A charity art auction benefitting abused and neglected horses living at a rescue centre near Alicante has raised €1670 – enough to buy 335 bales of winter hay.
Organised by volunteers Isabel Sodric and Koren Helbig, the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre fundraiser included an online sale followed by a live auction at The October Press in Alicante last Saturday (November 26).
Artworks donated by 28 artists from seven countries were sold, with some pieces going to buyers living as far afield as Australia.
Easy Horse Care co-founder Sue Weeding said she was humbled by the response, which comes as the rescue centre enters the difficult Christmas period when charity shop sales plummet and hay prices almost double to €5 a bale.
The Rojales-based sanctuary now cares for 99 horses, ponies and donkeys, after yet another skeletal horse was rescued last Wednesday (November 23).
“We are so grateful to receive this money, as it just gives us a bit of a push to keep going after a difficult year,” Sue said.
“A huge thanks to each of these artists, because having their support really has been so uplifting. Seeing such support roll in from all over the world has made us feel like people do value what we are achieving.
“We are also so overjoyed to see so many Spanish people getting involved and wanting to be a part of improving animal welfare in their own country. What a positive end to the year.”
Isa and Koren said they were delighted to see so many people support the fundraiser both online and during the live auction, and hoped the money raised would help Easy Horse Care as it battled for funding during the quiet winter months.
Sue reminded supporters that the January open day date has changed to avoid falling on New Year’s Day. Instead, the centre will open free to the public on the second Sunday of the month, January 8, from 1pm to 4pm. For more details and directions, please visit www.easyhorsecare.net.
