GUEST POST BY SUSAN RICHARDS-BENSON
Author, “Born of the Pyramids, Rocky’s Story”
As horse enthusiasts, we generally like to imagine that our ponies are primped, pampered and always ready to go. That’s not always the case, but in reality for the majority of us we are lucky to have well-fed and well taken care of equine partners.
For many however, the truth couldn’t be further from our own reality. For working equines in Egypt the days are long, hot and often filled with a lack of compassion and understanding.
Many horses, particularly those that work around the sweltering deserts of the Great Pyramids of Giza, will begin their day just as the sun peaks over the distant sands and end it once the moon has already risen high. When not being ridden, they spend their time tacked up and waiting, considered lucky if they have access to menial water supplies and feed.
Many suffer from ill-fitting tack and bits either far too large or that rip into their delicate mouth, causing agony whenever rough hands yank down on the reins. In comparison, most of our equine friends are living in paradise!
In an attempt to not only raise awareness of the plight of the equines working and living around the Pyramids in Cairo, but to help put an end to their suffering, a new book entitled “Born of the Pyramids, Rocky’s Story” provides compelling insight into the harsh reality. The book, told from the eyes of Rocky — a horse who came into the world as a working-equine, seeks to finally pull back the veil on the often dismal circumstances that both horses and donkeys are subjected to in many parts of the Middle East.
Rocky’s Story follows him as he passes from one owner to the next while experiencing the turbulent changes that have rocked Egypt over the past few years. From good to bad, Rocky’s experiences are all based in truth and fact brought together in a moving narration of hardship, camaraderie, courage and ultimately how kindness and compassion can change a horse’s life.
Having myself worked with both horses and donkeys in Egypt, it is my ultimate goal to be able to really effect change in the country. In writing “Born of the Pyramids, Rocky’s Story” I am hoping to not only open people’s eyes to the hidden aspects of life as an equine in Egypt, but I have pledged to donate proceeds from the sale of each book to animal charities who are working towards improving overall living for equines, one horse at a time.
For more information please visit the Facebook page or you can choose to purchase the book and support equine charities around the world! Available through Amazon.com and Smashwords.com.
About the Author:
Susan Richards-Benson is a freelance journalist and horse enthusiast who lived and worked in Egypt for over 7 years. During her time in the country she fell in love with a few special horses that have forever impacted and changed her life. While in the country she began working with animal charities and hasn’t looked back ever since.
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Since writing this guest post for Tuesday’s Horse, Susan adds:
Proceeds from the book have already donated to 4 equine charities in Egypt, and partially sponsored a blind (yet pregnant!) mare for a week of well needed rest and rehab.
We are giving away copies of Susan’s book to five lucky Int’l Fund for Horses’ Members in support of this book and her wonderful work for the horses of Egypt. For more information, see News at www.horsefundmembers.org. Learn about Membership.
Tuesday's Horse 
Would love to know if the stories that filtered out of Egypt a couple of years ago were indeed true, that with the abrupt cessation of tourism due to the chaos that characterizes this sad and ancient culture, saddled horses were simply abandoned – left tied up, and died where they were left, hanging by their tie ropes. I was so horrified when I read this cannot imagine how anyone who cared about their horses even as an income producer could do this. I kept hoping it was a lurid sensationalistic media lie. What I also am confused about is that there is some international aid agency that raises funds to give donkeys to needy farmers to help get their goods to market – I understand that a donkey might make the difference between survival and starvation of the people but what about the donkey? Are there any safeguards in place to make sure that the donkey in the service of these desperately poor people are at least provided subsistence food and care – even water – and that the people receiving these four-legged gifts have some rudimentary understanding of how to care for the animal that is helping THEM survive? I do plan to get the book but I DO NOT “do” Facebook so will have to find another way to obtain the book.
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This is a self-published digital book.
You can buy it on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Born-of-the-Pyramids-ebook/dp/B00CGHPF5A/ . You can also buy it at SmashWords at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/308536
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I will definitely be purchasing this book. Available (Kindle version) on both Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.
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We are so very grateful to Susan for writing this book, and giving us an eyewitness account of how horses are worked and treated in countries outside our own here in N. America. Please be sure to let us know your thoughts once you have had a chance to read it.
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