Each quarter we offer a horsemanship
hint, often related to current
 affairs on people’s minds. December is permeated with the spirit
of giving and has inspired this month’s hint. Updated
for December 2007
Some of us know exactly what we want for Chanukah or Christmas --- a
horse!  Others thankfully have a horse, but want a new saddle, bridle,
blanket, riding pants, etc. But
this is a time of giving rather than getting. What do you give a dear family
member who has everything they want?
What does the office give that is meaningful besides doing a tree
ornament exchange? How about
doing something wonderful for people and animals around the world this year
in the name of the office or a special loved one? Perhaps your loved one is
a veteran who would appreciate having something done in his name to support
our troops or their families at this special time of year.
 Our December Hint includes Unique Animal Related Gifts and Means of
Supporting our Armed Services.
- Heifer International - donations
as small as $10 can help purchase a goat, sheep, cow, honey bees,
ducks, geese, chickens, llamas, pigs, rabbits, water buffalo, or trees
to tame soil erosion. The
families in need in Africa, India,
Peru, Indonesia,
etc. are taught how to care for the animals and make a living from
them. They are required to
help another family with offspring from their own enterprise, within a
given number of years. A
lovely gift card can be sent to a person, letting them know that you
have make the donation in honor of him/her instead of sending them a
material gift. Visit the
website: http://www.heifer.org or call 800-698-2511 24/7. Credit cards accepted. Corporate donations welcomed.
- World Vision - small donations
of $25 to $100 can purchase a goat, pig, rabbits, bees, sheep, etc.
for poverty-stricken families along with training in their proper care
and how to make a living from them as well as improve their own
nutrition. Larger
donations purchase a donkey, mule, cow, etc. Donations made in another
person’s name can be given as a gift to that person, instead of
a tie or pair of slippers.
Visit their website: http://www.great-gifts.org/Gifts/Farm_animals.asp This is a Christian charity.
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Brooke Animal Hospital
- a London-based charity founded in 1934, Brooke aids working horses and donkeys
beginning with Egypt (since 1934),
and Jordan
(beginning in 1988), then also
Pakistan (since 1991),
and Afghanistan (since 2003),
all of which were British protectorates after the collapse of the Ottoman
Empire, and India (since 1990), which was a British colony. In 2006
Brooke began helping working animals belonging to Palestinians in their
villages in Israel and the West Bank. Kenya was added to their North African
push in 2001, and Ethiopia in 2006. Brooke "crossed the pond" to
begin working with the impoverished equine owners of Guatemala in 2004. Animals who provide the only
means of support to impoverished families are starved, dehydrated, in
pain from weeping pack harness sores, carrying loads equal to their
own body weight, and foot sore, sometimes in temperatures of 128
degrees without shade or water as they work all day without a
break. Brooke provides
veterinarians, farriers, food, clean water, inexpensive well-fitted
pack saddles, saddle pads, hoof picks, portable water troughs,
portable shades, and owner education for hundreds of desperate donkeys
horses and mules daily.
[At the brick kilns in India,
owners believed if they rinsed the baking flanks of their donkeys with
cool water, or let them have a sip in the searing heat of over 110
degrees, they would get cramps and die. So they die of dehydration
instead, walking in the sun while carrying as much as 1,000 pounds of
bricks.] Many have had
their knees and forearms fired, under the misguided thought that the
horrific painful wounds will make the animal stronger and prevent “water on
the knee”. This practice is found throughout North Africa, the Levant, and
the Near East.
BAH teams drive trucks equipped to set up mobile clinics, and
operate stationary equine relief stations to vaccinate, worm,
treat wounds and injuries, rehydrate, and trim and shoe animals in
temporary shaded roadside stops.
Severe cases, such as the Afghan refugees who have travelled for 40
days with all the family’s possessions on their backs through
horrible terrain and weather are lucky if their owner learns of the
Peshawar Equine Relief Station.
There the starving, exhausted, donkey will be fed, rested, wormed,
vaccinated, have his teeth floated, his feet cleared of thrush, cankers, or
maggots, trimmed and shod, and have his back sores treated. While the family settles into the
refugee camp, unable to buy food for themselves, much less the donkey, at
the Brooke center he may recover enough after a few weeks to provide a
means of support in their uprooted existence. If he is too far gone, after a few
days of food and rest in a tranquil setting, he will be humanely
euthanized, and the owner will be compensated toward the purchase of a new
animal. Besides treatment, and
prevention with better equipment, Brooke educates owners at roadside
stands, trains and equips farriers to carry on, and trains local Equine First
Aid workers.
