Have you ever wondered which are the most expensive horses in the world? Racing, riding, show jumping, rodeo, dressage, breeding…despite the special skill or role of a horse, they all, well most, tend to be extremely valuable creatures. But naturally, because of their pedigree, breed, trainer, sire, and more, some horses are more expensive than others.
Actually most horses aren’t very valuable at all. One of my teachers told me that rare things aren’t always valuable; for example blind horses are quite rare but they aren’t very valuable. He is right, most horses that are bred in the world today are bred for their meat. There are several countries where horse meat is part of the daily diet.
If you enjoy reading on the equestrian world, you’ll definitely like our list of 6 countries that consume the most horse meat. However, in this article we will go through horses that are rare and have exceptional skills.
Let’s take a look at the countdown and find out which are the most expensive horses in the world.
10. Plavius
In 2006, Godolphin bought Plavius for a staggering $9.2 million. Godolphin is a racing stable founded by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and owned by the Maktoum family. The saddest thing about this expensive horse is that it never lived up to its price.
9. Jalil
Also owned by Godolphin Stables, Jalil is an American Thoroughbread racehorse who, back in 2005, was bought for $9.7 million. Jalil was only still a yearling when this transaction took place, since he had been born in Kentucky in 2004. Although he wasn’t entirely a disappointment, the stallion only managed to earn a little over $300,000 in total.
8. Snaafi Dancer
Snaafi Dancer is a particularly famous pricy racehorse since it was the first yearling to sell for over $10 million. In fact, when this thoroughbred was bought for $10.2 million back in 1983, its bidding had started at a mere $1 million. Unfortunately for its owners and the expectations they had, the stallion was never able to race and later it was discovered that he had fertility problems and couldn’t breed either.
7. Meydan City
Named after a new development under construction in Dubai, which was launched back in 2007 on the eve of the Dubai World Cup, this horse proved to be yet another disappointing purchase for the Maktoum family. Since it was bought for $11.7 million, Meydan City managed to earn only $1,360 in total.
6. Seattle Dancer
This Irish thoroughbred racehorse holds the title of the most expensive yearling to be sold at a public auction: it was purchased for $13.1 million in 1985. Trained by Vincent O´Brien, Seattle Dancer managed to earn a total of $181,808. Although it didn’t have an impressive career, the stallion did have a couple of major wins including the Gallinule stakes of 1987 and the Derrinstwon Stud Derby Trial of 1987.
5. Palloubet d’Halong
Palloubet d’Halong was sold at a record of $15 million, making it the most expensive jumping horse ever. This horse is not only famous for is price tag, but also because it is one of the best show jumping talents on Earth. Palloubet d’Halong was sold to the Olympic Gold medalist, Jan Tops.
4. The Green Monkey
In 2006, The Green Monkey became the most expensive thoroughbred sold in an auction. This stallion, who is a descendant of the celebrated Northern Dancer, was expected to do great things. But the $16 million that were paid for it were definitively not worth it, since he never won a race and has earned only a little over $10,000.
3. Totilas
Also known as Moorlands Totilas, this black stallion is a competitive dressage horse that sold at an astonishing sum: $21 million. Not only is it the most expensive dressage horse ever sold, but also the first to score over 90 points in a dressage competition.
2. Shareef Dancer
Bred in America and trained in the UK, Shareef Dancer is the second most expensive horse sold so far. In 1983, Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum bought the stallion for $40 million. At the moment, and after a humble racing career, this horse is a successful sire.
1. Fusaichi Pegasus
At $70 million, Fusaichi Pegasus is the most expensive horse in the world. Originally a race horse, the Kentucky Derby 2000 winner is now a stallion. Although he is considered as quite a failed stallion, his racing career was rather successful; he managed to make almost $2 million out of his wins in races.
