Summary

Since 2020, the French equine market has shown signs of stabilization after a period of decline that saw a 30% drop in the number of breeders and a 25% drop in foal births. The industry generated sales of 11.2 billion euros, with horseracing accounting for 87% of total financial flows. The United States was the leading producer of thoroughbred racehorses, while France ranked 6th with 5,500 thoroughbreds. The sports and leisure sector experienced a peak in demand, followed by a decline and then stabilization. The number of licensees in France fell by 11%, indicating a decline in participation in equestrian sports. Draft horses and horsemeat contribute less significantly to the industry, with demand for draft horses and horsemeat consumption both on a downward trajectory.

The number of horses in France remained relatively stable at 1.09 million. Despite the fall in the number of breeders, the number of breeding operations increased, suggesting a potential revival of the sector. Artificial insemination was the predominant breeding method, with significant variation in methods depending on breed. The market structure includes various oversight parent companies such as France Galop, Le Trot, SHF, SFET and Interbev Equins, each responsible for different segments of the sector.

Overall, the market is poised for potential growth, but remains closely linked to the performance of sub-sectors, notably horse racing, which generate a substantial share of industry revenues.

A comprehensive analysis of equine market trends in France

In recent years, France has witnessed a significant transformation of its equine industry, resulting from substantial reforms, particularly affecting the traditional National Stud system. These reforms have led to a market that has contracted, but is now showing signs of stabilization and potential for rejuvenation. An in-depth look at the market reveals the key trends impacting breeders and the industry's various sub-sectors. The equine industry encompasses the racing, sport-leisure, draft horse and horsemeat categories, each contributing differently to overall market dynamics.

Racing was a dominant force, accounting for around 87% of industry sales, underlining the significant role of horse racing in the French equestrian economy. Despite racing's dominance, the sector faced challenges, marked by a slight dip highlighted by a 10.4% reduction in financial flows from racing. Betting trends demonstrate a continuing appetite for betting on racing, despite a gradual decline in betting volumes.

The number of horse-riding licensees shows a modest decline over a six-year period, falling by 11%. Nevertheless, the sport retains its position as the fourth most popular national sport. This sector mainly comprises disciplines such as show jumping, dressage and eventing, with the majority of competition participants engaging at club and amateur level.

Demand for working horses rose, reflecting successful promotional efforts. Despite this, production and demand for working equines - including draught horses, land horses and donkeys - have shown stable trends at around 4,300 draught horses and between 2,000 and 2,500 land horses and donkeys per year in recent years. The horsemeat segment is in sharp decline, accounting for just 1.3% of industry sales. This downward trend is pronounced in both consumption and slaughter volumes. Despite this general trend, regional preferences, such as sustained consumption in the Hauts-de-France region, illustrate the influence of tradition on demand.

Key players shaping the equine market landscape

France Galop and Le Trot: The pillars of the racing industry

France Galop's main mission is to encourage the breeding of purebred racehorses and the development of horseracing in France. It exerts considerable influence on the racing landscape by assuming legal, disciplinary and financial responsibilities.

On the other hand, Le Trot focuses on the world of trotting and demonstrates an unwavering commitment to promoting breeding practices and improving trotting discipline. It has put in place policies, including breeding control measures and incentives to ensure the quality and sustainability of the trotting population.

Société Hippique Française (SHF): Breeding sport and leisure horses

The SHF looks after the sport and leisure horse segment, focusing its efforts on preserving the quality of young sport horses and ponies. By organizing competition circuits and complying with the rules on value enhancement, the SHF ensures that sport and leisure horses benefit from an environment conducive to their development. In collaboration with the Fédération française d'équitation (FFE), the SHF facilitates the development and importance of riding as a sport in France.

Société Française des Équidés de Travail (SFET): Champions of working equines

Dedicated to the promotion of working horses, SFET defends the breeding, training and marketing of these hardy equines. Representing a diverse range of 24 breeds, SFET conducts promotional activities and development programs that highlight the use and adaptability of workhorses in contemporary contexts.

Interbev Equins: The voice of the equine meat industry

Although representing a smaller and shrinking sector, Interbev Equins acts as the guarantor of interests linked to horse breeding and the commercial aspects of the horsemeat industry. Working closely with FranceAgrimer, Interbev Equins is responsible for protecting this traditional market segment, ensuring that standards and common interests are taken into account and defended.

Together, these organizations form a comprehensive support network for the myriad segments of the dynamic French equine industry. From racecourses to working and leisure fields, these players define market contours, regulate and promote the equine industry to foster growth, innovation and tradition in balance.

the horse breeding market - France

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Last update : 05/10/2021

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Summary and extracts

1 Market overview

1.1 Definition and scope of the study

A breeder is the owner of at least one mare, which he or she brings to stud. The breeder monitors and cares for the broodmares throughout the breeding cycle, and provides the initial education of young foals destined for development and/or marketing. Breeders are often required to engage in other activities, such as breaking-in, transporting horses, brokerage, promoting young horses in competition or instructing riders, to supplement their breeding income.

Historically, horse breeding was the responsibility of the Haras Nationaux, which played a supervisory role with the aim of maintaining and improving the quality of equestrian horses in France. Offered at reduced rates, stud services were provided by a hundred or so stallions made available annually to mare owners. The initial aim was to provide horses for the French cavalry, which in turn served the French army. at the end of the XIXᵉ century, the Haras nationaux supplied horses for equestrian disciplines, and since the second half of the XXᵉ century, equestrian sports and leisure have been added.

