The support we have received from this petition and across various social media platforms has been incredible! Due to the support from all of you, Tara's position has been reinstated. We feel so grateful to everyone who has signed and shared the petition. We also would like to thank upper administration at North Dakota State University for taking the time to meet with us and for taking our discussion into consideration when further evaluating the North Dakota State University Equine Science Program. Although Tara's position has been reinstated, with the continued discussion of further budget cuts and the increasing cost of maintaining a horse herd, the program is still in jeopardy.

The Equine Science Program and equestrian team offer so much to our students and the community spanning far beyond the classroom. The hands-on opportunities provided by dedicated faculty and staff are unmatched. From reading the comments and impact statements of current and past students and well as other program supporters, it is clear these programs provide positive and memorable experiences. In addition, they foster strong qualities in the students including: leadership, work ethic, sense of belonging, and empathy.

We are looking for donors to invest in our program! If you would like to help support these amazing opportunities for students, please use the following link to make a tax-deductible donation: https://bit.ly/3i884Av No donation is too small and all are greatly appreciated! If you would like to earmark the funds for the equestrian team, in the comments section on the donation page please write “funds to support the equestrian team.” If you would like to support the program through non-monetary donations please reach out to tara.swanson@ndsu.edu for suggestions on other supplies or services needed for the program and team.

Thank you again for your kindness and support as we work to keep our Equine Science Program and equestrian team alive and growing at NDSU.