A Charity is Born

Equine welfare in Egypt is a contentious subject. Many living outside of Egypt will see pictures posted by one animal charity or the next, and remark with horror the condition that many of the horses are kept in. As a horse lover in Egypt, it is a brutal reality that never gets any easier. It was the continued abuse and neglect of equines here, along with the mass starvation crisis prompted by the January 25th Revolution, that saw the birth of the Continental Rescue and Rehab.

The journey began with Cleo, a wonderful little grey mare who was first rescued in October. It has taken 6 months, but Cleo is now fully rehabbed and I get the pleasure of beginning her again under saddle next week. Cleo has been adopted already in Hurghada, and can look forward to a quiet life with the Continental.

Cleo

It was not long after Cleo was rescued that Claire Dunkerley and Susan Richards-Benson were drawing attention from other animal activists. In November, the Continental rescued three additional horses, Cinderella, Ali Baba, and Rocky.

Cinderella, photo taken 28th March

Cinderella had been at one of the feed days organized by a Cairo based charity, ESMA, aiming to at least provide little feed for the horses in great need. At the feed day, Cindy went down to the ground from weakness. Claire and I did not actually realise that the mare we rescued was in fact the same horse until a few weeks later. Cindy was spotted being dragged behind a cart, grossly emaciated and with a saddle sore wound stretching half way down her back. There was no question she was in need of immediate help.

Next up was Ali Baba, essentially a walking skeleton. Ali Baba was still being worked. Ali Baba's rags to riches story was made possible by a donation from a couple from Germany who had met Cleo, and asked that if we were able to rescue another horse, to name him Ali Baba and they would cover the cost of purchase. He was so malnourished that 40 percent of his body was missing hair, he was listless, and had problems moving due to the sheer starvation.

Ali Baba on the 17th of February

Rounding out the trio was Rocky, who had also been at the same feed day as Cindy. His story is unique; grossly neglected, he would reach out to bite anyone that came close to him as a means of protecting himself. Rocky is covered in old scars from being branded, beaten, and whipped. He had an abscess in his hoof, that rather than treat his old owner had covered with a metal plate. It caused a massive infection in his leg, and for the better part of two months, he was rendered almost completely lame with poultice after poultice applied to his food to pull the infection out.

Rocky on the 13th of March

With the Continental's herd growing, Claire and I had a talk about where the future would take us. We wanted to ensure that we had the legitimacy that would continue allowing people to support us, and provide the transparency so crucial to the success of any charity. With that, the decision to register as a charity was born.

In the months of bureaucracy that the charity registration took, the Continental acquired two new rescues. First was Chili, rescued in the end of December, who has become the poster boy of the Continental.

Chili's story gripped many people's hearts. He came to us with a leg so swollen, and completely unable to bear any weight on it, not to mention he was covered in wounds and riddled with infection. For the first week, Claire and I debated back and forth on whether the most humane thing to do was to put this little horse to sleep, but his will to live was so strong he answered the question for us himself. Chili's first month with the Continental was very touch and go, and the fans on the page watched with bated breath for each new Chili update. The cost of Chili was covered by generous donations, and he continues to receive sponsorship on a monthly basis.

Chili on the 6th of April

To show you the dramatic difference, this is Chili
2 weeks after his rescue, on the 6th of January

We now know that Chili has an old break in his leg, which has caused a massive infection in the joints of his leg. He has been permanently retired, and his job from now on out will be to teach people about the will to live that horses possess, and the quiet nature that trumps all despite his tremendous suffering.

Rounding out the current herd was Sheba. We were asked to rescue Sheba after she was seen at another feed day. Her eye socket had been broken due to blunt force trauma to her head = translation, she was beaten upside the head. She also had a massive wound alongside her back and was underweight. Sheba, like Rocky, has taken a long time to learn to trust people again. Understandably, she would get very defensive around people and would often reach out to bite. Day by day she is learning to trust again and relax into life with the Continental. Sheba's adopted mum is based in the UK, but we hope will come to see us soon!

Sheba on the 6th of April

As of the 29th of March, Claire Dunkerley, Mohamed Ramadan, and Susan Richards-Benson are the very proud co-founders of charity number 310 in Hurghada, Continental Rescue and Rehab as an officiated and registered charity in Egypt. Plans for the future are well underway, and I hope you will join me in tracking our development as we undertake this new road towards improving equine welfare in Egypt.

There is never any rest for the wicked, and already the Continental has been called on again to help with another horse in a dire situation. I will update here in the next few days about that! To everyone that has watched and supported our work, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Our work wouldn't be possible without you. For more information on our rescues or to see the pictures from their first arrival and their progression with us, please like and follow the Continental Rescue and Rehab on facebook. 

