Equitarian Initiative

Equitarian Initiative To sustainably improve the health and welfare of working horses, donkeys, mules and their families

We offer hands-on learning and discussion at the Equitarian Workshops and Equitarian projects. Veterinarians are empowered and mentored to join and start health care delivery projects in partnership with local veterinarians, veterinary colleges and charities that share our vision. We strive to increase public awareness of the vital role working equids play in developing economies and the critical support they provide for the livelihood of the families that depend on them.

"This was the first year that we became obsolete. That our local veterinarians were using our lessons to teach their stu...
08/24/2026

"This was the first year that we became obsolete. That our local veterinarians were using our lessons to teach their students to help the horses in their own communities. For the first time, I could clearly see the purpose of our program moving sustainably forward. That this was never about us, but about how we could support the local vets and veterinary students--because this was their country, their communities, and their horses.
And that is a lesson I will carry with me forever"
- Dr. Omar

This year in the Peten, our team helped remove an eye from a pregnant mare. The eye had severe uveitis and squamous cell carcinoma that was causing the mare an immense amount of pain. The procedure was performed by Dr. Stephanie, one of our local practitioners, and assisted by the UMG veterinary students. Dr. Omar taught regional anesthesia techniques to minimize pain and reduce the amount of sedation used.
Dr. Jennifer, another local veterinarian, was able to perform a recheck exam and remove the sutures. The mare is healthy and her baby is due anytime now! Her little boy is overjoyed to have his favorite horse happy again! Thank you to our local team for their amazing work.

08/16/2026

A healthier mouth means a healthier working equid. 🐴🦷

A huge thank you to Terafloat U.S. for making this dental outreach possible and helping us improve the health, welfare, and quality of life of working horses, donkeys, and mules through accessible veterinary dentistry with this portable and high quality equipment that we are able to use on this field setting.

We are so grateful for your support! ❤️

Gracias a la Alcaldía de San Antero Fundación Arrieros Colombia por abrirnos las puertas a esta hermosa comunidad del b***o en Colombia 🫏🇨🇴



Zoetis Equine The Foundation for The Horse

World Horse Day is an opportunity to recognize not only our shared love of horses, but also their essential contribution...
07/11/2026

World Horse Day is an opportunity to recognize not only our shared love of horses, but also their essential contributions to people and communities around the world.

Millions of horses and other working equids provide transportation, support agriculture, carry water and supplies, and help sustain livelihoods. Their health and welfare are directly connected to the well-being of the families who depend on them.

At The Equitarian Initiative, we are committed to improving equine welfare through veterinary care, education, and collaboration with local communities. By empowering owners with knowledge and increasing access to veterinary services, we can prevent suffering, improve quality of life, and strengthen the human-animal connection.

This World Horse Day, take a moment to appreciate the vital role horses play in our world and join us in advocating for compassionate, evidence-based care that ensures every horse has the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life.

Together, healthier horses help build healthier communities.

🐴 Happy World Horse Day!

CASE HIGHLIGHT: Terrible Toes! Our Navajo team treated a horse with severely overgrown hooves on all four limbs. Thankfu...
07/09/2026

CASE HIGHLIGHT: Terrible Toes!

Our Navajo team treated a horse with severely overgrown hooves on all four limbs. Thankfully, the bones within the feet were still healthy! However, the hooves were so thick and hardened from the arid desert dirt that it took a team with power saws to cut through those terrible toes.

Thanks to the amazing skill and perseverance of our farriers and veterinary team, this horse was able to walk normally for the first time in a long while. This case gives new definition to the phrase "Long Toe, Low Heel".

Comment if you have ever had to use power tools to cut through a hoof or share your own crazy foot cases!

One of our biggest challenges is providing quality equine dental care. Many of the working equids we see have never had ...
06/30/2026

One of our biggest challenges is providing quality equine dental care. Many of the working equids we see have never had a dental examination, and access to appropriate equipment is extremely limited. We’re currently looking for a donated equine dental speculum (new or gently used) that could be used during our clinics and for teaching local veterinarians, veterinary students, and animal health workers.

A donated speculum would directly impact the care of hundreds of working equids while helping us build sustainable dental capacity within the communities we serve.

If you have a speculum that is no longer being used, know of a practice upgrading equipment, or have a connection with a manufacturer or distributor that might be interested in making an in-kind donation, I would be incredibly grateful for any leads or introductions.

As a registered nonprofit, the Equitarian Initiative can provide documentation for in-kind donations where applicable, and we’d be happy to recognize generous donors through our social media, project reports, and outreach materials.

