2024 Fact Book
Fact Book 2024
Executive Summary
The latest edition of the annual Weatherbys Fact Book provides key breeding statistics for foals, mares, stallions as well as international movements, age profiles, gestation periods, breeders by county and other informationacrossBritainandIreland.
2024 saw one of the lowest combined British-Irishfoalcropssincetheaftermath ofthefinancialcrisis.
Withtheexceptionofthefinancialcrisis,whenthefoalcropdeclinedfromahigh of18,472in2007to11,912in2012,thetwocountrieshaveenjoyedsteadygrowth sincerecordswerefirstkept.
In1959,65yearsago,thecombinedfoalcropforBritainandIrelandwasalittle over4,000;and20years laterin1979ithaddoubledto8,621.This continuedto growoverthefollowing20yearsandby1999ourtotalcombinedfoalcropstood at 13,115, before peaking in 2007and 2008 at over 18,000, a 435%increase in 50 years.
Thatsteadyrecoverysincethefinancialcrisisappearstohavestalled,atleast fornow.
Ofadditionalconcern,therehasbeenadisproportionatereductioninstallions comparedtobroodmaresinthelast15years:inroundnumbersstallionnumbers havehalvedinthatshortperiodcomparedtoa25%reductioninbroodmares, resultinginushavingthehighestratioofstallionstobroodmaresintheworldat 1:60.
Theimpactoftheselowernumbersissmallerfieldsizes.Theoptimumfieldsize formaximisingturnoveris11or12runners.Decliningfoalcropsonbothsidesof theIrishSeaand,recognisingthat60%oftheIrishfoalcropisexportedtoBritain torace,potentialaveragefieldsizesof6-8willhaveanenormousimpactonthe healthandsustainabilityofourcombinedracingindustries.
Thistrendisworldwide,exceptforahandfulofThoroughbredbreedingcountries. These exceptions have one factor in common; their breeding industries all receivesupporteitherdirectlyfromGovernmentaspartofawideragricultural andemploymentpolicy,orindirectlythroughtoteturnover.
SimonCooper Director,WeatherbysGeneralStudBook
British(GB)Section
Broodmares: Page3
• ActiveBroodmares2021-2024
• BroodmareClassification
• InitialBroodmareRegistrations2021-2024
• Retired/Deceased
• GestationRanges-2024produce
• AgeProfileofBroodmares
• LiveProduceperActiveBroodmare
• CountryofBirth
• PermanentExports
Stallions: Page9
• RegisteredStallions
• StandingPurpose
• 1stSeasonSires
• 2ndSeasonSires
• EstablishedSires
• GBDomiciledMaresVisitingStallions
• CountryofBirth
• MaresCoveredperStallion
• CoveringsperWeek-2024
• AgeProfileofStallions
Foals:..............................................................................................Page15
• FoalsBorn2021-2024
• FoalingDatesandIntendedCareer
• IntendedCareerStatistics2021-2024
• FoalCropincl.LateReturns2021-2024
• FoalColours
• HistoricalFoalCrops
General: Page21
• PermanentExportsofGBBredHorses
• PermanentImportsintoGB
• BreedersbyCounty
• NumberofGBBroodmaresOwnedper Breeder
Irish(IRE)Section(incl.N.Ireland)
Broodmares: Page27
• ActiveBroodmares2021-2024
• BroodmareClassification
• InitialBroodmareRegistrations2021-2024
• Retired/Deceased
• GestationRanges-2024produce
• AgeProfileofBroodmares
• LiveProduceperActiveBroodmare
• CountryofBirth
• PermanentExports
Stallions: Page33
• RegisteredStallions
• StandingPurpose
• 1stSeasonSires
• 2ndSeasonSires
• EstablishedSires
• IREDomiciledMaresVisitingStallions
• CountryofBirth
• MaresCoveredperStallion
• CoveringsperWeek-2024
• AgeProfileofStallions
Foals: Page39
• FoalsBorn2021-2024
• FoalingDatesandIntendedCareer
• IntendedCareerStatistics2021-2024
• FoalCropincl.LateReturns2021-2024
• FoalColours
• HistoricalFoalCrops
General: Page45
• PermanentExportsofIREBredHorses
• PermanentImportsintoIRE
• BreedersbyCounty
• NumberofIREBroodmaresOwnedper Breeder
Broodmares - British
GBActiveBroodmares 2021-2024
The chart shows all registered broodmares, in known ownership, that have either producedafoal,beencovered and/or for which a result has been received in the last two breeding seasons. These figures exclude those which are known to have been retired, died or permanently exported.
