The 30th Annual Canadian Warmblood Fall Classic Breeders' Sale held October 18-21, 2024 was a record-breaking sale. With a gross dollar value of over $730,000 CAD it surpassed previous sales by a wide margin. Averages were up in every category, and of the 29 horses sold, eight went to the United States where the strong dollar gave them an effective 30% discount. Sixteen went to buyers outside of Alberta confirming the wide following that the sale has achieved over the years. 

The online sale kicked off with a gala evening at the Royal West hosted by Rocky Mountain Show Jumping in Calgary on the Calgary Stampede Ground where the CWHBA Alberta Chapter sponsored the $10,000 Canadian Warmblood Jumper Grand Prix Class. Attended by members, past consigners and organizers, the class was appropriately won by previous Canadian Warmblood Auction sale graduate Havana and her rider Kassidy Keith. 

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Matcha FF. Photo: CWHBA

Feedback from this years’ sale has been tremendous both from buyers and consigners. First time US buyer Linda Sferra enthusiastically reported that she “found the process easy and seamless.” She especially appreciated the 10-day free BFL insurance and boarding that is included for the successful bidders following the sale. Adding that she “bid with confidence due to the support and information she received from the organizers.” Linda bought the high-selling weanling, Unique VF (Diktator Van De Boslandhoeve x Rubens Du Ri D’Asse D’96) consigned by Ellicia Edgar of Valleyfield Farm, choosing to purchase in Canada rather than go to Europe, to avoid the added expense and stress on young horses. An active competitor who develops her own horses, Linda will be aiming this horse for the young horse series at Thunderbird in British Columbia.

Her purchase is evidence that buyers are becoming more knowledgeable about performance pedigrees. Canadian-bred horses with a strong performance pedigree are getting appropriate attention. Consequently, the average weanling price was over $17,000, with a range from $10,000 to $31,000. Prospects aged three to six took the top three spots at $54,500, $48,000, and $47,000 respectively. Carlos (Un Diamant des Forets x Quintero), a three-year-old jumper prospect, was top seller bred by Eventyre Farms Ltd. He was followed closely by another three-year-old prospect Fasola du Rouet sired by Balounito and bred by Patricia Dartnell. Top performance horse was Quidam’s Charmeur (Quidam Blue x Comic) bred by Ute and Gerrit Brinkmann of Equitop Farm. Matcha FF (Lestat OLD x Baltic VDL) was the high selling two-year-old at $45,000 bred by Heather Campbell for Fable Farm Inc. 

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Fasola du Rouet. Photo: CWHBA 

In all, eight horses exceeded the $30,000 mark, which is an indicator of the strong North American market. The high quality of all Canadian horses is reflected in the sale average price of over $25,000 and all but one of the horses that sold were in the five figures. 

Rod Jack, a first-time consigner, has come full circle. He started in Warmbloods by purchasing at a previous Canadian Warmblood Fall Classic Sale. Grateful for the communication and help by the sale organizers, he said “my initial motivation for consigning to the 30th anniversary sale was for the exposure and the advertising for my breeding program. Selling my first horse so well was a bonus.” 

All this success happened despite a major glitch on the first night due to website volume, prompting the sale to be split over two evenings. On the original final day of the sale, the Internet server went down, and the closing bidding had to be postponed by 24 hours. Once back online however, the sale proceeded without any further problems. 

A big thank you to the sale admin team, Chair Katrina van den Bosch, Sabrina Gillespie, Kailey Parkin, Lorrie Jamieson and Gavin Pearson for an exceptional sale. Thirty years on it looks like the Alberta Chapter of the CWHBA can look forward to another 30 years of bringing buyers and breeders together for the Canadian Warmblood Fall Classic Breeders’ Sale Breeders’ Sale. 

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Main Photo: Carlos. Credit: CWHBA