About the Last Ark Orphanage

Re-wilding Refuge

About the Last Ark Orphanage

Re-wilding Refuge

Introduction
Our mission
Our achievements
Friends of the orphanage
Introduction
Our mission
Our achievements

Honoring horses
and humans

On their journey to recovery

The Last Ark Orphanage is a vital ecosystem with a year-round flowing river and myriad native plants and creatures, specifically acquired with a view to conserving land to honour horses and humans on their journey to recovery and wholeness. Horses of all backgrounds are rescued and pulled from pre-slaughterhouse auctions or found in desperate situations of abuse and neglect. They are brought to ‘The Last Ark Orphanage’ to heal and live out their existence with integrity and kindness with the herd.

By healing ourselves

we stand a chance to heal the whole

It is our belief that by giving humans, enduring their own trauma and suffering, the opportunity to co-exist with these beings at ground level, free roaming in an unspoiled ecosystem in full-flowing symbiosis, the miracle of somatic healing takes place for one and all.

A safe and unique experience

For both man and horse combined

Since 2018 TLAO has offered solace to over 80 horses. Birthing, feeding and curing the old and the young. Until early 2021 collaborations with local ‘organizations’ were attempted, but disappointingly to no avail due to alternative agendas. The land was given freely to many horses and local NGO’s operating under the pretence of ‘doing good,’ unfortunately resulting in great disappointment.

By deferring to the horses, we have been nudged to set up independently to create a safe and unique experience for both man and horse combined…

Our mission

Our mission

Our mission statement

To honour the dignity of our Equine family

The Last Ark Orphanage’s mission is to honour the dignity of our equine family members who have endured lives of unimaginable, slavery and pain. By providing an agenda free, autonomous existence in nature, observing holistic land management practices, while safeguarding native species and their natural habitat against human predators.

We dismantle the institutions of subjugation and abuse by integrating compassionate human immersion from a ground level, in open wild spaces meeting the horses on their own terms as they were, and are, intended to live. We are creating spaces for both horse and human to heal from our combined lives of trauma and suffering. In this respect, TLAO is one of the first sanctuaries of its kind. A home where land, human and animal get to rewild, remember and rehabilitate.

To offer a safe space

For both man and mammal

To re-connect, re-wild and remember our true natures.

By simply honoring the horse

As individual sovereign beings

and sharing their stories, this practice and healing is given the opportunity to take place.

By dismantling the illusion

Of separation and subjugation

And allowing ego to fall away we offer the invitation for oneness and therefore wholeness.

This is not a quest for

‘heroism’ and ‘numbers’

As it can be for many ‘sanctuaries’. There are simply too many cases of abuse and neglect and horses being sent to slaughter that no number would truly suffice.

We have come to learn

Through experience

That by handing the voice over to the individual horse he or she is a far more potent guide, therapist and healer than any human.

INDIVIDUALS ARE TO BE SEEN AND HEARD

And given the space to be honored

The ultimate vision for TLAO is to receive as many horses and humans as safely and respectfully possible to undergo Rewilding rehabilitation programs.

What is paramount to us is that each individual, no matter the history, is given the space to be honoured, seen and heard.

What we’ve achieved

What we’ve achieved

Land acquired for the Last Ark Orphanage

The land was originally acquired in 2016. Several parcels, and fencing for horses close to water sources, were cleared from weeds and carved out to engage with holistic land management practices. Beginnings of roads for access were paved. A basic structure was built for course and clinic instructors to reside. One test geodesic dome is under construction to home guests/clients.

Homed 30 neglected and malnourished wild Arabian horses

In 2018, we temporarily loaned land and homed 30 neglected and malnourished wild Arabian horses that were living in horrific conditions. The owner unfathomably abandoned them all. Several died as a result. Two of the very sick young horses remained in our care and became the original guides and godfathers of TLAO. Bodhi and Johnny.

Homed 21 horses destined for the slaughterhouse

In 2021, we attempted another collaboration with a local NGO. We extracted and homed 21 horses destined for the slaughterhouse. The NGO again failed to fulfil their obligation. The horses were re-homed and at this point, we closed all doors to collaborations and TLAO was created as a solo entity.

37 rehabilitated horses currently rescued

37 rehabilitated horses, rescued from auction and varying abusive situations, currently reside and will remain in TLAO permanently.

7 horses rescued from a hoarding situation

7 cases were received in January 2023 from a hoarder situation, arriving severely malnourished and emaciated. One died on arrival. All the rest are now stable but every day with still very weak immune systems, is touch and go.

10 horses rescued from an auction

In January 2023 we bought 6 adults from a local auction, 4 foals all who’s mothers were sold for meat for human consumption. All are now alive, free stable thanks to the support of our larger orphanage of kind humans.

Moulding the land and sowing nutritionally dense seeds

Due to the ever-increasing unpredictably in the weather and climate – we are currently enduring the longest drought in history – in June 2023 we set about carving out 3.5 hectares of two separate test parcels. We have taken down huge invasive weeds and trees and sowed nutritionally dense seeds for pasture for the horses. The parcels have been isolated with electric fencing and solar panels. This was all done by loaning our neighbours machinery, manpower and tools. Taking action to adapt is paramount in the endeavor not to be reliant on the dwindling yet extortionate prices of subpar and often toxic forage. Still, we pray for rain.

Friends of the orphanage

What we’ve achieved

Doma India Scarpati

The Scarpati Tribe is made up of the Scarpati family and all those who join this way of feeling and living. Oscar and Cristobal Scarpati are today the visible exponents of a family structure dedicated to teaching and transmitting the principles and values that governed the natives of these lands. The Legacy is an ethical and moral commitment; a self-imposed duty based on the conviction that this “legacy” must be valid and last for future generations.

Flourish Horse Health

The Flourish mission has always been to help horses achieve health, comfort, and well-being, by bringing a little bit of nature back with their unique, bespoke horse feed. Almost 25 years after the birth of TOTAL horse feed, knowledge and change has led them to focus on and address current equine disease and to create broader solutions to nurture and support our beloved equines during modern-day challenges.