Going back in time, to
May in Fact, we must mention the
fantastic acceptance we experienced during our course:- “Basic Formation for
Professionals in Horse Assisted Therapy”, organised by META together with the
experts in Animal Assisted Therapy who make up Humanymal, specialists in Rescue,
Recuperation and Rehabilitation of abused and abandoned animals. These animals
then help train people in a vulnerable situation to become themselves trainers
and therapists working as a team with their animals.
A second course in this
amazing field of work is set for the end of October with an Intermediate Level
in November.
Anybody interested in
receiving more information about these courses please contact Liz or Veronica at
META 636 17 21 98 –
meta@meta.nom.es
CUANDO Y PANCHO, TWO DOGS LOST AND ALONE
ON THE MAIN
ROAD
It was yet another
incredible hot Friday evening at the end of
May. Veronica had set off for home and I was finishing the horses’ supper. She
hadn’t been gone 5 minutes when I had a call from her, not normal and of course
I thought the worst. Her voice sounded desperate. She hadn’t had an accident
but she was in a very dodgy situation in the middle of the main road to
Librilla. She had come across 2 dogs, obviously disorientated, sitting in the
road and very reluctant to move. I could hear over the phone the sound of big
trucks passing, blowing their horns as they tend to do here, and not slowing
down for anything.
It only needed Veronica
to say: ‘Mum come and help me. This is really dangerous.’ And I was backing
my car out of the drive. I could hardly believe my eyes when I reached
them,
Veronica’s car parked right on the road, a beautiful, obviously pedigree, German
Shepherd and a little Westie sitting together in the path of the huge trucks on
their way home from work at the quarry.
Between us we managed to
get the dogs into the back of my car and we drove straight back to META where we then had to
sort out separate space for our 4 dogs and 3 cats. We found a safe place for
all of them for that night and the next morning, Saturday, we took our strays to
the vet to check for microchips. The German Shepherd had a chip – registered in
Valencia – but the Westie
didn’t. There was no way to locate the owner ourselves so Veronica got on to the
Local Police and explained what had happened. The Police said they would trace
the owner of the dogs but in the meantime Veronica and Ruben put up posters
around the area.
We had Cuando and Pancho
with us until the next Tuesday. By that time we were already looking for
adoptive homes for the dogs. However, the did actually
locate the
owner who I believe was fined for letting the dogs stray onto the road and for
not having
the microchips up to date mainly because he was not a bit happy to see the dogs
when he turned up at META Riding Centre. The dogs weren’t particularly happy to
see him either for that matter.
In the end I felt that
it was a shame we had found the owner because I’m sure we could have given them
a better home elsewhere. Still the good part of the story is that they are safe
and together – they are really good friends – and the owner will be more careful
with them in future.
Friday 15th June: NOURA’S
SURPRISE VISIT
It was an extremely hot
evening mid June and I was working in the stables, getting supper ready just
before bringing up the horses. I was a bit absorbed in my own thoughts and
certainly not expecting anyone calling at that time.
But I heard a voice
outside the window so I peeped out not really wanting to open the door. To
my
utmost
surprise I
saw a young girl, brown as a berry, with 2 rather large horses packed up to the
hilt with equipment. So curiosity got the better of me and I went out to see
what I could do for her.
“Please”, she said. “I
need somewhere to stay the night. I’ve called at 2 horse centres and they have
both sent me here. I’ve come down from the Alpujarras (mountains between
Granada and Almería) and we’re
very tired.”
What could I do but let
the poor girl and those hot, tired horses in – at least for some water and a bit
of shade.
She is Noura, a German
girl who travels with her horses. She had bought these two horses in
Granada and was taking them
home to Germany – walking! A striking
grey Spanish gelding and a beautiful dun mare – must have had some Portuguese
blood in her.
Our place is small, 10
boxes and 9 horses, small loose pens for the horses to take the air and the
school. We told her she could leave the horses overnight in the loose pens and
she could sleep on a mattress in the multiutility room,
gym-cum-dormitory-cum-conference room.
A bed – What a luxury!
A shower – she couldn’t believe it! And a safe place for the night for her
horses – amazing!
If I’d said ‘No!’ at the
door she
would have put up her tent near the disused petrol station on the Mu-603 just
outside Los Ventorrillos.
After showering and
feeding her horses, she did the same and was in bed by 10.30 planning an early
morning march.
