Horses in War-torn Ukraine ⋆ The Whoa Podcast

Horses in Ukraine

Horses in Ukraine have gotten a raw deal. Ukraine, in Eastern Europe, is a beautiful country about the size of Texas. Wikipedia says Ukraine is a unitary republic with a free-market economy. (While I’m not sure what that means exactly, as an American, it sounds pretty good to me.)

Then, Russia decided it wanted to own the Ukraine, and a war broke out. The conflict places thousands of horses in the middle. Well, all animals really. Many humanitarian groups have stepped up to help. One of them, Ukrainian Equestrian Charity Foundation, is dedicated solely to helping horses.

Crisis of Food, Housing, and Vet Supplies

Before the war, Ukraine was one of the largest grain exporters in the world. Hay was relatively inexpensive. With some fields destroyed, no fuel for farm equipment, and a lack of Ag manpower, grain and hay production have plummeted. People are struggling for their own survival and caring for their horses has to take a back seat.

Stables in the war zone have been damaged or destroyed leaving many horses without proper care. The number of stressed and injured horses have strained the veterinary medical supply chain, too.

The UEF is working to fill those needs. With money donations, they’ve contracted to supply feed and medical supplies.

Horse in Ukraine Need Our Help

The brutal winter is approaching quickly in Eastern Europe. Without proper food and housing, many horses will perish. The UEF needs the world’s help now. From what I’ve learned about the UEF, they have the support of large equestrian organizations, including Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the European Equestrian Federation (EEF) and national equestrian federations. The extended international team consists of volunteers from England/France, Germany and Estonia. If you can help, and there are many ways to do so, please check out the links below. Horses enrich our lives so much. Sometimes it’s necessary to step up and return the favor.