The Top 15 World’s Most Expensive Horse Breeds 2024 (+ Price List)


The top 15 most expensive horse breeds in the world.


The most expensive horse breeds in the world are horses that are loved by many for their outstanding personalities. Even though the price still varies depending on the breeders, bloodlines, subtype, and age. 


The extensive training received by the horse will also have an effect on the price as well as its record show. You might be surprised at their prices they can even be worth more than some new cars.


These are the world's most expensive horse breeds 2024 (+ price list), they are,

Check them out, their price, lifespan, and more. Please, keep reading!




1. Thoroughbred - The Most Expensive Horse Breed in the World   

One of the most expensive horse breeds in the world is thoroughbred, in fact, it is the first.
Image credit: Doug Antczak Baker Institute for Animal Health College of Veterinary Medicine

Price: $100,000 - above

Lifespan: 25 - 28 years


Because it is widely known and loved by many for its furious fast speed. One has even been sold for a staggering price of 15 million dollars! More to that, at an auction, Fusaichi Pegasus was sold for $70 million. They are one of the fastest animals. 


The Winning and Secretariat Brew belong to this breed and they have reached and surpassed a speed of 40 mph. This breed is successful in many racing events for their racing skills and when it comes to athletes, they are brilliant. 


If this breed should be traced back, it has three origins, the Darley Arabian, Godolphin Arabian, and Byerly Turk. Characteristics from Darley Arabian are more dominant in this breed. This incredible breed has the ability to race from age of 2. 




2. Gypsy Vanner                   

Gypsy Vanner is the among the most expensive horse breeds in the world.
Image credit:  Linda Thyselius / Wikimedia Commons 

Price: around $12,000

Lifespan: 30 years


Top breeding stallions can still cost as high as $60,000 and Foal can cost as low as $1,500. They are traditional carriage horses, whose origin is from Great Britain. 


Vanner, its name, is a term used for an animal that is capable of pulling a caravan. The first horse from this breed came to the US in 1997. They were bred to have endurance, as they can cover a very long distance without having much fatigue. 


They are friendly and playful horses. They are active, clever, easy to train, and energetic. Even though it is expensive horse, it worth the price as it is a well-behaved horse for both novices and experienced owners. 




3. Selle Français Horse                 

Selle Français Horse is the third most expensive horse breeds in the world.
Image credit: Édouard Hue

Price: $15,000 to $50,000

Lifespan: 30 years


This breed originated from France, and it is also called the French saddle horse. This breed is good at show jumping and they are also used in riding. They are strong stallions that are actually bred for sport. It is certainly. 


They have an elegant appearance, powerful legs, a strong long neck, and long croup with a deep chest. Overall, they are powerful horses. They are intelligent and easy to train, so they are good for leisure riding. 


Due to various breeds used in breeding this breed, this breed has diverse genetics, even though the Anglo-Norman breed has much influence on it. 


The chestnut color is the most common color of the horse, roan, grey, and bay are also the colors they can be found. They are used for eventing and dressage, and they are bred for shows. 


One of these horses belonging to this breed, in 2013 came third in position at the world jumping show. All these personalities makes it one of the most expensive horses in the world in 2024. 





See also:

The Top 15 Cutest Cats Breeds In The World 





4. Andalusian Horse                     

Andalusian Horse is on the list of the most expensive horse breeds in the world.
Image credit: Nickage 

Price: $10,000 and $60,000

Lifespan: 25 years


This breed is also known as Pure Spanish Horse or PRE. It is a horse breed commonly used by Ancient Greeks and Romans for war. They are brave and agile. 


It is often used in movies as they have this perfect fairytale and gorgeous look. It has been shown in more than 140 movies around the world. The most common color of its coat is grey or bay, but about 80% is grey. 


Cremello, pearl, and buckskin are also the color in which they can be found. Most population of this breed is found in Europe and they are regarded as royal horses there, for their graceful movements and majestic appearance. 




5. Akhal Teke Horse                

Among the most expensive horse breeds in the world is Akhal Teke Horse.
Image credit: Artur Baboev 

Price: $7,000 to $40,000 

Lifespan: 20 years


This breed hails from the Karakum desert of Turkmenistan, for this, they can adapt to extreme cold and hot weather. They are amazing horse and among the most expensive horse breeds in the world in 2024. They have unique abilities, characters, and appearances. Their ability to endure makes them popular. 


