2009 FALL CLASSIC BREEDERS' SALE A SUCCESS
By Teresa van Bryce
The annual Fall Classic Breeders’ Sale, held on October 10 to 11 in Olds, Alberta, continued its successful 15 year run. High Selling Section A horse LaFair, consigned by Sharon and Bruce Telford, is heading to Quebec. This Landkoenig daughter, bred to Contendro, received the Sparks Innovations cooler for her new owners, Warmbloods P3R of St. Augustin-de-Desmaures. High Selling Section B horse Caius II received the Anivac cooler for his new owner Zara Schultz of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. This tall, talented jumper by Carthago Sun I was consigned by U.N.I.T. Enterprises of Bowden, Alberta.
New innovations at the sale, including streaming live video of the Saturday previews and online bidding, increased the sale participation and number of registered bidders. The volunteers of the Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association (CWHBA) ran a smooth, seamless sale despite a very cold weekend, and consignors brought an exceptional group of well bred and schooled horses. Overall, averages decreased over high averages in past years, a reflection of the global economic downturn. As a result, many buyers enjoyed exceptional bargains, but only 65 percent of the horses sold. It was notable that no horses were sold to the USA this year; however, horses did sell to Quebec, BC, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
The Sale’s Gala Evening had some very entertaining events including an all-breed precision driving competition, which was narrowly won by the Hackney pony Kathmorr Duchess driven by Morris Helmig. Many CWHBA year end awards were presented and a demonstration of the material class was given by Danya, four-year-old Material Champion and Déjà vu, three-year-old Material Champion, both mares bred and owned by D & R Ranching. The highlight of the evening was the Calidostar Young Horse Three Bars class for Warmbloods under seven years old, at seven rounds and a height of 1.70 meters. A tie for first was declared between six-year-old CWHBA stallion Whirlwind II, ridden by 18-year-old Laura Iversen and owned by MJ Farms, and six-year-old imported Swiss Warmblood mare Carolina, ridden by Beda Wachter and owned by Wachter Farms and Roy Graham. The class exemplified the quality of Warmblood breeding available in Alberta with five of the seven entries bred and raised in the province.
Photos: Nollind van Bryce