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.

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

For the Navajo (Diné), the horse is deeply intertwined into both origin lore and survival history. They are spiritually ...
06/02/2026

For the Navajo (Diné), the horse is deeply intertwined into both origin lore and survival history. They are spiritually tied to the four directions and the Five Horses of the Sun Father. The working equids of the Diné people have facilitated trade, expanded hunting ranges and brought distant families together for centuries.

Today, the Navajo Nation navigates the delicate balance between cultural preservation and land management. Overpopulation of feral horses and reoccurring droughts pose massive health and environmental challenges to the area.

The Equitarian Initiative, in close collaboration with the Navajo Nation leaders, have piloted a new program to bring consistent veterinary care to these creatures. Our experienced Equine veterinarians, technicians and farriers volunteer their time to provide dentistry, vaccines/deworming, castrations, and hoof care to the domestic and wild populations of horses. We also teach veterinary students and community animal health workers in the hopes of creating a sustainable future of consistent care.

The horse remains central to the Diné identity and we are grateful for the chance to learn from the Navajo and work together to create a healthier future for us all. If you would like to donate, volunteer, or learn more about the Navajo program, click the link in our bio!

Today, on World Donkey Day, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and quiet dedication of donkeys around the world.For ...
05/08/2026

Today, on World Donkey Day, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and quiet dedication of donkeys around the world.

For millions of people, donkeys are far more than animals — they are partners in daily life and essential to human survival. They carry water, food, firewood, crops, and supplies across challenging terrain where vehicles cannot reach. They support agriculture, transportation, access to healthcare and education, and help sustain livelihoods for entire families and communities.

Despite their immense contributions, working donkeys are often overlooked in conversations about global health, sustainability, and economic development. Yet their welfare is deeply connected to human well-being. When working equids are healthy, communities are stronger and more resilient.

At the Equitarian Initiative, we are honored to work alongside local partners, students, veterinarians, and animal owners who are advancing compassionate, sustainable care for these incredible animals.

Today we recognize donkeys not only for the work they do, but for the lives they help carry forward every single day!

Mexico City, here we come! 🌎🐴We’re excited to be part of the International Colloquium on Education and Extension for Eco...
04/27/2026

Mexico City, here we come! 🌎🐴

We’re excited to be part of the International Colloquium on Education and Extension for Ecosystems with Working Equids—a global gathering focused on advancing equid welfare through education, collaboration, and locally driven solutions.

🗓 Oct 21–24, 2026
📍 UNAM, Mexico City

Together, we’ll explore how traditional and current knowledge can support sustainable, community-centered care for working equids.

🔗 Register + submit abstracts via the poster: https://tr.ee/Ju_fSvAZvq

Happy World Veterinary Day! 🌍🩺To our incredible supporters, dedicated volunteers, and invaluable partners across the glo...
04/25/2026

Happy World Veterinary Day! 🌍🩺

To our incredible supporters, dedicated volunteers, and invaluable partners across the globe—you make this mission possible.

Because of you, compassion reaches farther, care runs deeper, and voices that would otherwise go unheard are amplified every single day.

Thank you—not just today, but every day—for standing with us and being part of this global community. 💙

04/13/2026

Real change begins with knowledge. Through education and hands-on workshops, communities are leading the way in caring for their working equids.

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PO Box 773481
Steamboat Springs, CO
80477

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+19709464142

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