Eden Equine Tenerife Horse Sanctuary
Eden Equine Horse Sanctuary is located up in the mountains of Arico in Tenerife. With spectacular views of Gran Canaria and the coast below and the pine forested mountains above, it is an amazing place to be. At around 750 metres above sea level, the weather is a little different to that down at the coast and although most of the time we enjoy the sunny and warm conditions that you find in the south of the island, we also enjoy the more frequent rainfall and cooler weather through the winter (well at least the animals and the plants do!)
Tenerife is a beautiful and amazing island with so much diversity, but unfortunately animal welfare is a growing concern. You will find many animal shelters working tirelessly to protect abandoned and abused animals, rescue them and find new and loving homes.
For equines on the island, particularly in the south, there is no available grazing. The cost of forage is high and frequently they are left, abandoned and starving. A big majority have either grown too old to be "useful" or have injuries or illness that make them unable to be ridden. This isn't only a problem in Tenerife but also throughout the world. Unfortunately, non-ridden equines are the most disadvantaged, in a world geared towards riding either for pleasure or competition. These equines are often over looked and under-valued, unwanted and unsellable, and that can lead to abandonment. However, here at Eden Equine we know that these horses deserve better. They absolutely deserve to live out the rest of their lives, however long or short that may be, and like every other living being, they deserve to live it with the 5 basic freedoms that apply to all life.
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Freedom from Hunger and Thirst: by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigor.
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Freedom from Discomfort: by providing an appropriate environment.
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Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease: by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment
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Freedom to Express Normal Behavior: by providing sufficient space and company of the animal’s own kind.
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Freedom from Fear and Distress: by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
This should go without saying right? Sadly, for many this is not the case and that is where we come in. Eden Equine is typically the last chance for these non riden equines to be able to live out their lives, happy and with friends.
More equines need help
It is not only the old, injured and those with health issues that can end up in need of help. Sometimes, for no apparent reason a perfectly healthy young horse is left abandoned, neglected and/or abused. Found in pitiful conditions, starving and desperate. Some of these horses are able to be rescued, rehabilitated and placed in permanent adoptive homes and this is something that we hope to be able to offer in the future, (for the moment all of our spaces are taken up by our lifelong residents). The need is great and whilst we know that we cannot save them all, we want to reach as many as we can.