Yet, this is exactly the moment we must look toward a progressive model for a breeder’s premium. Not as an additional tax, but as a necessary redistribution to keep the sport affordable and high-quality in the long term.

Recognizing Efforts Already Made

Let’s be clear: every party has already done its part. Organizers are fighting to keep competitions viable despite increasing regulatory pressure. Riders and owners bear the daily burden of sporting operations. Breeders carry the risk of rearing for years without any guarantee of a return.

We cannot simply pass the bill down the line. A breeder’s premium should therefore not be seen as a new 'levy,' but as a smart investment in the source of our shared passion: the horse. (Read on, and listen to the podcast afterwards)

The Progressive Model: Shared Burdens, Shared Rewards

A modern breeder’s premium doesn’t have to make the sport more expensive if we design it to be progressive and performance-based. When a horse breaks through in the sport, the value of the bloodline and the reputation of the rider rise. By allowing a small percentage of commercial success or prize money to flow back to the breeder, we create a healthier ecosystem.

Long-term Affordability: If breeders know a 'royalty system' exists for success, the urge to ask a premium price at the initial sale of a foal becomes less acute. This keeps the influx of young talent attainable for riders. Furthermore, breeders will think more carefully about whom they sell to; they won't just consider long-term breeding, but also the specific athletic evolution of the horse.

Focus on Sustainability: A premium that is only paid out for sporting performances at a later age compels breeding to focus on health and temperament. This saves the rider and owner extra effort and costs further down the road.

Not a Tax, but a Covenant

The introduction of this system must grow organically. We need to look at models where the burden doesn't fall on a single party, but where studbooks, governments, and commercial partners join forces to fund this initiative. We must also ensure the system remains politically viable to have a chance of succeeding!

The sport is evolving. We are riding horses that are faster, sharper, and more technical than ever. It is only logical that our economic structure evolves alongside them. A breeder’s premium is the recognition that the rider and owner can only shine if the breeder is given the chance to survive in these costly times.

Pride

We have all given so much already. But by taking this one progressive step together toward a structural reward for the source, we protect ourselves against a future where the sport is reserved only for the ultra-wealthy. While a breeder’s pride is their primary driver, we cannot lose sight of the fact that the breeder’s economic viability must also be guaranteed.

Small-scale "hobby" breeders are one of the pillars upon which our sport rests. Let us not view this effort as a burden, but as the foundation for the next generation of champions.