25 Years of Belgian Breeding Under the Microscope: More Breeders, More Horses, Structural Shifts

Over the past 25 years, Belgian sport horse breeding has undergone clear growth and professionalisation. Based on data collected by Hippomundo from the three Belgian studbooks BWP, SBS and Zangersheide, the evolution of all registered foals between 2000 and 2024 was analysed. The figures, expressed as averages per five-year period, provide a clear picture of how the breeding landscape has structurally changed.

More than 200,000 foals mapped

Between 2000 and 2024, Hippomundo recorded 202,740 foals:

146,628 foals born in Belgium
56,112 foals born abroad, but registered with a Belgian studbook

For each foal, not only the studbook but also the original breeder was recorded, allowing an in-depth analysis of both breeder numbers and production per breeder.

Belgian breeders: clear growth since 2000

One of the key findings is the steady increase in the number of Belgian breeders registering foals with BWP, SBS and Zangersheide.

In 2000–2004, there were on average 2,974 breeders
By 2020–2024, this number had risen to 4,037 breeders

At the same time, the number of registered horses also increased:

from 4,743 horses in 2000–2004
to 7,877 horses in 2020–2024

Belgian breeding has therefore expanded not only in breadth (more breeders), but also in volume (more horses).

More horses per breeder: scale expansion continues

Rising production figures are also reflected in a higher output per breeder. The average number of horses per Belgian breeder evolved as follows:

1.59 horses per breeder in 2000–2004
1.95 horses per breeder in 2020–2024

This increase points to gradual scale expansion, with a growing number of breeders registering multiple foals per period.

Shifts within breeder groups

When breeders are categorised according to the number of registered foals, a clear structural shift emerges:

Breeders with 1 foal

72% of the total in 2000–2004
64% in 2020–2024

Breeders with 2 to 5 foals increased from 26% to 31% Breeders with more than 5 foals remain numerically limited, but grew slightly from 2% to 5%

Although breeders with a single foal still form the largest group, their relative importance is clearly declining in favour of more structured and professionally operating breeders.

Belgium versus abroad: international appeal of Belgian studbooks

The analysis also distinguishes between foals born in Belgium and foals born abroad. While Belgium remains dominant among Belgian-born foals, its share has declined:

from 90% in 2000–2004
to 61% in 2020–2024

At the same time, the share of foals not born in Belgium increased from 10% to 39%.

These figures underline the international appeal of BWP, SBS and Zangersheide. An increasing number of foreign breeders deliberately choose registration with a Belgian studbook, positioning Belgian breeding as an international quality label.

Data as a foundation: the role of Belgian Horse Hub This study is part of a broader research initiative by Belgian Horse Hub, aimed at connecting all facets of Belgian equestrian sport and breeding.

This includes:

mapping each horse with a four-generation pedigree and the original breeder
centralising competition results, from local events to international top sport
building bloodlines by linking horses to their offspring, siblings and relatives
recording all horse–rider combinations in show jumping, dressage and eventing
bringing together federations, breeders, owners and riders in one integrated ecosystem By connecting all elements, raw data is transformed into actionable insights for breeding, sport, policy and research.

Conclusion

The figures from 2000 to 2024 show a Belgian breeding industry that:

is growing in number of breeders and horses
is evolving towards more horses per breeder
is structurally shifting towards a stronger middle segment of breeders
and is gaining increasing international traction

Thanks to data-driven initiatives such as Hippomundo and Belgian Horse Hub, this evolution is not only visible, but also measurable, comparable and strategically usable.

More information about this research or access to the data? www.hippomundo.com contact us for more information