INTERNATIONAL dressage rider Alice Oppenheimer has returned from India where she witnessed the “fantastic” work of The Brooke.

The Brooke is an international animal welfare organisation dedicated to improving the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules in some of the world’s poorest communities.

The Four Marks rider accompanied the charity’s ambassador, Olympic dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin, for the seven-day trip where they witnessed first hand the charity’s work.

During their trip the riders visited the brick kilns where the horses, donkeys and mules are used to transport loads of up to 400 bricks half a mile to the kilns, a tireless job which they perform seven days a week, six months of the year, providing a lifeline for the families who earn £1 for every 1,000 bricks produced.

They also visited the Lucknow Equine Horse Fair where The Brooke helps to educate the horse owners in animal health and well-being and providing treatment for the animals.

On returning to the UK, the elite British dressage rider who breeds and trains her own horses at the family stud in Four Marks, said: “I have to say it was just the most heart-wrenching journey. I haven’t felt such incredible highs and then unimaginable lows in such a short space of time. Thank goodness The Brooke is out here to help these horses, mules and donkeys. I dread to think what would happen to them without their support.”

Alice, 26, continued: “It was much tougher than we thought it was going to be, especially the Equine Horse Fair. The work the charity does is amazing and we’re going to try to raise money for them with loads of ideas.”

For more details on the work of The Brooke, visit thebrooke.org.