Meet the horse people whose lives have been changed by Equestrian Aid Foundation grants — stories of resilience, recovery, and the enduring power of community.
As the daughter of a cattle foreman, California native Lisa Avila grew up in the saddle. Horsemanship was second nature. While her passion for high performance horse sports eventually led her to experiences far beyond ranch life, a generations-old ability to train horses was coded into her DNA. In 2008 she established Burgeon Training in California's East Bay, where she has built her reputation within the equestrian community.
Read More >
Kathy Poppe-Pullen won the 2015 Trainer of the Year award from the Central New Jersey Horsemen's Association with an impressive list of credentials. She had decades of experience as a hunter-jumper professional and her USEF judge's card. She was a member with colors of the Monmouth County Hunt. She had a talent for retraining off-the-track thoroughbreds and a knack for equine rehabilitation.
Read More >
"Our community is so lucky to have the Equestrian Aid Foundation behind us. We have a special resource to fall back on to pick up the pieces." From the race track to the grand prix ring, Stacey Small is known as a pioneer in the field of holistic horse care. Her herbal liniment Sore No-More is a staple in barn aisles around the globe.
Read More >
"We're hopeful that Allison will be able to walk again someday." Allison Angove, a straight-A honor student and dedicated eventer with a bright future, was 16 years old on the day her life changed forever. Her accident didn't happen over some formidable obstacle on the cross-country course; rather, she fell with her horse when it stumbled after a jump in the warmup ring, and she suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Read More >
"The Equestrian Aid Foundation has been a lifeline—the difference between making it or not." Steven Castillo can't remember a life without horses. While he dabbled in the jumpers and eventing as a youngster, Steven developed a passion for dressage in his late teens. Several decades later, this path led Steven to a successful career as a trainer, competitor, instructor and judge.
Read More >
"When you constantly hear bad news, it wears you down. A lot of stories can't have a happy ending. But I'm glad to say, I'm doing okay." One month, amateur dressage rider Carolyn Davey was working and riding with high hopes of achieving her equestrian goals. The next month everything changed. Carolyn was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.
Read More >
"I have to look at what is happening to me like I look at riding—the only way to get better is to sit up straight, throw your shoulders back and keep your chin up." A lifelong horsewoman, Christine Campbell has trained everything from field hunters to elite-level jumpers.
Read More >
Around the hunter ring, Raymond Francis's name is synonymous with excellence. A trainer, breeder, horse show official and beyond, he is the quintessential horseman—a legend. A revered member of the Professional Horseman's Association and an inductee into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame, Ray has won many of the country's most prestigious awards.
Read More >
"Thank you for the leg up." Alena Weida is the kind of girl who has always gotten back on the horse. She began taking western riding lessons when she was 10 and rounded out her high school years as a 4-H-er, barrel racer and rodeo queen. Determined to work her way through college, Alena took a job as an animal technician in the theater industry.
Read More >
"The Equestrian Aid Foundation was a tremendous help to me during a tumultuous time." A lifelong horseman and ranch hand with a quiet assuredness and gentle manner, Trevor made his living as a farrier until the day he was kicked so badly that both his kneecap and femur shattered.
Read More >
"Lord, grant me the strength to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." The Serenity Prayer has been Meribeth's mantra since the day her life changed catastrophically. In 2014, Meribeth was a successful career groom and barn manager.
Read More >
"My heart, spirit, body and mind are so indebted to the Equestrian Aid Foundation. The support has been tremendous - in unimaginable and inconceivable ways." Kirk is a success story, but he had to overcome life-threatening illnesses to get there. Forced to close his hunter/jumper business in 2004 due to debilitating health problems including hepatitis C and liver failure, Kirk moved back home to be with his family.
Read More >
"I don't know where we'd be without this help." As far back as she can remember, the only thing that mattered to Claudia was horses. Her childhood afforded sporadic opportunities to ride, but dreams gave way to obligations in adulthood. In 1997 when Claudia was diagnosed with breast cancer, she did not want to go another day without horses in her life.
Read More >Our application process is straightforward and respectful, and every request is reviewed with care and confidentiality.
Apply for Disaster Relief