SOLDIER Of Fortune and new recruit Order Of St George covered more mares than any other stallions in Ireland or Britain this year, at 261 each. This fact is just one fascinating snippet from the Weatherbys 2019 Return of Mares, which has just been published.

Soldier Of Fortune topped the list last year with 281 total recorded coverings. He was also the most active stallion in 2017 with 341.

The Return of Mares shows the number of live foals registered to date in the General Stud Book totals 13,443, of which 4,655 are registered in Britain and 8,788 in Ireland. This is a decline across both countries of 270 foals (-2%).

The total number of broodmares reported at stud in 2019 is 22,919. This is a fall of 622 or 2.6% from 2018. Of these, 2,927 or 12.7% were not covered (1,249 in Britain and 1,678 in Ireland) and 498 or 2% were barren.

Of the 22,919 mares, 20,149 were covered this year by registered stallions and 13,893 conceived (5,524 in Britain and 8,369 in Ireland), an overall conception rate of 68.95% (after deducting the 369 mares exported or died).

The number of stallions has remained the same in Ireland at 252 but declined by six to 152 from 2018 (158) in Britain. The number of stallions covering more than 200 mares rose from 11 in 2018 to 18 and the most number of mares covered was 261, a lower total than 2018 (281) and 2017 (341).

Breeders and owners have continued to register foals since September 30th and total foal crop numbers for 2019 will be available in the Weatherbys Return of Mares Supplement published in early February 2020.

Other key data reported in the Return of Mares:

  • 4,655 foals registered in Britain is a reduction of 71 (-1.4%) compared to 2018 but only 19 less (-0.4%) than 2017.
  • 8,788 foals registered in Ireland is a reduction of 199 (-2.0%) compared to 2018 and 256 less (-2.7%) than 2017.
  • The 2019 crop comprises 51.1% colts and 48.9% fillies.
  • The ratio of foals Britain:Ireland is consistent but moving slightly in favour of Britain at 34.63%:65.37% compared to 34.46%:65.54% in 2018 and 34.07%:65.93% in 2017.
  • March and April remain the busiest months for foaling in Britain – 1,375 in March (29.5% of total) and 1,388 (29.8% of total) in April, a combined total of 2,763 or 59.3% of the crop.
  • April remains the busiest month for foaling in Ireland – 2,852 (32.4% of total).
  • 8,439 mares at stud in Britain in 2019 compared to 8,667 in 2018 (a reduction of 228) and 9,015 in 2017 (a reduction of 576 in two years).
  • 14,480 mares at stud in Ireland in 2019 compared to 14,874 in 2018 (a reduction of 394) and 14,434 in 2017 (an increase of 46 in two years).
  • 7,307 mares in Britain (86.59% of mares reported at stud) were covered in 2019 compared to 7,409 mares in 2018 (85.49%).
  • 12,842 mares in Ireland (88.69% of mares reported at stud) were covered in 2019 compared to 13,193 (88.70%) in 2018.
  • 20,149 total recorded coverings in Britain and Ireland combined in 2019 compares to 21,297 in 2018 – a reduction of 1,148 – and 20,819 in 2017 – a decline of 670 in two years.
  • Number of stallions in Britain has reduced by six from 152 to from 158 in 2018 and by 16 compared to 2017.
  • Number of stallions in Ireland has remained the same as 2018 at 252 but has increased by one (from 251) since 2017.
  • 83 stallions covered 100 or more mares in 2019. This compares to 87 in 2018 and 92 in 2017.
  • 18 stallions covered 200 or more mares in 2019 compared to 11 in 2018 and 10 in 2017.

    • The Weatherbys 2019 Return of Mares and 2019 Return of Mares Supplement costs £64/€80 inc. p&p. It can be purchased via bettrendsshop.co.uk or by calling Lauren on 0044 1933 440077, or Amy on 045 879979. It will also be available at the Weatherbys offices at Tattersalls and Goffs during the upcoming sales.