As a long time breeder of sport horses both in the Rhineland in the 70’s and in Canada in the 80’s and 90’s I was looking forward to the presentation of the sale horses on Monday evening, August 10^th. A collection of 24 horses and 1 pony stallion were selected from the Rhineland and the Westphalian breeders.

The horses are between 3 and 6 years of age and carry the blood of 19 different sires. Florestan I is the sire of four of the horses being offered for sale and also the sire of my favourite. Florestino is a three year old, large framed, liver chestnut Westphalian gelding with beautiful big flowing movement, very correct, a wonderful expression, and appears to be sensitive but sensible. (I do have to admit that he grabbed my attention immediately because he reminded me so much of my own mare, Lorell.) Florestan I is from Fidelio/Furioso II and out of a state premium mare by Rheingold/Romadour II. Florestino’s dam, Gambia is by Grayioso going back to Grande and out of a mare by Adlerfels/Adlerfarn II (Adlerfarn, by the way, was the sire of the first World Cup winner in jumping under Hugo Simon and stood in Canada at the end of his breeding career and was still fertile into his late twenties).

Interestingly, another of the horses that caught my immediate attention as he entered because of his athleticism was Ferucci, another Florestan I son. Ferucci is out of a mare by Feurerschein I going back to Fruhling and she was out of a mare by Realist/Radetzky.

The popular Rhineland stallion Polydor is represented by a stunning bay mare, Poly Dance. She has it all. Superb gaits for dressage, super jumping talent, appears to have a steady character, and great blood lines for breeding (who says that you can’t buy good broodmare prospects in Europe). Polydor on his sire’s side carries the blood of the Thoroughbred, Pluchino, and the Hannoverian, Duellant and on his dam’s side goes back to Fruhsport and Grunschnabel. Poly Dance is out of a mare by Pilot and her dam was out of a mare by Dialekt with Paradox blood also in the mare line.

Altogether there are 11 well bred young mares, 11 geldings and three stallions including the pony stallion. The pony stallion is like a big warmblood with big movement and carriage but in pony size, not exactly a kids pet but certainly interesting from a breeding standpoint or for a small person with dressage ambition. The six year olds were shown under saddle easily jumping a combination that exceeded 5 feet. All in all the collection is certainly worth looking at and it will be interesting to find out what kind of prices they bring and how many of them will be sold during the week. This is not an auction but rather a collection brought together to be seen in one place with the possibility of trying the horses, having the x-rays examined by ones own veterinarian, and time to discuss the history of the horses with the owners/breeders.

I do hope that they will publish the results of the sales as they occur.