At about 7.30 the next
morning she was about to leave. Another German lady had come from Mojacar,
brought by her husband to join Noura on her venture. They were soon off up the
Guadalentin Valley on the next leg of
Noura’s 3-month trip to Germany.
To read about Noura’s
travels see her Blog. It’s in German of course!
META- AMTE ANNIVERSARY
Meanwhile, on June
17th,
META joined
forces with the Murcia Association for Riding for the Disabled to put on a show
in which pupils from META Riding School demonstrated their
riding skills alongside patients who have been coming to RDA sessions this past
year. Riding teachers and RDA Monitors alike were proud to see their pupils
working together without differences or prejudice.
Everybody had a great
day and people were particularly generous when bidding for articles in the
Auction which raised 350 euros to be used by children with
rare diseases from the
D’ Genes
Association in Totana for them to come and ride and enjoy time spent with META
horses.
The President of FEDER,
the Spanish Federation for Rare Diseases, Mr. Juan Carrión, was very proud and
grateful for the generosity shown by META clients and RDA
friends.
A note of special
interest:- Dr. Javier Hidalgo Tallón of Clinalgia
Clinic, Murcia, donated 3 one-month
treatments (each one of 20 sessions) of Ozone therapy to the value of more than
3.000 euros. These treatments are to be used to benefit children who are
suffering from rare diseases and are in a degenerative condition, those whose
parents are prepared to take them to Murcia every day for their
sessions. He says that this Ozone treatment will greatly ease their condition
and children and parents alike will see a huge improvement.
The Protocols were
presented to the Representative of D’ Genes who in turn was thrilled to receive
this wonderful donation.
META- HUMANYMAL GET-TOGETHER
June 24th saw a special
get-together day. Humanymal Specialists and Volunteers came to META to enjoy a day in the
Centre. Lunch was great fun. Each one brought a dish – the one we all most
enjoyed was the 3-layer chocolate cake – delish, so yummy! – sent by
Vanessa.
After lunch and a long
laze by the pool, more in the water than out because that Sunday it was
extra-super hot!!, at about 6.00 pm we could just about manage to get the horses
out and we spent a couple of hours ambling through the lemon orchards.
Everybody helped with the horses’ supper and some did a bit of skipping out but
it soon got round to 10 pm and time to head home to Alicante and Valencia, Humanymal
base.
Well that brings us up
to date with our Blog news and it’s Summer Camp time. Our first META Summer
Camp 2012 starts on Sunday 8th July.
JULY-A DONKEY CALLED
SALVADOR
These dreadful hooves
belong to Salvador, a poor little donkey
who has lived with cruelty, neglect and pain for a long time. Salvador was just one of several
donkeys belonging to a Spanish man in Lorca. However he was the lucky one. He
was seen by a lady who cared enough to take a photo of him and then contact
Andrea, who specialises in rescuing donkeys (Andreas Animal Rescue and the
Henrietta Foundation for Donkeys).
Salvador’s owner demanded 500
euros for the priviledge of rescuing the poor animal, wouldn’t take less, even
got threatening when the cruelty and the police were mentioned but wouldn’t drop
his price. It took Andrea all night on Facebook to raise the money through
donations.
Then I got the call,
Andrea in tears, ‘Liz, I desperately need a trailer to rescue a donkey’. She
told me all about it and of course offered her the use of our META trailer. But she didn’t know
what to do because Salvador couldn’t walk and she
wanted to take him straight to the vet. I suggested the veterinary hospital
where she would get a diagnosis and an official report, useful if she wanted to
make a case against Salvador’s owner.
Meanwhile Salvador’s owner cut back his
hooves. When Andrea arrived with the Vet Salvador had had his hooves trimmed
and the Vet commented that his feet didn’t look too bad!
By that time
Salvador was in agony. He had
to be literally carried into the trailer. He managed the trip to his new home
where he is bedded on shavings and straw. As of yesterday he still hadn’t been
able to walk out into his paddock.
Luckily Salvador is now in a place where
he will be well cared for and time will help to heal his sore feet. But for the
donkeys that were left behind, who knows if they will be so lucky. (If I know
Andrea she will be planning a way to rescue them too).
Coming up soon will be a
new series of Gallop Exams.
For those interested in
either the camps or the Gallop Exams please contact Veronica on 636 17 21 98 or
email veronica.cknowles@gmail.com
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