A Very Different Kind of Horse Show
By: Brittany Bevis
Imagine a horse show where instead of blue ribbons and trophies, the champions were presented with new tack, a veterinary exam, and treatment for health ailments. The concept might seem a little out of the ordinary here in the states, but the idea has taken off in impoverished parts of the world, specifically the Republic of The Gambia, a small country located in West Africa.
The Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust recently held their annual horse and donkey show at their new center in Gambia, and it was well-attended by 90 donkeys and 10 horses. Heather Armstrong, Director and Co-Founder of the charity organization, was thrilled with the turnout and reception.
“The Trust is now 15 years old,” Heather says. “We initially had the show in the area of our older center. During the first year, it was hard to find an animal in sufficiently good condition to give a prize to. Ten years later, we were inundated with entries of beautiful animals, and the judge’s work was much more difficult. The show we just held is the first in the area of our new center. We have been working here for just under a year. We have seen lots of progress, but we recognize that we still have a great deal of work to do.”
“The show was well received by the locals, and we had a very wide audience, ranging from children and farmers to veterinarians. We were honored to be visited by The Minister of Agriculture, who was fascinated by what he saw and gave a wonderful speech on improving animal welfare in the country. There were about 90 donkeys and 10 horses attending the show. Every single one of those animals received a headcollar, bit, bridle, numnah [saddle pad], a health check, and health treatment and farrier and dentistry services, if required. All owners received [high visibility vests] to wear while driving, so that they can be more easily seen in traffic.”
The mission of the Trust is to train animal owners in the area how to improve their animal management and welfare skills. The aim is not only to improve the quality of life for these working animals, but also to ensure they can work productively for their impoverished owners, who rely on them for necessary transportation and agricultural work.
“The object of the show is to use it as a fun educational tool. Those who listen to what we teach are rewarded with generous prizes, and those who are struggling are provided with help, advice, and encouragement. We also aim to educate the public at large about animal welfare. The show was broadcast on national television, so we managed to get our message to a wider audience as well.”
Classes at the show are judged purely on condition and handling. In the future, the Trust hopes to add a conformation aspect as well. Just like a typical horse show, there are various age groups for donkeys and horses, and the winners compete for the title of Supreme Champion. “The first six received rosettes and generous prize money, by Gambian standards. The first prize was about £18 [US. $24.13], which is the equivalent of one month’s salary for many Gambians. It was well appreciated and word spread as there were more animals arriving even as we packed up at the end of the day! A couple of owners were thoughtful enough to bring in bags of hay for their donkeys during the judging. This impressed the judges, and they were awarded prizes.”
The Trust faces many challenges when doing their work in The Gambia: the main one being resources. With the exception of Gambian staff and one part time administrative assistant, all training is carried out by volunteers. Funding is required for day-to-day operation costs, vehicle and fuel maintenance, and training resources. In addition, their coffers are currently being depleted by the need to provide hay in the area. “A large lorry was delivered to Makasutu today, and another will come tomorrow. We’re going to have to spend in the region of £6000 [U.S. $8,042] in the next week or two in order to ensure that we have enough hay for the year for the two centers. Transporting it from the country to our new center is also adding to the cost. If anyone could help us by fundraising for hay, it would be much appreciated. We are immensely grateful to the wonderful people who enabled us to provide all the animals at the show with equipment through their generous donations.”
“The Gambian people are lovely to work with, and we regard the people that we work with as clients. They are treated with respect at all times, and we invite them to work with us to improve things, rather than castigate them for mistreating the animals. In this way, they are never afraid to bring their animals for help, and they trust us when we provide advice and help.”
There are many ways to donate to the cause.
– ONLINE – Via https://www.justgiving.com/ghdt or via the ‘Online Donations’ tab on the organization’s website.
– VIA FACEBOOK – Simply click on the ‘DONATE’ button and follow the instructions.
– VIA TEXT – Simply text GHDT01 followed by the amount you would like to donate to 70070 (e.g. GHDT01 £10).
– VIA POST – Simply send an old fashioned check to the organization’s postal address.
– PAYPAL ghdt@gambiahorseanddonkey.org.uk
In addition, if anyone has pony sized bits (4.5”) or pony sized halters, they are in short supply and would be welcomed.
For more information about The Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust, visit www.gambiahorseanddonkey.org.uk.
Click here to watch a video of the show.
Click here to view a gallery of images from the horse show.
