Latest from Horse & Hound in India

‘Dragon’ offers business advice to equine charity The Brooke

Horse & Hound — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 11:36:58 +0000

Equine welfare workers in India who have developed new feed software are receiving advice and support from TV’s Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden.

Ms Meaden, an entrepreneur and keen rider, visited India with The Brooke.

The charity has teams working in 25 districts in India to improve the welfare and husbandry of the country’s 1.2million working horses, donkeys and mules.

Staff at The Brooke’s headquarters in Delhi have produced a computer programme that helps owners to feed their equine according to its requirements and the fodder available.

“Recognising that feed, and the nutrients of different types of feed, is a big issue in some parts of the country.

“We sought advice from a nutrition specialist at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute to produce the programme,” said Major General (retd) M L Sharma, chief executive of The Brooke, India.

“The software is simple to use and based on an Excel platform.”

Owners, with the help of Brooke staff, input the equine’s weight, work type and working hours, along with the feed stuffs available to them.

The software calculates a balanced feed, along with the cost of the formulation — which Maj Gen Sharma says is “one of the most important factors”.

Feeds typically available in India include gram (a bean crop), chaff, wheat, maize, barley and molasses.

In northern India, where the software has undergone a two-month pilot test, owners who used the programme found their animals had fewer cases of colic, were stronger and more alert and that their body condition improved markedly.

Ms Meaden, who has several ex-racehorses at home in Somerset, offered the team advice on rolling out the software commercially — since the principles of feeding working horses anywhere in the world are the same.

They discussed the need for expert advice on accurate nutritive values of feed in different parts of the world, along with each owner’s willingness to follow instructions and keep proper records.

“It’s good to take something that improves the lives of these animals and turn it into a business proposition,” she said.

“Welfare is one thing, but this balanced feed is not only better for the animals but better for the families, too.

“The community feels empowered and enjoys working, helping and interacting with each other.”

Ms Meaden admitted to feeling “close to tears” on occasions during her visit in mid-December, which included meeting men, women and children in India’s brick kilns, where equines are often worked the hardest.

For more information and to donate, visit www.thebrooke.org

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (4 January 2013)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

British tent peggers win silver in Indian international

Charlotte White — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:11:43 +0000

British tent peggers had a successful campaign at the international competition in Ghaziabad, India (23-28 March).

The team returned with a silver medal in the team lance competition – despite being a rider short when one horse went lame.

The team was comprised of Jenna Copyley, David Puckey, Jerry Watkins and Gerald Knott.

Jerry is director of Equine Welfare at the HorseWorld charity in Bristol.

His wife, and team manager, Dawn Watkins said: “The international championships in India was a fantastic event.

“The team were amazing at holding their own in the team lance competition when one of our horses went lame before the final round.

“It meant we were short of a rider for the last run, and therefore disadvantage.

“But with determination and excellent hand eye co-ordination they went onto win the silver medal.”

Julia Roberts’ upstaged by donkeys while filming Eat, Love, Pray

Horse & Hound — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:24:02 +0000

Hollywood star Julia Roberts had an unwelcome interruption during filming in India recently when two donkeys wanted to get in on the action.

The actress is in India filming “Eat, Pray, Love” directed by Ryan Murphy. She was on set in Mirzapur village in Haryana when the donkeys began braying loudly, causing retakes.

Film staff ushered the donkeys off the set, but as soon as that commotion stopped a dog started whining.

Local reports suggest that though some locals and animals were used as extras most villagers had no idea who the Oscar winner was.

Woman dies after falling from horse on pilgrimage

Horse & Hound — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:06:09 +0000

A woman has died after falling from a horse on pilgrimage in India.

The 63-year-old pilgrim was travelling to Vaishnodevi Temple in Reasi on Saturday (14 February) when she fell off and sustained fatal injuries.

The local police have launched a case against the man who hired her the animal.

Five-year-old girl dies after being kicked in the head by a horse

Amy Mathieson — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:19:04 +0000

A five-year-old child has died after being kicked in the head by a horse in India.

The girl, who has been named as Saliya Salim Shaikh, was kicked when a horse was spooked during a procession in Bhavani Peth last week.

The horse panicked when firecrackers were thrown at about 7.45pm. The girl, who was in the crowd was then kicked. She died in hospital on Thursday (5 February).

According to local press the procession included horses, elephants and camels which were not mentioned in an application to the police for permission to hold the event.

The president of the Shree Balaji Mandir Trust, who was responsible for organising the parade, has been arrested for causing death due to negligence. He denies the incident happened during the procession and has raised 60,000 rupees (£830) for the girl’s family.

Britain wins gold and silver in endurance first for India

Horse & Hound — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:35:49 +0000

A British endurance team took gold in Rajasthan’s inaugural 50km International Invitational Endurance Championship on 28 January, the first of its kind in India.

Britain’s Lesley-Ann Parker took individual gold and Fiona Griffiths silver, with Caroline Moorey and Bryony Dickins making up the rest of the team that fought off competition from France, Sri Lanka and India.

Lesley-Ann and Fiona led from the start, were fastest through the vet gate and remained ahead throughout the second loop. Other teams threatened their lead as a large group of riders arrived together at the last water trough, but the Brits pushed ahead and were first through the finish.

The course, which began on a sandy polo field, wound through the streets of Dundlod then out onto tracks through the Great Thar Desert.

Competitors shared water troughs with camels, wandering cows and donkeys, bringing an exotic edge to the experience.

The riders were lent Marwari horses from the Indigenous Horse Society of India, who were keen to raise awareness of their native breed and prove its strength and suitability for the task.

The race, which was run under FEI rules and supervised by FEI officials, was organised by the Rajasthan Equestrian Association and the Equestrian Federation of India. It was run alongside the Indian national trials that featured races of 60km, 80km and 100km, contested mainly by Indian Army teams clad in regimental dress.

News of the all-female British team’s visit attracted widespread attention in the local press and inspired two local ladies’ colleges to enter teams in an event that is traditionally dominated by men.

Event organisers and FEI officials commended the British riders for their riding, as well as their help and support for other competitors throughout the race.