Horse Donation

The Campus Farm is currently home to several horses that were generously donated by supporters of the Equine Studies Program. The horses are used to support the teaching and extension programs in the Animal and Avian Sciences Department and the Institute of Applied Agriculture. In particular, horses are used in hands-on laboratories to help teach students the skills needed to be successful in today's horse industry. In addition, the Department's horses are used by the Equestrian Club to provide a unique experience for any student at the University to learn about horse management and the fundamentals of English Riding. All donated horses are given excellent care by the Campus Farm Manager, ANSC students, and the Equestrian Club with the supervision from the Equine Faculty and the Campus Veterinarian

Interested in donating a horse to the University of Maryland Equine studies program? 

We accept tax-deductible donations of sound riding horses between the ages of 5 and 15 years old. Horses must be safe to be handled and ridden by beginners through advanced levels. They must not have any existing medical condition that would prevent them from being incorporated into the Equestrian Club's lesson program. Although jumping is not a priority, it is preferred that horses should be capable of jumping small courses.

All prospective donators should contact us via phone or e-mail. We ask they provide basic information about their horses including age, breed, height, health status, behavioral characteristics, and riding ability; providing photos and videos are very helpful. If we believe a horse is potentially a good fit for the program, University of Maryland staff and students will schedule an appointment to visit and ride the horse. At this time, owners are also asked to complete a health information form that provides us information about the horse's Coggin's, vaccination history, dental and hoof care, and nutritional program. It is not unusual for us to schedule a second visit to evaluate the horse. We tend to be selective because we feel it is in the best interest of our students as well as the horse.

If we feel that a horse has the potential to become a member of our herd, we enter into a 30-day trial period with the owner so that we can more properly assess the horse's fit for the program. Once the trial period is over the owner is asked to complete a Transfer of Ownership form. The owner will also receive a letter serving as a receipt of their donation and as a courtesy, we provide the tax forms necessary for the owner to complete. We do not appraise the horses. The owner is responsible for having the horse appraised prior to the donation if necessary for tax purposes.

For more information on donating a horse to the University of Maryland, please contact Dr. Amy Burk, Equine Faculty at 301-405-8337 or by email at amyburk@umd.edu. You may also contact our Barn Manager at rosecard@umd.edu. Please also feel free to visit this webpage for more information. 

For more information about our Equine Studies Program, please visit this webpage.