Unbridled Sanctuary, a nonprofit equinerescueand protection facility that provides rehabilitation,retraining,selective rehoming and,often,a permanent home to the equids in its care,is the recent ofthe American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) 2025 A. Gary Lavin Equine Welfare Award.The A. Gary Lavin Equine Welfare Award recognizes a nonveterinary organization or individual that hasdemonstratedexceptional compassion or developed and enforced rules and guidelines for the welfare of horses. The award is named in honor of the late A. Gary Lavin, VMD, an influential and widely respected equine veterinarian who served as AAEP president in 1994. Unbridled Sanctuaryfounderand CEOSusan Kayne accepted the awardDec. 9 during the Presidents Luncheon at the AAEPs 71stAnnual Convention in Denver, Colorado.Established in 2004 as Unbridled Thoroughbred Foundation, the rescue later opened its doors toallequids and changed its name to Unbridled Sanctuary.Located in Greenville, New York, Unbridled Sanctuary cares forapproximately 60residents at anygiventimethrough thegeneroussupportof its volunteers and donors.The nonprofit provides high-quality care from routine veterinary procedures to colic surgeries and beyond.On entering the barn there is always a sense of joy, harmony, dedication and a missioneveryone working together for the health and welfare of the horse, said nominator Stephen OGrady. Never a thought of anything preemptive, just a set of guidelines used to care for the horses in a gentle, efficient manner.Unbridled Sanctuarys efforts extend beyond its facility and the equidsinits careto includeadvocacy,educationand legislative initiatives to improve equine welfare.Through the sanctuary,Kaynehasspearheaded legislative changes in New York to ensure greater protection for equids;presentedfrequentlyat the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics at the University of Oxford;and developed the Stable Classroom curriculum,throughwhichstudents use the stories of rescued equines to cultivate empathy and compassion.For more information about Unbridled Sanctuary, visithttps://www.susankayne.com/unbridled.html.