Lesotho
We train and mentor government livestock extension staff in equine welfare and engage with owners of working equids through community clinics and workshops.
Why we work here?
The highlands of Lesotho can be a very isolated and unforgiving environment, and for many people living there, the only mode of transport is their equine. Subsistence farmers across the country rely heavily on them to earn a living herding livestock and carrying fodder, but access to services is low and despite the important role they play, equines are not valued as highly as other animals.
What we are doing?
We started working in Lesotho in 2007 training over 50 saddlers and 40 farriers. Since 2016, together with our partners the National University of Lesotho (NUL), we now work directly with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) to train and mentor livestock extension officers.
These officers in Maseru and Mafeteng districts directly support owners in taking care of their animals and can now include equine care and management in the support and advice they give. The extension officers help us to run equine welfare clinics and raise awareness on the value of equines.
We are providing refresher training to local farriers to upskill and improve their businesses and are also supporting Riders for Health in a project where horses play a vital role in remote communities accessing healthcare services.
Meet a team member
Peo Ntho joined our project in 2007 as a trainee farrier and soon became a Master farrier. His love for equines continued and a few years later he became the government’s Head of Equines within the livestock department.
When our community project started in 2016, Peo played a vital role in helping us to work with the extension officers and access hard to reach communities. He still supports the project and is working together with a regional farrier to deliver the farriery refresher training.
