The Petco Foundation has selected Ride On St. Louis to receive a $1,000 grant to support the work of equine-assisted intervention program horses April and Ghost. Funding from the Petco Foundation will allow us to provide wholefood feed designed to support fore and hind-gut digestion. Ride On St. Louis is privileged to partner with the horse to produce outstanding quality of life improvements for both humans and horses. At Ride On St. Louis we pride ourselves on producing and maintaining top conditioned, healthy, happy and willing horses that enjoy participating in their special position at our center. Our horses are highly valued partners in a relationship and we take horse nutrition very seriously and strive to provide our horses with the most natural, valuable, and personalized diets to support their specific needs.
The digestive system is the foundation of the nutrient delivery system and extends to the entire body system at large, from plasma and blood, to cell and tissue health. Certain toxins released in the hind-gut due to high amounts of sugars and starch are often found in rich grasses, spring/fall forage, and most commercial feeds and treats. What commercial foods we provide our horses is hugely important, especially for horses who are "easy keepers."
Funding from the Petco Foundation would allow us to provide a wholefood feed designed to reduce chronic inflammation and support fore and hind-gut digestion. The lower level of sugars and non-structured carbohydrates formulated in this feed is essential to managing horses like April and Ghost. The Petco Foundation’s $1,000 investment will result in healthier horses who can live longer and perform to the fullest, while reducing the cost of veterinary bills, expensive supplements and stress on our horses.
Our beloved horses have helped so many find increased health and happiness, and we strive to provide them the best possible professional care and management. Preventative care through diet is vital to our horse’s health and financially responsible for our nonprofit center and services.
Our award is made possible through the Petco Foundation's annual Helping Heroes campaign. Since 2012, the Petco Foundation has invested more than $15 million to support the life-changing work of helping heroes like Ride On St. Louis's April and Ghost. "With our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners, we inspire and empower communities to make a difference by investing in adoption and medical care programs, spay and neuter services, pet cancer research, service and therapy animals, and numerous other lifesaving initiatives," the foundation states. Ride On St. Louis is thrilled to be a partner with the Petco Foundation since 2017, helping to improve the lives of the horses we collaborate with the humans they affect.