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What happens when temperatures soar?

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temperatures

What happens when temperatures soar?

CHPA have always checked the weather conditions on a daily basis. 

When extreme weather conditions are expected, CHPA notify the cart horse owners via our WhatsApp group and verbally to all we have contact with.  However, there is no law that states they cannot go out or go out and work with their horses.  The majority do comply, but there are a few that unfortunately don’t.

temperatures

Inspector Lindt Os inspecting the load and condition of the horse on 18 January. Once all cleared, the driver was asked to please go back home, slowly.

temperatures

Another horse found on the road in the heat. They said they had to go out and work, slowly, as they needed to collect scrap for the day to feed the horse and their family. The majority of the cart horse community, live hand to mouth.

CHPA have to cover a large area where the cart horses work and we cannot be in all the areas at the same time. CHPA have been proactive and partnered, and even trained, some of the Neighborhood Watch Groups in the same areas, to also look out for horses working in the heat. They are a huge help to us, as we only have three vehicles patrolling in extreme weather conditions, 30 degrees and above!

temperatures

Rocket is very well looked after and has a great owner who always puts him first!

Folks, on 17 January, Rockets owner spent quite some time at the scrap yard, as there were alot of people waiting to sell scrap metal that day. Rockets owner asked a few shops on his way home if they could offer him some water for his horse. They were not so obliging! Rockets owner then came to CHPA in Epping and asked us for water. He wanted to make sure Rocket was hydrated for the trip back home. After Rocket drank two buckets of water, they started their slow trip home.

For the public to continuously slate the cart horse owners and our Inspectors, with no real evidence, proper knowledge of the cart horse industry and not really understanding our Mandate, is grossly unfair!  CHPA is a small organization, with limited funds and resources and are doing the best we can within our means, always putting the cart horse first!

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO HELP KEEP OUR INSPECTORS ON THE ROAD

Source: Cart Horse Protection Association 

Siya Takes on His First Marathon to Support Working Cart Horses on the Cape Flats!

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Siya Takes on His First Marathon to Support Working Cart Horses on the Cape Flats!

As you know, Siya is preparing to run his first Comrades in 2025 to raise funds for the hard-working cart horses he makes harnesses for.  On Sunday, 20 October, he is running his first marathon, the Cape Town Sanlam Marathon, to qualify for the Comrades. His START BATCH IS C AND HIS RACE NUMBER IS 2839.  If you see him on the road, please cheer this remarkable young man on.

Please go to Running Comrades Marathon 2025 in support of Cart Horses! (givengain.com) to help Siya reach his goal of R50 000 for the Cart Horses.

Source: Cart Horse

Siya, representing CHPA, completes his inaugural marathon in a record-breaking time!

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Siya

Siya, representing CHPA, completes his inaugural marathon in a record-breaking time!

If you are not following our social media, I’m thrilled to announce that Siya is now one step closer to participating in the 2025 Comrades Marathon, for which he has qualified. He aimed to complete his run in 3 hours and 16 minutes but surpassed his goal, finishing in 3 hours, 8 minutes, and 47 seconds!

You can still support this remarkable and inspiring young man in his efforts to care for the horses he tends to.  Next race, Two Oceans Marathon in April 2025.

Please go to Running Comrades Marathon 2025 in support of Cart Horses! (givengain.com) to help Siya reach his goal of R50 000 for the Cart Horses.

Source: Cart Horse Protection Association

Rescue in Action: Duane and Sergeant Julies Team Up to Save Overworked Cart Horse, Shakeer

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Rescue

Rescue in Action: Duane and Sergeant Julies Team Up to Save Overworked Cart Horse, Shakeer

On Saturday, 9 November, our call-out and patrol officer, Duane, got a call from Sergeant Julies. Having attended our APA information day, Sergeant Julies was equipped to recognize the signs of abuse. Upon Duane’s arrival, it was evident that Shakeer was under condition, the cart was overloaded, the front axle was broken in half, his harness was unacceptable and the load was poorly distributed.

Once we took off the harness, we found old harness wounds as well! Duane called Jolize who had the authority to confiscate Shakeer and took him to our Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre. Shakeer is a permanent confiscation and will never work in a cart again!

Just another reason why I love working at CHPA!

Rescue

Source: Cart Horse

CHPA – Equine Welfare in Action

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Equine

CHPA – Equine Welfare in Action

The Cart Horse Protection Association is a vital Equine Welfare organization dedicated to ensuring the overall well-being of working cart horses on the Cape Flats in Cape Town. For nearly three decades, we have relied on public donations to sustain our mission. Many wonder why cart horses are still seen on our roads, and the answer is simple: it is legal!

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This is what it is all about. A man and his horse trying to make a living for his family.

In the past, cart horses endured overloading, abuse, poor health conditions, lack of access to professional veterinary care, substandard stables, and widespread backyard shoeing practices. Shockingly, 80% of these horses were unfit for roadwork.  Donors have witnessed the remarkable transformation we’ve achieved. Today, we are proud to report an 80% compliance rate, but sadly, 20% remain non-compliant.

