Atajate, Serrenia de Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Southern Spain

Ada, Bibi, Pisko and Falco in the morning sun

We are a small, registered association looking after a herd of seven horses on site, and others off site at various times. We rely on help from animal lovers so that our project can grow.

Some of our horses had been barefoot on the mountains all of their lives enjoying a natural existence, while others have arrived from sad situations to improved conditions and care for the rest of their days.

In 2016, we were forced to move the horses from their mountain home and since then have been working on improving the new pasture and facilities for both horse and human. We and the herd rely heavily on contributions of both labour and funds from kind animal-lovers.

We have developed volunteer programmes which allows people to come here to meet our herd and help us to care for them, or the land around them. Our volunteers often find that learning to respond to each horse’s particular needs aids their own self – development.


 

In 2020, we became an enthusiastic part of the Horse Charming programme and will be offering professional courses in force-free training techniques.

We also work with the local Spanish community to try and improve conditions for Spanish horses, mules and donkeys, too many of whom lead unnatural and often painful lives. With more funds, we could press on with this vital work.


Our aims

  • To inspire horse lovers and owners through open days, community outreach and workshops, and to be able to receive people from around the world who would like to learn better ways to keep horses.
  • To train the sanctuary’s horses sympathetically, force-free, naturally, barefoot and bit-less.
  • To promote good, sustainable horse care by creating an enriched environment for our own herd.
  • To raise awareness of the requirements for a happy, healthy, emotionally and physically well-balanced horse.
  • To work with owners and their horses to explore and share knowledge of horse behaviour and welfare, providing essential services for those who need it.
  • To live sustainably, and share sustainable living techniques and vegan recipes which volunteers can take away and use after their experience on the farm.

 

Contact us

If you would like to contact us by email:

tasequine@gmail.com

By phone call or WhatsApp:

Clare +34 644449145, Chico ±34 610394189

 

Nuts and bolts

For visiting we are situated between the larger cities of Ronda and Gaucin which are inland, and Manilva on the coast. Our closest coast is the Costa del Sol.

Our address is Atajate 29494, Málaga, Spain. Contact us by email if you need our postal address. 

Registered charity number: G93637627

To transfer funds in international currency, or you want a cheaper option than PayPal, we use Wise, and you can use our email address or IBAN: ES61 1491 0001 2530 0010 8707 and Swift/BIC TRIOESMMXXX

 

Getting here

Our closest Airport is Málaga. Although public transport is infrequent, it is very easy to use and reliable. Normally pre-booking public transport is not necessary, but please check out time tables before booking flights as transport does not run late.

Other ways of getting to us would be to hire a car in Málaga, or to arrange a taxi service which we can help you with.

It takes approximately two hours to get to Atajate from Málaga airport.

If you are planning on using public transport, it is better to book your arrival flight for the morning or early afternoon, as public transport options are limited or non existent later in the day, and your return flight should not be earlier than 12pm to allow for time to arrive in the airport.

Other options would be to stay in Málaga a night.

Buses are under 20€, a taxi company charges 130€, and we have people locally who would collect for 90€.

If you wish to use public transport, first you must take the small bus or train from the airport to the city of Málaga – Maria Zambrano Station, which is a short journey and transport runs regularly. Then you take a bus or train to Ronda where we can collect you, or if you arrive in Ronda on time there is a bus that leaves around 4:30 pm to Atajate on week days, but please check current timetable.

Or click here to see on Google Maps

 

Return to the main EQUINE PROGRAMME page…

Return to the main SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMME page…

Clare grew up in the UK and has been passionate about horses all her life. She has worked in racing, showing and teaching.

In 2010, Clare moved to Spain and spent more than six years studying a feral herd in the mountains of Andalucia, learning a new way of relating to horses.

At the same time, she was also deeply moved by the plight of many of the horses in the area, confined to dark stables all day, every day and ridden in cruel bits which caused pain and injury. It was these experiences that inspired the Time and Space project.


Initially, Clare taught natural horsemanship but now specialises in force-free training. She studied behaviour change science and became a certified Horse Charming professional in 2020 working alongside Max Easey and other Horse Charming force-free  trainers around the world.

Chico grew up in the village of Atajate where Time and Space is now based. Alongside his father, he learned about the land, how to cultivate and grow crops and how to nurture and care for their olive trees that produce the highly-prized olive oil that is a staple of Andalucian life. He also has many years’ experience around horses but has always had a softer attitude than many Spanish riders, preferring a more natural style of handling them. 


Clare and Chico met on a ride in the mountains where Clare noticed his style was different.

Chico stepped in to translate when Clare berated a rider for using a bit that was making his horse bleed. Later they raced home at a gallop – Clare won both the race and Chico’s admiration. And so it was that Chico joined Clare in caring for the mountain herd. 

