Equitarian Initiative

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Equitarian Initiative To sustainably improve the health and welfare of working horses, donkeys, mules and their families

We offer hands-on learning and discussion at the Equitarian Workshops and Equitarian projects. Veterinarians are empowered and mentored to join and start health care delivery projects in partnership with local veterinarians, veterinary colleges and charities that share our vision. We strive to increase public awareness of the vital role working equids play in developing economies and the critical support they provide for the livelihood of the families that depend on them.

In honor of Indigenous People's Day, we are proud to celebrate and support our partners in the Navajo, Hopi, Lakota and ...
10/12/2026

In honor of Indigenous People's Day, we are proud to celebrate and support our partners in the Navajo, Hopi, Lakota and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes. Through a long standing collaborative effort, we have been able to host bi-annual clinics on reservation lands in Utah, South Dakota, New Mexico and Arizona.

At these clinics we provide dental care, basic triage/surgery and preventative wellness for the local horse populations. More than that, our clinics provide a chance for veterinary students, technicians, community members, and practitioners alike to learn from each other and how we can better serve the horses and their people.

It is a privilege to work with the incredible horsemen and women of these indigenous nations to not only provide care for their horses, but to help preserve a way of life. Click the link in our bio or scan the QR code to learn how you can support these programs!

"The horse symbolizes personal drive, passion, and appetite for freedom. Among all the spirit animals, the horse — šúŋkawakȟaŋ is one that shows a strong motivation that carries one through life." - Akta Lakota Cultural Center

10/11/2026

New World Screwworm isn’t a fly we’re trying to manage. We’re trying to eradicate it.

And there’s a reason why.

🎧 Learn more about New World Screwworm with leading experts Dr. Phillip Kaufman, Professor and Department Head at and Chair of the New World Screwworm Task Force, and Dr. Neil Gray, Equine Veterinarian, on episode 121 of the Beyond the Barn podcast - https://www.standleeforage.com/podcast/episodes/ep-121-new-world-screwworm-how-it-spreads-what-to-watch-for-how-to-protect-your-horse-and-other-livestock

When we talk about the mission of the Equitarian Initiative -- finding a sustainable way to provide veterinary care to w...
09/23/2026

When we talk about the mission of the Equitarian Initiative -- finding a sustainable way to provide veterinary care to working equids-- Peru is the program that comes to mind. After over a decade of trips to remote communities in the Andes, we are able to appreciate the lasting impact of this work. Not just in the volume of horses, donkeys and mules treated--but in the fact that most of the faces we see running the show now are local. Veterinarians who have grown up in our programs, who have taken on leadership roles, and who have leaned on EI for support to provide consistent care to these areas.

As we have taken a small step back with boots on the ground work in Peru we are able to recognize what a sustainable non profit looks like--teaching, sharing, and providing so that one day the people we help are able to help themselves.

Scan the QR code in the final photo to watch a documentary on our 2018 trip to Peru, highlighting the beauty and complexity of working animals and their welfare. You can also see the film highlighted on the 'About" page of our website (equitarianinitiative.org)

Rural Equine Medicine does not often include cuddling cute puppies (although sometimes we get lucky!)The Equitarian Init...
09/21/2026

Rural Equine Medicine does not often include cuddling cute puppies (although sometimes we get lucky!)

The Equitarian Initiative is incredibly proud to showcase our newest program in Colombia. What started as a seminar on working equid health and welfare in 2024, has since grown into a fully fledged field service in the indigenous regions of Northern Colombia. Our field clinics now include pre-departure Canvas coursework, hands-on clinical training for local veterinary students and direct owner education sessions covering vaccination, dental care, and disease awareness. As of 2026, our program has trained 30 students across 4 different Colombian universities.

We are so proud of our hard working team (both in country and international) who are slowly but surely changing the four-legged lives in these communities by providing sustainable access to veterinary care. Sometimes all you need are a few dedicated people, some pocket puppies and a dream!

"This was the first year that we became obsolete. That our local veterinarians were using our lessons to teach their stu...
08/24/2026

"This was the first year that we became obsolete. That our local veterinarians were using our lessons to teach their students to help the horses in their own communities. For the first time, I could clearly see the purpose of our program moving sustainably forward. That this was never about us, but about how we could support the local vets and veterinary students--because this was their country, their communities, and their horses.
And that is a lesson I will carry with me forever"
- Dr. Omar

This year in the Peten, our team helped remove an eye from a pregnant mare. The eye had severe uveitis and squamous cell carcinoma that was causing the mare an immense amount of pain. The procedure was performed by Dr. Stephanie, one of our local practitioners, and assisted by the UMG veterinary students. Dr. Omar taught regional anesthesia techniques to minimize pain and reduce the amount of sedation used.
Dr. Jennifer, another local veterinarian, was able to perform a recheck exam and remove the sutures. The mare is healthy and her baby is due anytime now! Her little boy is overjoyed to have his favorite horse happy again! Thank you to our local team for their amazing work.

