The Brooke - Farrier training for equine animal owners in Afghanistan

The Brooke first came to Afghanistan in 2003 and, since then, we have been working closely with a range of local partners to understand and tackle the problems facing working animals in this country.

One of our projects is based in the city of Kabul, where Brooke found that many animals were suffering hoof problems and lameness.

These horses and donkeys were working hard every day for their poor owners - carrying heavy loads in brick kilns and markets in and around the city.

Unsafe farrier practices

We identified these problems were caused by badly fitted shoes and a misunderstanding about animal welfare amongst local farriers and owners. The way the local farriers were approaching the animals and the tools they were using were neither safe for the animals nor for the farriers themselves.

Brooke embarks on training programme

The Brooke embarked on a training programme based in the brick kilns around the Deh Sabz district of Kabul.

Fifteen farriers from communities around the area attended, and were trained on how to prevent pain and lameness in the animals they shoe.

The Brooke also provided better tools and equipment for the farriers - and showed them how to use them correctly. These tools will not only help the farriers to work safely, but will improve the quality of the shoes they fit.

Thousands of animals helped

The session was a great sucess and the newly trained farriers will be able to reach over 2000 animals in the poor communities around Kabul.

Now the farriers and owners know how to care for their hardworking horses and donkeys, they can work without painful hoof problems.

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Farrier training in Afghanistan