Vieques is home to thousands of free-roaming horses who move through beaches, roads, and neighborhoods every single day. They are part of the island’s beauty — but without consistent access to veterinary care, many face preventable suffering.

Hooves on the Ground is the only nonprofit on Vieques solely dedicated to equine welfare.

Our model is simple, practical, and community-based.

Every month, we host free mobile veterinary outreach clinics across the island. We bring licensed veterinarians directly into neighborhoods to provide:

• Core vaccinations, including tetanus protection
• Deworming and parasite treatment
• Basic equine health checks
• Wound care and early intervention
• Humane castration clinics to prevent overpopulation

Tetanus lives in our soil and is 100% preventable — yet without access to vaccines, it remains a real threat. Overpopulation continues to strain both the horses and the community. One $150 castration prevents hundreds of future births into hardship.

We are not a sanctuary.
We are not a rescue farm.
We are a mobile, medical-focused nonprofit delivering real veterinary care — consistently, locally, and free of charge.

Every dollar raised funds vaccines, medical supplies, veterinary staffing, and life-saving treatment during our monthly clinics.

When you support Hooves on the Ground, you are investing in prevention, balance, and humane care for the horses that define Vieques.

GARDENS FOR THE HORSES

A Vieques Garden Tour Benefiting Hooves on the Ground

Team Members