The horse market has attracted the attention of many investors in Brazil. Each year, the horse sector in Brazil advances by 12% with a revenue of R$ 16 billion.
It is a market divided by specific horse breeds, such as the Quarter Horse (sales of Quarter Horses grow at 35%, according to the Brazilian Association of Quarter Horse Breeders), the Mangalarga Marchador, and the Crioulo breed, which are some of the most profitable breeds in the country. Interestingly, investments come not only from professional horse breeders or animal industry professionals but also from quite diverse areas.
It is difficult to say that one breed is more expensive than another, as prices vary according to the horse’s functionality, but 
the Crioulo breed has stood out in recent years. Businesspeople and professionals from fields such as medicine, engineering, and law have been attracted by the high profitability of the Crioulo horse market, accounting for almost 600% of its appreciation in the last decade. Horse breeding is also responsible for about 32 million direct and indirect jobs.
The Value of a Horse
You may be wondering: what makes a horse so valuable?
The value of a horse can be determined by various criteria. The most important of these is the number of coverings (also called matings) it can perform per year. According to the Brazilian Association of Crioulo Horse Breeders (ABCCC), there are 150 coverings for champion horses and 125 
for others.
But that’s not all. For the coverings of the horse to have a high value, beauty and functionality are also essential. Add to that the achievement of breed competitions, and it becomes impossible to predict what value it can reach. The Freio de Ouro, for example, is an annual competition exclusive to the Crioulo Horse, where the skills of the horse and rider can be demonstrated, replicating the daily work in the field on the tracks. It is a set of tests that evaluate breaking, endurance, docility, aptitude, and courage, which form the functionality of the Crioulo horse. Today, the Freio de Ouro is the main indicator of improvement and selection of the Crioulo breed.
The Origin
Brazilian breeds began to be formed from the second half of the 19th century. The first of these was the Mangalarga breed (popularly known as “Mangalarga Paulista”), followed by the Mangalarga Marchador (popularly known as “Mangalarga Mineiro”), Campolina, Crioula, Piquira, Pantaneira, Marajoara, Campeira, Nordestina, and Brasileiro de Hipismo. A tenth grouping of equines has been established since 1993, through the Genealogical Registration Service of ABCCPAMPA – Brazilian Association of Pampa Horse Breeders. However, it cannot be considered a breed, given that Pampa defines coat color, being common in several breeds, such as the Mangalarga, Mangalarga Marchador, Campolina, and Piquira, for example. Morphology and movement, although guided by a breed standard, are almost impossible to standardize, as animals from almost a dozen breeds are registered, in addition to animals of unknown origin.
According to their function, the breeds are divided into: Sport, Leisure, and Service.
The Brazilian breeds specialized for service are the Crioula, Pantaneira, Marajoara, and Nordestina. The Pantaneiro horse is a specialist in cattle handling in the flooded regions of the Pantanal in Mato Grosso during the flood season. The Marajoara horse specializes in cattle work in the humid region of Marajó Island, where buffalo farming predominates. The Nordestino horse is a specialist in cattle and goat and sheep herding in the caatinga of the Northeast, characterized by thorny vegetation, but this breed has ceased to be recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The national breeds specialized in sports are the Mangalarga and Brasileiro de Hipismo. Currently, the Mangalarga horse is widely used in functional speed and maneuverability tests, cattle handling, and trail rides. The Brasileiro de Hipismo horse, known as BH, is of more recent formation, derived from foreign breeds specialized in jumping.
The national breeds specialized in leisure are the Mangalarga Marchador, Campolina, Piquira, and Campeira. These Brazilian marching horse breeds represent authentic national treasures.
Investment
The money that has been invested to breed outstanding animals is directed towards genetic improvement, nutrition, and training. Every investor bets on the best possible combination of genetics, morphology, and training, hoping that the horse will have the ability to produce high-value characteristics in the breed. The veterinary care for these animals is also very advanced.
Equestrianism
The history of equestrianism dates back to 1360 BC, when the first training treatise was written by the trainer and riding instructor Kikkulis, from the ancient kingdom of Mitanni, which today encompasses parts of Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. Horses were already present at the Ancient Greek Olympics, but it was only in the 19th century that jumping emerged as a competition, with the Royal Dublin Society creating the foundational model for current equestrian competitions in 1881.
Curiosities
• Equestrianism is the only Olympic sport in which men and women compete equally for the same medals;
• The events have been present in the Olympics for 104 years and celebrated their centenary in 2012, in London;
• Riders walk the Cross Country and jumping course to learn the route, but the horses see it for the first time only in competition;
• The Grand Prix Freestyle tests, performed with freestyle music, are specially choreographed and feature personalized music tailored to the horses’ movements.
• Brazil has already won several medals in equestrianism at the Olympic Games.
• Brazilian dressage athlete Luiza Tavares de Almeida was the youngest to compete in equestrian events at an Olympics, in Beijing, in 2008;
GP Brazil
At a Brazilian Jockey Club on a gala day, winning this race is the dream of every jockey.
The GP Brazil is not just about the show of horses and jockeys on the track. Glamour, excitement, and the presence of personalities always have their space.
PMU (Pari Mutuel Urbain)
PMU Brazil is a subsidiary created by the French PMU. The company manages horse betting and its commercialization through points of sale, online platforms, and phone, in addition to producing and broadcasting live images of the races. The goal is to triple betting activity by 2020, as well as to revitalize betting and enhance Brazilian races.
The company has established important partnerships with international racetracks. During the GP Brazil, the company’s Sports Bar featured special programming, VIP narration, and autograph sessions.
Crioulo Horses: Among the Most Expensive in Brazil
The Crioulo horse, one of the oldest breeds in the country, was developed in the region of the gaucho pampas, handling herds of cattle and sheep.
It is a resilient horse, of rustic breeding, agile, fast, intelligent, and well-trainable. To demonstrate its functional aptitudes, it performs a maneuverability and speed test known as the “Freio de Ouro.”
Some Crioulo horses have attracted attention in recent years, including the stallion JLS Hermoso, as each covering was sold for R$ 108,333, and considering that he can have 150 coverings per year, he reached his current value of R$ 16.25 million, which many consider to be the most expensive in Brazil.
Sources: www.comprerural.com; blog.rodeowest.com.br; www.pmubrasil.com.br and www.revistahorse.com.br