Bi-Annual Equine Welfare Data Collective Data Drive Happening Now
Bi-Annual Equine Welfare Data Collective Data Drive Happening Now
Since 2018, the Equine Welfare Data Collective (EWDC) has worked to collect and share baseline trends in equine welfare on a national and regional level. The vital data helps all facets of the equine industry to shape how the horse industry can approach the needs of at-risk horses, as well as allow the EWDC to better address what types of programs will make the most impact and receive funding to provide for those needs.
There are over 900 501(c)3 registered equine welfare organizations in the US. Reporting organizations are committed to sharing their data, transparency of their statistics, and seek to measure their effectiveness and success against national and regional trends.
The survey, which opens twice a year to allow for easier data collection, is open to any 501(c)3, nonprofit and municipal organization. The survey for the first half of 2023 is open for data that was collected from January 1 to June 30.
“For us to help drive positive change for at-risk horses and those in transition, we must have as many organizations represented in this survey as possible,” says Kelsey Buckley, EWDC Program Administrator. “The more data shared with the EWDC, the more accurate and credible our reports are in informing our industry what’s going on, and how we can improve for this population of equines.”
The EWDC collects national data on equine welfare from these groups as part of the United Horse Coalition (UHC). It’s important to remember that granting organizations like the United Horse Coalition, TRH, American Association of Equine Practitioners Foundation and the ASPCA will look for contribution to the EWDC as part of their funding considerations. Data is important. The more data we collect, the better we make positive changes for equines at-risk and in transition.
Who is eligible to participate in the EWDC?
Any 501c3 or state-registered nonprofit or municipal organization that functions as a transition center, adoption center, rescue, sanctuary, shelter, direct placement program, safety net program or other service involved in equine welfare.
What Data is Collected?
Data is collected by category (i.e., number of intakes via owner surrender, agency transfer, law enforcement confiscation, etc.). Groups are encouraged to keep impeccable records.
The word “equine” is used throughout the survey; however, this encompasses even more than just horses. Equine encompasses any member of the Equidae family including horses, ponies, donkeys, zebras and any hybrids (i.e., mules, hinnies, zedonks, etc.).
The survey is an anonymous interview, and any identifying records submitted are only used for verification purposes only.
The EWDC is the only national research project collecting, analyzing data and reporting data from all US equine welfare organizations to inform and develop strategies to assist horses at risk or in-need. The EWDC was created by the UHC, a program of the American Horse Council (AHC), with funding partners being The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Right Horse Program, the Foundation for the Horse, and US Equestrian Trust.
Participation in the EWDC is free, and all data collected is aggregated so no individual organization is identified. Organizations that contribute data are the first to receive the results and are given an EWDC badge for their website to publicly demonstrate their commitment to the mission.
To view all EWDC reports or contribute data, please visit the EWDC website at www.unitedhorsecoalition.org/ewdc/ or contact Kelsey Buckley, EWDC program administrator at EWDC@horsecouncil.org.
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About the American Horse Council
As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and opportunities.
