Brief Description

Over 100 million horses, donkeys and mules (equines) are hard at work in developing countries. They can be found on roads, fields, farms and in city centres where mechanised power is not always an option; transporting everything from people, produce and building materials, to food, water and fuel.  They are the key means by which the agriculture and food distribution systems in some nations function, and their labour makes an integral contribution to the livelihoods of an estimated 600 million people. 

Brooke is an international charity with local teams on the ground in Africa, Asia, Central America and the Middle East.  Our aim is to improve the welfare of working horses, donkeys and mules in some of the poorest communities in the world, as well as improve the lives of those people who depend on them.

Vision & Mission

Brooke’s mission is to transform the lives of vulnerable working horses, donkeys and mules  around the world.  By working with people, communities and organisations we relieve immediate suffering and create long-lasting, sustainable change.  

The Need:  Unfortunately this often invisible army of workers endure extreme suffering on a daily basis, including exhaustion, dehydration, disease, injury and malnutrition.  For most of these animals, there is no access to life-saving treatment or the most basic medicine despite the fact 80% of the welfare problems they endure are preventable.

Aims & Activities

Brooke now reaches over two million working horses, donkeys and mules every year, more than any other organisation. We equip communities with the skills and knowledge they need to manage the welfare of their horses, donkeys and mules, as well as build skills amongst local vets, farriers, saddlers and other service providers.  We work with decision-makers to ensure policy is in place nationally and internationally to support equine welfare standards and animal-friendly regulation.  Sustainability is at the core of everything we do, and our aim is to strengthen the resilience and livelihoods of equine owning communities so that they are empowered to maintain welfare improvements in the long-term; without dependency on Brooke.  

We believe equine welfare is a key component of international development.  Without healthy working equines, many people wouldn’t be able to put food on their tables, send their children to school or build better futures for themselves and their families.

Facts & Figures

                            1. Community engagement work to build resilience and develop thriving equine owning communities.  Work with equine owners to build their knowledge, skills, capacity and motivation to look after their working horse, donkey or mule.  This includes work with women and children and the construction of equine welfare groups and assocations
2. Training and mentoring of animal health professionals -strengthening of animal health systems (including access to vaccines and medicine, veterinary training curriculum, infrastructure, construction of health posts etc)
3. Work with local, national and international governments and stakeholders to lobby for policy change ,and legislation that recognises the value of working horses, donkeys and mules are crucial livelihood assets that are intregal to food and water security.
                            

                            Working horses, donkeys and mules ("equines"), and equine-owning communities who do not have access to mechanised transportation (or can't afford it), so are entirely reliant on the good health of their equines for transportation purposes - this includes supporting their livelihoods with tasks such as ploughing fields, or transporting produce to and from market, as well as day-to-day domestic chores such as transporting water and firewood.  The vast majority of those people Brooke works with are living in poverty.
                            

Awards

by Special Consultative Status at the Economic and Social Council of the UN

by Special Consultative Status at the Food and Agricultural Organisation

by Affiliate Status at the United Nations Environment Programme