Equine Protection Fund: Emergency Feed Assistance and Other Help

Requirements for Eligibility for Emergency Feed Assistance:

• Applicant must be a resident of New Mexico
• Professionals involved in horseracing or breeding horses for sale are not eligible for assistance
• Applicant consents to possible site visit from animal control or law enforcement
• Verifiable income loss within 6 months of application for assistance

Please read the entire application, and provide information and signatures

Names of equines to be fed (four maximum). Please use animal’s name as it appears on veterinary records.

Please provide the name and contact of the store(s) or person(s) who normally supply your feed or hay. Be certain that the supplier(s) listed are trusted by you, as we may authorize payment directly to supplier(s).

NOTICE OF DISCRETION

WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND RELEASE

Animal Protection of New Mexico’s (APNM) Equine Protection Fund is offering Emergency Feed Assistance (Assistance). If your application is approved, APNM will give a credit to your local feed supplier or other source of feed. It is your responsibility to inspect the quality of the feed and provide transportation to get the feed to your equines.

We ask that you read and sign this Waiver of Liability and Release. By signing it, you will be indicating that you understand the risks involved in your participation in Assistance.

VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION

1. I acknowledge that I have voluntarily applied to participate in Assistance.

ASSUMPTION OF RISK

2. I am aware that my participating in Assistance may involve strenuous physical activities, as well as risks associated for my equine(s) in changing feed. I am voluntarily participating in these activities with full knowledge of the risks involved, and hereby agree to accept any and all risks of harm that may result from my participation in Assistance.

RELEASE

3. As consideration for my being permitted by participate in the Assistance, I hereby agree that I, my assignees, heirs, distributees, guardians, and legal representatives will not make a claim of any kind against or sue APNM, their affiliates, employees, agents or volunteers for injury or damage of any kind resulting from my participation in Assistance, unless such injury or damage is the result of an employee, agent, or contractor of APNM exhibiting gross negligence or intentionally acting in a manner likely to lead to my being harmed. I hereby release APNM from all actions, claims or demands that I, my assignees, heirs, distributees, guardians, and legal representatives now have or may hereafter have for injury or damage resulting from my participation in Assistance, except when an employee, agent, or contractor of APNM exhibits gross negligence or intentionally act in a manner likely to lead to my being harmed. I further voluntarily agree and warrant to Release and Hold Harmless APNM and its representatives from any liability whatsoever, including, but not limited to, any incident or illness of horses believed to be caused by or related to feed provided through this Assistance.

CHANGING THE DIET OF HORSES

Whether it’s the grain, hay, or time on pasture, any change in the horse's diet should be spread over several days or weeks. Increases in the amount of grain given to a horse should be added at approximately 0.5 pounds per day until the desired amount of grain is reached. Grain increases may be necessary because of an increase in activity level or for a mare during lactation. If the grain amount is increased too quickly, colic or founder may occur.

When introducing a new type of hay or grain to a horse, the new hay or grain should replace the old feed at a rate of 25 percent every other day, taking a total of six days until the horse is completely on the new feed. Feed intake or eagerness to consume the diet may decrease during this changeover period. If this occurs, more time may be needed for the horse to adjust to the new feed.

When a horse is to be turned out on pasture all day, especially if the pasture is lush and green, time on pasture should be gradually increased to avoid overeating, in a manner similar to increasing the grain. Horses should be provided with all the hay they want to eat about a week prior to the start of complete pasture turnout. The time on pasture should be increased by one hour each day for four to five days. Then, before the horse is going to be turned out completely on pasture, a hay meal should be provided. It is important to remember that each horse is different. Some horses take more time to adjust to dietary changes than others. Therefore, it is important to monitor the horse’s eating habits and health status carefully during this time. From www.extension.org