Zoetis and The Right Horse Initiative announced their partnership today to help horses in transition. Each year, hundreds of thousands of horses change careers or owners; a growing number of these horses end up at risk of inhumane treatment.

Led by the WaterShed Animal Fund, a division of the Arnall Family Foundation, The Right Horse Initiative works to unify equine industry professionals, welfare advocates and the public to improve the lives of horses in transition and promote adoption as a preferred method of finding a horse.

“Industry-wide collaboration has been the missing element in solving equine welfare problems in the United States. The Right Horse’s success will be achieved through our partners’ collaboration. We are thrilled the list of Right Horse partners is growing and positioning the initiative for real impact,” The Right Horse Initiative president Christy Counts said.

As the leading global animal health company, Zoetis said it is proud to support this effort to help safeguard equine wellness for all horses.

“Zoetis will continue to work to help resolve this issue as part of its dedication to innovation and passion for animal health,” said Dr. Jaci Boggs, senior equine marketing manager with Zoetis. “We best serve our customers when we have honest face-to-face conversations about real needs and the solutions we can deliver to help meet them. Our partnership with The Right Horse Initiative serves as an extension of this promise.”

Zoetis joins existing industry partners, adoption organizations and equine advocates, including the Certified Horsemanship Assn., Equine Sciences-Colorado State University, Equus Foundation, Institute for Human-Animal Connection, Interscholastic Equestrian Assn., Retired Racehorse Project, Time to Ride and Unwanted Horse Coalition.

Right Horse partners offer their voice, support and expertise to grow the conversation and create a unified effort to promote adoption as a preferred method of finding a horse. By working together, partner organizations serve as champions for education, proper training and public awareness on a national level.

Together, Zoetis and The Right Horse Initiative will support a national movement to reframe the equine adoption conversation.

The Right Horse Initiative is a collective of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition and increase horse adoption in the U.S.

Building on more than 60 years of experience in animal health, Zoetis discovers, develops, manufactures and markets veterinary vaccines and medicines, complemented by diagnostic products, genetic tests, biodevices and a range of services. Zoetis serves veterinarians, livestock producers and people who raise and care for farm and companion animals with sales of its products in more than 100 countries. In 2016, the company generated annual revenue of $4.9 billion and has approximately 9,000 employees.