Our Vision
A humane project based on care and compassion in the Kingdom
Since our inception in 2014, Jarjeer has strived to create a true sanctuary for the working equines of Morocco.
In her own words
“The idea for building villas faded into the background”
Our horse, mule and donkey rescues have always been the primary focus of our work — every animal that comes to us is assessed, treated and given a permanent home in our paddocks for as long as it needs one.
Many arrive tired, injured or simply too old to carry on. From that first day, each one receives ongoing veterinary care and, where needed, a lifelong home within our paddocks.
Jarjeer was founded by Susan Machin MBE and her husband Charles Hantom, both retired lawyers. Sue was appointed MBE in 2024, in King Charles III’s Birthday Honours, for services to equine welfare in Morocco — and took Ayoub, the refuge’s manager, with her to Windsor Castle.
As our support grows both nationally and internationally, we have been fortunate to be able to create homes for horses, mules and donkeys from all corners of the Kingdom. Our vision has been made possible by our supporters and everyone who donates. All of us at Jarjeer cannot thank you enough.
The name
It grew here before we did
When Sue and Charles first bought the land there was nothing on it. No buildings anywhere near, no trees — desert. They walked it in March, after rain, and found it covered in wild rocket.
The Arabic word for the herb is jarjeer. That is where the name came from, and it stayed.
Years later, reading around it, Sue found that in the ancient world jarjeer was taken as a remedy for illnesses of the mind.
“And what do we do well here? I think we do cure mental illness at times.”
The people
Team Jarjeer
Twenty-two people work at Jarjeer, from fourteen families in the village around us. They are the ones who are here at five in the morning on a public holiday to be certain the feeding is done before they go home to their own families.
When a donkey was abandoned in a village three hours beyond Agadir, where there is no vet and no pharmacy, his owner’s son — working in Canada — stayed on the telephone through the night while they worked out how to reach him. That is a fairly ordinary week here.
Sue has said, more than once and on camera, that the hard work is not hers. It is theirs.
Where the money goes
The founders take nothing from the charity
Sue and Charles paid for the refuge to exist. The land, the plumbing, the electricity, the first stables — all of it came out of their own pockets before a single donation arrived.
They still live on their pensions, take nothing from the charity, and put a good part of those pensions back into it. The work that can be done inside the family is done inside the family, without charge — this website included.
What you give buys feed, veterinary care, farriery, and the wages of the team who do the daily work.
How Jarjeer grew
Jarjeer is founded
Our sanctuary opens near Marrakech with a simple mission: a place of care and compassion for the working horses, mules and donkeys of the Kingdom.
A pivotal year of growth
Expanded stables, separate paddocks for injured animals and an upgraded on-site clinic transform the level of care we can provide.
Homes from every corner
With growing support both nationally and internationally, we create homes for horses, mules and donkeys from all corners of the Kingdom.
“An oasis of kindness and care that puts your feet back on the ground and reminds you about that which really matters. We're all on this boat together and rowing is not optional. Pass me an oar!”
Dorine Kunst, Italy