Founded in 2008, our non-profit rescue centre saves neglected, abused and abandoned equines in Spain. We also welcome volunteers to work in the shops.
The Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre was founded in 2008 by Sue and Rod Weeding. We are British expats who had moved to Spain from England in 2001 to enjoy an easy sunshine-and-relaxation retirement. But all that changed in 2008 with Luceiro, a two-year-old stallion we found locked in a filthy and dark stable, his left eye badly injured and rotting, hurling himself repeatedly against the bars of his
stall as flies drove him crazy. Unable to walk away from such a distressing case of animal cruelty, we brought Luceiro home to our own finca – and unwittingly created a much-needed horse rescue centre. We set up our Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre near the little town of Rojales in the province of Alicante, along Spain’s Costa Blanca coastline. We now care for more than 90 horses, ponies and donkeys saved from abuse and neglect. We believe that when you love an animal, you fight to save it. They may be old crocks and broken down and disabled or whatever, but for the abuse they’ve suffered and survived, they deserve a second chance. We are determined to help push for the better treatment of animals in Spain and constantly lobby authorities to change laws and punish those who abuse animals. Learn about our many donation options, including one-off donations and horse sponsorships, here: www.easyhorsecare.net/donate
We also run a network of charity shops across the Alicante province. Donations of furniture, clothes and bric-a-brac to stock the shops are gratefully welcomed. Find out more here: http://easyhorsecare.net/shops/charity-shops
Every single cent donated or spent in our charity shops goes towards the hefty feeding and care costs of all our animals. Thank you for helping us gift these equines a second chance at life.
– Sue and Rod Weeding
09/01/2026
Three Christmases ago, these two turkeys were given a second chance at life. 🦃🦃
In today’s short video, narrated by Susan, we hear the story of how one of them was the very last turkey left on a market stall at Christmas. Unsold, unwanted, and destined simply to be discarded, her future was painfully clear. Rod stepped in and brought her home instead.
That small decision changed everything.
This Christmas marked their third year at the centre — not as commodities, but as living, breathing individuals, safe and cared for. They have long since forgotten the noise and chaos of the stall, and now live quietly, doing what turkeys should do: wandering, foraging, and simply being.
Stories like this don’t always shout. They don’t come with dramatic rescues or flashing lights. Sometimes they begin with one person noticing, caring, and refusing to walk away.
Thank you, as always, for standing with us and for valuing every life — even the ones the world is quickest to overlook. 💚
08/01/2026
A hero without a cape… but very much one of our own 🐶🪜
Some of you may have seen the lovely post shared by the Policía Local de Rojales this week, thanking an unnamed member of the public who rescued a dog from drowning in one of the local irrigation channels on New Year’s Eve.
We can now reveal that the mystery rescuer was none other than Rod Weeding.
Spotting a dog trapped and clearly in distress, Rod did what he always does when something needs fixing or saving: he went to get the right equipment. Returning with a ladder, he climbed down into the channel and lifted the dog safely out of the water, an act witnessed by another passer-by.
Only afterwards did he contact the police so the situation could be handled properly and the dog reunited with her owner.
Rod is often described as a man of many parts — some of them seemingly his own — but compassion, quick thinking and quiet action are certainly among them. Whether it’s a horse, a pig, a donkey… or a dog in trouble, the instinct is the same.
We’re incredibly proud of him, and grateful to the Policía Local for highlighting how much simple, selfless action can matter.
No cape required. Just boots, a ladder, and a very good heart. 💚
Héroes sin capa en nuestro municipio! 🐾👮♂️
Hoy queremos compartir con vosotros una historia con final feliz del pasado 31 de diciembre.
Un vecino de nuestro municipio salvó la vida de Edurne, gracias a su rápida intervención. Edurne es una perrita que había caído accidentalmente a una de las acequias de nuestro municipio, no pudiendo esta salir de la misma, por sus propios medios.