Donations to Brooke can be as little as
$20 US. Credit cards are
accepted. Brooke is a registered U.K.
charity. The President of Brooke is HRH
The Duchess of Cornwall.
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The American Fondouk is
a full-service animal hospital in Fez, Morocco that treats 50-100 animals
per day, and more than 20,000 annually (in 2005, the hospital serviced a
record 22,000 animals). Fez is considered the northern capital of Morocco,
and it is the cultural and religious capital. At the suggestion of Amy Bend
Bishop, an American traveler alarmed by the great need, and with her initial
$8,000 contribution, The American Fondouk was established by Sidney Haines
Coleman, former President of the American Humane Association, in 1927.
Mr. Coleman entrusted oversight of the Fondouk and its endowment to the
Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which has
husbanded its success for 80 years. It is one of the oldest veterinary
hospitals functioning in North Africa and the Middle East, and treats not
only the suffering poor, but the racehorses, eventers, and show jumpers of
the well-to-do and Moroccan royalty.
To quote their website: "Three-quarters of a century later, modern-day
Morocco is a developing nation, but many of its people are still poor. Here,
where there is just one doctor for every 4,500 humans, it is tempting to
view veterinary care as a luxury. But the economic health of the community
rides, quite literally, on the backs of its working animals, and often on
the Fondouk's programs."
The Fondouk provides farriery as well as veterinary care, and partners
with La Société Protectrice des Animaux et de la Nature (SPANA
du Maroc or SPANA), the Moroccan branch of the British Society for
the Protection of Animals Abroad and Nature, founded in 1925.
Donations can start at $15.00 and credit cards, including American
Express, are accepted.
Visit their website: http://mspca.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=fondouk_home
- La Société Protectrice des Animaux et de la Nature (SPANA
du Maroc or SPANA)
Morocco was under the jurisdiction of
France and Spain jointly after 1830, and France exclusively after 1906,
with Spain retaining the Western Sahara. Officially, the Treaty of
Fez in 1912 made Morocco a French protectorate, in which the Sultan
reigned, but France ruled. By 1926, the populace began to revolt by
forming nationalist parties. They were fed up with the "modernizing"
of Morocco by French colonists exploiting the mineral wealth and buying up
the agricultural land, while attempting to increase French control.
In this tension-filled milleu, a lone travelling Englishwoman, Francis
"Kate" Hosali, and her daughter, Nina, deplored the plight of the animals
they saw in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, and the environmental decay,
and, in 1925, began the SPANA that has survived to this day. Kate
just walked into the "souk" (market) with her medicine chest and first aid
kit, where women did not go unaccompanied by their owner/spouses, said the
magic word "bateel" (free) and began treating donkeys. In the
Saharan heat, she usually treated forty or more per day. Amy Bishop
started the American Fondouk two years later.
Under the auspices of the French Department of Agriculture until
Moroccan self-government in 1956, and now with the oversight of HRH
Princess Lalla Asmaa, SPANA provides mobile veterinary hospitals, public
animal care education, and contributes to a veterinary teaching hospital
to train native professional caregivers that is part of the Moroccan
Department of Agriculture. Most funding and staff come from the The
Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (Great Britain) Ms. Hosali's
registered English charity, Birdlife International, and local fundraising
events.
You can obtain donation addresses online via their website, which
Google might translate for you from the French language. (Usually
Google's translation software crashes on their pages). You cannot
use a credit card. It is too bad they don't have any Arabic
(official language of Morocco) or Berber web pages, (just a title bar in
Arabic on the home page) as these would be easily translated by Tarjim
(online service) into French or English. Anyway, if you read French
better than I do, you might find where the French people are able to
donate by credit card, as far as I can tell, check or bank draft are the
only options.
Société Protectrice des Animaux et de la
Nature
http://www.spana.org.ma/
Naw, forget the French. Just go to the
wonderful SPANA site itself in Britain. It will give you the scoop on the
work they do in Morocco in English, and without pretending the French have
anything to do with it. And yes, you can donate online with your
credit or debit card, just like American charities:
- Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad
http://www.spana.org/
Their specific
page on Morocco:
http://www.spana.org/countries/locations_morocco.php
SPANA has missions throughout North
Africa and the Middle East, so you could pick another country, though the
stories are pretty universal.
Why have I spent so much time on Morocco?
Because America has had a relationship of mutual respect with Morocco for
230 years.
