Ways to help
Wondering how you can help? Interested in learning more about these endangered horse breeds? Or perhaps you are considering buying a horse?
You are on the right page!
Going Forward
In creating our coffee table book Fading Hoofprints and documentary series, we have journeyed from the sheep-dotted countryside of England to the dusty plains of Rajasthan, and from the rolling hills of Kentucky to the beaches of Puerto Rico. Along the way, we have met many people—breeders, owners, ecologists, geneticists, historians, police, horse trainers and animal wranglers, and veterinarians—all deeply passionate about the unique equine breeds featured in this project.
We asked each of them: What can people do to help? The answers varied greatly from breed to breed, yet at their core, they shared a common theme: the need for greater awareness, a deeper understanding of these horses' significance, and stronger advocacy for their survival.
There are many meaningful ways to contribute—whether by learning more about a breed, supporting conservation initiatives, volunteering with an association, or even buying and breeding an endangered horse.
A great first step is knowing where to start. Below, you’ll find an overview of some of the organizations, associations and independent breeders we collaborated with during this project. They welcome support in various ways and would love to hear from you.
Equine Conservation organisations
The Equus Survival Trust (EST) is a United States nonprofit organisation dedicated to helping conservation efforts of endangered horse breeds. The EST has 35 different horse breeds on their Equine Conservation List that face various levels of risk of extinction. Its Executive Director Victoria Tollman is a truly wonderful person who we have worked closely together with during the production phase of the Equine Legacy Project. The Trust is looking for volunteers.
www.equus-survival-trust.org
EquusSurvivalTrust@yahoo.com
- Libby Robinson - Globetrotter Fell ponies. Libby Robinson is a hill breeder and also the chair of the Fell pony Heritage Trust and a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Fell ponies and hill breeding.
- Samantha Smith - Ashbeck Fell ponies. Samantha Smith is a hill breeder and our guest on the Equine Legacy podcast where we go into depth about the breed.
- David Thompson - Drybarrows Fell ponies. David Thompson is a hill breeder and his herd is on the cover of the book.
- Bill Potter - Greenholme Fell Pony Stud, Bill Potter is a hill breeder and has bred more than 1,000 ponies in his lifetime and his ponies have won many prices. We visited him on his 82th birthday!
- Gilly Chippendale - Lammerside Fell ponies. Here stallion featured in the book is Stallion Stennerkeugh's Smoke.
BREEDERS
The Fell Pony Heritage Trust (FPHT) is a registered charity dedicated to protecting and conserving the Fell Pony and the Hill Breeders whose commitment to the breed means semi-wild herds continue to roam the fells of Cumbria, UK. The FPHT organizes events, activities and knowledge sharing. The FPHT is actively looking for volunteers to join their team. Libby Robinson, the chair of the FPHT, is incredibly passionate about the breed and their heritage.
www.fpht.co.uk
info.fpht@gmail.com
The Fell Pony Society is a registered charity whose aim is to foster and keep pure the old breed of pony which has roamed the northern fells for years and to circulate knowledge and general information about the pony breed. You can take a look at the website for more information on breeders, available horses, the breed standard, and showing, and contact the association for further questions. They are very helpful!
www.fellponysociety.org.uk
Associations
Fell Pony - england
- Ronnie Black - Collessie Stud Clydesdales
- Bob Hamilton - Dillars Clydesdales
- Jen Spiers - Malcolmwood Clydesdales
- Claire McGill - Capperhill Clydesdales. Claire is our guest on the Equine Legacy podcast where we go into depth about the breed.
- Benny Duncan - Balmalcolm Clydesdales. Benny Duncan is not a breeder, but he and his family have various Clydesdale youngsters and are one of the last people to still compete in ploughing competitions with Clydesdales. He does a variety of things with Clydesdales, including lady cart driving and riding, and is available for questions regarding ploughing and general training of Clydesdales.
BREEDERS
The Clydesdale Horse Society
The aim of the Clydesdale Horse Society is to maintain the purity of the breed and to promote the Clydesdale Horse. They are in charge of the Clydesdale studbook in Scotland and have much information on the Clydesdale breed, the breed standard, available horses, and competitions. There is a huge show circuit of Clydesdales in Scotland.
www.clydesdalehorsesociety.com
There are also Clydesdale breeder associations in other countries, major ones include Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. Each have their respective listings of available horses, breed information, and events.
Associations
Clydesdale - Scotland
- Robin Little-Basil & Aaron Basil - Rockin R Farm. Rockin R is currently (by far) the largest breeder of Mountain Pleasure horses in the world. Robin Little-Basil is also the president of the Mountain Pleasure Horse Association and carries a huge passion for the breed, which has been in her family for generations. There is no one who does more for the conservation of the Mountain Pleasure Horse breed than her. If you have questions about the breed or would like to know if there’s anyway you can help the breed, she is the person to contact. You can also stay at their Rockin R Farm Equine Adventures to experience the breed up close.
- Bobbie & Darren Patterson - Diamond P Farm. Two wonderful breeders, the Diamond P Farm currently has a large number of purebred registered Mountain Pleasure horses for sale.
