Coastal Horse Care Unit

16/06/2026

16/06/2026

*graphic image (wounds)*

The "AFTER"

Wounds have been thoroughly cleaned and pain meds / antibiotics administered...

Hopefully our "Boston Boy" will get a good night's rest tonight 🥹

16/06/2026

*graphic content*

Rescue of "Boston Boy"

Just showing the severity of the wound.

He is going to receive pain meds and our vet and team are trying their best at this stage to clean the wound thoroughly.

16/06/2026

* graphic content (wound) *

Boston Rescue 🛟

Thank you to the farmers and community members in Boston / Bulwer are for reporting this poor horse that's been hit by a car.

Our first priority is pain management and wound care.

14/06/2026

The roads that lead us here are rough. But every pothole, every dirt track, every kilometre of dust is worth it.
Today marked the final day of our rural outreach clinic and what a journey it has been. Over the course of this initiative, we assessed approximately 300 horses in communities where help doesn't just drive up to your door.
But today, one moment stopped us in our tracks.
A father. His 8 year old daughter. And their horses well-fed, groomed, watered, and clearly loved.
This little girl, barely tall enough to reach the back of a horse without help, rides like she was born in it. She checks their water without being asked, and takes pride in their coats like they're her responsibility because to her, they are. At 8 years old, she already understands something many adults never learn, that an animal's wellbeing is a privilege to protect.
Her father watched our team work, and when it was done, he couldn't hold it together. His gratitude wasn't just words, it was years of appreciation pouring out of a man who has seen CHCU show up, year after year, on roads most people wouldn't attempt.
That moment is why we do this.
That little girl is why we keep going.
To every rural horse owner who welcomed us, trusted us, and cares for their animals with the resources they have, we honour you.
And to this father and daughter duo, you reminded us today that horse welfare isn't only found in stables with fancy fittings. Sometimes, it lives in the quiet dedication of a child who makes sure her horses never go thirsty.
Thank you for having us. Until next time.

09/06/2026

A Difficult Day in the Field
Not every call comes in with sirens and urgency, sometimes it's just an owner who noticed something off and trusted that instinct enough to pick up the phone. That was the case today, when a stallion owner reached out after observing significant swelling of the prepuce and sc***um, accompanied by a whitish discharge. He didn't wait to see if it would resolve on its own. He made the call.
On arrival, the swelling was found to be severe. The stallion was in considerable pain, and our veterinarian moved quickly to administer pain relief and sedation to allow for a thorough examination and sheath cleaning. The immediate priority was the horse's comfort, and with that established, the examination could begin in earnest.
What followed was not what anyone had hoped to find. Deep within the p***s lay a severe penetrating wound, the source of everything. The damage to the urethra was extensive and, after careful assessment, it was clear that treatment was not a viable option. With the horse's welfare as the only consideration that mattered, the decision was made to humanely euthanise him and bring his suffering to an end.
These calls are never easy. They don't get easier with time either, nor should they.
But what they do offer, sometimes, is a reminder of what responsible ownership looks like. This owner noticed. He acted. And when faced with the hardest decision a horse person can make, he put his animal's wellbeing above everything else. That's not a small thing.
To him, thank you. Your horsemanship, your attentiveness, and your courage in that moment are exactly what every horse deserves from the person responsible for them.

04/06/2026

This past weekend, our rural team hit the road for the Dumbe Zululand Outreach, travelling thousands of kilometres into some of the most remote and secluded communities to reach horse owners who desperately need and value veterinary care and assistance from CHCU.

While we saw 77 horses this time, every kilometre travelled mattered.

Because our outreach is about more than numbers. It’s about building trust, creating access, and growing a network of horse owners who now know that help is available when they need it most.

Each visit strengthens these communities, expands welfare awareness, and ensures that even in the most rural and remote areas, no horse owner has to feel forgotten.

One horse, one owner, one community at a time... this is how real change happens. 🐴