Thank you for considering this request and for everything this community does to advance equine welfare. Feel free to comment below or send me a message if you have any suggestions or would like more information about our work.

Thank you!

CASE HIGHLIGHT: Treating A Septic Joint In The Rural Guatemalan Jungle A few years ago a filly was brought to our clinic...
06/18/2026

CASE HIGHLIGHT: Treating A Septic Joint In The Rural Guatemalan Jungle

A few years ago a filly was brought to our clinic with a history of lameness and a swollen, painful right hind fetlock. There was an old wound over the area still leaking pus. The fetlock joint had become septic!

We had a long discussion about the ethics of managing a septic joint in the field with no opportunity for follow up care. However, these working equids are incredibly valuable and can make or break a family's entire livelihood. There is never a simple answer when working in a rural agrarian setting. This filly was lucky to have a dedicated owner who cared deeply for her and we agreed to give her a fighting chance!

She was placed under anesthesia and we performed a high volume joint lavage using needles and a bag of saline. We injected Naxcel into the joint and gave her injections of Gentamicin and Excede. The limb was bandaged for the journey home and she was sent with Bute and a month supply of SMZs.

Swipe to the end to see our filly happy, healthy and back for her vaccines a year later!
Comment what you would have done in this situation and/or your antibiotic of choice for septic joints.


The Foundation for The Horse Zoetis Equine Boehringer Ingelheim Equine Health

06/13/2026

“It is a pleasure to work with a horse, I feel that it moves my soul, like when you are touched by God .”

Working equids help families earn a living, transport goods, and access essential resources. In this video, one of our owners in Honduras shares why their welfare matters so much and what our presence has meant to the community.

Thank you to everyone who makes this work possible. Your support reaches far beyond the animals, it strengthens entire communities. 🐴❤️ Equinos de Honduras Zoetis Equine The Foundation for The Horse

Unfortunately, EI is no stranger to screwworm, having encountered numerous cases during our projects in Central America....
06/10/2026

Unfortunately, EI is no stranger to screwworm, having encountered numerous cases during our projects in Central America. Last August, EI board member and veteran trip leader, Dr. Neil Gray, joined an AAEP-hosted webinar panel to discuss cases and treatment options with fellow DVMs and a representative from the USDA.

Next week, Dr. Gray will join USEF and AAEP once again to share important updates and insights now that screwworm has been detected in the United States.
Link to register: https://usef.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uwgRdUs4Rx-gEHPiBfqvSQ

Stay vigilant and monitor your animals as advised by your veterinarian and the guidance provided by AAEP and other biosecurity experts. Screwworm is a serious concern and can be fatal without early detection and treatment.

"Just spent another amazing week on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona/New Mexico volunteering my time to work on the nat...
06/09/2026

"Just spent another amazing week on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona/New Mexico volunteering my time to work on the nation's horses. I reconnected with friends from my previous trips and made a few more! It was hot, dusty, exhausting, fulfilling, and absolutely fed my soul. I've missed working on horses this past year, and this trip has just shown me that equine care is where I'm supposed to be."

A quote from one of our amazing volunteers, Emily Weston (picture 3).
Emily reminds us that these programs are as much about the people as they are about the horses. In a world comprised of burnout, competition and rapidly dropping numbers of equine clinicians, Emily demonstrates how work that feeds the soul inspires us to keep showing up, even on the hard days.

If you would like to donate to support these programs, or learn how you can become a volunteer, click the link in our bio!


Animal Rez-Q, Inc. The Foundation for The Horse Zoetis Equine AAEVT-American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians and Assistants

Next month our team will be heading back to Northern Guatemala to host clinics in the rural jungle communities of the Pe...
06/09/2026

Next month our team will be heading back to Northern Guatemala to host clinics in the rural jungle communities of the Petén.
We partner with local clinicians, professors and farriers to provide vaccines, deworming, dentistry, hoof care, castrations and any other procedures for the working equid population.
For many regions, these clinics are the only access to veterinary care available and folks travel for miles to make sure their horses, donkey and mules stay healthy.

We also partner with local veterinary schools to help teach students these crucial skills in the hopes of increasing the presence of equine clinicians in this underserved area.

This is our fifth year in the Petén and we could not be prouder of the way this program and our team has grown!

If you would like to support this project please consider purchasing any of the items on our Amazon Wishlist. Every item goes directly to the project! Copy and paste the URL below or click the link in our bio

https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/2XJ0JUSW4Q5ZH

Address

PO Box 773481
Steamboat Springs, CO
80477

Telephone

+19709464142

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