The 2025 sport horse sale’s year closed on an exceptionally strong note, cementing what had already been a very positive year. With only a few exceptions, prices held firm throughout the season, reflecting both the health of the industry and the growing international appetite for not only top level horses but increasingly for general riding stock.

Never before has the appetite for quiet, level-headed individuals (of any age) been as voracious, and this has led to record returns. Adding to that overall strength were the end of season specialist sales of young event horses and top level show jumping foals. Once again, these premier showcases attracted domestic and international buyers in their droves and together added real depth and distinction to an already strong year. Their results confirmed that the demand for these top-drawer horses is very healthy indeed.

Showing an improvement from twelve months ago, it is encouraging to note clearance rates and averages have in general risen steadily throughout the year. The only negative - and indeed it is one that will not go away, is the two tier pattern and the weakened middle market in the foal sales - and to a lesser extent in the three-year-olds. While the 2025 figures in the former group do not differ much to those of twelve months ago, it is more unsettling to note that the bottom end foal returns remain very much in line with those from a decade ago. Despite the major shift in breeding trends over the past ten years, namely the improving pedigrees and catalogue content, the headlines are all too familiar.

As ever, the top drawer, black type jumping foal will command a premium as will the top and potentially top performers, but it is the consistent lack of the quality in the middle market that is of real concern.

Further observations taken from the year are that while the traditional hunter types have enjoyed a storming season, those by thoroughbred sires have increasingly struggled to make an impact. In contrast however, offerings out of thoroughbred mares have proved popular - especially among the event horse buyers. Finally and also notable, is the trend that has seen imported horses featuring prominently among the year’s sale toppers.

Overall sale topper

Hailing from one of the most successful and professional producing yards in the country, it came as no surprise to see the grey Monbeg Monaco landing the year’s top honours at €90,000. Snapped up by British event horse owner Ian Barrett and turning heads at the Goresbridge Go For Gold sale in November, Marti Rudd and Tomas Doyle’s Dutch-bred four-year-old appeared to tick every commercial box. A real eye-catcher with a very smart jump, the grey was by Malcomme P (AES) out of the Holstein mare Mutiezia (KWPN) by Emir R. “We sourced him through Nikky Dekker in Holland at the start of the year,” commented Rudd. “We saw the videos and thought he looked to be a really bonnie little horse with a nice attitude. There was not a lot of footage, but he impressed us with his canter and balance, and of course we felt he was really commercial.”