Egypt Equine Aid: ‘The Reality For Working Animals in Egypt

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions of graphic injuries and animal suffering that some listeners may find upsetting. This week on Shut Up and Ride, we’re joined by the wonderful Jill Barton, founder of Egypt Equine Aid, for an episode that, quite frankly, left us a little bit speechless. Jill takes us behind the tourist photos and postcard views of the pyramids to talk about the reality facing many of the horses, donkeys, camels and working animals in Egypt — the injuries they see, the conditions these animals can endure, and the incredible work Egypt Equine Aid is doing to treat them, educate owners and try to create lasting change. There are moments in this conversation that are really difficult to hear. Ben spends a fair amount of the episode with his jaw somewhere near the floor, and there were times when none of us really knew what to say. But this is exactly why we wanted to make this episode. Horse welfare has always mattered enormously to us at Shut Up and Ride, and sometimes that means having conversations that aren't comfortable. More importantly, it means asking what we can actually do to help. So this episode is also a huge shout-out to you, our listeners. Please listen, share it, talk about it and, if you can, support the extraordinary work Jill and the team at Egypt Equine Aid are doing. Even a small contribution from this brilliant community could make a genuine difference. It’s not our easiest episode. But it might be one of our most important.  Improtant info info@egyptequineaid https://egyptequineaid.org/ https://www.facebook.com/eea.egypt https://www.tiktok.com/@egyptequineaid https://www.linkedin.com/company/egypt-equine-aid CONTACT US : shutupandridepodcast@gmail.com FOLLOW US : Instagram This Podcast is sponsored by Charles Owen - https://www.charlesowen.com/  https://www.streamz-global.com/   Discount Code SHUTUP10 SHUT UP AND RIDE Chapters (00:00:00) - Content warning and introduction(00:00:46) - Meet Jill Barton and Egypt Equine Aid(00:03:56) - How the charity was founded and grew(00:07:13) - Training vets and pushback from the community(00:15:10) - Traditional harmful treatments and ignorance(00:20:55) - Working horses vs tourist horses(00:24:30) - Tourist industry, tour companies and exploitation(00:29:38) - Common injuries and diseases seen(00:32:33) - Rabies cases and the horror of the disease(00:36:53) - The no-buy policy and preventing exploitation(00:39:52) - Emotional toll and standing up to owners(00:43:08) - Success stories and rescued horses(00:45:54) - Laminitis and feeding practices(00:47:15) - Comparing elite sport horses to working horses(00:50:39) - Whipping abuse and cruelty at the pyramids(00:53:42) - Longines Global Champions Tour coming to Cairo(00:59:21) - Cycle of abuse around the pyramids(01:01:14) - How listeners can help and donate(01:06:02) - Equestrian bands and Matt shoutout(01:07:17) - Final thoughts on ethical tourism and animals(01:11:43) - Call for volunteer vets, farriers and dentists(01:12:53) - Closing remarks and thanks