Nicaragua

Why we work here?

Working horses are used throughout Nicaragua to provide a livelihood to horse owners and their families, and play a central and vital role to the country’s poorest communities. 

Horses are used to collect and transport recyclable materials and rubbish, transport fruit, vegetables and other goods, and in agriculture. They also provide transport enabling families to go to market, children to get to school and family members to get to health clinics and hospitals. 

Without their horse many families would be unable to make a living and in Nicaragua it is evident how heavily whole communities rely on their working horse for their livelihood.

What we are doing?

World Horse Welfare has been working within Nicaragua since 2011. In 2020 a partnership between World Horse Welfare and Colaboradores en Desarrollo Comunitario en Nicaragua SA was formed. Colaboradores en Desarrollo Comunitario en Nicaragua SA has been able to collaborate with the Universad de Ciencias Comerciales to create a sustainable equine clinic in Managua and create a community support network for working equid owners in Leon.

Community Based Equine Advisers have been trained within 6 communities within Leon, allowing horse owners to receive regular and on-going training on many aspects of horse care, health and husbandry. Training has been provided to local farriers and saddlers within each community to strengthen their existing skills and increase their technical knowledge.

Meet a team member

Gabriela Marina Salgado Mercado, is a medical vet and is the local Coordinator of the equine welfare programme in Nicaragua. She has participated with the programme since 2014 and lives in Leon where the current programme is located. Gabriela educates and gives advice to equid owners in equine husbandry like; handling, equine care and general health.