Brooke USA Foundation (Brooke USA) recently announced a donation of $10,000 to the United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) Ukraine Relief Fund which supports equestrians and their horses who either remain in that nation or who have been displaced due to the war.
“Our supporters always come together in times of crisis and adversity, and the war in the Ukraine is no different. It is thanks to their generosity that Brooke USA has been able to issue the first of what we hope will be many donations to aid those who are suffering – human and animal,” said Katherine Kaneb, Chair of the Board of Directors of Brooke USA.
USEF President Tom O’Mara noted that “the acts of war in the Ukraine require all of us to join in supporting human and horse welfare in the areas impacted however we can. We are ever so grateful to Brooke USA for rising to the occasion and supporting us as funds are forwarded to the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation (UEFCF; registered in Belgium).”
There are more than 100,000 horses in Ukraine, many of which are caught up in the war, with no possibility to flee and seek safety nor access to shelter or veterinary care. Horse owners, riding schools, athletes, breeders, and riders are suffering under desperate conditions without any means to save their horses. By donating to Brooke USA at www.brookeusa.org/ukraine, donors can provide the Ukrainian equestrian community with a way to help themselves and their beloved equine companions – whether providing feed, bedding, shelter, veterinary care, and medications.
“The lack of a steady supply of hay is becoming especially desperate for horses and owners, as many of the fields are riddled with landmines and cannot be harvested,” explained Brooke USA CEO Emily Dulin. “Unfortunately, the Ukraine Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation (UEFCF) recently declared a decrease in donations attributed to the global economic crisis spurring humanitarian emergencies and personal financial crunches,” added Dulin.
According to Horse Talk, “the average cost to get a truckload of feed transported to Ukraine and distributed is around $1500. As of June 1, close to 900 tons of feed and shavings were delivered to 162 stables and clubs in Ukraine, including the occupied areas.
Horse enthusiasts around the country are encouraged to continue to donate to Brooke USA to help meet current equine needs, including providing feed for 300 stables, organizing distribution and logistics, and covering the costs of running shelter stables and evacuations. The UEFCF reports that to satisfy the demand for aid, 225 tons of feed, $20,000 for logistics and distribution and $8,000 for sheltering and evacuation are needed on a weekly basis.
By donating to Brooke USA, you will provide the Ukrainian equestrian community with hope for a better future while saving the lives of Ukrainians, their horses, and their loved ones. Visit www.BrookeUSA.org/ukraine to make your contribution today.
About Brooke USA Foundation (Brooke USA): The mission of Brooke USA is to significantly improve the health, welfare and productivity of working horses, donkeys and mules and the people who depend on them for survival worldwide. We are committed to sustainable economic development by reducing poverty, increasing food security, ensuring access to water, providing a means to education, and raising basic standards of living through improved equine health and welfare. We accomplish this by raising funds and responsibly directing them to the areas of greatest need.
Brooke USA strives to alleviate the suffering and vulnerability of developing communities by funding and implementing programs that improve the quality of life and health of working equines and thereby positively impacting their economic sustainability, protecting the planet, ensuring gender equality, and guaranteeing life on land resilience. We want to see healthy, happy people and equines that work in partnership to achieve sustainable local economies.
A progress report of the organization’s four months of operations from March to June includes:
- production of humanitarian aid compound food was started in Ukraine
- aid has reached 133 stables and clubs with 1,712 horses in five regions
- to date, 1200 tonnes of hay, haylage, feed and shavings has been received and 1,000 tonnes distributed.
- production has started on long-term shelters with 80 boxes donated by the FEI
- a fundraising initiative called Ride For Ukraine is asking show organizers, federations, businesses and the media to get involved.
- DISTRIBUTION OF FEED • TRANSPORT OF HORSES • OPERATING EVACUATION STABLES • SOURCING OF FEED IN UKRAINE
For more information, contact:
Emily Dulin
305-505-6170
Emily.Dulin@BrookeUSA.org
Kendall Bierer
561-309-9873
Kendall.Bierer@BrookeUSA.org