Together Clare and Chico have struggled to do their best for the horses in their charge throughout the changes that have been forced upon them, battling to save those that they could and to foster a change in horse welfare standards. Now, with daughters Stella and Nora, they have made a life for themselves and their animals on this beautiful mountainside where they welcome the volunteers who come to discover their way of interacting with horses and the land.

Here in Andalusia, equine care is out-dated and often brutal. It is common to see horses tethered or hobbled (usually two front legs tied together) all day and without accessible water. Those you don’t see are often permanently confined to a small windowless stable which may only be cleaned once a year.

It is common practice for horses here to be put in a serreton: a nose-band with metal spikes set low on the horse’s nose so that it presses on the soft cartilage, causing bleeding and scarring. If you look closely at the carriage horses in Malaga, you will often see this characteristic scarring.

Hoof care is rudimentary at best and this causes pain and long term problems. Veterinary care is basic and colics are a regular occurrence because of a lack of knowledge around correct feeding and exercise. Dental care, de-worming and other treatments are unheard of.


Our work as an organisation covers four main areas. Community outreach; environmental protection and paddock enrichment for our seven horses; force-free training and handling both taught and practiced; and our volunteer programmes:


COMMUNITY OUTREACH

How do we change it?

Astonishingly, these methods of equine keeping are more due to ignorance rather than an intentional wish to harm. One old man proudly showed me the many patches of white hairs around his mule’s withers, sides, under her girth and around her chin (all caused by ill-fitting tack and bad loading), boasting that these were a sign of what a good worker she was!


THE SANCTUARY – environmental protection and paddock enrichment

A horse’s needs

Everything we do within our sanctuary has to provide the best examples of horse care. We have a basic set-up, but all our plans are well thought out to consider the horses’ needs and how they behave in a non-domestic situation. We are looking at both the physical and mental health of the horses – the latter is still greatly overlooked in most countries worldwide. People are just starting to understand how to encompass the horse’s true needs within their management systems.


HORSE TRAINING & HANDLING

Changing the relationship

Beyond basic care, we also need to give good examples of handling and training. Even experienced horse owners and riders may have much to learn. Many people have a perfunctory relationship with the horse where they just turn up to the stables and ride. Horse owners, too, often just ‘use’ their horses rather than develop a relationship with them.


VOLUNTEER

Be a part of it

We operate a volunteer programme so that people can come here to help us out with the day-to-day care but also work with our horses to learn new skills to take home with them.

 

Environmental protection and paddock enrichment

A horse’s needs

Everything we do within our sanctuary has to provide the best examples of horse care. We have a basic set-up, but all our plans are well thought out to consider the horses’ needs and how they behave in a non-domestic situation. We are looking at both the physical and mental health of the horses – the latter is still greatly in most countries worldwide. People are just starting to understand how to encompass the horse’s true needs within their management systems.

Building & paddock enrichment

We are working to improve the sanctuary both for the horses and for educational purposes. It will benefit the horses both physically and mentally. Even in modern settings, horse management can be lacking regard for the horse’s natural behaviour. Having matching tack and bridle hooks and a stable that looks as tidy as your front room is satisfying for us but not of great benefit to the horse.

We need to look much deeper into how the horse behaves in a natural free-running herd to get an idea of his needs. Of course, we don’t all have vast areas of land to offer our horses, but we can get inspiration from nature as to how to recreate some of these elements so that they feel more at home in a domesticated life.

How it started

With the aid of our volunteers’ donations and practical help, we have already introduced some of these elements but others are still on the ‘to do’ list. When we came to this site in 2016, it was totally unsuitable but we had to get the horses out as they were being given away to abusive homes so there was no choice.

The land was steep with no fencing, shelter, or level place for feeding. The first two winters were appalling as we battled in knee deep mud to erect emergency fencing but now we have the basics in place. We still need a winter shelter but while we wait for the interminably slow Spanish planning process, we have invested in some specialist rugs that allow the horse to raise its hair to trap heat when needed. Standard rugs flatten the hair removing the insulation provided by the natural ‘fluffing’ response.

Living together naturally

Our horses live out together as this is essential for happy horses, even though there is some chasing or biting. Although this is common in domesticated horses, it’s rare in the wild so we are always considering what we may have created as humans that alters the horses’ natural behaviour, so we can manage it better.

There is natural shelter in summer and we are in the process of replacing the emergency wire fencing with post and rail. Then, with clever design, we can recreate a little of nature within a restricted amount of land. This serves three main purposes:

• To provide the horses with more mental stimulation so they don’t get bored and frustrated.

• To allow physical movement for muscles, hoof growth and rehabilitation.

• To protect the land from erosion – both for the land’s sake and so that the horses can enjoy it for much longer.

Why is it necessary?

