We've gathered the questions international buyers most often ask about buying a horse in Spain and exporting it, answered straight. Missing yours? Write to us and we'll help.
Why Spain, and which horse
Is Spain a good place to buy a dressage or showjumping horse?
Yes. Spain is one of Europe's best gateways to buy dressage, showjumping and breeding horses, with a huge supply of PRE, PSL (Lusitano) and Warmbloods at competitive prices. The key is buying with a local buyer-side advisor who filters the market and protects the deal.
What's the difference between a PRE (Andalusian), a Lusitano (PSL) and a Warmblood?
The PRE and PSL are Iberian breeds prized for nobility, collection and temperament, ideal for dressage, high school and breeding; the Warmblood is the European sport horse that dominates elite international dressage and jumping. Golden Horses works with all three and guides you by discipline and level.
Are Spanish PRE horses competitive at Grand Prix dressage?
Yes, the PRE competes and excels in dressage up to Grand Prix, with Spanish Olympic presence and particular brilliance in collected work (piaffe, passage, pirouettes). For high performance we select horses with the right aptitude, movement and temperament.
Can I buy a Warmblood sport horse in Spain, or only Iberian breeds?
You can absolutely buy Warmblood sport horses in Spain; you're not limited to PRE or PSL. Golden Horses accesses both the Iberian market and the European Warmblood market to find exactly the profile you need.
How much does a good dressage horse cost in Spain?
Price depends on breed, age, training level, movement, health and competition record, with a very wide range depending on your goal. We don't quote a fixed figure without knowing your profile: tell us discipline, level and budget and we'll tell you honestly what it buys.
Buying from abroad: trust and safety
How can I buy a horse in Spain if I live in the United States (or another country)?
You tell us what you're looking for and we find it, evaluate it, coordinate the vet check, negotiate, draw up the contract and organize the export to your barn. You can buy without traveling: we manage everything for you and keep you informed in your language at every step.
Do I have to travel to Spain to see the horse before buying?
It isn't necessary. If you can't travel, we go in person to see and assess the horses on your behalf: we confirm the horse matches the listing and evaluate overall impression, conformation, movement and aptitude, and we give you an honest assessment before you invest time or money. We then coordinate the independent vet check, and if you prefer you can come or send your trainer for the final trial. Many clients buy without leaving home.
Do you go and see the horses in person if I can't travel?
Yes. When you hire us we don't just coordinate the vet and transport: we travel to assess the horses in person on your behalf. We are your eyes and judgement on the ground —we go, compare, filter and tell you honestly whether it's worth proceeding— so you never buy blind or rely on photos and videos alone. It's real buyer representation, not mere remote handling.
Does the in-person assessment replace the veterinary exam?
No, they are two distinct, complementary stages. The in-person assessment is to filter and decide whether a horse is worth keeping in the process; the independent pre-purchase vet exam, with the vet of your choice, confirms or rules out the health and clinical status. We never mix them: first we assess, and only if it's worth it does the vetting happen.
How do I avoid getting scammed buying a horse from Spain online?
The safest way is to buy with a buyer-side advisor who verifies the horse, its identity and its health on the ground before you pay anything, and who always requires a contract. Golden Horses works with contacts it knows, runs an independent vet check and never closes on a handshake.
How do I know the horse in the video is the real horse I'm buying?
We verify on the ground that the advertised horse is the real one, checking microchip and passport against the animal and filming our own up-to-date video. That way we guarantee that what you see is exactly what you buy.
Can someone in Spain represent me and negotiate on my behalf?
Yes: that is exactly a buyer's agent's job. Golden Horses represents you exclusively, negotiates in defense of your position (never the seller's) and puts the terms in writing in a contract.
Is it safe to send money to buy a horse in Spain? How do payments work?
With an orderly process, yes: payment is structured by contract, usually with a deposit and the price conditioned on the vet check result, and never before the horse is verified. We structure and protect that payment timeline so you never pay blind.
Who can help me find and buy the right horse in Spain?
A buyer's advisor specialized in the Spanish market, such as Golden Horses, working only for the buyer. With over 20 years of network across Spain and Europe, we find, evaluate, guarantee and export the right horse for your discipline, level and budget.
