In 2017, the Caribbean Equine Disaster Relief Fund was established in response to the devastation caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria and through it, hundreds of horses, horse people, farms and riding schools received aid. The Fund was once again called into action in 2019 as hurricane Dorian battered the Bahamas, providing feed, shelter, containment and support to horses and equestrians in need.
Mark Samuel, CEDRF Chair, FEI Vice-President and FEI Group IV Chair, has announced that the fund is seeking donations in the wake of the recent volcanic eruptions on the island of St. Vincent which have destroyed facilities, displaced horses and coated everything in ash. Neighbouring islands are also feeling the effects of La Soufrière’s eruptions.
In response to this emergency, the leaders of the CEDRF are collaborating with Pan American Equestrian Confederation (PAEC) chair Cesar Hirsch and have authorized an emergency budget of $10,000 to help with securing clean, safe feed and water for the affected horses, as well as safe containment and interim shelter.
In order to expedite this effort, the CEDRF is asking for donations from fellow horse people; US Equestrian will accept donations through the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund which assists equines of any breed who are impacted by natural disasters. However, as donations made via their website are not restricted to support a specific disaster, they ask that for any donations of $500 or greater to contact Mark Coley at mcoley@USEF.org to identify the donation.
USEF has already generously donated $4,000 from their Equine Disaster Relief Fund to assist the St. Vincent relief effort, and Finish Line Feeds of Dania, FL, are coordinating and accepting regional “in-kind” donations.
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The Caribbean Equine Disaster Relief Fund is a joint fundraising and relief effort by US Equestrian, Equestrian Canada, the Pan American Equestrian Confederation and the Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation that supports horses impacted by major natural disasters in the Caribbean.
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