In the wild, horses walk 15-30km every day over rough terrain looking for food and water. This hardens and stimulates growth, or wears down their hooves so they keep in good condition. Most domesticated horses walk considerably less than this mainly on soft grass or mud, so their feet don’t wear down naturally. The hooves get soft, leading to disease.

A diet of rich grass can also cause laminitis, an extremely painful disease that can be fatal. In the wild, the horse’s diet is much more varied, including shrubs, herbs and flowers – and they use a lot of energy to find it. Nor do they eat grain. Just as we are now discovering that a high carb diet isn’t good for us, the same is true for horses. It’s rich in sugars and starches which are inflammatory.

A labour of love

We still need to fence, connect other fields with gates and bridges and make varied surfacing and grazing systems.

Our basic flat feeding/loafing area, complete with post and rail fencing, was built in 2017. However, it needed further work to stop it turning to bog in winter. We had some stones donated in 2018, which helped considerably and next we are hoping to invest 3000€ in mud control slabs to further improve this area.

In the summer of 2018 we built some steps with a group of scouts that visited. This helps the horses with the entrance to the flat area, and reduces the amount of mud that washes down onto it from the sloping hill above. We need a couple more steps built and mud control slabs placing on top.

Intelligent planting

There is a wall that runs between the two sets of steps and we would like to plant vetiver here. Its’ dense root system will help retain the wall and stop the waterfall of rain which pours through the stones in winter, adding to the mud problem on the flat. We will also use vetiver alongside other beneficial and edible plants in different areas of the fields to prevent erosion, channel rain water, create movement for the horses, and give them a longer season of grazing. Vetiver also has many healing properties.

Islands in the sun

In other areas, we would like to erect post and rail double-fencing in long narrow strips to form ‘plant/grazing islands’ within the fields. The horses will then need to pass around these islands to get to other areas of the field, creating interest and movement. The post and rail will allow the horses to reach over and under to nibble at the plants, trees, leaves, and grasses growing there. This will create some varied slow grazing. We will plant a variety of trees and shrubs beneficial to the horses’ diet and to provide summer shade. Virtually nothing grows in the fields most of the year due to the climate here, so the horses are desperate for a bit of something fresh. They would need hundreds of acres for plants to still be able to grow naturally so this will protect them from heavy traffic and over grazing, allowing them to flourish as the horses effectively prune them, rather than destroy them. In winter, this planting will also divert rain water from the slope and prevent us losing any more of the land to erosionto form ‘plant/grazing islands’ within the fields. The horses will then need to pass around these islands to get to other areas of the field, creating interest and movement. The post and rail will allow the horses to reach over and under to nibble at the plants, trees, leaves, and grasses growing there. This will create some varied slow grazing. We will plant a variety of trees and shrubs beneficial to the horses’ diet and to provide summer shade.

Virtually nothing grows in the fields most of the year due to the climate here, so the horses are desperate for a bit of something fresh. They would need hundreds of acres for plants to still be able to grow naturally so this will protect them from heavy traffic and over grazing, allowing them to flourish as the horses effectively prune them, rather than destroy them. In winter, this planting will also divert rain water from the slope and prevent us losing any more of the land to erosion.

Life’s a beach

Another planned feature is a splash pool to help the horses to cool off and get rid of flies.

They will be able to get deliciously wet and muddy to protect their skin. We would like to provide varied ground surfaces such as sand, stones and gravel. The harsher materials are necessary for good hoof health and the sand because they just love to roll and lie in it!

Feeding the family

The second-best diet after a free-roaming one, is good quality hay but it isn’t readily available in this area due to terrain and climate – most locals feed straw and grain. We also started out this way. But from 2017 we were able to finance enough year-round hay to be able to cut out grain. From 2020 we no longer have to mix hay with straw, but we’re able to feed hay as the main forage.

In the first years, the horses had their forage (hay and/or straw) on the ground. A lot got wasted in the mud, and they would eat it too fast and be without it for the rest of the day. Because the horses’ digestive system is designed for a grazing animal, they should eat little and often. If they eat too much in one go, they can get colic. If they are without any forage for more than a couple of hours, acids start to build up in their stomach which can lead to ulcers. Slow feeding systems can help prevent this.

Donated hay-nets enabled us to have a better feeding routine for a while, but it was extremely time-consuming and the horses still ate all the hay within a couple of hours and, in winter, would then shiver miserably in the mud and rain. It was far from ideal.

Our design for the flat loafing area was to massively improve our feeding system. We invested in large netting that is hung all across the fence-line providing mud-free forage all year long. The nets are large enough to fill just once a day. We noticed a difference in the horses’ behaviour immediately – now they just stand along that fence line! The proposed grazing islands will encourage much more movement.

Return to OUR WORK…

Return to the SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMME...

