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An Evening with Dr Jude - Saviour of Egyptian Horses and their Feet!

Published on Thursday, May 3, 2012 in General

Dr Jude with one of her patients

 

One of the terrible cases Dr Jude encountered in Egypt - a beautiful Arabian stallion who, despite these horrific feet, was used for breeding because he always threw black foals - before treatment

 

... and after

 

Three wonders of the world! Dr Jude and the pyramids

 

Further to Horsezone's previous articles on rescued horse, Prince Fluffy Kareem, and the dire plight of horses in Egypt, the 'Fluffies' are still working very hard at 'saving the world, one horse a time'!

Team Fluffy came into being after the revolution in January 2011, when tourism in Egypt dropped off and the condition of horses and donkeys, previously used to transport visitors to the pyramids, deteriorated significantly. Marte Kjoell, a Norwegian woman living and working in Cairo, rescued one horse in near-death condition and gave him the grand name of Prince Fluffy Kareem. She set up the Facebook page to help alert the world to the plight of the horses and with the aid of an Australian woman, Narieda A TCzap also living in Cairo and an Egyptian stable hand called Sherif, set about saving as many horses as their limited funds could manage.

The Prince Fluffy Kareem Facebook page raised awareness of the situation in Egypt and received a lot of support from horse lovers around the world. The Prince himself, after a harrowing journey, is now a poster boy and his before and after photos show what can be done!

New projects were initiated by the Fluffies to help Egypt's less fortunate equines and then on 26 December 2011, after considering the terrible condition of many horses' feet, Marte uploaded a post asking if there was a farrier who might be interested in coming to Egypt, to work with the horse and donkey owners and various clinics. She stressed that they needed someone who "will present us with solutions, not limitations and problems. I would like to see if anyone is interested at all before I start on the fundraising."

Australian Prince Fluffy Kareem follower, Sue Foley, read her post and on Marte's behalf contacted Australian Farrier/Vet Dr Judith Mulholland from Kyabram Victoria, who is an expert on Laminitis. Sue asked Jude if she would consider travelling to Cairo to help educate local farriers, if the funds could be raised to send her.

"Jude agreed to go in a heartbeat", says Sue, "I ran a horse trials clinic with the Bendigo Pony Club to raise funds. Funds were also raised through the Prince Fluffy Kareem Facebook page and the Fluffy Feet Farrier Project page."

"TuffRock Australia sponsored a 20 kilo care package that was sent with Dr Jude and Mustad Australia donated farrier tools and equipment. Due to the corrupt Egyptian postal system items must be couriered into the country to ensure their arrival. Dr Jude re-educated local farriers and administered veterinary, equine dental and farrier care to some of the most challenging cases imaginable. She worked tirelessly for seven days, posting nightly reports on Facebook, which were devoured by the many Prince Fluffy Kareem supporters around the globe."

This is just one of Dr Jude's facebook reports/albums from her time in Cairo and it illustrates very well her compassion and dedication when treating the horses in need. Her eloquence at describing the experience makes for compelling reading, even while your heart is breaking for the poor horses and the hard working few who are trying to help them.

As a caption for one photo of her and a horse she had just treated, with a terribly derformed hoof (pictuerd above right), Dr Jude says, "I asked for some photos with this horse. I only do this occasionally in my normal working life. This is because only those horses that are truly special to me make me think of it. During my week in Egypt I have been moved to tears twice. First - when the farriers picked up my tools and starting working with them. Second - when I walked away after I had finished this horse. It is making me cry now just thinking about it." Visit the Prince Fluffy Kareem facebook page (link below) to see all of Dr Jude's photos and reports from her time in Egypt.

Marta cannot speak highly enough of Dr Jude, "we are so incredibly grateful to Dr Jude and we would love for everyone to know just how fantastic she is, both as a vet and a farrier as well as an outrageously intelligent and incredibly warmhearted person."

Dr Jude is back in Australia now and keen to share her experiences from the eight days spent working with the Prince Fluffy Kareem team, educating local farriers and improving hoof care and horse welfare for the working horses and donkeys of Giza.

'An Evening with Dr Jude' is being held in Bendigo and is an event you will not want to miss! This is an opportunity to not only learn more about Dr Jude's work in Egypt, but also to tap into her vast knowledge of veterinary and/or hoof care related topics.

An Evening with Dr Jude

Where: Bendigo Library theatrette

When: Monday 14 May at 7.30pm until approx 10.00pm (with a supper break)

Cost: $10.00 (profits go to the Fluffies - or more specifically the next Fluffy Feet project!)

Contact: email skfoley40@hotmail.com for tickets.

See PDF flyer below for printable version

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