The unanimous decision by the members of Córdoba Ecuestre was an essential requirement to materialize the administrative concession of the historic building. This agreement, ratified after the City Council's approval on April 6th, establishes an initial period of 25 years, extendable for two additional periods, and an annual fee of 99,355.39 euros.
The ceded space will be transformed into the International Horse Center, a project for which the entity has committed an investment of 9.6 million euros. During the renovation works, Córdoba Ecuestre assures that it will maintain its usual activities, complementing them with the planned new uses.
The entity anticipates close collaboration with the Córdoba City Council to establish the city as a global benchmark for the Purebred Spanish Horse (PRE) and an international hub for the equestrian sector. Following the assembly's approval, the required guarantee of 344,621.76 euros will be formalized for the signing of the concession document.
Córdoba Ecuestre, founded in 1996 and declared of Public Utility in 2015, has managed the Royal Stables since 2010. It is responsible for the show "Pasión y duende del caballo andaluz" (Passion and Spirit of the Andalusian Horse), considered a significant tourist attraction and a driver of the city's nightlife and sports offerings.
The awarding of the stables was a long-held ambition for the equestrian community. Mayor José María Bellido previously highlighted that this measure would end decades of precarious temporary use and an irregular situation concerning the monument.
The concession process included objections from Córdoba Ecuestre and the municipal group Hacemos Córdoba, which were rejected by the governing team. Some discrepancies arose regarding the Local Police's cavalry unit, the expansion of spaces requested by the association, and the shared use of the building's east wing, requests that the City Council denied, although the feasibility of shared access will be studied.
The City Council also rejected Córdoba Ecuestre's proposal to use the east wing for purely administrative purposes, advocating for a more ambitious vocation as the International Horse Center. Furthermore, restoration and event uses in the gallery above the riding arena and the tack room were limited, prioritizing the equestrian and cultural purpose of the building and avoiding the proliferation of hospitality activities due to strict heritage protection regulations.
With the final acceptance of the conditions, the foundations are laid for the development of the International Horse Center at the Royal Stables.
