Horse estate in Galicia: costs, permits, and practical requirements

Living in contact with nature and having your own horses on your estate is the dream of many equestrian lovers. Galicia, with its green meadows all year round, abundance of water, and mild climate, is an ideal environment for it. However, going from a dream to reality requires knowing the regulations, the actual maintenance costs, and the urban requirements of the estates.

In this guide, we detail everything you need to know to plan your equestrian project in rural Galicia in a legal and viable way.

Legal requirements: The REGA registry in Galicia

In Spain, any place that houses equines (even if it's a single horse for private recreational use) must be registered as a livestock farm. In Galicia, this procedure is carried out before the Consellería do Medio Rural and is managed through the REGA (Register of Livestock Farms).

The main requirements to obtain the equine REGA are:

Farm code: You must request it at the Regional Agrarian Office (OAC) corresponding to your municipality.
Adequate facilities: A covered area to protect the animals from inclement weather, a feeder and waterer, and an area to store manure (dunghill) that complies with environmental regulations are required.
Farm registration book: An official document where the registrations, cancellations, and veterinary treatments of the animals are recorded.
Perimeter fencing: The estate must have secure fencing to prevent horses from escaping onto public roads.

How much land do you need to keep horses?

One of the most common mistakes is underestimating the surface area necessary for a horse to live healthily on a grazing regime. In Galicia, although soil fertility is high and pasture is abundant, the general rule is:

Recommended minimum: 1 hectare (10,000 m²) per horse if you want the animal to feed mainly on pasture during a large part of the year.
Soil sensitive to trampling: During the winter, the damp Galician soil can easily become muddy if the animal load is excessive, which damages the pasture and can cause problems in the horses' hooves.

For this reason, large-scale properties like Casa-en-Abadín, which has more than 4 hectares of continuous, flat land without steep slopes, are ideal. They allow for pasture rotation and the maintenance of up to 3 or 4 horses with total comfort and sustainability.

Estimated maintenance costs

Keeping a horse on your own estate eliminates the cost of boarding at an equestrian club, but introduces other maintenance and infrastructure costs:

1. Initial investment in infrastructure

Fencing: The perimeter fencing with an electric shepherd or wooden fence can range between €1,500 and €5,000 depending on the perimeter.
Shelter or shed: An open wooden shed of 3x6 meters has a construction cost of between €2,000 and €4,000.
Approved dunghill: Complying with manure collection may require a concrete slab with leachate collection (€1,000–€2,500).

2. Recurring annual costs per horse

Complementary feeding: Forage (hay) and feed during the winter months: €500–€900/year.
Veterinarian and vaccination: Check-ups, mandatory vaccines (flu and tetanus), and periodic deworming: €150–€300/year.
Shoeing or trimming: Every 6-8 weeks by an equine podiatrist: €250–€500/year.
Civil liability insurance: Coverage for damages to third parties: €60–€120/year.

Key factors when choosing the ideal estate in Galicia

If you are looking for a property for this purpose, make sure it meets the following characteristics:

Access to running water: A horse can drink between 30 and 50 liters of water a day. The presence of natural springs, wells, or rivers on the estate is an invaluable asset.
Vehicle access for forage trucks: You will need a truck or trailer to be able to enter the estate to unload hay bales or feed without difficulty.
Absence of toxic plants: Check that the land is free of dangerous plant species for equines (such as bracken in excess or yew).

Having an adapted, spacious estate with permits in order is the best guarantee for enjoying the rural equestrian lifestyle with total peace of mind and well-being for your horses.