The new Horse Regulation brings changes to the keeping of horses and donkeys. The regulation stipulates that basic health care for horses must be provided regularly. This means, among other things, regular vaccinations, parasite control, hoof cleaning and scraping.
The regulation stipulates that a horse must have visual and auditory contact with another horse in its holding area, as well as the opportunity for daily contact with another horse. Keeping a single horse is therefore prohibited. The basis for this is that a horse is a herd animal. A horse must be accompanied by another horse. A donkey must be accompanied by another donkey in the same holding area. Equines must also be allowed to go outside to exercise daily.
According to the regulation, every horse must have either a stable stall or a yard space at its place of residence. This also applies to the grazing season. Merely shelter on the pasture does not meet the legal requirements for a place to keep a horse. Horses must have a shelter (at least double-walled) on the pasture or in the barn, or they must be able to be immediately taken to a stable or yard for shelter in adverse weather conditions.
The pen should be a four-walled building with walls that extend to the ground and thus provide protection from the wind. The horses must be able to lie down at the same time in the shelter.
Horses must have access to water at all times. In freezing conditions, water must be provided at least every six hours. Attention has been paid to the supply of roughage: a horse must not be without roughage (i.e. dry hay) for more than six hours. The rules on water and roughage for currently operating stables will come into effect after a transition period from the beginning of 2031.
The area requirements for stables and yards are changing. However, there is a transition period for the area requirements, meaning that the new regulations will come into effect for currently operating stables during the transition period. Those planning new stables and yards should carefully familiarize themselves with the new regulation and the Animal Welfare Act 693/2023, as the regulations will apply to new stables from the beginning of 2026.
Clarifications will be added to the regulation later. For more information, see the press release from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
The article was updated on February 27, 2026.
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The task of the South Häme Environmental Health Service is to ensure a healthy living environment and safe food for its residents. The area of operation of the South Häme Environmental Health Service includes Forssa, Hausjärvi, Humppila, Janakkala, Jokioinen, Loppi, Riihimäki, Tammela and Ypäjä.
The city of Riihimäki is the responsible municipality for environmental health care in South Häme.
Learn more about the new horse regulation: Finlex.fi/Government Decree on the Welfare of Horses.
South Häme Environmental Health website
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