Working Equids
All over the world horses, donkeys, and mules are working members of their communities and essential to the survival of their families. They provide transportation and hauling services upon which the agriculture and commerce of a village and its people depend. It is estimated that there are over 100 million working equids worldwide. These animals live in harsh environments and work under strenuous conditions, often without adequate nutrition and medical care.
In 2010, Drs. Jay Merriam, Julie Wilson, and Mariano Hernández Gil organized the non-profit Equitarian Initiative and the first Equitarian Workshops for veterinarians in Vera Cruz, Mexico. This was the culmination of an international effort that resulted in the co-ordinated participation of groups such as the American Association of Equine Practitioners, World Horse Welfare, The Donkey Sanctuary, The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, and the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.
The goal of the workshops is to train volunteer veterinarians dedicated to helping working equids and their families. An international group of veterinarians works in the field and attends classroom sessions on Tropical Medicine and the cultural complexities and socio-economic challenges of providing healthcare to underserved equid populations.
Dr. McCall participated in the 2011 Equitarian workshops in Mexico, in the 2104 workshops in Nicaragua, and plans to start a program for working equids in South America. We may be able to accept donations for the project through the Equitarian Initiative’s non-profit status, and hope to offer individual horse sponsorships as part of a fundraising effort in the future.
We invite you to follow the inspiring work of Dr. Merriam, Dr. Wilson, and Dr. Hernández Gil through www.equitarianinitiative.org, and to learn more about working equids in the articles posted under our “Resources” section.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information regarding working equids or the South American project. The more people interested, the stronger the project!