The Reality of Having Horses in Accra

When people think of horses, they imagine grassy fields, tidy barns, and well-stocked feed rooms. But in Accra, Ghana, horse care is not a polished Instagram reel — it’s real, raw, and often very hard.

We Cut Grass with a Sickle — Every Day

There’s no hay here. No feed trucks, no bale deliveries. If you want your horses to eat, you pick up a sickle and cut the grass yourself. Every single day.

That means climbing into overgrown lots, dodging rubbish, and navigating places where people dump waste — including open defecation. And even though there’s grass in and around Accra, transporting it from far areas is too expensive, especially if you’re running a small, independent stable.

So we do it ourselves.

Supplements? Good Luck

Try asking a feed store in Accra for biotin or electrolytes. They’ll stare at you blankly. Horse-specific supplements are basically non-existent here.

I’ve been trying to get a simple biotin supplement for one of our horses, Ruffian, for months. It’s one of the most basic equine supplements in the world — but here, it’s almost like asking for gold dust. We rely on donations, travellers, or expensive imports if we can manage them at all.

Minister Nearly Died Last Week

Just last week, our horse Minister fell critically ill.

By the time the vet was on their way, we knew we didn’t have hours to spare. In a move that would probably make most Western vets raise their eyebrows, we gave him a dexamethasone injection ourselves — two hours before the vet arrived. That decision saved his life.

In our context, you often don’t have the privilege of playing by the book. You have to know your animals, trust your gut, and act fast.

We Raised a Foal by Hand

One of our biggest recent challenges? Raising a foal by hand. With no mare to feed him, we substituted with cow’s milk replacer and vitamins. That’s what we had. That’s what we used. And somehow, he made it.

There was no textbook, no guide, no vet who could check in daily. Just trial, error, instinct, and deep love.

Bridging the Gap

This is the real face of horse riding and horse care in Accra. No pretence. No fairytale barns.

That’s why we started our project, Bridging the Gap — to create more visibility, connection, and support for equine projects in West Africa. We’re not asking for handouts. We’re building something solid. But sometimes, even small donations — whether in the form of used gear, supplements, or financial support — can go a long way.

If you’d like to learn more, collaborate, donate, or share this story, please reach out. Because we’re here, doing the work — and it matters.