08/16/2026

A healthier mouth means a healthier working equid. 🐴🦷

A huge thank you to Terafloat U.S. for making this dental outreach possible and helping us improve the health, welfare, and quality of life of working horses, donkeys, and mules through accessible veterinary dentistry with this portable and high quality equipment that we are able to use on this field setting.

We are so grateful for your support! ❤️

Gracias a la Alcaldía de San Antero Fundación Arrieros Colombia por abrirnos las puertas a esta hermosa comunidad del burro en Colombia 🫏🇨🇴



Zoetis Equine The Foundation for The Horse

World Horse Day is an opportunity to recognize not only our shared love of horses, but also their essential contribution...
07/11/2026

World Horse Day is an opportunity to recognize not only our shared love of horses, but also their essential contributions to people and communities around the world.

Millions of horses and other working equids provide transportation, support agriculture, carry water and supplies, and help sustain livelihoods. Their health and welfare are directly connected to the well-being of the families who depend on them.

At The Equitarian Initiative, we are committed to improving equine welfare through veterinary care, education, and collaboration with local communities. By empowering owners with knowledge and increasing access to veterinary services, we can prevent suffering, improve quality of life, and strengthen the human-animal connection.

This World Horse Day, take a moment to appreciate the vital role horses play in our world and join us in advocating for compassionate, evidence-based care that ensures every horse has the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life.

Together, healthier horses help build healthier communities.

🐴 Happy World Horse Day!

CASE HIGHLIGHT: Terrible Toes! Our Navajo team treated a horse with severely overgrown hooves on all four limbs. Thankfu...
07/09/2026

CASE HIGHLIGHT: Terrible Toes!

Our Navajo team treated a horse with severely overgrown hooves on all four limbs. Thankfully, the bones within the feet were still healthy! However, the hooves were so thick and hardened from the arid desert dirt that it took a team with power saws to cut through those terrible toes.

Thanks to the amazing skill and perseverance of our farriers and veterinary team, this horse was able to walk normally for the first time in a long while. This case gives new definition to the phrase "Long Toe, Low Heel".

Comment if you have ever had to use power tools to cut through a hoof or share your own crazy foot cases!

One of our biggest challenges is providing quality equine dental care. Many of the working equids we see have never had ...
06/30/2026

One of our biggest challenges is providing quality equine dental care. Many of the working equids we see have never had a dental examination, and access to appropriate equipment is extremely limited. We’re currently looking for a donated equine dental speculum (new or gently used) that could be used during our clinics and for teaching local veterinarians, veterinary students, and animal health workers.

A donated speculum would directly impact the care of hundreds of working equids while helping us build sustainable dental capacity within the communities we serve.

If you have a speculum that is no longer being used, know of a practice upgrading equipment, or have a connection with a manufacturer or distributor that might be interested in making an in-kind donation, I would be incredibly grateful for any leads or introductions.

As a registered nonprofit, the Equitarian Initiative can provide documentation for in-kind donations where applicable, and we’d be happy to recognize generous donors through our social media, project reports, and outreach materials.

Thank you for considering this request and for everything this community does to advance equine welfare. Feel free to comment below or send me a message if you have any suggestions or would like more information about our work.

Thank you!

CASE HIGHLIGHT: Treating A Septic Joint In The Rural Guatemalan Jungle A few years ago a filly was brought to our clinic...
06/18/2026

CASE HIGHLIGHT: Treating A Septic Joint In The Rural Guatemalan Jungle

A few years ago a filly was brought to our clinic with a history of lameness and a swollen, painful right hind fetlock. There was an old wound over the area still leaking pus. The fetlock joint had become septic!

We had a long discussion about the ethics of managing a septic joint in the field with no opportunity for follow up care. However, these working equids are incredibly valuable and can make or break a family's entire livelihood. There is never a simple answer when working in a rural agrarian setting. This filly was lucky to have a dedicated owner who cared deeply for her and we agreed to give her a fighting chance!

She was placed under anesthesia and we performed a high volume joint lavage using needles and a bag of saline. We injected Naxcel into the joint and gave her injections of Gentamicin and Excede. The limb was bandaged for the journey home and she was sent with Bute and a month supply of SMZs.

Swipe to the end to see our filly happy, healthy and back for her vaccines a year later!
Comment what you would have done in this situation and/or your antibiotic of choice for septic joints.


The Foundation for The Horse Zoetis Equine Boehringer Ingelheim Equine Health

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PO Box 773481
Steamboat Springs, CO
80477

Telephone

+19709464142

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