000. In total, the PNHS Foundation was able to fully fund 15 of the grant requests and partially fund an additional 31 groups.
For many of the groups – therapeutic and rescue alike – the grant funds will go toward the vital essentials of equine care, including feed, hay and veterinary care. For others like Leg Up Farm in Mt. Wolf, PA, the grant money will help to subsidize and provide scholarships for therapeutic riding and equine-assisted psychotherapy lessons. Still others, such as Walnut Grove Therapeutic Center in Dover, PA, will utilize the funds toward physical expansions of their facilities, allowing them to serve an increased number of individuals.
In addition to providing grant funding, the PNHS Foundation also hosts the LifeVac Therapeutic Riding Championships each year on “Foundation Friday” during the horse show. The 2024 Pennsylvania National Horse Show will be held October 10-20. To learn more about the PNHS and the PNHS Foundation, please visit www.PANational.org. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Brenda Mueller at [email protected].
