A Scrawny Foal in the Shadow of the Pyramids
In 2013, on Jill’s first visit to Egypt, she met a scrawny foal in the notorious pyramid area. All ribs and angles, with the wary expression of a youngster born into a world where weakness is not tolerated. His name was Mahzouz.
Six months later, when Egypt Equine Aid was formally founded, we rescued him ourselves.
Foals born into the pyramid area face a hard future. If they survive, they work. When they can no longer work, many are discarded. The desert’s edge tells that story plainly. Mahzouz, as we came to call him, was heading in that direction. Instead, he came to us.
Good feed, proper hoof care, veterinary support and, crucially, safety began to change him. The sharp hips softened, his coat regained its shine; the anxious foal learned to rest. Before long, he was cantering across the sand, no longer surviving but thriving.
From Rescue Case to Riding Horse
Mahzouz (aka Barney) grew into a strong, willing young horse and was adopted by a young German supporter. There, he was backed and trained in dressage and jumping; a remarkable shift from the fragile foal first seen in the pyramid dust.
That could have been the end of his rescue story, but life changes. Years later, a shift in personal circumstances meant Barney needed somewhere safe to go once again. As rescue is not a one-time act but a long-term commitment, he came back to EEA. At our herd in Saqqara, he lived quietly and well .. no pressure … no demands … just space, care and stability. Then another chapter opened.
A New Role at Behman Hospital
After the loss of two therapy horses, an opening arose in the live-in equine team at Behman Hospital. These horses are not ridden; their work is quiet but powerful, offering grounding presence to patients facing wellbeing challenges.
Highly attuned to human emotion, horses respond in ways that help people access feelings they struggle to express – especially those who find it hard to articulate emotions or trust others. Simply standing alongside a calm, perceptive horse can build trust, foster self-awareness, and create a meaningful connection.
The therapy team is made up entirely of EEA rescues:-
- Holly – now pretty elderly and blind
- Egypt – still a little monkey who is happy to bite the hand that feeds him
- Gareth (Garth) – named after the wonderful farrier who started our farrier apprentice programme.
- Ebony – a more recent rescue
- Mabrouka,- who we rescued from appalling abuse 11 years ago
- Jabari – the donkey with his little girlfriend
Now Barney has joined them. When he was a baby Holly mothered him. We walked them together in the desert – her providing a steady presence, him small and uncertain. In the photos you will see them reunited at Behman. She is blind now, he is grown. They stand side by side once more.
What Rescue Really Means
Thirteen years ago, Barney was a foal with limited prospects and an almost certain end. Today, he is part of a team helping people rebuild their own fragile beginnings. His story is not sentimental. It is steady; a life redirected, a safety net that held when it mattered.
Without the commitment of our supporters, Barney – and the rest of this therapy herd – would likely have been lost. Instead, he is here, alive, valued, and quietly changing lives.