Racing horses are well-represented by the equestrian community. They get the best care possible and live in ultra-modern sheds. Even the hay they are given comes from the finest farms, ensuring that their nutrition and health are top-notch. But racing horses do not form the entirety of the equine kingdom. What about the working horses or the donkeys that carry load from morning till nightfall? Who protects them from a life in perpetual servitude?

Thankfully, there is one organization that has been tending to the welfare of these creatures for a century now. The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad, or SPANA, has founded a lasting legacy of compassion since it began working in this space on October 2, 1923. Now that the organization is celebrating its first centennial, it also honors the tireless efforts of a devoted mother-daughter duo.

Equestrian organization honors its founders

SPANA had an unconventional beginning with two British women, Kate and Nina Hosali, vacationing in North Africa. The mother and daughter were appalled by the poor living conditions and general ill-health of the horses. While walking through the souks and the various indigenous communities of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, the hapless situation of the worker horses and mules left a deep impact on their lives. The two women became tearful, watching the injured and malnourished horses carry on their labor fighting through exhaustion and pain.

They resolved to give these animals a dignified life and laid the foundation stone for SPANA in 1923. One hundred years later, that resolve is still going strong. According to horsetalk.co.nz, SPANA’s current Chief Executive Linda Edwards said, “The need for SPANA’s work is greater today than ever. The welfare of working animals is under severe threat from major global challenges”.

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From the start, SPANA has concentrated on advocating for better horse treatment in low-income countries. They quickly found out that the owners were incapable of paying for veterinary care, as a result of which their horses suffered. As dedicated equestrian champions, they began to train both children and adults in good animal care. Nina Hosali launched the global education program in 1930, through which the charity has, to date, instructed 87,241 children about proper animal care. In its centenary year, SPANA has upgraded itself with a new mission and strategy.

SPANA’s expansion in 2023

SPANA completed its hundredth year in existence on October 2, 2023, and unveiled a new game plan. This was the five-year strategy, hinging upon a central mission to expand their reach and help more horses in need. The equestrian organization is active in 23 countries, and in the last year alone, it helped over 306,412 working animals. In pursuit of their expansion ambition, SPANA established the “SPANA Road” in Mauritania’s capital city of Nouakchott. The charity has also formed partnerships with Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to open animal welfare clubs in the country.

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Edwards said, “As we celebrate 100 years of SPANA’s critical work, we are looking to the future and are focused on delivering a true and lasting transformation to the lives of working animals across the world”. Her dedication shone through when a devastating earthquake in Morocco required SPANA’s help for emergency horse care. With such a passionate equestrian at the helm, Kate and Nina Hosali’s promise to the ailing working animals lives on.

What do you think about SPANA’s illustrious history?

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