The American Quarter Horse Foundation (AQHF) openly solicits research grant proposals from non-profit institutions with the goal to gainfully impact horse health and provide improved industry knowledge benefiting the American Quarter Horse and members of AQHA. Monies will be awarded as a result of an outcome-driven grant proposal with research following the mission, programmatic objectives and identified research interests and/or priorities of AQHF.

MISSION: to advance relevant basic and applied research that enhances the well-being of the American Quarter Horse. 

VISION: to foster innovative equine research and education that leverages collaborative resources with exceptional scientists to address fundamental issues facing both the AQHA membership and the broader horse industry.

• 2025-2026 Request for Proposals

Desired Research Impact

PROGRAMMATIC RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Grants are awarded for proposed research meeting the following programmatic objectives identified by the AQHF Equine Research Committee.

• Enhance the well-being of the American Quarter Horse
• Advance impactful research for practical application
• Produce research innovation through basic and applied sciences
• Promote findings to peers, clinicians, and industry stakeholders
• Foster education and training of future researchers
• Increase collaboration within the research industry 

AREAS OF RESEARCH INTEREST

The Equine Research Committee will consider all proposals meeting AQHF's mission and overarching programmatic objectives, with special attention to the following areas of research interest:

Equine Welfare - Discovery and detection (saliva, breath, blood, urine, hair, etc.) of performance enhancing drugs, masking agents, fitness parameters for competition, exercise physiology, training and factors of aging.

Genomics - Detection of variants contributing to genetic disorders, detection of offspring from cloned animals, behavior, obesity, selective breeding practices and testing.

Infectious Diseases - Vaccination and testing for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM), Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) and Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA).

Microbiome of the Horse - Metabolism, links to the immune system, management and feeds.

Nutrition - Nutritional management, Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and related diseases, supplements.

RESEARCH PROGRAM GUIDELINES

Additional information regarding required research compliance, grant distribution policy and research reporting are provided within the AQHF Research Program Guidelines (link above). Researchers interested in submitting a proposal for the upcoming grants cycle may find more information on applicant categories, available funding, and desired grant proposal formatting through the following links:

• Researcher Applicant Categories
• Available Grant Funding
• Grant Proposal Format

Application Process Timeline