In Córdoba it is common practice to collect recyclable rubbish — cardboard, plastics — from the streets using a horse and cart, and sell it on to recycling companies. The people doing that work are themselves poor. They often cannot afford to feed the horse properly, and have never been taught how to care for one. The result is animals found malnourished, untreated and worked to exhaustion.

The sanctuary

Founded in 2013 in the hills of central Argentina, on 312 hectares of green meadow, forest, mountain pasture and river. It exists to take those horses off the streets and give them medical care, space and the rest of their lives.

Who lives there now: around 160 horses, 4 ponies, 7 donkeys, 3 pygmy donkeys, 2 mules, 14 cows, 1 buffalo, 23 goats, 11 sheep, 25 pigs, 3 wild boars, 4 llamas, 25 dogs and 10 roosters. Over 200 animals, nearly all of which arrived from a life of drudgery and mistreatment.

The bigger campaign — and its honest limits

The sanctuary is not only a refuge. It campaigns to replace cart horses with motorised vehicles across Latin America, and thousands of horses have already been freed that way. There is real support for the movement inside government and in society.

But the project's own account is refreshingly unvarnished: tens of thousands of rubbish-collection horses are still waiting to be freed in Argentina alone, and political progress is slow, so a great deal of patience is required. That is worth knowing before you come.

The team you would join

Five or six permanent staff — including biologists, scientists and a veterinarian — supported by only four or five volunteers at a time. This is a small operation with real expertise in it, and you will work closely with people who know what they are doing.

What you would actually do

• Animal care — feeding, grooming, clean water, exercise and enrichment
• Cleaning and maintenance — enclosures, common areas. Unglamorous and constant, and most of the job
• Rehabilitation and medical care — assisting with physiotherapy and administering medication, under the guidance of the veterinary staff
• Environmental enrichment — building toys, puzzles and structures to keep the animals mentally engaged
• Construction and repair — enclosures, fencing, infrastructure across a very large property
• Education and outreach — events raising awareness of animal welfare and the sanctuary's campaign

Training and guidance are provided, for the safety of the animals and of you.

Be honest with yourself

This is outdoor physical work with large animals, much of it cleaning and carrying. Rescued horses can be nervous of people for good reason. If you want to ride, this is the wrong placement — these animals are here to be left alone and looked after.

Who it suits

Anyone 18 or over in good physical and mental health, patient, and comfortable around large animals. A criminal background check is required. Minimum two weeks.