Saving and Securing the future of GB Thoroughbred Industry.

As a fresh graduate of National Stud England, today I got a message from my CEO, Ms Anna Kerr, and I quote, "We  are working on a project to regenerate the number of breeders in Britain and take action on declining foal crop numbers. As a graduate of the National Stud’s Education programme and / or the work you have done in your career to date you are ideally placed to offer insight and experience into the challenges that prevent people from actively breeding or trading in bloodstock. Please identify actions that will increase participation in our industry and have a meaningful impact on the future of the GB Thoroughbred." My answer to my CEO is, and I am putting it here for wider circulation of the National Stud's initiative:

Here I present a practical response, framed from the perspective of a National Stud graduate.  My focus is on actions rather than abstract problems. Here are some actions to Increase participation and secure the future of GB Thoroughbred.

The decline in breeder numbers and foal crop size in Britain is not due to a lack of passion for the Thoroughbred, but rather a combination of economic risk, structural barriers to entry, and limited visibility of viable pathways into breeding and bloodstock trading. Based on my education at the National Stud and my professional experience to date, the following actions would meaningfully increase participation and confidence in the industry.
1. Reduce Financial Risk for 'Small and New Breeders'.
Barrier: Breeding has become disproportionately high-risk for small-scale and first-time breeders, with costs rising faster than realistic returns.
Actions:  Introduce entry-level breeder incentive schemes, including:
- foal production grants or cost-sharing initiatives for first three foals bred
- veterinary and nomination fee rebates tied to British-bred foals
Expand and better promote British-bred bonuses, ensuring they are:
- meaningful in value
- visible at the point of sale and racing
Encourage stallion farms to offer: more profit-share, foal-share, and deferred payment nominations, particularly to British mares
Impact: Lowering early losses builds confidence and encourages continuity—breeders are far more likely to breed a second and third foal if the first experience is financially survivable.

2. Create Clear, Supported Pathways for Young Professionals into Breeding:
Barrier: Many skilled graduates and horsemen lack the capital, mentorship, and confidence to transition from employment into ownership or breeding.
Actions: Establish “Next Generation Breeder” programmes, like syndicate-based broodmare ownership supported by stud farms, sales companies, and the BHA.
Pair National Stud and other graduates with, 
long-term breeder mentors capable of giving 
practical guidance on mare selection, mating plans, and sales strategy.
Provide step-by-step breeder toolkits, including, realistic cost models, risk scenarios and case studies of successful small breeders.
Impact: This shall convert trained, committed horse people into long-term breeders rather than losing them to overseas markets or adjacent industries.

3. Improve Transparency and Education Around Commercial Reality.
Barriers are unrealistic expectations,  driven by headline sales results, discouraging participation when outcomes fall short. 
Actions to take should be to publish data driven breeding economics, which include average costs vs average returns by mare profile, along side regional and stallion-tier analysis.
We must expand education on breeding for different markets, (commercial vs racing), and provide alternative success models beyond top-tier yearling sales. We also must 'Normalise smaller-scale success stories, rather than only elite operations'.
Impact: Informed breeders make sustainable decisions and remain engaged even when operating outside the top commercial tier.

4. Strengthen the Link Between Racing, Breeding, and British tradition followed not only in England but in countries like India, where British tradition, practices and methods are still held in high esteem.
Barrier: The connection between British racing success and British breeding is not always visible or rewarded.
Actions: Increase the prestige and visibility of British-bred races and series.
This requires clearer identification and promotion of British-breds in:
- racecards
- broadcasts
- sales marketing
Incentivise trainers and owners to support British breeders through:
- restricted races
- enhanced prize money for British-bred runners
Impact: When British breeding is visibly valued on the racecourse, confidence increases throughout the supply chain.

5. Support Breeding as a Long-Term Rural and Cultural Asset:
Barrier: Breeding is often viewed solely through a commercial lens, overlooking its broader economic and cultural value.
Actions: Position breeders as custodians of rural employment and bloodstock heritage
Advocate for:
- tax and business relief structures that reflect long-term agricultural investment planning and land-use policies supportive of stud operations.
- Collaborate with government and rural bodies to protect breeding regions.
Impact: A stable policy environment encourages long-term commitment rather than short-term withdrawal.

The future of the GB Thoroughbred depends on retaining and empowering small breeders, welcoming new entrants, and reducing the fear of failure. Education, incentives, mentorship, and transparency—working together—can reverse the decline in foal numbers and rebuild confidence.

As a National Stud graduate actively working within the industry, I believe that the talent, knowledge, and passion already exist. What is needed now is a structure that allows people to participate sustainably and with confidence in the long term.

@ Divya Gurnay🐎
Advocate at Indian High Courts. 
Academics:- LL.M, LL.B., PG Human Rights, MA. Mass Communication and Journalism, B.A. Honours Psychology.
Special Skills Certifications :-
1. Film-direction and audio-visual story-telling certification from FTII, Pune, 
2. MOI. Qualified Mountaineering instructor from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, India.
Equine Education and Skill sets:-
- 'Stud Management and Sales Consignment Graduate with honours' from National Stud England.
Certifications from the online campus of International Federation for Equestrian Sports, Switzerland (FEI): -
1. Handling Horses.
2. Handling horses in challenging situations. 
3. Equine Behaviour.
4. How Horses Learn.
5. General Conformation.
Certifications from the online campus of Michigan State University (USA): -
1. Normal Horse Behaviour.
2. Horse Handling.
3. Horse Manners.
4. Horse Hygiene/ Grooming.
5. Basic Horse Keeping.
6. Training and Exercising horses.
7. Machinery and Chemical Safety
8. Traveling with Horses.
9. Biosecurity for Horse Farms.
10. Healthy Horses.
11. Employer/ Employee Relations.      
        (in Equine Industry)

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