Hmph I just edited Formally to Formerly but it vanished like an HH Azur embryo off of Horsetelex. (There were two, now there are none, but a C. Obolensky foal is in this auction).
These auctions are not the last resort type and she will sell for a very high price. High end auctions are extremely commonplace for sport horses in Europe.
No one buying at these auctions will spend that amount of money for her to not be cared for correctly and many Olympic horses have through auctions at some point in their lives.
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I can’t think of a higher profile horse going through an auction at the end of her career. When they are 7-10, sure. The one that really blew my gourd was when they auctioned FERRO’S MOTHER at the age of 27. FFS!
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Why are you so convinced this horse will end up in a bad place via auction vs a private sale? There is a risk with selling a horse in general, no matter what the case. Many of these horses sell at higher prices via auction vs through private sale.
Also not trying to be that person, but you are mentioning discomfort for ICIS or embryo transfer. This horse was a top level showjumper for years, I can guarantee you that she experienced quite a bit of discomfort over that time frame from lack of turnout, ability to be a “horse”, stress from traveling, etc. equine welfare is extremely fine lined at that level but being a broodmare is somehow an issue?
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Foal mill? Hardly. Yes, the new owner may try to do some embryo flushing, maybe some ICSI (but that’s pretty darn $$ still and still not entirely reliable). Embryo flushing is hardly the worst thing this mare has done, and given the cost of each time you flush, an owner who’s thinking ahead (after all, she’s 20, she may not be fertile for too many more years) would do due diligence to get a few embryos as a time. That’s far, far less stress on the mare than gestating for 11 months (or 12) and then nursing for 6
Embryo flushes are done alllll the time these days, sometimes to keep a mare in competition, sometimes because the mare has proven she can’t carry a foal to term. Why is ET just an issue with this mare? Because she’s 20?
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This always rings out to me. I was in KY for this WEG. And was really saddened and disappointed (thought nor surprised) to read about Seldana Di Campalto. It is old news, but it is relevant.
Philippe Le Jeune’s article about Seldana Di Campalto - Hunter/Jumper - Chronicle Forums
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I don’t know anything about this auction but to say a horse selling for a high price will be fine is looking at horse transactions through rose colored glasses. We’ve all heard or read about a famous horse ending up in a tragic setting. Million dollar racehorses sent to the slaughterhouse. Hundred+ thousand dollar horses found at low end auctions.
No need to belittle someone worrying about an older mare being sold instead of given a good retirement. Any horse, any where can end up in a bad spot.
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Right. I’m not trying to belittle the OP and I’m sorry if it comes across that way.
My point is that this mare is in a high end auction where she will be undoubtedly sold for a lot of money. Horses don’t get bought for $1M in an auction by the slaughterhouse.
Like you say, any horse,anywhere can end up in a bad spot. My point is that this auction doesn’t increase her risk of ending up in a bad spot anymore than anything else. A privately arranged “good home” has the same risks.
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Slight tangent, but does anyone happen to know if HH Azur has actually carried any foals? Or have they just been getting embryos from her?
This isn’t like the low-end Bowie auctions though, where high-end horses have slipped through the cracks and are at clear risk. This is the equivalent of sending a good broodmare through Keeneland’s Breeding Stock sale–no one is there buying for shipment to slaughter.
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No direct knowledge but two embryos were auctioned off last year. The foal that is up for sale in this auction appears in the video with a surrogate mother. I fear that the two embryos did not make it since they both have been unlisted from Horsetelex. Azur herself I believe is safe and sound at Ecurie Mathy in Belgium.
I appreciate your response. I understand this is a high end auction, but there are several horses I’ve heard of that were sold for big money, no one heard from them for quite awhile and then it’s discovered they came to a bad end. The horses I’m thinking of are thoroughbreds, but I imagine the same could happen to any expensive horse. Spiraling down and falling through the cracks has happened to KY Derby winners.
You are way out of line. Auctions are normal in Europe and it’s to prevent the kind of fraud and secretiveness that is the problem in the USA with leasing and selling older horses through agents. This way everything is above board and public The high end horse world is very different in Europe and horses are all passport holders and trackable, the horses will be very well taken care of. If they were not everyone would know.
Consider that people may be buying older horses like the one you mention so they can legally clone them.
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That can happen with private sales also.
But it (generally) doesn’t happen in the pattern of auction directly to the home that gives them the bad end.
It (generally) is a situation where horse is bought for a lot of money, then the horse loses its value for whatever reason and it is rehomed with significantly less value. Then the cycle of “falling through the cracks” begins.
Sure, there are exceptions to everything.
The only way to truly keep your horses safe is to a) keep them forever, and b) make sure you outlive them. But neither of those are realistic for everyone. The next best thing is to make sure they have value. This mare is still valuable and is being sold through the appropriate venue to attract buyers. Yes, there’s a small chance she could end up with some 
head who pumps a few foals and embryos out of her and dumps her. But the same thing could happen if you sell her private party to vetted connections, too. How many times do we hear stories about people who thought they found the “perfect” home for a horse only for it to go awry?
Bottom line, a lot of money is going to be offered for her, which increases the likelihood she will be purchased by someone who values her and will take care of her accordingly. Is it a promise nothing bad will ever happen? No. But they could send her to my farm to live out her days as a pet… then I could be struck by lightning and someone sends all my horses to the local auction out of spite. Ya know?
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Y’all are mistaking me for someone who is unfamiliar with sporthorse auctions. Here’s my challenge: Come up with an auction listing for any horse with a comparable record. Don’t say Tobalio, he was a fire sale for … reasons. I have stood by quietly while the 46 or so foals out of Funky Music (bless her) were auctioned off one by one. I am keeping it zipped about the second wave of Heartbreakers since that cutie with the dodgy tendon was resurrected through ICSI. But this one just hits me where I live. She is extended family. I am somewhat surprised that Hof Thormalen does not seem to have breeding rights as they repossessed her entire mother line in a timely manner. And lastly there are specific places I would hate for her to go to that are prolific bidders at these gigs.
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I’m just confused as to why you think a high end auction is inherently more risky than any other option? Lifetime owner is no guarantee of a humane ethical end, private sale is certainly no guarantee. There are no guarantees. Shit happens even to those who have the best intentions, it’s foolish to pretend otherwise.
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A nice private sale would guarantee that she did not disappear into the bowels of Gestüt Lewitz or off the radar into China or if her owner happened to have a vindictive ex-husband, to the UAE. I want green fields, carefully chosen field companions, sentient caretakers, and future mates selected with knowledge not some sales algorithm. It’s not that hard. I am sure there is more to the story than we know for her to be in this situation.
Fair enough. I think we all want that for all horses.
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But what makes you feel this auction is worse than a private sale? Do you know how many nice WBs who were only ever sold privately, have ended up in rescue condition? True rescue, emaciated, uncared for.
It doesn’t guarantee that. There’s nothing that says a “nice private sale” with the best intentions, wouldn’t have to end up selling her and she disappears into the “bowels” of somewhere.
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