Most racehorse ownerships are registered as partnerships and sole owners. Around 60 percent of the roughly 10,000 races held annually are flat races, and the rest are classified as jump races. Of horses in training, roughly half are five years or older, and the other half four years or younger. The average amount of prize money per horse race tends to be slightly higher in flat races than in jump races.
Equestrian sports in the United Kingdom (UK) - Statistics & Facts
Most racehorse ownerships are registered as partnerships and sole owners. Around 60 percent of the roughly 10,000 races held annually are flat races, and the rest are classified as jump races. Of horses in training, roughly half are five years or older, and the other half four years or younger. The average amount of prize money per horse race tends to be slightly higher in flat races than in jump races.
Key insights
- Share of equestrian sport participants who are members of a club in England 2021
- 28%

Detailed statistics
Equestrian club membership in England 2016-2021
- Share of participants who took part in a competition in the past year in England
- 25.9%

Detailed statistics
Equestrian competitors as a share of participants in England 2007-2016
- Share of secondary school female students who participate in horse riding in Wales
- 21.6%

Detailed statistics
Wales: pupils' participation in horse riding 2018, by gender
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UK Overview
4
- Basic Statistic Total number of horses in the United Kingdom (UK) 2017, by country
- Basic Statistic Raising of horses: enterprises in the UK 2022, by turnover size band
- Premium Statistic Ireland: estimate equine population 2016, by region
- Premium Statistic Great Britain: number of registered members of the Pony Racing Authority 2012-2019
UK Overview
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Basic Statistic
Total number of horses in the United Kingdom (UK) 2017, by country
Total number of horses in the United Kingdom (UK) 2017, by country
Number of horses in the United Kingdom (UK) as of June 2017, by country
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Basic Statistic
Raising of horses: enterprises in the UK 2022, by turnover size band
Raising of horses: enterprises in the UK 2022, by turnover size band
Number of enterprises for raising horses and other equine in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2022, by turnover size band
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Premium Statistic
Ireland: estimate equine population 2016, by region
Ireland: estimate equine population 2016, by region
Estimated horse population in Ireland in 2016, by region*
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Premium Statistic
Great Britain: number of registered members of the Pony Racing Authority 2012-2019
Great Britain: number of registered members of the Pony Racing Authority 2012-2019
Number of registered members of the Pony Racing Authority in Great Britain from 2012 to 2019
Public Funding
5
- Premium Statistic UK: Sport England's public funding for the British Equestrian Federation 2013-2017
- Premium Statistic Public funding for Olympic equestrian in the UK since 2000, by location of games
- Premium Statistic Public funding for equestrian events in the UK since 2007
- Premium Statistic Public funding for para-equestrian dressage in the UK, by location of games
- Premium Statistic Ireland: funding breakdown of HSI Breeding 2008-2016, by source
Public Funding
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Premium Statistic
UK: Sport England's public funding for the British Equestrian Federation 2013-2017
UK: Sport England's public funding for the British Equestrian Federation 2013-2017
Sport England's investment plans for the British Equestrian Federation in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2013 to 2017, by category (in 1,000 GBP)
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Premium Statistic
Public funding for Olympic equestrian in the UK since 2000, by location of games
Public funding for Olympic equestrian in the UK since 2000, by location of games
Public funding for Olympic equestrian in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2024, by location of games (in GBP)
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Premium Statistic
Public funding for equestrian events in the UK since 2007
Public funding for equestrian events in the UK since 2007
Public funding for equestrian events in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2007 to 2015, by event (in GBP)
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Premium Statistic
Public funding for para-equestrian dressage in the UK, by location of games
Public funding for para-equestrian dressage in the UK, by location of games
Public funding for para-equestrian dressage in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2004 to 2024, by location of games (in GBP)
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Premium Statistic
Ireland: funding breakdown of HSI Breeding 2008-2016, by source
Ireland: funding breakdown of HSI Breeding 2008-2016, by source
Funding of Horse Sport Ireland (HSI)* for breeding in Ireland from 2008 to 2016, by source (in million euros)
Employment
4
- Premium Statistic Great Britain: number of stable employees in horse racing in 2015, by type & gender
- Premium Statistic Great Britain: number of stable employees in horse racing in 2015, by age group
