3 Drool-Worthy Horses You Can Buy at the Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale

The countdown has officially begun for the highly anticipated Goresbridge Go For Gold select event horse sale, which will take place Nov. 12-13 at Barnadown in Co. Wexford, Ireland. Run by Ireland’s premier sport horse sales company, the Go For Gold sale has a stalwart reputation for sourcing top eventing prospects.

Numerous Goresbridge Go for Gold graduates have gone on to successfully compete at the upper levels in the U.S. and Canada. You can browse a full list of the top graduates and their achievements here. Three Go For Gold graduates achieved top 10 results at CCI4* events this year, including a very familiar face to U.S. eventing enthusiasts.

Buck Davidson and Copper Beach at Kentucky 2018. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Buck Davidson’s longtime partner Copper Beach finished 10th at Kentucky CCI4* this year — his third CCI4* completion. Purchased through the Go For Gold sale in 2011, Copper Beach won his first international the following year at Bromont CCI*. Two years later he won the Jersey Fresh CCI3*. He has won six internationals in all to date, including the Rebecca Farm CCI3* in 2016 and Plantation Field CIC3* in 2017.

Oliver Townend and Cooley SRS at Badminton 2018. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.

Cooley SRS, another graduate of the 2011 Go For Gold sale, finished second at Badminton CCI4* with Oliver Townend this year, as well as 12th at Burghley CCI4* last month. He also won Ballindenisk CCI3* in 2015 and represented Great Britain at the 2017 European Championships at Strzegom.

Ciaran Glynn and November Night at Burghley 2018. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Ciaran Glynn’s lovely mare November Night came through the Go For Gold sale in 2010. After knocking on the door of a top result at CCI4* level in past performances at Badminton and Pau, she delivered an impressive top-15 finish in her Burghley debut this year.

Numerous other three-star winners and four-star performers have been sourced through the Go For Gold sale — it truly has become synonymous with excellence. This year’s lineup features 60 top young horses carefully chosen on pedigree, performance and potential to excel in eventing.

The preview videos for this year’s sale horses are now available to view on the Go For Gold website, and three in particular caught our eye.

Boleybawn Freedom, a 5-year-old gelding (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet X Boleybawn Corbel, by Courage II) is unbeaten in his two career starts with Sophie Richards. He won the EI90 at Grove in June on his dressage score of 22.0, as well as the 5-year-old Young Event Horse class at Kilguilkey House. Check out his game attitude for cross country in the video above — ears pricked and loving it!

Emerald Emoe, a 4-year-old mare (Orestus X Miss Lola C, by Touchdown), was crowned this year’s Dublin Young Event Horse Champion with Ita McDermott. You have to watch the video of her popping around the show jumping course in the video above — scope for days!

Stonehaven Penhills Cobra, a 5-year-old gelding (Cobra X Karla, by Guidam), received the highest jumping score — 37.5 out of a possible 40 points — at this year’s Burghley Young Event Horse Finals. He placed third out of 35 horses with Bernie Wharfe. (Click here to view a full breakdown of results.) You absolutely have to watch his power over fences in the video above.

Those are just a few of the horses to check out from this year’s sale. There are three 6-year-olds, seven 5-year-olds, 21 4-year-olds and 29 3-year-olds. You can view preview videos of all 60 horses available at the 2018 Goresbridge Go For Gold sale here.

The sale takes place at Barnadown in Co. Wexford and at the Amber Springs Hotel, which is about an hour south of Dublin. Lots 1-36 will be shown on the flat, over show jumps and on cross country on Monday, Nov. 12. Lots 36-65 will be free jumped on Tuesday, Nov. 13.

There will also be the opportunity to trial the ridden horses at Barnadown, both on the flat and over fences. All lots are sold with a veterinary certificate and a set of X-rays. The auction and gala dinner will take place at the Amber Springs Hotel on the evening of Tuesday. Nov. 13.

Whether you are shopping for a top eventing prospect, want to experience a top auction firsthand or simply want an excuse to take a trip to Ireland, the Goresbridge Go For Gold sale has so much to offer. Visit the Goresbridge Go For Gold sale website for much more information. Go Eventing.