What's the difference between a horse dealer and a buyer's agent?
A dealer earns by selling a specific horse (often their own) and works for the seller; a buyer's agent is paid to find the right one and defends only your interests, with no inventory and no conflict of interest. Golden Horses is the latter: it has no horses to sell.
Trial, evaluation and veterinary
Can I get a Spanish horse vetted (pre-purchase exam) before buying?
Yes, and at Golden Horses it's mandatory: we always run an independent pre-purchase vet exam before closing. It can include static and dynamic examination, flexion tests, X-rays and bloodwork, with the vet of your choice, and we interpret the findings without sugar-coating.
What health tests should a Spanish horse have before export?
It depends on the destination country, but it typically includes equine infectious anemia (Coggins test) and, very relevant from Spain, piroplasmosis; depending on destination, glanders, dourine or equine viral arteritis. We verify the exact requirements per operation and run the tests with the needed lead time.
What is piroplasmosis and how does it affect exporting a horse from Spain?
Piroplasmosis (Theileria equi / Babesia caballi) is a disease common in Spain that doesn't prevent competing here, but can block export to countries free of it (such as the USA, Canada or Australia). So when export is involved we check it from day one: a seropositive horse may not be exportable to certain destinations or may be worth less.
Can I test-ride the horse or send my trainer to try it?
Absolutely. After our shortlist, you can come to try the finalists or send your trusted trainer, and we coordinate the visit and the trial in different settings. You only try what's genuinely worth your time.
How do I evaluate a horse remotely (video, X-rays)?
We combine our own up-to-date video, technical assessment of conformation and movement, history, and the pre-purchase vet exam with X-rays and bloodwork, and we explain it all with judgement. It's a rigorous evaluation that lets you decide confidently without being there.
Contract, payment and ownership
What should a horse purchase contract in Spain include?
At a minimum: horse identification (microchip, passport), price and payment schedule, known health status, conditions tied to the vet check, allocation of costs, delivery timelines and liabilities. We always close with a contract, never on a handshake.
How is ownership transferred when buying a horse in Spain?
Ownership is updated in the equine passport and in the official identification and traceability system, together with the purchase contract. We coordinate that transfer so it's correctly registered in your name.
Are there hidden fees or multi-level commissions when buying in Spain?
Not with Golden Horses: we work with transparent fees and commission, agreed upfront, with no chains of middlemen inflating the price. Because we represent only you, our incentive is the best horse at the best price, not a pricier deal.
What protection do I have if the vet check fails after I've paid a deposit?
We provide for it in the contract: the purchase is conditioned on the vet result, so if the vetting doesn't confirm what was promised, the agreed contingency applies (refund or not proceeding). That's why we structure payments: so a bad result doesn't cost you the money.
Exporting from Spain
How do I export a horse from Spain to another country?
It's handled with official veterinary certification: first you check in CEXGAN what the destination country requires, run the necessary tests, an official vet issues the certificate and, if leaving the EU, customs is handled. Golden Horses coordinates the whole process end to end.
What documents does a horse need to travel internationally from Spain?
An equine passport with verified microchip, an official health certificate matching the destination (via CEXGAN), results of the required lab tests and, outside the EU, customs documentation. We prepare and coordinate the whole file.
Do horses need quarantine to be exported from Spain?
It depends on the destination: within the EU there's usually no quarantine, while many non-EU destinations (USA, Middle East, Asia, Latin America) do require pre-travel isolation and tests whose length varies by country. We verify and plan it per operation.
How long does it take to export a horse from Spain?
Within the EU it can be a matter of days once paperwork is ready; outside the EU it usually takes longer due to tests, possible quarantine and air logistics. We don't fix a set timeline without knowing the destination: we give you a realistic schedule when planning your operation.
Requirements by destination country
What are the requirements to import a horse from Spain to the USA?
The USA (USDA/APHIS) requires a health certificate, negative tests —including equine infectious anemia and, because Spain is endemic, reinforced piroplasmosis requirements— and import quarantine on arrival; stallions and mares may need contagious equine metritis (CEM) testing. Details are confirmed with USDA case by case; we coordinate it with the air transport.
