Dressage-News

VECHTA, Germany, April 4-Somerset by Stedinger-Rubinstein, was the top priced stallion at the 70th Elite Auction at the Oldenburg Horse Center on Saturday.

The black stallion, bred by Holly Simensen of West Palm Beach, Florida, USA, was sold to Spain for €160,000 (US$216,000). Somerset is licensed and has been performance tested.

The second highest priced horse, Sonnenreiter by Sir Donnerhall-Lord Sinclair, bred by Brigitte and Manfred Langelueddecke from Vahlberg, Germany, was sold for €120,000 (US$162,000) to Luxembourg’s Lux Dressage Stables. His new owners had purchased Statesman OLD for €400,000 (US$540,000) at the auction last year. These two stallions were followed by a mare of exceptional quality, Una Supra by Sandro Hit-Sion, bred by Aloys Hinxlage from Garrel. She was knocked-down for €100,000 (US$135,000) to an Australian buyer.

A total of 52 riding horses were sold at the auction for more than €1.7 million (US$2.29 million). The average price was €32,000 (US$43,000).

Not only the best three horses were sold out of Germany, 32 riding horses went to customers in foreign countries, 12 alone to the U.S.

Three Weser Ems riding ponies were sold for a total of €26,000 (US$35,000), an average price of €8,700 (US$11,700).

“We are especially pleased to see so many foreign customers who have remained loyal to our auction in Vechta in these difficult times,” said Wilhelm Weerda, president of the Oldenburg Verband. The auctioneer, Uwe Heckmann, added, “We have shown our confidence and strength–two Oldenburg virtues that have blessed us with a fortunate beginning for our auction year.”

The 46th Summer Mixed Sales of Oldenburg riding horses will be held on June 6.

To view auction photos: http://www.vechta-online.de/thumbnails.php?album=69