Changing the relationship

Beyond basic care, we also need to give good examples of handling and training. Even experienced riders or horse people may have much to learn. Many people have a perfunctory relationship with the horse where they just turn up to the stables and ride. Horse owners, too, often just ‘use’ their horses rather than develop a relationship with them.

This can cause psychological problems that owners are unaware of. Although unintentional, it can be damaging to the horse. Just like children that have been suppressed or manipulated, horses also display similar reactions and respond well to a more sympathetic approach. This may only be apparent when we begin to change our training and communication methods. For the first time, the horse learns he has a voice. We learn from behaviour change science to teach and handle all horses in a force-free, non aversive way.

Some horses start to love and connect with people while others may initially become aggressive before they learn to trust. It is inspiring to work through it with them.

Return to OUR WORK…

Return to the EQUINE PROGRAMME main page…

How do we change it?

Astonishingly, these methods of equine keeping are more due to ignorance rather than an intentional wish to harm. One old man proudly showed me the many patches of white hairs around his mule’s withers, sides, under her girth and around her chin (all caused by ill-fitting tack and bad loading), boasting that these were a sign of what a good worker she was!

How do we get him to understand that if she wasn’t in pain, she would be a much better and happier worker? I have tried many times to explain different practices and philosophies to locals, only to be ignored or ridiculed. What could a foreign woman possibly know, and how dare she criticize the traditions passed down through generations!

Leading by example

All our horses are barefoot and the locals believed we are causing our horses injury by not fitting metal shoes. But they see us now, more than eleven years on, riding the same horses whose hooves are still in brilliant condition, whilst their horses’ feet are crumbling away or have developed chronic problems, so they are beginning to question their beliefs.

Prevention rather than cure

There are a number of rescue sanctuaries around Spain doing fantastic work and equines have been successfully removed from their owners for bad treatment. Unfortunately, though, the legally acceptable level of cruelty is way too high before most animals can be removed. Our aim is to prevent the need for this by improving the conditions for the animals by effectively ‘bargaining’ with the owners.

How do we effect change?

We know that these owners will not read any information, so we plan to make a grant available so we can offer them, say, some free fencing materials if they agree to let their horse out of the stable. This immediately improves the situation for the horse. We would have a contractual agreement and the fencing will be removed if they fail to keep to it.

Using the same tactics, we could also provide regular de-worming treatment or hoof care, or pay for dental treatment, for instance.

If anyone is already breaking the law, we will first talk to the perpetrator and offer some help to change the situation. If no agreement can be reached then we will invoke the law.

In effect, we will offer them a choice – we will help you improve or report you. Where it works, the result is that the equine is in a better situation and, most importantly, the next generations become used to seeing correct practices. They will know hooves get trimmed every six weeks, or that a dentist comes once a year. There will finally be good role models and decent care becomes the norm.

Care in the community

Most of our funding currently comes from volunteer donations. We would like these to allow us to do more to help local equines and their owners via our Community Outreach project We have already done some of this work, providing care through a crisis on a case-by-case basis, usually when someone has actually approached us for help.

Return to OUR WORK…

 

This page provides further information about the sanctuary and how you can get involved. Please do get in touch if there is anything you are interested in or if you have further questions. At the bottom you will find links to our programmes.

We are a small association aiming for self-sufficiency and working with the land and animals in harmony. We look after a herd of seven horses on site and others off site at various times. We rely on help from nature and animal lovers so that our project can grow.

We live in a village of 150 people in the mountains. It is friendly and intimate. Even if you don’t speak any Spanish, you will be welcomed as if you do.

 


We are an English-Spanish family, and you are invited to join us and take part in a fusion of at least two languages and cultures.

Clare and partner Chico have a wide variety of experience and skills between them. Chico is a native Spanish speaker and runs the gardens and building projects. Clare oversees the horse training sessions, often with the help and support of other volunteers.

 

Volunteers vary in number, age and background all through the year. Our youngest unaccompanied has been 14 years old and our oldest in their 60’s. Sometimes we just have one, and at other times a group of ten or more! If you are particularly interested in joining us when we have a few others, please check beforehand.


Work is often physically hard and although we welcome people from all experiences. A hard-working attitude fits best here. Please let us know before booking if you have specific needs or disabilities so we can discuss the possibilities.

You will be joining a family with animals and children. It is essential that you are happy with this as they all join in every area of our lives! Younger volunteers are welcome with parents or guardians.

We are always looking for helping hands whether with general care and maintenance; helping us keep our horses happy; or helping with promotion – there shall be something to suit your skills. Work hours normally are up to 25 hours per week.

 


THE EQUINE PROGRAMME

 

This is tailored to individual travellers and small groups of friends or family who would like to help out at the sanctuary by taking care of the horses and their surroundings. Participants will also be invited into force-free training sessions.


