Love ko, kabayo ko

MANILA, Philippines –  Animal welfare advocates had an early Chinese New Year gift for the Binondo caritela horses this year.

On Jan. 31, the Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), Compassion and Responsibility for Animals (CARA) and Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) visited Binondo to conduct a horse clinic outreach project in the area.

The animal advocates found that the horses in Binondo were in worse conditions than the Intramuros horses — perhaps because this was a business district and the horses were used more for transporting heavier loads, as compared to the Intramuros horses, which were used mostly to tourists only.

Routine blood-drawing, deworming and giving of vitamins were done on the horses. There were cases of thrush (infection of the foot and leg area), malnourishment, ill-fitting bites (that piece of metal placed in the horses’ mouths), and ill-fitting bridles and harnesses that had to be addressed on the spot.

All for the horses: Dr. Rolando Arciago, Manila Councilor Ryan Ty, AKF’s Luis Buenaflor, Greg Quimpo (seated) and AKF’s Charles Wartenberg

A particularly distressful sight was that of a horse named Buraot, who had heavy chains as his bridle. “These chains must be sizzling hot in the summers and extremely heavy for the horse, “ said AKF’s Charles Wartenberg, who immediately took Buraot and his cochero to the bridle-maker to have the horse fitted with a much more comfortable leather bridle.

The cocheros were given a lecture and some important reminders about proper care for the horses and about giving them enough time to rest, and to never overload their caritelas.

Buraot was immediately fitted for a new bridle.

Out of the 39 registered calesas in Binondo, 37 horses were treated and checked by AKF vets led by Dr. Roland Arciaga. PAWS and CARA volunteers prepared the educational materials and assisted the vets.

The almost 100 percent attendance (one horse was ill and the cochero requested for a special visit, while another horse was probably the one that met an accident last Sept. 2010 and was shot) of the Binondo caritela horses was due to the hardwork of the Manila councilors led by Councilor Ryan Ty.

Councilor Ty says they would like to do more projects with animal welfare groups so that the horses and the cocheros will have some form of free assistance and so that the working animals will get treated better.

AKF-CARA-PAWS “Love Ko, Kabayo Ko” mobile horse clinic will do follow-up visits in Intramuros and Binondo within the next few months.