How Equine Rescues Can Advocate for Horses

Equine rescues can be instrumental in impacting policies related to equine welfare at all levels of government. There are many ways that you, or your organization, can advocate for horses at the federal, state, and local level—from posting action alerts on social media to hosting an open house at your barn featuring elected officials. Here are some of the tools that you can use to advocate for horses:

A rescue, or its supporters, can call or write to local/state/federal legislators and urge support for a relevant action. 
How to Call Your Legislators.
How to Write to Your Legislators.

Employ face-to-face meetings (Zoom works too!) with officials to discuss issues pertaining to equine welfare. Act locally: attending a town hall or meeting with your federal legislators in their local office can sometimes be even more effective than traveling to Washington DC. In addition, use your expertise to testify at hearings on horse-related bills or policies. 

Host an open house and use that time to educate visitors about policies affecting equine welfare. Invite your local legislators and the media, and have press packets or infographics about pertinent bills available.  

Submissions to newspapers in the form of an op-ed or letter to the editor can get your voice heard by new people. Keep your writing concise and respectful, while promoting support for the important equine measures. 

Use Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to express your support for relevant legislation. Encourage followers to take action, and provide links to resources such as petitions or action alerts. Remember to use social media wisely and always act professionally.

Join coalitions like Homes for Horses to be a part of a like-minded community that can generate a greater impact than individuals alone. Don’t be afraid to call on your supporters for help. They want to save horses! Share information around your facility and in your newsletters about pertinent legislation. Together, we can achieve real change for all equines.

Federal law allows Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to engage in some lobbying as long as the expenditures do not exceed certain limits. The Internal Revenue Service website has information about those limits, and about the types of activities that are considered permissible.   

Organizations planning to engage in lobbying should consult with counsel in order to comply with all requirements and stay informed of any relevant changes. In addition, several organizations provide resources about lobbying by 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.  The following are just a few examples of such resources: 

• Internal Revenue Service website  
• Alliance for Justice: (noting that 501(c)(3) organizations are prohibited from engaging in a number of activities including, but not limited to, making campaign contributions, and endorsing candidates and publicizing those endorsements). 
• National Council of Nonprofits
• BoardSource

• Communicate Effectively with Legislators
• Contact Media in Your State
• Find Your Elected Officials
• Write the Media
• Sign up for Action Alerts

While following all applicable lobbying limits, we encourage you to keep appropriate resources within reach for your volunteers and barn visitors, and for leaving behind information with offices if you are meeting on an issue; printing fact sheets with information about federal equine bills can also be helpful. 

• The Ejiao Act (H.R. 5544)
• Horse Transportation Safety Act (H.R. 3623)
• The Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R.1684)
• The Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R. 1661/S. 775)
• The Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act (H.R. 4356)