The Brooke - The story of Ratan - a child and his horse

Ratan is a 13 year old boy. He lives in the village of Baroda, which is 12 kilometres away from Sikandrabad in India. This is where Dr Zaman and his team operate. Ratan's name is pronounced "Rath - ann", he lives with his father, Chetru (age 50) and his three brothers and four sisters.

As a child, Ratan suffered from a severe attack of polio and as a result completely lost the use of his left leg at the age of five. If someone were to see Ratan during the course of his working day they would find it virtually impossible to believe that he is disabled. He is always cheerful, smiling and very caring where his animal is concerned.

Ratan's parents even tried to correct his disability but it was beyond any medical help. Ratan has worked with his father's cart horse, Reda, since he was ten years of age, and his family depends largely on the income from using Reda as a cart horse. A small part of their sustenance also comes from selling milk from the three buffaloes they own and the grain that is produced from the small three small plots of land they own in their village. On an average day Ratan brings home about 150 rupees while his father earns about 180 rupees. This gives them a combined income of 230 rupees each day.

Ratan started working very early in his life despite his disability because of his love for the pony that his father owned. His disability made him conscious that he must earn for his family and help support them rather than have them support him.


	I love working with my pony because that is what I have grown up with. Also my father has given me a very good pony. I like him very much and he is alert. I take real good care of my animal or else how can I expect anything back from the animal. I love my pony and my pony loves me back.

Dr Zaman asked Ratan, what advice would you give other young men like you who are working with horses, donkeys and ponies?


	To live you have to work. You can work, whether you are perfect or not. We all have to learn to work with respect for our animal, and the animal will respect us.