Show us you care

The leading equine charity World Horse Welfare is asking for donations to buy care packs which consist of basic horse care tools to help owners in the central American country of Nicaragua to better care for their horses.

Suzanne Hunt, World Horse Welfare charity press officer, said: “There are more than 400,000 working horses that communities depend on for vital income and services.

“The pack consists of a hoof pick, brush, sponge, dandy brush and fly fringe which members of the charities’ international team will show local horse owners to use as part of an educational programme we are running in the country.

“Every day our international team in Nicaragua see working horses suffering from parasites, frequent rub wounds, untreated injuries and infections and it is hoped that these care packs will go some way to alleviate the problems.

“Generously donating a care pack will help our team to educate horse owners, which will help the horses themselves. But even if you are unable to do that, you can send us your clean spare hoof picks which will be used across our international programmes.”

The charity has launched a community-centred, bespoke training programme in the country designed to specifically match their needs and provide foundations for an enduring change in the way people shoe and harness their horses – improving welfare and the livelihoods of the people who depend on them.

Shires Equestrian is sponsoring the packs which people can buy for £4.99 from the charity website worldhorsewelfare.org/youhelp/caretoshare “Our representatives will then give each pack to a working horse in Nicaragua, providing their owner with the means to give them the basic daily care they deserve,” added Suzanne.

The charity has launched the appeal after the success of its recent No Flies on Me fund-raiser, when members of the public helped the charity raise more than £8,000 to buy nearly 2,000 fly fringes.