El vecino, tras rescatarla, se puso en contacto con la policía local para poder gestionar la situación de abandono del animal. Nuestros compañeros comprobaron que el animal se encontraba en buen estado e iniciaron las gestiones para localizar a su titular.
Desde la Policía Local queremos poner en valor la colaboración ciudadana, actuaciones como estas de manera desinteresada demuestran la gran sensibilidad hacia el bienestar animal.
También queremos recordar la necesidad de cuidar de los animales y la responsabilidad que recae sobre el propietario de estos. La ley establece multas importantes si no te preocupas por tus mascotas.
Si tú animal se escapa o se extravía, llámanos, haremos todo lo que este en nuestra mano para poder localizarlo.
¡Gracias! 🐶❤️
Policía Local por y para Rojales.
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07/01/2026
A change in the air ☀️
After weeks of unusually cold, wet weather — and even the rare sight of snow on the mountain tops — it finally feels as though the spell has broken here in south-eastern Spain.
Today was one of those perfect south Valencian days. Blue skies, sunshine you could actually feel, and that quiet moment when you realise your shoulders have dropped and your spirits have lifted. The kind of day where you can sit outside for a few minutes and simply breathe.
The fields are still a mess, of course. Mud doesn’t disappear overnight. But with warmer days ahead, there’s real confidence now that they can dry out and that we can return, gradually and safely, to our normal routines.
In today’s video, Susan reflects on the last few weeks and the relief of finally seeing the weather turn. As always, the centre adapts, waits, and gets ready to move forward again — calmly and carefully.
Sometimes, all it takes is a bit of sunshine to remind us why this place is so special.
06/01/2026
Site meeting in progress… 🐷🌳
Rod has been making some alterations in Ruppert’s garden area, trying to protect a tree that has recently become the object of very intense interest.
Ruppert, meanwhile, has been hard at work digging up the ground and making repeated attempts to eat said tree.
Metal barriers have been introduced.
Ruppert remains unimpressed.
Is he helping with the landscaping… or quietly sabotaging the project from within? We’ll let you decide.
One thing is certain: when Ruppert sets his mind to something, he brings enthusiasm, determination and absolutely no regard for the original plan.
04/01/2026
Local Help Needed – Forage & Stable Support
As many of you know, Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre is entirely dependent on daily, practical work — in all weathers — to keep our animals safe, fed, and cared for.
Following recent surgery, Susan is beginning to reduce the amount of heavy physical work she can personally do in the stables. For that reason, we are looking for one or more local, reliable people who may be interested in helping regularly with:
• forage preparation and distribution
• stable support
• general practical work around the centre
This is physically demanding, outdoor work, often repetitive, and it continues regardless of weather conditions. It is not a social role, and it does require consistency, reliability, and a genuine commitment to the animals.
We are specifically looking for people who:
• live locally
• can commit on a regular basis
• are comfortable with hard, hands-on work
• understand that animal welfare comes first, every day
If this sounds like something you would like to discuss further, please get in touch by WhatsApp, email or Messenger rather than commenting publicly. Our WhatsApp number is, +34 652 021 980, and our email address, [email protected].
Thank you, as always, for supporting the work of the centre and the animals who depend on it. 💚
03/01/2026
✨ A positive step forward for 2026 ✨
As we begin 2026, we’re pleased to share that Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre is now officially partnered with Animal Experience International and Worldpackers.
This marks an important and very welcome step forward for the centre.
Working with established international volunteering organisations allows us to:
• be clearer and more transparent about what volunteering here really involves,
• manage our accommodation and availability more responsibly,
• and ensure that placements are well planned, well supported, and fair to everyone involved.
Most importantly, it helps us stay focused on what matters most:
🐴 the welfare of the animals
🌱 the sustainability of the centre
🤝 and creating a positive, respectful experience for volunteers
We’ve already had a great response from people around the world who want to be part of our work, and we’re looking forward to welcoming our first volunteers through these partnerships in the months ahead.
