THE Weatherbys Return of Mares, featuring registrations up to October 20th, 2021, has just been published, and shows the number of live foals to date in the General Stud Book totals 12,920, compared to 12,778 in 2020 and 13,443 in 2019.

Some 4,282 are registered in Britain (4,236 in 2020 and 4,655 in 2019) and 8,638 (8,542 in 2020 and 8,788 in 2019) in Ireland. This is an increase of 142 foals compared to a decrease of 665 foals from 2019 to 2020.

The total number of broodmares reported at stud in 2021 is 22,720 (22,362 in 2020 and 22,919 in 2019), an increase of 358 and a turnaround from the 557 decrease between 2019 and 2020, and a similar decrease of 622 from 2018 to 2019. Of these, 2,949 were not covered (2,667 in 2020 and 2,927 in 2019). There were 6,016 no returns and 355 mares were returned as barren.

The number of stallions increased by 10 in Britain from 149 in 2020 to 159, and declined by one in Ireland, from 232 in 2020.

Some other figures of note include:

  • In Britain 4,282 foals were registered, an increase of 46 compared to 2020, comprising of 2,166, colts (50.58%) and 2,116 fillies (49.42%).
  • In Ireland 8,638 foals were registered, an increase 96 compared to 2020 comprising 4,412 colts (51.08%) and 4,226, fillies (48.92%).
  • A total of 6,929 mares in Britain were covered in 2021 (84.26% of mares reported at stud) compared to 6,997 in 2020 (85.74%) and 7,307 mares in 2019 (86.69%).
  • Some 12,840 mares in Ireland were covered in 2021 (88.57% of mares reported at stud) compared to 12,694 (89.39%) in 2020 and 12,842 (88.69%) in 2019
  • The total of 19,769 recorded coverings in Ireland and Britain in 2021 compares to 19,691 in 2020 - a less than 1% increase.

    • The Weatherbys Return of Mares can be purchased at https://weatherbysshop.co.uk/return-of-mares-2021/