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.