Twenty-five national and state-based equine protection, placement and rescue organizations gathered Tuesday for the second Homes for Horses Coalition Conference to discuss the re-homing of at-risk horses in America. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Animal Welfare Institute jointly sponsored the conference.

The coalition, formed in 2007, is dedicated to ending horse slaughter and other forms of equine abuse while promoting growth, collaboration and professionalism in the equine rescue and sanctuary community. Conference attendees discussed a broad range of issues including lobbying efforts to end horse slaughter, emergency preparedness, fundraising strategies, and building an accreditation program for equine rescues and sanctuaries.

“The Homes for Horses Coalition has established a firm foundation for the equine protection and rescue community,” said Keith Dane, director of equine protection for The HSUS. “By coming together as a coalition we are able to pool the strengths and talents of our individual member organizations. I look forward to expanding our membership and reach and to continue the efforts we began last year.”

“The coalition is proactively working to improve equine welfare and to identify and provide alternatives to the inhumane slaughter of America’s horses. Representatives of our member organizations, which actively care for thousands of horses on a daily basis, left the conference with a renewed sense of the scope and effectiveness of our equine protection community,” said Liz Ross, federal policy advisor to the Animal Welfare Institute and organizer of this year's conference.

Member organizations of the coalition represent a wide array of equine welfare organizations including equine rescues, sanctuaries and retirement homes as well as programs that work directly with children, law enforcement and community groups to provide second careers for at-risk horses. All of the coalition’s members are active supporters of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, (H.R.503/S.311), which, when passed, will prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption in the U.S. and the export of American horses for slaughter. To learn more about the coalition, please visit www.homesforhorses.org.