Horse rescue in Hurghada

It's Eid in Egypt again. This time of year for many animal activists, particularly in Cairo, is marred by the slaughter of many animals, and the flogging of horses in the pyramids area from dawn till dusk to cart the holiday makers around. For stable owners in Giza, Eid means increased business. For horses, it means less rest and more running. A vicious cycle indeed.

It is no coincidence that I have chosen this time to introduce Hurghada's new horse rescue and rehabilitation programme. This is an attempt not only to highlight to readers the importance of picking horses that are well nourished, but also to underline that there are people out there doing their utmost to make a difference even if it is just in the life of one animal at a time.

Meet Cleo.

Cleo is a grey mare who was rescued from the Giza pyramids area just over one month ago. In the state that she was in, Cleo was still being used as a riding pony to take people back and forth from the desert.

Cleo on the day she arrived. The wounds on her back were
horrific. One was deeper than three inches. 

She had open gaping wounds where the saddle had rubbed her skin raw. She was listless, and barely had the strength to stand up herself, let alone be carrying people around!


Cleo is the first in what will hopefully become many horses to find a new home in the Continental Rescue and Rehab stables. Rescued by Claire Dunkerley and her husband Mohammed, Claire knew as soon as she laid eyes on Cleo that she was a special horse. At once, Claire began bargaining a price for her to give her the care and attention she so desperately needed.

After 1 week in the Continental

Upon arrival to her new home in Hurghada, Cleo was met with love, affection, and cleaning agents. Claire and I, Susan Richards-Benson, immediately went to work cleaning up her wounds (although my stomach of steel - hah! - meant Claire did a great deal more of the cleaning than I did!). The little mare was evidently distressed and in pain, but so weak that she could do little more than feebly turn her head in protest. Upon further inspection and vet checks, it was uncovered that not only was she grossly malnourished, this emaciated animal was also pregnant. This of course complicated the healing process, as generally a horse would be given a round of anti-biotics to help clear up the infected wounds. Cleo could not receive the same treatment for fear that it would cause a mis-carriage and jeopardise her own safety.

Instead, Cleo has been tended to daily by Claire, Mohammed, and their dedicated team at the stables. She has touched a piece of all of us; her lust for life is contagious and the strength she is already exhibiting inspirational. I have been blessed to be a part of her rehab, and have great hopes for what the future for this little horse holds.

The Continental Rescue and Rehab has one simple goal: to help the desperate and derelict horses throughout Egypt. What sets it apart from other horse rescues, is that the rescuing isn't the primary goal. Once the horses have been re-habbed and brought back to full health, they will be re-homed to a good home where they will never again suffer neglect at the hands of humans. Cleo was meant to be the first horse in a long line of many to be re-homed through the Continental, but her spirit has firmly implanted itself in the stable, and she will hopefully never have to leave again.

To this date Cleo has gained a whopping 15 kg. What makes her recovery process so remarkable is not only that she has not been given any anti-biotics, but when you compare her recovery to many other rescue horses throughout Egypt, her improvements which are seen daily begs the question: how are some of the horses we see that have been rescued months ago still emaciated? Is the entire "rescue process" in the country in need of an overhaul?

Cleo on October 31st.

Regardless of what the reasons are, her recovery process is incredible to watch. For anyone in the Red Sea, or for those who are planning on heading out to this area, I invite you to the Continental Rescue and Rehab, located at the Continental Hotel on Mamsha, to come and meet Cleo for yourself.

For others who would like to track the steps of her recovery, please follow our Facebook page here.

Do you know of any horses that are in desperate need of rescuing? Leave a comment on the page, and we will do our utmost to ensure that Cleo's story is not the only one of a horse in Egypt who's life has done a 180. 

End the San Bernabe Slaughterhouse

I was sent this page by a fellow animal rights activist, and although it is not in Egypt, the stories and images that I saw were so heartbreaking I have to share.

I have often thought that signing petitions was a useless endeavour, and would simply sign my name without any real belief that something would come of it. Two things have recently changed my mind about that: Number one, a petition and campaign that was launched against a show currently being aired here during Ramadan (details will follow in a later blog). Number 2, animal activists who have been actively involved in the Taiji dolphins will know that the power of petitions, combined with their stunning documentary "The Cove", has brought the dolphin plight to the forefront of global media. 

Any horse lover will be devastated to see the pictures on this site. **WARNING, GRAPHIC PICTURES** Any animal lover will be pushed to sign this petition. 

