Keeping horses

Do you intend to keep horses on your property? If so you will need a REGA code. 

If you are keeping a horse at a riding or livery stable, then the owner of those premises will have the REGA code. If a horse is moved from one location to another, the transporter will need the codes for each end of the journey.

Thank you, is it difficult to get the REGA code, also is there a certain amount of land per horse like in the UK.

Firstly, if I remember correctly, you will need to go to the Ayuntamiento for permission. Then you will need to go to the Oficina Comarcal Agraria (OCA), I think (in LA area) you will come under the Torre Pacheco office, here's the address and phone numbers:

http://www.carm.es/web/pagina?IDCONTENIDO=1238&IDTIPO=100&RASTRO=c212$m1287

If you keep horses, cattle, sheep, goats etc you need a REGA code for your premises. Also rabbits! So, strictly speaking, you would need one for a pet rabbit which seems a bit daft.

For 1 or 2 horses, it is straightforward. 3 to 8 horses need an extra licence. 9 or more and there is a lot more documentation, I think because it is then classed as a business.

I've dug out my paperwork, there is no requirement for a certain amount of land. Our local OCA gave us a list of requirements in bullet points as the official legal document is long. Should you be fluent in Spanish legalese it's here:

www.boe.es/buscar/pdf/2011/BOE-A-2011-11344-consolidado.pdf

Your horses have to be at least 200 metres from: slaughterhouses, landfill sites, other horse stables/farms, factories producing animal food, plantas SANDACH (subproductos animals no destinados al consumo humano) which sounds like a similar thing, other possible sources of contagion.

At least 100 metres from: railways, motorways, main highways. At least 25 metres from other roads.

Other conditions are really what you would expect as a horse owner: perimeter fences, shelter from weather with adequate construction and no sharp edges, water availability, somewhere to keep food for the horses, system of management for the dung.

The form to fill in has space for a plan of the situation of the premises in relation to roads etc, also a space for a plan of the actual installations for the horses. There is a fee to pay, for us 2 1/2 years ago it was just under 200€.

Then you await a visit from the vet (who I'm pretty sure is attached to the OCA) who will give your premises the once over. And, we are still waiting! I'd forgotten about it until I read your question. They've obviously lost/filed our paperwork so I'd better chase it up as my girls are here illegally.

If you are buying a horse and having it transported to you, ideally you should have your REGA code in place beforehand. My young mare came from northern Spain as a foal in 2012, the transporter was willing to bring her without a REGA code but the stud would not let her go without one, so we borrowed a friend's number - so "on paper" she lives with him.

Unless you are fluent in Spanish, this is definitely a time to take a translator with you!  Good luck.

Thank you very much, this is really helpful.

I know it's a bit sad but I've just scanned through the law itself rather than the bullet points given to us! Article 4,2c states that it is the buildings for your horses which have to be a certain distance away from slaughterhouses etc etc not the perimeter of your land which makes more sense.