Applying Equine Science

Chapter 1

Buying and selling the sport horse
G. K Crossman and R. E. Walsh

The Royal Agricultural College, Stroud Road, Cirencester,
Gloucestershire GL7 6JS, UK. gkcrossman@hotmail.comAbstract
The sport horse industry in Great Britain is fragmented and
serendipitous. However, there are many opportunities available for
it to develop and grow. The research this paper is based upon was
carried out in conjunction with British Breeding, to improve and develop
the marketing of the British sport horse. The research was carried out
through an online questionnaire (a paper version was also available)
and semi-structured interviews. Both research methods contained
questions aimed specifically at breeders or buyers, as well as general
questions. Once the data had been collected it was analysed to discover
where any trends, relationships or discrepancies existed between
the groups. Recommendations were then formulated. Specifically,
this paper considers the profiles of breeders and buyers of the sport
horse, the reasons for breeding horses or ponies, the characteristics
of horses valued by breeders and buyers and the methods of sale and
purchase used. The significant difference between the horse purchase
price of different categories of buyers, for example the leisure rider
and professional rider, or eventers and show jumpers, are discussed.
Profitability in relation to the reasons people breed horses or ponies
is analysed. The definition of the sport horse is also examined. In
conclusion, there is much work that needs to be completed to enable
the sport horse industry in this country to be fully understood, from both
the perspective of the breeder or producer and the buyer. However,
there are opportunities available for the British sport horse industry to
move forward.Introduction
For many years the British led the way in the breeding of the sport
horse. The Thoroughbred is the foundation for many breeds, whether
they be British or internationally bred. Defra, in the Strategy for the
Horse Industry in England and Wales (2005: 89) state:Although the UK remains a world leader in Thoroughbred
breeding, it has slipped to third position in terms of sales.
Competitive dressage and show jumping horse-breeders
now purchase a large proportion of their horses from
overseas competitors, who market them more effectively.
The UK’s native and indigenous horses and ponies are
still supreme, and representative eventing riders are mostly
mounted on horses bred in the UK, but overseas breeders
are gaining ground in both areas.
A great deal of attention has been centred on the way in which
European horses appear to be much more popular in this country
than homebred horses. The research this article is based upon aimed
to gain an understanding of the buying and selling of sport horses in
Britain, to try to help all of those involved with the industry.The current sport horse market
The market for sport horses is global. Horses frequently move worldwide
to compete or change home. Revolutions in the techniques used to
breed horses, for example artificial insemination and the introduction
of embryo transfer, have enabled the breeding industry to become a
truly global business. However, for some in the sport horse industry
these global phenomena have not been a positive experience,...