Let me give you a brief background. San Bernabe is a well known slaughterhouse in Mexico and has been in operation for the past 70 years. Here you will frequently see not only horses, but mules, donkeys, cattle, and other assorted wildlife on display and being used and abused. The story detailed on the link above talks of a horse that was forced to walk on a broken foot (and seeing the image, it is very evidently broken), to be led off to its death. Another incident talks of a pregnant mare forced to jump down from a 1 metre ramp, subsequently landing on her knees with a resonant crack, and left there to perish. Don't even get me started on the brutal way that these animals are slaughtered. I don't know if "bashed over the head with a hammer", and "humane" can even be used in the same paragraph, let alone sentence!

Animal rights campaigners have long been trying to put an end to this slaughterhouse. It is about time that we harness the power of the global communications tool that is the Internet, and spread the stories of these horses far and wide. 

There is hope, that if we garner enough attention and pressure, that the Mexican authorities will have no choice but to shut down this slaughterhouse in the face of international condemnation. 

Animals deserve compassion and rights too. Who are we to knowingly, to even willingly, impose such suffering. Please, sign and share. 

For more information on the San Bernabe slaughterhouse, see the following references: 

Animal Law Coalition

Change.Org

The Persian Horse 

Auction for the Animals

Horses are one of my passions. I love riding, I love being with them, I love their majesty, basically everything about them. This is one of the reasons that the ongoing crisis with the horses in Cairo breaks my heart in so many ways. But at the end of every tunnel there is light. The continuing horse feeds with ESMA have managed to revive animals close to death, and although there is a long ways to go, the road seems less tiring with the multitude of support and generosity that has poured in.

The continued horse feeds are now watched with anticipation around the world. Indeed, there are two stories of human generosity and the unimaginable will to survive of a horse. Prince Fluffy Karim (PFK) and Na3na3 (which means "mint" in Arabic) are names notorious with the ESMA horse feeds. Rescued by one selfless student, Na3Na3 and PFK were in some of the worst conditions that the horse feeds have yet to see. Marte, the student, had to do something, and immediately set wheels in motion. She bought Na3Na3 and PFK over a 4 week period, and has tirelessly worked to getting both of them healthy, and happy, again.

Prince Fluffy Karim on the day that he was rescued

Na3Na3 on the day she was rescued, not even
enough energy to stand

Marte has not been alone. Facebook has generated a phenomenal amount of support for these two horses, and the buck does not stop here! The next big event for PFK and Na3Na3 is one that we can all participate in; an auction for the animals. All proceeds will go towards ESMA and the horse feeds, in the hopes that perhaps we can ease the burden of life for more animals than just PFK and Na3Na3. Here's how:

ESMA, who we raise awareness for, have only enough funds for ONE more feed. Ramadan is nearly here and because of fasting no one will hand out feed for four weeks – meaning our horses will die of hunger. We are holding an online auction, where team members donate an item for sale with the full sale proceeds going to ESMA. and I am asking all of you to help.

ALL WE NEED IS YOUR TIME, WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR MONEY. This is how it will work.

Take a picture of an item you wish to DONATE (clean/working order please, if not new)

• Write a concise description of it.

• Find out the postage cost to post within your country and tell us what country you are in.

• Find out the postage cost for overseas. (other side of the world)

• Send this information with a photo to PFK_ESMA@hotmail.co.uk      (Colin Ball is admin for this)

When the auction goes live, if you would like to bid on other peoples donated items, look through the items in the album on PFK’s face book site and to bid just use the comments box underneath and type the amount you wish to

bid. I.e., …..I bid £2.50 …..This will continue, possibly with others out bidding you, until the date and time arrives for the auction to end.

Colin will email who has won the winning bid with instructions on how to pay, we have set up a special account within Colin’s own on-line shop for this – you can only bid if you have Paypal, please do not bid if you cannot use Paypal.

Once you have paid you will be put in touch by email with the seller of your item and between you decide how you send the postage money to them, Paypal, Chq, Postal Order etc. Once they receive your postage money they will

send you the item.

My suggestion therefore is smaller items that you maybe bought and never used but will suit someone else a treat. It’s for a fantastic cause and I hope lots of you join in. Other charities do this al lot and its good fun and very helpful for the charity. Quite frankly this is the horses’ only hope at the moment so PLEASE help. I try not to ask directly for money on the site because I think the site is about more than that, we are a family but we do need your best foot forward right now TK’s.

 As you can see we are all working on a huge amount of trust, so please behave in a genuine and honest manner if participating in the auction. We can only put you in touch with each other the rest is up to you.

Thank you Teamsters

Come on guys, I know that you have at least one or two things lying around your house that you look at and think "hmm, I should really donate that," or "Why did I never use this?" And all you have to do is take a picture. That's it!!! Come the end of the Auction you will find out who has purchased your item, et voila! The expression "one man's junk is another man's treasure" couldn't be more true in this case. And who knows, maybe you'll uncover some treasure of your own in this auction!