THE SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMME

 

This caters for individual travellers and small groups of friends or family who would like to help out at the sanctuary by taking care of the gardens and land, or by helping with current building projects. It offers the opportunity to learn about a different way of life and pick up new skills


Join our team looking after the horses, improving the sanctuary and promoting equine welfare whilst working on force-free horsemanship skills using positive reinforcement with a project horse and guidance.

Volunteering your time is a great way to experience our horses and get a sense of what we’re working to achieve within the sanctuary.

This is a rounded programme that includes working AND learning, although we don’t really separate the two. Many of the most meaningful learning moments may be due to observing the herd during feed times or whilst cleaning their field.

Each applicant will be invited into our horse training sessions where they can learn how to handle and be with the horses first, then gain and develop training skills, progressing each horse in the way he or she will benefit from.

You will learn a lot of practical skills here whilst training the horses, but you will also learn the science behind it.

*Please note we are NOT riding any of the horses at the moment*

Training the horses

The horses in the sanctuary are in recovery to one degree or another from past experiences with humans. Because we are changing their perceptions of people we have removed riding and all forms of aversive handling. We first need to train each horse to give consent for everything from being touched, to grooming, to leading, and to veterinary care before we work on consent for riding. It is extremely interesting watching the horses go through their rehabilitation, and we would love that you could be a part of that.


A typical day

The following is just an example. Routines change seasonally and can also change daily, depending on what other commitments we may have. 

First thing in the morning, volunteers take a pretty fifteen minute walk from the village to the site. As you approach you will hear the horses calling for their breakfast as they sense the volunteers arriving.

You can breakfast early before you leave or take a break later for a picnic breakfast (you prepare this yourself). We are flexible! 

First the horses are fed and the usual day-to-day chores such as filling water and pooh-picking are completed (this usually takes a couple of hours). Then we will either start training and working with the horses or do any other jobs we may have on the agenda.


The volunteers who are part of the Equine Sanctuary Programme return in the afternoon or evening (depending on the season) to finish work. This may be either the training, or pooh-picking, or putting out the hay.

There are other commitments that we take part in locally such as training other horses or looking after sick or mistreated animals away from our premises. So when volunteers are ready they usually take on some of the working responsibilities themselves allowing us to do this essential work in the community. Volunteers are also invited to join to observe our work on occasions.

There is an on-site outdoor kitchen so there are options for catering. In winter, volunteers may stay all day, but starting a little later and finishing earlier. In summer, when it’s too hot to work, we either go home for lunch and a siesta, stay and have a picnic and maybe a dip in our ‘alberca’, or visit the village pool.

In your spare time you can rest, organise your own activities, use the internet, read, socialise, go to the bar, listen to music, cook…..there are many options.


Spring and autumn are generally the most pleasant months weather-wise, but if you are visiting during the summer months be aware that temperatures can reach 45 degrees, and work needs to be started very early at day-break (or before) and continued in the evening, finishing and eating late.

It can be very wet in the winter, but nice and sunny at midday. Temperatures can drop to close to freezing at night. You should be prepared with warm layers and waterproofs.

You are not required to have previous experience with horses or farm work, but you will need a hard working attitude, and the skill of being able to open your eyes to different ways of life and experiences.

If you are under 16 then we can accept you with permission from a legal guardian.

Join our team working in harmony with nature to attain sustainability for the horses and their humans. We rely on help from nature lovers so that our project can grow.

This programme is for those wanting to work with the land and building a home for ourselves and the horses. At our sanctuary we are creating a space which can be stimulating and sustainable for both flora and fauna.

We are developing the centre agriculturally. This involves building, clearing, planting and harvesting. We are working in interesting and stimulating ways to complement human needs with those of the horses’, while protecting the land against erosion and creating sustainability in all areas. Our vegetable garden is intended to provide food for ourselves and hopefully some to spare.


Our aims within this programme

  • To work with nature to fulfil human and horse needs
  • To develop the land to encourage natural flora and fauna
  • To use innovative designs to incorporate beauty, practicality, and sustainability
  • To create a space for successful shared use of land which is efficient but fully sustainable, making the best use of the natural features and solving problems in the most harmonious way possible
  • To promote high welfare, sustainable horse care by creating an enriched environment for our own herd.

A typical day

The following is just an example. Routines change seasonally and can also change daily, depending on what other commitments we may have.

First thing in the morning, volunteers take a pretty fifteen minute walk from the village to the site. As you approach you will hear the horses calling for their breakfast as they sense the volunteers arriving.

You can breakfast early before you leave or take a break later for a picnic breakfast (you prepare this yourself). We are flexible!

There will be other volunteers taking care of the animals, whilst you will be assessing and designing the next step in our sustainability project. Chico will share his knowledge and tips with you about working on the land here and we like to embrace the ideas and skills you may bring.

