Münster: 43 dressage horses and ponies as well as six youngsters were up for sale on the final day of the Westphalian Auction Festival. The three-day OnLive auctions came to an end today. The reigning Bundeschampioness Senorita la Bonita changed hands for the top price of 550,000 euros. Another top priced was achieved by Valegra, who was sold for 360,000 euros.
Dressage horses took the centre stage this afternoon on the final day of the Westphalian Studbooks three-day auction festival. The lot of 40 dressage-orientated riding horses was completed by three strong-moving riding ponies and six unridden youngsters who still have a great career in the dressage arena ahead of them.
The OnLive auction got off to a brilliant start this afternoon. With the special head number 1001, a very special horse entered the Westphalian auction arena. Senorita la Bonita was crowned Bundeschampioness of three-year-old riding horses just a few weeks ago in Warendorf. On the final day there, the daughter of Sir Heinrich/Westernhagen received the ideal score of 10.0 for both trot and canter. Breeder and exhibitor Axel Windeler says of his Bundeschampioness: ‘As a young horse, Senorita la Bonita has the best qualities a horse can have! I wish her the necessary time, the best training and a careful development. She is a horse that we will certainly see again at the major championships.’ Excitement was in the air as the beautiful mare, decorated with the Bundeschampionat sash, entered the packed auction hall. Bids flew in online and on the phones. At 420,000 euros, one bidder entered online and secured a clear lead with a big move to 500,000 euros. In the end, Senorita la Bonita was knocked down to customers on the phone for 550,000 euros. In honour of the champion as well as her new owner and breeder, the audience rose to their feet and celebrated this championship horse of the future in the Westphalian Auction Hall.
With a hammer price of 360,000 euros, head number 4 Valegra achieved another fantastic top price. The daughter of Valverde/For Romance I already impressed at this year's Elite Show in Münster-Handorf. Here she was crowned second reserve champion. The mare, bred by ZG Welling GbR, Wietmarschen, descents from the direct dam line of the licensed stallion Fürst Samarant, who is based at the Beckmann stallion station in Wettringen. Under the saddle of Friederike Kampmeyer, the former premium stallion of the Westphalian main licensing is currently successful in advanced level dressage competitions. In 2021, her exhibitor acquired the mare at one of the Westphalian online foal auctions
Three riding ponies that make children's hearts beat faster were for sale in the dressage lot of this auction. All three found a new owner at an average price of 17,167 euros. The son of A kind of Magic/FS Champion de Luxe (breeder: Walter and Heidi Bergmann, Goch; exhibitor: Jill Mieleszko-Vekens, Jill Mieleszko-Vekens, Goch) with the characteristic name A kind of Champion was particularly popular. The five-year-old gelding had already achieved placings in tests for young horses. Just a few weeks ago, he placed in the final of the Bundeschampionat for five-year-old dressage ponies. He left Germany at the hammer price of 26,000 euros.
This afternoon, 32 riding horses changed hands for an average price of 51,313 euros. Customers invested an average of 17,167 euros in the three riding ponies. The five youngsters sold were worth an average of 19,800 euros to their new owners. Together with the show jumpers, 51 riding horses, twelve youngsters and two broodmares found new owners at the Westphalian OnLive Auctions this weekend. Together with yesterday's foal auction, the Westphalian Studbook thus generated a total turnover of 2.6 million euros during this three-day auction festival.
