Get Help through the Equine Lifeline
Access the UHC Equine Resource Database
Equine Welfare Data Collective

Equine Lifeline

A Lifeline When It Matters Most

The Equine Lifeline, developed by the United Horse Coalition (UHC) and funded thanks to a grant by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), is a national initiative designed to support horse owners facing hardship and to ensure horses remain safe, cared for, and out of crisis situations whenever possible.

Through a centralized referral system, the Equine Lifeline connects owners with trusted equine rescues, sanctuaries, and assistance programs, providing real solutions when they are needed most.

The Equine Lifeline exists to:

  • Keep horses in safe, stable homes whenever possible.

  • Support owners during financial, medical, or personal hardship by connecting them with resources available to help.

  • Provide humane, responsible pathways when rehoming is necessary.

  • Strengthen collaboration across the equine welfare community by building an extensive network.

Why It Matters

When horse owners face unexpected challenges, they often don’t know where to turn. Without support, horses can become at risk of neglect, abandonment, or entering unsafe situations.

The Equine Lifeline creates a coordinated, compassionate safety net, ensuring:

  • Faster access to help

  • Better outcomes for horses

  • Reduced strain on rescues and sanctuaries

  • Data-driven insights to improve equine welfare nationwide

A National Network of Support

The Equine Lifeline is powered by a growing network of:

  • Equine rescues and sanctuaries

  • Horse Council’s

  • Industry Organizations and Associations

  • Industry professionals and advocates

Together, this network helps create a more responsive and effective system to protect horses across the country.

How It Works
The Equine Lifeline simplifies what can often feel like an overwhelming process.

Step 1: Submit a Request
Horse owners or advocates complete a standardized intake form outlining their situation and needs.

Step 2: Review & Match
Submissions are reviewed and matched with appropriate resources within UHC’s Equine Lifeline network.

Step 3: Connection to Resources
Owners are connected directly with organizations that can provide safety net assistance, guidance, or placement options.

Step 4: Ongoing Support & Tracking
Equine Lifeline helps track outcomes and ensures horses receive appropriate, humane care from start to finish.

The UHC is currently working on phases 3 & 4 of the Equine Lifeline project. Until then, let us help you get the help you need by whichever method you are most comfortable with:

Call us at 202-296-4031
Use the UHC Equine Resource Database
Please Read Before Utilizing the UHC's Equine Resource Database

Do Your Own Research

While UHC does audit 501c3 status to ensure that each organization listed in the UHCERD is in good standing, we do not inspect, certify, accredit, or recommend any one organization.

UHC strongly recommends that users of this database seek out and utilize those accredited or certified organizations, as these organizations are held to a high standard of care. Any organization listed in the UHCERD as a UHC Member has signed the UHC Member Expectations agreement and is responsible for upholding certain expectations as outlined in the document.

UHC also recommends that you research and ask the right questions of any organization listed in this database before adopting or rehoming a horse.  The UHC has also recently published an article on How to Identify a Reputable Equine Rescue, to help you spot rescues that might have red flags.

Click here for directions on how to use the UHCERD

The UHCERD is a searchable online database/directory of over 1,200 equine organizations (primarily rescues and sanctuaries) that offer any type of service (or financial assistance for that type of service) that assists at-risk equines or those in transition. This includes:

  • Behavioral training assistance
  • Castration/gelding assistance
  • Direct placement services (direct owner-to-owner placement)
  • Disaster services
  • Educational resources and/or first-time owner mentoring
  • Equine Crisis Boarding – Domestic Violence
  • Equine remains assistance/equine disposal and/or rendering services
  • Euthanasia procedure assistance
  • Grant funding
  • Hay or feed assistance
  • Large animal technical rescue services
  • Law enforcement services/humane investigation
  • Legal advice/estate planning services
  • Microchipping assistance
  • Owner requested rehoming assistance
  • Transportation assistance
  • Veterinary/medical assistance
  • Wild horse preserve
Search the United Horse Coalition Equine Resource Database

National Miscellaneous Resources:

Vet Direct
Farrier Direct

For a current list of State Horse Councils, please visit the American Horse Council’s Horse Industry Directory and select “Horse Councils” from the category drop-down menu.

