Brooke shares year’s success of working-equine advocacy
Brooke says its advocacy work will indirectly help over 32.6 million donkeys.
Brooke is celebrating a successful year of equine advocacy, with its 2023/24 Annual Report claiming a ‘record high’ for its indirect reach.
The charity, which supports working horses and donkeys around the world, says that its advocacy of a ban on the donkey skin trade in Africa will indirectly help over 32.6 million donkeys once implemented.
It has also worked with the World Veterinary Association (WVA) to produce the first global list of essential veterinary medicines for food producing animals, including horses and donkeys. The list, which has been endorsed in Ethiopia, is expected to further extend its presence in 2025.
The charity’s annual report records that it has advocated for six policy achievements affecting working horses and equines in the past year.
Brooke says that its work has also directly supported more than 1.5 million working horses and donkeys. This has included providing veterinary and farriery work, skill training for owners and community-focused work.
Brooke’s skill-training work has seen it provide over 6,000 training sessions and mentor 5,238 animal service providers.
The charity’s training helps it to fulfil its goal of improving horse and donkey welfare worldwide. This has involved teaching owners about safe harnessing and compassionate handling, as well as introducing its Equine Welfare and Owner Behaviour Assessment Tool.
Through its work, the charity has helped almost 3 million people and more than 11,000 communities – 1,300 more communities than the previous year.
As part of its community work, Brooke helps communities to prepare for and build resilience to climate-related emergencies, providing relief for over 46,000 animals affected by drought in East Africa in 2023.
Chris Wainwright, CEO of Brooke, said: “As Brooke marks its 90th anniversary of positive action for working horses, donkeys and mules, I am tremendously proud of what we achieve together as an organisation.
“We have exceeded our target in all aspects of our work, including the number of working animals we’ve reached, which is no mean feat.
“This is just another step on the path to ensuring every working horse, donkey and mule around the world has a life worth living.”
Image © Brooke
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
