Plight of horses in Africa highlighted by Vets with Horsepower tour

Professor of equine medicine at the University of Liverpool, Derek Knottenbelt, has called for more to be done to help animals hit by famine in the Horn of Africa.

At the last stop (21 July) on the Vets with Horsepower tour at Oatridge College, West Lothian, he took the opportunity to highlight the plight facing livestock experiencing their worst famine in 50 years.

He said: “Quite rightly the priority is to feed starving human beings during the current emergency, but their animals are dead or dying and without them, these people will simply face a life of dependency.”

The 1,200-mile marathon motorcycle journey has been raising funds for the World Horse Welfare’s overseas charity work and the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad who are equipping an equine clinic in Mali.

The vets (Dr John Burford, Mr Mike Sheperd, Dr Caroline Hahn, Mr Andy Crawford, Dr Alex Dugdale, Dr Jessica Kidd, Prof Josh Slater and Prof Derek Knottenbelt) have been giving a series of talks on a range of veterinary issues with audience members paying a minimum of £30 for a ticket.

Anyone unable to attend can still donate by visiting www.justgiving.com/horsepowerCPD

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