The story of Roman, a young foal born under tragic circumstances, serves as a testament to the resilience of life and the unwavering dedication of the Cart Horse Protection Association (CHPA).
Roman’s journey began with heartbreak. Born to Cindy, a cart horse owned by long-time owner Colin Jacobs, Roman’s early days were filled with promise. However, tragedy struck when Cindy suffered from severe colic and tragically passed away.
“The immediate concern was that the foal could not fend for itself,” recalled Karin Paschen, a staff member at the CHPA. “He needed to be fed around the clock, and Mr Jacobs trusted us to take him to the Recovery and Rehabilitation (R&R) located in Gordon’s Bay and give him a fighting chance.”
The CHPA team, drawing from their experience with a previous orphan foal named Grace, knew the road ahead would be challenging. “We successfully raised Grace,” Paschen explained. “Under the guidance of Dr Lauren we knew what to do. We also had a horse named ‘Amazing’ at the R&R, a mare rescued from abuse who had given birth to Roxy at the centre. Amazing was still producing milk, but not enough for Roman, so he required 24/7 care and bottle feeding.”
A turning point arrived when Roman and Amazing were introduced. “When they put Roman and Amazing together,” Paschen recalled, “Roman knew exactly what to do, and Amazing did not reject him at all. She just stood there as if it was her own foal suckling. It was a phenomenal moment to witness. Animals are truly incredible. It was also a moment that Roman would be taken under Amazing’s wing, one of her own!”
Despite this initial success, Roman faced further health challenges. “We found Roman very disoriented,” said Paschen, “and did not waste a minute rushing him to the Blue Cross Vet, who was waiting to receive him. They suspect he was perhaps kicked by accident. When he left he was given a clean bill of health.”
Jacobs, a long-time cart horse owner, made a significant decision: he signed Roman over to the CHPA. “Mr Jacobs has been a cart owner for many years and loves his horses,” Paschen pointed out. “Cindy was his last mare, and he wanted to also preserve her legacy in Roman. Handing a foal over is very rare on the Cape Flats! Roman will never experience what it is like to work in a cart on our busy roads. Once grown up, Roman will be adopted out and will never have to work for his food and upkeep.”
Roman’s story underscores the crucial work of the CHPA. “CHPA is there 24/7, 365 days a year for the cart horses,” Paschen said. “We have the expertise to look after Roman and had the funds to pay for his Equilac, which was R2 800 for a mere 15 kg. We were also able to rush Cindy to Blue Cross when she was severely ill and further prevent a painful death by humanely euthanizing her.”
“There is a huge need for equine welfare all over South Africa as well as on the Cape Flats,” said Paschen. “There is a minority who abuse, neglect, overload and stable the cart horses in bad conditions. We will step in to assist with feed, offer a set of shoes for a mere R100, offer free vet care, deworming, education and have the R&R in Gordon’s Bay as a place of safety for those horses who need it.”
. To learn more about the Cart Horse Protection Association, visit its Facebook page.
