Equine Insurance 2026: Conditions, Insurable Values and How to Take Out Coverage

Key data

Equine livestock farmers who wish to protect their herd with public backing in 2026 now have a defined technical framework governing that access. Order APA/290/2026, published in the BOE on 28 March 2026 with effect from 18 March, establishes which farms and animals are insurable, what minimum conditions must be met and what unit values serve as the basis for calculating compensation in the event of a claim.

This regulation is part of the Combined Agricultural Insurance Plan, the Spanish public system that allows livestock farmers to transfer the risk of animal loss to the insurance system with state backing. Membership is voluntary, but those who do not join waive any right to public compensation in the event of animal loss.

What does this regulation establish?

Order APA/290/2026 regulates six essential technical aspects of equine livestock farm insurance for 2026:

The unit values are the most relevant element from an economic standpoint: they determine how much the farmer receives if an animal dies or suffers a covered accident. The higher the unit value recognised by the regulation, the greater the potential compensation. These values vary according to the breed, productive aptitude and category of the animal.

The minimum technical conditions for farm management act as an access filter: if the farm does not meet them, it cannot take out insurance and therefore has no right to public compensation. These conditions relate to aspects such as farm registration, animal identification and management practices.

Economic and operational impact

The economic impact of this regulation operates in two directions:

• Coverage opportunity: Farmers who take out insurance transfer the economic risk of animal loss to the insurance system. On an equine farm, the death of a high-value stallion or several animals due to disease can result in losses of thousands of euros. Insurance limits that impact.
• Premium cost: Taking out insurance has a cost (premium), which is calculated on the unit values set by the regulation. As a combined agricultural insurance, part of that premium may be subsidised by the State, reducing the farmer's actual outlay.

The risk of not taking out insurance is clear: any loss of animals due to disease, accident or death will not be covered publicly, and the farmer will bear 100% of the economic loss.

From an operational standpoint, the regulation requires farms to verify that they meet the minimum technical conditions before taking out insurance. If they do not, the farmer must first adapt — which may involve investment in records, animal identification or management improvements — before being able to access insurance.

Who is affected?

• Livestock farmers with horse farms of any breed and productive aptitude (meat, sport, leisure, breeding)
• Farms with mules and donkeys registered in Spain
• Breeders and owners of equidae who wish to access the public agricultural compensation system
• Managers and advisors of equine livestock farms who need to review their clients' risk coverage
• Insurance entities operating in the combined agricultural insurance sector in Spain

Practical example

A livestock farmer in Extremadura has a farm with 15 breeding mares and 2 native breed stallions. He decides to take out equine livestock farm insurance under Order APA/290/2026.

The process would be as follows:

1. Eligibility verification: He checks that his farm meets the minimum technical management conditions set by the regulation (registration, animal identification, management practices).
2. Calculation of the insured sum: He applies the unit values set by Order APA/290/2026 to each animal according to its category (breeding mare, stallion). The total unit values of all his animals determines the maximum insured sum.
3. Subscription within the established period: He takes out insurance within the subscription period set by the regulation for 2026.
4. Active coverage: During the guarantee period, if one of his stallions dies from a covered disease or accident, he receives compensation calculated on the unit value recognised by the regulation for that animal category.

Without insurance, that same loss would have meant bearing the full value of the animal with no public backing whatsoever.

What should farms do now?

1. Check whether the farm meets the minimum technical conditions set by Order APA/290/2026: official registration, identification of all animals and required management practices. Without meeting these, it is not possible to take out insurance.
2. Identify the insurable animals on the farm: horses, mules and donkeys of the breeds and productive aptitudes covered by the regulation.
3. Consult the unit values established by Order APA/290/2026 to calculate the potential insured sum and assess whether the coverage is adequate for the actual value of the herd.
4. Contact an authorised insurance entity to operate under the Combined Agricultural Insurance Plan and request a premium quote within the 2026 subscription period.
5. Assess the cost-benefit bearing in mind that part of the premium may be subsidised by the State, which reduces the actual outlay relative to the coverage obtained.
6. Do not wait until the end of the subscription period: the regulation sets specific deadlines for subscription. Once that deadline has passed, it is not possible to join until the following year.

Official source

View full regulation at official source — BOE-A-2026-7176

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-7176