Badly Injured And Wounded, Matheran Horse Finds Love And...A Home
The latest of a lot of 30-odd horses and ponies, over the last decade, to get a second chance at life is battered Rolo ‘donated’ by a Matheran Horse-Owner to a shelter in Karjat, writes Manu Shrivastava
A young horse, battered with bodily injuries and scrapes from violent falls stood gingerly at a corner in a shelter at Karjat eating beetroots, cucumbers, carrots and hay without a break, for hours on end.The staff of the shelter gathered around him and watched with concern. “He should survive,” said Roxanne Davur, founder of Probably Paradise, the shelter known to house sick and abandoned animals. ‘Rolo’, as the ten-year-old chose for himself, has found the love, he never got all his life, and a home to boot at the shelter.
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| STARVED: 'Rolo' hasn't stopped eating since he arrived like he has been starved for months on end |
Dumped, albeit ceremoniously, at Roxanne’s shelter on the evening of 26 May 2023, Rolo’s owner left immediately after offloading the horse and, dumping with it, the last speck of responsibility he had towards the animal that fetched him a good ten years of ‘profitable business’ as usual.
Maggots In Hooves, Scrapes On Sides
When ‘Rolo’ arrived with injured front legs, maggots crawled out of wounds in his front hooves, a knee was damaged and his back strained, huge scrapes were visible on one side of the body, probably sustained during a fall and was extremely malnourished.
“He must probably have been kept in a wet and dirty area, in Matheran, as most of his sort, which is what caused the infected hooves and must have slipped and endured a nasty fall on a ride that left his back damaged.”
When ‘Rolo’ arrived at Probably Paradise, he was in a lot of pain. The staff at the shelter did whatever was necessary, as part of protocol. They delivered him antibiotics through an intravenous route even other medicines necessary for treatment. With ‘Rolo’ eating, it was a good sign.
When ‘Rolo’ arrived with injured front legs, maggots crawled out of wounds in his front hooves, a knee was damaged and his back strained, huge scrapes were visible on one side of the body, probably sustained during a fall and was extremely malnourished.
“He must probably have been kept in a wet and dirty area, in Matheran, as most of his sort, which is what caused the infected hooves and must have slipped and endured a nasty fall on a ride that left his back damaged.”
When ‘Rolo’ arrived at Probably Paradise, he was in a lot of pain. The staff at the shelter did whatever was necessary, as part of protocol. They delivered him antibiotics through an intravenous route even other medicines necessary for treatment. With ‘Rolo’ eating, it was a good sign.
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| 'Rolo' came in with several injuries and scrape wounds |
Over the last decade, Roxanne has taken in more than 30 horses and ponies from Matheran with almost all being in “horrible conditions, malnourished and badly injured.”
One of the most popular hill stations in Maharashtra, Matheran is known for a quiet charm, characteristic red soil, British-era cottages and the ‘flamboyant’ horses that were featured in several Indian films.
While Asia’s only non-motorable hill station gets all the attention for the myriad environmental issues affecting the eco-sensitive zone, what remains conspicuously and conveniently ignored is the dire state of the hundreds of horses and ponies that physically transport humans and tonnes of luggage, burly sacks of raw material for commercial establishments even heavy gas-cylinders up the hills along slippery pathways of Matheran.
Those who outlive their utility, fall and sustain injuries or are even abandoned, find their way to the shelter at Karjat where they are treated for their ailments, cared for and fed.
Some recover and continue to live on the farm till they die. Others succumb to injuries and malnourishment within a few days itself.
Injured Horses, Ponies Left To Die
“It all depends on the level of injuries and the animal’s will to live. ‘Rolo’ is a survivor, I feel,” says Roxanne.
The gentle and friendly horse has been eating like he hasn’t been fed for months together. “It’s heart-rending to watch his state,” she says.
Horses cannot have long intervals of staying hungry. So, in Rolo’s case, to get him back to normalcy, they will have to ensure they give him something that takes time to chew to “make him eat slowly.”
Just last year, another seriously injured Matheran rescue was left stranded at Neral Road. ‘Pirate’ as he came to be known, was rescued after a kind passer-by called the shelter.
When brought in, ‘Pirate’ was found to have a badly damaged eye, injuries on his legs and a gaping hole in the abdomen.
The five-year old, blind in one eye, has recovered well from his ailments and now lives happily at the shelter.
“Most horse and pony-owners in Matheran unwilling to care for the animal, simply leave their animal on the road near Neral or Karjat hoping a vehicle will hit and kill them,” says Roxanne.
Fed well and cared for horses live up to 30 years old, even 40 sometimes. In Matheran, however, horses die very early due to malnourishment and injuries sustained in the course of work.
Apart from horses, several ponies from Matheran too end up at Roxanne’s shelter.
The ponies come in with the worst of facial and leg injuries and a given considering the risk-laden treks they undertake, as a rule, for their masters. Their owners have ensured that, despite the law, they do not live with dignity.
“Yet, it’s important that these animals die with dignity,” says Roxanne. And she makes sure they do.
‘Rolo’, the newest on the block, is recovering quickly but will take a while to get back in shape and then run along playfully with the rest of his sort and others with glee at what will be Probably Paradise for him.
