A severely injured and thin old mare, who was being beaten by thugs in southern Spain, has been placed with the non-profit Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre at Rojales.
San Javier Police called co-founders Sue and Rod Weeding on March 9 after rescuing the equine and taking her to the municipal vehicle depot.
Although local police are trying hard to protect animals, they simply don’t have any facility to house large seized animals. So, without Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre, this poor horse would have been put to sleep.
The old girl has horrendous spinal scars caused by an ill-fitting saddle and her spine is deformed because she was ridden very hard from a young age.
After a close examination, the centre’s equine veterinarian Dorothea Dudli von Dewitz has estimated that the equine is about 23 to 25 years old.
Sue has decided to call her Beauty because “she’s surely never been told that she’s beautiful”.
Beauty’s suspensory ligaments have lost elasticity and are collapsing down. She’s also in desperate need of a good hoof trim. The centre’s 113th resident will require a pair of special shoes to relieve her old legs.
Sue called on the local community to help cover the hefty costs of Beauty’s rehabilitation, saying the rescue centre’s animal welfare work can only continue with public support as it receives no government funding at all. Donations can be made at www.easyhorsecare.net/donate/one-off-donation or monthly sponsorship set up (from just €5 a month) at www.easyhorsecare.net/donate/sponsor-a-horse.
Beauty has been at the centre for a few weeks and is settling well. She’s enjoying her food and, although still nervous around people, already looks brighter.
The nightmare is over for this old girl – the centre’s official grandma – who will spend the rest of her life surrounded by love and care.
“How on Earth could we have said ‘no’ to saving this poor old soul,” Sue questioned.
The Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre relies entirely on donations to fund its important animal welfare work, including the feeding and care of the centre’s more than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys rescued from abuse, neglect and abandonment.
Donations of cash or items for the centre’s network of six charity shops across the Alicante province are gratefully welcomed. A pick-up service is available to collect large donated items such as furniture and each shop also offers a delivery service for large items purchased in-store.
Anyone interested in making a donation, becoming a long-term sponsor, or volunteering at the rescue centre or in the charity shops can call Sue on 652 021 980.
The Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre, located just outside Rojales at Partido Lo Garriga, 59, opens to the public on the first Sunday of every month between 1pm and 4pm. A free horse tour with centre co-founder Rod Weeding begins at 2pm and refreshments are available in the café. For more details and directions, visit www.easyhorsecare.net. For regular updates, follow us on Facebook at @EasyHorseCare.