There is an on-site outdoor kitchen so there are options for catering. In winter, volunteers may stay all day, but starting a little later and finishing earlier. In summer, when it’s too hot to work, we either go home for lunch and a siesta, stay and have a picnic and maybe a dip in our ‘alberca’, or visit the village pool.


In your spare time you can hike, rest, organise your own activities, use the internet, read, socialise, go to the bar, listen to music, cook…..there are many options.

Spring and autumn are generally the most pleasant months weather-wise, but if you are visiting during the summer months be aware that temperatures can reach 45 degrees, and work needs to be started very early at day-break (or before) and continued in the evening, finishing and eating late.

It can be very wet in the winter, but nice and sunny at midday. Temperatures can drop to close to freezing at night. You should be prepared with warm layers and waterproofs.


Here is an approximate calendar of gardening work

Winter months:
December, January, and February
We harvest olives and process them to make organic olive oil. We also clear the land of overgrown vegetation in preparation for new growth and as protection against wildfires, which is required by law in this part of Spain. When this is complete, we can plant garlic, beans and other early field crops we choose to grow that year.
Spring months:
March, April, and May
We prepare the ground in the vegetable gardens before planting. Weeding also needs to be done now around the crops which were planted earlier.
Summer months:
June, July, and August
There is a lot of watering to be done, and we start to harvest tomatoes, peppers, garlic onions etc, and various fruits. We can eat them fresh, cook with them, and process and store them for use later in the year.
Autumn months:
September, October and November
We will still be watering the plants and planning and creating other projects around the finca.

Our projects are seasonally, financially and volunteer dependent. There are seasons to plant and seasons to harvest. Building and maintenance continues all year round.

You are not required to have previous experience with horses or farm work, but you will need a hard working attitude, and the skill of being able to open your eyes to different ways of life and experiences.

If you are under 16 then we can accept you with permission from a legal guardian.

What to expect

One reason many volunteers decide to take this experience, aside from what they may learn on our actual programmes, is to have the opportunity to experience a different culture and a different way of life. 

Here we also aim to live as sustainably as possible, both as a family and as a project. Please be prepared for the fact that there will probably be differences from your life at home and be willing to embrace this. 

We have included some frequently asked questions below, but you can also get in touch via email tasequine@gmail.com if you have any other specific questions.

How do volunteers get to the Time and Space Sanctuary?

Our closest Airport is Málaga and we can arrange transfers to and from the airport. Although public transport is infrequent, it is also very easy to use and reliable. Normally pre-booking public transport is not necessary, but please check out time tables before booking flights as transport does not run late. More information on how to get to the sanctuary can be found here.
What costs are involved for volunteers?

Each volunteer will pay the associated programme fee, and these can be found here. Volunteers are then responsible for their flight and transfer costs.
How long do volunteers work per day?

Volunteers spend an average of 25 hours per week caring for their environment. The recommended donation reflects the amount of time you stay. We have a sliding scale so the longer you stay, the cheaper it gets per week!
Where do volunteers stay?

Volunteers either sleep in a village house or the hostel. We rent an apartment to share with a kitchen and living room and either an open fire or electric heating in the winter months. These sleep one or two people per room. Towels and linen are provided, but please bring a pool towel if you plan on using it. There are shared washing machine facilities either in the apartment or close by.

The accommodation may be more basic than you are used to but you should have all you need. There are beds, bedding, towels, heating, electric fans, a bathroom with a modern toilet, shower and bath, running hot and cold water, and a kitchen with a washing machine, stove top and fridge. However, the electricity is not very powerful so it may cut out for a few moments if too many appliances are being used at the same time.

If you specifically require your own room, we would ask for a supplementary donation. Please request this by email.

The bathroom on the project site is ‘in nature’. This means that you can pee anywhere you like, and there are plenty of hidden spots. We have a compost toilet for solids. Any tissue and sanitary products go into the bin provided.
Will food be provided?

Volunteers are usually back in the village for the evening meal, but this is also flexible in warmer months. We often invite each other to eat together to get a taste of international cuisines! There are also bars where you can eat at your own expense.

Healthy vegetarian/vegan food for three meals per day is provided for volunteers to prepare their own meals. Cooking can be done in the apartment or in the on-site outdoor kitchen, where we often eat lunch together when the weather is nice.

There is no shop in the village so we do a weekly supermarket shop from an extensive, but predetermined list which is given to the volunteers each week to complete, depending on what you need. If you would like items that aren’t listed, we can get them for you but at your own expense as we operate on a limited budget. Bear in mind that items you eat often at home might be unavailable or more expensive here. 

