Personal Experience Buying @ Hanoverian Verband Auction in Germany

[Joanne]

[QUOTE=YankeeLawyer;3341386]
Just an FYI, the Mid-Atlantic Hano Breeders’ Sale was a REALLY nice event and was held 7 consecutive years and did not work. It was held in conjunction with WB Sale (open to all WBs, not just Hanoverians), that took place each year the following day. [/QUOTE]

Sounds like one would have to “piggyback” whatever type of presentation onto something major that will be attracting potential buyers. If I am already attending (something like the world cup, world equestrian games), I would most likely go take a look. Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t attend a sale fest, unless there was something I was specifically interested in. I did travel down to a Hanoverian auction in Charlottesville, VA, quite a few years back just because there was a 15.1 hand Hanoverian mare in it that I was interested in. The Zuthers were managing the farm; I can’t remember the name. I also went to the auction Jeff Marsh had in Ocala a year or so ago because Judy Yancey had a couple of nice fillies in it, and I went to the Highlife Farm auction also a few years ago.

[Gucci_Cowgirl]

YL you have a pm

[talloaks]

professional videographer

We have a professional videographer planned for our inspection at Chestnut Lawn Farm this Sept 21. Haven’t used these people before but their samples were great. Their info is on the “inspections” section of my website if anyone is interested in more info from them.

YL, you are stretching my memory but I don’t recall which warmblood sale open to all registries there was before any of the MAHB sales fests, help??

[siegi_b]

I remember the Sales Fest at Hedgeland where there were Hanoverians (MAHB) the first day and other registries the next (because I was sort of involved in the planning of it). A friend of mine bought a jumping-bred Dutch filly that Windsor Farm presented… It happened probably about 4-5 years ago?

[YankeeLawyer]

[QUOTE=Ajierene;3341450]
I see what you are saying, but Hanovarian Sales in Europe are not only for people looking to ‘turn a profit’ with the horse - as in they are not going to be paying someone else to ride them and take them to money making competitions. [/QUOTE]

I could go into 50 ways why the European sales work for reasons that do not apply here, including the fact that they pour money into the equestrian disciplines there, there are real opportunities for corporate sponsorships, and that in some EU countries it is second only to football (soccer) as the most popular sport. The people buying are a relatively elite group hailing from multiple countries, not 3 counties. And they don’t have to overcome the stigma associated with auctions here.

Anyway, as I said before, I am not trying to rain on anyone’s parade, and all ideas are welcome – we are really just brainstorming here – so please don’t feel as though I was waving you off; I am not. More than anything I am trying to point out some of the problems so people can take some of the good ideas, like yours, and develop them so they will work next time around : )

[YankeeLawyer]

[QUOTE=talloaks;3341524]
We have a professional videographer planned for our inspection at Chestnut Lawn Farm this Sept 21. Haven’t used these people before but there samples were great. There info in on the “inspections” section of my website if anyone is interested in more info from them.

YL, you are stretching my memory but I don’t recall which warmblood sale open to all registries there was before any of the MAHB sales fests, help??[/QUOTE]

Thanks Talloaks for the tip re the videographer. Those are always good to have.

The sale I was referring to was held in conjunction with the MAHB Sale; it was held on the following day (Viewing of all horses on a Friday; MAHB Sale Saturday; all WBs Sunday). There were some nice horses there, but really sadly not that many buyers attended. I thought it was a great event, personally. I am not sure how widely it was publicized in advance; I found out about it from this BB at the time and I recall they had info on each horse on the MAHB website, with individual sale pages for each one and price categories.

[YankeeLawyer]

[QUOTE=siegi b.;3341620]
I remember the Sales Fest at Hedgeland where there were Hanoverians (MAHB) the first day and other registries the next (because I was sort of involved in the planning of it). A friend of mine bought a jumping-bred Dutch filly that Windsor Farm presented… It happened probably about 4-5 years ago?[/QUOTE]

It will be 4 years this fall since the last one… I recall because I started at my DC firm the same week and I was too embarrassed to ask to take that Friday off to watch the preview of the sale horses. I did attend Saturday and Sunday presentations, though.

[not_again]

The Hanoverian Auctions seem to gross @1.3 million Euros each auction… Their business plan seems to provide a steady return for members. How can we do that over here?

[Dune]

This has really morphed from the original topic, might I kindly suggest (although I notice someone already did and was ignored) that the US breeders start your OWN thread, take it to PM’s or email. I actually have an idea that a breeder out my way used and thought it brilliant but I don’t want to further this thread along those lines because it seems rude. I’m happy to share it on another thread. Again, OP, great article!..look what you’ve started!!! :yes:

[talloaks]

Well Dune, looks like you are a thread killer!!:lol:

[YankeeLawyer]

[QUOTE=not again;3341725]
The Hanoverian Auctions seem to gross @1.3 million Euros each auction… Their business plan seems to provide a steady return for members. How can we do that over here?[/QUOTE]

That is the million dollar question

[Dune]

@talloaks;3342413

Well Dune, looks like you are a thread killer!!:lol:

Well, I’ve been called worse! :winkgrin::lol: Hey, since I’m a “glass is half full” kinda gal, I think I’m a thread starter!! :yes:

[Ajierene]

[QUOTE=not again;3341725]
The Hanoverian Auctions seem to gross @1.3 million Euros each auction… Their business plan seems to provide a steady return for members. How can we do that over here?[/QUOTE]

It probably has a lot to do with why the Thoroughbred sales do so well. Popular sport, popular breed/type, well established.