For more information or to learn more about the heroic stories of Na3na3 and PFK, visit their facebook page.

Prince Fluffy Karim and Na3Na3 say thank you!

Please don't forget the horses!

Let me post again another follow-up to the feeding posts I've been doing for ESMA. This one however, is so much more important than previous postings in light of the announcement made yesterday by The Brooke animal sanctuary.

According to The Brooke's statement, "The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism has announced tourists are returning to Egypt and the industry is slowly recovering. Animal owners are therefore able to start earning an income again and the overall situation for animals has stabilised...The Brooke has assessed the situation carefully, and together with The Donkey Sanctuary and Egyptian Society for Animal Friends (ESAF) – two organisations we have been working closely with, we have agreed the current emergency programme will come to an end on 21 April."

Firstly, I would like to be directed as to where exactly the Ministry of Tourism announced that travel in Cairo was back to normal? I have only seem them promoting tourism and reporting an increase in tourism in the Red Sea areas, and the Sinai. In fact, the most recent comments that I have heard is that flights into Cairo International Airport have returned to 70 % of their pre-revolution level, whereas "Activity is expected to gradually return to normal starting in June, when expatriate Egyptians typically return for summer vacations and when Muslims often travel for pilgrimage." [Source] So according to The Brooke, tourists are returning to Cairo in such a number that the aid for the horses is no longer necessary. Yet I seem unable to find ANY source to verify this claim. I would ask that they send me their sources directly, because they are obviously so obscure that nobody else can find them. 

Having spoken to people in Cairo directly, who just this past weekend went out to a horse feed, I can attest that the struggle is far from over. The idea of this blog is not to discredit one animal rights organization or another, simply to point out that the dire situation with the horses has a long way to go before it can return to satisfactory, and more importantly, sustainable levels. 

ESMA feed, Saturday 9th April 

The Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals have tirelessly been sending out teams of volunteers each and every weekend to distribute feed to the animals in the worst condition. Volunteers from ESMA note that "there are still hundreds of animals starving, and not enough tourists to provide business." While furthering education campaigns to help the horse owners understand the responsibility of horse ownership is of course vital, in the meantime how many of these animals have to die before these education campaigns take effect. 

There remain so many cases that are in desperate need of help

ESMA has established a routine for the weekly feed. Run out of a large garden, the horses in the worst condition are supervised while they receive their food. It is an unfortunate truth that were ESMA simply to hand out the feed to the stable owners, many of the horses would never see it. 

The horses are supervised as they receive their feed

ESMA volunteers carefully record and track each horse that is given feed to ensure that they are not fed twice. Not only do they receive feed, they are also given a check over by ESMA's dedicated team of vets, who spend all day in the sun helping out the horses. 

ESMA volunteers mark horses that have received their feed

Horses with open wounds on their back receive emergency care

Many of the horses that are seen by ESMA have open wounds or sores. When the owners were asked why the situation got so bad, their response is shocking and disturbing. The government vets, that are meant to provide services free and medical supplies at a discounted price, will overcharge their patrons. This results in most of the owners simply being unable to afford to get their horses treatment. It's a vicious cycle. 

This is a plea to remember that the situation is not over. Don't forget about these horses that are suffering and dying every day around the pyramids. The tourism industry in Cairo has not returned to a level that provides enough income for these stable owners. Please, if you can, donate to ESMA, mark it down as a donation for the horses, and do your part in helping these animals see a brighter future. For additional information on how to donate, click here. You will also find here a more detailed post on what it is that is being done to help put an end to this mass starvation of animals.

If you haven't yet, check out this post to find how just a few seconds of your time could end up making a world of difference for the neglected and abused animals in Egypt!

ESMA Feeding Update

I've been really busy this past week, hence the hiatus! Have much to blog about.

ESMA has continued with the campaign to feed the horses, heading to Nazlat al-Samaan around the pyramids every week to hand out feed rations for one week. 

The most recent feeding from this past weekend saw ESMA volunteers hand out feed for 504 horses, alongside feeding some of the skinniest animals. Each feeding session sees more and more horses appear that have not been to the ESMA feeds before. Donations are crucial; ESMA is doing all they can to stay afloat but already have many cats and dogs in their shelters to take care of! Watch for a blog posting in the next few days on ESMA's adoption campaigns and what you can do to help. 

Some animals had never been to the ESMA feeds before

With more animals showing up that have previously never been seen at these feeds, two things become increasingly evident. Firstly, word of the feeding campaigns and the hard work ESMA volunteers are putting into everything have spread far and wide. Secondly, there is much yet to work on and many mouths to feed. Mona Khalil, co-founder of ESMA, estimates that it could take another six months of work to see any real change take effect in the pyramids area. Tourist are still scarce; although there are some locals who have returned to riding around the pyramids, the numbers are no where near enough to sustain the stable owners and their animals. 

