Community Engagement and Trust Benefits More Working Animals in South Africa

Animal Aid Abroad, together with our partner Blind Love, is transforming the welfare of working horses and donkeys in South Africa. Through veterinary care, humane equipment, and owner education, Blind Love is reaching more animals than ever — thanks to growing community trust and engagement.

Working Horses Outreach Program

In March, Blind Love treated 134 horses across Thaba ’Nchu, the Cart Horse Rank, and surrounding rural villages. A single rural outreach day saw 93 horses treated, underscoring the scale of need. Alongside treatments for parasites, saddle sores, wounds, and harness adjustments, the team educated owners about African Horse Sickness (AHS) — covering symptom recognition, prevention, and when to seek veterinary support.

The Thaba ’Nchu Care Station continues to provide follow‑up care, with horses staying several days for wound treatment and parasite control. Owners are increasingly bringing animals for daily minor care, showing growing confidence in the program.

Routine Treatments & Support

Across all outreaches, the Blind Love team provided:

• Internal and external parasite control.

• Deworming.

• Treatment of saddle sores and harness rubs.

• Cleaning and treatment of minor wounds.

• Tick and fly treatment.

• Harness checks, adjustments, and replacement with more humane equipment.

Health Concerns & Veterinary Interventions

March began with significant concerns following an AHS-related death in Botshabelo, highlighting the ongoing risk in the area.

Two urgent cases were attended to last month:

• A sick horse named Coat raised immediate concerns about AHS. The team provided supportive care and alerted local veterinarians, who attended and collected blood samples. Thankfully, Coat’s tests were negative for AHS. His condition was later identified as colic, and he recovered well.

• During this case, it emerged that the owner had been washing the horse’s mouth out with madubula (a household detergent used in some traditional practices to ward off evil spirits and bad luck). This highlighted the continued need for owner education around harmful practices.

• Another case involved a mare who had a miscarriage. Local veterinarians attended promptly. While the foal was sadly lost, the mare was stabilised and she recovered.

Encouragingly, no further AHS cases were reported after the initial incident.

Care Station Support

The Thaba ‘Nchu Care Station continues to play a vital role in follow-up care.

During March:

• Five horses stayed at the Care Station for several days to treat saddle sores.

• Ongoing treatment focused on saddle sores and harness wounds, allowing healing before returning to work.

Horse owners are also bringing their horses in on a daily basis for minor wound care and parasite control measures.

Working Donkey Outreach Program

In the Eastern Cape, Blind Love reached 68 donkeys in March through outreach days and field interventions. Treatments included parasite control, hoof trimming, wound care, and tetanus vaccinations. Humane harnesses and bridles were distributed, reducing injuries caused by poor equipment.

Several complex cases were managed, including surgical treatment of a severe ear injury, care for a donkey with an eye ulcer, and emergency response to a road accident. Sadly, one donkey had to be humanely euthanized due to severe injuries, but others are recovering well thanks to timely intervention.

Percy’s Story: A Sanctuary for Life

One of the most meaningful cases was Percy the donkey, previously treated for a facial injury in 2024. After suffering a fractured leg in late 2025, Percy was retired to the Blind Love sanctuary in March 2026. He was the first patient transported in Dr Annie’s new Equine Ambulance, marking a milestone in expanding care capacity. Percy now lives safely, embodying AAA’s mission to turn burden into care.

Donkey Care Station & Welfare Support

The Donkey Care Station continues to be a critical resource for ongoing, intensive care. Donkey owners are bringing their animals here daily for basic wound treatment and parasite control in between Blind Love’s outreach days.

Global Impact Made Possible by You

Every outreach day, every harness distributed, and every rescue is powered by your generosity. Together, AAA and Blind Love are proving that local partnerships are the key to global change — building trust with communities and ensuring working animals in South Africa receive compassion, dignity, and lifelong protection.