Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre – Rojales
Hi , my name is Star and I have been lucky enough to call Gran Alacant my home for over 9 years now. My 7 year old daughter Ashlee and I are often “Out & About” enjoying the local attractions and culture in this part of Spain. Over the next few months I will be sharing some of our experiences with you to encourage you to go “Out & About” yourselves and maybe learn a little bit about this beautiful place we call home.
This month we wanted to share our most recent visit to this amazing rescue centre that has just had its 9th Anniversary. Ashlee and I have visited many times over the last 6/7 years and have seen the population of horses, ponies and donkey´s grow tremendously. There are now a huge 109 living there and a total of 145 have been rescued over the years.
Most of you have probably visited one of their charity shops but have you ever wondered where the money goes? Well you can find out on the first Sunday of every month when the centre opens their doors between 1pm to 4pm to allow the public to join their guided tours, which are in English, Spanish and when we were there, Russian. During the tour, you get to walk around the centre and meet these amazing equines and if you want to, you can hear some of their incredible survival stories.
The Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre (EHCRC) was started at the end of October 2008, seven years after Sue and Rod Weeding retired to Spain, when they found a two-year-old stallion Luceiro in a dark and filthy stable. His left eye was badly injured and the resulting flies were driving him crazy. Unable to leave him, they brought him home to their finca and the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre was born.
Over the last 9 years they have helped numerous horses, ponies and donkeys and have been involved in countless rescues, including a joint program in 2014 where 14 horses and 9 donkeys were rescued and their owner prosecuted. The horses went to the EHCRC and the donkeys to another donkey sanctuary.
Another important rescue that highlighted the plight of animal welfare was concerning a beautiful pony called Faith. Due to EHCRC´s intervention, she became the first pony in Spain to be fitted with a prosthetic leg after her mutilated front leg had to be amputated.
Captain and Hope are two horses who have also helped to raise awareness. They were skeletal and had been left to die inside a dark garage, the community rallied round and began lobbying for something to be done. The ensuing media attention resulted in a police response and a man was later prosecuted. Since then, the local police have become more concerned about animal welfare and often inform Sue and Rod of abandoned or mistreated equines and help in the rescue and prosecution of the owners.
For those of you that already have supported or continue to support the EHCRC Sue and Rod offer their immense gratitude as without the kind donations they receive, they would not be able to do what they do. There are numerous ways that you can help this amazing charity, pop into one of their charity shops, donate some furniture or clothes, become a sponsor or a volunteer, host a fundraising event or even join their working holiday program. More details can be found at: www.easyhorsecare.net.
Sue and Rod have so much love, understanding and compassion for these beautiful equines. They, along with their team of volunteers, are truly amazing people who are changing the lives of these abandoned and mistreated horses, ponies and donkey´s. So, take a few hours out of your Sunday and go and see these fortunate majestic animals, who have finally found happiness in their new home.
“Maybe you can’t change the world by saving one horse, but you can change the whole world for the horse that you save.” – Sue Weeding, Easy Horse Care co-founder.
