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Buying your first horse
Buying a foal
A colt is called a “foal” from the day of its birth to the following 1 January. The purchase may be made either directly from the breeder in a sale by private agreement, or at auction. The main auctions of breeding produce in France are organised by ARQANA at Deauville in early December. The purchase of a foal clearly demands greater patience and consideration than that of a horse in training or ready to run.
Buying a yearling
A colt or filly is called a yearling from 1 January following its birth to 1 January of the following year. The purchase of a yearling is most common as it strikes the right balance between being patient and living the dream. The main yearling sales are held at Deauville, in August and October, where the major stud farms present their produce.
The cost of a yearling varies from 5,000 to 2 million euros, the price being set according to the pedigree of the horse, its conformation, its precociousness, etc. The average sale price is around 80,000 euros in August and 30,000 euros in October.…
Buying a 2 year-old
By purchasing a pre-trained 2-year-old horse, both the time between purchase and its racing debut, and the uncertainty relating to the horse’s ability, are reduced. These sales are held all over Europe in springtime; generally in mid-April at Saint-Cloud for ARQANA.
Buying a horse ready to run
Purchases can be made either in training by private agreement, at public auction at Deauville or Saint-Cloud, or at 'claiming races', where the competitors are for sale for a minimum price indicated on the day’s race card. After the race, bidders deposit a secret slip with the price offered for the horse and the highest bid is selected. A few weeks later, your new protégé is ready to run in your colours.
Useful contacts for purchasing a thoroughbred
ARQANA Deauville
32, avenue Hocquart de Turtot - BP 23100 - 14803 Deauville Cedex
Tel.: 02 31 81 81 00 - Fax: 02 31 81 81 01
ARQANA Saint-Cloud
1, rue du Champ Canadien - BP 133 - 92 215 Saint-Cloud Cedex
Tel.: 01 41 12 00 30 - Fax: 01 41 12 90 56
Association Française des Courtiers (Association of French Insurance Brokers)
Président: Patrick BARBE
1 chemin des Aigles
60500 Chantilly
Secretariat: Jean-Pierre DEROUBAIX
Tel : +33.1.30.64.07.76
Fax : +33.1.30.57.01.35
www.french-bloodstock.com