Who We Are
Emma
Owner - Horse Fanatic
General Animal Crackers Chica
A dream into reality!
“What we do at horse sanctuary is hugely necessary and incredibly rewarding. Large numbers of animals are used in Tenerife for agriculture and tourism. Then often find themselves unloved or neglected once their working use comes to an end. It’s a pleasure and a privilege for us to rescue, re-home and care for animals in need. But medicines and therapies are costly and in constant demand. And our need for feed, shelter and homing animals never ends.
Edo
Owner - Craftsman - Builder
Self Taught Farmer and Cowboy
Edo (34) from a small city in Italy having never had a pet before meeting Emma but always dreamed of retiring to a farm and living self sufficiently with a pack of dogs. After leaving school, developed a background in building, customer service, entertainment and having a natural skill for languages, speaking six of them. The couple met while Emma lived on a horse centre in Fuerteventura and Edo was on holiday. Bonding over their mutual dancing experience they worked with a stage show together for a year before starting to plan this project. Soon finding out that they had the perfect ingredients to develop it together. Edo realising his dream to have a farm far before retirement age, but the work has just begun.
A dream into reality!
“We’ve already learned so much from our adventure so far. We’ve learned to plan and register, then build up from nothing for us and our animal shelter. We’ve had to understand the business of fund-raising and running a charity. Solving problems by using solar-power and ecologically water systems. We’ve gained the help from generous local people and visitors to Tenerife. To create a team of people that work for the love of the animals and not for profit. Getting their hands dirty or by donating their hard-earned money when they can.”
Iggy & Iggy
This whole place exists because of one dog – Iggy.
Emma rescued Iggy when she was just 18. He wasn’t an easy dog; he was challenging, brave, and full of spirit. But through every hard moment he showed Emma just how much love and gratitude can come from rescuing an animal. He opened her eyes to how much the world’s animals need help and inspired her to dedicate her life to giving them a chance.
Iggy was there through everything – moving countries, changing homes, relationships, good times and bad. He shaped Emma’s life and quietly led her to build the sanctuary you see today. Without him, none of this would exist. Iggy was Emma’s best friend for 17 years!
In 2025, at the amazing age of nearly 18, Iggy passed away. He left behind more than memories – he left a legacy. So much so that when Emma and Edu had their son, they named him Iggy, too.
And in one of life’s beautiful full-circle moments, Iggy the dog and Iggy the boy actually got to spend some months together. They knew each other, and in their own way passed the torch from one generation to the next.
Everything we do here carries a piece of Iggy’s spirit. The dog who started it all, and the little boy who carries his name.
Here you will see an interview with Emma and Edo. You can see their backgrounds, their thoughts and plans for the future.
Emma and Edo may be the couple behind the project, but without their amazing team of volunteers they certainly couldn't do it alone. Here is some of our current team members that keep this place running and growing.
Helena
Our Brave assistant manager
Amazingly we have found someone as crazy, passionate and hard working enough to take on such a big role. Starting as a short term volunteer and falling in love with the place enough to pack up her life and take on this challenge. Even after one of our less friendly pigs landed her with an impressive surgery on the first visit, not enough to be put off though! The sanctuary has grown so big and Helena has as hugely important position as Emma’s “right hand woman”. Helping with all decisions and running the entire finca. Dealing with HR, Chaos, organisation, grants and being a finca safe space for the community to talk to. Also our official first aider and basically all rounder super star!
Mandy
Short term manager and tour guide
Starting as a horse mummy in 2020 and immediately falling in love with the project so much she changed her life to live closer and become part of the core team. As our short term program grew so big we needed someone to manage it and become the safe space for the short term volunteers to feel welcome. Mandy may be little but she is known as “Mandy the megaphone” as she can be heard all around the finca giving amazing detailed tours full of passion to the day visitors ensuring they have an amazing experience and get to know all the ins and outs of the sanctuary.
Angelica
Head of Spanish public relations.
As we are on a spanish island we are ashamed that we have been very poor with our spanish connections and updates. Run by a big community of international volunteers, we have always struggled to keep up with the Spanish side due to limited volunteers who can speak the language. Until now! Angelica has great experience with digital marketing and PR so she is the perfect person to help us to keep connected with the locals as well as keeping on top of all our complicated and boring paperwork. Working behind the scenes to keep us functioning, helping us with fundraising and networking.
Tash
Vet and small animal manager
We are very lucky to have an inhouse vet managing our smaller animals. She is full of knowledge, passion and contagious energy. Keeping on top of their welfare and health to ensure they are well and as happy as can be. As well as the animals Tash is also managing the team and helping our volunteers to have a great experience with the animals and learn during their experience with us. And an added bonus Tash comes with her baby Effie who wants to be a vet just like her mummy.