The sultanate of Morocco was the first country to recognize the
fledgling United States as an independent nation, in 1777. The
Moroccan-American Treaty of Friendship stands as the U.S.'s oldest
non-broken friendship treaty. Signed by
John Adams and
Thomas Jefferson, it has been in continuous effect since 1783. The
United States legation (consulate) in Tangier is the first property the
American government ever owned abroad. The building now houses the
Tangier American Legation Museum.
The famous Barb horses of the Berber tribesmen, and the Arabian horses
of their Muslim overlords (since 1559), have contributed to the bloodlines
of the most recognized breeds of Europe. These are two of the
earliest recognized domesticated breeds, dating back 5,000 years.
American missionaries risked their lives decade after decade to bring
medical care and education to the people, and veterinary care to the
animals, of this Islamic sultanate. "Fondouk" is arabic for stable,
or shelter, and it is that, and much more, for the hard working animals in
a culture that sees them as utterly disposable, even as families depend
upon them entirely for their own livelihood.
Most of the equids pull carts or work as pack animals, and are tied out
for days when not working using wire or twine that cuts, anything handy to hobble
them or chain their pasterns. Some work as Caleche (carriage) horses
for the tourists in Marakesh to visit the souk (market). Arabians,
considered by Americans a "living work of art" and highly valued by The
Prophet (PBUH) with special admonitions to the faithful to care for them,
are raced on packed dirt lots covered with rocks.
Moroccans aided U.S. troops during both World Wars. Unlike the
other Allies, the U.S. did not declare war on the Ottoman Empire during
World War I, for that would have put us opposite old friends like Morocco.
Also, concerned about the former Ottoman countries that had become
"protectorates" or "colonies" after WWI, during World War II, America and
Britain wrote the declarations known as the
Atlantic Charter (a statement that set forth, among other things, the
right of all people to choose the form of government under which they
live). Despite the support of the Sultan for democratic government, the
French did not relinquish "protection" of Morocco until 1956.
Ms.Hosali, was allowed a formal charity charter to provide for the animals
under SPANA three years later. Morocco did not regain half of the
Western Sahara from Spain until 1976, which still controls some ports and
airports today. It was not until the ascent to the throne of King
Muhammed VI in 1999 that a verifiable democratic government was achieved,
and tens of thousands of political prisoners were freed. In 2003
Berber children began to study in their own language in primary schools,
and secular laws improving the status of women, previously non-entities
under Islamic law, were introduced. Morocco is one of the few Arab
and Islamic countries that condemned the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and has
itself seen suicide bombers kill over 45 people and injure more than 100
in attacks in its largest city, Casablanca. First in 2003 al Qaeda
targeted buildings of Jews, (1% of the population since ancient pre-Roman
times) Belgians, and Spanish, with regular bombs, killing 33 people, then
in 2007 with suicide bombers. Some of the terrorist bombers in
Madrid 2004 were Moroccans, perhaps reflective of the Spanish occupation
that continues even today in "Spanish Sahara." This country of 33.75
million has a literacy rate of 52%, a per capita annual average income of
$4,300, only 1.6 million telephones and 3 million televisions, 1 doctor
for every 4,500 humans in a 195 mile radius. However, its population
is increasing at an alarming 3.7% per year, despite a high infantile death
rate and low life expectancy. The figures for some North African and
Middle Eastern countries are so deplorable that they won't report outside
the Arab League, and those they do report are faulty, but you get the
picture.
Almost every American knows lines from the movie "Casablanca"
starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, but nothing about this
Mediterranean friend, Morocco. Despite the fairytale
Hollywood romance of "Rick's Cafe" and the old city market exoticism, the
only genuine taste of Morocco in the film is the cynical opportunism of
the Vichy police and bureaucrats If you enjoyed this iconic
American film, please consider giving for the horses, mules, and donkeys.
But some of us do know the truth, and have given the ultimate:
American blood has spilled into these sands fighting Nazism to free
Europe, and, it was our naive hope, to eventually free the tapestry of
peoples that had suffered under the brutal yoke of the Ottomans for
hundreds of years, or were currently exploited by Europeans who had picked
over the carcass of the "Sick Man of Europe."
American and British ladies, travelling abroad as
"tourists" did not just give pennies to street beggars. They looked past
the silks, costumes, and fantasy of the bazaar. They saw the
desperate, raw, aching need for emergency care of equines, and education
for their masters. They founded veterinary missions that saved the
lives of thousands of animals, and thus people, for 80 years
American veterinarians have given decades of their lives to help
donkeys, horses, and mules provide livelihoods for thousands every year,
all financed by private charitable giving by individual Americans.
These veterinarians have humanely euthanized suffering animals, left to die painfully of
disease, birth defects, horrific wounds, or starvation, because their
owners believe it is "God's Will" that they should suffer.