The European business plan would not work in the US because it is a different culture. Looking into the business plan and how it works in that culture would be helpful to understand what kind of business plan would be useful in the US, with the US culture, but the same plan will not work.

Like I said before - it takes time and research - understanding of the market and how to advertise for a goal. Also patient to wait for the sales to really take hold.

YankeeLawyer mentioned some opinions on the reasons the European Sales do so well - more popularity in the sport, more chances for endorsements, etc. The US does not have that, so they need to look at other reasons a sale would work, such as convenience for buyers and uniformity in video and photograph quality, etc.

Personally, I think a sale could work, if the breeders were patient enough - the breeders/sellers have to be patient enough to allow the sales to take hold and be willing to invest money to understand the market and how to advertise for the sales. In the long run, it could be very lucrative, in the short run it will not be.

[patch_work_farm]

I guess I don’t get the idea of why the US breeders should start another thread since this has moved into brainstorming of how we could get auctions or sales to work here in the states? Please let me know what I am missing.

The MAHB sale was advertised in many different magazines COTH for one, along with several others, it was highlighted on many different web sites (AHS, MAHB, each of our individual sites, COTH) and careful consideration was put into when it should happen (couldn’t be in the spring-too many of us are foaling/breeding) then it was thought summer would be too hot and fall seemed to work because anyone interested in a foal could take it then upon weaning. These were held over Columbus Day weekend for travel reasons, it was thought that a long weekend for those that got the holiday off for work could better arrange their travel plans. Countless hours were spent trying to figure out how to get buyers there, contacting trainers and clients who had previously bought any horses from all of us and still very little turn out.

I have several theories on why this is not working here:

1. It is still thought that if you buy and import, the quality is better (no flames here, I have bought/imported MANY of my horses)
2. Many people think we are saving our best and selling our lesser quality horses (ah, hello, you don’t think they do that over the pond??)
3. We don’t have state funded riders/events, etc.
4. Pricing (after importing mine, I can tell you-the bargains are no longer bargains with the cost of importation these days)
5. It takes a lot to coordinate a trip, but whenever people do, they say “wow, I had no idea how many of you are so close to each other, this was much easier than I thought it would be to see so many horses even in one day”. So is this laziness or just ignorance on a geographical scale? Just here in Northern VA/Md. you can cover at minimum 10 farms that include at least half of the largest breeding farms on the east coast in one weekend. All of us work together to encourage people to come and all of us know that people/horses pick each other so there is no use getting upset if we don’t sell a specific horse and someone else does.

It is easy to sit on the sidelines and try to guess about why these don’t work but unless you have picked and picked and picked at ideas, suggestions, etc. and been in the midst of trying to get participation it is very difficult to pin point the real reasons that people do not attend these types of events.

I have also put several horses into Jeff Marsh’s auctions and to say the results are disappointing is an understatement. I continue to attend his sales and am constantly amazed at the lack of participation and the amount of no sales that go through the day. It is my opinion that people do not want to pay a reasonable amount for horses that go into these auctions. I would imagine it will only get harder to sell them at fair amounts as the economy continues to tank and gas prices continue to go up. I currently have 6 horses for sale right now and am not sure what to do to motivate buyers either, I would love to participate in some kind of sale but I won’t do it again unless I know people will be there to even look at my horses, it take so much preparation, time and effort.

[Joanne]

The US breeders should start another thread since this has moved into brainstorming of how we could get auctions or sales to work here in the states.

[slc2]

i agree about jeff moore’s auctions, i don’t know why there are so many no sales but there are.

can i ask a question? how many no sales are there in european auctions? i think there are some there, just not as many.

in a european style auction at chestnut lawn of what was supposed to be very high quality horses, there was all sorts of shenanigans going on, even putting horses in the auction that were already sold, and putting fake bidders in the audience to drum up some fervor. isn’t that awful common over in europe?

[Fairview_Horse_Cente]

This thread, similar discussion, has been going on in Off Course (I just found it). http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=154653

[Dune]

@patch work farm;3345675

I guess I don’t get the idea of why the US breeders should start another thread since this has moved into brainstorming of how we could get auctions or sales to work here in the states? Please let me know what I am missing.

See below.

[quote=Joanne;3345701]The US breeders should start another thread since this has moved into brainstorming of how we could get auctions or sales to work here in the states.

Bingo!!! :yes:

[quote=Fairview Horse Center;3345734]This thread, similar discussion, has been going on in Off Course (I just found it). http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=154653

Thanks, Darlyn!

[/quote]
l

[talloaks]

Perhaps the opposition to the way this thread has evolved is a sign why US horse riders don’t buy in the US but prefer to go to Europe, do you think?:yes:

[YankeeLawyer]

[QUOTE=talloaks;3346099]
Perhaps the opposition to the way this thread has evolved is a sign why US horse riders don’t buy in the US but prefer to go to Europe, do you think?:yes:[/QUOTE]

No, it’s because some posters’ snarky remarks were ignored. So now they have declared the thread over. As if no threads ever evolve from the main topic on the dressage forum.

Dune, if you do not want to participate in the discussion, no one is forcing you to do so.