In the early 2000s, the Haras and their ownership by the State were much debated, marking the beginning of reforms for the equine sector: some State-owned stud farms began to be put up for sale; State management of stallions was also called into question, as the State gradually withdrew from this function, and public calibration drew to a close, causing upheaval. In 2010, the Haras Nationaux came to an end, merging with the École Nationale d'Equitation to form the Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation (Ifce). At the end of 2014, it was official: the State sold all its stallions, marking the end of public stallion breeding, which had to be gradually offset by private stallion breeding.many small breeders were unable to pay the stud fees and had to close down their businesses.

These reforms have had a major impact on the equine industry: the number of breeders fell by 30% between 2009 and 2019, and the number of foal births followed suit, dropping by 25% between 2009 and 2016. From 2016 to 2019, however, the number of breeders stabilized, falling by just 0.6% a year, and from 2017 to 2019, the number of births even returned to growth, still very slight, but at 2.3% a year.

The equine breeding sector has been turned upside down by the reforms concerning the National Studs, entities that had been established and reigned over the sector for centuries. This break-up is still recent, the sector is changing and is still in a period of transition, but the figures are stabilizing and show that the sector has lost some of its power, but is nonetheless an attractive sector, ready to take off again.

Breeders are producers in the equine industry, which is divided into 4 categories: racing, sport-leisure, working and meat. Breeders are highly dependent on the activity of each of these sub-sectors, the most important of which is horse racing, generating 87% of the sector's sales in 2019. Racing has suffered greatly from the health crisis, but is slowly regaining its strength, as shown by PMU's results, which should reach 93% of usual results by the end of the year, according to the CEO's October 20210 estimates. Like the equestrian sector, the other activities of the equine industry are also gradually recovering from the health crisis.

2 Demand analysis

3 Market structure

4 Offer analysis

5 Regulations

6 Positioning the players

6.1

Guy Pariente Holding
Wertheimer & Frère
Franklin Finance S.A.
S.A. AGA KHAN
Jean Claude SEROUL
Haras de Saint-Voir
Mme Benoit Gabeur
MR THIERRY CYPRES
Mme Henri Devin
Mme Catherine Coiffier
Jean-Philippe DUBOIS
Écurie des CHARMES
Écurie Quick Star
RÉMI BOUCRET
S.C.E.A. DES BISSONS
Arquana
France Galop
Cheval Liberté - Nancy Cheval
Haras de Vendée

List of charts

Balance sheet for the domestic market
Export market review
Breakdown of equine sales
Sales trends in the equine industry
Top 10 thoroughbred breeders worldwide
Top 10 sport horse breeds
Top 10 producers of trotters
Financial flows generated by horse racing
On- and off-course stakes
Trends in demand for gallopers and trotters
Number of members
Competition level of licensed riders
Types of equestrian competitions
Trends in demand for sport horses and ponies
Distribution of licenses
Consumption of horsemeat by balance sheet
Volume of horsemeat slaughtered
Trends in demand for working horses
Horsemeat trade flows
Number of equines
Number of breeders by type of production breed
Distribution of equine breeding methods
Number of active broodmares and stallions
Number of farms with more than 5 births
Number of breeders
Breakdown of breeds produced
Number of mares per breeder
Number of mares covered
Trends in equine imports
Equine exports
Equine import countries (excluding racing)
Equine export countries
Horse exporters
Horse importers
Distribution of trotter sales
Market share of sport horses sold at auction
Galloping horse auction market share
Auction sales
European auction market leaders
Distribution of the number of stallions at stud listed by Jourdegalop by price range
Sales growth in April

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Latest news

France Galop aims to revive horse racing. - 27/03/2024

- Increase in the number of racehorse owners: +600 over the last three years to 5,800.
- Number of spectators at France Galop's five racecourses: 400,000 last year, up 6%.
- PMU sales: 10 billion euros, of which 7 billion generated by horse betting.
- Number of PMU points: 14,000.
- Economic sector: 10,000 direct jobs in the gallop racing industry, 233 racecourses in France, compared with 55 in the UK.

Vendée: Stud farms and equestrian tourism - 15/09/2023

The Haras de la Vendée is a 4.5-hectare historic site dedicated to the horse.
The Haras was opened in 1846 at the request of King Louis Philippe.
Today, it is an equestrian and tourist institution owned by the département.
The Haras de la Vendée gave birth to a military breed: the Vendéen half-blood.
The institution employs a number of specific horse-related professions, including show riders, a carriage driver and a farrier.
The Haras de la Vendée is a vocational training center dedicated to the trade of harness saddler.
The stud is one of the most visited tourist sites in the Yonnais region, with almost 90,000 visitors in 2022.
The site regularly organizes sporting and cultural events, such as dressage and riding competitions.

Sale of Maisons-Laffitte racecourse to EPF d'Île-de-France - 07/04/2023

Maisons-Laffitte racecourse sold to Epfif: March 28, 7.1 million euros
Maisons-Laffitte racecourse to close in November 2018
Site surface area: 95 hectares

France Galop wants to convert the French to horse racing - 10/03/2023

France Galop posted sales of €460 million last year
Renovation of Paris Longchamp racecourse in 2018
The association organizes 7,000 gallop races in France and 450 events a year
Creation of a second event brand for the general public, "France Galop Live".
With the help of Paris Society, founded by party king Laurent de Gourcuff, Paris Longchamp has become a trendy address combining racing, street-food and DJ sets
The 272 events organized at Paris Longchamp in 2022 generated sales of €12 million

Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Guy Pariente Holding

Wertheimer & Frère

Franklin Finance S.A.

S.A. AGA KHAN

Jean Claude SEROUL

Haras de Saint-Voir

Mme Benoit Gabeur

MR THIERRY CYPRES

Mme Henri Devin

Mme Catherine Coiffier

Jean-Philippe DUBOIS

Écurie des CHARMES

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