The Equitarian Initiative
How veterinary volunteers are transforming equine care and community health in Central America.
Dr. Rachael E. Green has always been on the lookout for ways to help others – both near and far away. “Whether that looks like assisting a family in West Virginia putting a new roof on their house, or volunteering in a Swaziland hospital to take care of tuberculosis patients, or helping the families that have fallen on hard times and can no longer provide adequate health care for their family pets, I’ve always been about lending a helping hand,” said Green, BVMS, MRCVS, DABVP(eq), clinical assistant professor, farm practice in the department of large animal medicine at the University of Georgia. “I love forming relationships with those around me while I’m also able to help people out in small ways!”
Dr. Green and several other equine professionals recently made a big impact in several small Central American villages through their work with the Equitarian Initiative, a veterinary nonprofit organization. They traveled to Guatemala to deliver veterinary care to working horses, donkeys and mules.
“These horses, donkeys and mules continue to be used as work animals and as such, they have health challenges related to this,” Dr. Green said. Most of the health challenges for these working equids are preventable with owner education – things like equipment sores on their backs or wounds in their mouths from grazing in fields with burrs or other sharp plants. They also have many issues with their dentition: many of these horses are eating mostly pasture grasses and may or may not get the best nutrition from the land.
“Because of this, we see many fractured teeth during our trip – whether from lack of adequate nutrition causing developmental dental problems or the horses trying to eat hard objects that they shouldn’t,” she said. “And then, some of these mountainous places are home to vampire bats. So, we see some bat bites on the equids. As you can imagine, this makes preventative rabies vaccination incredibly important in these communities!”
A blended purpose
The Equitarian Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013 by a collective of equine veterinarians associated with the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) who shared a vision at their annual convention. The name “Equitarian” blends “equid” and “humanitarian,” reflecting its core purpose.
Its mission is to prepare volunteer veterinarians globally to deliver essential healthcare and education aimed at improving the health, nutrition, productivity and welfare of horses, donkeys and mules – and to empower the caregivers in ways that foster sustainable change. Field teams, made up of veterinarians, technicians, farriers, animal scientists, and educators, offer hands-on services – vaccinations, deworming, dentistry, wound care – and owner training in proper feeding, hoof care, tack fitting and general husbandry.
The initiative primarily serves working equids in underserved regions – Central America, the Caribbean, South America, Africa and Native American reservations – where these animals form the backbone of local economies and daily life. By combining expert care, owner education, and partnerships with institutions like veterinary schools and NGOs, the initiative aims to create lasting improvements in both animal well-being and community livelihoods.
“At Equitarian Initiative, success is defined by the lasting impact we make on the health and welfare of working equids in communities where these animals are essential to daily life,” said Annie Henderson, executive director. “These animals power livelihoods – providing transportation, supporting food production, enabling access to markets and water and helping women and children thrive. Yet, despite their critical role, working equids often suffer from preventable conditions due to limited access to veterinary care and education. “That’s why our mission goes beyond treatment – we advocate for systemic change,” Henderson said. “Through community-driven education and hands-on training of veterinary students and animal health professionals, we work to build partnerships that emphasize sustainable, locally driven solutions.
“We measure success by how well we amplify local voices, build lasting capacity, and inspire action – creating a ripple effect that transforms animal and human lives alike,” she continued. “Because when we protect the welfare of working equids, we strengthen the resilience and dignity of the communities they serve.”
Rewarding work
Most of Guatemala continues to have an agriculture-based economy. Many of the villages the Equitarian Initiative volunteers travel to have fields on the sides of the mountains where they grow crops. There is no real way to get modern machinery to these fields to plant, maintain, or harvest and so many rely on these equids to be the “tractors” for them.
“Without the literal ‘horsepower’, many of these communities wouldn’t have a way to sustain themselves,” Dr. Green said. In addition to this vital work, many of these villagers do not have motorized vehicles, so they are using their equids as daily transportation as well.
There were so many rewarding moments on the trip this year, Dr. Green said. “One that sticks out was on our last day,” she said. “We were working in a new village and it was a bit chaotic since the horse owners didn’t really know what to expect and everybody showed up early. We had a few Guatemalan veterinary students assigned to the dental team and one young lady was incredibly excited about learning. She was asking questions and picking up every scrap of knowledge and experience that she could. She was able to participate in a tooth extraction and even got to perform a dental float on a horse.”
At the end of the day, she was so thankful that she had the opportunity to spend the day with the team of volunteers. “Students like that make me remember why I wanted to return to academia and focus on teaching,” Dr. Green said. “It gives me motivation to keep doing what I’m doing, and it gives me hope that we are making a lasting difference in the welfare of equids in Guatemala by investing in their veterinary caregivers!”
This year, the Equitarian Initiative mission focused on education and sustainability, with a special emphasis on training Guatemalan veterinary students. According to Dr. Green, the student training component was more structured than in previous years. Participants completed an online refresher course on equine preventative care, created by Dr. Ashley Whitehead of the University of Calgary. Once on-site, students rotated through various stations – intake, exams, dentistry, and wound care – where they observed procedures, discussed their importance and gained hands-on experience. Many students practiced key veterinary skills such as physical exams, vaccinations and oral assessments.