- Premium Statistic Horse racing: people employed full & part time with trainers in Great Britain in 2015
- Premium Statistic Equestrian sport: seasonal cost estimation for competitve riders in the UK in 2015
Employment
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Premium Statistic
Great Britain: number of stable employees in horse racing in 2015, by type & gender
Great Britain: number of stable employees in horse racing in 2015, by type & gender
Number of stable employees in horse racing in Great Britain in 2015, by category and gender
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Premium Statistic
Great Britain: number of stable employees in horse racing in 2015, by age group
Great Britain: number of stable employees in horse racing in 2015, by age group
Number of stable employees working in horse racing in Great Britain in 2015, by age group
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Premium Statistic
Horse racing: people employed full & part time with trainers in Great Britain in 2015
Horse racing: people employed full & part time with trainers in Great Britain in 2015
Number of people employed full and part time with licensed and permitted trainers in horse racing in Great Britain in 2015, by gender
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Premium Statistic
Equestrian sport: seasonal cost estimation for competitve riders in the UK in 2015
Equestrian sport: seasonal cost estimation for competitve riders in the UK in 2015
Estimation of costs incurred by a competitive horseback rider during one season on one horse in the United Kingdom (UK) 2015, by category (in GBP)
Gambling and Betting
6
- Premium Statistic Annual turnover of on course horse race betting Great Britain 2008-2022
- Premium Statistic Annual gross gambling yield of on course horse race betting Great Britain 2008-2022
- Basic Statistic Annual turnover of horse race betting Great Britain 2008-2022
- Premium Statistic Annual off course gross gambling yield of horse races Great Britain 2008-2022
- Premium Statistic Turnover of horse race pool betting gambling Great Britain 2008-2022
- Premium Statistic Gross gambling yield of horse race pool betting Great Britain 2008-2022
Gambling and Betting
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Premium Statistic
Annual turnover of on course horse race betting Great Britain 2008-2022
Annual turnover of on course horse race betting Great Britain 2008-2022
Annual turnover of on course horse race betting in Great Britain from April 2008 to March 2022 (in million GBP)
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Premium Statistic
Annual gross gambling yield of on course horse race betting Great Britain 2008-2022
Annual gross gambling yield of on course horse race betting Great Britain 2008-2022
Gross gambling yield (GGY) of on course horse race betting in Great Britain from April 2008 to March 2022 (in million GBP)
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Basic Statistic
Annual turnover of horse race betting Great Britain 2008-2022
Annual turnover of horse race betting Great Britain 2008-2022
Annual turnover of off course horse race betting in Great Britain from April 2008 to March 2022 (in million GBP)
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Premium Statistic
Annual off course gross gambling yield of horse races Great Britain 2008-2022
Annual off course gross gambling yield of horse races Great Britain 2008-2022
Gross gambling yield (GGY) of off course horse race betting in Great Britain from April 2008 to March 2022 (in million GBP)
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Premium Statistic
Turnover of horse race pool betting gambling Great Britain 2008-2022
Turnover of horse race pool betting gambling Great Britain 2008-2022
Annual turnover of pool betting on horse races in Great Britain from April 2008 to March 2022 (in million GBP)
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Premium Statistic
Gross gambling yield of horse race pool betting Great Britain 2008-2022
Gross gambling yield of horse race pool betting Great Britain 2008-2022
Gross gambling yield (GGY) of pool betting on horse races in Great Britain from April 2008 to March 2022 (in million GBP)
Breeding and Trade
6
- Premium Statistic Great Britain: number of live thoroughbred foals from 2010 to 2015, by type
- Basic Statistic Raising of horses: enterprises in the UK 2022, by turnover size band
- Premium Statistic Number of exported race horses from GB and Ireland in 2015, by country
- Premium Statistic Number of exported race horses from GB and Ireland from 2010 to 2015
- Premium Statistic Ireland: national breeders' current expenditure 2016, by type of expenditure
- Premium Statistic Ireland: distribution of horse owners 2016, by breeding objectives
Breeding and Trade
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Premium Statistic
Great Britain: number of live thoroughbred foals from 2010 to 2015, by type
Great Britain: number of live thoroughbred foals from 2010 to 2015, by type
Total number of live thoroughbred foals in Great Britain from 2010 to 2015, by type
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Basic Statistic
Raising of horses: enterprises in the UK 2022, by turnover size band
Raising of horses: enterprises in the UK 2022, by turnover size band
Number of enterprises for raising horses and other equine in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2022, by turnover size band
