CHAI's Rescued Horses: Kahal

Kahal, once a very beautiful horse, found himself alone and abandoned. He had not had anything to eat in a very long time and his injured legs and feet could barely take another step. His ankles were scarred from where they had been tied together to prevent him from running away. Unshackled now, he was free, but the mostly desert area where he had been left offered little to eat and no water. The pain in his injured eyes burned. It seemed all hope was gone.

But out of nowhere, a gentle, young woman whose long, shiny black hair matched his tail, appeared and slowly began to approach him, speaking softly as she moved toward him. Every ounce of his energy spent, he did not resist when she ever so slowly led him away with her. The young woman, named Michal, called the horse Kahal, "Blue" in Hebrew, because his eyes had turned that color from their injuries.

Michal began to do what she could to nurse Kahal back to health, and she called Hakol Chai for help. Michal told us she lived in the center of Israel, near the Bedouins, a mostly very poor, uneducated, nomadic people who race horses and keep sheep to earn a living. She had often found the bodies of dead horses they had abandoned. They will spend money on a horse before they will spend it on children, education, or health care, she told us. They claim to love their horses and say they are upset that their horses are dying, but they don't know why it is happening or what to do. Mistrustful of veterinarians, the Bedouins simply abandon their horses.

Hakol Chai helped Michal with Kahal's veterinary bills and began to map out a plan to change things for the better. On Hakol Chai's behalf, Michal approached the Bedouins, asking if they would allow us to send someone to help them learn how to care for their horses properly. Happily, they were eager and enthusiastic about the idea. We sent Rivka, an equine expert who has worked with Olympic horse teams and as a horse chiropractor, to begin the process. Rivka first visited the largest of the 25 tribes in the area and, according to Michal, performed miracles. 

With her respectful attitude, extensive knowledge about horses, and practical solutions to their problems, Rivka quickly gained their confidence. Soon, the Bedouins were learning why their horses were dying and what they could do to keep them alive and healthy. They even agreed to allow Hakol Chai to permanently remove two horses for treatment, one of which was suffering from a painful congenital deformity and another of which was starving to death because his guardian was unable to take proper care of him. Future visits to this and the other tribes are planned, with the full cooperation and appreciation of the Bedouins.

After lots of love and care, Kahal has gained a great deal of weight, can now walk, and it is likely that he will soon regain full sight in one eye. He was lucky to find hope where there was none. But many more animals are waiting. We are doing all we can to reach them in time, but we need your help!

Our educational programs for adults and children are vital and are clearly making a difference. Rescuing individual horses is essential, but by educating people, we are attacking the root of the problem and preventing future abuse and abandonment. Such important, innovative efforts must not be jeopardized by lack of funds. Please consider contributing to bring about positive change for animals