In the spirit of this holiest time of year, remember that the Christ
Child was born in a "fondouk," and wrapped in swaddling rags like babies
born in poverty in the world today. He was laid in the animals'
manger, watched over by beasts of burden, Angels, Magi, and lowly
shepherds. To escape to Egypt, Joseph led Mary and the baby Jesus on
a donkey, and thirty years later Jesus' rode a humble donkey into
Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to begin Passover and complete his destiny to
become our Shepherd, the Prince of Peace. America, the Horn of
Plenty for the world, has always had a big place in its heart for our Shepherd's ancient homeland, and honored the day of rest the Lord
commanded for all, including the animals.
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The International League for
the Protection of Horses (ILPH) This organization headquartered in
Norfolk, England works locally for rescue and rehabilitation, lobbies
against inhumane transport of horses for slaughter in the European Union,
and has an extensive educational program for horse owners in developing
countries. The well designed courses cover training in feed and
storing forage, general horsemanship such as preventing thrush and making
and fitting tack, and the importance of proper trimming. They also
train farriers and veterinary assistants and work closely with local schools
and law enforcement to educate. Major efforts are underway in Mexico,
Guatemala, Cape Town (South Africa), Lesotho, Romania, and Gambia.
http://www.ilph.org
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for a more comprehensive list of links
to horse rescue, adoption, and retirement sanctuaries in Arizona or the
U.S.A., please visit our Senior Horse Care Resources page.
Soldiers’ Angels - these ladies make items for the
troops overseas, and their motto is “Let No Soldier Go
Unloved.” One of their
programs is Adopt a Soldier.
You can give as little as $10. They make cot-sized blankets, desert
bandanas called Sand Scarves, buy AT&T Calling Cards, and are making
Christmas Stockings with the Service Emblems (Army, Navy, Marine, Air
Force) that are filled with a Calling Card, Candy, Cookies, Playing Cards,
Moist Towelettes, etc. They
make a very special gift all year called the First Response Backpack. These are given at field hospitals
to the wounded. When troops are
wounded, it can take 3 to 4 weeks for their personal effects (footlocker,
duffel bag) to catch up with them.
The First Response Backpack contains: razor, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste,
comb, lotion, boxer shorts, T-shirt, socks, washcloth, cot-sized blanket,
playing cards, AT&T Calling Card, candy, cookies, etc. This gift costs $35. http://www.soldiersangels.org/heroes/index.php
United Service Organizations (the USO)
Proudly Serving the Men and Women who Serve Our Country Until Every One
Comes Home http://www.uso.org/pubs/8_13_18.cfm
This legendary group with its long history of service to our troops needs no
explanation. It provides entertainment, social centers, and kits
stateside and overseas, not just in combat zones.
AmericanSnipers.org
(formerly Adopt a Sniper)
This group of professional law enforcement snipers who
were Reservists and National Guard were called up to serve in Afghanistan
and Iraq, and to be deployed elsewhere globally to free up active service
military snipers to serve in the war zones. They have identified personal items
that make life easier for a sniper in the Middle East, as well as equipment
they need to do their jobs that is not available through the armed services
easily, but can be purchased in the States. Many of these items are small and
inexpensive, but critically important, like gun cleaning supplies and
equipment, lens wipes, lanyards, mini-binoculars, scope mounts. Once issued all their gear, things
break or get used up in the field and it can take weeks to get them
replaced through normal supply channels, especially for Guard units. They can spend hours or days in a
sniper location, waiting for the opportunity to take their shot, but are
critical team members on the kind of missions we’ve run in
Afghanistan and Iraq. Help them
out. http://www.adoptasniper.com/
Special Operations Warrior Foundation - provides
scholarship grants to the children of Special Operations personnel killed
in a mission operation or a training accident. http://www.specialops.org
America Supports You Connects Americans and the troops
including Adopting a Soldier’s family for the holidays. You can send
a message to the troops of your support through this site. It is operated
by Stars and Stripes, the official newspaper of the Armed Services. http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou/index.aspx
AnySoldier.com This grassroots non-profit
matches troops in the field with citizens who wish to send letters or
packages to show their support.
An officer in the field signs up with his/her address, and lets you
know what the members of the unit can’t get easily locally. You then write or ship to
“AnySoldier” in care of that officer. You can pick a branch of service,
“AnySoldier” “AnyMarine” “AnySailor”
“AnyAirman”, etc.
Check them out at http://anysoldier.com/
Downloadable .PDF
Petition Form for Proposed AZ license plate to support our troops.
Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.
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