BREEDERS
The Mountain Pleasure Horse Association (MPHA) is a non-profit organization registered in the state of Kentucky and dedicated to the promotion, breeding and development of the Mountain Pleasure Horse. The MPHA has a lot of information on the breed and its history, the breed standard and stud book, and organizes various programs and events for the Mountain Pleasure Horse community. Mountain Pleasure horses are often sold by word of mouth and not listed online. If you are interested in buying one, contact the association and they will bring you in contact with the right people. They are always looking for volunteers, especially tech-savvy ones. So if you wish to help out, be sure to contact them, the people are incredibly kind.
www.mpha-oldkentuckysaddler.com/
Associations
Mountain Pleasure Horse - USA
- Rawal Devendra Singh Nawalgarh - Roop Niwaskothi. Marwari breeder in Rajasthan. E-mail: trademarwariraj@yahoo.com or +91-9414362700
- Francesca Kelly - Marwari breeder in the Martha’s Vineyard, United States. E-mail: fkelly8254@aol.com or +1 (508)627-2119
BREEDERS
Indigenous Horse Society of India
The Indigenous Horse Society of India (IHSI) is a wonderful charity with the aim of preserving and promoting India’s indigenous horse breeds, including the Marwari horse. Their website is currently under construction but you can contact them through their daughter:
www.abaisasadventures.com
Associations
Marwari - India
- Viveca Venegas Vilaro - Casta Puro Paso Finos de Puerto Rico. A passionate breeder with some of the most unique colors of Paso Finos in Puerto Rico. Viveca’s farm is large and her horses are therefore able to run outside, which is a rarity in Puerto Rico.
BREEDERS
The Paso Fino Breed Foundation is one of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino breed societies in Puerto Rico. The Foundation’s aim is to is to maintain the purity of the breed and to increase public awareness of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino horse. Among other things, they organize cultural historical and education events and programs designed to increase awareness in, and the health and welfare of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino breed. They also organize competitions.
www.pfha.org/paso-fino-foundation
Associations
Puerto Rican Paso Fino - Puerto Rico
- Constança d’Andrade - Stud Maria d’Andrade de Oliveira e Sousa. One of the largest semi-wild roaming Sorraia herds, in Coruche, Portugal. She is also our guest on the Equine Legacy Podcast.
- Martha Stilwell-d’Andrade - Herdade do Azinhal. Large herd of free-roaming semi-wild Sorraia horses.
- César Escudero - Herdade de Font’alva. One of the largest semi-wild roaming Sorraia herds. herdadedefontalva@gmail.com
- Alter Real Stud - Coudelaria Nacional - Aside from breeding the Lusitano, Alter Real has one of the largest numbers of Sorraia horses in the country. Their herds roam free and are semi-wild.
- Antonio Vicente - Polytechnic University of Santarém - The university breeds Sorraia horses as well as provides equine assisted therapy with Sorraia stallions.
BREEDERS
Rewilding Portugal is a not-for-profit organization that works in the Greater Côa Valley in Portugal, with the aim to rewild nature, improve biodiversity and strengthen the ecosystem. They have herds of Sorraia horses that play an crucial role in the rewilding of the Côa Valley. Rewilding Portugal benefits from volunteers every year, contact them to see how you can get involved.
www.rewilding-portugal.com
Quinta do Pisão Cascais Ambiente is a natural park in Portugal that uses Sorraia horses, among other animals, to rewild and improve the ecosystem, and make the natural areas more fire-resistant. You can walk around the park and, if you are fortunate enough, see their herds of Sorraia horses roam free. They also organize guided walks, and currently have an exhibition on the Sorraia horse organized by us from the Equine Legacy, where you can learn more about these truly unique but critically endangered horses. www.ambiente.cascais.pt/pt/quinta-do-pisao
Hearts into Nature. Filippa is very knowledgeable about the Sorraia horse and organizes nature walks in Portugal for people to see and learn about the Sorraia in the wild.
www.heartsintonature.com/trilhos-cavalos
Associação Portuguesa do Cavalo Sorraia. Many Sorraia breeders are registered at the Portuguese Sorraia Horse Association. With such a small number of Sorraia horses remaining, breeders working together are crucial. Website: www.cavalo-sorraia.com
Associations
Sorraia - Portugal
- Gabriela Ostadalova - Hrebecin JS Maneo. Gabriela is a proud breeder of some of the most beautiful and high-quality black Kladruber horses. She has horses for sale.
- Family Dobrovsky - Hrebecin Dobrovsky. The family Dobrovsky are wonderful breeders with true heart for their Kladruber horses. They have both black and grey Kladrubers. Their herds live outside all year long. They both sell and train horses.
BREEDERS
The National Stud of Kladruby nad Labem is the largest breeder of Kladruber horses in Czechia ánd in the world. The Stud is also an UNESCO World Heritage site and the sprawling grounds are absolutely gorgeous and open to visitors that wish to see the unique Kladruber horse. The performance testing for breeding horses takes place at the Stud twice a year. The Stud has around 250 black Kladrubers and 250 grey Kladrubers, and they have horses for sale.
www.nhkladruby.cz/en
Associations
Kladruber - Czechia
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That is why we are on a mission to raise awareness for endangered or rare horse breeds. By creating and sharing high quality content in our coffee table book, documentary series and podcast series, we want to educate people on some of the most extraordinary yet vulnerable horse breeds.