Profile information
Host is looking for help immediately
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
16 Apr 2024
Reply rate
64.9 %
Usually responds within 4 days
Feedback
73
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Description
Hi dear volunteers! Because of the rain and bad weather, we start again with volunteers in the week after 15 of April. Please keep contact. Thanks for all the requests! Due to our generator that broke, I still am with little electricity to answer all the interested volunteers... Sorry for some late reaction!
We look urgent for someone with horse riding experience to start some training and perhaps showing if you fit as a rider... And someone to help with the gardening, because the rains in spring have let grow more than normal and some places look now like a rainforest... We also need to take care of new born kittens and mothers now very soon!
We are not a riding school, but more focussed on young horses to grow up in balance. We need help for taking care of the horses and other animals in the farm; stable training and socialising young horses, feeding, filling water and cleaning the stables. We have 1 pony to start riding (interesting for a short person) and training 3 adult horses. But we have also a lot of gardening and weeding, some repairs, painting, some fencing, some cleaning up and bring old stuff away for charity or recycling... We also planted some young fruit trees, who need some extra care. Near the stable we started again with tomatoes and I would like to grow green beans as they are not for sale in the supermarkets... Most of the afternoons volunteers have free time.
As we are off grid, but we have electricity by solar panels (and powerbanks) and water pressure by a generator. Most of the time for only a few hours in the evenening. We have a mobile Wifi Modem that goes on bateries we charge now with the solar panels. But we have a very nice farm, surrounded by hundreds of hectares unspoiled nature!
We are focussed on Lusitano horse breeding, a mini dog hotel en Russian Blue cat breeding.
It can be hot in the summer or raining in the winter and training of the horses is than reduced. But they still need care by giving water, feeding and cleaning stables or field and a daily check. We have also 8 cats and 2 guardian dogs (Rafeiro do Alentejo and a Portugese breed dog mix).
The farm is located in a very quiet part of unspoiled nature. In the summer the volunteers can enjoy a lake to swim on a walking distance. We go a few times a week to Coruche for groceries and also visit markets or festivals or so in the villages close by etc. and sometimes I have a stand on a second hand market to sell some stuff I don't need.
Please note, we are not at the busy coast but in the quiet countryside in a part of central Portugal with a few habitants...
If you like the city, beach(life) or luxury more than a calm green nature area, than look for another host... We are realy off grid. If you need a rest and to come back to yourselve, this place is the best. During the free time during the day you'll have time to relax, reading, yoga, writing, painting, drawing, going for a walk to the lake or walk with the dogs etc.. We are now more focussed on breeding in stead of riding, but if you have riding experience, we need a small rider to train 1 D-pony (and some adult mares). He is used to the saddle now and can go on with a rider. We also have an older stallion that can be ridden if you have experience to help with that training.
Be welcome to stay with us!!!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
How to socialise and train horses, how to feed and handle them. To know more of local forest agriculture, natural surroundings, clear starry nights... and more knowledge from the interior of Portugal. Some construction jobs to do together. This can also be a nice learning project if you want to practise new skills. We also visit local events and markets.
Help
Taking care of the horses (feeding and cleaning stables and paddocks, cleaning and filling the water buckets). Taking care of the dogs and cats. Some household as we all use the house... Daily help in the fields, with the fences, (re)construction, repairs and (sometimes urgent) maintenance... Painting. Some construction help to do together. This can also be a nice learning project if you want to practise new skills.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Portuguese: Fluent
French: Beginner
Accommodation
Portuguese farm on 12 hectares with Lusitano horses, cats and dogs in a green quiet part of the center of Portugal, with a campsite on the 8 ha. field behind the buildings. Volunteers can stay in our older camper vans in that nature part.
We provide 3 meals a day, water, coffee and tea.
We provide working clothes, rain clothes and boots.
What else ...
People should have:
- Responsibility and respect for people, animals and nature (no drugs or too much alcohol!!!)
- Persistence, open communication skills and a positive way of thinking....
- No trouble with temporarily having less luxury and no fear of making their hands/clothes dirty (country life)
- Experience with horses/animals (provide references if possible) is a plus, but people who want to learn this are also very welcome!
- Experience with doing chores is good, but people who are willing to learn are also welcome! I like to teach working with tools!
- No problem with colder nights in the winter, the heat in the summer, insects or less comfort....
- No problem with female manager... ;)
We are off shore (but we use internet) and that can be a surprising experience.
We apriciate your help very much and wish you a good stay in the sunny heart of Portugal!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
We have a campsite and already hosted several campervans via park4night. In exchange of being here a few hours help a day is very welcome. For us this is also a very nice deal with volunteers.
Can possibly accept pets
Campers with a dog can stay at the campsite where the horses are if the dog is on a line and dogs can run free in the paddock from the dog hotel. Sorry to say that dogs are not allowed in our camper vans. Please accept we have guardian dogs near the stables. We cannot host cats as we have cats here running free and breed Russian Blues.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
max 4 to 5 hours a day- Most of the work we do now in the late mornings.
Feedback (43)
Gemma explained everything well and was very patient. Communication shouldn't be a problem since she's pretty much fluent in several languages and the tasks don't require any… read more
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.5)
Communication:
(4.8)
Gemma explained everything well and was very patient. Communication shouldn't be a problem since she's pretty much fluent in several languages and the tasks don't require any… read more
Gemma is a very kind soul and a great teacher in a lot of ways. She is super knowledgeable with horses and it was a pleasure to be able to meet and ride them. I never got… read more
Gemma is a really caring person and I'm really thankful that I had my first Workaway journey at her farm.
She picked me up in… read more
We cleaned the stable and gave food to the chain dogs and horses. We also painted a lot and learned how to get a horse used to a saddle and a rider.
It wasn'nt always comfortable but we learned a lot and were always treated with kindness.
Thank you for everything Gemma!
We are very grateful for her help and open arms.
Hope to see you, the horses and the dogs again some time! Hugs :)
If you are bold, you will feel cold.
Take a warm hat, you won't feel bad.
The Surrounding is nice, for you will be a prize.
Animals' honest thanks, even if you aren't T. Hanks.
Everything here they share,
You give your patience and care.
I wish them all the best, hardwork and nice rest.
Thank you for… read more
I stayed two weeks, I helped… read more
I enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere with the horses greeting you every morning and all the other animals around. The landscape is beautiful! The work is quite… read more
I’lll never forget
My experience at the farm has been quick but powerful and life changing. Many thanks.
I was really happy there, in an un-plugged reality. Work looks hard but it isnt at all if you get up with an enthusiastic mood. Being surrounded by animals vibes helps! The farm is a big land where you can be whoever and do… read more
In March I stayed for three lovely weeks with Gemma. She is a great host with a lot of knowledge about horses.
Her head is full of creative ideas about renovation and restauration. Unfortunately I was the only workwayer during these weeks so that there was not the time to realize them.
Most of the days I cleaned the… read more
The work was not really difficult,… read more
Thanks a lot fore everything. I will surely come again.
Gemma is… read more
I fed the animals, cleaned the stables and did some fence and small maintenance… read more
and had a great time with her and her lovely lusitano, blue cats, ponies and all those gorgeous animals in the farm.
Gemma was so passion for teaching us everything we needed to know for working with her, as well as sharing her life!!
It's been more than a year, and late for… read more
If you're looking for a real experience, not a party trip, you will surely find it… read more
Gemma is a special, very independent woman who likes to organise things her way. As long as you respect… read more
I look forward to visiting the new farm!
i wish all the best to gemma and the new farm!
