(Washington DC): As part of its ongoing mission to support responsible horse ownership and prevent equines from becoming at-risk, the United Horse Coalition (UHC) is proud to introduce the Equine Lifeline – a new virtual chat feature available 24/7 on the UHC website. This innovative tool is designed to serve as an immediate and accessible resource for horse owners navigating difficult situations by providing lifesaving information, guidance, and referrals to appropriate support services.

The Equine Lifeline will be manned by UHC staff during normal business hours, offering real-time, personalized support. When staff are unavailable, users can still access help through UHC’s specially trained AI chatbot, which is available around the clock. This intelligent assistant guides users through flow-based conversations and recommends trusted UHC articles, educational materials, and entries from the UHC’s Equine Resource Database – a comprehensive, searchable database of equine assistance programs across the country, including safety net services such as hay banks, veterinary financial assistance, euthanasia and aftercare assistance, responsible rehoming options, and many more.

If the chatbot cannot fully address a user’s concern and live staff are unavailable, users can submit a question through the chat interface. A UHC team member will respond as soon as available.

By equipping owners with the knowledge and tools they need early on, UHC hopes to help keep horses safe at home and out of the at-risk pipeline. This proactive approach also aims to ease the burden on already overstretched rescues and sanctuaries by addressing challenges at their source – empowering owners before crisis intervention becomes necessary.

This critical initiative was made possible through generous grant funding from the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), whose support continues to strengthen safety net services for horse owners nationwide.

“The Equine Lifeline is an important advancement in ensuring horse owners have easy, immediate access to the information and resources they need, especially in times of crisis,” said Christie Schulte Kappert, Vice President of Equine Welfare for the ASPCA. “We’re proud to support the United Horse Coalition in launching this innovative tool and remain committed to expanding access to programs that help keep horses safe and supported in their homes whenever possible.”

To access the Equine Lifeline, visit www.unitedhorsecoalition.org and look for the chat icon in the lower right-hand corner of the screen.

About the United Horse Coalition

The United Horse Coalition is a broad alliance of equine organizations that have come together to educate, advocate, and collaborate in efforts to help at-risk horses and their owners. UHC works to provide resources, support responsible ownership, and reduce the number of unwanted horses through proactive solutions.