SUCCESS STORIES

From Lameness to Livelihood: The Story of a Mule’s Recovery in Kedarnath

The Kedarnath temple, nestled high in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district, is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in India. To reach the shrine, lakhs of devotees undertake a 16 km steep and rocky trek from Gaurikund. The path is narrow, uneven, and extremely demanding, making horses and mules an essential part of the journey. These animals tirelessly carry pilgrims and their belongings across the treacherous terrain, ensuring that the holy yatra continues smoothly.

For Surendra Ramola, a resident of Chamoli district, his four equines were not only companions but also the sole source of income for his family. During one pilgrimage season, two of his animals developed severe lameness. They could hardly walk, making it impossible for them to carry pilgrims up the mountain. The situation left Surendra anxious; his family’s livelihood was at stake.

With hope in his heart, he brought the animals to Brooke India’s (BI’s) heath camp at Gaurikund. There, Brooke Senior Trainer Farrier (STF) Laxman Panwar carefully examined the mules. During the assessment, the team discovered that one mule had a sharp iron nail lodged deep in its front right hoof, causing immense pain and swelling. BI team immediately began treatment. The hoof was gently cleaned, and the embedded nail was carefully removed using specialised farriery tools.

Brooke's team gently removing the nail from the hoof of the equine's off fore (right front leg)

To ease the animal’s suffering, pain relief injections were administered. The team then disinfected and dressed the hoof wound to prevent infection and promote healing. Finally, Surendra was advised to allow the mule complete rest for at least three days, along with light supportive care, before returning it to work.
Thanks to this timely intervention, the mule recovered fully and was back to carrying pilgrims safely within days. Surendra, relieved and grateful, was able to continue the yatra season and earn around ₹90,000–1,00,000 an amount that meant stability and security for his family.

Empowering Women and Sustaining Livelihoods Through Traditional Bandhej Craft

In In Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh, equines and their families work as daily-wage labourers in the brick kilns (BKs). The animals pull heavy loads and transport sun-baked bricks in BKs, often leaving them exhausted, undernourished, and with limited access to veterinary care. When Brooke began its work in the region, it witnessed the challenging conditions at Shiva BK in the Devmai block.

The WEWG began saving ₹200 per member each month, creating a fund for inter-loaning. This fund helped with urgent needs such as cart repairs, animal care, or family expenses, promoting self-reliance.

During group meetings, the women shared their financial struggles and their desire to explore income-generating opportunities. BI suggested reviving Bandhej, a traditional fabric tying and dyeing craft that requires minimal investment. Salma, already skilled in Bandhej, agreed to train the group. With her guidance, the women gradually improved their techniques and gained confidence. The next challenge was accessing a market. BI connected them to shopkeepers in Bhuj and nearby trading hubs, who provided raw materials and purchased finished Bandhej products directly. Prices ranged from ₹500 to more than ₹1,000 per piece, offering a steady income and eliminating middlemen.

Salma Ben Sama, with the MashaAllah Ashwakalyan Sakhi Mandal, turning traditional skills into sustainable livelihoods.

Expanding their scope, the group ventured into tailoring and crafting saddlery items such as godhri. With BI's support, they accessed the Manav Garima Yojna and received two sewing machines. Through the National Rural Livelihood Mission, they secured a revolving fund of ₹10,000 and community credit loans of ₹100,000 and ₹200,000. The women also benefited from government schemes such as the Atal Pension Yojana, E-Shram card, and Ayushman Bharat. Today, Salma and the group are not only supporting their families and improving equine care, but also preserving traditional crafts. These women are building a stronger, self-reliant, and sustainable future.

Health Camp Brings Hope and Healing to Brick-Kiln Equines in Fatehpur

In In Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh, equines and their families work as daily-wage labourers in the BKs. The animals pull heavy loads and transport sun-baked bricks in BKs, often leaving them exhausted, undernourished, and with limited access to veterinary care.
When Brooke began its work in the region, it witnessed the challenging conditions at Shiva BK in the Devmai block. Field Assistant (FA) Nand Kishor, during a routine visit, found equine-owning families deeply troubled by the distressing condition of their animals. For these families, losing an equine meant losing their livelihood.

Sensing the urgency, Nand Kishor reached out to the Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) and BK managers to organise a joint health camp for the equines. Within days, a camp was set up at Shiva BK with the support of the Government Veterinary Officer (GVO), Brooke-trained community resource persons, and a Local Street Farrier (LSF).

Starting early, the team examined all twenty-nine equines, dewormed them, and administered tetanus shots. They also trimmed hooves, treated wounds, and provided mineral mixtures — care that many of these animals were receiving for the first time.

Equine owners attending the health camp, organised by BI in partnership with AHD.

Alongside treatment, the GVO and BI team guided the community on recognising early signs of illness and emphasised the importance of clean water and a balanced diet for their animals. They also highlighted the need for soft saddle cloths to prevent galls. Through the camp, the equine owners learned the importance of preventive care. Within weeks, the equines regained strength, and work at the BK resumed with renewed hope and a deeper understanding of compassionate animal care.

Hoof Care, Hope, and Hard Work: The Making of

Farrier Imtiaz Alam

Rohtas, situated on Bihar’s Kaimur plateau, is known for its rich history and thriving small-scale industries. The BK sector is considerably dependent on daily-wage workers and the equines that transport sun-baked bricks to the furnace and carry baked bricks for storage and distribution.
Despite their vital role, the overgrown hooves of the equines were often neglected. With limited understanding of hoof care, many equine owners assumed that hooves would break on their own. Harmful practices were common, and some owners even attempted to trim the hooves without proper skills, often resulting in uneven cuts, lameness, and pain.

As farriers rarely visited this remote village, when the BI team arrived and saw the condition of the equines, they began guiding the community on proper hoof care. Motivated by these sessions, equine owner Imtiaz Alam volunteered to learn farriery. He received basic training from FA Rajendra Kumar and hands-on instruction in trimming, tool handling, and hoof balancing from STF Pradeep Kumar.
After being assessed through the Farrier Mentoring Framework developed by Brooke, Imtiaz was certified as an LSF. He later invested ₹2,100 from his savings to purchase basic farriery tools. He soon became the preferred farrier in the locality and began spreading awareness about animal welfare and hoof care.

Imtiaz Alam performing farriery on an equine under the guidance of Brooke STF Pradeep Kumar.

In addition to earning through trimming and farriery, Imtiaz now mentors younger equine owners to learn farriery. From a concerned owner to a skilled farrier, his journey reflects resilience and determination. Soon, Imtiaz will be attending an advanced farriery training course at the Flying Anvil Foundation India in Dundlod, Rajasthan, further polishing his skills and improving the lives of working equines in his region.

Brooke Hospital for Animals (India)

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