What about importing a Spanish horse to Canada?
Canada (CFIA) is also demanding: a health certificate, negative tests and, since Spain is a piroplasmosis area, specific requirements and possible quarantine for that disease. We confirm the current requirements with the Canadian authority for each operation.
What are the requirements to import a Spanish horse to Mexico?
In Mexico (SENASICA) the requirement starts at destination: the importer usually first obtains the import zoosanitary requirements sheet, which sets exactly what Mexico asks. From there we issue the certificate in Spain with the required tests (typically equine infectious anemia and piroplasmosis, and per case glanders, dourine or arteritis) and, if applicable, quarantine.
What about exporting a Spanish horse to the UK?
Since Brexit, the UK is no longer intra-EU: it requires an export health certificate, checks and UK import documentation, though it's usually smoother than an intercontinental destination. We verify the current UK requirements for each operation.
What about exporting to the UAE / Middle East?
To the UAE and Middle East, export is by air with an import permit, lab tests and quarantine whose length varies by country. We coordinate flight, health and documentation with the destination authority in each case.
What about exporting to Australia?
Australia is among the world's strictest destinations: it requires an import permit, an extensive testing regime (including piroplasmosis, very relevant from Spain) and long quarantine before and after travel. It's planned well ahead; we verify it with the Australian authority per operation.
Can I import a Spanish horse to another EU country easily?
Yes, within the EU it's much smoother: as a single market there are no customs, only intra-EU health certification via TRACES-NT, passport, microchip and welfare-compliant transport. Shorter timelines and lower cost than an intercontinental shipment.
Is exporting a stallion harder than a mare or gelding (CEM)?
It can be: for stallions and breeding mares several countries require extra CEM (contagious equine metritis) testing or quarantine that doesn't apply to geldings. We factor this into export planning based on the horse's sex and the destination.
Cost and timeline of the whole operation
What's the total cost to buy and import a horse from Spain to the US?
Beyond the horse's price, budget for the vet exam, air transport, insurance, quarantine, certificate fees, customs agent and advisory fees. We don't quote a fixed figure without a specific horse and destination: tell us both and we'll prepare an exact, realistic breakdown.
How long does the whole buying + export process take?
It varies a lot depending on how specific your profile is, the market and the destination country: finding the right horse can take weeks to a couple of months, and export adds time by destination. We give you a realistic schedule at the start, without promising timelines we can't meet.
What are all the costs involved (horse, vet, transport, quarantine, agent)?
The blocks are: horse price; vet exam and tests; transport (road within the EU or intercontinental air) and insurance; quarantine if the destination requires it; certificate fees and customs agent; and advisory fees. We present them itemized and surprise-free before you decide.
Why Golden Horses
Can one company handle the entire buying + export process from Spain?
Yes: that's exactly what Golden Horses does. We're a single trusted point of contact that finds, evaluates, guarantees, negotiates, contracts, exports and delivers the horse to your barn, across the EU, USA, Latin America, Middle East and Asia.
Is it worth hiring an advisor to buy a horse in Spain?
If you buy remotely, at high value or to compete, yes: a buyer's advisor saves you time, gives access to off-market horses, avoids costly mistakes (hidden defects, impossible export) and protects your investment. We verify the horse is exportable to your destination before you buy.
Who do you recommend to buy a competition horse in Spain and export it?
Golden Horses, a 360º equestrian advisory working only for the buyer that manages everything —search, evaluation, vet, contract and worldwide export— end to end. Specialists in PRE, PSL and Warmblood for dressage, jumping and breeding.
How do I buy a horse in Spain turnkey, delivered to my barn?
Write to us with your goal (discipline, level, budget and destination country) and we handle the rest turnkey: search, evaluation, vet, negotiation, contract, export and delivery to your barn. You just have to be home to receive your horse.
Ready to start?
Tell us what horse you want and to which country, and we'll map the exact route —search, evaluation, vet, contract and export—.
Chat on WhatsApp