2026 feels like a year of clarity, structure, and steady progress — and we’re excited about what lies ahead.
Thank you, as always, for supporting the animals and the people who care for them 💚
02/01/2026
Oh no… you’ve missed it again 😏
Just when you thought you were up to date, along comes another Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre newsletter…
Go on then — we’ll share the link just this once more 😉
Inside this month’s edition:
🐴 a December like no other, with rain, mud and fireworks
🎄 a wonderful volunteer Christmas get-together
🎒 two intense days of school visits with over 100 young people
💛 generosity, teamwork and a few quietly heroic moments
🌍 and a glimpse of how our volunteering programme is growing internationally
If you like stories from the heart of the centre — the real, everyday stuff — this one’s for you.
(And if you don’t want to miss the next one… you know what to do 😉)
01/01/2026
🎆 New Year’s Eve at the Rescue Centre 🎆
Last night was a challenging one for the animals at Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre.
Fireworks had been going up throughout the evening, but as expected, midnight brought a sudden and overwhelming barrage. Although we are in a rural location, the centre sits on the flat, open Vega Baja, where sound carries a long way. The flashes of colour caused little concern — but the noise was extraordinary, and for some animals, deeply distressing.
Our greatest worry was for Harley, our oldest resident, who is approaching 38. Following recent heavy rains he had already been carefully contained, and there was a real fear that panic could cause him to slip or injure his delicate legs in the mud. He was closely supervised by Rod and reassured throughout, and thankfully remained calm despite the chaos around him.
Elsewhere, the reaction was very different.
Bronson and Harry Trotter, already unsettled, became highly agitated.
In Camelot and Field 12, horses stampeded, slipping and sliding in the mud and coming dangerously close to fences and gates — one fence has been damaged overnight. In many fields the horses clustered tightly together for protection, seeking calm and reassurance until the noise finally subsided.
By around 12:45am, the fireworks had faded. Careful checks were made across the site to ensure no horses were down and no injuries had occurred. This morning, we are enormously relieved to report that no horses appear to be lame, and everyone is safe.
And in classic contrast, the donkeys were completely unfazed — calmly eating their feed throughout, as if nothing at all was happening.
Susan and Rod, who were understandably very anxious about the night, are deeply relieved this morning. The centre did what it always does in difficult moments: stayed calm, stayed present, and put the animals first.
We know fireworks are part of celebration for many people, but nights like this remind us how frightening they can be for animals — particularly the elderly, the injured, and the vulnerable.
Thank you to everyone who keeps the centre, and its residents, in their thoughts during times like these. 💚🐴
31/12/2025
30/12/2025
🌧️ Why Rain Is Such a Challenge for Us 🌧️
We’re always aware that whenever it rains, we talk about it a lot — and for many of our followers who live in countries where rain and mud are everyday companions, that can seem a little surprising.
So we wanted to explain why heavy rain presents particular challenges for us here.
In our part of Spain, prolonged rain is unusual, which means the land, infrastructure and surfaces aren’t designed to cope with it in the way they are in wetter climates. When rain does arrive, it tends to come suddenly and heavily, turning dry, compacted ground into slick mud very quickly.
For a rescue centre like ours, this matters enormously.
Many of the horses and donkeys in our care are elderly, disabled, or living with old injuries. Wet, slippery ground increases the risk of:
• falls and fractures
• aggravating existing joint or tendon damage
• painful slips that undo months or years of careful rehabilitation
Unlike younger, sound animals, some of our residents simply don’t have the balance or strength to recover safely from a slip.
Rain also makes everyday work harder and more physically demanding. Volunteers wading through mud face a higher risk of strains or falls themselves — and a volunteer injured by slipping in the mud is far more serious for us than a volunteer who takes things carefully or takes a break when conditions are poor.
None of this means we panic when it rains. Far from it.
What it does mean is that we become extra vigilant: adjusting routines, checking vulnerable animals more frequently, improving drainage where we can, and sometimes accepting that things will move more slowly until the ground dries out again.