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‘Horses are only a means of commerce ... without any rights’
Roxanne Davur says she has ‘given up’ but don’t be fooled ... she's all set for the good fight
When Roxanne Davur opened Probably Paradise more than a decade back in Karjat, little did she know her farm would provide a haven for so many horses and ponies from Matheran over the years and one that would ensure what they needed the most…safety!
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| Roxanne Davur at her shelter Probably Paradise (Images: Roxanne Davur) |
Growing up in Karjat, she frequented Matheran where “there would only be ‘private’ horses for personal use.” In time, the ‘private’ horses vanished giving way to those for ‘commercial’ use which only grew in numbers.
“Today, horse-back riding is a fully commercial venture in Matheran. For decades, I’ve been persuading the owners to ensure the maintenance and welfare of the horses but to no avail.
“For them, a horse or pony is simply a commodity, a means to a profit-driven end, that they use, exploit and discard when it has outlived its utility,” says Roxanne.
Till some years back, in Matheran, horse-owners would sell their horses soon after the tourist season ended and buy new ones, sometimes giving them the same names, in the new season just so they don’t have to feed them in the monsoon, she recalls.
Roxanne says, horses should not be used for riding till they’re four to five years old. In Matheran, however, owners start using them for riding when they’re as young as 18 months to two years.
The horses are almost always male and mostly bought from horse fairs in bulk. Sadly, most tourists arriving at the hill-station don’t care for the horses and the injuries caused during the ‘recreational’ rides.
Unfeeling tourists opting to sit carelessly on horses for sight-seeing purposes are equally responsible for the fate of these horses.
In order to maximise profits, the owners and the handlers seat more people, even exceeding the weight permitted on the horses, they struggle to carry. Even ponies, for that matter, are sometimes made to carry four to five gas cylinders in the absence of any checks, says Roxanne.
“For them, a horse or pony is simply a commodity, a means to a profit-driven end, that they use, exploit and discard when it has outlived its utility,” says Roxanne.
Till some years back, in Matheran, horse-owners would sell their horses soon after the tourist season ended and buy new ones, sometimes giving them the same names, in the new season just so they don’t have to feed them in the monsoon, she recalls.
Roxanne says, horses should not be used for riding till they’re four to five years old. In Matheran, however, owners start using them for riding when they’re as young as 18 months to two years.
The horses are almost always male and mostly bought from horse fairs in bulk. Sadly, most tourists arriving at the hill-station don’t care for the horses and the injuries caused during the ‘recreational’ rides.
Unfeeling tourists opting to sit carelessly on horses for sight-seeing purposes are equally responsible for the fate of these horses.
In order to maximise profits, the owners and the handlers seat more people, even exceeding the weight permitted on the horses, they struggle to carry. Even ponies, for that matter, are sometimes made to carry four to five gas cylinders in the absence of any checks, says Roxanne.
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| A Matheran pony with a broken leg arrived at the shelter last year |
The septuagenarian is appalled at the conditions in which these horses are kept. “Owners always have excuses such as the roads being bad, there not being enough electricity, etc. but are never prepared to look after their horses just like their own town - Matheran.”
For one, horses are not fed properly. They are mostly given bhusa which bulks them up but has no nutritional value. When a horse falls sick, owners self-medicate them instead of taking them to a veterinarian. “I am tired of warning them from indulging in prophylactic treatment,” she says.
Matheran’s horses are overworked and malnourished. Owners don’t care for the horses’ feet particularly during the tourist season when they get no rest at all. In the absence of stables, they can’t lie down and are made to stand the whole time. They are not given enough water as well.
Matheran’s horses are overworked and malnourished. Owners don’t care for the horses’ feet particularly during the tourist season when they get no rest at all. In the absence of stables, they can’t lie down and are made to stand the whole time. They are not given enough water as well.
She adds, there are three horse-owners ‘unions’ in Matheran and “despite having enough money they don’t want to spend anything on the welfare of the animals. They don’t see horses as partners.”
Most caretakers and owners are untrained, and some don’t even know how to put a saddle on properly. They place riding saddles on ponies often instead of loading saddle. Sometimes the nose rope is too tight, causing discomfort to the animal, even injuries.
“Unfortunately, ponies and horses in Matheran don’t live long.” Often, they aren’t even vaccinated so land up getting diseases. Other times they develop infections following injuries owing to unhygienic conditions.
Roxanne says the owners are not interested in the welfare of the animals and the authorities just don’t do enough. Police cases are not filed in case of violations. Even vets need to take up responsibility and report to the authorities when they find a horse or a pony in a bad condition.
Roxanne says the owners are not interested in the welfare of the animals and the authorities just don’t do enough. Police cases are not filed in case of violations. Even vets need to take up responsibility and report to the authorities when they find a horse or a pony in a bad condition.
This Animal Survivors feature is published as part of ‘The L.E.A.P For Animals Project’ – A DraftCraft International initiative with media partner The Draft. L.E.A.P stands for Law.Education.Advocacy.Practice and the project aims to protect the rights of animals by helping formulate inclusive laws, sensitise and educate by media. To say your story, volunteer, seek advice or legal intervention, send a mail to contact@draftcraft.in or message on WhatsApp on +91 8080441593.
