Ten exquisite quilts have been donated by Barbora Dick of Skalabara Quilts to raise desperately needed funds for new internal fencing at Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre near Alicante, Spain.
Czech-born Barbora, who now lives in Alicante, doesn’t know Easy Horse Care founders Sue and Rod Weeding personally, but learnt of their work and funding struggles through long-time supporter of the charity, Kate Cammish, and local English newspapers.
“I have decided to donate the quilts to Easy Horse Care because I think both Sue and Rod are doing an incredible job with the charity,” Barbora said. “I honour their enthusiastic work of the charity. So why not help a local charity that is entirely depending on donations?”
Barbora’s donation has come at a fortuitous time, as the rescue centre looks to raise funds for new, permanent internal fencing.
The existing fencing is made largely of electric tape and plastic posts, which degrade rapidly in the Spanish sun and require constant upkeep. The new fencing will be strong and permanent, made from 1500m of Tornado Wire. But at €40 per metre, it doesn’t come cheap.
Sue and Rod aim to replace the fencing in stages as they raise the needed money and to minimise disruption to the rescued horses.
All proceeds from the quilts will go towards the fencing fundraiser and will help purchase nearly 50m of fencing for the first 128m stage. The quilts are available for purchase at easyhorsecare.net/shops/online-shop/homewares. Monetary donations can also be made at easyhorsecare.net/donate/help-build-fences.
The sanctuary is entirely reliant on donations not only for maintenance projects, but also for the ongoing care of the rescued equines, estimated to cost nearly €150,000 per year.
Sue expressed her gratitude to Barbora saying, “Without the support from the public and their kind donations of furniture, clothes and now quilts, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.”
The need for these donations has only grown with increasing numbers of horses, ponies and donkeys being abandoned to the streets.
“It’s hard to imagine what it would be like if the police weren’t taking quick action to rescue these animals and we weren’t here to provide them a home,” Sue said.
“The government don’t have any facilities to house these animals, so we’re not just saving them, we’re providing a public service to get them off the street.”
Recent rescue Pee-wee, a miniature pony, is just one example of this disturbing trend. He was left tied to railings in Lorca for a week, before a neighbour reported him and the police acted to save him from starvation.
Arriving at the centre in a skeletal state, with serious health issues including a mouth infection, many rotten teeth, blood coming from his penis and a tumour pushing one eye out of its socket, Pee-wee has now gained 20 kilograms and is going from strength to strength. But he has a long way to go.
Of most concern is the tumour, which needs to be removed before it causes further damage. The operation will happen as soon as Pee-wee is strong enough to handle it.
“I’m overjoyed at the progress he’s made. He’s absolutely beautiful and a pleasure to look after, but I still worry about him constantly,” Sue said.
Anyone interested in making a donation to Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre, becoming a long-term sponsor, or volunteering at the sanctuary 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. For more details and directions, please visit www.easyhorsecare.net.
