How to Donate Horses to the Knox School

Most school-based equestrian programs heavily rely upon horse donations because most of their funds are allocated to the care and maintenance of the existing horses and facility. The Knox School is located in St. James, New York and focuses on hunter/jumper disciplines of riding. The Knox School has a 25-stall barn with two outdoor arenas and two on-site trainers. Students are able to bring their own horses to the school to board as well.

Things You'll Need

  • Appraiser
  • Video camera
  • Professional equestrian
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine if your horse can be donated. The horse must be trained or bred for the hunter/jumper discipline. It also needs to be a suitable lesson horse and be physically sound enough to be ridden daily.

    • 2

      Call The Knox School and ask to talk to the current director or co-director. Tell her about your horse and offer to send a video and a reference letter from a professional equestrian who has experience with your horse.

    • 3

      Make a video of the horse with a few different riders exercising it. Have each rider hack and jump the horse in the video. Also ask your local professional who best knows the horse to write a reference letter.

    • 4

      Send the video and letter, and then follow up with a phone call to the Knox School making sure they received everything. Offer to take the horse to the Knox School for them to look at and tryout, if feasible.

    • 5

      Take the horse to the Knox School for your scheduled appointment to see if the school is interested in your horse as a donation. If so, talk further about plans for the horse. Purchase insurance if you leave the horse for a trial, and sign a trial period lease with the school, which should only last at most 30 days.

    • 6

      Find a certified appraiser to appraise the horse you want to donate. Once the horse is appraised, the paperwork goes to both yourself and the school.

    • 7

      Request a letter of donation from the Knox School for this horse. Submit this letter with the appraisal to your accountant to have your donation denoted on your next tax statement.