Friendicoes Seca Equine Program October 2023 Report

Friendicoes have been a long running recipient of the generous support from AAA donors and do much-needed work with working equines in their area. Following is their report from October 2023.

During the month of October, a two-week Mule Treatment Camp was held in Kedarnath. Along with physically treating animals, workshops were held on common problems faced by equine owners in this moutainous terrain and solutions they can implement in view of the fact that veterinary help is often not available.

The main health conditions encountered by the team were colic, backsores and injuries, lameness from foot punctures, indigestion/worm load, eye injuries, abscesses, respiratory infection, dehydration and exhaustion due to over-working and various other wounds caused by the narrow paths being littered with heavy metal, cement, constructions materials etc.

All of these issues were discussed in the workshops.

The team also distributed 750 blankets to help with both warmth and as a ‘keen’ or saddle pad to cover the back while hauling loads or people. This will help prevent saddle sores.

The team also rescued an elderly pony who was surrendered by it’s owner at Turkman Gate. A word from the team on the work done at Turkman gate:

“We began work here in 1984. next year we complete 40 years of commitment to the owners of this stand many of whom have passed or migrated to other towns / villages… —we are happy to note during covid, the owners showed great commitment to their equines and stayed with them at this stand, while we helped feed them entirely because of the generosity of Animal Aid donors. Thank you Animal Aid Abroad for having made that possible...Today as their animals age they retire them to us and leave for their villages. Once again with your support this is all possible. So for us this and other such rescues/ retirements are special a part of our organizational history.”