We try to be as sustainable and as ethical as possible so the list includes seasonally available fruit and vegetables. It does not include items containing palm oil, meat or fish, and we avoid processed food. Meals including these things are available in the local bars so you can buy them there if you wish. We won’t buy meat, even at your own expense, because some volunteers wouldn’t appreciate it being cooked in the shared kitchen and we have to respect this.  

We keep a recipe folder which contains some of our favourite meals which can be made from the listed items if you are in need of inspiration. We provide coffee and teas, but soft drinks and juices are extra (although we are happy to buy oranges for juicing yourself).
Can volunteers drink the water?

The tap water in the accommodation is drinkable, and there is also the option to bottle your own water from a natural source in the village. We do not provide bottled water but you can buy this yourself in the weekly shop.

On the project site you must take your own water bottle which can be refilled from the natural source we have there. The main area of work is a little further down the land, so you may have to walk back up to the source to refill (especially in summer). Bear in mind this is not far, but it is a steep hill.

You can also refill plastic bottles which we can provide to take down to refill, but someone will need to be responsible to change this each day.
Do volunteers have access to WiFi and/or mobile data?

WiFi available in the bar/cafe, which is just a minute’s walk away from the accommodation. There is also a free internet building in the village, but the opening times are a bit unpredictable.

If you want to use the internet in the accommodation, then I suggest checking with your phone service provider before you leave so it can be set for use here. If you arrange unlimited data and set to roaming then you should be able to pick up a good signal. You can then use your phone as a hotspot if you bring a laptop. Vodafone has a good signal but we cannot vouch for the availability of service/coverage/signal of other providers in the village. Some visitors have been unable to get a signal in the accommodation but others have, so if it is vital to you, prepare before you come.

It may also be possible to buy a Spanish pre-pay sim card. As of February 2022 it was possible to buy 50mb for 40€. Please contact us if you need help with this.
Are volunteers able to smoke?

Smoking is strictly forbidden on the project site as it represents a fire risk. In the accommodation we ask you to please smoke outside.
What local amenities are there in Atajate?

As we said, there are no local shops in the village, but there is a pharmacy. The opening hours are listed in the information folder, which we leave in the accommodation for volunteers. There are also three restaurant/bars, but the opening times vary. Again, please refer to the information pack for specific opening hours.
What public transport is available in Atajate?

There is a local bus service which runs once a day to and from Ronda. The bus leaves from right outside The Meson anytime from 8:00-8:45 and returns from the bus station at 16:30.
Where can I get money during my stay?

We are a very small village but we do the weekly shopping in Ronda (the nearest large town). There is no ATM in the village, but often volunteers get a bus to Ronda on their days off and there are ATMs there. Sometimes volunteers can also get a lift to Ronda with us when we do the shopping, if there is space.
Why do I need to pay to volunteer?

We are only a small organisation and completely rely on people like yourself to enable us to continue the project. The volunteer donations cover all food and accommodation, allowing much needed people to come and help with the daily needs of the horses. A proportion of every donation goes to maintain and improve the horses and their conditions, and the running and development of the project.

We offer a sliding scale, so the longer you stay, the less you pay per week. This is because the volunteers who stay of under two weeks require a lot of time and support, as they have so much to learn. By the time it gets to a few months, the financial donation is minimal as the person should know the routine and the horses very well, and can be a good help.
Do you offer any refunds?

I’m afraid we cannot offer refunds. The program fees are a donation and, because we are a registered charity as opposed to a business, we are legally not able to refund fees from our association account. However, if a volunteer needs to leave early, we can be flexible and offer them the opportunity to return at a suitable time for them, providing we have availability. This doesn’t often happen, and every volunteer’s circumstances will be different. We had a volunteer with us as we went into the last lockdown and they actually decided to remove herself from her program so they could stay with us.

Also, as there has been a lot of uncertainty over the last two years, we understand that circumstances can change at short notice. Therefore we are happy to hold a volunteers place without a pre-paid donation, and we can offer volunteers the opportunity to pay weekly, upon their arrival at the program.

Both programmes are available to volunteers all year round for any start date, and any number of days. Start and finish days are flexible and you do not need to book for full weeks, and other time-frames are available.

Because of this flexibility you can choose cheaper flights or honour other commitments that you may have at home. It also means you will be joining us during a planned week which could fall on a day off, or when we are out shopping, or working in the community etc. 

Volunteers will spend an average of 25 hours per week caring for the horses and their environment. Start and finish days are flexible and you do not need to book for full weeks, and other time-frames are available.

Our organisation is small and relies upon donations to be able to support volunteers and carry out our work. The recommended donation for people joining both programmes reflects the amount of time they stay. We have a sliding scale, so the longer you stay, the cheaper it gets per week! The price of the programme is a donation as we are a registered association, and it will be declared and used as such.

