A result that really shines: at the 57th Oldenburg Fall Elite Auction on October 5, 2002 in Vechta, an outstanding 977,500 Euros in total sales at an average price of 25,064 Euros were achieved with the 39 auctioned riding horses.
The elite foals were just as successful: the 19 top foals offered were sold for a cool total of 290.800 Euros (average price 15.305 Euros).
The top priced horse, named Diva Supra (by Donnerhall-Sion), no less than State and Vice German Champion Mare, was sold for 120.000 Euros to Sarah and Tom Pidgley from Berkshire near Windsor, Great Britain. This couple also added the noble bloodlines of Sion x Figaro-Goldstern to their stables with the purchase of Spirit Freedom for 80,000 Euros. The jumper stallion, Greenback (by Germany-Landfrieden) changed hands for 93,000 Euros, joining Klaus Ostendorf's Golden Toast team which boasts of his son, Marc Ostendorf , Markus Beerbaum and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum.
The results of the 57th Elite Auction - "Fall Select Sales" - in Vechta is now another positive chapter in Oldenburg's 2002 success story: After the complete success of the 56th Elite Auction last Spring when Der Euro was sold for a spectacular 300,000 Euros, Oldenburg horses continued to dominate the year at all of the important national and international championships, e.g. at the World Championships for young dressage horses, 7th German Broodmare Show, the 2nd German Foal Championships, the Bundeschampionat and the World Equestrian Games.
Foreign Sales
Once again, foreign buyers were numerous: 17 riding horses alone which means nearly half were sold to foreign customers, 11 of which just to the United States. Five foals were sold to other foreign countries, led by Austria which took home three. The black stallion, Rudolfo (by Rubinstein-Insider) and a stable mate, Der Euro's half-brother Rubel (by Rouletto-Wanderer), were both sold to van den Berge's dressage stables near Paris.
Joan Sims (USA), owner of the freshly crowned Bundeschampion, Der Euro, secured two more youngsters with championship ribbons: the 2002 Oldenburg Champion Mare, Die Queen (by Don Gregory-Castro), and Á la Olympica (by Al Martino-Wenzel I), who was State Champion and took third at the Bundeschampionat.
Holly Simensen, the Oldenburg Verband's representative in the United States, introduced a new customer to the Oldenburg auction, Debbie Wiedmeyer (USA), who purchased two very talented young jumpers, Spider Man (by Spartan-Zeus) for 27,000 Euros and Quasi Rosso (by Quattro B-Grosso Z) for 25,000 Euros. Oldenburg's long-time customer, Ann Kitchel, will be taking two mares, Lafette (by Lafitte-Argentinus) and Swinging Vechta (by Sandro Hit-Akzent II) across the ocean back home with her.
Super Foals
The two highest prices foals, Destino (by Don Larino-Rouletto) and Cortez (by Cordalmé Z-Zeus), both brought 45,000 Euros each. Sissy Max-Theurer from Austria could not say no when it came to Superior (by Sandro Hit-Rubinstein) and her daughter, Victoria, was charmed by Liebelei (by Diamond Hit-Sion).
Albert Sprehe and Sissy Max-Theurer became partners for Cortez, one of the two top priced colts. The second top priced colt, Destino, will now be raised in North Rhine Westphalia.
Nancy Gooding (USA), the owner of two Champions, Weltissimo and Anchroman, purchased Primus F.J.E. (by Pilot-Argentinus) for 30,000 Euros.
A Price Sensation - Chardonnay
The sale of a Weser-Ems pony stallion called Chardonnay was a sensation: this State and Vice German Champion was sold for an absolutely record-breaking price of 60,000 Euros to the United States - a price never paid before for a pony at any of the German Verband auctions. Unbelievable quality for an unbelievable price: State and Vice German Champion, Chardonnay (by Constantin-Livio) just catapulted the Pferdestammbuch Weser-Ems pony breed into a totally new dimension as far as prices are concerned.
Uwe Heckmann's hammer was not knocked-down until a price of 60,000 Euros had been reached. Marta Kaufman (USA), the producer of "Friends", an award-winning cult TV series in the US, was ecstatic when she finally received Uwe Heckmann's congratulations. Another jumper pony, Coconut (by Chamberlain-Constantin), was also sold to USA, to Joan Sims' stables.
Photos © Tammo Ernst