The active broodmare population has decreased by 7%overthelastfouryears.
Number of Broodmares
GBBroodmares Classification (AsIndicatedByFoalIntended CareerTypes)
Assessing the types of broodmares activelybreedinginGreatBritainhas been achieved by using the foal career information provided in 2024 (forfoalsoutofGBdomiciledmares) and applying relative percentages across the total broodmare population.
N.B: This can only be an estimate as mares are not classified as part of thebroodmareregistrationprocess.
GBRetired/ Deceased
GBInitial Broodmare Registrations 2021-2024
Each year, new fillies enter the breeding population and this is reflected in the numberofInitialBroodmare registrationsprocessed.
The number of new fillies entering the breeding population has decreased by9%overthelast4years.
Gestation Ranges - 2024 Produce / Age Profile
of Broodmares
Broodmarescanvarygreatlyinthelengthoftimetheycarrytheirfoal.Thisgraphreflectsthespreadof the gestation dates of British domiciled broodmares based on reported 2023 coverings for 2024 foals. From the standard 11 month (330-350 days) gestation period, Thoroughbred mares carried successfully forarangeofbetween10toover13months.
AgeProfileofBroodmares
In2024,Britishmaresagedfrom4toover25yearsofageformedthebreedingpopulation.Oftheactive broodmarepopulation,66%wereaged6–13years(65%in2023).
Live Produce per Active Broodmare / Country of Birth
LiveProduceperActiveBroodmare(Asatendof2024)
The number of live foals produced by a broodmare over her career can vary significantly. This graph showsthenumberofliveproduceperbroodmarecurrentlybreedinginGreatBritain Only16%(16%in2023) ofthecurrentpopulationhasproducedmorethan6livefoals.
CountryofBirthofGBBasedBroodmares
OftheBritishbroodmarepopulation,54%(54%in2023)werefoaledinGreatBritain.Thechartshowsthe originsofthetotalcurrentpopulation.
PermanentExports
IndiawasthetopimporterofBritishbroodmaresin 2024, with France and Australia second and third respectively;the2024figurewillincreaseasexport applicationsarefrequentlyreceivedinthefollowing year. (Movement of mares between Great Britain and Ireland is not recorded as such movements arewithintheGeneralStudBookarea).
In preparation for covering, many Thoroughbred broodmares travel, before foaling, to the stud wherethestallionofchoiceresides-thiscanoften beinanothercountry.Thisthereforemasksthefull productivity of British mares, as foals out of those mareswouldnotbeborninGreatBritain.
Thistableshowsthetotalnumberoffoalsproduced by British domiciled mares, as well as the number ofGBbornfoalsoutofnon-GBdomiciledmares.
GBStallions Registeredfor
Coverings
This graph shows all stallions registered for coverings standinginGreatBritain.
*N.B: The 2024 figure will increase as stallion notifications are frequently received in the following year andthefigureshereareasat 31/12/24.
*asat31/12/24
GBStallions
StandingPurpose
The percentage of stallions standing for Flat racing purposes has increased by 12% over the last 4 years. Conversely, the percentage of Dual purpose stallions has decreased by the same amount. We expect furtherstallionregistrationsfor2024asnotedabove.
GB1stSeasonSires
The proportion of first season sires has increased from 7% in 2023 to 13% of the stallionpopulationin2024.
*N.B: The 2024 figure will increase as stallion notifications are frequently received in the following year and the figureshereareasat31/12/24.
GBEstablishedSires
Established sires, i.e. those in their 3rd coveringseasonormore,accountfor79% (84% in 2023) of the British based stallion population.
GB Domiciled Mares Visiting Stallions
These charts show the percentages of mares visiting stallions in their first covering season, second coveringseasonandestablishedstallions.
N.B:Notcoveredincludesmareswherenoresulthasbeenmadeavailable.
