The Lampang Pony Welfare Foundation (LPWF)

Lampang office: 2 Soi 2 Tha Nang Loy Road, Wiang Nua, Muang, Lampang 52000

Bangkok Office: 709/52-53 Sukhumvit 77, Bangkok 10250

Tel: 02-3318146-7 Facsimile: 02-7426621

www.lampangponywelfare.com email: info@lampangponywelfare.com

Case for Support

Need

Since 1916 Lampang has had a long tradition of horse drawn carriages as public transportation in the city. But most ponies were not taken good care of due to the limited education and health care resources. The ponies suffered from malnutrition and lack of veterinary care. People do not feel that ponies are part of their lives and that they in fact contribute a great deal to their welfare. Lampang ponies are icons of the province generating the main source of income from tourists into the province.

Besides ponies in Lampang, ponies and horses have a long history of contributing in the evolution of our civilization a role that is neglected or forgotten in our current society.

Who are we?

The Lampang Pony Welfare Foundation (LPWF) is founded to improve the health and welfare of ponies and horses in Thailand as our primary goal. Thus the statement that “Ponies come first” signifies our stand.

LPWF started in 2004 with financial support from the World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA) with 3 founders of the project:

            Dr. Siraya Chunekamrai , the Horsepital Equine Surgery, Thailand

            Dr. Nanna Lutherson, Hestedoktoren IS, Denmark

            Dr. Carla Carleton, Michigan State University, U.S.A.

The objectives to improve the welfare of Lampang ponies together with a concurrent phylogenetic study of the these native pony breedlines was undertaken. The Lampang Pony Clinic was set up to provide veterinary care and respond to immediate health issues or disease outbreaks.

However, the objectives of LPWF is materialized through creating a sound knowledge based community in which pony owners learn and understand how to properly care for their animals. Therefore most activities of LPWF are seminars, workshops and group meetings to educate pony owners about proper nutrition, good farriery, disease prevention and responsible animal ownership.

This is from the belief that strengthening the community through knowledge will improve animal welfare which impacts on human welfare and standard of living in general.

What makes us special?

LPWF is the only non-profit organization in Southeast Asia of which work is dedicated to ponies and horses and is led by an experienced veterinary team. As the philosophy of our work is centered on education it creates a stronger self sufficient community instead of a dependent one.

The positive outcome of such an approach is proven by the numbers of sick or lame ponies which decreased significantly from 2004-2008 and the improved condition of ponies in general leading to increased profit and living conditions of pony owners in Lampang.

General attitude of pony owners to their animals have also changed making the relationship between human and animal play a more significant role in both human and animal welfare.

Our work

LPWF works on-ground with local pony owners to improve animal welfare in a realistic way. The work is not only limited  within Lampang province but has expanded to Chiangmai, Chiangrai, Phrae, Nan and most recently we have launched a sister project in Cambodia: the Cambodian Pony Welfare Organization.

The core of this work is done through education. We believe that proper knowledge and a responsible attitude is the only sustainable way to maintain good animal welfare. A stronger community that is responsible for their animals and thus their own welfare is the natural outcome.

LPWF focuses on

• Education on husbandry, nutrition, farriery, health care and preventative medicine. This is done through newsletters, seminars, group meetings and hands-on workshops.
• Provision of veterinary services in clinic and through the mobile unit.
• Provision of farrier tools, horseshoes/nails, low cost calcium/feed supplements and medicine, halters.
• Emergency veterinary response.

What we have achieved:

Number of members:132

Number of animals treated approximately: over 14,000 cases

Number of seminars: 30

Number of farrier workshops: 12

Number of farriers fully trained: 9

Monthly track records and annual survey of health condition of all ponies including questionnaires is compiled to provide an accurate assessment of the success and development of the program. Results of each year is presented to all members at the annual general meeting which takes place between the months of November – December.

What your support is needed for:

• To continue the on- ground work with local pony owners in Lampang and to extend this project to all ponies and horses in Thailand and neighbourhood countries.
• To complete our DNA research on the local pony breed, an opportunity to recognize our ponies as a world heritage.
• To empower the local community to achieve a sustainable lifestyle as a model for strengthening similar communities elsewhere.
• To foster animal welfare and create awareness of its impact on human welfare.

Benefits package for donors (Please refer to Appendix 1)

OUR UPCOMING EVENT:

•          We are going to have our first launch event on 6-7 December 2008, at Khe-Lang Garden in  

Lampang.  Please refer to Appendix 2 for the pictures of event location.

EVENT OBJECTIVES:

•          Officially announce our existance.

•          Press Release.

•          Build awareness among Lampang people.

•          Fund raising.

ATTENDANTS:

·         Lampang governor to preside at opening ceremony

·         Press: newspaper, magazine, television, radio

·         Horse owners in Lampang

·         Those who live in Lampang

·         Domestic and international tourists

Estimate attendants of 6,000 people