With Tatura turning on a beautifully sunny and warm weekend, the auction was run as professionally as ever and ran well to time. Horses were available for inspection on the Saturday and given a run through in the arena with the dual benefit of giving the horses a chance to become a little more familiar with the environment (many of them never having been off the farms on which they were bred) and also the chance for prospective buyers to inspect them. Several buyers took advantage of the chance of riding their chosen mounts enabling them to participate as phone bidders when unable to come back the next day. There were a record number of phone bidders, several of whom were the successful bidder, and the process ran smoothly. There is a lot to be recommended for pre-registration and this process when

distance and conflicting engagements occurs. One successful buyer was at a competition at the time of the auction!

 

A BBQ lunch was available for purchase on the Sunday accompanied by light beer, wine and soft drinks making for a festive and relaxed atmosphere. Delicious coffees and iced varieties were supplied by Café 2 U, which were greatly enjoyed with the warmer weather.

 

While the crowd was a little thinner than at Isle of Wight’s Annual Elite Young stock Auction, held in May each year, there was still some spirited bidding with most interest being for young horses just broken in.  Prices ranged from $6,000.00 to $15,000.00 with a couple of horses selling for $10,000.00.

 

As always, the horses presented by Isle of Wight Farm and their associates are honest examples of good quality horses that have great futures ahead of them. All new owners are delighted with their purchases, many of them having come with a specific horse in mind to buy. Full results are not yet available for publication as there are still a number of horses under negotiation following on from the auction.

 

Special thanks must go to all of team Isle of Wight without whom these auctions would not be possible. Cath Basile and family of JC Farm are the lynchpin of these auctions and are ably assisted by the Auction Director Kirsty Moody and Aislinn O’Neil who operates as our stable manager once the horses arrive.

 

Jazz and Debbie Turco and Fiona McKenzie also need special thanks as does Fleur Murris, one of our overseas workers who keeps coming back to assist – you are welcome at any time Fleur! From our spotters during the auction to our able stitches who with needle and thread, put up the calico barriers – the auction could not be held without you so thank you. Our outside vendors this year also provided valuable assistance with all of them being present from the time their horses arrived to the completion of the auction and who cheerfully threw their lot in to help out. Again, our very special and most sincere thanks.

 

Isle of Wight plan to host another Performance Horse and Broodmare Auction in 2012 which will be preceded by their Annual Elite Young Stock Auction which is held in May. Check out the Isle of Wight website for further details and also their ‘out and about’ section where you can keep abreast of what Isle of Wight horses are doing in the competition arena.