News

Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation Grants Nearly $100,000 to Therapeutic Riding Centers, Rescues

Harrisburg, PA – January 28, 2025 – The Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation has now set a new record for annual grant funding, with nearly $100,000 awarded to therapeutic riding centers, equine rescues and other equine-assisted services programs. This amount given for 2024-2025, exceeds the previous record of more than $75,000 allocated to grant recipients in 2023-2024.

“We are thrilled to announce that we were able to meet the requests of these deserving organizations so they can continue the crucial work that offers so much enrichment to their communities,” said Susie Shirk, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, held at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA every October.

Several therapeutic riding programs – including many that have participated in the PNHS Foundation’s LifeVac Therapeutic Riding Championships – have been named among the 2024-2025 PNHS Foundation grant recipients. Photo by Megan Giese Media

“As a part of the equestrian community, we believe it is our duty to support those who serve others,” continued Shirk. “Thanks to our sponsors, donors, competitors and spectators, we have been able to do our part to increase access to equestrian sport by offering these grants to horse rescues and equine-assisted services programs, like therapeutic riding centers.”

Established in 1999, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to “Enriching Lives Through Equestrian Sport.” Foundation grants provide scholarships for therapy students, facilitate care for therapy and rescue horses, allow for the purchase of equipment for horses and riders and much, much more.

Meet the 2024 PNHS Foundation Grant Recipients:

  • A Broken Spur Riding Academy | Beaver, WVA
  • Avenues Schuylkill County Therapeutic Riding Program | Pottsville, PA
  • Bridlepath Equine Center | Quarryville, PA
  • Capital Area Therapeutic Riding Association | Grantville, PA
  • Therapeutic Riding at Centenary University | Hackettsville, NJ
  • Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding | Johns Island, SC
  • Cloverleaf Equine Center | Clifton, VA
  • Days End Farm Horse Rescue | Woodbine, MD
  • Eos Therapeutic Riding Center | Bloomsburg, PA
  • Equine Assisted Living of South Florida | Coconut Creek, FL
  • February Star Sanctuary, Inc. | Knoxville, MD
  • GAIT Equine Assisted Services | Milford, PA
  • GallopNYC | Howard Beach, NY
  • High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc. | Old Lyme, CT
  • Horses & Horizons | New Ringgold, PA
  • Horses with Hope | Bethel Park, PA
  • Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center | Perkasie, PA
  • Kent Association of Riding Therapy, Inc. | Worton, MD
  • Leg Up Farm  | Mt. Wolf, PA
  • Lone Oak Animal-Asst Therapy & Education Services | Lancaster, PA
  • Mane Stream Therapeutic Riding | Oldwick, NJ
  • Maryland Fund for Horses, Inc. | Westminster, MD
  • Maryland Therapeutic Riding | Crownsville, MD
  • Manito Life Center | Allentown, PA
  • Mountainview Horse Rescue | New Tripoli, PA
  • New Life Center for Thoroughbreds, Inc. | Wirtz, VA
  • Olive’s Branch Healing | Dover, PA
  • Omega Horse Rescue | Airville, PA
  • Pal-O-Mine | Islandia, NY
  • Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy | Philadelphia, PA
  • PA Lehigh Valley County Animal Response Team | Fogelsville, PA
  • Pennsylvania Warhorse, Inc. | Myerstown, PA
  • Reins of Rhythm – Ruth Gannett | Fayetteville, PA
  • Riding to the Top Therapeutic Riding Center | Windham, ME
  • Right Foot Ranch, Inc | Lewisberry, PA
  • Sebastian Riding Associates | Collegeville, PA
  • Serendipity Horse Rescue Ranch | West Decatur, PA
  • Special Equestrians | Warrington, PA
  • The Children’s TherAplay Foundation, Inc. | Carmel, IN
  • The Helping Horseshoe Therapeutic Riding Club | Andover, NJ
  • Walnut Grove Therapeutic Center, Inc. | Dover, PA

Out of 41 total recipients, 13 received the full funding requested. Requests fell between $600 and $15,000 dollars, with the majority falling between $2,000 and $5,000. Grant recipients requested financial help to meet crucial needs – such as day-to-day expenses including feed, farrier services and veterinary care – that directly impact their ability to serve the horses and humans benefiting from their services.

Some grant recipients, like Avenues Schuylkill County Therapeutic Riding Program, asked for assistance with the purchase of a new horse, which would allow a wider range of people with disabilities to enrich their lives with equestrian sport.

“We appreciate so much that we got this grant to help us out with our program,” said Susan Bosak, President of the Avenues Schuylkill Therapeutic Riding Program. “We run a program for mentally, physically and emotionally challenged students. This year, we are looking to get another horse because one of ours is older and needs to be retired. It will help us in a big way, because we have some older students who are larger and need a bigger horse to ride.”

Notably, the Pennsylvania Lehigh Valley County Animal Response Team (CART) requested monetary assistance with the purchase of a life-size horse mannequin and equipment for use in training and emergency situations related to a downed horse. The purchase of these supplies will allow the Lehigh Valley Animal Response Team to help not just their own community, but surrounding areas as well, as the equipment can also be used by other local animal emergency responders.

“Thank you so much; we’re so excited– this grant has given us the boost we need to meet our fundraising goal. Now, we can purchase a horse simulator that will help us with training on doing large animal rescues,” said Victoria Schadler, Lehigh Valley CART Coordinator.

PNHS Foundation grant funding will allow the Lehigh Valley County Animal Response Team to purchase a life-size horse mannequin and equipment for training, allowing the organization to teach others how to deal with emergency situations like the one shown. Photos courtesy of the Lehigh Valley County Animal Response Team

“We’ve helped a number of horses that have gone down and can’t get up,” Schadler continued. “We assisted in the rescue of a horse in a pool. We helped a horse that was on a bank near a fence, who somehow slipped and went upside down into the culvert. State police, local police, whoever comes upon something like this, we can assist them. We’ll go out anywhere on the eastern end of the state to try to do our fair share and help the horses.”

While these are just two examples of the dozens of ways that the 2024-2025 PNHS Foundation grant funds are being put to use, many needs still remain. For non-profit organizations in need of funding, applications for the 2025-2026 PNHS Foundation grants will be made available in July. For individuals interested in supporting the PNHS Foundation through a sponsorship or donation, contact Brenda Mueller at brenda@panational.org.

In addition to providing grant funding, the PNHS Foundation hosts the LifeVac Therapeutic Riding Championships each year on “Foundation Friday” during the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, with 2025 marking the 10th anniversary of the Championships.

To learn more about the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, visit panational.org.

About the Pennsylvania National Horse Show
For 79 years, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show has hosted top horses and riders from across the country and around the world for high-caliber hunter, jumper and equitation competition at the historic Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA. As one of the longest-standing indoor horse shows in the United States, US Equestrian has honored the championship event with the prestigious Heritage Competition classification.

The 2025 PNHS, to be held October 9-19, will feature the $100,000 Grand Prix de Penn National, the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final, Family Fun Day, Team Night and much more! Find out more at panational.org.