There are hundreds of breeds of horses to choose from, and buying an expensive breed isn’t simply about bragging rights. A lot goes into rearing and caring for a good, high-bred horse, and a lot comes out of it, as it should when they cost hundreds of thousands of dollars!
The most superior of horses are expensive, but who tops the list as the most expensive horse breed? We’ll get into that, but first, let’s take a look at what’s involved with rearing a quality breed.
What Makes a Horse The Most Expensive Horse Breed?
You may be surprised to find that some of the most expensive breeds are highly popular and quite common, such as the Thoroughbred, while value is placed on others for their rarity, like the Akhal-Teke.
So what makes a particular breed the most expensive horse breed?
There are multiple factors, but one of the central themes is having a reputable breeder. Expert breeders will gauge a stallion’s appearance, performance, lineage, and other factors to decide if he should sire.
An expert breeder will also ensure a correct diet for both the mare’s during pregnancy and the nutritional content given to the young foal. This can greatly affect a foal’s healthy development.
The value of such knowledge and insight is well worth the high price tag. Whether you’re looking for competition horses or for a hobby horse, it will offer peace of mind knowing your horse is healthy and strong.
It will also save you money, as you’ll be more likely to avoid expensive medical bills and early death. If you put your money on a racehorse, he may even pay for himself!
Now, let’s get to the most expensive horse breed, starting with a close runner-up.
1. Dutch Warmblood Horse
If you’re after a prizewinner, the Dutch Warmblood is one of the most successful competition breeds and was recently ranked no. 1 in jumping by the World Breeding Federation for Sports Horses. As a result of their athleticism and high quality breeding, they’re consistently known as an expensive breed.
Originating in the Netherlands, this horse has been bred specifically as a competitor in equine sports and is known for gold medals. There are, however, different categories of Dutch Warmblood, with some being bred specifically for riding, further categorized for dressage or jumping, and others as working animals. The latter is the sort you’ve seen pulling carriages.
Developed from local draught breeds, Gelderlander and Groningen, the Dutch Warmblood was the product of the 20th century, specifically the post World War II world where interest in horses turned from agricultural to equestrian sport.
Known for their single-color coats, the Dutch Warmblood ranges in colors of black, gray, bay, and chestnut. Their physical stature is sturdy and muscular, with a thick, arched neck, and thick mane and tail.
Estimated Cost: $10,000 – $75,000
Life Expectancy: 20 years
2. Friesian Horse
The Friesian is another breed originating in the Netherlands, from the North to be exact. This horse is thought to have existed for thousands of years. As the original Friesian was bred with the Spanish Andalusian breed, which itself has Arabian genes, the Friesian is a warmblooded horse.
Because of their speed and endurance, the Friesian was a favorite amongst armoured knights. As the need for war horses decreased in the 16th and 17th centuries, the horse was bred with lighter horses in order to achieve a lighter physicality.
The Friesian is known for its beautiful black coat, thick mane and tail, and prominent, high-stepping gait. They require daily grooming due to their dry skin and propensity for rashes, and you can expect to spend considerable time grooming their mane, feathers, and tail.
Friesians generally come in two body types, baroque and sport. They can also be bred to be lesser-known bay or chestnut colors. In part due to its well-known coat, the only white marking permitted on a Friesian is a small star on its forehead to indicate that he’s a purebred.
This is an excellent breed for equestrian sport as the Friesians are intelligent, willing to learn, and friendly, making them a favorite amongst horse lovers.
Estimated Cost: $50,000 – $100,000
Life Expectancy: 16 years
3. The Arabian Horse
The Arabian horse is the most popular and the fastest breed in the world and is commonly used in mixed breeding to produce specific traits.
Known for its elegant trot, or “floating trot“, this graceful horse is renowned for its beauty, speed, stamina, intelligence, loyalty, and adaptability. They have small, graceful features and are known for their black skin. Though the breed is currently slightly bigger than its original ancestors, the breed has remained largely unchanged over thousands of years.
This is a horse of incredible endurance and lung capacity, owing to thousands of years in the desert of the Arabian Peninsula. Bred by the Bedouins, the Arabian was built for speed and war, and as a result, have a very high percentage of fast-twitch muscle fibers that make them fast and highly adaptable.
The Arabian breed also makes wonderful companions. This is thought to do with how the Arab people treated them, which was always with care and respect, according to the instructions of the Muslim prophet Mohammed.
All these things combined are perhaps why they were the mount of choice for formidable leaders such as Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Alexander The Great, and George Washington.
Estimated Cost: $25,000 – $300,000
Life Expectancy: 30 years
4. Akhal-Teke Horse
The Akhal-Teke is one of the rarest breeds in the world and the national horse of Turkmenistan. This horse is a direct descendent of ancient breeds. While Arabian horses can be traced back as far as 400-500CE, the Akhal-Teke is thought to have been around for 3,000 years.
As there are thought to be less than 8,000 in the population today, this is an important horse in history and the current day, and will therefore snag premium prices.
The Akhal-Tekes are characterised by their slim build, long and narrow neck and head, and most especially, their metallic-like shine. They’re also larger than the Arabian and this actually helps them to be faster, as well. Common colors include bay, chestnut, black and grey, as well as dun and palomino which tend to be rare in Arabians and similar breeds.
While they’re beautiful horses, they’re not for beginners, as they’re difficult to train and known as ‘one-person horses’, meaning they tend to bond with one person and become very protective of their person. They’re often compared to dogs, as they’re highly intelligent and need a level of attention that other breeds do not. As a result, they need challenging enrichment and training.
Without proper exercise and care, they can easily become unruly. While their metallic sheen makes them stunning to behold, they’re also highly prized in equestrian sport and have been bred for riding, long-distance racing, and show jumping.
Estimated Cost: $100,000
Life Expectancy: 20+ years
5. Thoroughbred Racing Horse
Finally, we come to the most expensive horse breed!
The Thoroughbred horse is named as such as each horse’s lineage can be traced back to three sires of the medieval period. Being from England, they had the clever names of Thomas Darley, Lord Godolphin, and Captain Robert Byerley.
The Thoroughbred was bred to be the fastest on the racetrack, so they have an incredible lung capacity and strong legs for hard running, with the rear two being longer to allow the horse to gain ground more quickly. The shoulder is long and sloped to allow for a greater stride. This horse was literally built to win races. Of course, this means they have an undoable track record.
In addition to racing, many of these horses compete in other equestrian sports such as show jumping, dressage, eventing, reining, western pleasure, and hunt seat riding.
As one of the most expensive and successful horse breeds, they can fetch astronomical prices. So, it’s perhaps more than a rumor that a thoroughbred named Fusaichi Pegasus was sold for about $70 million. He did win the Kentucky Derby in 2000 so, worth it?!
Estimated Cost: $100,000 – $300,000+
Life Expectancy: 25-35 years
Final Thoughts
There you have it, the most expensive horse breed out there right now. Of course, there are hundreds of horse breeds, but the horses on this shortlist possess the most sought-after qualities. You want to find the best fit for your lifestyle and goals. With a bit of research and a connection to a breeder, you’re bound to find the one for you!
Sources:
http://www.akhaltekesaustralia.com.au/historyarabvsakhal.html
https://www.arabianhorses.org/discover/arabian-horses/
https://www.fao.org/3/ah759e/AH759E13.htm
https://mykavallerie.com/blogs/equestrians-corner/worth-the-splurge-the-8-most-expensive-breeds-of-horses-in-the-world
https://petkeen.com/akhal-teke-horse/
https://petkeen.com/most-expensive-horse-breeds/