The Lusitano is one of the most beautiful horses in the world and is worth a million

These methods are important to preserve the breed of Portuguese origin and place the horses in the Stud Book. The Thoroughbred is often considered by experts to be one of the most beautiful horses in the world and, of course, one of the most valuable on the market. With an ideal height of 1.60 meters, this horse's price can range from 15,000 euros to one million euros. This year, at the annual auction of the Alter do Chão Stud Farm, the most expensive horse was auctioned for 18,400 euros, having been sold to Germany. Several factors contribute to this price variation, including the horse's age, genealogy, and aptitude.

Appreciation The study "The Horse Economy in Portugal," presented at the Horse Economic Forum, reveals the equestrian sector's significant social and territorial impact, especially in sparsely populated areas. "More than 70% of the 92,000 jobs linked to the equestrian sector are located in rural areas, directly contributing to the retention of young people, social inclusion, and the country's cohesion." "The horse is now a tool for inclusion, culture, and local development. In Alter, we see how it transforms lives, creates jobs, and attracts young talent," says Francisco Miranda, Mayor of Alter do Chão.

The study also reveals that more than 3,600 people annually attend university and professional training programs related to equestrian activities, generating qualification and employability opportunities in areas such as sports, tourism, and health. In parallel, approximately two thousand beneficiaries participate annually in hippotherapy programs, distributed across eighty certified equestrian centers, with proven positive impacts on the physical, emotional, and social health of children, youth, and adults with special needs.

Alexandre Real, responsible for organizing the HEF, told Jornal Económico that the event was initiated due to a gap in the market. "We didn't have any event that addressed the horse economy throughout its value chain, from horseshoes to transportation, health, and well-being." "This event promotes the horse economy, which has many benefits, but which is still little known to the rest of the country," he added.

The first two editions of the event served as a "diagnosis", with the presentation of two studies on this economy being relevant, which made it possible to reveal the value it moves, 2.7 billion euros, and its respective direct impact, in the order of 1.5 billion euros.

“Portugal still has a lot to grow in this sector,” says Álvaro Dias, the study coordinator. With Portugal having three major hubs (Golegã, Ponte de Lima, and Alter do Chão) linked to this animal, it's important to create a dynamic for the sector's growth. "We have different markets: the enthusiast, who are people who practice or are closely connected to horses, and the tourists. There needs to be a communication approach for different segments who want to know different things," says Álvaro Dias. "Portugal is often marketed as beaches and sun, but that's true elsewhere. The same cannot be said for the Lusitano," he emphasizes.

With over 480 equestrian events organized annually, the sector strengthens community ties, attracts visitors, and promotes Portuguese identity internationally. The recognition of Portuguese equestrian art as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2024 further reinforced this recognition.

One of the solutions the coordinator proposes to improve the health of this economy is incentives. "There are many subsidies, a lot of European funding coming in, and perhaps a more specific plan for these types of companies should be designed," he states.