Real Life Abandoned 'War Horses' served by The Brooke
Charity gets increased attention generated by Play and Movie

With the impending release of Steven Spielberg's film adaptation following the success of the play based on Michael Morpurgo's WWI novel, War Horse, attention once again turns to the fate of the massive number of British horses that had been conscripted for the war effort.

The Brooke Trust, which was started 1930, was a project undertaken by Dorothy Brooke, wife of a brigadier posted to Cairo.  She was deeply moved by the sad fate of so many of the horses brought to Egypt during the war, then sold at its close.  She began raising funds to buy back as many of the animals as possible, then established the Brooke Hospital for Animals and the 'Old War Memorial Hospital' in Cairo in 1934.

Old Bill, one of the first horses rescued by Dorothy Brooke © The Brooke

Now, the Brooke works around the world to improve the lives of horses, donkeys, and mules offering veterinary care and education to the owners who depend on those animals for their livelihood.

The Brooke was instrumental in setting up an exhibition at the National Army Museum, War Horse:  Fact & Fiction, in part as a response to the interest aroused by the play, War Horse.  Petra Ingram, Chief Executive of the Brooke, said: 

“With the huge success of the book and stage play War Horse, and the impending release of the film, it’s timely to remember the thousands of horses, donkeys and mules who served gallantly in times of conflict.  We are delighted to be involved in this historic project.” 

The exhibit will run through August, 2012 at the National Army Museum, London.

For more information check www.nam.ac.uk/

For more information on the Brooke, and to make donations, check www.thebrooke.org.

Barnmice News is brought to you by EnglishHabit.com, a great place to shop
for all your English riding needs.