Our organisation will provide accommodation and food. Your donation is used for feeding, veterinary and health care, maintenance and improvements of the horses’ living conditions, insurance and programme support etc, plus will help us complete our mission aims and objectives.

EQUINE PROGRAMME RECOMMENDED DONATION SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMME RECOMMENDED DONATION
1 week: 493€ per week
2 weeks: 420€ per week
3 weeks: 376€ per week
4 weeks: 326€ per week
8 weeks: 280€ per week
12 weeks: 210€ per week
16+ weeks: 175€ per week
1 week: 350€ per week
2 weeks: 350€ per week
3 weeks: 280€ per week
4 weeks: 280€ per week
8 weeks: 245€ per week
12 weeks: 210€ per week
16+ weeks: 175€ per week

We sometimes have a space for a long term volunteer, please get in touch if you may be interested in this position.

What’s not included

Flights, transport, days out, eating and drinking in bars are your own financial responsibility and not included in the fees. We recommend you provide your own personal accident insurance suitable for the type of activities you will be taking part in.

Ronda

Your stay here will provide you with memories and skills you will never forget! As well as those featuring the nature and horses, there are festivals and parties that take place in all the villages.

The big water fight in Atajate is in August; there is a German beer festival in Jimera de Libar in October and mushroom festivals in November. In summer there are music and horse festivals, foam parties and more! The beautiful local ‘white villages’ vary from 2,000 inhabitants down to a population of less than 200 and are well worth a visit.

As well as the villages, there are towns to visit. Ronda is around 25km away and is on a main coast to city train route. It boasts a spectacular viaduct as well as many other historic sites and a variety of shops. After exploring these, the huge variety of cafes and bars will offer welcome refreshment.


If, however, you prefer a break from civilisation then you will be in your element. The surrounding mountains, forests and river are beautiful, peaceful and watched over by soaring eagles. Close by there are natural sites to visit such as the Canyon of the Vultures.

There are guided walks to vast caves with ancient cave paintings. A Pa lo-Christian church is tucked away off the beaten track and an Arab tower is hidden in the countryside with not a tourist in sight.


The beach is approximately 1½ hours’ drive away. Trips can be arranged at an extra cost on your days off, e.g. to the coast or other cities such as Málaga and Sevilla.

Transport: You can hire a car from Málaga, or there is a bus leaving every week day morning from Atajate to Ronda, and returning at midday. From Ronda there are regular buses to all major cities and many smaller villages. It may also be possible to hire a driver locally as a taxi service.

There are other areas that volunteers can get involved in, above and beyond the Equine and Sanctuary Programmes. We are really flexible and the level of involvement is at each volunteers’ discretion.

Food Clare cooks balanced, healthy vegetarian meals and enjoys sharing ideas and skills with people that we can all enjoy! This is particularly satisfying when it is prepared with home-grown produce. Chico is also a wonderful cook with knowledge of many traditional Spanish dishes passed down through generations. You are invited to join in cooking our favourite dishes or to share your own traditional dishes with us!
Language In the home and while working, we speak a mixture of Spanish and English. We are happy to help and to correct both the written and spoken word. You can get practice in all areas of work and play. Most residents in the village only speak Spanish. You will be welcomed whether you speak Spanish or not, but can practice if you choose to with locals on the streets, other family members.
Building As well as all the usual maintenance that comes with a farm, we are also building interesting enrichment opportunities for the horses and infrastructure for their humans. Please let us know if you have particular skills or interests in these areas.
Gardening
(Equine Programme Volunteers)
You can learn about taking care of plants and trees native to the area. Depending on the time of year you can help with clearing the land, harvesting and preserving. As well as vegetables, we pick almonds and olives. Olives are preserved and pressed to make wonderful extra virgin olive oil. All seasonally dependant so please ask first if this is something you are particularly interested in.
Hoof Trimming (Equine Programme Volunteers) Every horse is barefoot here and hooves have to be trimmed regularly. You will be amazed how sure-footed these horses are and how easily they move over the rocks and varied terrain. Everyone that works with, or owns horses, should have a certain level of knowledge to be able to recognise a healthy balanced hoof and know what is needed to encourage this in your horse. No hoof – no horse. We see some awful cases of poor hoof care here and are determined to raise the level of understanding. Hoof trimming is much more than just taking off the excess growth. It’s a fascinating subject that requires considerable skill.
Equine care and contact (Sustainable Programme Volunteers) Even though the Sustainable Sanctuary Programme does not include an equine element, our whole project is focussed around them and their needs. It is sometimes possible that you’ll take part in their daily routine, depending on how many volunteers we already have in that area.

Because we practice force-free horsemanship people are not permitted to touch and interact with the horses without having some foundational training first. This is very important because our horses are in recovery and we are working on changing their perception of humans.
Please let us know if you would like to take part in this as we are more than happy to guide you and introduce you to this way with horses.