Marbella’s retired police horses escape auction and find a new home in Cadiz sanctuary

Five retired Marbella police horses have been given a second chance after activists stopped their planned auction and secured a new home for them at a sanctuary in Cadiz.

The horses, which were no longer fit for police duties, will now be donated to Santuario Rancho Edén in Arcos de la Frontera, where they can spend their retirement receiving specialist care.

Marbella police horses saved from auction

Marbella Council cancelled the auction at the end of July following pressure from animal welfare campaigners. Marbella Activa had launched a micro-donation campaign, raising around €1,000 in the hope of buying the animals and finding suitable accommodation for them.

Activist Virginia de Nibiru was among those calling for the auction to be stopped and the horses to be donated instead. Administrative procedures have now been completed, meaning Pajarita, Lucero Picasso, Evaristo II Melendi, Deseado Felipe and Ruidoso XVIII can move to their new home.

Several of the horses have chronic health problems, including tendonitis, degenerative arthritis, skin melanomas, colic and dermatitis. One animal also has training problems.

Sanctuary offers retired horses a new life

Money raised by supporters will now help cover their initial needs at Rancho Edén. Local businesses, the family of Sheikh Mohamed Ashmawi and a Belgian company have also helped, with the latter agreeing to transport the horses to Arcos de la Frontera free of charge.

Rancho Edén specialises in caring for vulnerable horses and animals with difficult histories. Canal Sur recently featured the sanctuary, describing how its founder dedicates her time to feeding, treating and caring for animals in need.

Marbella previously attempted to sell retired police horses in 2023. That auction also failed to find buyers, with some of the same animals later returning to the auction block.

For these five horses, however, the latest chapter has a much happier ending: retirement will now mean sanctuary rather than another sale.