A prelude made to order: the 58th Oldenburg Elite Auction on April 5, 2003 at the Oldenburg Horse Center in Vechta achieved not only outstanding results but was also distinguished by numerous sales abroad to a number of new customers from countries such as Indonesia, Mexico, Australia, China and Portugal.
Two elite riding horses - Donna Karan and Royal Dream - went right through the 100,000 Euro "ceiling". Sales totaling 853,000 Euros were achieved for the 33 auctioned riding horses (average price 25,848 Euros) and of these, 17 horses were sold to foreign buyers. The 17 broodmares were sold for 204,500 Euros in total at an average price of 12,029 Euros. Seven of these mares will be heading for the US. Of the four ponies offered, two were also sold to the United States and one to Great Britain. The ponies brought 55,000 Euros in total (average price 13,750 Euros).
The live transmission of the auction on the Internet was obviously a big success. We now know that many users, especially abroad, logged into Vechta to watch the auction live.
The 58th Elite Auction in Vechta started with a highly desirable candidate: catalogue number one, named Royal Dream (by Royal Diamond x Sandro), State Champion and Bundeschampionat finalist. This approved stallion was sold to Gestüt Floggensee in Schleswig-Holstein for 100,000 Euros.
This highly satisfactory result was then topped by the Brillantring mare, Donna Karan (by Donnerhall x Sokrates) who was sold to Ken Acebal's training stables in California, USA, for 107,000 Euros. On behalf of his sponsor, Ken Acebal also purchased Alpina (by Argentinus-Weltglanz). A dressage gelding called Romeo (by Rubinstein x Inschallah AA) was knocked-down to new customers from Indonesia. Through the help of Bernd-Felix Einhaus who has a new agency for marketing Oldenburg horses, the jumper mare, Coppa Granata (by Corradino x Grannus) was sold to Mexico for 20,500 Euros. Another new group of clients from Belgium purchased Liechtenstein (by Lord Sinclair x Rubinstein) for the knock-down price of 21,000 Euros and for the first time, Portuguese clients bought the very last horse in the auction: D-Mark (by Donnerhall x Pik Bube I) for 27,000 Euros.
Our loyal German customers also approved of our elite collection. Bernhard Schaerffer purchased Royal Gala (by Royal Diamond x Don Gregory) for his daughter, Susanne, who just made her breakthrough into Inter-I dressage with an eight year old former auction horse, Ricardo S, who had taken eighth place in the 2001 World Championships for young dressage horses.
Highly Prized Broodmares, Top Ponies
The choice quality of the 17 broodmares offered was also reflected by the prices not only many American but also German breeders were willing to pay. Donau Perle (by Donnerhall-Akzent II) was sold to a buyer from Lower Saxony for 23,000 Euro. The highest priced broodmare, Madonna Queen (by Quattro B-Ramiro As) was purchased for 27,000 Euros by the American, Joan Sims, who also received the knock-down for the two top pony riding stallions, Luxus pur and Bon Jovi for 20,000 Euros and 15,000 Euros respectively. Joan Sims was the center of attention at the 56th Elite Auction (Spring 2002) when she purchased the Don Schufro son, Der Euro, for 300,000 Euros. That same year, Der Euro became State and Bundeschampion.
Results to be Proud of
In the final summary, the Oldenburg Verband President, Wilhelm Weerda, as well as the auctioneer, Uwe Heckmann, were highly pleased with the first auction in the year 2003: what was especially pleasing was not just having again succeeded in offering horses of very high quality, but that many new customers, particularly from abroad, could be won.
Photos © Tammo Ernst