Making A Difference, One Hoof At A Time

The Highveld Horse Care Unit cares for neglected equines. Farryn Day of the unit says that a lack of education is the main reason for the mistreatment of these animals. Janine Ryan reports.

- Janine Ryan

The Highveld Horse Care Unit (HHCU), situated in Meyerton, Gauteng, covers 16ha and is home to about 40 horses and donkeys. These come from a variety of backgrounds, with some sent to the unit for treatment, others waiting to be rehomed, and still others that were confiscated because of neglect and abuse.

The HHCU was established in 1991 and is committed to ensuring the welfare of all equines across South Africa. Over the past year, it has inspected and treated around 5 000 horses and donkeys, visited 8 000 equines and stabled 500 equines, and its staff have collectively travelled about 200 000km.

In rural South Africa, equines are still used for transport and carting firewood, coal, household waste and water. Many of these animals suffer from lameness, poor hoof care, and wounds and injuries. They are also often overworked, underweight and infested with parasites.

EDUCATION

According to Farryn Day, head of fundraising at the HHCU, lack of proper horse care is often a result of a lack of education. She says the unit is therefore committed to educating horse owners, particularly those in rural areas and townships, about proper horse care.

As part of its outreach and education programmes, the HHCU regularly conducts workshops and clinics in rural and outlying areas. One of the services it offers is the gelding clinic for stallions. A team of qualified inspectors, veterinarians and animal health technicians thus regularly visit outlying areas to geld stallions in the community. This is encouraged to prevent unnecessary breeding.

“Stallions can also be dangerous, as they wander around to find a mate. They can then be hit by cars, damage property or damage themselves,” says Day.