More than 20 artists from seven countries have donated stunning artworks to sell this month during a two-stage fundraising event for the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre near Alicante, Spain.
Organised by volunteers Koren Helbig and Isabel Sodric, the charity sale and auction will help buy winter hay for the rescue centre’s almost 100 rescued horses, ponies and donkeys.
Koren, an Australian freelance journalist, and Isabel, a Spanish translator, reached out to their network of artist friends worldwide and secured the support of prominent Spanish artists as well as creatives from further afield, including Australia, the USA, India, Italy, France and Poland.
Their event will begin with a limited-edition online art sale, running via the rescue centre’s online shop from November 8 to November 22, before concluding with a fast-paced live auction on November 26 at The October Press cafe in Alicante.
Koren and Isabel, who have volunteered with Easy Horse Care for several years, said they were spurred into action after witnessing first-hand the immense effort rescue centre co-founders Sue and Rod Weeding make to improve animal welfare in Spain.
“Once you go out to the rescue centre, meet Sue and Rod and see how hard they work every single day, it’s impossible not to act. We just felt like we had to do something,” Isabel said.
Added Koren: “We wanted to try something a little bit different to help raise awareness about what Sue and Rod are achieving – something that echoed the beauty of their horses, who all arrived starving and broken and now live fat and happy outdoors in herds.”
Every donated artwork has an equine theme and some pieces were inspired by the centre’s rescued horses, including Bronson, who was hit over the head with a hammer and suffered brain damage yet remains the kindest, happiest horse.
Proceeds will help buy winter hay, a major expense that places the rescue centre under extra pressure during the cooler months when prices almost double to €5 a bale. The rescued equines munch their way through 29 bales every single day.
“We know that Sue and Rod constantly struggle for funds to keep going, especially during winter when hay costs more and their charity shops are slower,” Koren said.
“The Weedings don’t receive a single cent of government funding, which is ridiculous considering many horses have been legally placed in their care by Spanish police. They work crazy hours seven days a week to keep it all going because without them, police would be unable to act on cases of horse abuse and neglect. There is simply nowhere else to take seized animals. That’s why their work is so important.”
Sue said gaining the support of so many artists brought tears to her eyes.
“It’s very heart-warming and means so much to Rod and I. Sometimes it is very difficult to keep going. But this helps us realise there are people out there who care. It’s making our life a little bit lighter, giving us wings again,” she said.
The online art sale opens at 9am on Tuesday, November 8 and closes at midnight on Tuesday, November 22. Five limited-edition prints of each artwork will be released for sale as well as several kindly donated original pieces.
Prices for each piece will be fixed, offering the chance to snap up an artwork right away, especially for those who can’t make the live auction. Head here to see what’s on offer: www.easyhorsecare.net/shops/online-shop/art-prints
The auction begins at 8pm on Saturday, November 26, at The October Press in Alicante. Just one print of each work will be auctioned, as well as any original pieces not sold online. Entry is free. Head here for full event details: www.facebook.com/events/1251414108214479/
