Guatemala

Guatemala is a mostly mountainous county in Central America. More than half of it's 13.5 million people live in extreme poverty.

This poverty is particularly widespread in the rural and indigenous communities, and in these regions working horses are relied upon for agricultural and transport purposes. Working hard to transport crops through dense forests, these horses often have high physical demands placed upon them.

In 2006, we initiated a training programme in Guatemala, and to date four courses have been successfully completed in Jalapa, training more than 40 local farriers and 40 local saddlers.

To ensure that we are reaching working horses across the breadth of the country, our training teams have now relocated to Chimaltenango, a town located 35 miles west of Guatemala City. Currently we are on the second course in this location having successfully completed the first late last year.

Our nutrition programme has become well established throughout the Jalapa region. With numerous plantations of Swazi grass, forage sorghum, morera and alfalfa, local farmers have shown considerable interest and commitment, and their working horses have directly benefited from the programme.