Within the Cape Flats, an area notorious for gang activity, lies a safe haven, and place of hope for over 250 hard-working cart horses. Diana Truter, the chief inspector of the Cart Horse Protection Association in Epping, ensures that this well-oiled machine runs smoothly. This is her story.
Diana Truter, the chief inspector of the Cart Horse Protection Association. PHOTO: Jana Scheepers
Growing up, Diana Truter was instilled with the idea that there is no substantial difference between her or anyone else, as everyone is unified by the desire to be loved.
This perspective was reinforced through practicing animal husbandry on her family’s farm in Moorreesburg, and ultimately inspired Truter to devote her life to her childhood dream of caring for animals.
In 2001, Truter started working at the Cart Horse Protection Association (CHPA) in Epping. Today, 21 years later, Truter is the chief inspector of this organisation. She says she has “witnessed” a lot while working on the Cape Flats. But she cannot envision herself doing anything other than caring for horses.
A career nurtured since childhood
Growing up on a farm outside Moorreesburg in the Swartland district, Truter’s childhood consisted of roaming across her father’s wheat fields after athletics practice at school, and attending to her homework.
“I grew up in a typical farm environment with wheat fields, surrounded by sheep and cattle. My father also showed with Hackney horses, assisted by my older sister,” Truter explains.
She likes to think that growing up on a farm and being surrounded by animals, resulted in her pursuing a career in which she would work with animals.
Truter matriculated from Dirkie Uys High School in Moorreesburg in 1979. She started an undergraduate degree in physical education at the now Nelson Mandela Bay University. “I was a terrible student, so this venture did not last long,” she says.
Her upbringing emboldened her to be competent in the work she is currently doing at the CHPA, says Truter. “From a young age my parents taught me about the strength in humility; to be kind and respectful towards everyone, because I do not know what it is like to walk in their shoes.”
However, in the same breath her mother always warned her against naivety.
“This attitude has definitely equipped me to be kind, but also to have a thick skin, because it can be extremely daunting to work in the Cape Flats,” she says.
“In 1985, the travel bug bit me,” says Truter, who spent two years travelling abroad. “In 1996, I returned to Cape Town and finally fulfilled my childhood dream of caring for animals when I started working at Animal Anti-cruelty in Epping in 2000,” says Truter. A year later, Truter was offered a position at the CHPA where she still is to this day.
Anthony Peters and the horse he leases, Billabong assisted by chief inspector Diana Truter at the Cart Horse Protection Association in Epping. Billabong assists Peters with the transport of groceries for his family, as well as water which is collected at a river and sold to township residents to earn an income. PHOTO: Jana Scheepers
Bringing hope to the Cape Flats cart horses
The CHPA was established 26 years ago when many cart horses that were being kept by locals, were used to transport material between Cape Town harbour and the Cape Flats, according to Truter.
“When I started working at the CHPA, the ratio of unhealthy to healthy horses was roughly 80:20,” recalls Truter. This ratio has subsequently inverted, even after introducing far stricter criteria regarding what constitutes a healthy cart horse, says Truter. She explains that horses with prominent rib cages, severely cracked hooves, open wounds and an unbalanced diet with minimal substance such as protein, are now considered unhealthy.
When asked to recount her saddest experience at the CHPA, Truter solemnly recounted a night when a horse was unable to escape a fire, and died. Despite never witnessing the tragedy herself, that night has nevertheless become a source of immense grief for Truter.
Joyful moments, on the other hand, keep her motivated, says Truter. The CHPA’s rehabilitation centre is in Gordon’s Bay, where a number of badly injured and abused horses are retired – this is also where Truter resides.
“I formed a deep connection with an old mare there called Mollas,” Truter explains. “A few years back she was adopted, and rehomed to Val de Vie Estate in Paarl where I went to go visit her. After two years apart she still remembered me when I called her: Mollas, Mollas, come here […] and she came walking to me as if we had not parted at all.”
The Cape Flats horse handlers
Truter differentiates between two groups of people who work with the horses on the Cape Flats. “There are horse owners who rent their cart horses to horse drivers (also called carties), who then use the horses to transport goods from one place to another,” explains Truter.
“When they come here [CHPA] for food, monthly veterinary checks or farrier services, we assess the condition of the horse,” says Truter. The CHPA equips the drivers with knowledge that will help them to take better care of the horses. However, it often “falls on deaf ears”, she says.
Where the CHPA notices severe cases of abuse, they would often have to confiscate animals without first consulting with the horse owners, says Truter. This could result in a lot of anger, according to Truter.
The older generation are generally more appreciative of the work done by the CHPA. Younger generations, however, tend to challenge the assistance and advice of the CHPA, Truter claims. Although all horse owners try to care properly for their horses, the resistance from younger horse owners to external support may be detrimental to the horses health, she says.
Diana Truter, in front of the Cart Horse Protection Association in Epping. PHOTO: Jana Scheepers
A home away from home
Anthony Peters is from Delft and rents a cart horse. He frequently visits Truter at the CHPA in order to give his rented cart horse, Billabong, the best possible care. “I appreciate the help I get from Diana and the free supply of medicine,” he says. The cart owners and drivers also receive feed for the horses at cost price, which helps to save more money, says Peters.
The local farrier for the CHPA, Ashley Deelman, says he feels “fortunate” to work for an organization that takes pride in caring for horses. Deelman also finds great joy working alongside Truter as she respects his work ethic and shares his passion for cart horses, he says.
“Working at the CHPA is a demanding job,” says Truter. She admits that it often impacts her relationship with her family. “However, it is something I will never give up,” she adds. Working with cart horses and building a connection with them, is irreplaceable, she says.
And while the work can definitely get tiring, there are beautiful moments which “invigorates” the spirit, according to Truter. “People in the Cape Flats are incredibly humorous, and appreciative. There is just never a dull moment.”