A microdonation campaign has successfully bid for the five retired horses of the Local Police of Marbella, and they already have a sanctuary in Cádiz ready to welcome them. The auction deadline closed on July 20.
Activist Virginia de Nibiru confirmed on Monday that the bid for the five horses has doubled the starting price of 600 euros, thanks to contributions from local residents and groups. The chosen destination is the Santuario Rancho Edén, in Arcos de la Frontera (Cádiz), a centre specialised in the care of retired animals.
A Lot with a History of Health Issues
The horses up for auction are Pajarita, Lucero Picasso, Evaristo II Melendi, Deseado Felipe, and Ruidoso XVII. The first four were previously part of an auction in 2023, which was left unsold due to no bids being submitted. The fifth, Ruidoso XVII, is now joining for the first time.
According to the municipal report, all suffer from chronic and degenerative conditions: tendinitis, arthritis causing lameness, skin melanomas, colic, dermatitis, and, in one case, lack of training. These ailments make them unfit for police service, but also complicate their private adoption due to the veterinary costs involved.
The Path of Agreement with the City Council
Activist Virginia de Nibiru explained that, alongside the auction, they have been in talks with the City Council to try to suspend the administrative procedure and ensure that the horses are donated directly to the sanctuary. “We believe this is the best solution,” she stated. If successful, the funds raised, which amount to around 1,000 euros, would be entirely allocated to food and veterinary care.
“Hopefully we can report that these five companions, after a life of service, now have the dignified retirement they always deserved,” added the campaign spokesperson. The initiative has received support from local animal rights associations and residents who have donated small amounts through a microdonation platform.
A Precedent That Went Unfulfilled
This is not the first time the City Council of Marbella has attempted to rehome its retired horses. In 2023, six horses were put up for auction with a starting price of 1,625 euros, but no bids were made. Now, the reduced lot with a lower starting price has managed to spark the interest of activists, who hope that public pressure will lead to a different outcome.
For the residents of Marbella, this story has an emotional component: the horses have been part of the urban landscape for years, involved in surveillance and events. Their retirement, far from being a rest, had turned into uncertainty. Now, with the sanctuary in sight, many trust that these animals will have the retirement they deserve.
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