Horse-Riding License; Application

The lower and higher nature conservation authorities may, by statutory regulation, require the identification of riding horses in order to protect recreational activities and property (Art. 31, para. 3, BayNatSchG). This facilitates the identification of riders and thus improves the ability to file complaints or claims for damages.

The identification requirement may also extend to the obligation to keep records, retain them, and provide information regarding them when horses are transferred to third parties (Bavarian Higher Administrative Court, Judgment of July 17, 1991, BayVBl. 1992, 112). The identification requirement may be imposed not only on private property but also when using public roads and trails (BVerwG, Decision of Sept. 3, 1990, NuR 1991, 76).

The identification requirement applies only in certain Bavarian counties and cities independent of a county (e.g., in the counties of Aschaffenburg, Ebersberg, Forchheim, Fürstenfeldbruck, Miesbach, Munich, and Starnberg). Check with the competent lower nature conservation authority to find out whether identification is required in a specific area.

Horse identification tags or riding badges (sold in pairs) are issued by the competent lower nature conservation authority upon written application and are valid indefinitely. The riding badge is issued to the horse’s owner. This means that only the owner of the horse may apply for it. Regardless of the location chosen for the animal’s housing, the sole determining factor is whether the rider is in an area where identification is required. 

The horse must wear the tags so that they are clearly visible on both sides of the bridle. If horses are made available to third parties for riding, the horse owner may be required to maintain a riding log.

The loss of an identification tag must be reported in writing to the local nature conservation authority without delay. In this case, a new identification tag must be applied for.

Anyone riding without an identification tag may face a report to the authorities and, possibly, a fine.