By Thomas Bach Jensen / DWB
Photography: ridehesten.com
At the 2021 edition of the Danish Warmblood Elite Mare and Foal Show at Vilhelmsborg, the best young mares and foals from the regional shows gathered to compete for the coveted championship titles.
The saddle-graded mares (typically three or four years of age) that are selected for the Elite Show are awarded a breeder’s medal of bronze, silver, or gold, and this year the grading commission presented nine medals for the showjumping mares: one gold, two silver, and six bronze.
Meanwhile, the 35 selected dressage mares were awarded three gold medals, 15 silver, and 17 bronze, which meant that in the final battle to claim the title as best dressage mare of the year, three candidates were involved in the head-to-head challenge; two daughters of Revolution and one by Franklin.
The outright winner was the supreme Valerie B, a daughter of Revolution x Blue Hors Zack, who is the granddaughter of a former mare of the year. Valerie B was described as a very complete young mare with a large frame, but still a feminine type, and three very good and supple gaits. She was awarded the highest mark of 10 for her topline, trot, and canter.
The equivalent title for jumping mares was awarded to Vicky Ask (Todt Un Prince Ask x Larimar) who is another very complete mare whose qualities over the fences are backed up by a very strong performance pedigree. Vicky Ask, decorated with a breeder’s medal of gold, earned the top mark 10 for her canter and her jumping capacity.
Record-breaking DWB Elite Foal Auction
Clearly, prospective buyers in the arena as well as online bidders were attracted by the high quality of the collection for the DWB Elite Foal Auction at Vilhelmsborg where 49 dressage and jumping foals were offered for sale, and 43 sold for an average price of €18,674 – which set a new record for Danish Warmblood foal auctions.
Head of the DWB auction committee Ulrik Kristensen was thrilled with the outcome of the Elite Foal Auction: “Danish sport horses have achieved great popularity abroad which is the reason for the massive international attention the auction foals have received. We have had online bidders from many countries, with 21% of the sold foals being purchased by foreign buyers. We experienced a great flow between the arena and the internet, and the concept of hybrid auctions is an indisputable success.”.. To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
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