In most cases, they do not allow any other person to ride them, except their owners. They are a one-person horse, in which people believe they bond with one person in their lifetime. And they have been seen to be defensive to their owners. 


Their eyes are almond-shaped and they have extremely fine skin and sleek bodies. They are recognized for their striking metallic sheen and come in a variety of plain colors, including cream and palomino. Absinth is a famous stallion belonging to this breed, it has won a total of six Olympic medals. 




6. Friesian Horse                    

On the list of the most expensive horse breeds in the world is Friesian Horse.
Image credit: Larissa Allen

Price: $7,000 to $15,000

Lifespan: 16 years


It is one of the oldest breeds, from ancient times originating from the Netherlands. It is admired by some people for its power, regal, and its majestic characteristics. All this contributed to its cost. It was in the 1600s that it got its way to the United States. 


They are mostly used in agricultural activities. They are popularly used in movies too. The most common color is black but not all is black, the color ranges from black to black-bay or dark brown. 


They are also known as carriage horses, they pull Friesian Sjees which is a cart specially made for this breed, hence the name, Friesian Horse. Sadly, they have a shorter lifespan because their bloodlines are reduced by breeders through selective breeding.





See also:

The Top 15 Most Beautiful Dog Breeds In The World 





7. Oldenburg                         

Oldenburg is on the list of the most expensive horse breeds in the world.
Image credit: Martin Bahmann

Price: $5,000 to $42,000

Lifespan: 25 to 28 years


The amount can even be higher, if it is dressage horses, for example, a filly was the top-selling foal at a whopping amount of $150,300. 


And in the year 2020, a four-year-old dressage prospect by Morricone I was sold for $382,000 at the German Oldenburg sale.  The breed was bred between the 16th and 17th centuries and it was produced as a carriage horse. 


They are known for their superior athletic ability, lofty height, and extreme elegance. They are social and very smart breeds. The breed is named after Oldenburg, who was the person that invest in refining this breed. Bay, brown, black, and gray are the standard color of this breed. 




8. Dutch Warmblood Horse     

Dutch Warmblood Horse is on the list of the most expensive horse breeds in the world.
Image credit: Remy Overkempe

Price: $5,000 to $50,000

Lifespan: 20 to 25 years


They are actually warm-blooded as they share their hotblooded cousins' agility and energy, hence the name Dutch Warmblood Horse. 


It is a breed native to the Netherlands and sometimes called Royal Dutch Sport Horse or Koninklijk Warmblood Paardenstamboek Nederland and abbreviated as KWPN in the studbook. 


They are good-natured, friendly and highly trainable, this might bring about their popularity and they are among the most expensive horses in the world in 2024. They generally enjoy what they do and they love people too. 


The breed is used for transportation, agricultural activities, and work. When it comes to equestrian competitions, this breed always dominates it. 


They usually perform very well at a competition at the highest levels since they are athletic breeds of sport horses and they are versatile as well. The breed is of three types, Gelders Horse, Harness Horse, and Riding Horse. 




9. Hanovarian                       

One of the most expensive horse breeds in the world is Hanovarian.
Image credit: Craig Maccubbin

Price: $5000 to $35,000

Lifespan: 25 to 30 years


This breed was bred in the 18th century, almost 300 years ago. It is an exceptional horse for its good temperament, athleticism, and beauty. This breed is almost seen in the Olympic games. 


They are military horses and they serve as carriages too. They excel very well in jumping competitions and are as well great at dressage due to their carriage gaits. 


Most of the horses belonging to this breed are extremely difficult to classify as breeding stallions. Among the 9,000 population of this horse registered each year, just about 10 can be rightly classified as breeding stallions. 


They are intelligent and they have docile personalities, but they are not ideal for first-time riders as they always need someone that is confident in their riding ability. They are in chestnut, bay, grey, brown and black color. 




10. Arabian Horse                 

Among the most expensive horse breeds in the world is Arabian horse.
Image credit: Ealdgyth

Price: $5,000 to $30,000

Lifespan: 25 to 30 years


The price can still be higher, it can cost up to $150,000 depending on other factors such as if the horse is among the top show horses, its gender, training, bloodline, and age. One horse belonging to this breed was offered for a huge amount of $20 million dollars by Arabian Marwan Al Shaqab. 


