2004 P.S.I. Auction

Damenwahl, a Perfect Ladies' Choice

It came to me a bit as a surprise that Santa Cruz fetched the top price. This dark bay Oldenburger stallion (Sandro Hit x Calypso II) is a divine jaw dropping beauty but his hindlegs are not moving the way I'd like to see them go. Santa Cruz sold for 750,000 euro to an American who wishes to stay anonymous. The 6-year old licensed stallion, who is bred by Paul Schockemohle himself and was competed at the 2004 Bundeschampionate by Helen Langehanenberg, will stay at Hof Kasselmann for further training.

A horse much more to my taste was Damenwahl. Even though the chestnut Oldenburg was only 3-year olds, the mares looked so steady and confirmed in her movements. She was absolutely flowing in walk, trot and canter and is a real potential for the future. This lovely lady was sold for 700,000 euro to Switzerland, but she will live and be trained by Christoph and Ilona Niemann in south Germany.

A horse that was sold for strikingly less money than expected was the licensed breeding stallion San Rubin. This Oldenburger by Sandro Hit x Rubinstein fetched a price of "only" 260,000 euro. Under Dr. Ulf Möller, San Rubin won the Oldenburg Regional Championships this year. "All the people liked the horse," Dr Möller told Eurodressage after the auction, " but they expected him to be too expensive, so didn't try him out or look at his vet report. When he went cheaper than they expected, they were not prepared and didn't buy him because they hadn't tried him."

Also important to take into consideration this year is the weak position of the dollar to the euro. Many American buyers keep their wallets closed at the moment, because of the economic situation. "Now that the dollar is weak not so many countries are buying, but other countries get the chance to buy good horses," Möller commented.

Text and Photos copyrighted Astrid Appels/Eurodressage - No Reproduction allowed

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