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Celebrating Dorothy Brooke Month

Before embarking on their new life in Cairo, our founder Dorothy Brooke had become aware of the fate of former war horses that were now languishing in poor conditions in Egypt. These horses had been born in the UK and were shipped overseas to serve in WW1, but they had never been returned home. The official reason at the time given for this was ‘lack of transport’, but it was a commonly held view that they were sold to Egyptian horse traders as the easiest option after the war, and many British horse lovers felt a sense of betrayal about this.

Now residents in Cairo, Dorothy felt a strong urge to seek out these horses and do whatever was needed to ease their suffering. It wasn’t an easy task at first – it took weeks of enquiries before she found her first one, an emaciated old chestnut horse with a clear army brand on his near quarter, whom she named Old Bill. He had served in Palestine once, but was in a terrible state now, with lifeless eyes and a gaunt frame supported by four shapeless swollen legs that trembled under his weight.

Dorothy went on to find hundreds of poorly and worn-out animals desperately in need of help. She set up the Old War Horse Campaign of Rescue, and began raising the funds needed to buy the horses from their owners, the first stage in lifting them out of a life of pain.

To raise more funds she wrote a letter to the Morning Post (which later became the Daily Telegraph) exposing their plight. The public were so moved they sent her the equivalent of £20,000 in today's money to help end the suffering of these once proud horses.

Within three years, Dorothy Brooke had purchased five thousand former war horses. Most were old, exhausted and had to be humanely put down. But thanks to her compassion, they ended their lives peacefully.

Dorothy Brooke knew thousands of hard working horses, donkeys and mules were still out there suffering, so in 1934 she founded the Old War Horse Memorial Hospital in Cairo, with the promise of free veterinary care for all the city’s working horses and donkeys. And that is how The Brooke Hospital for Animals was born, and from which Brooke USA Foundation was born.

Happy birthday Dorothy, and thank you!

Last year we opened the Brooke USA recipe box and honored Dorothy Brooke with a carrot cake from Diane Kaneb, the mother of Brooke USA Chair of the Board, Katherine Kaneb.

Did you try this delicious recipe? We did!

Check out our staff photos below from when we successfully baked and celebrated Dorothy's Birthday with this delicious recipe.

Send in your Dorothy Birthday photos to Kendall.Bierer@brookeusa.org to be featured in our upcoming newsletters and on social media.

Volunteer Appreciation & Birthday Celebrations

We were thrilled to be able to meet with our volunteers in Wellington, Fla. to thank them for their time and devotion to the organization throughout the winter season and especially during Brooke USA's White Party Goes Green. 

In honor of Dorothy Brooke's birthday, our staff baked a beautiful carrot cake from scratch and brought it to the get together where we celebrated Dorothy Brooke and the legacy she created through Brooke USA Foundation.

Take a picture with our "I Love Brooke USA" sign and post it to social media or send it to Kendall.Bierer@BrookeUSA.org to be featured as part of our Dorothy Brooke Month!

Brooke USA Announces War Horse:

A Virtual and Private Viewing of the Acclaimed Movie

From the legendary director Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks Pictures comes exclusively to Brooke USA Foundation (Brooke USA) the acclaimed movie War Horse. Available only Friday, June 24 through Sunday, June 26, the virtual showing of War Horse can be viewed on a designated, private access sub-channel of the Equus Film Festival streaming network. To secure your access while helping working horses, donkeys and mules living in vulnerable communities across the globe, visit: www.brookeusaevents.org.

War Horse is a 2011 war film based on Michael Morpurgo’s 1982 novel of the same name and its 2007 stage adaptation. The film's ensemble cast includes Jeremy Irvine, Peter Mullan, Emily Watson, Niels Arestrup, David Thewlis, Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch. Set before and during World War I, it tells of the journey of Joey, a bay Irish Hunter horse raised by British teenager Albert (Irvine), as he is bought by the British Army, leading him to encounter numerous individuals and owners throughout Europe, all the while experiencing the tragedies of the war happening around him. 

“The story of Brooke USA and our sister organization Brooke: Action for Working Horses & Donkeys are deeply intertwined with the plot of War Horse, as the fate of former WWI horses was one of abandonment and suffering,” explained Emily Dulin, CEO of Brooke USA.

When Dorothy Brooke arrived in Egypt with her husband she was distraught by the images of these horses who were shipped from their homes across Europe and the United States to serve in the war. Dorothy felt a strong urge to seek out these horses and do whatever was needed to ease their suffering. Dorothy went on to find hundreds of poorly and worn-out animals desperately in need of help and established the Brooke Hospital for the Animals in 1934. “Each one of the horses Dorothy saved is another Joey, the bay in the movie,” Dulin added.

Having directed many films set during World War II, War Horse was Spielberg’s first film to tackle the events of WWI. Shot in England over 63 days, the production used 5,800 extras and 300 horses. The film was named one of the top ten best films of 2011 by the American Film Institute and the National Board Review and was nominated for six Academy Awards (including Best Picture), two Golden Globe Awards, and five British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards.

The goal of this virtual viewing of War Horse is to exalt the many contributions working horses have made throughout history and bring attention to the 100 million working equines which today continue to serve millions of people (600 million) across the globe. Moreover, the film will help raise funds for Brooke USA during June when the organization celebrates the birthday of its founder Dorothy Brooke.

The movie’s trailer is available for preview at www.filmfestivalflix.com/festival/brooke-usa/.   

The movie will be marked by the presence of several corporate partners who together emphasize the importance of Brooke USA’s work. Partners (to date) supporting the virtual viewing include Equus Film Fest, Truist and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). More sponsors are needed to make this virtual event a success.

To view the sponsorship deck, visit: https://www.brookeusa.org/s/Films-For-A-Cause-War-Horse_V3.pdf.

Once again, to purchase tickets for your private viewing of War Horse, visit www.brookeusaevents.org.

General admission is $35 and includes one device access code, VIP Admission includes one access code and home delivery of an exclusive Caroline's Cakes (one of Oprah's Favorite Things) for $165, and Premier VIP Admission includes one access code and home delivery of an exclusive Caroline's Cakes, a bottle of Cugini Winery’s Bubbly Traditional Champagne and Mottra caviar for the ticket cost of $250.

“At Brooke USA, we suggest that viewers plan a party to enjoy the movie, share the treats provided and make an evening affair for family and friends,” noted Kendall Bierer, Brooke USA’s Donor Relations Officer. “During June, in recognition of Dorothy Brooke’s birthday, Brooke USA celebrates her life and legacy. We hope that many will join our War Horse virtual movie as we appreciate Dorothy’s contributions to the world of equine welfare.”

Join Brooke USA Foundation at the Kentucky Horse Park from June 8 - 12 and June 14 - 19 for a Bourbon Benefit. Collect your orange Brooke USA cup when you buy a signature bourbon drink at the cash bar or make a donation at the VIP bar during the Split Rock Hunter Jumper I & II. 

Riders, owners and trainers will also be able to enjoy an ice cream social with Brooke USA Foundation on Saturday, June 18 at 2 p.m.

Learn more at Split Rock Jumping Tour.

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