The grant proposal deadline for 2024-2025 has closed. Additional information regarding the upcoming grant selection timeline for 2025-2026 will be updated online in May 2024, with a proposal deadline of November 1, 2024.
The American Quarter Horse Foundation seeks to advance relevant basic and applied research that enhances the well-being of the American Quarter Horse. By fostering innovative equine research and education, we leverage our resources with exceptional scientists to address fundamental issues facing both the AQHA membership and the broader horse industry.
AQHF supports research to improve knowledge for public benefit to advance the health, welfare, and utility of the American Quarter Horse. The Equine Research Committee will consider all proposals meeting this overarching goal, with special attention to the following areas of 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
Researchers may request funding for a one-year grant period. Proposals for projects of more than one year's duration must be re-submitted each year thereafter for recurrent consideration. If a project was awarded funding in the previous year, it will be evaluated on individual merit and is not guaranteed continued funding.
| 2024-2025 Award Timeline | |
|---|---|
August 1, 2023 | Submission Portal Opens |
November 1, 2023 | Deadline for Grant Proposals |
November-March | Proposal Evaluation Period |
April 2024 | AQHF Board of Trustees Approval |
April/May 2024 | Award Notifications |
July 2024 | Grant Agreements Issued to Institution |
| September 15, 2024 | Executed Grant Agreement Deadline |
October 1, 2024 | Approved Project Start Date |
| October 1, 2024 | First Grant Installment Disbursed |
| March 1, 2025 | Progress Report Deadline |
April 1, 2025 | *Second Grant Installment Disbursed |
September 30, 2025 | Approved Project End Date |
December 31, 2025 | Final Reports Deadline |
| January 2026 | *Final Grant Installment Disbursed |
*Grant installments are issued contingent upon receipt of the required progress and/or final reports outlined within the project's executed equine research grant agreement. For additional information, please reference AQHF Research Program Guidelines below.
Download 2024-2025 Request for Proposals
AQHF RESEARCH PROGRAM GUIDELINES