We are concerned American women who visited Morocco recently. We were excited to be coming to such a beautiful country but our joy was short lived when we witnessed the state of the caleche horses in Marrakech. They were standing in full sun, clearly starving as their ribs were showing and obviously distressed.

We offered to buy two of the horses but the person who was about to accept our offer was intercepted by a local charity. They were able to see that the driver was not the owner of the horses. Had we handed the money over it is likely that he would have kept it and disappeared. Fortunately we were able to resolve the situation with those two horses who are now retired to a local refuge.

However, to save just two horses is not an answer to the suffering of many and we are calling on his Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco to ensure the welfare of these beautiful animals. Whilst a solution may be seen to prevent the use of caleche horses it is clear that many families depend on the trade for their living. We respectfully ask his Majesty to look at alternatives including reducing the number of caleche horses and setting up a proper system to regulate and oversee their care. Unless such steps are taken the tourist industry in Morocco will be adversely and permanently affected.

Help us reach the signatures needed to prove that tourists are not okay with seeing the abuse of animals in Morocco!