The First Million Dollar Pony Auction: 2008 American Hunter Pony Classic Sets New Records
RELEASE: September 4, 2008
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Tim Jennings
The 2008 American Hunter Pony Classic established international records in several major categories. “This was a great auction. The bidding was competitive right from beginning of the sale,” said Tim Jennings, Marketing Director of Professional Auction Services, Inc. “The catalog featured the best group of ponies the sale has ever offered.”
New world records were set for the average sale price at $16,317 and gross sales at $1,143,000, both 21% increases from 2007. Other records were set for average price for the top ten ponies sold at $44,300; highest-priced two-year-old pony sold at auction at $37,500; the second highest-priced three-year-old pony sold at auction at $42,000; and the highest-priced three-year-old pony filly sold at auction at $41,500. Ponies sold to buyers from 21 states and Canada.
Prices were strong from the beginning of the sale. Hip number 5 was the high-selling pony. The five-year-old medium gelding Blue Cowboy garnered the top price of $70,000 from Elizabeth Mandarino for Leading Seller Olivia Golden’s Double G Stables, LLC. Emma Mandarino will show Blue Cowboy in the green division next year. Emma showed the champion small pony at the 2007 Pony Finals. The record-setting high-selling two-year-old was Falling Moon Celebration, a crossbred gelding by *Telynau Royal Anthem. The filly was sold for $37,500 by Richard Taylor’s Venture Stable as agent to Cathy Couture of Florida. Falling Moon Celebration was grand champion and best young pony at the Devon Horse Show in 2007.
Topping the large pony ranks was Piece Of Rain, a Virginia Pony Breeders Association-registered gelded son of Leading Sire Blue Rain. Piece Of Rain had a very successful show career as a yearling and two year old. He brought the top price for a large pony of $42,000 from buyer Maura Thatcher of Utah. Piece Of Rain was sold by Jennifer Thompson as agent for Richard Strauss’ Vintage Ponies.
The highest price for a small pony came when Olivia Golden’s Hillcrest Blue Halo fetched a price of $42,000 from Bill Schaubs’ Florida-based Over The Hill Farm.
Also setting a new auction record for the highest-selling three-year-old pony filly was Farmore Crown Jewel, a Welsh filly by *Telynau Royal Charter. The sale’s high-selling mare was coming off of a third-place finish in the three-year-old fillies class at the 2008 Devon Horse Show. She was sold by Emily Anne Belin as agent for Virginia Banks, Editor of
The Equine Marketer magazine. Farmore Crown Jewel was purchased by Susan Price of South Carolina.
A record nine ponies sold for $40,000 or more at the 2008 sale, besting the previous record of three set at three of the last four sales. Twenty-two ponies were sold for $20,000 or more, crushing the previous high of 13 reached in 2007 and 2004.
Two social functions highlighted the sale activities. The Preview of Sale ponies and “summer cookout,” held Tuesday, was sponsored by
The Chronicle of the Horse. A dinner to benefit the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, held during the sale, was sponsored by Thora Pollak’s Beall Spring Farm and Richard Taylor’s Venture Stable. Other special event sponsors were Richard Taylor’s Venture Stable, Bill Schaub’s Over The Hill Farm, Maryland Saddlery, Suzanne Chambers’ and Rachel Agee’s
Harmony Ridge Stable, Paul and Cheryl Maye of Maye Show Ponies and Genie Akin’s Curtiswood Farm.
The American Hunter Pony Classic was produced by Professional Auction Services, Inc., of Berryville, VA. The auction firm was formed in 1978 and has produced over 265 auctions selling 50,000 horses and ponies for $175,000,000.
Sale Graduates Star at 2008 USEF Pony FInalsThe American Hunter Pony Classic continues to produce star performers at the USEF Pony Finals. Each year, Professional Auction Services, Inc., teams up with Pessoa Saddles and English Riding Supply to award new Pessoa saddles to the highest-placing graduates f