Monday December 8, 2003

Poetin Sold for 2,5 Million Euro at 2003 P.S.I. Auction

There was a cutting edge atmosphere in the Artland Sporthotel indoor arena when Double Bundeschampion and World Champion Poetin entered the arena on a gregorian, mystical music. Poetin, one of the most unique sport horses of this past decade, was about to be sold at the 24th P.S.I. Auction in Ankum, Germany, and the entire dressage world came to a halt to witness the sale of this extraterrestrial dressage horses.

Auctioneer Uwe Heckmann kindly started the bidding at 20,000 € instead of the usual 10,000 €, but in an adrenaline rush the price for Poetin went up with bids of 100,000 €. The edge of 2 million was reached within two minutes and it still didn't stop, until an excentric, unknown Dutch couple set the price at 2,500,000 €. Auction master Uwe Heckmann spoke to the Germans and asked them if they wanted to let the horse go abroad or not. Nobody dared to move, not even breathe, and the hammer struck down at 2,5 million. Poetin's new owners are the Dutch Peter and Patty van der Zwam from breeding station de Keizershoeve in Kessel, The Netherlands. History had been made. Never before did a warmblood horse sell for such a big price at an auction. Lord Sinclair's record of 1,4 million was shattered to pieces.

While Poetin was the reason for a sell-out crowd in Ankum, many more people came to buy other top talented dressage and show jumping horses. The second most expensive dressage horse was Dreamcatcher, a licensed Oldenburg stallion who sold for 403,000 € to the Dutch Mireille Witlox. Third best catch was the delightful mare Golden Choice (Grand Cru x Westbury) who was sold to Tim and Susan Dutta from the United States.

Not the World Young Horse Show Jumping Champion Run DMC walked away with the top price for a jumper, but the Holsteiner Lord Luis (by Lasino). Lord Luis sold for 880,000 € to Luxembourg. Bundeschampionate winner El Paso moved to Gestut Famos for 800,000 €.

Text and Photo by Astrid Appels

Full coverage of the 2003 P.S.I. Auction at Eurodressage.com