BlindLove South Africa Cart Horse Progress Report - August 2023

BlindLove not only assists working donkeys in their area, they also help cart horses in the Thaba’nchu Free State Province of South Africa, with the help of AAA supporters. Following is a progress report of their work with the cart horses for August 2023:

During August we saw lots of saddlesores which were cleaned and treated.

We also saw another horse that was stabbed. The wound was cleaned and the owner advised to rest the horse until the wound healed.

Horse welfare is a crucial aspect of equine management. Horses are sentient beings, capable of experiencing both physical and emotional pain. As such, they are reliant on humans to provide for their needs and ensure their well-being. Agripreneur Farmers Institute and BlindLove Africa as advocates for horse welfare, have conducted a series of outreach events to educate people about the importance of caring for horses and meeting their needs.

Many horses in South Africa face challenges such as poor housing conditions, inadequate nutrition, and a lack of proper veterinary care. Despite the existence of laws and regulations to protect horses, there is still a long way to go in ensuring their welfare. The outreaches conducted aimed to raise awareness of these issues and provide practical advice on how to improve horse welfare.

The outreach was conducted using a combination of lectures and demonstrations, which allowed for the information to be clearly communicated and easily understood. The engagement of the community was high, and there was a strong interest in the knowledge and skills being shared. This outreach was part of a larger initiative to improve the welfare of horses in the region, and it is hoped that the positive impact will be felt for years to come.

We had a total of 5 outreaches and 1 workshop conducted by one of our directors Boitumelo Legegeru who completed a Carthorse Welfare Certificate with the Carthorse Protection Unit.

The dates for the Outreaches were in 5,12,19, 26, 29 August 2023 and the workshop was on 31 August 2023 and we attended a total of 32 horses.

In addition to the educational component of the outreach, hands-on care was also provided to the horses. This included treating internal parasites with appropriate medications and treating and bandaging wounds. The participants were taught how to administer medications and care for wounds, which allowed them to continue these practices even after the outreaches.

In conclusion, the outreach was successful in improving the health and welfare of the horses in the community, as well as increasing the knowledge and skills of their owners. This has led to a more sustainable and productive horse-keeping system, benefiting both the animals and the people who care for them.