The Westphalian Association was established in 1904 and is presently expanded to a 10,000 member society.
The association focuses on two paramount aspects in the equestrian industry: breeding and training. By highlighting the training aspect, the association felt the need to build the Westphalian Equestrian center of Handorf (near Munster), which happened in 1977.
Auctions and Sales days
Besides the 'Montags in Handorf' sales days, the Westphalian Association is also hosting several Elite auctions annually. The latest October auction broke all records. The top price, as well as the total turnover and average price per horse reached a summit. Since the 9th Elite Auction to the top sales price has been 220,000 DM ($126,000). Three year old Gaylord (by General I) was sold to Rolf Kappel from Senden.
Now at age seven, Gaylord is competing at S- show jumping level in Germany and was the recent champion of the Youngster Cup Serie. Last October the top price has been pushed up to 270,000 DM, which is $155,000.
Royal Black and Pikkolo switched owners for that amount. Besides an extraordinary conformation and movement, Royal Black is also unique because of his bloodlines which go back to the legendary Angelo xx. This thoroughbred sired Olympic Champion Alhrich of Dr. Reiner Klimke, as well as Amon, owned by Annemarie Sanders-Keyzer (competed in the Dutch Dressage Team in the early eighties). Angelo xx and Royal Angelo are both bred by Herbert De Baey, a renown breeder who also disposed of Romadour II, sire of Nicole Uphoff's Rembrandt Borbet. Rembrandt is bred by De Baey along with other quality dressage horses. Pikkolo is an approved Pik Labionics stallion with an incredible disposition.
Westfalians in Competition
P.S. Priamos is the most successful show jumping Westphalian. Under Ludger Beerbaum the chestnut won the golden team medal at the World Equestrian Games in Rome. Gracioso, ridden by Nadine Capelmann was three times a member of the German Dressage Team and won three times the gold medal. This Grundstein I x Renaldo is only nine years old and was trained to Grand prix level by Klaus Balkenhol.
Nikolaus (Weinberg x Eponent) is the Westphalian Prix St. Georges horse of Capelmann. Jana Kun, 1996 European Pony Champion is riding Fahrenheit at that level. This beautiful potential was bought at the 1994 CHIO Aachen Sales. Belgian Champion Arlette Holsters is competing a Fruhlingstraum II mare at Grand Prix level and her PSG horse Fleetwoord was purchased at the same prestigious sales in Aachen.
Nevertheless all these wonderful performances of the previous horses, Nicole Uphoff's Rembrandt Borbet will be the living Westphalian Legend. With 14 individual and team golden medals in his whole career no other Westphalian was able to catch such a list of achievements. Double Olympic Champion, World and European Champion, European Young Riders Champion in 1987. Who will come near to this performance?
In the USA Christine Traurig became Prix St. Georges winner at the USET Festival of Champions. She saddled the dark bay Etienne by Ehrentusch. Etienne was purchased in Holland from Sanne van der Voorst by the Haas family. Christine Traurig is very enthusiastic about this Westphalian,"This is the horse of my life, " she explained