Register now for the 2024 Homes for Horses Coalition Conference!
Thanks for coming!
WHEN: October 16-18, 2026 • WHERE: Westin Denver Downtown, Denver, Colorado
We are still riding high from the fabulous 2026 HHC Conference! Over 125 attendees joined us from all over the nation to elevate equine welfare and build a stronger safety net for horses. Attendees represented over 60 different organizations, including 50 different equine rescues and sanctuaries. To have so many incredible equine advocates in one place was a privilege and really speaks to the dedication so many have to these issues.
On day one of our conference, we headed out to Colorado Horse Rescue for a day of hands-on learning, including tours, intake demos, an interactive marketing lecture, and a discussion of their immensely successful companion connection program. Back at the hotel, we heard some of the stories of horses in need during a showing of Throwaway Horses.
Our conference speakers did an incredible job over the next two days, sharing horse expertise, new science, nonprofit management techniques, policy updates, and program ideas. Our conversations weren’t always easy, but together, we brought to light the challenges impacting rescues and horses around the country. Speakers highlighted how to build bridges and productive conversations through disagreement, how transparency can foster trust and build social license, and how policy gaps leave horses vulnerable to cruelty and neglect. Our invited nonprofit management professionals shared important techniques to build more sustainable and successful charities, with values at the forefront of every decision.
To all of our speakers, generous sponsors, wonderful hosts, and engaged attendees, thank you for making this weekend such a memorable one, with so much momentum for horses. We hope that you return to your organizations with a renewed excitement for your work, an open mind for new ideas, and a sense of security knowing that colleagues around the country share your passion to elevate equine welfare.
See you in 2028!
Conference Schedule
Meet at the Westin Denver Downtown and hop on the provided shuttle to Colorado Horse Rescue for a day of hands-on learning.
| Bus Pickup at the Westin Denver Downtown 9:00 AM On Site Day at Colorado Horse Rescue 10:00 – 3:00 PM Bus Dropoff at Westin Denver Downtown 4:00 PM Movie Night: Throwaway Horses 7:00 – 9:00 PM |
Enjoy breakfast among your colleagues before settling into a full day of engaging topics. Learn about managing your nonprofit, the latest in equine neuroscience, advocating for equines, and more! Stick around for the welcome reception to get connected with equine welfare professionals around the nation.
| Registration and Breakfast 8:00 – 9:00 AM |
| Welcome 9:00 – 10:00 AM |
| From Survival to Safety: What Neuroscience Teaches Us About Equine Welfare, Recovery, and Trust Dr. Stephen Peters, Psy.D., ABN, Equine Neuroscientist 10:00 – 11:00 AM |
| No Wrong Answers: Navigating Ethical Tension in Equine Rescue Tiffany Ring, Founder of Gentle Spirit Horses Rescue 11:05 – 12:00 PM |
| Lunch 12:00 – 1:00 PM |
| The Unwritten Contract: Building Social License in Equine Rescue Rebecca Husted, Professional Emergency Response Educator 1:00 – 1:50 PM |
| The Mission Beyond the Moment: Succession Planning for Nonprofits Sarah Gaines, Director, BoardWalk Consulting 1:55 – 2:45 PM |
| Uncovering the Truth of the Slaughter Pipeline Chelsea Perez, Senior Program Manager for Equine Protection at Humane World for Animals 2:45 – 3:00 PM |
| Break and Refreshments 3:00 – 3:30 PM |
| Navigating Interest in Horses in Human Services (EAS): Guidelines and Logistics for Rescues and Sanctuaries Nina Ekholm Fry, Director of Equine Programs at University of Denver’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection 3:30 – 4:20 PM |
| Beyond Roundups: A Blueprint for Wild Horse Reform Scott Beckstead, Government Relations & Policy Director for American Wild Horse Conservation 4:25 – 5:00 PM |
| From Congress to the Courts: Equine Advocacy Updates Joanna Grossman, Equine Program Director at the Animal Welfare Institute Chelsea Perez, Senior Program Manager for Equine Protection, Humane World for Animals 5:00 – 5:30 PM |
| Reception 6:30 – 8:00 PM |
Discuss your new ideas over a provided breakfast and spend the morning learning about a range of topics from experienced panelists. After saying your goodbyes, travel home with new ideas and new connections.
| Breakfast 8:00 – 9:00 AM |
| Financial Transparency Builds Donor Trust & Increases Giving Prash Kothari, Founder and President of Non-Profit Books 9:00 – 9:45 AM |
| The Future of Equine Placement: Community-Based Models That Work Kathleen Bobbio, Founding Director, Virginia Partnership for Horses Madison Donahue, Barn Manager, Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals Brittney Vallot, Owner Assistance Manager, Days End Farm Horse Rescue 9:50 – 11:00 AM |
| Break and Refreshments 11:00 – 11:30 AM |
| Better Beginnings: The Lifelong Impact of Weaning Practices Ann Hepworth, Senior Trainer and Adoption Coordinator, Best Friends Animal Society 11:30 – 12:10 PM |
| Preventing and Addressing Equine Cruelty and Neglect: Lessons Learned from Research and the Field Dr. Rebecca (Becky) Niemiec, Associate Professor in the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department at Colorado State University 12:15 – 1:00 PM |
Speakers
Director of Equine Programs at University of Denver’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection
Associate Professor in the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department at Colorado State University
Oversight Team
Sponsors
Looking Back on HHC 2024…
I’ve been to a lot of conferences, and this one was one of my favorites-informative, authentic, and fun!
Very well done, this was my first time attending and it was awesome.
Thoroughly enjoyed it and found the presentations valuable.
[My favorite part was] the chance to see other rescues, compare stories, learn we aren’t alone
So many wonderful folks from across the nation striving to improve equine welfare gathered in one spot
[We are] so grateful for the opportunity to be here and experience this amazing conference this year.