Inlinewithanincreaseintheproportionoffirstseasonsires,thepercentageofmaresvisitingfirstseason sireshasincreasedby5.6%.
Country of Birth / Mares Covered per Stallion
CountryofBirth-GB basedstallions2024
StallionsstandinginGreatBritain originate from throughout the world.Ofthestallionsstandingin Great Britain over three quarters areBritishorIrishbred.
MaresCoveredperGB Stallion
This table reviews the trends in stallion book size over the last four breedingseasons. Theproportionof stallions covering books of over a hundred mares has remained constantsincelastyear,at19%.
GBCoveringsperweek2024
Thisshowsthe2024coveringseasonandtherange,inweeks,fromlateJanuaryduringwhichmareswere covered.Mostcoveringsoccurredbetweenweeks7and23(FebruarytolateMay).Somemareshavebeen coveredforSouthernHemispherefoalings,whichexplainsthelatercoveringdates. Thisdatareferstothe lastcoveringdateforeachmare.
AgeProfileofStallions2024
TheagerangeofBritishbasedstallionshasawidespan,from2yearsto25+years,with26%ofstallions agedover15yearsold(24%in2023).
Foals Born 2021-2024
The foal crop for 2024 has decreased by 7% since last year. *asat31/12 Colts Fillies
Foaling Dates and Intended Career
Thefoalingdatesforthe2024foalcropinGreatBritainarepresentedbymonthoffoaling,combinedwith theirintendedfuturecareer. Thisdemonstratesthat88%ofFlatbredfoalsarebornbetweenFebruaryand April,comparedtofoalsbredforJumpracing,where84%arebornbetweenMarchandMay.
Intended Career Statistics 2021 - 2024
This data is taken from the foal registration applications, which are completed by the breeder, for foals borninGreatBritain. Theproportionoffoalsbredforeachintendedcareerhasremainedrelativelystable sincelastyear.
Foal
GBFoalCropincl.
LateReturns20212024
Young stock registered outside their year of foaling are termed “late returns”. Whenthesefiguresareadded into the relevant year, a more completetotalisachievedfor thatyear’sfoalcrop.Therefore, more progeny may be registeredinthefutureforany foaling year and hence the figures shown here may be subjecttofurtheradjustment.
*Asat31/12/24
Number of Foals
GBFoalColours2024 Crop
The range of colours for Thoroughbred foals confirms thatbayisthemostprevalent colour. Of these reported foal coat colours, subsequent changes may be received when the horse matures. For example, a brown foal may maturetogreyifthesireand/ ordamisgrey.Whenadvised of a colour change, the information is updated in the passport and on the database.
Historical Foal Crops
Permanent Exports of GB Bred Horses
Thistableshowsthe51countries(50in2023)towhichhorsesbredinGreatBritainhavebeenpermanently exportedoverthelast4years(i.e.foraperiodlongerthan9months).MovementofhorsesbetweenGreat Britain and Ireland is not recorded as such movements remain within the General Stud Book. The 2024 figurewillincreaseasexportapplicationsarefrequentlyreceivedinthefollowingyear.
Permanent Imports into GB
This table shows the 27 countries (27 in 2023) from which horses have been permanently imported into GreatBritainoverthelast4years(i.e.whereanExportCertificatehasbeenreceived). The2024figurewill increaseasexportcertificatesarefrequentlyreceivedinthefollowingyear.
Breeders by County
Thistableshowsthedistributionofthe2,951breedersofThoroughbredsbetween76BritishCountiesand 2CrownDependencies. Italsohighlightsthenumberofmaresownedandnumberoffoalsproducedby thosemares.
IncludedinthisdataisafigureforbreedersnotresidentinaBritishcountybutwhichhavebreedingstock permanentlydomiciledinBritain. Thishasbeencategorisedas“Other”.
Number of GB Broodmares Owned per Breeder
ThistableshowsthedistributionofBritishbroodmaresbetweenbreedersbycounty,with91%ofbreeders owningfewerthan5broodmares.
IncludedinthisdataisafigureforbreedersnotresidentinaBritishcountybutwhichhavebreedingstock permanentlydomiciledinBritain. Thishasbeencategorisedas“Other”.
