Response to story of 'Cinderella carriage horses' in Acapulco
Brooke has responded to a story about carriage horses in Acapulco, reported by the Mail Online recently.
The Daily Mail recently published a story about the poor welfare conditions of carriage horses in Acapulco, Mexico.
However, the true power lies with the tourists, who can change behaviours by refusing a carriage ride if the horse does not look fit to work.
A Brooke spokesperson commented, saying:
"The state of some of these carriage horses is appalling, and the Brooke welcomes the fact that the Acapulco government has recognised the problem and is addressing it. However, the true power lies with the tourists, who can change behaviours by refusing a carriage ride if the horse does not look fit to work. This is responsible tourism – our buying power can make a difference. Brooke’s Happy Horses Holiday Code provides guidance to help tourists make good choices.
"Brooke welcomes the highlighting of this issue, and this story shows that working horses, donkeys and mules often face a difficult life. There are 12.8 million working equines in Mexico alone, and tourism is just tip of the iceberg – there are 100 million working equines working in construction, farming and mining all over the world, and they are too often ignored.
"The families these animals earn an income for know that these animals provide a lifeline to them, but don’t always know how to look after them properly. We are working with owners to train them in better welfare techniques, and to avoid desperate measures. We started a project in Puebla state in Mexico this year, and conduct ongoing research to find out where we can help most."