June’s newsletter

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World Gin Day 2020
We told Malibu it’s World Gin Day. She was well up for itΒ π
Mr G and Tequila
A little day trek today for two farm favourites, Mr G and Tequila. Pretty sure all the horses are favourites actually!
Remembering Bandelero
Who remembers Bandolero, pictured here in 2016?

There is nothing so good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse but if the rider is nuts, the horse will bolt. A lovely horse is always an experience…. It is an emotional experience of the kind that is spoiled by words; it is indescribable. The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and fire.
Cerys Davies

Here’s an amazing drawing of him done by Sarah Kidd.


Not in the Guide Books
Thanks to Not In The Guidebooks for putting together this adorable little video about the Ranch!
Here’s the accompanying interview with Sarah.
This week, weβve been chatting to the lovely team from Caballo Blanco β they run a rescue and rehabilitation centre for animals, and especially for horses from all around Spain. Theyβve been busy keeping the centre running during lockdown β the animals very much still need looking after, even if they donβt have any visitors. But now restrictions are beginning to be lifted in Spain, theyβre heading out on their first rides of the summer, so things are looking up. We hear from Sarah to find out a little bit more
So Sarah, tell us a bit about yourself
Iβm a Brit living in southern Spain with my two teenagers on an off-grid ranch of 30 horses, 7 dogs, 9 cats, 2 ducks and a gaggle of geese. Theyβre pretty much all rescues, and we regularly foster. Iβve got three foster kittens right now, who are keeping us entertained. Iβm originally from the New Forest in the UK and came over to Spain for a holiday, visiting a friend here, around 20 years ago. I just fell in love with it and went home, sold up and came over in a caravan.
What makes Caballo Blanco unique?
We live in such a special place that anything anyone does here is automatically βspecialβ! We are regularly contacted to see if we can take on horses in need (if we canβt, we will liaise with other rescue associations as of course, we only have limited space). When we get a new rescue in, we work with them, slowly, carefully and if itβs right for them, they can then progress into becoming one of our trekking horses. We then go on treks with guests across the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, staying in mountain cottages and revelling in the natural wildness of the area. The horses thrive here and when the time comes, they find forever homes so quickly; often even going to people who have met them and fallen in love on their holiday with us. The area is so beautiful and I just loved riding here myself. I really wanted to share that with other people and trekking here is an amazing way to rehabilitate horses.
And what makes the Sierra Nevada mountains such an amazing place to be?
I love the dramatic scenery. The mountains are so beautiful, and we can even see Morocco from the Ranch when the weatherβs right. Itβs very rural so sometimes it feels like being in the UK but twenty years ago β the fashions, the technology (the pharmacies wonβt accept e-prescriptions!). Thereβs a charm to that, which, mixed with the around 320 days of sunshine we get a year, just makes for a relaxing way of life. Also, being so rural means that the air is cleaner and thereβs less noise pollution. The wild herbs on the mountains being crushed as we ride is an aromatic experience. At night, we regularly see the Milky Way as there are so few other light sources. Itβs such a treat. The flip side of all that being, we are only about 30 minutes to the coast and 30 minutes to Granada so we can snorkel one day, ski the next or go shopping!
LanjarΓ³n is our nearest village and has been visited for centuries because of the spring water. Itβs famous for it in Spain and still attracts a lot of people for the supposed healing properties. Itβs a village with the oldest average age in the Med, or something like that. The foothills of the Sierra Nevadas have been inhabited for centuries; itβs an area with such rich history. The Moorish influence can be seen in the architecture, the people and the traditions. Itβs amazing to see it still today when you consider the Spanish conquered the area and drove the Moors out in the 1600s!
How have you been keeping busy during lockdown?
As I mentioned, we have 3 foster kittens so thatβs been a lot of fun! We will miss them when they go, like with all the foster animals but itβs so rewarding. Of course, looking after all the animals is a never-ending range of activities, as is our off-grid location; itβs amazing how difficult a problem water is when itβs not up to someone else to sort out! We recently got a new rescue horse who we are working with. She was a plough horse but sadly neglected. At 19 hands, sheβs a lot to handle so we are working little and often to keep everyone safe and improve her quality of life.
Volunteering is a good thing to do and certainly helps places like us survive. There are associations, like The Cinnamon Trust in the UK, that look for volunteers to care for peopleβs pets who are struggling, e.g. the elderly or cancer patients. We have been cooking and baking a lot too, like a lot of other people! My jodhpurs certainly know about it!
What have you been missing the most during your time in lockdown?
In Spain, we werenβt allowed to ride the horses for about 10 weeks so we really missed that; so did they! We also really missed seeing all our returning guests who were booked to come. Itβs fallen over our busiest period, which is such a shame. Seeing the wild flowers changing across the mountains is one of the yearly highlights so thatβs been disappointing missing that but they will be there again next year and we can all look forward to that.
Visit the page here.
Vicio and the ducks

Another success story!
Vicio had a few issues when he came to us; his name actually means ‘vice’ π¬ We retired our lovely Megan and did a swap with his owner.
He turned into one of our most popular, safest boys for treks! Very sweet-natured and adored by us all.
Today, he is off to stay with Emma near Ronda to be company for her mare, Trifle, and her four year old daughter.
Not only that, the ducks we rescued from being prizes at the fair are going too!
Thanks to LKS Horse Transport for your help loading and safe trip!
Thank you, Rosie
Zara and Martini are off for a summer holiday!
Huge thanks to Rosie for being their foster home for the next few months so they can feast on all the yummy grass π±π±π±
To find out more about the rescue association and how you can get involved, click here.
Summertime Bingo
A summertime checklist to print off and work your way through this summer (following all C19 guidelines of course).


Another thank you

Huge thank you for all this wonderful hay and alfalfa from Katie and Lucian at Finca Marjari.
Thank you to Jane, Steve and Linda for cutting and storing it all!
And Scoot too πΆ
Look how happy Johnnie Walker is π