21 01 004
1
Broodmares -
Active Broodmares 2021 - 2024 /
IREActiveBroodmares 2021-2024
The chart shows all registered broodmares, in known ownership, that have either producedafoal,beencovered and/or for which a result has been received in the last two breeding seasons. These figures exclude those which are known to have been retired, died or permanently exported.
The active broodmare population has decreased by 5%overthelastyear,toalevel justbelowthe2021figure.
IREBroodmares Classification
(AsIndicatedByFoalIntended CareerTypes)
Assessing the type of broodmares activelybreedinginIrelandhasbeen achieved by using the foal career information provided in 2024 (for foalsoutofIREdomiciledmares)and applyingrelativepercentagesacross thetotalbroodmarepopulation.
N.B: This can only be an estimate as mares are not classified as part of thebroodmareregistrationprocess.
Initial
Registrations 2021 - 2024/ Retired/Deceased
IREInitial Broodmare Registrations 2021-2024
Each year, new fillies enter the breeding population and this is reflected in the numberofInitialBroodmare registrationsprocessed.
Following a decrease in new fillies entering the breeding population in 2023, the number of new broodmareshasfallenbya further 9% over the last year.
IRERetired/ Deceased
Gestation Ranges - 2024 Produce / Age Profile of Broodmares
IREGestationRanges2024Produce
Broodmarescanvarygreatlyinthelengthoftimetheycarrytheirfoal.Thisgraphreflectsthespreadof thegestationdatesofIrishdomiciledbroodmaresbasedonreported2023coveringsfor2024foals.From the standard 11 month (330-350 days) gestation period, Thoroughbred mares carried successfully for a rangeofbetween10toover13months.
AgeProfileofBroodmares
In 2024, Irish mares aged 4 to over 25 years of age were part of the breeding population. Of the active breedingbroodmarepopulation,68%(68%in2023)wereaged7-15years.
Live Produce per Active Broodmare / Country of Birth
LiveProduceperActiveBroodmare(Asatendof2024)
The number of live foals produced by a broodmare over her career can vary significantly. This graph showsthenumberofliveproduceperbroodmarecurrentlybreedinginIreland.Ofthecurrentpopulation, 18%(17%in2023)haveproducedmorethan6livefoals.
CountryofBirthofIREBasedBroodmares
OftheIrishbroodmarepopulation70%(69%in2023)werefoaledinIreland.Thechartshowstheorigins ofthetotalcurrentpopulation.
Permanent Exports
PermanentExports
This chart shows the destination of any Irish broodmares which have been permanently exportedin2024. Franceremainsthetopimporter of Irish broodmares, with the USA in second place; importing more mares in 2024 than they have in the last 3 years combined. (Movement of mares fromIrelandtoGreatBritainisnotrecordedassuch movementsarewithintheGeneralStudBookarea).
In preparation for covering, many Thoroughbred broodmares travel, before foaling, to the stud wherethestallionofchoiceresides-thiscanoften beinanothercountry.Thisthereforemasksthefull productivity of Irish mares, as foals out of those mareswouldnotbeborninIreland.
Thistableshowsthetotalnumberoffoalsproduced byIrishdomiciledmares,aswellasthenumberof IREbornfoalsoutofnon-IREdomiciledmares.
Stallions - Irish
IREStallions Registeredfor Coverings
This chart shows all stallions registered for coverings standinginIreland.
*N.B: The 2024 figure will increase as stallion notifications are frequently received in the following year andthefigureshereareasat 31/12/24.
*asat31/12/24
IREStallions StandingPurpose
The proportion of stallions standing for National Hunt purposes was higher than those standing for Flat purposesin2022and2023,comparedto2021whentherewere11%lessstallionsstandingforNationalHunt purposesthanfortheFlat.Weexpectfurtherstallionregistrationsfor2024asnotedabove.
IRE1stSeasonSires
The percentage of first season sires is aroundthesameasitwas4yearsago. The 2024 figure will increase as stallion notificationsarefrequentlyreceivedinthe followingyearandthefigureshereareas at31/12/24.
IREEstablishedSires
Established sires, i.e. those in their 3rd coveringseasonormore,accountfor84% (78% in 2023) of the Irish based stallion population.
IRE Domiciled Mares Visiting Stallions
These charts show the percentages of mares visiting stallions in their first covering season, second coveringseasonandestablishedstallions.
