LOCAL NEWS
51
JULY 2023
TREBALUGER EQUINE RESCUE CENTRE On 3rd June the Trebaluger Equine Rescue Centre held an open day to raise money and explain their work. Samantha Lake opened the centre in 2018 when she realised there were many abandoned and neglected horses and donkeys on the island. With the help of family and friends, she was able to give them a permanent safe and loving place to live freely. Samantha showed us round the facility which extends over 4 hectares. There were 29 horses, donkeys and mules at the centre when we visited, along with 30 cats, some chickens and new parents, Elvis and Priscila the ducks. The centre receives 2000 Euros a year from the Consell but has outgoings of 2000 Euros per month. The cost of renting the land, food and vets bills all must be raised from donations. The horses are rescued from around the island where they have been left to deteriorate and they arrive at the centre physically and mentally scarred. Samantha explained that it costs a farmer or owner 1000 Euros for a horse to be cremated and so they are sometimes just left in a field to waste away. With much love and care, Samantha and her team of volunteers bring them back to good health and slowly win back their confidence. Unfortunately, some of them never return back to their former condition or be able to be rehomed but they will always support and care for them. The horses are allowed to roam free around the land, but they tend to form their own social groups. At 5pm it is feeding time and they come in to eat and shelter for the night. John was worried before our visit that he would find it too upsetting. On the contrary, it was an uplifting experience to see the horses now in such good health. Horses which had arrived emaciated or with a broken jaw, were now back to full fitness and enjoying the company of the others. Samantha explained that donkeys, for example, are social animals and they can deteriorate or behave badly if left on their own.
We met a mule called Aries whose mother had arrived with burns and an eye injury and a donkey called Brusca who had been allowed to get too fat by his owners, leading to health problems. A horse had been brought in described as a devil with his ears back and biting and he was found to have ulcers. Once cured he was perfectly behaved. Samantha came to the island 35 years ago in 1987. She met her partner and together they have a daughter called India. She says it was only when India started riding that she became involved with horses. She worked for James Villas for 25 years but when COVID hit she was made redundant. Since then, she has worked full time at the centre. At the Open day there were 2nd hand clothes and food stalls and local artists had donated pictures, jewellery and many other beautiful items to help raise money. Visitors are welcome at the centre every day between 9:30 and 12:30 and can help with the work, which involves cleaning the stables and paddocks, filling water troughs and making up hay bags. Importantly there is time set aside to just ‘be’ with the horses and build up their trust and confidence around people again. Samantha also works with groups from the penitentiary and those with drug and alcohol problems. They find it healing to work safely outdoors with the animals. Trebaluger Equine Rescue Centre 10A Cami De Ses Cometes Trebaluger, Es Castell Menorca, Spain 07720 9.30-12.30 every day Others times can be arranged via WhatsApp +34 689 802 108 (Spanish & English Speaking) trebalugerequinerescue@gmail.com
ANTIC MOTOR CLUB DE MENORCA We went along to the first ‘Retro’ a vintage auto jumble and meet, arranged by the Antic Motor Club in Mercadal. There were lots of interesting vehicles on show and for sale. A few stalls were selling what looked, on first glance, like rubbish, but if you are a car nut like me, it was all gold. We met some interesting characters, such as Carlos and Gonzalo, and I was impressed by the knowledge of their members. I was taken by the lovely Citroën Traction Avant for sale, but Liz kept a firm hold of the wallet that day. There was a very tidy Willy’s Jeep, complete with olive paint, star on the bonnet and of course an axe strapped to the side. If you have an interest in old motor vehicles both cars and bikes, (even a tractor was spotted) then you should consider joining. There is a Cars & Coffee meet every 1st Sunday of the month and I am reliably informed that if you go to every one you can reclaim your membership fee in free coffees! There are around 237 members, and the club has been going for 35 years. This MG belonging to a member was not there unfortunately, but I’ve shared it with you because its such a beautiful thing. ROQ U E TA M AGA ZI N E . N E T