ALABAMA:
Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Ron Williams, Extension Head
Alabama A&M University
19714 Alabama Highway 20
Hillsboro, AL 35643
Phone: (256) 353-9770
Email: willi40@aces.edu
Website: www.aces.edu

ALASKA:
Fred Schlutt, Director
Fairbanks State Office
1751 Tanana Loop, Room 101
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775
Phone: (907) 474-5211 Fax: (907) 543-4552
Email: fred.schlutt@alaska.edu
Website: www.uaf.edu/ces

ARIZONA:
Elizabeth Ann Greene, Extension Horse Specialist
University of Arizona
School of Animal & Comparative Biomedical Sciences
Vet Science Building,
1117 E. Lowell St., Room 201
Tucson AZ 85721
Phone: (520) 626-3673
Email: betsygreene@email.arizona.edu
Website: https://extension.arizona.edu/

ARKANSAS:
Dr. Mike Looper, Department Head
University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
1120 West Maple Street
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Phone: (501) 671-2190 Fax: (501) 671-2185
Email: looper@uark.edu
Website: www.uaex.edu

CALIFORNIA:
Lorrene Ritchie, Director & Cooperative Extension Specialist
University of California Cooperative Extension
Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources
1111 Franklin Street, 10th Floor
10123
Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: (510) 987-0523
Email: lritchie@ucanr.edu
Website: https://uncanr.edu
Program Website: https://npi.ucanr.edu

COLORADO:
Wade Ingle, Extension State Specialist
Colorado State University
4040 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523
Phone: (970) 491-6281 Fax: (970) 491-6208
Email: wade.ingle@colostate.edu
Website: https://extension.colostate.edu

CONNECTICUT:  
Jenifer A. Nadeau, State Extension Specialist
University of Connecticut
College of Agriculture, Health & Natural Resources
U-4040, 3636 Horsebarn Rd. Ext.
Storrs Mansfield, CT 6269
Phone: (860) 486-4471 Fax: (860) 486-4375
Email: jenifer.nadeau@uconn.edu
Website: www.extension.uconn.edu

DELEWARE:
Susan Garey, Extension Agent Animal Science
University of Delaware
College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
531 South College Avenue
113 Townsend Hall
Newark, DE 19716-2103
Phone: (302) 831-2504
Email: truehart@udel.edu
Website: https://extension.udel.edu

FLORIDA:
Office of Dean for Extension & Florida Cooperative Extension Service
1020 McCarty Hall
P.O. Box 110210
Gainesville, FL 32611
Phone: (352) 392-1761 Fax: (352) 846-0458
Email: extadm@ifas.ufl.edu
Website: https://ifas.ufl.edu
Program Website: https://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu

GEORGIA:
Laura Perry Johnson, Associate Dean for Extension
University of Georgia
111 Conner
Athens, GA 30602
Phone: (706) 542-3824 Fax: (706) 542-8815
Email: lpj4h@uga.edu
Website: https://extension.uga.edu

HAWAII:
Nicholas Comerford, Dean and Director Extension
University of Hawaii- Manoa
College of Tropical Agriculture
Gilmore Hall 203B
Phone: (808) 956-8397 Fax: (808) 956-9105
Email: comerfordn@ctahr.hawaii.edu
Website: www.ctahr.hawaii.edu
Program Website: https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/site/Extprograms.aspx

IDAHO:
Barbara Petty, Associate Dean & Director
University of Idaho Extension
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2338
Moscow, ID 83844
Phone: (208) 885-5883 Fax: (208) 885-6654
Email: bpetty@uidaho.edu
Website: https://www.uidaho.edu/extension

