Interview with Milly Cramer Founder and Present of Blue Horses

Postal Address is: Hoyo 16, casa 52, 29649 Mijas Costa, but we are homed at Rescue Centre CYD Santa Maria in Alhaurin el Grande.

Seeing a lot of mistreated and abandoned horses in Andalucia. Coming from Holland where everything considering animal welfare is more or less well organised, some things came asquite a shock to me here. A lot of problems occur due to people not being well informed about horses and how to deal with them. Knowledge is passed on from parent to child and a lot of ways are still very old fashioned and not very animal-friendly. Also a lot depends on how you look at horses, as workers, meat or pets. 

In other cases there is simply cruelty and neglect. These kind of cases are certainly not unique for Andalucia, as you can encounter cruel and selfish people all around the world.

We started about 5 years ago, rescuing a horse here and there. Things got more official and professional when we moved to Rescue Centre CYD Santa Maria and started to work with the Santa Maria Association.

Do you feel the situation has changed since Blue Horses started?

A lot of things are changing since the new animal protection law of 2003 and also with all the new rules from the Junta de Andalucia with regard to keeping and transporting horses. To have horses at your home now is not so easy anymore, you need the proper permissions and those cost money and effort. Also it is now obligatory to have your horse microchipped. This makes it much easier to track down owners of horses and to make them responsible if anything goes wrong.

The ongoing information stream from Blue Horses and the CYD Santa Maria to people with horses and to for example schools also helps to make people more aware of the do's and don'ts.

Taking in horses is only a small part of the job we are doing. In order to make real changes,it is important that the law is in place, known and executed. Little by little horse owners start to realise that you can be held accountable for neglect or maltreatment and that in severe cases you could even go to jail!

The constant checking of possible cases of maltreatment and the denounces that sometimes follow are starting to have effect.

How can people help Blue Horses?

People can help us in various ways: we always look for volunteers, adults that have experience with horses, not so much riding as well as handling and who are also not afraid to get dirty.

Or people that have experience with construction.

We always look for potential adoption homes for when we need to rehome a horse. Potential adoption homes need to have all legal paperwork in order and need to be willing to take on a horse that can no longer be ridden but serves as company horse. Also it is important to know that taking on a rescue horse can be expensive as they often need extra medical care.

And of course we always need donations, this does not necessarily mean money, food and hay (in good conditions of course) are the most important. 

What can the donations do? What would they be used towards?

Donations are used to buy food and hay, to pay vetenary bills and medications. We are a private organisation with no governmental funding, so anything is welcome.

What needs to be done in order to make major changes in the system that is already in place?

It is important that, having new laws now, everybody with an interest in horses, knows what those laws are. People have to be less afraid to get involved. If you see maltreatment and you are not sure whether a denounce can be made, please contact us. Also don't be afraid, after checking if there is really maltreatment or neglect according to the law, to go to the police and force them to take action. They are obliged to do so, so don't take no for an answer. A change can only be made if more people are involved.

What do people do if they come across a horse that needs help?

Try to see if the horse is really in need first . We get a lot of phonecalls from people who worry when a horse is a bit skinny. This is not Holland or the UK and a skinny horse is not necessarily badly treated. Check out a situation first, the horse could be 30 years old and very much loved by its owners but lacking teeth and therefore skinny.

Some things are very clear: horses need fresh water 24/7, food and shelter (more for hot summers than for rain) and need to be fenced in. Hobbles are illegal. Amputation of tail is illegal. Hitting horses till blood pours is illegal, but obviously you need proper evidence. If you see a badly wounded horse without apparent owner, call a vet and have him/her do a check and first treatment. Of course this will cost money, but remember that it will also cost us money and we have a lot of cases every month! The vets are obliged to mention any form of maltreatment so this way the police will get involved.

If the horse is on private, fenced-in property, and there is any doubt, contact us.

Are there any particular types of horses you get in?

No, we get in what needs saving or can be saved. In some cases the animal has to be put down on the spot. Remember that this also costs money! As you can see on the website the horses come in all shapes, colours and ages.

Milly Cramer can be contacted on

  +34 952 477 057
    +34 647 010 009

or email