Horses and Humans Research Foundation Call for Proposals - 2026 Research Grant
Sponsor
Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF)
Program
Focus Area: The impact of equine-human interactions in promoting well-being and quality of life (psychological, physical, social, emotional, cognitive and/or spiritual) in older adults (age 65 or older) to enhance active aging.
For More Information
For more information on the call for funding, and application documents, please visit the HHRF website [1].
Description
The Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) is pleased to announce a Call for Proposals for its 2026 Research Grant: Thriving as we age, the mutual benefits of interaction and connection with equines on the lives of active older adults.
Through a generous donation HHRF is able to award up to $175,000 to support research on the extraordinary power of connection with equines in enhancing active aging, through promoting health, well-being and quality of life improvements in older adults (age 65 and older) through equine-human interactions.
Participant groups (adults age 65 and older) and equines must be carefully selected to ensure mutual safety and well-being promotion for both the equines and participants. In particular, all participants must have the capacity to fully consent to their participation in the research, and ethically be considered suitable to be around equines and their environments.
HHRF invites submissions from researchers across disciplines exploring the multifaceted relationship between horses and humans.
This call requires research that investigates equines and humans simultaneously, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their interconnected experiences.
Research may focus on therapy, groundwork, leadership programs, riding, mental health interventions (e.g., observing horses as part of therapy) and other relevant activities.
Funding Availability
Up to $175,000 for a research period of up to two years
Indirect Costs
0%
Deadlines
If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.
| Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Internal Deadline | Please submit a copy of your application along with a completed OR-5 to research.services@uoguelph.ca [2]. | |
External Deadline | Email the completed application to info@horsesandhumans.org [3] with the subject line “HHRF 2026 Grant Proposal – INCLUDE Principal Investigator last name and Title of your proposal.” The main contact listed on the application will be sent a notice by email of receipt of their application within two weeks of the HHRF office receiving it. If the applicant does not receive such a confirmation, inquire at info@horsesandhumans.org [3]. |