One Million Horses, One Million Heroes, One Million Dollars

By Cindy Rullman, Brooke USA

In 2017 the United States is commemorating its World War One Centennial by marking the 100th anniversary of its entry into the bloodiest war of the century. As part of the commemoration, Brooke USA will remember the one million American horses and mules who served alongside their brave soldiers, by raising one million dollars to improve equine welfare around the world through their Horse Heroes campaign.

Horses and mules carried food, water, medical supplies, ammunition, guns, and other supplies to the front lines in WWI. They carried men to battle and wounded men to safety.

Their contributions were enormous, but so was their suffering. Of the one million American animals who were sent to Europe, only 200 came home again after the war. In total, eight million equines died.

While horses no longer serve the military in the massive numbers of former years, today there are approximately 100 million equines who are carrying out many of the same jobs as they did 100 years ago. They are also suffering similar hardships leading to chronic suffering and high mortality as their military forebears, while working to support 600 million people in the developing world.

It is estimated that 80 percent of those working equines are suffering from preventable problems such as exhaustion, dehydration, lameness, heat stress, diseases and injuries.

For 83 years Brooke – the world’s largest international equine welfare charity - has worked in many of the poorest countries on earth to alleviate the suffering of equines on whom those millions of people depend. Last year alone, Brooke reached two million horses, donkeys, and mules in the developing world with programs to improve their welfare.

Last year alone, Brooke reached two million horses, donkeys, and mules in the developing world, with programs to improve their welfare.

By providing scientifically proven, practical and sustainable programs, Brooke teaches owners how to improve the welfare of their animals. They also provide free veterinary care for many of them.

Brooke USA supports Brooke’s sustainable equine welfare programs through fundraising and stewarding donations to the areas of greatest need. By raising one million dollars to support Brooke’s equine welfare programs, Brooke USA will also help the people who depend on those animals in some of the poorest countries on earth.

Dr. David Jones, Chairman of Brooke USA, stated, “We believe that the best way to honour yesterday’s war horses and mules is by helping today’s working equines. Brooke can do a tremendous amount to improve the welfare of these important animals through our Horse Heroes campaign. We’re asking anyone who appreciates the contributions that American horses made to the war effort to respond by donating in memory of those animals – just one dollar for each animal who suffered and died in service to our country in World War One.”

To learn more about the Horse Heroes campaign, visit www.HorseHeroes.org. To learn more about Brooke USA please visit www.BrookeUSA.org.

Photos courtesy of Brooke USA