The only horse shelter in Serbia helps injured, old, and abandoned animals.

In the Serbian town of Lapovo, Zelko Ilicic saved his first horse from certain death 12 years ago and found his calling. Now, the 43-year-old Serb established the only horse shelter in the country in 2015 on a small plot of land in the heart of Serbia.

Since then, around 80 horses have passed through the "Staro Brdo" shelter, or Old Hill. Ilicic takes in mutilated, old, and mistreated animals, as well as those who can no longer be cared for. Caring for animals is a constant issue in Serbia, which suffers from poverty and corruption after many years of crisis and conflict in the 1990s.

While the authorities are creating shelters for dogs, there are no state institutions for horses. Today, the Ilicic shelter provides refuge and care for dozens of animals. One of his favorite horses over the years, he said, was a local derby winner who ultimately passed away peacefully from old age.

Another one, already 28 years old, has appeared in several Serbian films before retiring to a shelter, his legs having stiffened from arthritis.

Violeta Jovic, who works at the shelter, recalls a moment in 2020 when veterinary inspectors seized a truck with almost twenty illegally transported horses destined for slaughter. She said they were in poor condition, but the shelter was able to find new homes for most of them, while three remained under their care.

The shelter is trying to find new homes for as many animals as possible so that there is always room for new ones. When a horse is ready for adoption, the shelter looks for potential owners. Today, "Staro Brdo" has nine horses, two donkeys, a buffalo, seven pigs, as well as several dogs, cats, and chickens.

Seven newborn kittens found in a closed bag and seven Yorkshire piglets discovered at a dump have grown into adult animals that love to cuddle and play. The shelter operates on donations, but Ilicic says he hopes to become self-sustaining through various initiatives, including therapeutic horseback riding.

The Serbian authorities helped repair local roads, and Ilicic is collaborating with veterinary inspections, but there is still no legal framework to register his establishment as an official horse shelter. "We are currently the only ones in the Balkans, and we hope that the state will recognize us over time," he said.