Feed & Care Bank

Feed & Care Bank

The MSSPA is pleased to offer a Feed & Care Bank to provide temporary, emergency assistance to Maine horses in need. Funds may be used towards hay, feed, farrier or dental services, routine vaccinations, and veterinary care.

Apply Now

There are many reasons Maine horse owners need support from the MSSPA’s Feed & Care Bank: loss of job, an unexpected health issue, even a particularly bad hay season. Making ends meet can be a real challenge at the best of times, especially with hungry equines looking for their next bale of hay.  The Feed & Care Bank allows horses to remain in loving, healthy homes and avoid other interventions.

Read a Feed & Care Bank Success Story

Maine individuals seeking assistance for their equines may complete the short application below. MSSPA staff or volunteers will contact applicants, check references, and may conduct site visits as needed. Following a determination of eligibility, assistance in the form of hay, grain, supplements, farrier services, dental services, and/or routine veterinary well care and vaccines may be provided.

To qualify, applicants must be Maine residents whose horses are located in Maine. Please note the Feed & Care Bank funds are intended to provide temporary assistance to Maine horse owners who comply with the MSSPA’s policies of no commercial breeding, selling or leasing of horses.

Please complete the application below to request assistance.

Feed & Care Bank Application

Please complete this form in order to be considered for short-term equine feed and care assistance. You will be contacted to learn more about your needs. References, including veterinarian and farrier, will be checked. Recipients of assistance must agree to follow-up from the MSSPA 4-6 weeks after the end of the short-term help. The MSSPA has the sole right to determine eligibility. No assistance is granted without a complete application submitted, pictures of the equine(s) in need, and a site visit (as necessary).

  • E.g. Jazz, 15, buckskin, Standardbred gelding with a blaze and socks
  • Please note the Feed and Care Bank funds are intended to provide temporary assistance to Maine horse owners who comply with the MSSPA’s policies of no commercial breeding, selling or leasing of horses.
    If yes, please provide relevant details when answering the next question below.
  • Pictures of the equine are mandatory. They can be attached to this form, emailed to [email protected], or texted to the MSSPA. Pictures will also be required after support is provided.
  • (i.e. hay, veterinary care, farrier services)
  • The MSSPA will perform reference checks prior to determining eligibility of assistance.
  • Max. file size: 75 MB.
    Please provide photos of your equine(s). At least one photo is requested.
  • Max. file size: 75 MB.
  • Max. file size: 75 MB.
  • Max. file size: 75 MB.
  • By submitting this application, you give MSSPA permission to contact the veterinarian(s) listed above for the purpose of obtaining the veterinary records of the equine(s) named in this application.
  • You must be a resident of the state of Maine to qualify for this funding and your horses must be located in Maine. You must have a workable plan developed to avoid future need and be willing to share that. You must be a private horse owner. The situation and need must be short-term. You must have owned your equine(s) for a minimum of six months. You must agree to no breeding. The MSSPA has the sole right to determine eligibility. No assistance is granted without a complete application, including pictures before aid and after. By submitting this application, you are agreeing to submit a photo of your horse(s) in need with this application and you are agreeing to provide a photo of the horse(s) receiving assistance at the time of follow-up.