Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Horse Rescue Fund (HRF)

Role of Horse Rescue Fund in the funding ecosystem

Horse Rescue Fund is a Canada-wide, volunteer‑run charitable foundation dedicated to preventing equine suffering by offering targeted financial assistance. Operating as 2467863 Alberta Society and registered with the Canada Revenue Agency as a foundation, it raises money through donations, raffles and partner campaigns, then redistributes those funds to support horses, ponies, donkeys and other equines in distress across Canada.

The organization’s core mandate is to raise funds and distribute them to buy hay and feed, and to pay veterinary and related bills for reputable rescues, sanctuaries and individual caregivers. Rather than seeing a horse relinquished, sold at risk, or needlessly euthanized for financial reasons, Horse Rescue Fund steps in with one‑time grants that can stabilize a crisis and keep equines safe.

Main funding streams and types of support

• Emergency aid for individuals: Grants can cover hay and feed, farrier work, veterinary treatment, and when medically necessary, euthanasia costs. Applications are invited through an “Apply for Help” form; approved funds are paid directly to service providers such as veterinarians, feed stores or hay suppliers.
• Support for rescues and sanctuaries: The fund helps frontline equine rescues continue their lifesaving work by offsetting major veterinary expenses or feed costs. Examples on the site include grants for eye and dental surgeries, and ongoing hay support for large herds in sanctuary care.
• Disaster response funding: During wildfires, floods, hurricanes and other emergencies, Horse Rescue Fund helps with evacuation, temporary stabling, feed, veterinary care and, when safe, return‑home costs. Past initiatives include support during British Columbia wildfires and floods and Atlantic Canada’s Hurricane Fiona.
• Raffle‑based provincial campaigns: Licensed 50/50 cash jackpot raffles in provinces such as Alberta and British Columbia generate dedicated funds that are reinvested locally into equine emergency aid and partner rescues.

General approach to applications and eligibility

The “Apply for Help” page outlines a simple, case‑by‑case process aimed at genuine financial need. Applicants—individual owners or organizations—describe the condition of the equines and the assistance required. Horse Rescue Fund reviews requests against internal criteria and available resources. If approved, the charity pays suppliers directly rather than giving cash to applicants, and requires documentation to verify financial hardship and invoices.

Supported audiences and overall impact

Beneficiaries include established rescues and sanctuaries, small volunteer‑run operations, and individual families facing sudden hardship due to illness, loss of income or accidents. The website highlights numerous funded cases, from specialist surgeries for specific horses to large‑scale hay purchases for sanctuaries and emergency support during natural disasters. Through these grants, Horse Rescue Fund aims to ensure that no horse “slips through the cracks” when a relatively modest intervention can preserve welfare and keep animals in safe, loving homes.

Transparency and registration

Horse Rescue Fund clearly discloses its legal identity as Horse Rescue Fund | 2467863 Alberta Society and provides its CRA business/registration number (798022307 RR 0001), along with a direct link to the federal charity registry. This transparency, combined with detailed stories of funded projects, helps donors and applicants understand how funds are used and reinforces the organization’s role as a specialized equine grant maker in Canada.