Some of these thin animals showed up to the feeds with saddles on their backs. Without even enough strength to hold their heads up, these poor horses are expected to cart around their owners. Once the feeding campaigns have slowed down, ESMA faces the daunting challenge to increase education for stable owners. Only through education will these owners understand how to treat their animals, and that by treating them properly they will live longer and more industrious lives. 

ESMA is still in need of volunteers to help with the feeding programs. For more information, check out their facebook page here. Don't forget if you haven't already done so...Cat Bless You has pledged 25,000 $ to ESMA if they are able to reach 25,000 fans on their facebook. Check here to see what you can do!

ESMA Press Release II

The bond between a horse and rider is a difficult bond to describe. Horse lovers will tell you that to know a horse is to know love. A horse's eye holds a million stories, with a quiet intelligence that signals you are dealing with an animal that has heart, intelligence, and emotions.

Horses are found throughout the world, either as human companions or as work animals. Egypt is no different. One of the many delights that tourists found during their Arabian adventure was an opportunity to ride a horse or camel up to the Great Pyramids. It's an experience that many will treasure as a highlight of their travels throughout the country; witnessing one of the ancient wonders of the world on the back of animals who have helped elevate our societies and culture.

The recent unrest in Egypt devastated the tourism industry. While Egyptians struggle to return to their everyday lives, with few tourists returning the repercussions have spread far and wide. Many horse and stable owners that surround the area of the Great Pyramids have been faced with very grave decisions to make. Stable owners rely on the tourism market as their primary source of income. No tourists equals no money to put bread on the table, let alone feed in a horse's or donkey's stall.

The Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals (ESMA www.esmaegypt.org) sent out a team of volunteers to asses the situation themselves. Their first day out in the area, ESMA volunteers spread the word that they would be providing feed for grossly malnourished horses. Using one stable as a base from which to work, ESMA volunteers were unable to anticipate the volume of people that began showing up.

ESMA had brought with them a combination of grain, bran, maize and chaff for the horses. All the food was carefully overseen by a veterinary nurse with many years of experience dealing with equines, as grossly malnourished horses have exceptionally sensitive stomachs. The rule was one bucket of food for the horses most in need. Feed was given to extreme cases to keep their horses alive for another two days. From their first day out in the field, dedicated volunteers have returned day after day to continue handing out feed to the direst cases. ESMA hopes to raise enough in donations to be able to return and bring more horses food. They are struggling greatly at the moment.

ESMA's most recent update on the situation indicates that more and more people are hearing of the program to help the animals. Last week in one day alone, ESMA volunteers witnessed over 600 horses lined up waiting for food. Estimates put the total number of horses in the area directly around the pyramids at 3000 alone - this is not including other areas in Cairo that are also witnessing mass starvation of their animals. ESMA volunteers now hand out ten kilograms of mixed feed per horse every Sunday, finances permitting.  

Along with no food for the animals, veterinary care has also been absent. Stable owners brought horses to ESMA with open wounds on their back, obviously infected. When asked why they had not had these wounds treated by the government appointed vet assigned to each district in Cairo, their response was simple. The vet is meant to give subsidized medication for stable owners in Giza; vet checks are meant to be free of charge. Instead, the vet charges extortionate prices on medicine and veterinary check-ups, so much so that many of the stable owners are simple unable to cover the costs of getting their horses checked out.

One stable owner told his story, commenting on the loss of his animals. He said that this week alone, he "has lost five horses." His horses are normally fed three times a day; yet he has been unable to feed his animals for many days now. An ESMA volunteer commented on the horse "graveyard" they witnessed: "There were at least 50 carcasses, most of them in 'the bloated stage' and Beth informed me those were the ones that had died most recently.  We also found the carcasses of 3 camels, which we knew later from the owners had 'starved to death'.  The most distressing of all the dead animals were the dead foals lying next to their mothers..."

This terrible situation that stable owners are facing is not likely to end until the tourism market in Egypt picks up again. This could take months. These animals do not have that kind of time.

This is a call for help. This is our chance to help save the life of an animal, at least to ensure that it will be fed for one more day.

To Donate, please visit http://esmaegypt.org/blog/how-to-help/

About the Author

Susan Richards-Benson is a journalist who has been living and working in Egypt for the past five years. An avid horse lover, Susan has actively campaigned for the rights of animals in Egypt. She has been volunteering with ESMA since 2010. To see more, check out her blog at: www.egyptunbound.blogspot.com

ESMA work animal update

 Below is the most recent update from ESMA on the status of the work animals in Egypt.

