Supporting the Veterinarians Behind Rescue Care

When a rescue horse requires a costly surgery or advanced veterinary treatment, many organizations are forced to make difficult decisions based on finances rather than need. For horses like Sharp Rocket — a young horse that required kissing spine surgery before eventually being adopted into a new dressage career — access to funding can mean the difference between an uncertain future and a second chance.

That growing need is what inspired the Long Live the Horse Care Grant, a partnership between Zoetis and the Equine Network Foundation designed to help rescues and equine veterinarians provide critical care for at-risk horses.

“Equine rescues often deal with urgent veterinary needs but have limited budgets to cover the medical procedures that make the biggest difference in a horse’s health and quality of life, above and beyond routine veterinary care,” said Jen Blanchard, head of marketing for the Zoetis U.S. Equine division. “By providing targeted funding for necessary veterinary care, we can help veterinarians and rescues make a substantive difference in the health of these horses, increasing their opportunities for a comfortable life and potential for a second career or retirement home.”

Melissa Kitchen, president of the Equine Network Foundation, said the financial realities facing rescues often force difficult decisions. “Finances are typically tight at rescues, and too often a horse that could be rehabilitated isn’t because the funds aren’t there to cover the procedure,” she said. “The Long Live the Horse Care Grant takes this worry away, allowing the rescue to go ahead without the worry of money.”

The grant is designed to address some of the most pressing challenges currently facing horses and rescues, including surgeries, lameness and orthopedic issues, wound care, dental procedures, and mare and foal care. According to Blanchard, rescues nationwide are facing growing strain as they attempt to care for horses with increasingly complex needs.

“We’re seeing tremendous strain on rescues and horse owners alike, and the most pressing challenges are often the ones that are both time-sensitive and costly,” Blanchard said. “This grant is designed to help rescues act quickly on veterinary needs that are critical to a horse’s well-being and adoptability.”

One early success story was Sharp Rocket, who received kissing spine surgery through the program. “The surgery was completely successful, and he has been adopted and is now living life as a dressage horse,” Kitchen said.

Blanchard said the case resonated deeply with the teams involved. “Our entire Zoetis crew along with the full team from A Home for Every Horse followed Sharp Rocket’s care journey with such hope and anticipation,” she said. “The joy we felt when he was finally able to be adopted into his new home and embark on a new career comfortably and with a great quality of life felt like we all won.”

Easing practitioner pressure

Blanchard said the grant program was also designed to ease some of the pressures facing equine veterinarians, particularly those working with rescues and underserved communities.

“At its core, this program helps equine veterinarians deliver essential care to the patients they feel called to serve,” Blanchard said. “Equine veterinarians frequently stretch limited time and resources across a wide geography, and they’re often supporting rescues at a reduced — or non-existent — cost, which can have long-term implications on their personal well-being as well as the sustainability of their practice.”

Blanchard said veterinarians continue to face mounting pressures, including increasingly complex cases, rising treatment costs and the time-intensive coordination often required for rescue cases.

“With this grant funding, rescues can move forward confidently with recommended treatments without worrying about the tradeoffs it may mean to other horses’ options, while veterinarians can support better outcomes for the horses in their care without having to make personal sacrifices,” she said. “Talk about a win-win. And, of course, the horses that are able to be treated win too, which is why we’re all here to begin with.”

Kitchen said many veterinarians already donate substantial time and resources to support rescue horses. “Veterinarians have huge hearts and often do care at rescues at discounted rates or will cover the procedure themselves,” Kitchen said. “With the grant dollars from Zoetis, we can cover these procedures and allow veterinarians to help without the worry of payment.”

Kitchen added that volunteerism remains an important factor in long-term career satisfaction for equine veterinarians. “We’re deeply appreciative of those vets who give their time and skills to help rescue horses,” she said.

The program is also helping expand access to advanced care in rural and underserved areas. According to Kitchen, rescues participating in the A Home for Every Horse program can apply for funding to transport horses to larger hospitals or specialty clinics when local resources are limited.

“Oftentimes these cases are more involved and require care that may not be accessible in a rural area,” Kitchen said. “These dollars give rescues the ability to get horses to a larger hospital or clinic for advanced care.”

Building a long-term future for equine care

Zoetis sees the Long Live the Horse Care Grant as part of its broader mission to advance equine health and support horses throughout every stage of life, including those entering rescue programs.

“Zoetis’ purpose is to advance care for animals, and our Equine team is committed to always being by the side of horses and their caregivers throughout all stages of a horse’s life — which may include entering the rescue system,” Blanchard said. “This initiative is a natural extension of that commitment, allowing equine veterinarians and rescues to move forward with critical interventions that can improve long-term health, placement outcomes and quality of life, especially for horses in transition and at risk.”

Blanchard said the partnership with the Equine Network Foundation and A Home for Every Horse helps strengthen the entire equine care ecosystem by supporting both veterinarians and rescue organizations.

“It takes a village to do our best for the horses who do so much for us in return, and this is a fantastic example of our industry coming together to support the best outcomes for horses,” she said. “Zoetis is proud to be part of it.”

Looking ahead, Blanchard said she hopes the grant program becomes a reliable, long-term resource for rescues and veterinarians responding to urgent cases.

“Success to me looks like a program that becomes a dependable resource for rescues and equine veterinarians year after year when the unexpected happens,” she said. “One that helps more horses receive needed medical care in time to recover, enjoy their quality of life and be placed in lasting homes.”

She added that long-term success would include measurable improvements in care, stronger partnerships between rescues and veterinarians and more sustainable support systems for both groups.

Kitchen said the need for support continues to grow. “Every month we have more applicants than we can fund,” Kitchen said. “It would be great to be at a point where we never have to turn away a rescue needing care for an animal that can go on to have a happy, healthy life.”

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