The table topic meeting room was full to overflowing with equine veterinarians at the 2008 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) convention, held Dec. 6-10 in San Diego, Calif., most interested in some of the worldwide equine welfare projects both ongoing and proposed. The meeting was to continue a process to identify and coordinate some of the many projects out there and find out what AAEP can do to support and assist those people and projects in need. They may also have been curious as to just what or who an “equitarian” is!

According to co-chair Jay Merriam, DVM, a descendant of the dictionary family, and thus, “empowered ” to make up his own definitions, equitarian refers to one who whose only reward for providing medical or humane services to needy horses is the satisfaction of a job well done.

And there was certainly agreement that there are millions of our equine friends worldwide who could use such a person.

Joe Bertone, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, a professor of equine medicine at the Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, Calif., led off with a synopsis outlining the status of working horses all over the world. The United States has approximately 10 million mostly pleasure horses, with maybe a million considered working horses. The number of working horses in the rest of the world has been estimated as high as 100 million. These numbers are estimates and include many show and pleasure horses, as well. But for sheer numbers, there could be 60-90 million horses (including donkeys and mules) working every day to provide some sort of living for their owner.

They work in mines, fields, forests, beaches, deserts–you name it. Many suffer from malnutrition, overwork, and lack of fundamental health care. Just like their owners, they are vital in the transport of basic materials. (Where did that coconut on your candy start its trip? On the back of a donkey in the Dominican Republic, maybe?)

There are many groups out there providing care for and help to these animals, but these equids needs are not romantic or compelling in the way that the plight of an injured racehorse or show horse gets headlines.

Cultural differences often provide a window into the needs of these animals. These equids are vital, but they’re not pets or family. They must be replaced often, but usually at the cost of a year’s income. When injured, rest is out of the question and veterinary care unavailable. And the needs are not going away. There is no such thing as an “unwanted horse” in the Third World.

The working mule and his young owner have unloaded quite a supply of coconuts. The mule is blind.

The altruistic desires of many veterinarians to “give back” is often short-circuited by requirements of long-term service, lack of travel funding, or simply the pressures of keeping a practice together while away. Students who want to help are stymied by debt, lack of knowledge of available programs, and time constraints. But the atmosphere in the room showed without a doubt that the profession stands ready to help share the gifts of healing with the world.

Attendees established many connections, and recruiting for new members in programs began right away. There will be a half-day program at the next AAEP convention featuring several of the groups represented. But in the short run, veterinarians in attendance agreed this was a great start. An e-mail list was collated and will begin the process of bringing professionals together to address the needs the veterinarians all know are there.

AAEP Equitarian Aid Initiative

Mission Statement

To assist members and organizations by identifying, planning, and supporting aid and assistance projects for horses worldwide. Recognizing that medicine is our gift and our mission, AAEP will seek to facilitate the transfer of services, goods, and supplies to serve the welfare needs of horses identified by our members as being in need of aid and services.

• We will provide sustainable resources to projects and groups who can prove their stability in providing such aid as needed.
  
• We will foster the perpetuation of locally initiated projects improving the health and welfare of horses worldwide by supporting educational, interventional, and direct aid to such animals as identified by members or associated organizations.
  
• We will partner with suppliers of medications, equipment, and other resources as needed to respond to requests for aid.
  
• We will assist in building relationships with appropriate local individuals and organizations for education, training, and direct aid.

Planning and Facilitation

• Internships The organization will provide travel and support for new graduates who are interested in specific projects for both short- and long-term projects. An example could be to support a Rural Area Veterinary Services (RAVS, also known as the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, a nonprofit veterinary outreach program) trip to reservations or to the Third World (the economically developing nations of Africa, Asia, and Latin America) for short-term efforts. Long-term support of an actual internship for a year at places like the Souk in Morocco, the Donkey Sanctuary in one of its locations, and the UNAM (vet school at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico) projects in Mexico are potential recipients. Existing organizations (Heifer Project International, the Brooke Foundation, the Donkey Sanctuary, International League for the Protection of Horses, the World Society for the Protection of Animals, and Christian Veterinary Mission, etc.) would be encouraged to apply for similar positions of a short- or long-term basis.
  
• Training Specific projects could be identified that would support the training of practitioner level veterinarians from the Third World for either on-site or local projects. AAEP members would be paired with project participants. (In our experience, we have trained several Dominican veterinarians in basic surgical and medical skills they were not taught, allowing them to begin local practices).
  
• Logistics AAEP could facilitate the transfer of medications, supplies, and educational materials and personnel to the appropriate organizations and serve as a clearinghouse for their requests. The AAEP’s contacts with worldwide veterinary organizations would facilitate the exchange of ideas, resources, and personnel.
  
• Education The AAEP could award “scholarships” to worthy local practitioners on a case-by-case basis to attend educational meetings otherwise unattainable to them.

Application and Solicitation

The AAEP would be the logical resource to match practitioners and supplies with appropriate needs throughout the world. We would solicit organizations for their input. The following guidelines would help insure the quality of the requests.

• Sustainability The requests for support should come from an appropriate local or indigenous source. The local sources should both initiate the request and continue long-term involvement.
  
• Humanitarian Issues The appropriate use of working equines should be encouraged and supported. The training should support this and discourage inappropriate activities.
  
• Veterinary Training and Involvement Local veterinarians should be involved (if available) in all steps of the project. Training for interns should be provided by experienced, legitimate veterinarians (we are not the Peace Corps; our interns will need real training).

Take-Home Message

In summary, the AAEP is the logical resource for matching need with resources. It is vital for AAEP to be positioned as an organization that not only “talks the talk” as it does so well in education, but also “walks the walk” in actually providing front-line welfare care and services to equines worldwide. It would be a real source of credibility if we were seen to be out front on the actual care of suffering horses worldwide. The health of many families in the Third World depends directly on the health and strength of their animals. The support of the AAEP for young veterinarians starting their careers on an altruistic path will be a source of pride and strength for us all. The idea of “giving back” the gift of healing we all possess will resonate through our organization for generations to come.

Jay Merriam, DVM, is with the Massachusetts Equine Clinic in Uxbridge, Mass