Photo via the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation.
As the devastation unfolds from the war in Ukraine, many in the equestrian community have asked how they can help. According to the Ukraine Equestrian Federation, “There are more than 100 000 horses in Ukraine, many of the horses are caught up in the war, with no possibility to flee and seek safety, with no shelter and care. Horse owners, riding schools, athletes, breeders, and professionals are in desperate conditions without any resources of saving their horses. By making donation or offering help, you will provide the Ukrainian equestrian community a hope for a better future and save lives of the Ukrainians and their loved ones.”
Since our last update, more organizations have stepped forward in establishing pathways for donations and support. As always, please use your discretion and common sense when determining the avenue of assistance most suited to your capabilities. Here are four efforts that we’ve vetted to be legitimate donation collection efforts.
Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation
The Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation (registered in Belgium) with the assistance from the FEI is supporting the Ukrainian horse owners, riding schools, athletes, equestrian clubs, stables and professionals.
It provides counselling support and other kind of needs-based assistance on the ground, including mapping shelter options and assisting with relocation of horses, gathering offers for goods and organizing logistics to deliver goods to equestrians and their horses both in Ukraine and/or in their temporary locations in Europe.
Stables in the Lviv region were the first to receive humanitarian aid from the Foundation on March 16, providing shelter to horses evacuated from combat zones. Then the aid went further to the East to the Khmelnytsky region (Baykiv, Paradis, Dunaivtsi and Ternopil). On March 17 a truck arrived to Kyiv (Dynamo) to be distributed to those stables and clubs where help is most needed, and about three tons of feed went to Odessa region. “We are currently developing a full-scale logistics system in Ukraine, which will allow to transport much more goods by trucks and/or trains. This will allow us to get to those parts of the country, where it is extremely difficult to bring help, such as Kharkiv.”
Ask for help, donate and view updates on supply distribution here.
FEI
In addition to removing all competitions in Belarus and Russia from the 2022 calendar, the FEI has set aside CHF 1 Million in a Solidarity Relief Fund for the equestrian community in Ukraine, following the invasion of the country by Russian military forces.
The allocation was approved by the FEI Executive Board during a meeting convened on 28 February 2022, where members also unanimously condemned the invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces and agreed to remove all international equestrian events in Russia and Belarus from the 2022 FEI calendar.
The FEI Solidarity Relief Fund will be further supplemented by 100% of funds raised through the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Ukraine Relief Fund to Support Ukraine horses and equestrians as announced on 15 March 2022.
“We are deeply concerned for the welfare of all Ukrainians and the entire equestrian community in Ukraine,” FEI President and Chair of the FEI Solidarity Committee Ingmar De Vos said.
“Their safety is very much our priority, and we are liaising closely with our key contacts in Ukraine and neighbouring countries to seek solutions to their most pressing needs.
“Sport is a network which relies and thrives on team spirit and camaraderie and it is through these important friendships that we can offer support and make a difference to the people of Ukraine in these challenging times.”
A dedicated email address [email protected] has been set up for individuals to put forward their requests for financial and logistical aid. The distribution of the FEI Solidarity Relief funding is being managed internally by the FEI with allocations made on a case by case basis, and approved by the FEI Executive Board. The FEI will liaise closely with the Equestrian Federation of Ukraine and neighbouring countries in order to facilitate and coordinate all logistical support.
US Equestrian
US Equestrian will be joining the FEI in their recently announced efforts to provide support to the equestrian community of Ukraine by establishing the USEF Ukraine Relief Fund. One-hundred percent of funds collected will go to the FEI solidarity relief fund and directly to those in need of support. The FEI is liaising closely with the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation (UEF) and neighboring countries to facilitate support. The USEF Board of Directors has committed to allocating additional relief funding.
The UEF reports “Horse owners, riding schools, athletes, breeders, and professionals are in desperate conditions without any resources of saving their horses. By making a donation or offering help, you will provide the Ukrainian equestrian community a hope for a better future and save lives of the Ukrainians and their loved ones.”
USEF President Tom O’Mara reinforced the importance of the Ukraine relief effort, stating, “The U.S. equestrian community always comes together to help fellow equestrians and horses in need. The acts of war in the Ukraine require all of us to join in supporting human and horse welfare in the areas impacted however we can. We will work closely with FEI to ensure all funds contributed are distributed to those who need it most.”
To make a tax deductible donation please visit the USEF Ukraine Relief Fund Donation and help horses page here or send a check to USEF Memo: USEF Ukraine Relief Fund.
The Foundation for the Horse
Through The Foundation for the Horse, the charitable arm of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), you can make a financial gift to those providing emergency relief and support, including veterinary organizations and the horses and animals they care for.
“Our hearts go out to the animals, their owners, and veterinarians impacted by the devastation in Ukraine,” said Dr. Emma Read, president of The Foundation for the Horse and the AAEP. “We are working with veterinary colleagues in Europe to identify trusted organizations who are providing rapid response for equine and animal care in the region.”
The images and reports from Ukraine as well as the border countries are heart-wrenching. While many residents fleeing Ukraine are trying to take their pets and animals with them, thousands of displaced horses, donkeys, burros and other animals remain behind and, like the people of Ukraine, need your help.
Visit The Foundation’s Disaster Relief page to donate and learn more about how they are connecting with veterinary groups and animal charities that are supporting those in need.