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Premium Statistic
Number of exported race horses from GB and Ireland in 2015, by country
Number of exported race horses from GB and Ireland in 2015, by country
Total number of race horses exported from Great Britain and Ireland in 2015, by country
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Premium Statistic
Number of exported race horses from GB and Ireland from 2010 to 2015
Number of exported race horses from GB and Ireland from 2010 to 2015
Number of race horses exported from Great Britain and Ireland from 2010 to 2015
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Premium Statistic
Ireland: national breeders' current expenditure 2016, by type of expenditure
Ireland: national breeders' current expenditure 2016, by type of expenditure
Total current national breeders' expenditure in Ireland in 2016, by type of expenditure (in 1,000 Euros)
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Premium Statistic
Ireland: distribution of horse owners 2016, by breeding objectives
Ireland: distribution of horse owners 2016, by breeding objectives
Distribution of horse owners in Ireland in 2016, by breeding objectives
Participation
6
- Premium Statistic Equestrian sports participation England 2016-2021
- Premium Statistic Equestrian club membership in England 2016-2021
- Basic Statistic Children participating in horse riding in England 2017-2021
- Premium Statistic Equestrian competitors as a share of participants in England 2007-2016
- Premium Statistic Share of equestrian participants who receive tuition for the sport England 2007-2016
- Premium Statistic Wales: pupils' participation in horse riding 2018, by gender
Participation
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Premium Statistic
Equestrian sports participation England 2016-2021
Equestrian sports participation England 2016-2021
Number of people participating in equestrian sports in England from 2016 to 2021
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Premium Statistic
Equestrian club membership in England 2016-2021
Equestrian club membership in England 2016-2021
Share of equestrian sports participants who are members of a club in England from 2016/2017 to 2020/2021
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Basic Statistic
Children participating in horse riding in England 2017-2021
Children participating in horse riding in England 2017-2021
Share of children participating in horse riding or pony trekking in the last week in England from 2017/18 to 2020/21
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Premium Statistic
Equestrian competitors as a share of participants in England 2007-2016
Equestrian competitors as a share of participants in England 2007-2016
Share of equestrian sports participants who took part in competition in the previous 12 months in England from 2007/2008 to 2015/2016
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Premium Statistic
Share of equestrian participants who receive tuition for the sport England 2007-2016
Share of equestrian participants who receive tuition for the sport England 2007-2016
Share of equestrian sports participants who received tuition in the previous 12 months in England from 2007/2008 to 2015/2016
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Premium Statistic
Wales: pupils' participation in horse riding 2018, by gender
Wales: pupils' participation in horse riding 2018, by gender
Horse riding participation of primary and secondary school pupils in any form or setting in Wales 2018, by gender
Racing
7
- Premium Statistic Great Britain: number of registered race horses from 2010 to 2015, by type
- Premium Statistic Ireland: number of horse races in 2021, by race type
- Premium Statistic Great Britain: number of race horses in training in 2015, by type of ownership
- Premium Statistic Great Britain: number of races held by the Pony Racing Authority 2012-2019, by type
- Premium Statistic Great Britain: number of fixture held by the Pony Racing Authority 2012-2019, by type
- Premium Statistic Ireland: race horse breeders 2019, by county
- Premium Statistic Ireland: licensed race horse trainers 2019, by counties
Racing
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Premium Statistic
Great Britain: number of registered race horses from 2010 to 2015, by type
Great Britain: number of registered race horses from 2010 to 2015, by type
Number of horses registered under the rules of racing in Great Britain from 2010 to 2015, by type
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Premium Statistic
Ireland: number of horse races in 2021, by race type
Ireland: number of horse races in 2021, by race type
Total number of horse races in Ireland in 2021, by race type
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Premium Statistic
Great Britain: number of race horses in training in 2015, by type of ownership
Great Britain: number of race horses in training in 2015, by type of ownership
Number of race horses in training in Great Britain in 2015, by type of ownership
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Premium Statistic
Great Britain: number of races held by the Pony Racing Authority 2012-2019, by type
Great Britain: number of races held by the Pony Racing Authority 2012-2019, by type
Number of races held by the Pony Racing Authority in Great Britain from 2012 to 2019, by type
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Premium Statistic