Toini
Horse team leader
As our sanctuary grew bigger and bigger it was clear we needed someone to take care of our big horse team. Working with horses can be challenging, dangerous and unexpected. Toini has had life experience with horses and work experience as a team leader so she brings the perfect mix of fun, safety and experience to the team. Ensuring everyone is safe, happy and the horses are well looked after by their forever changing team of volunteers. Having had horses on the island for longer than we have she is the perfect addition to the team.
Nuria
Barefoot specialist
We are so happy to have a qualified barefoot trimmer/ equine podiatrist on the team. As barefoot is such an important part of our horse care this is an area that needs a lot of knowledge, passion and care. In the early years Emma could do them herself but with the growth of the number of horses the feet were starting to rely on local farriers and occasional volunteers to help keep on top. Resulting with a decline in the conditions of their feet until Nuria came along. We have never met anyone with such a natural passion for horses hooves. And with that passion comes so much knowledge. Our horses feet have never looked better and as horses’ health starts with their feet her position is a very very important one.
Rob
Leader of the building dream team!
Woodwork, metalwork, electric and anything else needed! With an ever-growing sanctuary a building team is vital to make sure we can keep up with places to keep the animals and volunteers. Robs leads our amazing team of builders, who all have unique skills that we are so grateful for. Building, fixing and saving the day when emergencies happen we are very lucky to have them here with no plans to leave. They make such great work. Adapting to our challenging situation of second-hand broken tools and recycled materials from the bin. It’s never easy to build here but this team always manages to win and create something fantastic, even with a smile (almost always).
Cymra
A bit of everything whilst leading too
Often working behind the scenes, but a crucial role that we couldn’t continue our work without, Cymra is our bubbly team leader of the weekend team and the cleaning team! There is so much more to Cym’s role, making sure all accommodations and the finca are clean. Also making sure the weekend is under control while cooking them all delicious food too. She also works behind the scenes in the office answering emails, making rota’s and odd jobs to help keep the ship running smoothly.
Sue
Emma’s mum AKA finca mum!
Finca nurse/ sewing machine/ accountant/ launderette and more
Sue has obviously been involved in Emma’s crazy animal adventures her entire life, but without expecting to has become busier than ever since retiring. Coming almost every day to the finca, we really couldn’t do it without her help on many of the boring tasks like managing food deliveries, managing the charity shop, washing the huge turn over of bed linen, doing the tax returns, fixing clothes/ tents and even fixing volunteers with injuries. Her skills from a career in massage for sports injuries comes in very useful here as an agony aunt or nurse.
Silvia
Sanctuary stays stylist
Silvia has been a big part of the finca for a long time and helps out in many different areas. Previously managing the small animals, however now we have her in an entirely different and unique role. With her natural creative streak Silvia makes sure all of our short term accommodations are super stylish and a comfortable home from home for our volunteers. A very important detail as without our happy short term volunteers we wouldn’t be able to keep the sanctuary funded. Of course as an extreme animal lover she still jumps in to cover any time the small animal team needs some extra help!
Gaia
Here there and everywhere
Gaia may not have an official title but that doesn’t mean she isn’t one of the core team! She helps everywhere. Mainly working like a little machine on the horse team during the day whilst multitasking to keep stories on social media or covering holidays and illness in the small animal team. Passionate about animals and sustainability she is great in naturally chasing the community to keep the place clean and tidy whilst paying close attention to all of the animals. Naturally noticing water bowls that need filling and a kitchen that needs cleaning, a skill that is not with many! Gaia’s ball of energy personality zooms around the finca bringing organised chaos with her everywhere!
Izzie
Our wonderful virtual volunteer leader
No longer physically here but still queen of fundraising!
The day she had to leave the finca was a sad one. We still miss her spirit and positive vibes however we are fortunate that we don’t have to miss her amazing skills too. Izzie still puts many hours a week into our office work from fundraising, connections and managing new office volunteers. Without her skills, ideas and passion Emma would seriously struggle to keep the office running even without her being physically here. Getting daily calls from a stressed Emma, we hope that Izzie doesn’t get scared off any time soon!
Caroline
Web presence and sponsorship coordinator
Unfortunately since Brexit Caroline can not stay here with us full time, but that does not stop her helping us and having a vital role with us! She is the in-between from us and you! Collecting all the info from the sanctuary and keeping the website updated so you know who we are, what we are doing and most importantly which animals we have rescued. Caroline also keeps you updated with behind the scenes info on the animals you sponsor. A very important position to keep us all connected.
Nina
Virtual PR and networking superstar
On and off over many years, she can’t keep away from the finca chaos. Helping out wherever is needed, but developing a natural skill for networking and PR. Helping us with campaigns and social media growth. Being involved in some of our biggest successful campaigns such as the Ed Sheeran and the vet campaign. Even when she isn’t physically on the finca, she is still here helping online and keeping things running smoothly in the background! Bonus point as she is from Germany she helps us to keep connected with our amazing german following and supporters!