However, we don’t overlook non-compliance. We take action by confiscating and rehabilitating these horses at our Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre, ensuring they are mended back to mental and physical health. Our goal is to find them permanent homes where they will never have to endure cart work again.

Equine

Jan Vonk has made the Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre his permanent home and sends you all a thank you for wanting to help horses like him.

“By contributing your support, you can profoundly impact the lives of these animals. Join the Cart Horse Family and stand with us in our ongoing mission to safeguard these horses under the Animal Protection Act and continue to deliver exceptional services to ensure their well-being and contentment in their roles.”

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE WORK WE ARE DOING

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR SUPPORT. NO DONATION IS EVER TOO SMALL OR TOO BIG!

Source: CHPA

Blood Sweat and Neglect

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Neglect

Blood Sweat and Neglect

Sick. Wounded. Forced to Work.

Three horses. Three cases of cruelty in only three weeks – And cruelty for hire— is exposed as a grim reality for Cape Town’s working horses. These are their stories.

March 5th: Broken, Bleeding, and Still Forced to Work

Inspector Jeffrey Mfini spotted a pony in distress on Spine Road, Mitchells Plain. The pony’s fetlocks were bleeding from deep puncture wounds. Crude, ill-fitting tack dug into him and he was still doing his best, still trying even though every step brought him suffering.

Neglect

“We were his only chance,” says Inspector Mfini, “There was no way I was going to let him work in this state”.

With the help of the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement Animal Control Unit, the SPCA seized the pony. He is now safe, healing at the SPCA’s Horse Care Unit.

March 5th: A Risk with Every Step

Later that same day, Inspector Julian Van Der Zandt came across another pony struggling to pull a cart. She was shod on only one hoof—every step putting her at risk of injury.

Those driving her tried to flee. They failed.

Neglect

“This wasn’t a lack of education or understanding. They knew they were in the wrong,” says Van Der Zandt. “Why else would they attempt to flee?”.

Fortunately, we could count on Law Enforcement’s support and the SPCA took the pony into care. Another pony given a chance to rest, a reprieve from a life sentence of suffering while we fight for a permanent one.

March 17th: Crushed Under an Impossible Load

A dark bay mare, named Willamina, was dragging a scrap car on a cart (the 4th case we have encounted like this recently). The load alone weighed 880kg. The three men riding the cart added even more weight. She was physically buckling. Her body was failing, but they kept pushing. And she also kept trying, because what else could she do?

Neglect

Inspector Van Der Zandt intervened immediately, detaching her from the crushing weight. A seizure notice was issued. Willamina was transported to the SPCA’s Horse Care Unit. Her owner, Moestakiem Jacobs, and his two accomplices—one the owner, the others renters—were arrested under the Animals Protection Act No. 71 of 1962.

“She was failing under a weight she should never have carried. They didn’t care. We did.” – Inspector Julian Van Der Zandt

Rent for a Day. Used, Abused, Repeat.

These horses weren’t just neglected—they were exploited. Many working horses aren’t even owned by those driving them. They are rented for the day, in conditions of neglect, and then forced to pull loads beyond their strength. This is their life… Neglect, abuse and exploitation on repeat.

Change is Coming.

We have made recommendations to amend the City’s by-laws to better protect working horses. The draft is under review. It will not undo the suffering these horses have endured, but it can help prevent it from happening again.

Until then, we will keep seizing, rescuing, and arresting—until there are no more horses for hire.

A Thank You to Those Who Stand With Us

We extend our sincere gratitude to the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement: Animal Control Unit for their commitment to the animals of Cape Town and their support of the work of the SPCA. Our load is made easier by their service. We’re equally  thankful for every donor who supports the work of our Horse Care Unit.   Thank you for your donations that help us stop this exploitation and protect its victims.

Source: Cape of Good Hope SPCA 

CHPA always going the extra mile!

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CHPA

CHPA always going the extra mile!

When Sheriff, the owner of Whitey who is unregistered, first came to CHPA, he was eager to do the right thing. We stepped in, offering training, support, proper harnessing, and cart repairs to get him on the right track.

But last Wednesday, Sheriff returned after another welfare organisation said he must bring Whitey to us, this time with a heartbreaking situation. Whitey was skeletal, frail, and clearly starving!!

Thanks to your support, we were able to act immediately. Whitey was confiscated on the spot and taken to our Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre, where he is now safe, warm, and eating… and eating… and eating.

Your donations give us the power to act fast when horses like Whitey are in urgent need. Thank you for making his rescue possible.

CHPA

Zelda was found pulling an empty cart, not because she had finished her load, but because there was nothing to load. Her owner, a long-time and well-respected member of the carting community, had fallen on hard times. He was too proud to ask for help.

Zelda’s condition told us everything, we had no choice but to confiscate her. Her owner understood. He had always cared for his horses well, and we knew this was not neglect, but a crisis.

CHPA

Thanks to your generosity, not only is Zelda now receiving the care she desperately needs, but we are also helping her owner feed his remaining three horses until he can get back on his feet.

Sometimes, helping horses means helping the people behind them too. Your support allows us to be there when it matters most, for animals and their humans.

CHPA

Please click here to donate to help CHPA continue to be their voice.

Source: CHPA