2018’s equine expedition was held at Langdoring Farm, close to Stonehenge (home of our beloved Tankwa Town). On their way up to the Tankwa, Megan White, Ashley Deelman and Diana Truter of Cart Horse Protection Association took a side trip to Ou Poort – a farm 65kms outside of Sutherland to check on a lame donkey. The team diagnosed and treated the lame stallion, checked over three other donkeys on the farm, then hit the road via Middelpos and the epic Gannaga Pass to meet the AfrikaBurn Outreach team.

For the community donkey day, the CHPA team based themselves in an old sheep kraal at Langdoring where they attended to 15 horses and donkeys – treating wounds, checking teeth and hooves. Diana and Megan observed the animals and rated their behaviour, body condition, parasites, wounds and lameness. Ashley fixed and replaced harnessing and looked over the carts, demonstrated and taught basic harness making and tool use, whilst the Outreach team prepared lunch for the karretjiemense.

Over at the neighbouring farm, Ompad, our Department of Public Works set to work on their own outreach project – building a workshop space with Seun and Hannes Swarts at Hannes’ home. The workshop will serve for bike and donkey cart repairs when complete.

The final mission of the trip, was to Brakfontein farm, to see a horse with an eye injury, Diana identified a sarcoid that would need surgery.

In all, 22 horses and donkeys were seen, with an average score of 3.6/5.

Outreach thanks: CHPA; DPW; Jimmy James, the host of the humans Diaan Nel; and the host for the equines on the community day Danie Deyzel.