Figures show further growth in foal crop

The British and Irish foal crops have both continued to show year-on-year growth according to figures in the recently published 2016 Weatherbys Return Of Mares.

The most significant increase has come in Ireland, the fourth successive year the Irish foal crop has grown, with the number of foals registered by the end of September standing at 8,792, up seven per cent (587) on last year's total of 8,205.

The British foal crop has grown by three per cent (131) to 4,597, up from 4,466 at the same stage in 2015.

In total 13,389 foals have been registered across Britain and Ireland in 2016, a near six per cent increase on the 12,671 recorded on 2015.

Such a significant increase comes at what is already an anxious time within the industry, with supply already having outweighed demand at this year's yearling sales, during which 2015's foals have been offered.

Across all British and Irish yearling sales up until the end of October 3,263 yearlings had changed hands at a clearance-rate of 79 per cent, meaning that 867 yearlings failed to find a new home. The figure of 867 was up from 614 unsold in 2015.

Bloodstock auctions are always liable to operate on a boom-and-bust basis, but with the bubble of supply already seeming to have been burst there may well be tough times ahead for vendors at next year's yearling sales when 2016's expanded foal crop will come up for sale.