Fire Fly, a 5-year-old sold at today's Boekelo KWPN auction for $32,000. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Event horse auctions don’t happen so much in the States but in Europe it’s definitely a thing. Have a glass of wine! Have another! Fall in love! Have one more glass of wine! Open your big mouth! Insert foot (and, more importantly, checkbook)! Boom. You’re the proud owner of a brand new future four-star horse. Maybe. And also you’re possibly in serious debt.
I’ve always wanted a KWPN stallion like this one. And by always, I mean since two glasses of wine ago. Pros: A steal at only 13,000 Euro. Sticking points: I don’t have 13,000 Euro. And also delivery not included. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Just outside in the main arena here at Boekelo while I was attempting to write my dressage wrap-up report, a KWPN event horse auction was taking place. Shiny dreamboat horses galloping round and round with people verbally throwing money at them, because why not. When in the Netherlands, amiright? One-stop shopping. “Why not” was my premise when I abandoned my laptop and went outside for some “investigative journalism.”
The good news: It’s easier to hold yourself back when you are broke.
Wouldn’t I look cute on this one? Photo by Leslie Wylie.
If you (or my husband) was worried there for a moment, don’t fret: All’s well that ends well (AKA horseless), because there were only three horses left, the announcer was speaking Dutch, and I was maybe one glass shy of a bad decision. Also, the no-money thing. (Note to self: Go home, ask for a 32,00 Euro raise.)
I did, however, thoroughly enjoy the proceedings. The top-priced horse, a 5-year-old by international Grand Prix show jumper Zavall VDL who hasn’t really evented but earned a 9.5 for his cross-country canter in a Young Event Horse class, went for a cool 32,000 Euro. Here’s the homestretch of that auction.
Go self control. Go Eventing.
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