The day after their meeting, the World Breeding Federation (WBFSH) and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) issued a joint statement last Thursday. They announced that the subject of ‘breeder’s premiums’ would be a separate topic at the next edition of the FEI Sports Forum in Lausanne. It is too early to celebrate, but a breakthrough is on the horizon. A breakthrough in the equestrian sector’s collective awareness of the role and importance of breeding. And the appreciation for breeders.
‘The FEI and the WBFSH recognise the fundamental contribution of breeders to the development and long-term success of equestrian sport,’ the press release states. ‘They play a key role at the start of the sport horse value chain, undertaking significant investment, risks and a long-term commitment to breed horses capable of performing at the highest level.’
So, on 26 and 27 April 2027, the idea of involving breeders of top-class horses more closely in the equestrian sports ecosystem will be discussed in Lausanne. Precisely where this can be done most effectively. After all, the FEI Sports Forum brings together representatives of all stakeholders with the aim of (quote from press release) ‘developing satisfactory and feasible proposals’. That really does sound promising.
The blog series on breeder premiums, which appeared earlier on this site, has achieved exactly what it set out to do: sparking a discussion on whether it is actually acceptable that the vast majority of breeders suffer losses from the very thing that the rest of the ‘value chain’ makes money from.
Incidentally, I have received quite a lot of criticism for pointing out that a great deal of money is made in the equine sector. For instance, I was accused of not knowing just how much it actually costs to compete internationally with a horse. Quite apart from the fact that I do know this, much to my own cost: it is a false argument to complain about high competition costs if these costs are made for commercial purposes. You simply have to educate horses (and in the case of sport horses, this happens at competitions) in order to make money from them.
The point is that a great deal of money is made in the equestrian sector thanks to the fact that breeders are prepared to bring foals into the world (at a loss). I admit: it is, to a certain extent, arbitrary to then set aside a percentage of the 5* prize money for the breeders. Of course, there will also be 5* horses that do not recoup their costs through prize money. For the riders and owners of these horses, it is frustrating to then have to hand over even a small amount to the breeders of their horses.
But the fact remains that, across the entire spectrum of 5* horses, there is a great deal of prize money to be shared.
Moreover, the alternative is far more annoying for some of the high earners in the equestrian sector. With blockchain technology, we can start recording the (commercial) career of sport horses, including all transactions involving a horse. This way, every time a profit is made from a horse, a small portion can flow back to the horse’s initial trainers and its breeder.
I recently outlined this idea to a number of equestrian businesspeople. Their reaction?
1) Well, the tax authorities will be delighted…
2) I’m against it! Dealers still need to retain some room and freedom to make money.
This attitude, which is indeed characteristic of part of the horse world, leads me to view the breeder’s premiums on 5* prize money as a first step. And then to introduce blockchain technology as quickly as possible. Then the equestrian world can finally rid itself of black money and foul play. And present itself as a fully-fledged, mature industry.
Dirk Willem Rosie
