With the stallion candidates and the auction horses now stabled in their box stalls at the Holstenhall premises in Neumünster, anticipation is running high for the decisions to be made over the next days: Which stallions will be licensed? Who is going to be named champion stallion? And which future success stories will be launched with the fall of the hammer in the auction sales?
After the traditional test free jumping on Wednesday giving the two-and-a-half-year old colts the opportunity to adjust to the circumstances of the Holstenhalls, the 51st Holsteiner stallion grading and elite riding horse auction is officially opened on Thursday, 28 October, at 10:30am with the inspection on hard ground where the stallion candidates present themselves on hard surface, closely examined by the grading commission, this year comprising breeding director Stephan Haarhoff along with Michael Gonell, Horst Klaus Heleine, Lars Nieberg, and Christian Thoroe. Following the at liberty presentation of the dressage colts, the day comes to an end with the colts shown at a walk in groups. The Friday (29 October) is all about the stallion candidates presented free jumping and at liberty, starting at 8:30am and providing the visitors with the opportunity to talk shop until late afternoon. The presentation of the about 40 elite riding horses offered for sale starts at 6:00pm, followed by the breeders’ party in hall 5. The final decisions are due on Saturday, 30 October, with the colts presented once again from 8:00am and their grading status announced. Following the auction sale of the elite riding horses which starts at about 11:00am, excitement is rising yet again, as the Holsteiner 2021 champion stallion is to be announced and the licensed stallions, premium graded stallions and non-licensed colts offered for sale are put to auction.
Where Careers Are Launched
At least since the successes of high-achieving former auction horses this year, it has been an open secret that quite frequently exceptional sport careers have been launched at Holsteiner auctions: Elite auction graduate Lillet by Livello-Calido I won the national championship of the five-year-old eventing horses under the saddle of Andreas Dibowski (GER) this year. JL Dublin by Diarado-Canto - also spotted at Neumünster - became double European champion in eventing with Nicola Wilson (GBR). And the most recent success story starring a former Holsteiner auction horse is about Cute Girl by Coventry-Clearway. She had changed hands through the Neumünster auction in 2018 where she was bought by Francesca Pollara (ITA), a regular Holsteiner auction client who had also discovered JL Dublin, and now galloped to claim the world champion title of the seven-year-old eventers with Kevin McNab (AUS) at Le Lion d’Angers in France. One of the lots of the current elite riding horse auction selection boasts similar world champion genes: Lot no 137, Quintus by Quibery-Limbus, a horse already placed in 1.10m classes himself, and Cute Girl share the same second dam. For all questions around the auction and the horses for sale, do not hesitate to contact Roland Metz (phone +49 171 4364 651, email: rmetz@holsteiner-verband.de).
Tickets still available
In accordance with the currently valid Schleswig-Holstein state regulation, this year numerous visitors are allowed at the Neumünster Holstenhalls again, albeit in compliance with the so-called 3-g-rule, which means all visitors must be vaccinated, tested, or recovered, and provide evidence via official certificates. Tickets are still available at the Holstenhall upon entrance.
