Supporting the Backbone of the Thoroughbred Industry

We provide scholarships and opportunity for education to children of Thoroughbred horse farm workers in Kentucky.

Make a Donation

The Horse Farm Workers’ Educational Assistance Fund is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt charity. Because the Board of Directors is a volunteer group of Kentucky horsemen, over 90% of donated monies flow through to the scholarship recipients.

What our organization has accomplished to date:

658 annual scholarships granted
$1,442,026 awarded
22 years of volunteer support to scholars

The Fund’s work is based on the belief that giving educational and life skills assistance to the children of full time horse farm workers makes more than humanitarian sense. It also makes practical sense by providing a meaningful employment incentive and by assisting young people who frequently return to the industry as more knowledgeable horsemen.

Learn About Our Scholars

“I was fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship through the HFWEAF. Both of my parents work full time on Hermitage farms, so I have always been instilled with a sense of work ethic, thanks to them. I’m excited to see my dreams are coming true thanks to my hard work and the HFWEAF!”

– Andres Calleja

“The HFWEAF scholarship was the best thing to happen to me! I am currently a sophomore at Indiana U Southwest, majoring in Education. I’ve learned so much in college, including that it’s okay to ask for help. I can’t wait to become a teacher to make sure kids are happy, and feel accepted and valued.”

– Leslee Tapie-Reyna

“My dad always said that hard work pays off. He has worked as a yearling foreman for over 15 years, so I’ve always been around horses. I like people, and obviously I like horses, so I wanted to go to school to study equine therapy, where you use horses to assist in physical and emotional recovery from trauma. Thanks HFWEAF!“

– Audrey Francis

About the Fund

We’ve awarded over $1.4M in scholarships since 1996

The Fund was created in 1996 to provide scholarship assistance for education after high school to the children of full-time Thoroughbred horse farm workers in central Kentucky. Through 2018, over 658 scholarships averaging $2,000 each have been granted and $1,442,026 has been distributed to a deserving group of dedicated young people who possess an outstanding work ethic.

Scholarships are also available for full-time horse farm workers who wish to take equine courses or training related to working more effectively with horses in their current farm job.

Click here to read our 2018 press release.

Learn more about helping this important project.