One of the 5* riders I spoke to about the breeders’ premiums laughingly asked me if I had become a member of the Socialist Party. He agreed with the idea of reserving a small part of his prize money for the breeders, but pointed out, not without good reason, that breeders’ premiums would regulate the free market to a certain extent.

(In)freedom

But that is how it has to be. Whenever the freedom of the market leads to the lack of freedom of people who are indispensable for this market. That’s why there are trade unions, that’s why larger companies have to set up a works council. If the increasing number of 5* events had gone hand in hand with increasing foal births, if the constantly rising prize money had led to more expensive foals, then you wouldn’t have heard anything from me. Now this Christian Democrat is going through life as a socialist. So be it.

The word “premium”

So we have to give the free market a helping hand. Nothing new under the sun, by the way. In almost all breeding areas, the word “premium” (state premium, district premium, first premium, etc.) is reminiscent of the time when the state paid money to horse breeders who bred the horses needed at the time.

But today it is no longer artillery soldiers and cavalry officers who profit from breeding work, but riders, dealers, sponsors, event organizers and sports associations. I’m not annoyed that 5* riders and their owners earn a lot of money every weekend. I’m also not annoyed that dealers make a lot of money in the background of the million-dollar business.

What annoys me is that breeders are a quantité négligeable in the eyes of all the other players in the horse industry, a negligible type of person who plays no role of importance.

From random products to conscious decisions

When I interviewed breeders of top horses 30 or 40 years ago, in seven out of ten cases the breeder in question actually had no idea about the sport. In other words, he had produced a product of chance. Things are very different today. Breeders are interested, many of them follow the sport, watch ClipMyHorse and FEI.TV and make conscious decisions. As a result, we all breed many more and much better horses together (with which others then earn money). There is no recognition for this. And that makes me angry.

Report from June 17

June 17 (when the World Breeders’ Federation (WBFSH) brings the issue of breeders’ premiums to the table at the FEI) will certainly not deliver a finished plan. But the outcome of the consultations will be interesting enough to attract public attention. From now on, equestrian journalism will be interested in the question of who supports the breeders’ premiums.

And who prevents them.

This is the last part of a series of five blogs about breeders’ premiums. Shortly after June 17, there will be a report on the WBFSH meeting with the FEI.

Dirk Willem Rosie, Managing Director HorseTelex

About this blog series

Dirk Willem Rosie is the former editor-in-chief of the Dutch equestrian media Paardenkrant and Horses.nl as well as co-founder and CEO of HorseTelex. He is a breeder himself, including Caroline Müller’s 1.60 m show jumper Kyraleen and the two-time Bundeschampionat finalist and successful Small Tour stallion Matisse GG OLD.