ILLINOIS:
University of Illinois Extension
College of ACES
Angie Barnard, Executive Director Illinois 4-H Foundation
1301 W. Gregory Dr.
203 Mumford Hall
Urbana, Il 61801
Phone: (217) 333-0333 Fax: (217) 333-9287
Email: abarnard@illinois.edu
Website: https://extension.illinois.edu

INDIANA:
Jason Henderson, Associate Dean and Director
Purdue University Extension
615 West State Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907
Phone: (765) 494-8489
Email: jhenderson@purdue.edu
Website: https://extension.purdue.edu

IOWA:
John Lawrence, Vice President for Extension & Outreach
Iowa State University
Department of Animal Science
2150 Beardshear
Ames, IA 50011
Phone: (515) 294-5390
Email: jdlaw@iastate.edu
Website: https://www.extension.iastate.edu

KANSAS:
John Floros, Director of Research & Extension
Kansas State University
123 Umberger Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
Phone: (785) 532-6147
Email: floros@ksu.edu
Website: https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/

KENTUCKY:
Dr. Bob Coleman, State Extension Specialist
613 W. P. Garrigus Building
Department of Animal and Food Sciences
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40546
Phone: (859) 257-4302 Fax: (859) 257-3501
Email: rcoleman@uky.edu
Website: www.ca.uky.edu

LOUISIANA:
William Richardson, Director Cooperative Extension Service
Louisiana State University
101D J. Norman Efferson Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Phone: (225) 578-4161
Email: brichardson@agcenter.lsu.edu
Website: https://www.lsuagcenter.com/

MAINE:
John Rebar, Executive Director
University of Maine
5741 Libby Hall, Room 102
Orono, ME 04469
Phone: (207) 581-2811
Email: john.rebar@maine.edu
Website: https://extension.umaine.edu/

MARYLAND:
Craig Beyrouty, Dean & Director
University of Maryland Extension
College Park, MD 20742
Phone: (301) 405-2072
Email: beyrouty@umd.edu
Website: https://extension.umd.edu

MASSACHUSETTS:
Jody Jellison, Director UMass Extension
University of Massachusetts
319 Stockbridge Hall
80 Campus Center Way
Amherst, MA 01003
Phone: (413) 545-4800
Email: jjellison@cns.umass.edu
Website: https://ag.umass.edu

MICHIGAN:
Jeff Dwyer, Director MSU Extension
Michigan State University
446 W. Circle Drive, Room 108
Hall of Agriculture
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: (517) 355-2308
Email: jdyerje@msu.edu
Website: https://msue.anr.msu.edu/

MINNESOTA:
Krishona Martinson, Equine Extension Specialist
University of Minnesota
Department of Animal Science
155C Haecker Hall
1364 Eckles Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
Phone: (612) 625-6776 Fax: (612) 625-5755
Email: krishona@umn.edu
Website: www.extension.umn.edu
Program Website: https://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/horse/

MISSISSIPPI:
Dr. John Blanton, Professor & Head
Mississippi State University
Animal & Dairy Sciences
Box 9815
4025 Wise Center Drive
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Phone: (662) 325-3516 Fax: (662) 325-8873
Email: john.blanton@msstate.edu
Website: https://extension.msstate.edu/agriculture

MISSOURI:
Marshall Stewart, Vice Chancellor for Extension
University of Missouri
108 Whitten Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: (573) 882-2394 Fax: (573) 882-1955
Email: stewartmars@missouri.edu
Website: https://extension.missouri.edu

MONTANA:
Cody Stone, Director of Extension
Montana State University
Extension Service
PO Box 172230
Bozeman, MT 59717
Phone: (406) 994-3293
Email: cstone@montana.edu
Website: www.msuextension.org

NEBRASKA:
Chuck Hibberd, Dean & Director Cooperative Extension Division
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
211 Agriculture Hall
Lincoln, NE 68583
Phone: (402) 472-2966
Email: hibberd@unl.edu
Website: https://epd.unl.edu/

