FERICAB 2026 in Lorca: 100+ PRE Horses, Free Shows and the Full Program, Oct. 15–18

FERICAB Lorca 2026: dates, venue and what's new

FERICAB Lorca 2026 runs from Thursday, Oct. 15 to Sunday, Oct. 18 at the Huerto de la Rueda fairground in Lorca, in Spain's Murcia region, and entry to the grounds and the shows is free until capacity is reached. The city council presented the full program on Oct. 9, 2026.

FERICAB stands for Feria Internacional del Caballo, Lorca's international horse fair. It is built around the Pura Raza Española (PRE), the Spanish horse many English speakers call the Andalusian.

According to the council, as reported by regional outlets such as Guadalentín.info and Cadena Azul, more than a hundred horses from about fifty stud farms in Spain, Mexico and France are expected. The breeders' federation RFEAGAS gave a lower early estimate on Oct. 8 (54 horses from about 40 breeders), so final numbers may differ.

Don't mix it up: Lorca also holds its big Feria de Septiembre (the Feria Grande) at the same Huerto de la Rueda grounds in late September. FERICAB is a separate, horse-only event in mid-October.

The full FERICAB 2026 program, day by day

A few notes on the table:

• The PRE 3* morphology show runs across all four days. Exact ring times per class are set by the organizers, so check the schedule at the grounds.
• The technical training day on Friday morning is aimed at livestock students from the CIFEA agricultural training center in Lorca, with talks by veterinary lecturers from UCAM (Universidad Católica de Murcia) on the equine athlete and advances in equine reproduction.
• On Friday the council's program also lists a Concurso Territorial de Doma Clásica, a regional-level dressage show, alongside the national 2* classes.
• The breeders' federation RFEAGAS says the Copa ANCCE continues on Saturday together with the Alta Escuela territorial championship, and that Sunday brings the final phases, exhibitions and special awards for the best horses, stud farms and riders.
• The III Prueba de Obstáculos is the third edition of a carriage-driving obstacle test, organized with Lorca's Asociación de Enganches Ciudad del Sol.

What you're watching in each ring

Morphology: the beauty contest that isn't about beauty

In a morphology class, horses are shown in hand (led, not ridden) and judged on conformation and movement against the breed standard. Handlers stand them up, then walk and trot them so judges can see how they move.

It's the heart of any PRE show, and it's where breeders find out how their young horses compare. If you want the scoring explained in detail, read our guide to how PRE morphology judging works.

Visitor tip: keep a few meters back from the rail when a stallion is being trotted up.

Dressage (national 2*)

On the Thursday and Friday afternoons, plus Friday's territorial show, riders perform set tests in a marked arena. Judges score each movement for accuracy, rhythm and how relaxed and willing the horse looks.

It's quiet and precise, which is the point. Our explainer on how dressage is scored covers the basics.

Alta Escuela (haute école): the Copa ANCCE

Haute école fills Saturday, with the Alta Escuela territorial championship, and Sunday morning, when the Copa ANCCE reaches its final phases and exhibitions. The cup is organized under the breed association ANCCE's umbrella. Haute école is the most collected, showy side of classical riding.

Look for:

• Piaffe: a trot on the spot, with the horse lifting its legs in diagonal pairs.
• Passage: a slow, floating trot with a clear moment of suspension.
• Spanish walk: the horse lifts and extends each foreleg high in front.

PRE horses are famous for this work because of their naturally elevated, collected movement.

Carriage driving: the obstacle test

Saturday's driving test is one of the liveliest events of the fair. In this kind of test, drivers typically steer a horse-drawn carriage through a course of obstacles against the clock, and knocking one down costs penalties.

It's great for kids because it's easy to follow: clean and fast wins. Carriages turn quickly and wide, so always watch from behind the ropes.

The free night show: 'Ronda a caballo. El alma de Andalucía'

On Friday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 17 at 21:00, the fair hosts 'Ronda a caballo. El alma de Andalucía', a show that mixes dressage, music and Andalusian riding tradition.

It's under the technical direction of international rider David Chaves. It features José Ramón Pérez 'Chamo', Spanish champion of doma vaquera, with a special appearance by Pilar Ortiz.

Entry is free but limited by capacity. If this is the main event for your family, arrive early, and bring a layer: October nights in Lorca can turn cool.

How to watch PRE horses respectfully up close

FERICAB's barns and warm-up areas give you a chance to see top PRE horses at arm's length. These horses are working athletes in an unfamiliar place, so a few habits keep everyone safe.

The visitor's checklist

• Ask before you touch. Always ask the groom or handler first, and accept a no without fuss.
• Never feed a horse. Show horses are on careful diets, and fingers can be mistaken for treats.
• Approach from the side, toward the shoulder. Horses can't see directly in front of their nose or behind them.
• Don't stand behind a horse, even a calm one.
• Keep kids within arm's reach and walking, not running, near the stables and rings.
• No flash photography and no umbrellas opening suddenly near horses.
• Stay quiet during a dressage or haute école test. Clap after the final salute, not in the middle.
• Give way to horses in aisles and walkways; a handler leading a stallion has right of way.
• Don't climb on rails or lean into the ring.

Our safety hub and behavior guide explain why horses spook and how to read ears, tail and body language.

Planning your visit: a family checklist

1. Pick your highlights. For kids, Saturday is the best single day: morphology in daylight, driving at 17:30 and the night show at 21:00.
2. Plan around capacity. Free entry means popular sessions can fill up. Arrive before the show you care about most.
3. Dress for dust and sun. Closed-toe shoes are a must around horses. Sunscreen by day, a jacket at night.
4. Bring water and snacks for long sessions, and a small cushion if seating is basic.
5. Teach the rules in the car. Two minutes on "ask first, no feeding, walk don't run" saves stress later.
6. Learn the breed first. Our PRE breed guide makes the classes more fun to follow.

What to watch next

• Day-of schedules: class times can shift. Confirm on site or on Lorca city council channels.
• Results: morphology and Alta Escuela placings will only be known once the classes are judged, Oct. 15–18. We won't report winners before then.
• The wider PRE autumn: FERICAB sits in a busy Spanish season. See how Una Pará en Gines went, and check the Lepe Horse Fair, which runs the same dates in Huelva.

For more events like this, browse our trends page or explore the breeds section.