Equine Survivor Program offers peace of mind for you through knowing that your horses will be cared for in the event of your death.  Many people don’t have a suitable friend or relative with whom to entrust the care of their horses, yet they still want to responsibly provide for their animals.  The Horse Protection Society of BC (HPS) has been a registered charity since 1984.  It is our mission to “promote and support the total well-being of horses”.  Owners who register their horses with HPS and comply with the requirements of the Equine Survivor Program have HPS’ pledge that we will do our very best to see that their wishes are carried out and that their horses are well cared for.

How the Program Works

 Under the Equine Survivor Program, HPS will arrange for the care of your horses upon your death as follows:

1. Where reasonably possible, we will arrange to place your horse(s) in foster care or permanent adoption.
2. If that is not possible, we will keep your horse(s) ourselves, if feasible.
3. As a last resort, if we cannot place your horse(s) in another home or keep them ourselves, we will arrange to have them humanely euthanized.

We pledge to:

1. Act as quickly as possible after we are advised of your death to make sure your horses are cared for.
2. Make every reasonable effort to see that your horses receive the best care possible, in accordance with our Mission and Guiding Principles and with a view to your wishes (as set out in a completed Registration Information Form) and the available options for the care of your horses.
3. Screen and approve their homes if your horses are placed in foster care or adopted, and follow up to ensure your horses are being cared for to our standards.
4. In the event it is necessary for HPS to arrange for your horses to be euthanized, keep them company when it happens and ensure that they are treated compassionately throughout the process. 

Program Requirements

1. We require a minimum donation of $1000 per horse to be provided to HPS on your death.  Your donation not only provides for the services your horse receives, but it also helps us in our mission to see all horses well cared for.  You can make your donation through your will or by designating HPS as the beneficiary under your life insurance policy, RRSP or RRIF.  HPS will issue a tax receipt for any tax-receiptable portion of your donation.  Please talk to your lawyer about the alternatives for, and tax consequences of, making a donation.
2. If your horses are not in the Lower Mainland of BC, we ask that you also add an adequate donation to cover their transportation to the Langley area.

Steps to Follow to Join the Program

To join the Equine Survivor Program, you must:

1. See your lawyer about making provision in your will for your horses.
2. Register your horses with us by properly completing a Registration Information Form, providing it to us and keeping us up-to-date on any changes. There is no fee for registration.
3. Make sure that the executors of your estate and/or people close to you know that you are registered in the Equine Survivor Program and request that someone immediately contact us on your passing.

Conditions and Restrictions
1.      HPS will not engage in legal action to procure your horses in the event of a dispute concerning your will and may not accept your horses if it is not clear that you have provided for a bequest of them to HPS in your will or made provision for the required donation to HPS (including appropriate provision to cover the cost of their transportation to Langley from outside the Lower Mainland, if applicable).
2.      HPS reserves the right to turn down a bequest for reasons of health or safety or in any other case where, in its discretion, HPS considers that accepting the bequest would adversely affect its ability to comply with its Mission and Guiding Principles.
3.      HPS reserves the right to administer the Equine Survivor Program in all respects in accordance with its sole discretion.


The Horse Protection Society of BC has been a Charitable Organization since 1984
Registration No. BN89180 0575 RR0001