Wynn Medinger
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Brooke USA’s mission is to significantly improve the welfare of working horses, donkeys, and mules and the people they serve throughout Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.
Brooke is the world’s largest international equine welfare charity, operating in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. It reaches over 2 million working horses, donkeys and mules—more than any other organization—and has been in existence for more than 80 years
In the midst of the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 (WEG), where elite horses at the top of their sport competed, Brooke USA was on the ground to share their message about a different type of equine — those that help carve out a living for some of the poorest people in the world.
Brooke USA’s sister charity, Brooke, the official charity of WEG could be found in locations around the venue, educating thousands of attendees about the plight of working equines in developing countries.
At their glass-enclosed and air-conditioned booth in the World Equine Expo, visitors watched a 360 ° video about their Brick Kiln Project that benefits many of the 380,000 horses, donkeys and mules who work in India’s brick kilns, a particularly harsh environment for equines and their owners.
Adjacent to the venue’s eateries, Brooke USA had a shop where they sold Brooke Bricks, commemorative bricks installed at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) Brooke Breezeway. (Brooke Bricks are manufactured humanely in the United States and no animals are involved in production.) They also offered Caroline’s Cakes coupons, Trafalgar Books, Mary Alice Monroe’s books from Fiction Addiction and a preview teaser of her upcoming book. Celebrity makeup artist Leslie Munsell was on-site to demonstrate her Beauty for Real Cosmetics. The Beauty for Real lip balm colors are named for Brooke USA ambassadors. Tammy Tappan from Equestrian Artists of Tryon, a gallery housed year-round at TIEC, and artist Emma Tate donated artwork sales to the Brooke USA cause. A portion of all proceeds benefited Brooke USA
In the Summit Club, table holders and competitors chatted with Brooke USA staff and experienced the brick kilns through virtual-reality goggles. Equestrian celebrities served Moscow Mules and Mule Fuel at bar nights on the Legends Plaza at TIEC. Bartenders included J.J. Tate, Australian eventer Clayton Fredericks and U.S. dressage Olympians Ali Brock and Debbie McDonald and Paige Bellissimo, Brooke USA board members John Nicholson and Jim Wolfe, Kendall Bierer, Brooke USA development director, and Eugenia Karolyi. Tips went to benefit Brooke USA.
Cindy and John Boyle and Leslie Munsell hosted a Brooke USA supporter appreciation party and fundraiser at the Boyle’s charming Fairview Farm in nearby Campobello, South Carolina.
During WEG competition, Brooke USA ambassadors excelled, including U.S. dressage rider, Kasey Perry-Glass who earned team silver. Global ambassador Charlotte Dujardin’s scores helped Great Britain earn team bronze and she won individual bronze with Mount St. John Freestyle. In one of the most exciting finishes to an international team show jumping competition, Brooke USA Ambassador Laura Kraut and Zeremonie put in a clear and fast effort that helped the U.S. team earn the gold.