STA Accreditation & Spring Grant (Spring Grant Awards)
Who can apply: Applicants may be organizations of any size assisting Standardbreds. The organization must have current IRS 501(c)(3) status or be registered as a charitable organization with the Canada Revenue Agency; have operated for at least two years by the close of the application period; comply with applicable licensing and permitting requirements; maintain an AAEP-consistent written euthanasia policy; have no board members, staff, or volunteers party to legal proceedings connected with the organization; have cared for at least five Standardbreds in the prior year; prohibit breeding in adoption contracts; and maintain at least two years of post-adoption documentation and a commitment to resume care when requested. Applicants must also meet STA equine-care, business, screening, adoption, and sustainability standards and pass a site inspection and committee review.
Deadline: The 2027 accreditation application deadline was October 15, 2026. The accreditation window is currently closed. Previously accredited organizations must reapply annually.