ARCH reopens its doors in Alhaurín el Grande: a Sunday morning with rescued horses and donkeys

Animal lovers have a different kind of Sunday plan waiting for them in inland Málaga this weekend. The Andalucian Rescue Centre for Horses (ARCH) is resuming its open days in Alhaurín el Grande after taking a break during July and August.

The first visit after the summer will take place on Sunday, 6 September 2026, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, at the association’s facilities in Viña Borrego, close to the A-404 road.

For four hours, members of the public will be able to enter the rescue centre and meet some of the rescued horses, ponies and donkeys recovering there after experiencing abandonment, neglect or mistreatment.

It will not simply be an opportunity to see the animals up close.

The event will also offer visitors the chance to discover how an equine rescue centre operates, speak directly with volunteers and learn about the different ways they can support an organisation that relies heavily on help from the local community.

When is the ARCH open day?

The event will take place on Sunday, 6 September, marking the return of the monthly open days that ARCH usually holds on the first Sunday of each month, except during July and August.

Opening hours will be from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Admission is free, although the association welcomes donations from anyone wishing to contribute towards the care and maintenance of the animals.

Visitors do not need to be riders, have previous experience with horses or know anything about the equestrian world to enjoy the morning.

The aim of the event is precisely to introduce the organisation’s work to anyone interested in animals and in learning how a horse can be rehabilitated after suffering neglect or inadequate care.

Rescued horses, ponies and donkeys take centre stage

The real stars of Sunday’s event will be the animals themselves.

ARCH works with horses, ponies and donkeys in need of care and rehabilitation, providing them with a safe environment while they recover physically and, where possible, preparing them for a suitable new home.

For visitors, the open day provides an opportunity to see that process from a much closer perspective.

Instead of only reading their stories through photographs or social media posts, guests can meet the animals in their own environment and speak with the people responsible for their feeding, cleaning and daily recovery.

Some may still need time before they are ready for the next stage.

Others may have made enormous progress since arriving at the centre.

And some residents will simply enjoy receiving a little more attention than usual.

ARCH’s foals have had all summer to grow

The September reopening will have an additional attraction for those who have visited the centre before.

During the months when no public open days were held, the youngest animals have continued to grow.

That means visitors who met some of the foals before the summer will now be able to see just how much they have changed.

For young animals, only a couple of months can make a considerable difference in both size and behaviour.

The event will therefore be something of a reunion for regular visitors and a first introduction for those who have never been to ARCH before.

How ARCH works with rescued horses

A visit to the centre also helps visitors understand that rescuing an animal does not end the moment it arrives at the facilities.

That is only the beginning.

Horses that have experienced abandonment, neglect or mistreatment may require veterinary treatment, specialised feeding and a lengthy recovery period before they can be considered for adoption.

Rehabilitation can also involve behavioural work.

Regaining the trust of an animal that has suffered a negative experience requires time, patience and consistent care from the people looking after it.

ARCH aims to provide that period of recovery and, whenever circumstances allow, eventually find the animals a suitable permanent home.

The organisation, founded in 2009, has continued to develop this work from Alhaurín el Grande and in 2026 was also granted Public Utility status by Spain’s Ministry of the Interior.

A chance to discover animal volunteering opportunities in Málaga

Sunday’s open day may be particularly interesting for anyone who has ever considered volunteering with horses in Málaga.

Visitors will be able to speak directly with the people who work with ARCH and ask what day-to-day life at the centre involves.

And there is plenty of work behind what visitors see during an open day.

Volunteers help with tasks connected to feeding and caring for the animals, grooming and cleaning their living areas, among other essential duties required to keep the facilities running.

But not every way of helping involves direct contact with horses.

ARCH also needs support in areas such as event organisation, fundraising and marketing, meaning there are opportunities for people with a wide variety of skills and backgrounds.

The open day offers the chance to learn more about these options before deciding whether to become more involved.

Visitors can also help through adoption or donations

Volunteering is not the only way to support the organisation.

Visitors will also be able to ask about the possibility of adopting animals that are ready to move into a new home.

Responsible adoption allows a rehabilitated horse to leave the centre and also creates space for another animal in need of help.

Another much simpler option is to make a donation.

Running a rescue centre of this kind involves constant expenses related to food, veterinary care, facilities and everyday animal welfare.

So while admission on Sunday is free, voluntary contributions help support the work that continues long after visitors have gone home.

Important: no flip-flops if you want to enter the paddocks

There is one recommendation worth remembering before heading out on Sunday morning.

Anyone wishing to enter the paddocks or take part in activities such as grooming the horses should wear suitable closed footwear.

Flip-flops and other open summer shoes are not appropriate in areas where horses and other large animals are present.

It is a simple precaution, but an important one for both visitor safety and the smooth running of the event.

Those who simply want to visit the facilities can still enjoy the centre, but wearing suitable footwear will allow for a more complete experience.

Where is the ARCH rescue centre?

ARCH is located at Viña Borrego, near the A-404 road in Alhaurín el Grande, behind Miralmonte.

Its location in the Guadalhorce Valley makes it accessible from different parts of the Costa del Sol and offers visitors the chance to enjoy a different kind of Sunday morning activity.

It can also be an appealing option for families and anyone looking to swap the beach for a few hours surrounded by animals and a more rural setting.

The four-hour opening period leaves plenty of time to visit during the morning without having to dedicate the entire day to the experience.

Practical information for visiting ARCH this Sunday

These are the main details to keep in mind:

• Event: ARCH open day.
• Date: Sunday, 6 September 2026.
• Time: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
• Location: Viña Borrego, A-404, Alhaurín el Grande.
• Animals: rescued horses, ponies and donkeys.
• Admission: free.
• Donations: voluntary and welcome.
• Volunteering: information will be available directly at the centre.
• Adoption: visitors can ask about available animals during the visit.
• Important: closed footwear is required for grooming animals or entering the paddocks.

A Sunday morning that could turn into something more

An open day may begin simply as a plan to spend a few hours around horses.

But it could end very differently.

Some visitors will discover for the first time what it really takes to rescue and rehabilitate a large animal. Others may find a way to volunteer regularly. And some returning guests may discover that the small foal they met before the summer is no longer quite so small.

That direct contact is precisely one of the event’s biggest attractions.

After two months without its regular public visits, ARCH is reopening its rescue centre so visitors can meet not only the animals themselves, but also the people and work behind each recovery story.

The open day on Sunday, 6 September, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, free admission, advice to wear closed footwear when entering the paddocks and the centre’s location can all be found in the official information published by the Andalucian Rescue Centre for Horses (ARCH).