Our Mission
To promote the safety and security of Virginia equines by:
1. Facilitating best practices within the equine welfare community.
2. Securing resources for equines identified at risk and organizations committed to the welfare of horses.
3. Establishing collaboration to manage those equids.
The Initiative
In July 2018 the Virginia Horse Council Foundation hosted an equine welfare meeting in response to several upsetting animal control seizures involving horses that year and launched the “Virginia Equine Task Force."
The Task Force created an online resource list, developed and taught VDACS-Accredited training courses for Animal Control and hosted a statewide Rescue Forum in 2023.
Now as EWCV, we continue this work in hopes that we can find viable, real-world solutions to the needs of the equine welfare community.
Who We Are
We are a group of veterinarians, horse owners, animal control officers and rescue organizations who have worked together since the Equine Task Force was launched to improve the equine welfare response in VA.
Current Status
EWCV is a registered 501c3 tax-exempt corporation.
Current projects include working with EQUUS Foundation to develop a pilot accreditation program of equine rescue with onsite inspection in Virginia and collecting metrics to understand the statewide status of equine welfare in the Commonwealth.