From the outside, Atlantis Horse Sanctuary looks much like any other stable: horses of all shapes, sizes, and colours graze in open pastures, and riding lessons are available for children and adults alike. But unlike most riding centres, this farm is also a sanctuary, a place of last resort for animals that no one else is willing or able to take in.
Located just past Luxembourg’s border in Germany, near Newel, Atlantis is home to about 60 horses, a handful of donkeys, sheep, chickens, and various other livestock.
The sanctuary is jointly run by a German foundation and a Luxembourg non-profit, which began their rescue work in 2007, focusing mainly on smaller animals such as dogs and cats. However, as more cases involving larger animals came to their attention, the group decided in 2014 to take over the farm at Newel and convert it into a sanctuary.
Many of the horses at Atlantis are elderly and require extra care and sometimes medication, needs that come with high costs. The sanctuary covers its expenses through riding lessons (for those animals still young and healthy enough), as well as through sponsorships and donations.
Not every animal at the sanctuary is a victim of neglect or abuse. In some cases, owners are unable to continue providing care, whether due to the animal’s illness, high costs, or their own changing circumstances such as poor health. For many animals, few other options exist, as they are typically not the kind of animals that new buyers are looking for.
Antonia Meyer, who lives and works at the sanctuary, explains that a horse is costly to buy, and even more so to care for. If it is already older or has health issues, it just becomes an expense; hence, no one wants to buy such an animal. Together with her husband, she is employed full-time at Atlantis and is supported by a team of around 20 regular volunteers.
While some animals are occasionally rehomed from Atlantis, most spend the rest of their lives at the sanctuary. Horses typically live for 25 to 30 years, sometimes longer, and for many, Atlantis becomes a lifelong home.