NEVADA:
Lindsay Chichester, Extension Educator
University of Nevada
1664 North Virginia street
Mail Stop 404
Reno, NV 89557
Phone: (775) 887-2252
Email: chichesterl@unce.unr.edu
Website: www.unce.unr.edu

NEW HAMPSHIRE:
Ken La Valley, Dean and Director of Extension
University of New Hampshire
Taylor Hall
59 College Road
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-4343
Email: ken.lavalley@unh.edu
Website: https://extension.unh.edu/

NEW JERSEY:
Karyn Malinowski, Equine Extension Specialist
Rutgers University
New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station
88 Lipman Drive
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: (848) 932-4220
Email: karynmal@njaes.rutgers.edu
Website: https://njaes.rutgers.edu/es/

NEW MEXICO:
Dr.Shanna Ivey, Extension Interim Department Head
New Mexico State University
P. O. Box 30003, MSC3AE
Las Cruces, NM 88003
Phone: (575) 646-4650 Fax: (575) 646-5441
Email: sivey@nmsu.edu
Website: https://extension.nmsu.edu/

NEW YORK:
Christopher Watkins, Director
Cornell Cooperative Extension
366/127 Roberts Hall
Plant Science
Ithaca, NY 14853-4801
Phone: (607) 255-8546
Email: chris.watkins@cornell.edu
Website: https://cce.cornell.edu/

NORTH CAROLINA:
Dr. Todd See, Department Professor & Head
North Carolina State University
Department of Animal Science
Polk Hall 121, Box 7621
Raleigh, NC 27695
Phone: (919) 515-2755 Fax: (919) 515-6884
Email: tsee@ncsu.edu
Website: https://ncaces.ces.ncsu.edu/
Program Website: https://ans.cals.ncsu.edu/extension/

NORTH DAKOTA:
Greg Lardy, Interim Director Extension
North Dakota State University Extension Service
NDSU Dept 7000
100c hultz Hall
PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108
Phone: (701) 231-7660

OHIO:
Roger Rennekamp, Extension Director
The Ohio State University
2120 Fyffe Road
Room 3 Ag Admin Building
Columbus, OH 43210
Phone: (614) 292-6181
Email: rennekamp.3@osu.edu
Website: https://extension.osu.edu/

OKLAHOMA:
Oklahoma State University
139 Agricultural Hall
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: (405) 744-5398 Fax: (405) 744-5339
Website: https://www.oces.okstate.edu/

OREGON:
Richard Riggs, Regional Director
Oregon State University
OSU Extension Service
101 Ballard Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331
Phone: (541) 737-2713 Fax: (541) 737-4423
Website: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/

PENNSYLVANIA:
Danielle Smarsh, Director Penn State Extension
The Pennsylvania State University
323 Agricultural Administration Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: (814) 865-4028
Email:
Website: https://extension.psu.edu
Program Website: https://extension.psu.edu/animals-and-livestock/equine

RHODE ISLAND:
Marcia Morreira, State 4-H Leader
University of Rhode Island
75 Peckham Farm
Kingston, RI 02881
Phone: (401) 874-2959 Fax: (401) 874-2435
Email: marciam@uri.edu
Website: https://web.uri.edu/coopext

SOUTH CAROLINA:
Pamela Ardern, State 4-H Program Leader
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension
2054 Barre Hall
Clemson, SC 29634
Phone: (864) 650-0295 Fax: (864)656-7595
Email: pardern@clemson.edu
Website: https://www.clemson.edu/extension/index.html

SOUTH DAKOTA:
Karla Trautman, Extension Interim Director
South Dakota State University
Berg Agricultural Hall 154
Box 2207D
Brookings, SD 57007
Phone: (605) 688-4792
Email: karla.trautman@sdstate.edu
Website: wwww.sdstate.edu/sdsu-extension

