FAQ

Do the working cart horses belong to Cart Horse Protection Association?
No, all the working horses under our care belong to owners who live on the Cape Flats.

Is the number of working cart horses increasing?
Trends show that the number of working cart horses on the Cape Flats has remained stable. Each month horses leave the industry and a few registrations are recorded, but generally the number remains just over 400.

Are there working horses on the Cape Flats that the Association does not know about?
All working cart horses are registered with the Association. Records are kept of all interaction with the horses and owners and placed on a central Horse List. The Association has held clinics in Kayelitsha and Mamre and it was found that the majority of horses found there are either pleasure or show horses and ponies and not working.

Where are you situated?
Our Epping Clinic and Training Centre is situated at 92 Bofors Circle, Epping 2.

What qualifications do your Inspectors have?
Our Inspectors work under the Animal Protection Act, are qualified Animal Welfare Inspectors with magisterial rights, and are qualified Animal Welfare Assistants registered with the South African Veterinary Council.

Are the working cart horses allowed on public roads?
Yes, the Road Traffic Act allows for animal-drawn vehicles on public roads, however they are not permitted to travel on national roads.

How do I tell if a cart horse is being abused, overloaded or I should call out the inspectors?
- The average cart weighs approximately 200kgs, and the average person 60 to 80kgs. Children range in weight from 35 to 50kgs. A completely empty VW Golf body weighs about 300kgs, and a minibus – shell only -about 600kgs.

Inspector Diana Truter advises that you look at the load, and judge for yourself if the horse appears to be taking strain. It is easier to evaluate the strain the horse may be under rather than trying to guess the weight of the load.
Normally, a cart horse will take two to three strides to get its load on the move. If the horse appears to be “climbing on it’s toes”,  it is probably overloaded.

If it appears that the horse is being pushed along when it is trying to stop, this is a sure sign of overloading.  Traveling at under 20kph is acceptable. Should you see a cart horse galloping, it is being driven too hard.  A horse of approximately 14 to 15hh CAN pull up to 1 000kgs (including the weight of cart and driver) without a problem, provided that it is properly shod and in good condition. However this is not recommended.

Please note that we advise you NEVER to confront a cartie. Keep our emergency number at hand – call  082 6 599 599.

Do you have horses for adoption?
We currently do not adopt from our premises but instead sign the horses over to Grassy Park, SPCA where they have more resources to cope with the adoption process. This might change in the future but for now, we rely on SPCA.

How do I go about to make a monthly contribution to your association? What is your banking details?
You can go to MyGGSA to make a contribution or setup a repeat payment on your account to Cart Horse Protection Association. Our banking details are as follows:
Nedbank – Claremont
Branch code: 104609
Account: 1046 395 998

How does one volunteer to help out with the horses?
Please email Carl Naude, who oversees all volunteer days.
info@carthorse.org.za

Is it possible to contribute in a non-financial way?
You can contribute in a non-financial way, by volunteering your time and services. Send us your email address and we will forward you a Volunteer Application Form for you to complete.