A well-fitting harness can make a real difference to the health and comfort of working animals like Rihab. Alongside providing veterinary treatment, our teams support owners with the skills and equipment they need to care for their animals and prevent injuries.
Seven-year-old Rihab works hard transporting stone and other materials around a construction site to the town of Boghé in southern Mauritania. This difficult role involves Rihab working long hours in a harsh dusty environment, often in high temperatures. This horse’s work enables his owner, Cheikh, to earn essential income to support his wife and their six children.
Cheikh became concerned when he noticed wounds on Rihab’s back and that he appeared to be in pain while working. Having learned about our work several years ago, Cheikh knew he could turn to our team for help, so he brought Rihab to the centre.
Our vets carefully examined Rihab and found that he had multiple open harness wounds on his back and abscesses on his limbs, caused by a poor fitting harness rubbing against his skin. They cleaned and disinfected the wounds to remove dirt and dust picked up from the construction site. They then gave Rihab antibiotics to treat the infected abscesses and help prevent the infection from spreading. He was also given an anti-inflammatory to reduce pain and swelling and improve his comfort during recovery.
Cheikh was advised to rest his horse for several days and keep his wounds clean and dry. He was also given advice on improving Rihab’s diet, as he was underweight. A follow-up appointment was scheduled to monitor Rihab’s recovery. During this session, Cheikh was shown how simple changes to harnesses, such as adding soft harness padding over bony areas, smoothing rough edges, and adjusting straps so they do not rub, can prevent further injury when Rihab returns to work.
Cheikh said: “I thank the centre for the necessary care it provides free of charge. My family depends on this work to live and I do not know what we would have done if this centre did not exist in Boghé.”
For working horses, donkeys and mules, a comfortable harness can make all the difference and allows them to work without pain.
Thanks to your ongoing support, our teams can be there for working animals when they need veterinary care, while also working alongside owners to help prevent future injuries. Many owners have little choice but to use whatever harness they can access. Without proper equipment or guidance, these makeshift solutions cause daily, preventable pain. Left untreated, sores can become deeply infected and because working animals can’t communicate what hurts, the damage is often severe before anyone notices. Through practical harnessing advice, soft padding made from locally available materials and community training sessions, owners can build the skills they need to keep their animals comfortable and protect their welfare for years to come.
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