Summary Comparison of Breeder Survey Results
Earlier in the year, we put up two survey’s via our Facebook page for Breeders and Buyers (Riders) to complete. We had a fantastic response rate and thank all who participated. Below is our interpretation of some of the results. The full results can be found:
Breeder Responses: Results from the Breeder Survey.pdf
Rider Responses: Results from the 2015 Breeding-Buyer Survey.pdf
Where do people look when buying or selling a young horse?
Probably a really interesting disparity in the responses is that Riders will happily work through their Coach/Dealer to buy a young horse – but none of the responses from Breeders rated selling through a Dealer at all. This may be a lost opportunity for Breeders even though they acknowledge the importance of word of mouth.
Most important when purchasing a horse?
Breeders top answer for what they thought a buyer was looking for was Movement. Yet the top answer that prospective buyers answered was Temperament. Movement and confirmation come thereafter but in a free text field available at the end of the survey, over 90% of riders reiterated that temperament of the horse was the most important thing when purchasing a young horse.
Of course, temperament equates to Rideability – something every rider is desperate to purchase. But is it what a rider will get off their couch for and journey out to see a young horse at a breeder’s farm?? Maybe this is why Breeder’s have the opinion that Rider’s mainly look for movement... - if they put up a video snippet of super moving young horse, they’re more likely to get prospective buyers through the front gate. Put up a bit of video of an ok mover with an adorable and perfect temperament and riders are less likely to jump in the car to see that young horse?!
Maybe something for Rider’s to take note of.
What Price to Pay?
Both Riders and Breeders were pretty close on the top answers for the market value of horses. One difference being in the price of imported frozen semen foals with the top percentage of Breeders believing they can get up to $20,000 for one - while the Riders believe up to $15,000 a more likely price to pay. (Remembering in this country, it can cost $8-12,000 just to get an IFS foal on the ground - it does leave little room for profit).
The most significant difference is probably 3yos. Breeders, on average, believing that the value for these is the same as an IFS foal – whereas, Riders believe the value to be at the higher end of price ranges proposed. For riders, certainly, a 3yo can present better value as a Breeder is often keen to move on an older horse while for the rider, this one is ready to go on with without several years of upkeep and the risks associated with how it might turn out.
Handling and training?
Both Riders and Breeders agreed that handling of young horses is important. This is great news as in many countries, handling of the young ones is not done until they are almost 3yo and ready to start under saddle.
Contradictions
There were definitely more contractions in the Rider’s results than in the Breeders – the Breeders being more adamant and singular in their responses.
For instance, most Rider’s strongly believe that the breeding (sire/dam) of the horse is not so important and that judges do not mark horses with overseas bloodlines better than local horses - but do believe that for resale value, the perceived breeding of the horse can provide a market difference. So the breeders think fashionable bloodlines are important, and the riders do if they’re reselling, but Riders who are buying for themselves do not.
One other key thing was that Breeders are members of often multiple breed societies – both in Australia and Overseas (KWPN, Oldenburg, etc). Some have many memberships (up to 5!). Yet for Rider’s, unless it is a brood mare or a Stallion prospect (only 50% thought registration was essential even in these cases), the registration was less important. Is this an expensive activity that breeders could do away with for colts destined to be geldings?
We hope you enjoy reading through the results and hope they proves as a good market survey and research tool for your breeding and shopping activities!