Great Britain: number of fixture held by the Pony Racing Authority 2012-2019, by type
Great Britain: number of fixture held by the Pony Racing Authority 2012-2019, by type
Number of fixtures held by the Pony Racing Authority in Great Britain from 2012 to 2019, by type
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Premium Statistic
Ireland: race horse breeders 2019, by county
Ireland: race horse breeders 2019, by county
Number of registered race horse breeders in Ireland in 2019, by county
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Premium Statistic
Ireland: licensed race horse trainers 2019, by counties
Ireland: licensed race horse trainers 2019, by counties
Number of licensed race horse trainers in Ireland in 2019, by county
Prize Money
6
- Premium Statistic GB: average amount of prize money in horse racing from 2009 to 2014, by type
- Premium Statistic GB: average prize money at horse races in the north 2015, by racecourse
- Premium Statistic GB: average prize money of horse races in the south 2015, by racecourse
- Premium Statistic GB: average prize money at horse races in the Midlands 2015, by racecourse
- Premium Statistic GB: prize money won abroad by locally trained horses from 2010 to 2015
- Premium Statistic Great Britain: horse racing prize money won by horses trained abroad 2010-2015
Prize Money
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Premium Statistic
GB: average amount of prize money in horse racing from 2009 to 2014, by type
GB: average amount of prize money in horse racing from 2009 to 2014, by type
Average amount of prize money per horse race in Great Britain from 2009 to 2014, by type (in GBP)
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Premium Statistic
GB: average prize money at horse races in the north 2015, by racecourse
GB: average prize money at horse races in the north 2015, by racecourse
Average prize money of all horse races in the northern region of Great Britain in 2014/2015, by racecourse (in GBP)
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Premium Statistic
GB: average prize money of horse races in the south 2015, by racecourse
GB: average prize money of horse races in the south 2015, by racecourse
Average prize money of all horse races in the southern region of Great Britain in 2014/2015, by racecourse (in GBP)
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Premium Statistic
GB: average prize money at horse races in the Midlands 2015, by racecourse
GB: average prize money at horse races in the Midlands 2015, by racecourse
Average prize money of all horse races in the Midlands region of Great Britain in 2014/2015, by racecourse (in GBP)
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Premium Statistic
GB: prize money won abroad by locally trained horses from 2010 to 2015
GB: prize money won abroad by locally trained horses from 2010 to 2015
Prize money of horse racing won abroad by horses trained in Great Britain from 2010 to 2015 (in million GBP)
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Premium Statistic
Great Britain: horse racing prize money won by horses trained abroad 2010-2015
Great Britain: horse racing prize money won by horses trained abroad 2010-2015
Prize money of horse racing won in Great Britain by horses trained abroad from 2010 to 2015 (in million GBP)
Accidents
5
- Basic Statistic British eventing: injury risk when falling while taking part in Great Britain 2015
- Premium Statistic British eventing: somersault horse falls in Great Britain 2007-2015
- Premium Statistic British eventing: non-somersault horse falls in Great Britain 2007-2015
- Basic Statistic British eventing: unseated horse falls in Great Britain from 2007 to 2015
- Premium Statistic British eventing: seriously or fatally injured riders from horse falls GB 2010-2015
Accidents
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Basic Statistic
British eventing: injury risk when falling while taking part in Great Britain 2015
British eventing: injury risk when falling while taking part in Great Britain 2015
Risk of serious or fatal injuries in British eventing in Great Britain in 2015, by type of fall
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Premium Statistic
British eventing: somersault horse falls in Great Britain 2007-2015
British eventing: somersault horse falls in Great Britain 2007-2015
Number of somersault horse falls in British eventing seasons in Great Britain from 2007 to 2015
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Premium Statistic
British eventing: non-somersault horse falls in Great Britain 2007-2015
British eventing: non-somersault horse falls in Great Britain 2007-2015
Number of non-somersault horse falls in British eventing seasons in Great Britain from 2007 to 2015
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Basic Statistic
British eventing: unseated horse falls in Great Britain from 2007 to 2015
British eventing: unseated horse falls in Great Britain from 2007 to 2015
Number of unseated horse falls in British eventing seasons in Great Britain from 2007 to 2015
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Premium Statistic
British eventing: seriously or fatally injured riders from horse falls GB 2010-2015
British eventing: seriously or fatally injured riders from horse falls GB 2010-2015
Number of seriously or fatally injured riders from horse falls in British eventing seasons in Great Britain from 2010 to 2015, by type
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