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DENVER/Sept. 20, 2023 — Morris Animal Foundation announced a new call for research proposals aimed at improving the lives of horses through an enhanced understanding of behavioral health and welfare.

The Foundation is specifically interested in research involving cognition; learning; stereotypies; separation anxiety; affiliative behavior toward humans; the effects of equine temperament on welfare; and equine psychopharmacology. Projects focusing solely on behavioral measurements for non-behavioral conditions will not be accepted.

This call is made possible by a generous donation from Dr. Wendy Koch, a veterinarian who has supported the Foundation for 33 years. She began her career in animal welfare with the federal government in 1990 and became board certified in animal welfare in 2016. Koch has closely followed equine behavior and welfare research and recognized the need for funding in these areas.

Submissions must be made by 4:59 p.m. ET, Dec. 13, 2023. 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

  • Hieke Brown, PhD, MSc, SFHEA, Hartpury University
  • Virginia Buechner-Maxwell, DVM, MS, MS ACVIM dip, Virginia Tech
  • Debra Sellon, Washington State Univ.
  • Suzanne Millman, Iowa State Univ.
  • Antonia J.Z. Henderson
  • Camie Heleski, University of Kentucky
  • Dr. Ashley Fowler, Kentucky Equine Research

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 nearly $160 million in more than 3,000 critical animal health studies to date across a broad range of species. Learn more at morrisanimalfoundation.org.

Media Contact: Annie Mehl