A local horse sanctuary in Noordhoek is looking forward to securing a new permanent home for its rescued animals while simultaneously battling monthly running costs.
Tom Ro Haven for Equines & Children, based in Noordhoek, is a registered non-profit organisation (NPO) that rescues and rehabilitates severely abused, neglected, and mistreated horses and ponies. The sanctuary provides these animals with a safe environment, vital medical care, and proper nutrition.
Once fully rehabilitated, the equines are integrated into specialised therapeutic programmes designed for children, young adults, trauma survivors, and individuals deemed at-risk or intellectually disadvantaged, helping them build critical empathy, compassion, and resilience.
Serving the wider area
The volunteer-driven organisation also travels to underprivileged and rural areas across the Western Cape region to deliver essential feed, tack, and medication, while educating local horse owners on proper animal care. However, severe funding constraints have heavily impacted these vital services.
Tom Ro Haven member Gillian McCulloch expressed deep gratitude for the local community’s ongoing support and shared details regarding the potential relocation.
The proposed premises are situated between the local soccer field and the Lake Michelle fence line in Noordhoek. McCulloch noted that the proposed boundaries, as far as they know, do not infringe upon any current horse or dog paths in the area.
“The City has been amazing in their assistance and will to help,” McCulloch said.
“They are entirely behind this project, and it is currently going through the City’s official administrative processes. We are hoping for a final decision soon.”
Battles to secure funding
While confident of a positive outcome, McCulloch warned that a relocation presents a brand new set of complex, difficult logistical and financial hurdles.
The sanctuary continuously battles to secure daily operational funding, which recently forced them to completely suspend all community outreaches, limiting assistance to advice on only the most urgent cases.
“Tom Ro still battles for funding to operate monthly and to help horses in the communities. We have had to suspend all outreaches and only assist with advice on the most urgent cases. This is because we just do not have the funding to do this,” she said.
The new facility will require substantial infrastructure, including a secure perimeter fence to prevent theft, a borehole, and sustainable solar power systems.
Rebuilding
The move will also require breaking down and re-erecting current structures, depending on what remains salvageable.
“We are hoping that people and companies will rally behind us,” McCulloch added, acknowledging the dedicated Noordhoek individuals driving the initiative forward.
“Thank you to the City and to all the individuals involved.”
People’s Post reached out to the City and Ward 69 councillor Patricia Franke for comment but they have yet to respond.
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