Horse world urged to “Ride for Ukraine”

A specially designed compound feed for horses in war-torn Ukraine has been launched, with the first deliveries under way this month from the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation.

The foundation has also recently launched a new campaign, Ride For Ukraine. It is seeking partners to unite the equestrian sports community at all levels to help Ukrainian equestrians and assist with long-term relief and development.

It is encouraging show organisers and federations to promote the campaign with the likes of special competition classes, and commercial partners to include special merchandise to support the campaign.

The foundation has reported on its first three months of operation, noting that some 1000 tonnes of feed and shavings had been donated, with 800 tonnes distributed or on the way to more than 3500 horses in 162 stables in areas including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa, Sumy, Chernygiv, Lviv, and Mykolaiv.

Logistics continue to be the single biggest cost to the foundation, accounting for 42% of its expenses. Feed including hay and haylage is 26%, and horse evacuation 18%.

Some 300 horses were moved internally from war zones to safer areas in Ukraine, and the stables in Lviv and Rivne looked after 280 horses.

The Rivne stable, established as a long-term free shelter for evacuated horses is currently home to 38 horses. Work is under way on additional long-term shelter stables with 80 boxes, with the assistance of the FEI.

Donations to the value of about €10,000 have been coming in each week, the foundation said, but it had open requests for aid from 300 stables. In terms of weekly requirements for 200 tonnes of feed and shavings, it needed €20,000 to organise distribution and €8000 to assist with relocations and running shelter stables.

There was still also a need for portable diagnostics equipment and mobile veterinary clinics.