There are gifts, and then there is the perfect gift; that extra-special something that has a heartfelt meaning for the giver and the recipient alike. It’s a gift that will continue giving long after the holiday is past; that will relate to our equestrian world; and that can fit any budget.

USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund
With so many people burned out of their homes and barns in the southern California firestorm, donations to aid the relief and rebuilding efforts are a timely gift. In response to this disaster and in hopes of assisting in the future, as well, the United States Equestrian Federation has established the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund.
Money donated to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund assists equines of any breed that find themselves victims of disasters, including but not restricted to hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, blizzards and fires. The money will be held by USEF in an account restricted for this purpose and disbursed only upon authorization of the USEF Chief Executive Officer.
You can find more information at www.usef.org, or contact Joanie Morris, USEF High-Performance Communications Manager at jmorris@usef.org or 859-225-2052.

Supporting the ASPCA
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has provided emergency funding to the San Diego Humane Society for hay and other equine supplies needed in the wake of the firestorm.
“The ASPCA is happy to provide financial assistance for animals affected by this horrible tragedy,” said ASPCA President Ed Sayres. “Our disaster readiness experts are in touch with the San Diego Animal Coalition as well as animal welfare groups throughout the Los Angeles area.”
The ASPCA, founded in 1866 as the first humane organization in the Western Hemisphere, was formed to alleviate the injustices animals faced then, and continues to battle cruelty today. More information is at www.aspca.org.

Sponsoring a Spanish Riding School Lipizzan
If you are interested in helping preserve equestrian history, the Spanish Riding School and the Federal Stud Piber have a program for you!
Individuals or companies can sponsor a stallion at the Spanish Riding School, or a foal at Piber, and the sponsorship funds are used to maintain the high breeding standards and professional care of these rare horses.
Both the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, with more than 60 Lipizzan stallions, and the Federal Stud Piber in Styria, where 40 to 50 Lipizzan foals are born annually, have been privatized by the Austrian government and are now self-sustaining.
More information can be found at www.srs.at.

Helping the Wild Mustangs
Adopting a mustang involves a serious commitment of time, money and horsemanship, and it doesn’t fit into a gift-wrapped package. But a gift of support is something everyone can give or receive.
The Mustang Heritage Foundation is dedicated to facilitating successful adoptions for America’s excess mustangs and burros. Founded in 2001, its mission is to help promote the Bureau of Land Management’s National Wild Horse and Burro Program and increase the number of successful adoptions.
Visit www.mustangheritagefoundation.org for more information.

More About Mustangs
If you are thinking about actually adopting a mustang, the smart place to start is the web site of the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Wild Horse and Burro Program at www.blm.gov or call 866-4mustangs.
Wild horses and burros are managed in California in accordance with the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971, which gave the BLM the responsibility to protect wild horses and burros while ensuring their populations are managed to maintain or restore a thriving ecological balance.
California is a leader among the Bureau of Land Management’s 12 western states with over 1,000 animals adopted annually. Satellite adoptions are held throughout California along with adoptions at the states two holding facilities. 

Horses Helping Humans
You’ve probably heard the old saying about the outside of the horse being good for the inside of a man. You’ve probably also heard about – or seen for yourself – the great work being done by organizations that offer equine assisted activities and therapy.
The National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT) is home to one of the largest hippotherapy programs in the United States. From its Woodside location, NCEFT provides equine assisted therapy and equine assisted activity programs to children and adults with special needs.
Recently, NCEFT has added equine assisted therapy and activities for active duty personnel and veterans from The Veterans Afairs Palo Alto Health Care System Polytrauma Transitional Rehab Program.
For more information, visit www.nceft.org or call 650-851-2271.

Where Everyone Fits
Turning “I Wish” into “I Can” is the guiding philosophy at the Square Peg Foundation, along with the belief that learning happens when we are accepted, community happens only when we break down the barriers of isolation, and magic happens when Everyone Fits.
Square Pegs teaches horsemanship as a “whole horse” program of care, training, and horse psychology and behavior. This includes horsemanship instruction, demonstrations and guest speakers.
The life skills learned in the Square Pegs programs – including teamwork, responsibility, interpersonal skills and the motivation to achieve – change lives.
For more information, visit www.everyonefits.org or call 650-284-5064.

The Book for Everyone
If only a good book will do, here’s one that everyone will love: 1001 Best Things Ever Said About HORSES, edited by Steven D. Price, published by The Lyons Press, and widely available in book stores, tack shops and online.
Drawing from Greek and Roman philosophers, the Bible, and the Koran, through Shakespeare, Cervantes and Twain, to contemporary authors and personalities, HORSES provides wonderful food for thought no matter which page you peruse.
From the first quotation to the last, you’ll find wisdom, humor, and more within its pages. An old Spanish proverb says, “A horse is worth more than riches.” So is the perfect gift.

Happy Holiday Giving
Here’s wishing you a happy holiday season, happy riding, and happy reading!