Standing Ovation by Ovation Riding: A Year of Ovations

Each week, Horse Nation teams up with Ovation Riding to spotlight an individual or organization doing good work in the horse world. At Christmas, we take a look back at our past year’s recognized organizations.

Courtesy of JEBHF.

Each Friday, Horse Nation teams up with Ovation Riding to spotlight an individual or organization doing good work in the horse world. Today, we’re revisiting our past year of nominees and encourage our readers to remember these hardworking people at the Christmas holiday: some nominees are rescues or therapeutic riding centers always in need of donations of time, supplies or money; others are individuals who are deserving of a little recognition for their good work.

Rescues/outreach

Habitat For Horses: Rescue and sanctuary based in Hitchcock, Texas

The Brooke: International education and outreach to help the world’s working equines in third-world nations

MountainView Horse Rescue: Rescue and sanctuary based in New Tripoli, Pennsylvania

Journey’s End at Birch Hill Farm: Equine and farm sanctuary based in West Virginia

Days End Farm Horse Rescue: Horse rescue based in Woodbine, Maryland

HiCaliber Horse Rescue: Horse rescue based in Valley Center, California

Horse Haven: Horse rescue based in Knoxville, Tennessee

Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch & Doris Day Equine Center: Animal sanctuary based in Murchison, Texas

The Golden Carrot: Equine sanctuary based in Anza, California

Horses of Gili: Educates owners and provide basic assistance to the working horses of the Gili Islands off the coast of Indonesia

Front Range Equine Rescue: Education, rescue and outreach with bases in Colorado, Virginia and Florida

Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society: Horse rescue working through fosters in Texas

Purina Animal Nutrition: Adopts out animals from feed research facilities and supports A Home For Every Horse to help match adopters with equines in need

Strawberry Mountain Mustangs: Horse rescue and rehabilitation based in Oregon

Hope Equine Rescue: Horse rescue based in Auburndale, Florida

Zuma’s Rescue Ranch: Horse rescue combined with equine-assisted therapy in Littleton, Colorado

Safe Harbor Equine & Livestock Sanctuary: Horse and livestock rescue and sanctuary based in Cottontown, Tennessee

Defensa Animal de Rincon: Rescue and educational outreach based in Puerto Rico

Easy Horse Care Rescue Center: Only recognized horse rescue in Spain

Draft Gratitude: Draft horse rescue and sanctuary based in Winchester, New Hampshire

Riding programs

Heroes and Horses: Immersive wilderness-based riding program for military veterans, based in Belgrade, Montana

Centaur Stride: Therapeutic riding program based in Westfield, New York

Malik Divers’ “Concrete Cowboys”: Riding program for inner-city youth in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Reins to Recovery: Therapeutic riding program based in Seymour, Indiana

Warhorses For Heroes: Equine therapy and riding program for military veterans, based in Olive Branch, Mississippi

Oasis Integrated Equine Learning Associates: Professional development/therapeutic program based in Delaware

Work to Ride: Riding and polo program for at-risk youth in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Compadres Therapy: Therapeutic riding program based in El Paso, Texas

Equest: Therapeutic riding center based in Wylie, Texas

Misty Meadows Mitey Riders: Therapeutic riding center based in North Carolina

Events

Oxford Feed & Lumber Free OTTB Seminar: Providing interested equestrians with information and advice on purchasing and retraining an off-track Thoroughbred

Windsor Charity Polo Cup: A charity polo match that raised funds for national and local Alzheimer’s family support organizations

EQUUS Foundation’s Best Performance Team Invitational: Annual fundraising invitational show for EQUUS Foundation, which supports multiple causes devoted to improving the lives of horses

Dreaming of Three Benefit Barrel Race: Event organizers to create benefit events for local communities in need

Pink Poker Prance: Annual benefit ride in Fair Hill, Maryland to benefit breast cancer research and local community need

Individuals

Akuura Kulak: Through her small business AromaSanctum Perfumes, donates portion of profits to deserving equine organizations

Hannah Russell & Little Alf: Hannah Russell authored a series of books starring her dwarf Shetland with a portion of profits donated to Riding for the Disabled

Miscellaneous

Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund: Assistance fund for jockeys who have suffered career-ending injuries

Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses: All-volunteer organization providing animal therapy services with miniature horses

TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program: Promotes the off-track Thoroughbred as a show horse through sponsored shows and divisions

Sabino Recovery: Trauma and addiction center based in Tuscon, Arizona that includes horse care and therapy as part of its process

Turning For Home: OTTB placement group based out of Parx Racing, Bensalem, Pennsylvania

Operation Gelding: Unwanted Horse Coalition’s gelding outreach program to offer reduced-cost gelding clinics around the country

Legislative efforts by the Humane Society of the United States: HSUS works to affect legislative change to protect horses from slaughter and soring tactics

Champions for Charity: A partnership between the Breeders’ Cup and Maker’s Mark to give back to Thoroughbred-related charities

Willberry Wonder Pony: Helping to fund bone cancer research in memory of young equestrian Hannah Francis

Riders4Helmets: Educational organization to spread helmet awareness and safety

Rein In Cancer: Fundraises for direct assistance for performance horse families in need due to cancer and medical bills

“Vivid Horses”: Equine coloring book with portion of profits donated to deserving equine charities

Many thanks thanks to Ovation Riding for their support of both Horse Nation and individuals and organizations that are doing good work in the horse world. If you know someone who deserves a Standing Ovation, we would love to recognize them in a future post. Email the name of the person or organization along with a message about the good work they do to [email protected]. Photos/videos are always welcome, and include a link to their website if applicable.