The Colorado Department of Agriculture has selected new organizations to receive grants for projects that advance equine welfare in Colorado. This year, nine applicants received a total of $200,000 to fund their projects. Overall, the Equine Welfare Assistance program received 32 applications requesting over $1 million in funding. This is the second round of funding distributed to Colorado organizations.
“The Equine Welfare Assistance Grants are vital to supporting organizations dedicated to the wellbeing of Colorado's equines,” said Joe Stafford, Director, CDA’s Division of Animal Welfare. “These funds will make a significant impact in providing care, resources, and advocacy for horses and burros across our state.”
The Colorado Horse Rescue was one of nine recipients selected for funding in the previous grant round as well as this year.
"This grant has helped every horse that has come through CHR's gates this year,” said Tauren Feuerstein, Donor Relations Manager for the Colorado Horse Rescue. “By working directly with equine welfare professionals, sharing its resources, and championing change, the State of Colorado is creating a more compassionate, sustainable, and hopeful future for all horses."
In this grant round, the following organizations were selected for funding:
- Affinity Ranch (Douglas County)
- American Association of Equine Practitioners (Statewide)
- Arapahoe Community College (Arapahoe County)
- Colorado Horse Rescue (Boulder County)
- Colorado Unwanted Horse Alliance (Statewide)
- For the Love of Aria Mustang Rescue (Elbert County)
- Humane Colorado Harmony Equine Center (Statewide)
- Terolyn Horse Rescue (Elbert County)
- Wild Rose Mustang Advocacy Group (Larimer County)
The next round of grant applications will be accepted in the second quarter of 2026. The Equine Welfare Assistance Grant website will be updated with information about future funding and anyone can sign up to receive emails with updates.
Animal Health and Welfare is one of the five Directions identified in CDA’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan, which guides our agency’s work. The Equine Welfare Assistance Grants fund domestic equine welfare projects in Colorado to support education, outreach, as well as emergency and veterinary services for domestic equines in the state. A domestic equine is a horse, burro, donkey, or mule that has been tamed and kept as a work or companion animal.