TENNESSEE:
Dr. Robert Burns, Extension Dean
University of Tennessee
121 Morgan Hall
Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: (865) 974-7112
Email: rburns@utk.edu
Website: https://extension.tennessee.edu

TEXAS:
Dr. Douglas Steele, Director
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Agriculture & Life Sciences Building
600 John Kimbrough Boulevard
Suite 509, 7101 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843
Phone: (979) 845-7967 Fax: (979) 845-9542
Email: douglas.steele@ag.tamu.edu
Website: https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu

UTAH:
David K. Price, Equine Extension Specialist
Utah State University
Phone: (435) 797-2162 Fax: (435)797-2118
Email: david.price@usu.edu
Website: https://extension.usu.edu

VERMONT:
Chuck Ross, Director
The University of Vermont
23 Mansfield Avenue
Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: (802) 656-2990
Email: chuck.ross@uvm.edu
Website: www.uvm.edu/extension

VIGINIA:
Edwin J. Jones, PhD, Director
Virginia Cooperative Extension
101 Hutcheson Hall (0402)
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Phone: (540) 231-5299 Fax: (540) 231-4370
Email: ejones1@vt.edu
Website: https://ext.vt.edu

WASHINGTON:
Michael J. Gaffney, Extension Director
Washington State University
P. O. Box 646248
Hulbert Hall, Room 411
Pullman, WA 99164
Phone: (509) 335-2933 Fax: (509) 335-2926
Email: extension@wsu.edu
Website: https://extension.wsu.edu

WEST VIRGINIA:
Steve Bonanno, Dean & Director
West Virginia University
P.O. Box 6031
29 Beechurst Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26506
Phone: (304) 293-4221
Email: sbonanno@wvu.edu
Website: https://extension.wvu.edu

WISCONSIN:
Karl Martin, Dean & Director Extension
University of Wisconsin
Extension Building
432 N. Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Phone: (608) 263-2775
Email: karl.martin@uwex.edu
Website: www.uwex.edu

For a current list of State Veterinarians, please visit the Equine Disease Communication Centers list of State Veterinary Offices.
For a list of all known Equine disposal & aftercare options by state, please visit:  https://unitedhorsecoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/UHC-Equine-Disposal-Options-Public.xlsx
*Please note, this document may not be copied, or altered in any way without express permission from the American Horse Council.

This link will take you to a list of all known Animal Control Officer contacts by state and county.

UHCERD Animal Control Contacts

FULL CIRCLE PROGRAMS: Program to encourage individuals to provide a “safety net” for horses they bred, owned, trained, drove, cared for, or just admired.

MICROCHIP LOOKUP PROGRAMS:

American Horse Council: https://www.horselookup.org/

This section of our website is currently under construction, please check back soon. If you need immediate assistance, please contact: uhc@horsecouncil.org

United Horse Coalition Full Members

UHC is grateful to our Full Members for their continued support of our Mission of helping horses at-risk or in transition. Full Membership is available at the $5,000 or above.

United Horse Coalition Associate Members

UHC is grateful to our Associate Members for their continued support of our Mission to help horses at-risk or in transition. Associate Membership is available at the $2,500 level.

United Horse Coalition Supportive Members

UHC is grateful to our Supportive Members for their continued support of our Mission to help horses at-risk or in transition. Supportive Membership is available at the $1,000 level.

United Horse Coalition Non-Profit Members

UHC is grateful to our Non-Profit Members for their continued support of our Mission to help horses at-risk or in transition. Non-Profit Membership is available at the $50 level.

Serenity Stables Inc

United Horse Coalition Rescue & Sanctuary Members

Thank you to A Home For Every Horse, for their generous sponsorship of our joint AHFEH / UHC Rescue and Sanctuary Membership.

Join the Cause

The UHC exists thanks to supporters like you. Your financial contribution is critical to helping us continue our mission.

Make a donation or become a member today.

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