Today at Nazelt El Seman, we had the largest turn up of horses and horse owners since we started the feed program. We had what seemed to be approximately 600-700 horses lined up infront of Sondos stables, where we usually distribute the feed from.

As this number is much larger than what we were used to in the past feeds (usually 300 horses on average), things were a little harder to control, but we managed eventually to distribute all the feed with no incidents thanks to the help of our local contacts.

We managed to feed a total of 404 horses for 4 days (the largest amount of feed distributed since we started distribution). We had many new horses and locals come for the first time, as the word is starting to spread that we are committed to coming in regularly and providing the feed.

We have made a modification to one of our methods of distribution in order to become more efficient. Instead of allowing horse owners that have previously received from us to receive feed with just their ID's, we are now insisting that all horse owners come with their horses. We are marking the horses that have received feed, and by doing this, we are avoiding that a horse owner receiving feed with an ID, is having another person receiving more feed with his horses that the food was intended for.

Our coming feed will be on the 25th of February, starting 11 AM at Sondos stables. Pictures and updates to come soon.

Alaa Sharshar

Deputy Volunteer Coordinator - ESMA 

www.esmaegypt.org

ESMA update II

Below is the most recent report from ESMA on the situation of the horses, donkeys and camels in and around Cairo.

Although we are helping the situation greatly, there is still so much that needs to be done. For further information on how to donate, check here.

From everyone at ESMA, and our team of dedicated volunteers who are working tirelessly everyday to better the situation, thank you for your contributions thus far. We would not be able to do this without you!

**Note** This report details the visit of Dr. Luke Gamble. Upon returning home, Dr. Gamble arranged for two more vets from the World Veterinary Service to help out with the plight of animals in Egypt. They will head for the pyramids area tomorrow, after which I shall post updates with their visit here.**


Today ESMA was honored and very fortunate to have Dr. Luke Gamble of the World Veterinary Service (WVS) and host of Animal Planets "World Wide Vets", with us on site. Dr. Luke administered treatment for many horses, and gave advice on how to avoid certain injuries and medical conditions to the locals. Unfortunately Dr. Luke could not stay longer as he was flying out of Egypt, but it was an absolute privilege to see him at work.

While Dr. Luke and Beth Sartain were checking the animals and administering the treatment, we were also handing out rations from Mr. Hassan's stables (IEC) by the ring road. Later on we moved to Sondos stables in Nazlet El Seman, where hundreds of horses lined up to receive rations. We were able to hand out food for 2 days for approximately 300 horses, and still had to turn down many more waiting as we simply did not have enough!

Many of the horses are still emaciated, and it is more evident now that the rations are merely sustaining the horses and not helping them put weight back on. As we continued to hand out rations, we noticed 3 foals with their mothers, as well as several pregnant horses. These were given extra rations to ensure that they stay as healthy as possible.

Once more we were greeted very warmly by the locals, and received a lot of help from the stable and horse owners in the area, who collected ID cards for record, handed out the rations, and kept the crowd as organized as possible. Without their great contributions these feedings would be a lot more work and near impossible to handle. ESMA is greatful for all the help it has received from everyone to help the animals in crisis.


Our coming feed will be on the 20th of February 2011, thanks to a very generous donation from one ESMA supporter, who has provided us with enough food to sustain the animals for atleast 3 days. Everything will be documented and prepared for our coming report.

Thank you all for your support and god bless you.

Alaa Sharshar

Deputy Volunteer Coordinator - ESMA

www.esmaegypt.org

Dr. Luke Gamble came out to assess the situation and lend a hand

Again many stable owners showed up

Horses marked with numbers to denote stables

Words cannot describe

ESMA update

ESMA has continued to head out every day to the worst afflicted areas surrounding the pyramids. The load is not getting any easier, and it is crucial that we spread the word to as many people as possible to encourage donations.

The text below is copied directly from ESMA's assessment report on what exactly is needed per animal. As there are approximately 3000 animals in the direct area around the pyramids only, ESMA cannot afford to fund this of their own accord. This is not including the hundreds of animals abandoned by their owners who were forced to evacuate the country. (I shall post further information on these animals in a later blog).


Facts on feeding according to Beth/Stable owner's recommendations :

An average working horse needs the following in normal conditions, but can
survive on much less if not working.

Per day :

6kg of 'hard' food - consists of a mixture of maize/bran/chaff
In addition (for healthy horses only) 25kg per day of Barseem (local clover)

Current market prices from wholesalers (feed prices have tripled since the
crisis began) :

One ton of Barseem (clover) = LE250 (43 US $)
One ton of chaff = LE1000 (170 US $)
140kg of maize = LE 310

Hay and barley are expensive so people do not usually buy them.

