Lexington, KY - The Sibley Equine Conservancy was awarded a $10,000 grant from Breyer Animal Creations, Pequannock, NJ, and the Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) on Sunday, May 1, in an awards presentation held during the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone. The grant is part of a three-year program run by Breyer and the ELCR designed to identify and award grants to local equine organizations around the United States to help them preserve land for equestrian use. Sibley Equine Conservancy will use the grant as a deposit on a 220-acre tract of land in Pequot Lakes, MN, to create the Minnesota Horse Park, a multi-use equestrian facility.

The land in question is located in Central Minnesota and was long used by equestrians thanks to a gentleman’s agreement with its owner. As often happens, the land was put up for sale, with no guarantee that equestrians could continue to enjoy it. The Sibley Equine Conservancy, headed by Brenda Myers, saw the need to preserve the land, and developed a plan, working with county, state and federal agencies, to create the Minnesota Horse Park, to protect this land for continued equestrian use.

“The loss of land for equine use is an increasingly serious problem for the equestrian community,” noted Deb Balliet, Executive Director of the ELCR. “We were pleased to work with Breyer to develop this program to raise awareness of the problem and to encourage local groups to take action to address it.”

“As an avid trail rider, I have seen land disappear around me at an astonishing rate,” affirmed Stephanie Macejko, Breyer’s Vice President of Marketing. “When ELCR suggested that we join forces to raise awareness, Breyer was delighted to answer the call! For the last three years, horse lovers across the U.S. have purchased specially made Breyer models, which have helped us to underwrite this important program. Thanks to them, $30,000 has been donated to preserve land for equestrian use, a significant achievement!”

Sibley Equine Conservancy, based in Pequot Lakes, MN, was selected from 22 applicants from around the country by the ELCR/Breyer Grant Committee. Accepting the grant check on behalf of the group was Brenda Myers of the Sibley Equine Conservancy. Myers is the Executive Director of the Minnesota Horse Park Committee. They received their award and check on May 1st at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event in Lexington, KY. Making the presentation was Kentucky’s First Lady Jane Beshear, ELCR board member Libbie Johnson, ELCR Executive Director Deb Balliet and Breyer’s Kathleen Fallon.

ENDS