For the first time, the Fall Classic Breeders Sale broke the 1/2 million dollar mark in total sales. The 2007 gross of $582,450 was $200,000 higher than in 2006. For the first time, a sale horse is being exported to Europe. Blind Date, bred and owned by Touchstone Farms, was the high selling section B horse and is going to Switzerland with his delighted new owner Annina Madlaina Flisch. The high selling horse of the sale was Ushi, owned by Lori Stokowski. This beautiful mare not only showed great performance both under saddle and in the chute, but is also in foal to Contango. Ushi’s price of $51,000 is a new sale record. She is going to Spruce Grove with new owner Marie Morton. This was the first time the sale was available to on-line bidding with the internet bidders being second on several lots and Zurich selling for $20,500 to on-line bidder Donna Ferguson of Ontario.
The gala evening provided much enjoyment for consignors, buyers and sale staff alike. The Bauman/Kirschman Dressage Classic Invitational was won by Angie Gollie riding Windwalker. The CWHBA Driving Showcase Invitational was hotly contested, but the quick turns and direct route taken by Charm and Barbara Murphy won over the field. The Allied Seismic Young Horse 3 Bars Invitational was very competitive, and eventually won by Da Dude, owned and ridden by Jennifer Schmidt.
Les Burwash of the Horse Industry Section of Alberta Agriculture commented that the horses were of superior quality and very well turned out for the sale. “I knew that this would be a good sale when I looked at the strong pedigrees both top and bottomâ€, said Sale Chair Jennette Coote.
The sale sold 51 of the 66 consigned horses, 23 horses went out of province and out of country, with horses going to Texas, Missouri, Washington, Ontario, BC and all points in between.