Joint Leadership Council Launches Horsemen?s Relief Fund and JLCCares.com

The Joint Leadership Council (JLC) is taking an active role in assisting the trotting breed community during the COVID-19 pandemic by launching a Horsemen’s Relief Fund through the UPHA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. The JLC also has launched a website to help horsemen find federal assistance as well.

The Relief Fund will offer assistance to horse trainers, instructors, independent contractors and other members who are financially distressed, such as horse show staff and vendors. The JLC Horsemen’s Relief Fund will be available to those that do not meet the minimum two-year active UPHA Professional membership criteria for the UPHA Dewey Henderson Benevolent Fund. Funds will be available to eligible members of the American Hackney Horse Society, American Morgan Horse Association, American Road Horse & Pony Association, American Saddlebred Horse Association and the United Professional Horsemen's Association.

One hundred percent of all donations will be distributed; no amounts will be paid for administrative costs or staffing. The JLC Horsemen's Relief Fund Grant application is available here.

To further assist the trotting breed community, the Joint Leadership Council has launched a joint COVID-19 Resource dedicated website www.jlccares.com. The site provides information on available local and federal assistance programs such as the Small Business Administration’s Payroll Protection Program and links to grant applications. Also, the site provides information on ways you can help those in need including more information on the JLC Horsemen’s Relief Fund.

To donate to that Fund you can click here or contact Nancy Becker at nbecker@uphaonline.com. All contributions big or small are much appreciated as the JLC works towards the goal of $500,000 to assist members in need.

When the Joint Leadership Council was created, we obviously did not foresee a crisis like this, but we have been impressed by how much more effective we are, working together to solve challenges facing us. The whole of the trotting horse industry is much greater than the sum of its individual parts. Let's continue to work together to make a difference.