The global equestrian market is not collapsing: it's calibrating. As we enter the second week of 2026, the data coming in from auctions, macroeconomic reports, and sport results all point toward the same conclusion: capital hasn’t disappeared, but it has become more disciplined.
This is a moment of maturity for the sport horse world.
Buyers are still buying. Sellers are still selling. But the rules of the game have shifted. Emotional pricing and hype-driven sales are being replaced by rider-fit logic, cost sensitivity, and market-aligned decision-making.
Let’s unpack what’s happening, and why it matters.
Elite Sport News: Results and Major Sales
The international showjumping circuit is off to a fast, high-stakes start in 2026 — and the rider bench is shifting just as fast.
Key Results:
- 🇨🇭 CSI5-W Basel Grand Prix* winner: Kim Emmen with Imagine N.O.P. — a breakout result that signals her move into the top-tier Dutch lineup.
- 🇦🇪 CSI5 Abu Dhabi*: Top performances from Sophie Hinners, Richard McLean, and Abdel Saïd on Arpege du Ru — showing early momentum on the Gulf winter tour.
- 🇬🇧 Scott Brash took home €97,500 in Basel with Hello Jefferson, followed closely by French rising star Megane Moissonnier and Eve Jobs on Canto Bruno, signaling both generational shift and amateur-class dominance.
Major Private Sale:
- 🔥 Highway TN, the highly competitive stallion by Eldorado van de Zeshoek out of Chellano Z, has been sold by Willem Greve to Lillie Keenan (USA).
- This move continues a pattern of top American buyers investing directly in Olympic-caliber horsepower.
Rankings Watch:
- 📈 Nina Mallevaey (FRA) enters the FEI Top 10 and dominates U25 rankings — confirming her leap from talent to global contender.
- 🇺🇸 Kent Farrington maintains World #1 position.
- Strong presence across top 10 includes Christian Kukuk, Ben Maher, and Julien Épaillard, with a mix of experience and rising stars.
Why it matters: Results and sales are a live feed into the horse economy. Every major sale or podium finish shifts capital, affects breeding decisions, and reconfigures which horses — and riders — the market watches next.
🚲 Buyer Behavior Is More Strategic Than Ever
Across the board from amateur riders to professional scouts and international investors: buyers are applying more scrutiny to every purchase. It’s no longer enough for a horse to look the part or have a flashy name on its papers. What matters is alignment:
- Does the horse match the rider’s level and goals?
- Is the rideability proven?
- What are the long-term costs of ownership?
- Are there any hidden or unexplained vet findings?
This week, we saw clear evidence of this at auctions across Europe. Zangersheide’s 365 Auction of Embryos saw most sales fall between €10,000–€17,000, despite strong pedigrees. Buyers are not overpaying. They’re evaluating. And they’re willing to walk away.
🔻 The Middle Market Is Under Pressure
The strongest parts of the market right now are:
- Entry-level, amateur-safe horses (especially under €60,000)
- Truly elite, sport-proven horses with results and temperament
The part that’s struggling? Horses in the middle.
Mid-tier horses talented, but not yet winning, or green with no major faults are sitting longer and facing more negotiation. Sellers who price emotionally are feeling stuck. Sellers who approach it like a portfolio manager positioning the horse with clarity and pricing with intent are still getting deals done.
We call this the barbell effect: strength on the ends, compression in the center.
🌍 International Capital Remains a Driving Force
Domestic European buyers, especially in high-cost regions like Germany, are growing cautious. But international buyers are picking up the slack. We continue to see robust interest from:
- United States
- India
- Mexico
- Middle East (UAE, Saudi, Qatar)
- Brazil and Chile
Currency strength, scarcity of well-prepared horses, and long-term sport ambitions are driving these buyers to act while European buyers hesitate.
Germany’s economy tells the story: 2025 saw just ~0.2% growth, with unemployment at 6.3% and a record-high tax + social contribution burden of 41.5% of GDP. That doesn’t breed spending confidence in mid-market segments.
📅 Auction Activity: Stable But Selective
The latest auctions reflected what we’d call value-aware demand.
- Zangersheide embryo sales: Topped at €25,000 (Dourkhan Hero Z x Lord Z) with many falling below €15,000.
- DSP Stallion Auction: Top colt sold for €80,000 (Bloomingdale x Millennium), but most stayed in the €20–€40K range.
- Schockemöhle Online Auction: Ongoing this week with strong interest in young performance horses and foals with elite damlines.
Buyers are still showing up. But they’re not here to overpay. They’re here to invest.
💼 The Stallion Market Tells Us Where Capital is Moving
Auction results from the past 6 months show clear price evolution trends by stallion:
- Chacco Blue: Highest average sale price per foal (€31,000+), with some topping €115,000
- Emerald: Strong, steady performance; multiple foals sold above €90,000
- Cornet Obolensky: Buyers still trust his type, especially in international markets
- Comme il faut and Heartbreaker: More volatility, but buyers still pay when matched to premium damlines
These aren’t just sires they’re brand assets. And when breeders pair them with commercial, modern marelines, the result is liquidity.
🏛️ Bloodstock & Racing Markets Show Confidence
Outside sport horses, the racing world is moving early and strong:
- Keeneland January Sale: 1,100+ horses catalogued, ranging from breeding stock to yearlings and racing-age prospects.
- Magic Millions Carnival (Australia): 1,200+ young racehorses expected at auction with prices ranging from $10,000 to $3M+
These are institutional buyers. Their early-season confidence is a signal of continued belief in the long-term viability of equine assets.
🔄 Structural Costs and Transparency Are Now Central to Value
The economics of horse ownership are shifting:
- Feed, labor, transport, and insurance have all risen sharply in the last 3–5 years
- Buyers are doing the math. Sellers must too.
And transparency? It’s not just a moral stance anymore. It’s an economic advantage. Horses with clear vetting records, competition histories, and responsible development are liquid. The rest? Risky.
Trust is now part of the pricing equation.
📊 Final Takeaway: This Is a Smarter, Sharper Market
This isn’t a downturn. It’s a filtering.
Buyers are smart. Sellers need to be smarter. The middle market is hard. But the outer edges are strong. The international appetite is real. The local caution is rational.
Position yourself clearly, price intentionally, and market like you mean it.
If you’re ready to treat horse sales like a strategy: not a gamble this is your market.
🔗 Sources & References
- Keeneland January Sale 2026
- Zangersheide Auctions
- DSP Stallion Auction
- FEI Rankings & U25 Results
- Reuters Economic Roundups
- Eurodressage Pony Sales
- Magic Millions Carnival
- Statistisches Bundesamt (Germany GDP, Inflation)
- OECD Economic Forecast Germany
- Hippomundo Data
- World of Showjumping