N.B:Notcoveredincludesmareswherenoresulthasbeenmadeavailable.
Theproportionofmareswhohavenotbeencoveredhasincreasedbyover6%inthelast4years.
Country of Birth / Mares Covered per Stallion
CountryofBirth-IRE basedstallions2024
Stallions standing in Ireland originate from all over the world. OfthestallionsstandinginIreland, over three quarters were Irish or Britishbred.
MaresCoveredperIRE Stallion
Thistablereviewsthetrendsinstallion book size over the last four breeding seasons. The percentage of the stallion population covering over 100 mareshasremainedfairlystableover thelast4years,atanaverageof28%.
*asat31/12/24
Thisgraphshowsthe2024coveringseasonandtherange,fromlateJanuaryduringwhichmareswere covered.88%ofthecoveringsoccurredbetweenweeks8and23(lateFebruarytoearlyJune). Thisdata referstothelastcoveringdateforeachmare.
AgeProfileofStallions2024
TheagerangeofIrishbasedstallionsisfrom4yearstoover25yearsold.Ofthetotalstallionpopulation, 27%wereagedover16yearsold(25%in2023).
IRE Foals Born 2021-2024
Thefoalcrophasdecreasedby7%overthelastyear.
*asat31/12
Foaling Dates and Intended Career
Thefoalingdatesforthe2024foalcropinIrelandarepresentedbymonthoffoaling,combinedwiththeir intendedfuturecareer. Thisdemonstratesthat85%ofFlatbredfoalsarebornbetweenFebruaryandApril, comparedtofoalsbredforJumpracing,where83%arebornbetweenMarchandMay.
Intended Career Statistics 2021 - 2024
Thisdataistakenfromthefoalregistrationforms,whicharecompletedbythebreeder,forfoalsbornin Ireland. The proportion of foals bred for Flat, Jump and Dual Purpose racing has remained virtually constantoverthelastfouryears.
IREFoalCropincl.
LateReturns20212024
Young stock registered outside their year of foaling are termed “late returns”. Whenthesefiguresareadded into the relevant year, a more completetotalisachievedfor thatyear’sfoalcrop.Therefore, more progeny may be registeredinthefutureforany foaling year and hence the figures shown here may be subjecttofurtheradjustment.
*Asat31/12/24
IREFoalColours2024 Crop
The range of colours for Thoroughbred foals confirms thatbayisthemostprevalent colour. Of these reported foal coat colours, subsequent changes may be received when the horse matures. For example, a brown foal may maturetogreyifthesireand/ ordamisgrey.Whenadvised of a colour change, the information is updated in the passport and on the database.
Historical Foal Crops
Permanent Exports of IRE Bred Horses
This table shows the 50 countries (52 in 2023) to which horses bred in Ireland have been permanently exportedoverthelast4years(i.e.foraperiodlongerthan9months).MovementofhorsesbetweenIreland and Great Britain is not recorded as such movements remain within the General Stud Book. The 2024 figurewillincreaseasexportapplicationsarefrequentlyreceivedinthefollowingyear.
Permanent Imports into IRE
This table shows the 27 countries (28 in 2023) from which horses have been permanently imported into Ireland over the last 4 years (i.e. where an Export Certificate has been received). The 2024 figure will increaseasexportcertificatesarefrequentlyreceivedinthefollowingyear.
Breeders by County
Thistableshowsthedistributionofthe6,354breedersofThoroughbredsbetween32IrishCounties. Italso highlights the number of mares owned and number of foals produced by those mares. The largest number of individual breeders are found in County Cork, but the largest concentration of mares are in CountyKildare.
IncludedinthisdataisafigureforbreedersnotresidentinanIrishcounty,butwhichhavebreedingstock permanentlydomiciledinIreland. Thishasbeencategorisedas“Other”.
Number of IRE Broodmares Owned per Breeder
This table shows the distribution of Irish broodmares between breeders by county, with 92% of breeders owningfewerthan5broodmares.
IncludedinthisdataisafigureforbreedersnotresidentinanIrishcounty,butwhichhavebreedingstock permanentlydomiciledinIreland. Thishasbeencategorisedas“Other”.
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