Farewell 2008 – See you again on 14th November 2009

All of the Top-Event horses from the 2008 collection who had a journey ahead of them - some of them to distant places, some to not so far away destinations - have arrived safely at their new owners. After a busy period during the past two months, a daily pattern of life can now begin.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who contributed to the success of the Top-Event-Horse-Auction. We’d especially like to mention all the riders, grooms and the many keen helpers behind the scenes. A huge thank you for their constant enthusiasm and commitment!

Also many thanks to our generous sponsors who kindly supported the auction team and the Top-Eventers Team in various ways before the auction began. We also appreciate the trust of the owners and breeders of the horses have placed with us, yet again … thank you!

We are pleased to announce that this year more than 75% of the auctioned horses came directly from breeders – this is something we are especially proud of. All in all, the positive feedback from clients and, of course, the success of previous auction horses shows that our concept is right and we’d like to emphasize to the breeders that this is definitely the path to take.

German Three Day Event horses set the pace: Ann-Kathrin Butt accompanied Andreas Dibowski, gold medal Olympic team member, to the Gala Evening. Frau Butt warmly received the recognition for the two gold medals won in Hong Kong on her husband’s behalf.

The extensive reporting in the media (well represented on the websites of www.4eventing.de and www.buschreiter.de) led to a huge following on our website. A great way for absent enthusiasts to track what was happening in the lead-up to the auction. Here also we’d like to express our thanks to everyone concerned. www.top-eventers.com was visited in the exciting phase just before and during the auction 10,000 times and the catalogue was downloaded 1,000 times. Perhaps this information isn’t that thrilling but it does go to reflect just how many people used modern technology to up-date themselves on our elite eventing horses and this adds to our improved service and satisfaction.

We will be informing you during the coming year about important dates and the sporting progress of our Top-Eventers. This will be reason enough to drop in and visit the website to keep yourself up to date!

The selection for the 2009 collection has already begun and the first potential candidates for the auction are with us in training and preparation for shows. Appointments to present your horse can be arranged at any time so please do not hesitate to contact us.

We would like to leave you with a few impressions of the Top-Event-Horse-Auction 2008 and hope to welcome you in Luhmühlen to the fifth year of the Top-Event-Horse-Auction on Saturday, 14th November 2009. Please make a note of this date in your diaries!  Until then, we would like to wish you good health and success for the coming year.

Best wishes, Elmar Lesch and Iris Schless
Top-Eventers GmbH

Freddy Buhr, member of the Top-Eventers Team, opened the Gala Evening.

In a small indoor cross-country show number, consisting of previous auction horses, Beeke Kaack riding Lost Money (Auction 2007) gained the best mark from judge Fritz von Blottnitz.

Ute Wedemeyer chauffeured Elmar Lesch and Iris Schless, with her son Leo, into the Kurt-Günter-Jagau indoor riding arena in Luhmühlen for the Gala Evening. Andreas Baumann, alias ‘Crillio’, entertained the spectators and introduced the guests of the evening.

Ann-Kathrin Butt represented her late husband and received warm congratulations upon the outstanding breeding performance for the Olympic success of FRH Butts Abraxxas and Euroridings Butts Leon in Hong Kong and other examples of success for event horses from the yard. Juliana Kaup and Charlotte Frenzel (Top-Eventers team) presented her with a coloured calendar Eventing 2009, sponsored by Horse and Rider.

There was a surprise gift of thanks for the training and good advice given during the season from the Top-Eventers team.

Ah ha … is it already Christmas …?  Always ready for a laugh – the riders and grooms!

Many hands make light work! Team spirit decorating … nearly ready, the auction can begin.  Everyone is seated and the atmosphere is sizzling!

“For the first time, for the second time and ……… sold”.  The well-known face of auctioneer Friedrich-Wilhelm Isernhagen, in his prime.