World Horse Welfare Improves Equine Welfare in Mexico with Community-Based Training The Elise Pilkington Charitable Trust
go to original June 9, 2016

Horses carry the weight of Mexico's future (World Horse Welfare)

Leading international charity World Horse Welfare has been chosen by The Elise Pilkington Charitable Trust to receive a donation of £25,000 towards its new project helping working horses, donkeys and mules in Mexico.

Since 1991, World Horse Welfare has been working in Mexico, gradually extending the project to the state of Oaxaca. Oaxaca is one of the three worst states in the country for social and economic deprivation: 55% of the population does not have access to clean water, and almost a third of people do not meet the daily minimum calorie intake for proper nutrition. The need for working equines in Oaxaca, and the role they play in the state’s economy, is clear, as the state has the fourth highest population of equines in Mexico.

During a research visit in 2015, World Horse Welfare’s team determined the largest populations of equines are in the districts of Zimatlan and Etla (3,000 and 1,300 respectively), and it is here that the lowest welfare conditions were found. The working equines suffer from wounds from ill-fitting tack, untreated injury, hoof problems and lameness, and malnutrition.

World Horse Welfare’s new three-year project, which will begin in August 2016, will focus on creating a tradition of better horse care knowledge and skills in these communities for the benefit of working equines. The project will also increase the quality and number of local, trained service providers by training 20 farriers and 20 saddlers to help improve the welfare of working equines and so their families.

By 2018 the programme will have directly improved the welfare of 1,500 of horses, donkeys and mules and their owners who rely on the good health of their animals to make a living.

Read the rest at The Elise Pilkington Charitable Trust

Related: Work Horses Feted at Retirement Party in Xalapa (Mexico News Daily)

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