Echoes of the Manes was not born from one moment,
but from a lifetime of being drawn to the fragile, the overlooked,
and the ones who needed help the most.

My name is Jessica.
Before creating this sanctuary, I spent many years helping people in the Netherlands —
first through police work, later in the care sector supporting individuals with disabilities.
My path has always revolved around compassion, protection,
and caring for those who could not stand up for themselves.

Over time, that devotion shifted naturally toward animals.
For reasons I still can’t fully explain, the vulnerable ones always seemed to find me —
the older, the gentle, the wounded, the misunderstood.
Long before Echoes of the Manes had a name,
I was already a safe place for the forgotten.

Moving with my family to the peaceful region of Catalonia, Spain,
this quiet pull became something stronger —
a calling to create a space where animals could heal, rest,
and rediscover trust.

Several horses came into our lives before Gitana,
each in their own way a small rescue,
each needing care, softness, and safety.

But Gitana changed something in me.
At 26, malnourished and nearly out of options,
she carried a deep, unspoken gratitude —
one that settled into my heart in a way I will never forget.
She made me realise that I didn’t want to help just one horse.
I wanted to create a sanctuary where many could have a second chance.

Since then, our rescue has grown into a family of souls:
two sheep who needed a home,
a dog who simply walked up and chose us,
cats rescued from dumpsters,
and horses whose stories still unfold.

Some days it feels like a small, beautiful, chaotic zoo —
alive, messy, full of heart.

Through every season, every challenge, and every life we touch,
our mission remains the same:

To honor these animals.
To give them safety, dignity, and love.
To offer them a life worth living — one rescue at a time.