STA Fall Grant Awards

STA Fall Grant Awards

Funder: Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA)
Geographic Scope: Ohio, Maine, New York, West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida, Louisiana, Pennsylvania
Focus Areas: Standardbred racehorse aftercare, rehabilitation, and rehoming programs

Purpose

Awards grants to accredited 501(c)(3) charitable organizations that acquire, rehabilitate, train, and re-home retiring Standardbred racehorses.

Eligibility Requirements

• Organization Status: Must have current 501(c)(3) status with IRS or be registered as charitable organization with Canada Revenue Agency
• Operational History: Must have been in operation for at least 2 years at close of application period
• Licensing: Must comply with all applicable state, provincial, and national licensing and permitting requirements for sourcing, transferring, rehoming, or brokering horses
• Euthanasia Policy: Must have written euthanasia policy consistent with American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) standards, applicable to all stages of a horse's life
• Legal Standing: Board members, staff, and volunteers must not be party to legal proceedings connected with the applicant organization
• Care History: Must have cared for minimum of 5 Standardbreds in the year prior to close of applications
• Adoption Contracts: Must prohibit breeding of any adopted horse
• Post-Adoption Protocol: Must include minimum 2 years documentation of horse's location and condition; commitment to resume care of horse at any point if requested

STA Accreditation Process

Organizations must first achieve STA accreditation through rigorous review of equine care and training practices, business standards, and on-site facility inspection. All organizations must reapply for accreditation annually.

Recent Awards (2025)

Fall 2025 distribution: $97,000 to six accredited organizations

Award Recipients (Fall 2025)

• Futures For Standardbreds (ME)
• Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary (OH)
• Heart of Phoenix (WV)
• New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program (OH, NY, KY)
• Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program (NY)
• Sunshine Horses (NY)

Historical Context

• 2024 Year-End: $100,000 distributed
• 2025 Total Distribution: $212,500 (Spring $103,000 + Fall $97,000 + PLP Awards $12,500)
• Since 2020: $625,000+ total distributed to accredited programs

Board Statement

"STA grants reward accredited organizations that are operating professionally and in the best interests of the horse." - STA President

Contact

Standardbred Transition Alliance P.O. Box 377 Laurelville, OH 43135 Email: administrator@standardbredtransition.org Website: standardbredtransition.org