Having completed the first year of training activities, the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH), International Training team is pleased to announce its success in improving working horse welfare in Lesotho.
Training Courses
The ILPH's farriery and saddlery courses were fully subscribed in 2007. With 100% attendance on each module, it was clear that the students were committed to better their own livelihoods whilst improving working horse welfare. In total, 21 students completed the training and are now ready to embark upon new ventures within their local communities. Prospects have been further heightened for 6 students from the courses, who are soon to become the Assistant Instructors on the next training programme.
Throughout the year, numerous field trips were undertaken to villages by the training team and the students. These field trips benefited the many working horses in urgent need of farriery and saddlery assistance and enabled students to develop their practical skills base.
To further enhance the ILPH's training programme, a Business Skills course was incorporated into each course. This initiative was gratefully received, as not only did the students complete their training fully equipped with the skills and knowledge of their trades, but they were also provided with the valuable information of setting up a business.
Nutrition Programme
With maximum efforts made to combat the extreme drought in Lesotho, the ILPH developed an equine nutrition programme to increase food security for malnourished working equines and educate owners on correct feeding regimes. With the desperately needed rainfall in September 2007, the nutrition team took full advantage of the conditions and planted 28 acres of trial sites in two regions - Malealea and Matsieng.
Following successful planting, it is the intention of the nutrition team to provide practical demonstrations within local communities on harvesting, storage methods and crop utilisation. In the short term, the trial site yield will be distributed amongst local horse owners, with the long term goal of expanding the sites to broaden the impact upon a greater working horse population.
2008 Activities
With the commencement of the second training course in April 2008, new students are currently being recruited and preparations are being finalised. The ILPH's International Training team is looking forward to providing further training and will continue to explore new opportunities to achieve even more improvements in Lesotho.
