So, I’m not sure I understand the issue here. It’s not like this is a low end auction with kill buyers, or even a mid end auction.
People can drop A LOT of money at auctions for high quality horses and the auction format is popular in Europe. I don’t think a private sale or an auction guarantees a “forever” home if that’s what the issue was?
Agreed 
I don’t see the problem. 
Any ideas why the objection?
I guess a bunch of elite riders complained…I was actually kind of surprised that Dong Seun Kim is selling the horses. I thought he was interested in going to the Olympics. Maybe he could not get out of them what he hoped. I used to see him riding in shows in New England for many years.
My understanding is that he has gotten married and been called back to run the business that was funding all this. If you’ve got a bunch of potential Olympic mounts they’re worth a lot more before the transfer date than they are after.
My sense is the reason given for the objection by these top trainers & agents & uber wealthy shoppers/sponsors is not the REAL reason they’re mad about it.
They’re saying it’s because the auction process is unfair to the horses. Too many unknown riders trying them. Uncertainty about where such nice horses could end up. Etc.
But it’s also a threat to their established pricing structures. And their control of the market at the highest end.
Usually in an auction it’s one person riding the horse in front of the bidders or in a video and nobody else gets to ride. I’d think that a private sale would have more chances of strangers riding the horse, and it’s not like you can go “do you promise to love this horse forever and ever” in a regular sale either.
It’s not like there won’t be a reserve, and whomever is spending top dollar is going to chuck the horse in a field with a moldy roundbale.
I imagine in an auction for this type of horse, probably being purchased with the funds from a backer, that they will want to ride the horse and decide if it could be a good partnership before parting with that kind of money.
I think that @Silverbridge probably has it right. Publicly announcing the sales prices for horses like this is the kind of transparency nobody has ever wanted at the very top of the market.
If you read the article Kittel said multiple riders trying the horse is his objection.
And In European auctions of this caliber many people try them in the week leading up to the sale date. It’s the norm. It might even be two weeks of trials for the famed PSI auction.
The horse has been for sale since July. He’s welcome to purchase him if he’s so worried about anyone else riding the horse.
Who owns the horse at the moment? Bohemia is in Kittel’s care only? He is meant to be exersize and caring only until he is sold? Where are the other horses?
I was under the impression that Kim owns them
in pure speculation if the horses have been on the market since July in a Pre-Olympics year, why has Kittle been able to make the match? Are K and his allies trying to delay the Q of another rider? Are they hiding some issue in the horses? Is the owner evading financial responsibilities? Is the owner in legal troubles again?
if there is no legal impediment to the auction route of sale, then good luck to the owner and the horses.
Thank you!
I’m curious about this too. They are lovely horses. Why are they still on the market?
The horses are owned by Sportpferde Galleria, which is Kim’s holding company in Europe. The company places horses in “external stabling and training” arrangements, according to their corporate filings.
In other words this reads like someone who has been paid to house and train an Olympic quality horse who is losing the ride. He showed the horse to a 75% in the special at Hernig 10/22.
Thanks for the explanation!
Sounds like Kittel is whining about losing the ride. If he cares so much let him put a syndicate together and buy the horse so he can keep the ride. The ruckus seems to have been motivated by his response to the auction.
Sheilah
He doesn’t need to get a syndicate together. He’s married to a bazillionaire. He could buy 20 Bohemians if he wanted. Its ridiculous.
Even easier then.
Sheilah
