Recently, a horse called Dayavaan had to be transported all the way to Pune for treatment
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This paper’s front page report about Matheran, one of Mumbai’s favourite getaways — renowned for its red mud, monkeys, scenic viewing points, and horses — shone the spotlight on a lacuna that needs urgent attention.
The hill station, where motor vehicles of any kind are not allowed, has 450-plus horses that provide a livelihood to hundreds of ghodawallas who survive by giving joy rides to visitors. Yet, Matheran lacks veterinarians, and the apology of a horse clinic at the spot is in shambles, lacking light and water.
Recently, a horse called Dayavaan had to be transported all the way to Pune for treatment. He did not survive. A local had stated that some vets who had plied their trade at the hill station knew nothing about horses. Matheran needs a horse specialist.
This hill station will soon see a heavy summer rush, with schools and colleges closed in the wake of exam season and families taking their children on vacation. Horse rides will be a big part of the time they spend there.
An expert, speaking frankly, pointed out that a vet will be posted to the spot, but they would probably know nothing about horses and lack the appropriate equipment to treat them.
This is an unacceptable situation which needs immediate redressal. While the bigger picture of the clinic being rebuilt and vets (ideally needs to be more than one) is addressed, at least some arrangements should be in place for ghodawallas to have access to a horse ambulance to ferry injured and ill animals to medical facilities. This is a shocking and tragic vacuum which needs to be filled in not tomorrow, but today. One cannot say neigh to that.
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