MEDIA ALERT: DENVER/January 8, 2025 — Morris Animal Foundation announced a new call for pilot study research proposals aimed at improving the lives of horses through the study of equine behavior relating to mental health and welfare.
- The focus should be on improving the lives of horses by increasing our understanding of the behavioral domain. This includes areas such as ethology, cognition, learning, stereotypies, separation anxiety, affiliative behavior toward (bonding with) humans, the effects of equine temperament on welfare, and equine psychopharmacology.
- Pilot study proposals should be aimed at generating data to prove the viability of a novel approach or idea.
- The project may involve domesticated or wild horses.
These awards will be funded by Dr. Wendy Koch, who has supported Morris Animal Foundation for 30 years, making her first gift to support animal health studies in 1991. Dr. Koch was born loving horses. She became interested in animal behavior at an early age, pursuing her undergraduate studies in that field. Dr. Koch qualified as a veterinarian in 1981 and began a career in animal welfare with the federal government in 1990. She became board certified in animal welfare in 2016. Dr. Koch has closely followed equine behavior and welfare research and regretted that specific funding available in these fields has been minimal. Working with Morris Animal Foundation, she decided to create a fund with such a focus.
The maximum project duration is 12 months, and the budget cannot exceed $20,000 USD. Applications must be received by 4:59 PM ET on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Researchers interested in applying are encouraged to begin the application process using Fluxx, an online application system.
More information on the application process is available on the Foundation’s Grants page. Any inquiries that remain unanswered by the FAQ page can be directed to [email protected].
Scientific Advisory Board
- Katherine Houpt, VMD, PhD, DACVB, Cornell University
- Sofie Viksten Engfors, PhD, Hästfokus AB, Sweden
- Gemma Pearson, BVMS, Cert AVP (EM,) MScR, CCAB, PhD, FRCVS, The Horse Trust and The Royal School of Veterinary Medicine, United Kingdom
- Jo Hockenhull, PhD, The Donkey Sanctuary, United Kingdom
- Cheryl Kolus, DVM, Synterex, Inc.
- Tiago Mendonca, DMV, MSc, PhD, Universidade Lusófona, Portugal
- Kris Hiney, PhD, Oklahoma State University
- Carissa Wickens, PhD, PAS, University of Florida
About Morris Animal Foundation
Morris Animal Foundation’s mission is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Denver, it is one of the largest nonprofit animal health research organizations in the world, funding more than $167 million in 3,100+ critical animal health studies to date across a broad range of species. Learn more at morrisanimalfoundation.org.
Media Contact: Lindsey Washington