 When you consider how much it can cost to keep a horse happy and fed in the US for example, these costs are minimal. We are asking for anyone who can afford even a 10 dollar donation. Every penny counts for these horses.

ESMA volunteers who hit the streets today administered Veterinary care to some of the very ill horses, as well as feeding many more. Every day that passes the situation worsens, and ESMA is relying on the help of individual donations.

Please if you can, visit ESMA's site for more details on how to donate.

Stable Owners wait for Feed

Egypt's animals need your help

My previous blog posting brought attention to the very dire situation facing many animals in Egypt at the moment.

Since I have posted, I have gotten more updates on the situation as it is at the moment.

I have always been a horse lover. I have always felt that there is a gentle intelligence behind a horse's eye. It is a true partnership to experience a bond with a horse; knowing that an animal much stronger, much heavier than you can respond to your own body language is a truly indescribable moment. There is a reason that horses are used in many rehabilitation programs; they are known for being so in-tune with human emotions. Our history would not follow the path it has done were it not for our close relationship with horses.

But horses in Egypt are suffering.

Horses in Egypt are falling victims everyday to the changing tide that has swept the country. As I previously mentioned, the impact to the tourism industry has trickled down to the average stable owner around the pyramids. I did not, however, grasp the scale of the problem.

The Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals (ESMA) sent out a team of volunteers to scope the damage themselves. A small group spread the word that ESMA would be in the area to provide feed for grossly malnourished horses. Using one stable as a base from which to work, ESMA volunteers were unable to anticipate the volume of people that began showing up.

ESMA had brought with them a combination of grain, bran, maize and chaff for the horses. All the food was carefully overseen by a veterinary nurse with many years of experience dealing with equines, as grossly malnourished horses have exceptionally sensitive stomachs. The rule was one bucket of food for the horses most in need. The horse's condition was first assessed by the volunteers; there was simply not enough to feed all the animals that showed up. Feed was given to extreme cases to keep their horses alive for another two days. ESMA hopes to raise enough in donations to be able to return and bring more horses food. They are struggling greatly at the moment.

Throughout the day yesterday, volunteers fed approximately 450 horses. Hundreds more had to be turned away; even hours after the ESMA team had left stable owners were arriving in the hopes of garnering some food for their animals. Estimates put the total number of horses in the area directly around the pyramids at 3000 alone - this is not including other areas in Cairo that are also witnessing mass starvation of their animals.

Along with having no food for the animals, veterinary care was also absent. Stable owners brought horses to ESMA with open wounds on their back, obviously infected. When asked why they had not had these wounds treated by the government appointed vet assigned to each district in Cairo, their response was simple. The vet is meant to give subsidized medication for stable owners in Giza; vet checks are meant to be free of charge. Instead, the vet charges extortionate prices on medicine and veterinary check-ups, so much so that many of the stable owners are simple unable to cover the costs of getting their horses checked out.

I feel it is important to point out here that for many of the families who run the stables around the pyramids - as most are family owned business handed down through the generations - horse and camel rides are their only source of income. Many are under educated, still more have never left the confines of the city itself. These animals are their primary bread winners. Their very livelihood depends on them, and many still live in poverty. A great number of horses around the pyramids were already underweight before the revolution began; their time is truly running out.

One stable owner told his story, commenting on the loss of his animals. He said that this week alone, he "has lost five horses." His horses are normally fed three times a day; yet he has been unable to feed his animals for many days now. An ESMA volunteer commented on the horse "graveyard" they witnessed: "There were at least 50 carcasses, most of them in 'the bloated stage' and Beth informed me those were the ones that had died most recently.  We also found the carcasses of 3 camels, which we knew later from the owners had 'starved to death'.  The most distressing of all the dead animals were the dead foals lying next to their mothers..."

This terrible situation that stable owners are facing is not likely to end until the tourism market in Egypt picks up again. This could take months. These animals do not have that kind of time.

This is a call for help. This is our chance to help save the life of an animal, at least to ensure that it will be fed for one more day.

For information on where to send donations for ESMA, please contact me here. If you cannot donate financially, please donate your time and share this blog with as many people as you can. Please get the word out there for these animals - they need you.

Below find some more pictures from ESMA's day around the pyramids yesterday. Volunteers will continue to hit the streets every day this week, please act now to help save these animals.

**WARNING - GRAPHIC PICTURES**

Many horses were no more than skin and bone 

Stable's sent many starving horses

Stable owners lining up to get food for their animals

Dead mother and foal - victims of starvation 

Carcasses litter the streets

ESMA volunteers witnessed many horses being carted off

The Silent Victims

I have previously posted blogs about the Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals and the great tasks that they take on in furthering animal rights in Egypt.

ESMA again has a monumental challenge facing them as the dust settles in post-revolution Egypt.

