Supplies sent for horses abandoned near front lines and evacuated under drone netting.
A consignment of feed and supplements gifted by UK companies has arrived in Ukraine to help the war-torn country’s horses.
“While Ukraine may have slipped down the world news radar recently, the situation there is getting worse and worse,” says Charles Gillow who organised the delivery.
This was a fourth Ukrainian aid trip for Charles, who is the Riding Master in the Light Cavalry, and the first time he’d taken horse feed.
The donations were co-ordinated by the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA), with member companies Keyflow, Mars Horsecare (Spillers), Verm-X (Hilton Herbs), Flourish and NAF contributing products.
The feed travelled through Poland to Ukraine in two horse trailers - alongside a generator, water troughs and boxes of clothing and tack - to NGO Horse Paradise about 40 miles from Kiev.
The trailers and equipment were funded by a grant from the British Equestrians for Ukraine Fund, administered by World Horse Welfare.
Charles originally visited the charity, home to around 55 horses, as a volunteer driver delivering supplies for its equine assisted therapy work. After rescue and recovery, suitable horses take part in ground-based sessions for rehabilitating serving and former military personnel, some disabled, as well as their families.
In-foal mares near fighting
“While I was at Horse Paradise, and as the war has progressed, it’s become obvious there’s an escalating need for its equine welfare work,” said Charles.
“Many horses are found abandoned, including wandering around on the front lines. And farms on the edges of the fighting often need to move their horses, with priority being given to in-foal mares.”
The trailers used to transport feed from BETA member companies have already been involved in a rescue mission, explained Charles.
“They were used to evacuate four horses in desperate need of rescue from a farm quite near the fighting about 60km east of Zaporizhia. The last 24km of the journey were under drone netting.”
Charles is quick to point out that Ukrainians value and respect their horses. However, for some, circumstances surrounding the war have overtaken their best intentions.
“One horse recently taken in at Horse Paradise had been a competition horse, originally from Crimea, but had ended up in quite a bad way near Kharkiv because the family were simply out of their depth.”
Charles aims to return to Ukraine in late April with a vet, farrier and two equine therapists to work with local practitioners. An interim delivery of equipment and feed is also planned.
“Thank you to BETA and its member companies for your magnificent support. It’s put me in touch with some great people who have been so generous,” he added.