To ensure lasting impact, the team collaborates closely with local Guatemalan partners who continue community engagement throughout the year. These local teams help reinforce veterinary knowledge and maintain relationships with the communities served. Additionally, the local veterinary university is working toward aligning its curriculum with AVMA-accredited standards in North America, a step toward long-term educational improvement. This dual approach of immediate training and ongoing local support aims to build sustainable veterinary capacity in the region.
Spreading awareness
Over the past several years, Dr. Green has witnessed significant improvements in animal welfare and veterinary care within the Guatemalan communities served by the Equitarian Initiative. She notes visible progress in horse health, such as improved body condition, shinier coats, healthier hooves and fewer injuries from poorly fitted tack.
“I believe most of these changes have occurred because of owner education – they learn from us and the local veterinarians that are with us, how to better feed the horses, how to provide proper hoof care, etc.,” she said. “It also has a lot to do with the preventative care we provide while we are down there improving their oral health helps the horses digest and absorb more of the food they are given, helping them gain body condition.”
A notable milestone this year was the arrival of a horse previously treated by a local veterinarian – an encouraging sign that equine veterinary services are expanding into rural areas.
Looking ahead, Dr. Green hopes the Equitarian Initiative continues its work in existing communities while also expanding to reach new ones. She is particularly enthusiastic about maintaining strong partnerships with veterinary students, who benefit from hands-on training and educational opportunities.
Over the next decade, Henderson said she and her team envision the Equitarian Initiative evolving from a service-driven organization to a global catalyst for education, leadership, and systemic change in working equid welfare.
“While direct veterinary care will always be part of our DNA, our growing focus is on building sustainable, community-led solutions through education, training, and collaboration. We will continue to expand our field-based learning model to empower veterinary students, local service providers and equid-owning communities with the tools and knowledge needed for lasting impact.”
They also see Equitarian Initiative playing an increasingly influential role in advancing One Health principles – bridging animal, human and environmental health to address the broader challenges facing underserved populations. Strengthening leadership development, building resilient local infrastructure and forging deeper partnerships within the equine industry will be central to this vision.
“Ultimately, our role will be to amplify voices on the ground, foster innovation in care delivery, and inspire a new generation of veterinary and animal health professionals dedicated to equity, compassion and global collaboration.”
There are many meaningful ways individuals and institutions can support the mission of Equitarian Initiative – starting with awareness and education. One of the biggest challenges facing working equids is invisibility. By learning about the vital roles these animals play in global communities – and sharing that knowledge – Henderson said supporters help amplify their stories and elevate the importance of their welfare on the world stage.
To support the mission, industry partners are needed to donate essential supplies, while individual veterinarians and volunteers often cover their own expenses. “None of the work we do down there would be possible without financial support from organizations like the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ Foundation of the Horse and the Texas Equine Veterinary Association,” Dr. Green said. “These organizations help support the overall mission and specifically support student scholarships to fund travel and hotel expenses for a number of U.S. veterinary students.”
Strategic priorities
Over the next several years, the Equitarian Initiative is focused on deepening its impact through five strategic priorities:
1. Strengthening community engagement
Central to all programs is a commitment to deeper, more meaningful engagement with local animal owners, handlers and caregivers. “We aim to foster partnerships that empower communities to identify their unique challenges and co-create solutions that are culturally relevant and sustainable,” Henderson said. A key focus is the expansion of community-specific educational materials and resources – giving local populations the knowledge and tools they need to ensure long-term equid care.
2. Supporting local service providers
“We are investing in the education and training of the next generation of veterinary professionals, both in the U.S. and internationally. By expanding our comprehensive curriculum, we’re building a globally connected network of skilled caregivers. Our focus on training local and regional service providers strengthens veterinary infrastructure in underserved regions and enhances the sustainability of equid healthcare,” Henderson said.
3. Developing future leaders
The future of equine veterinary medicine depends on innovative, adaptive, and compassionate leadership. Equitarian Initiative is committed to developing the next generation of veterinary leaders through hands-on field experience, mentorship, and peer-to-peer learning. “Our growing global network fosters professional growth while amplifying our collective ability to serve working equids and their communities,” Henderson said.
4. Expanding industry partnerships
Strategic partnerships within the equine industry are critical to the mission. “We are actively building relationships with like-minded businesses and organizations to increase awareness, extend outreach, and generate support. Our industry partners serve as vital advocates for working equids and play a key role in advancing education, care, and global impact,” Henderson said.
5. Advancing One Health initiatives
“Our work is grounded in the One Health approach – the recognition that animal, human and environmental health are deeply interconnected. By improving the health and welfare of working equids, we also support the well-being of the people who depend on them and the ecosystems they operate within. In the coming years, we will continue to build interdisciplinary collaborations that promote holistic health solutions, strengthen food security, and support climate resilience in vulnerable communities.”
Photos credit: Courtesy of the Equitarian Initiative