Multiple media reports have been aired about the human victims of the period of unrest in Egypt. Their sacrifice for freedom is a valiant one, which will not be forgotten lightly.

But what about the silent victims of the revolution, those who's voices have not been heard?

This is a call for help.A call to help the animals in Egypt currently suffering. Currently starving, and dying quietly as the rest of the country begins the arduous road to rebuilding itself.

With the drop in Egypt's tourism market, many stable owners living around the pyramids area have been faced with very grave decisions to make. Many of these stable owners rely on the tourism market as their primary source of income. No tourists equals no money to put bread on the table, let alone feed in a horse's or donkey's stall.

The result? Starvation.

Animals are lying dead in the street. Eyewitness reports note that horse carcasses are littering the entrance into the pyramids area. Hundreds more are struggling to survive, owners unable to feed them, left as skin and bones.

ESMA is appealing to anyone and everyone, both inside and outside of Egypt, to contribute in an attempt to put an end to this suffering. Their dedicated team of volunteers are themselves heading into the area around the pyramids to provide as much food and medical assistance to the suffering animals. Please find below the contact information for those based in Egypt. If you are outside of Egypt and want to do what you can in helping, you may message me through this blog and I will respond to you directly.

From everyone at ESMA, and all the animals, thank you for reading, and for opening your hearts.

As most of you have already heard, following the past 3 weeks of instability, we now have a very serious situation where the camels, donkeys, and horses in several areas are dying of hunger and lack of medical treatment. ESMA is raising funds through donations to feed and treat these poor animals itself, and we need all the financial help we can get! If you have not yet donated and can help out please do so, and forward this email to as many people as possible.

David Magdy, one of ESMA's active volunteers, will be in charge of collecting any donations for this cause. He can be reached by telephone on 0127844385. 

We also need physical help and not just financial! This week we will be going down to help as many of the critical cases as we possibly can in Nazlet El Seman - Haram, the stables on the ring Road, and the Giza Pyramid area, more information to come soon. We understand that lately things have been dangerous in regards to moving around the city, and we understand if you can't make it. However, things have calmed down a lot, and we need as many volunteers as possible to help with this tremendous effort! Please RSVP with me ASAP by replying to this email, or call me on 0105799777.

Horses starving in Giza

Their carcasses litter the streets :(  

Dreams of Paradise

One of the many joys of living in a beach-side city is the plentiful number of outdoors activities one can engage in. Diving the wonders of the Red Sea allows people to visit any number of spots up and down the coast line, while snorkelling provides a more surface friendly view of the Red Sea. There are of course many opportunities for water-sports enthusiasts, and the increasingly popular desert 4 x 4 rides and safaris.

Yet there are hidden wonders that remain to be discovered nestled along Hurghada’s infamous coast line. I took it upon myself to discover some of these, and in my quest to do so, reawakened one of my deepest passions.

Shaharazade, my new favourite little mare

It is said that the “wind of paradise blows between a horse’s ears,” and nothing could be more true when this wind is the salt-tinged wind rolling off of the sparkling emerald and sapphire waters of the Red Sea. To ride a horse along the beach with the sea spray kissing your face is to experience true freedom and beauty. Surprisingly enough, many Hurghadians are not even aware of this little bit of paradise available to them. I’m here to share this secret.

Tucked neatly in the Magawish Swiss Inn you will find the result of a life’s love and labour. Owned by Charlotte and her husband Sambu, the Horse-Stables at the Magawish Swiss Inn will let you taste true paradise on the back of a horse. Launched over 7 years ago, Charlotte and Sambu have been working with horses for as long as either of them can remember. Their combined experience and passion for their horses and the sport is evident in the dedication and commitment they have invested in their horses and horse-barn. Although the road has been long in getting to where they are today, Charlotte will be the first to tell you that she would not have it any other way.

With a stable of 16 horses, ranging in age from the latest foal to mature horses, even the most inexperienced of riders is sure to find a suitable horsey companion. Children are also always welcome! The location of Charlotte and Sambu’s stable mean it is possible to gallop through the surf on the beach, or explore the hidden wonders of the desert surrounding Hurghada. Whether you prefer short and easy rides, to longer more challenging rides, you are guaranteed an experience to remember.

Cynthia trying her hand at beach riding!

Charlotte and Sambu offer early morning rides, up into dusk rides where you will witness some of the most breathtaking views of the sunset Hurghada has to offer. But don’t take my word for it, get out there and experience the true joy of beach living on the back of a horse, and see for yourself if Churchill was right when he said “No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.”

For more information or to book a ride, contact Charlotte on 017-204-0146, Sambu on 010-620-1990, or Moustafa on 010-136-3844.