When Anne Zemmour arrived in Nicaragua to work for an organization as a graphic designer, she fell in love with the natural beauties and the hospitality of Nicaraguans, but when she stayed longer in the country, she observed the mistreatment that the cart drivers gave their horses, forcing them to carry heavy loads. loads that exceed their physical strength and these episodes were sad and outrageous.
Upon learning how equines with their weakened bodies were exploited in long days and in many cases abandoned by their masters when they fell ill, he was moved and thought of doing something about it.
The first thing that came to her mind was to get involved in a rescue group as a volunteer, however she found out that there was no organization in the country dedicated to helping abandoned horses. That disappointed her, but she promised that she wasn’t going to sit idly by.
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So, in 2016, Zemmour decided to found the El Mirador de Galán group, a kind of rescue team for endangered horses. Two other young people joined the project and between the three of them, they dedicated themselves to curing and feeding the quadrupeds that walked the streets abandoned by their owners, malnourished and sick.
A refuge for equines
They soon realized that they needed a place to guarantee the care of the animals. Where to house them? The first thing was to rent farms to be able to feed and care for them.
Over time, the work that Anne Zemmour did with her team grew and they saw the need to have their own farm for the organization. They achieved this step with great success when they bought a property of more than five manzanas of land in a rural community in the department of Granada.
They baptized the refuge as El Galope
In this 2023, the El Galope shelter houses 20 horses that were rescued from various cities in the country, including Managua, Rivas, Granada, Masaya and Boaco. In the place, the animals receive their food and veterinary care.
The founder of the refuge is filled with joy when she sees that these animals lead a dignified life, they don’t put any of them to work and, on the contrary, they dedicate themselves to recreating in the paddocks of the El Galope refuge. The males are neutered, because they do not seek reproduction.
Each tenant, a different story
Each of these horses has a different story of surviving abuse. For example, a mare was found in the Ciudad Sandino landfill with a broken leg, she could not walk. She was on the ground, and almost died of hunger and thirst as well. She was being eaten by ants, but responding to the community’s call, she was rescued to care for her by the youth of the El Galope shelter.
The mare did not survive, but at least she had a different end. She received care and attempts were made to save her.
“My dream is that more shelters and rescue groups open throughout Nicaragua and thus be able to work in a network with a work area in favor of equines,” highlights the young French woman who has a broad command of the Spanish language.
Behind the work of Anne Zemmour is a team of young volunteers who work non-profit in the rehabilitation of equines rescued from emergency situations, neglect or abandonment.
Voluntary work
Within the routine work of the refuge, young people are observed cleaning the manure of the horses, to later feed them with grass. Some are veterinary students who come to give them due care, to keep them in good health.
In the past, Anne Zammour rode purebred horses in her country, but currently, she does not do this practice, because her mission is to take care of these Creole animals, which suffered mistreatment for many and, in the end, were abandoned when they saw them old and sick.
Another of the dreams of this altruist is that cart drivers have other work activities or educate them to take better care of their animals. She also wants to expand the El Galope shelter space, to receive more horses.
“Right now we have a project to build a rehabilitation center that consists of specific stables for rehabilitation with a structure adapted to horses that sometimes require help to get up and a covered place to protect them from the cold and the sun”, reveals Zammour.
The maintenance of The Gallop
Each month, the El Galope refuge requires a budget of one thousand five hundred dollars for its operation, which implies the purchase of 200 bales of grass and 22 quintals of concentrates, as well as the salary of two people who are dedicated to the care and maintenance of the farm, as well as payment of basic services is included.
This project is maintained thanks to the donation of godparents who donate sixty dollars a month. Most of them are nationals who understand very well the problem of mistreatment that horses receive from carters. Foreign people also make their donations.
If you need to report a case of an abandoned horse or need to be part of this animal welfare organization, you can visit their Facebook page “El Mirador de Galán, rescate de equinos Nicaragua” or look for them on Instagram.
By United Voices