Every region has its challenges. In wetter countries, mud is part of daily life. Here, it’s something we manage carefully when it appears — always with the safety and wellbeing of the animals, volunteers and founders at the centre of our decisions.
Thank you, as always, for your understanding and support. 💚🐴
28/12/2025
🌍 Meet the Volunteers – Marina from Sweden 🇸🇪
In today’s volunteer video, we hear first from Marina, speaking in Swedish, followed by her message in English.
Marina is a former teacher from Sweden who now travels between Sweden and Spain, and whenever she is here, she comes to volunteer with us. Her background in teaching shines through in everything she does — from her calm, thoughtful way with the animals to her real enjoyment of working with people.
Marina is also one of our tour guides, conducting tours in Swedish as well as helping out with our school visits. Having spent her professional life working with children, she particularly enjoys these tours, where curiosity, compassion and learning all come together.
Her story is also a good opportunity to explain how volunteering at the centre really works.
Although we currently have 98 volunteers on our WhatsApp group, only a small number live locally and are able to come in on a regular basis. Many of our volunteers, like Marina, live elsewhere in Europe and help whenever they are in Spain. Together, they form a remarkably committed and international community.
Volunteering at EHCRC is broadly divided into three teams:
• the field clearers,
• the forage team,
• and the donkey team.
When the weather turns bad — as it promises to do again today — the horses and donkeys can cope with their fields not being completely cleared for a day or two. What can’t pause, however, is feeding. The animals rely on the forage team every single day.
That team currently consists of nine people, led by Linda, who has brought organisation, regularity and continuity to a demanding but essential role. Alongside her organisational skills, Linda is a warm, caring presence who works incredibly hard for the centre — often adding small acts of kindness that make a very real difference to both people and animals.
Volunteers like Marina and Linda show us that there are many ways to support the rescue centre — whether you live nearby or far away, whether you come weekly or whenever you can.
Thank you, Marina, for everything you bring to EHCRC — and thank you to every volunteer who helps keep this place running, whatever their role. 💚🐴
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Founded in 2008 by Sue and Rod Weeding, our non-profit rescue centre saves neglected and abused horses, ponies and donkeys across Spain's Costa Blanca region.
We’re British expats who had moved to Spain from England in 2001 to enjoy an easy sunshine-and-relaxation retirement.
But all that changed in 2008 with Luceiro, a two-year-old stallion we found locked in a filthy and dark stable, his left eye badly injured and rotting, hurling himself repeatedly against the bars of his stall as flies drove him crazy.
Unable to walk away from such a distressing case of animal cruelty, we brought Luceiro home to our own finca – and unwittingly created a much-needed horse rescue centre.
We set up our Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre near the little town of Rojales in the province of Alicante, along Spain’s Costa Blanca coastline. We now care for more than 90 horses, ponies and donkeys saved from abuse and neglect.
We believe that when you love an animal, you fight to save it. They may be old crocks and broken down and disabled or whatever, but for the abuse they’ve suffered and survived, they deserve a second chance.
We are determined to help push for the better treatment of animals in Spain and constantly lobby authorities to change laws and punish those who abuse animals.
Our Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre is registered as a charitable foundation in Spain and all donations are tax deductible. Learn about our many donation options, including one-off donations and horse sponsorships, here: www.easyhorsecare.net/donate
We also run a network of charity shops across the Alicante province. Donations of furniture, clothes and bric-a-brac to stock the shops are gratefully welcomed. We also welcome volunteers to work in the shops. Find out more here: http://easyhorsecare.net/shops/charity-shops
Every single cent donated or spent in our charity shops goes towards the hefty feeding and care costs of all our animals.
Thank you for helping us gift these equines a second chance at life.
– Sue and Rod Weeding
(And thank you to our volunteers Jean Cha, Koren Helbig and Diane O’Neil for keeping our page so well updated.)
