What’s Going On with the New Land?
Waiting for an Update After Our Appeal
Anyone who has tried to get anything legal done here will appreciate how complicated and time-consuming it can be. Here’s why…
The neighboring land we’re trying to buy is already under a pre-contract with someone else — a developer planning a windmill farm. The plot in question is 42,000 square meters.
We’ve spent over a year trying to contact nearby landowners to explore possible expansion, but due to disinterest or complicated family ownerships, it was always a no. We already knew the land beside ours was going to be part of the windmill project — that’s how long these processes take. Even now, the buyer is still waiting for permissions to begin.
About four months ago, we had the idea to contact the buyer to ask if he needed the entire land. It turns out he didn’t — he only needed half, but the owner insisted on selling the whole plot. With his cooperation, we managed to convince the owner to sell us half (about 20,000 sqm). The only catch: we had to match the same price per square meter as the windmill company. And that’s where our emergency appeal began.
Jumping at the Opportunity
We had to act quickly — this chance to expand wouldn’t come again. Our goal: raise 120,000 euros to make rescuing more horses possible. We’re full to capacity and have to turn down starving and abused horses, which breaks our hearts. We secured loans for most of the amount, but needed 20,000 euros to feel safe committing. The appeal raised 15,000 — incredible, but not quite enough, especially after unexpected expenses like car repairs, theft, and broken tools.
We Won’t Let This Stop Us
We’re still going ahead — gambling everything to make it happen. Even if we can’t build right away, owning the land means securing a future for more rescues. Maybe one day, an investor will help us build the paradise paddocks we dream of.
What’s Taking So Long?
Paperwork. Always paperwork. We need a new pre-contract that allows us to use the land before the sale is complete. It can take years to officially separate land titles here — our first plot took nearly 18 months. Every step forward seems to come with a new document request. We’re still waiting for the official sign-off on our stable block, finished over a year ago! Now our lawyer discovered the architect made an error, so we’re redoing everything — more costs, more delays.
It Must Be So Hard Looking After All Those Animals…
People say this often, but honestly, the animals are the easy part! The paperwork, finances, bureaucracy, politics, and waiting — those are the real challenges. But we keep fighting. We’re determined to never again have to turn away a horse in need just because we lack space.
Any Other Complications?
Of course! We rely solely on donations (and some big loans) to stay afloat, as we can’t rent out accommodations until our stable block is legally signed off. This affects every part of the sanctuary — constant headaches and delays. Before this project, I didn’t have wrinkles or grey hair. Now I do!
Can You Help?
Absolutely — even if not financially. Simply commenting, liking, and sharing our posts helps us grow. Every action expands our reach and introduces us to potential donors. The algorithms love engagement — and so do we!
Find us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. Or join our Patreon community — for the price of a coffee a month, you’ll get insider updates and help shape our future. You can also contribute via our How to Help page.
Thank You So Much for Following, Supporting, and Making This Possible!
We truly hope to share the exciting moment when we sign the contract and take the next big step for Tenerife Horse Rescue.
