Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall Extends Her Presidency of Brooke

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall being greeted by a Thoroughbred at a reception for Brooke USA in Kentucky in March, 2015. (Photo: Jennifer Munson Photography)

LEXINGTON, KY- Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall has today officially extended her Presidency for Brooke - Action For Working Horses And Donkeys, celebrating 10 years of being president of the UK-based charity. Brooke helps to improve the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules in developing countries.

In her time as President, The Duchess has travelled the world to see how the charity works with horses, donkeys and mules, as well as the people who use them to earn an income and support their families. She has been to Egypt where the Brooke was founded in 1934, Jordan, Pakistan following the earthquake in 2005, and India following flooding in 2013.

The Duchess has also attended many events for Brooke in the UK, most recently hosting a horsemanship demonstration by Brooke ambassador Monty Roberts in October 2015. As a lover of horses, The Queen also attended the event.

Her Royal Highness also commemorated the advancement of Brooke USA with a reception in Kentucky - Brooke USA's headquarters - in March 2015. The Duchess has ridden horses for years and has always had a passion for equine welfare.

The extension of presidency coincides with Brooke recently launching a new brand, website and strategy. Chief Executive of Brooke, Petra Ingram, explained the importance of having Her Royal Highness as president for the charity:

"In the time The Duchess has been our president, Brooke has continued to expand, and we now reach almost two million animals per year, three times more than in 2006. Her Royal Highness helps us by bringing public attention to the plight of working horses, donkeys and mules around the world, and we are deeply grateful for her support.

Her Majesty The Queen joins The Duchess as Her Royal Highness hosts a horsemanship demonstration by Brooke Ambassador Monty Roberts at the Royal Mews. (Photo: © IJP Event Photos)

"We have bold ambitions for the next five years, and I am delighted to have The Duchess as our President, so we can reach thousands of new supporters, and improve the lives of even more animals."

There are more than 100 million working horses, donkeys and mules laboring in some of the world's toughest environments, and they support the lives of an estimated 600 million people. Brooke protects and improves the lives of these animals, which give people in the developing world the opportunity to work their way out of poverty.

To support Brooke USA in its effort to fund equine welfare projects around the world, go to www.BrookeUSA.org.