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The Flemish horse sector turns out to be far more important to the economy than is often assumed. That is the main conclusion of a new study by Professor Stijn Vanormelingen (KU Leuven), commissioned by Paardenpunt Vlaanderen and presented today at Jumping Mechelen. At the same time, the research highlights a less comfortable reality: behind the impressive turnover figures lies a sector in which many businesses are facing financial difficulties.

Many horses, many people, a lot of money

The so-called Horse Monitor provides a broad overview of the true size of the sector in Flanders. The region is home to an estimated 200,000 horses. Around 75,000 of them are kept at professional businesses such as breeding farms, riding schools and livery yards. The remaining 125,000 are owned by private individuals.

In terms of employment, the sector is clearly more than a niche. More than 6,000 people work in the Flemish horse sector, both directly and indirectly. This includes not only employees at horse-related businesses, but also veterinarians, farriers, transporters and other specialised service providers.

Economically, the impact is significant. The total turnover of the sector amounts to approximately 1.43 billion euros. Each year, more than 200 million euros worth of horses are exported, mainly to the United States. Belgium and Flanders have clearly built a strong international reputation as a horse country.

Making a profit is not a given

On paper, these are figures many sectors would envy. In practice, the situation is more nuanced. “Just over half of the businesses in the horse sector are profitable,” says Vanormelingen. “That is a low percentage compared to other economic sectors.”

Riding schools, livery yards and smaller breeding farms in particular struggle to operate profitably. Rising costs, labour-intensive activities and limited margins all play a role. The study shows that profitability in the sector is under pressure, despite the high overall turnover.

Passion as a driving force

According to Emely Feys, director of Paardenpunt Vlaanderen, this comes as no surprise. “If breeding is not always profitable from a purely economic point of view, why do so many people continue to breed foals? The answer is simple: passion.”

That passion is crucial for the entire ecosystem. “Without the many hobby breeders who are truly bitten by the horse bug, it would be impossible to provide enough horses for riding schools, recreational riders and, ultimately, top-level sport. Not everyone breeds with profit as their main goal. For many, it is about commitment and love for the horse.”

Exports rely on top breeding farms

This does not mean that no one is doing well. On the contrary, larger and more professional breeding farms perform noticeably better. Around 80 percent of these businesses are profitable, and they are responsible for the majority of international sales.

Exports mainly involve high-quality sport horses. On average, a horse is sold for around 50,000 euros. “These are clearly not the horses you see in every field,” as is often said. It is precisely these top horses that ensure exports of live horses are far greater than imports.

Centuries of expertise as a foundation

Belgium’s and Flanders’ strong export position is no coincidence. According to Emely Feys, its roots go back a long way. “The knowledge of horse breeding goes back to the Belgian Draught Horse, which was known worldwide for its strength and reliability.”

Over the years, this expertise has been refined and applied to the breeding of sport horses. Combined with strong training stables, experienced coaches and a well-developed network, this has led to horses that are in demand worldwide. The result is an export position with significant economic impact.

Substantial, but vulnerable

For Vanormelingen, the international strength of the sector came as a surprise. “Before starting the study, I mainly knew the sector from the sidelines. I honestly did not expect the scale of exports and Belgium’s international reputation to be this strong.”

His conclusion, however, remains twofold. The Flemish horse sector is without doubt a substantial economic player, with significant employment and turnover. At the same time, the research shows that many businesses are operating on the edge. The sector keeps going, but not without effort.

The figures clearly show that passion and economics are closely intertwined. That is a strength, but also a vulnerability. And that is exactly where the challenge for the future of the Flemish horse sector lies.