Dressage stars shine at Equilibra
Fifty three-, four- and five-year-olds with the best dressage bloodlines have been selected for the prestigious Equilibra Auction
The Equilibra dressage challenge and auction takes place at Towerlands EC on Saturday, 24 November, with previews on the previous two days.
Doors open at 9.30am, with the first round of the Equilibra Challenge – the unique competition for four- and five-year-olds bought at the past two Equilibra auctions – starting at 11.30am and presided over by German judges Peter Holler and Peter Engel.
Last year’s winner Hannah Esberger returns for another attempt to take Britain’s richest dressage prize, as £6,000 goes to this year’s champion.
Hannah has two rides – Odin, last year’s highest-placed four-year-old, and Jackie Hyman’s attractive grey British Hanoverian, the four-year-old Half Moon Don Perignon.
There will be a strong challenge from last year’s record-priced High Fashion, ridden by his owner, Sarah Pidgley, while Dries Roefs, a previous winner, returns with the Dutch-bred gelding Pelithius. Another to look out for is Rico II, from Assouline Dressage.
Carl Hester, winner of the first challenge with Fantastic Elastic, is in with a chance of success again with Ovidius, while another favoured five-year-old contender will be Daniel Greenwood’s ride, Rhum.
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The auction starts at 7pm and 50 lots of three-, four- and five-year-old horses will go under the hammer.
Prospective bidders are spoilt for choice, with a wide selection of studbooks represented and an exciting selection of Danish, Dutch, German and British-bred horses by sires including Ferro, Jazz, Regazzoni, Ehrentusch, Donnerhall and Welt Hit II.
Michel and Mette Assouline, who have produced the top-priced lot at the past two sales, could make it three in a row. This time, they bring Way Of Life, a four-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Werther.
Timetable
Thursday 22 – Friday 23 November: 11am, presentation of auction horses; 12.30pm, trial rides by lot no.
Saturday 24: 9.30am, doors open; 11.30, Equilibra challenge first test; 2.15pm, Equilibra challenge freestyletests; 4.30, presentation of auction horses; 5.30, prize-giving; 7, display by Keystone Dimaggio followed by auction.
VIP table tickets, including meal cost £40 (without meal £20). Grandstand seats £12.
Contact Brightwells Auctioneers (tel: 01432 355300), or visit www.brightwells.com
