Our work in West Africa covers Senegal, Burkina Faso. Some scoping work is underway in Niger and Ghana. All countries lie in the drought prone Sahel area with poor soil and erratic rainfall. A large proportion of the population depends on agriculture for its livelihood, and working equines are used heavily in this sector. Equines are also used in rural areas to transport water and people, and in cities to transport people, construction materials and general merchandise.
Many of these animals are affected by poor welfare, including poor body condition, fear and aggression, feet-related problems, ectoparasites and body lesions (linked with inadequate harnesses and beating).