The Documentary Podcast Galicia’s wild horses in peril
Sep 2, 2025
Laura Lagos, a forestry engineer and researcher specializing in Galician wild horses, sheds light on the plight of Europe’s largest herd in north-west Spain. With their numbers halving over fifty years, these iconic animals face habitat loss and predation. Lagos emphasizes their ecological importance in maintaining landscapes and controlling forest fires, while also detailing the cultural significance of festivals like 'rapas das bestas.' She highlights the community's struggles with legal demands that threaten both the horses and their heritage.
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Festival That Keeps A Culture Alive
- Luisito and locals gather horses annually for the rapa das bestas, a traditional shearing festival central to Galician culture.
- He says if the horses disappear, "it won't be Galicia," linking animals to regional identity.
Personal Loss Amid Broader Decline
- Luisito's family owned dozens of horses historically, but his herd fell from about 50 to half a dozen due to wolves and eucalyptus.
- He identifies GPS collars and bells used today to track and locate free-roaming horses in the woods.
Horses As Ecosystem Engineers
- Galicia's wild horse population fell from 22,000 to about 10,000 in 50 years due to land change and predators.
- Horses act as ecosystem engineers that maintain heathlands and reduce fire risk by grazing gorse.