WELLINGTON, Fla.--The Equus Foundation's 20th Anniversary Celebration on March 27 was hosted by equestrians Frank Madden and Jimmy Torano.
Jenny Belknap Kees, McLain Ward, and Lynn Coakley (Photo by Phelps Media)Equus Foundation VP, Valerie Angeli announced the launch of the Equus Foundation Horse Protector Pledge campaign.
"The time is now to take responsibility for the horses that we ask to trust us," said Angeli. "The practice of abandoning horses or subjecting them to neglect, abuse or being sent to the slaughter pipeline because they couldn't run fast enough, jump high enough, or were the wrong color or size, is never okay."
"Horses need all of us to protect them and we need to keep spreading the word and inspiring the equine community to care more about the welfare of horses than what horses can do for us," she said. "Horses are living, breathing, feeling partners, not commodities."
The inaugural Spirit Award was presented to McLain Ward by Jenny Belknap Kees, Equus Foundation Chair, and Lynn Coakley, Equus Foundation President.
"TWENTY YEARS ago, when Jenny reached out to McLain to explain what we were trying to accomplish in establishing the Equus Foundation and asked him if he would participate in an event that came to be known as the Fete Cheval, he said "Yes" without hesitation," said Coakley. "When we reached out to other top equestrians and said - McLain is participating - they all followed suit. Little did McLain and the others know what we were going to ask of them!
"Now 20 years later, we are here to present the Spirit Award to honor an equestrian who has significantly elevated the image and desirability of horses. There was no question in either of our minds who would be the first recipient."
"There's not a lot that can be said about McLain that hasn't been said before, except to say that McLain embodies everything that the Spirit Award stands for," said Belknap. "He continues to be a force in propelling the equestrian sport forward, always the sportsman and the gentleman and always a friend and advocate since our founding 20 years ago."
"It is so important to have an organization like the Equus Foundation, that not only steps up to protect horses, particularly in the most vulnerable time in their lives, but also keeps us aware of what's really happening," said Ward.
"When Lynn and Jenny first approached me about the Spirit Award, my first response was that there must be others who have done much greater work on behalf of all the horses that need our help than myself, and there are, but I accepted because I believe it is critical that horse sports be humane and ethical and responsible and that we take care of our partners throughout their lives, whether they were champions or not," he said.
"The responsibility to lead the way falls on all of us," said Ward. "We don't realize where many horses, including show horses and racehorses, end up, and the terrible fate they may face. We just assume that they are taken care of, but that's not the reality. I am honored to accept this award and to lend my name to the Equus Foundation."
Belknap announced that the Equus Foundation is establishing the McLain Ward Horse Whisperer Award and will be awarding a grant in his name in perpetuity to a deserving equine charity that is dedicated to protecting America's horses and strengthening the horse-human bond.