It is one of the oldest domesticated breeds and of course pricy. These breeds are loved as they are considered to be affectionate, loyal, intelligent, sensitive, and courageous. They are popular breeds, especially among the equestrians. 


They have unique features compared to other breeds. This breed has black skin underneath their coats, it is only the white hair horses that do not. They also have 17 pairs of ribs and 5 vertebrae, unlike other breeds with 18 ribs and 6 vertebrae. 



11. Quarter Horse                    

One of the most expensive horse breeds in the world is Quarter Horse.
Image credit: Tierpfotografien at de.wikipedia

Price: $4,000 to $10,000

Lifespan: 25 to 30 years


It is also referred to as the American quarter horse, as it is one of the most famous horses in America. Just in Texas, in the United States, there are about 420,000 in a large chunk. 


It has powerful muscles, a wide head, and a broad chest. They are bred mainly to run a short distance at a very high speed, mainly for a quarter of a mile, hence the name, quarter horse. 


This is the difference between thorough breed and quarter, they both run very fast but thorough breed run very fast over longer distances than a quarter. They can be tamed and can be herd with cattle as they have cow sense. Now they are used in racing, and they are often seen in most events of the year. 





See also:

The Top 15 Most Expensive Dog Breeds In The World 





12. Holsteiner                        

Holsteiner is one of the most expensive horse breeds in the world.
Image credit:  Alexander Kastler

Price: $3,000 to $50,000

Lifespan: 20 years


Unlike other breeds, this breed is perfect for beginners. The breed hails from Schleswig-Holstein, Northern Germany, this reflects in its name. They are believed to be the oldest German warmblood horses and undeniably pricy. 


It is also known as HOL and HOLST. They are bred for different purposes. They are well-balanced, strong-nerved, bold, and reliable, even though their temperament is not perfect. The colors include chestnut, gray, dark bay, brown and black. 


They have large eyes and high sets or arched necks. They are athletic and agile. In 2008, Holsteiner studbook ranked it the third in the international Show Jumping category. In most places in North America, this horse is mostly used by show hunters.




13. Morgan                                 

Morgan is one out of the most expensive horse breeds in the world.
Image credit: Heather Moreton

Price: $2,500 and $4,000 

Lifespan: 20 to 30 years


Morgan horses are one of the best horses, bred in America. They are known for their people-loving personalities. Within this breed there are different types, these types are referred to as families. 


The well-known families include Working Western, Government, Lippitt, and Brunk. They are easy to train, cooperative, proud and alert. 


Its legs are straight, sturdy, and slender. The traditional colors include chestnut, black, and bay. Some breeders are also having this breed in colors such as gray, roan, dun, pinti, brown, Palomino, and more. 




14. Clydesdale                         

Clydesdale is part of the most expensive horse breeds in the world.
Image credit:  Bonnie U. Gruenberg

Price: $2000 to $25000

Lifespan: 20-25 years


It is still possible to get the horse at an initial price of $1,000 in the United States. A staggering amount of $212,500 was paid for the most expensive Clydesdale horse. 


It is a Scottish breed that hails from Clydesdale, Lanarkshire, and it was named after the place. They are very big and tall horses. They are about 6 feet tall, taller than the height of an average man. 


They are usually reddish-brown and they can also be black, chestnut or brown. They are bred for working and hauling purposes. They have one unique feature: the ability to move their ears in different directions of the sound.




15. Standardbred                                  

Standard bred is part of the most expensive horse breeds in the world.
Image credit: Izzypie Isabella Marks, AU

Price: $500 - $8500

Lifespan: 30 to 35 years


You can get as low as $500 for retired rescue horses of this breed and as high as the other amount mentioned above, which is the price for rides and drives. This breed is well-muscled horses. 


They are longer compared to other horses and they have strong shoulders. It belongs to this list of the most expensive horse breeds in the world in 2024 and it's one of the newest breeds. They are loved for being patient, and they can tolerate mistakes compared to other horses. 


They are great trail horses, so owners need not be worried about having stall behavioral issues. However, this breed does not like a saddle. They do not like someone taking the bit or having someone at their back because they are independent thinkers. 


If you will like to own this breed, it is advisable to take a gentle, slow approach. Once they are adapted to riding, they are for sure responsive. They can respond to verbal commands while riding. 




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1 Comments

  1. The third breed is my choice. Nice compilation

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