After a successful debut in 2024, the Belgian Mare Auction now returns for a new chapter. Initiator Marco De Wilde is once again organizing the auction together with his father, Nico De Wilde, and is looking forward to this next edition. “We wanted to continue building on the strong start we made,” he explains. “This time we chose a different venue, closer to home, which makes transporting the mares more practical.” The setting will therefore be Loheky Stables in Knesselare, where breeders and sport enthusiasts will gather on January 17 for an evening featuring a live auction and the possibility to bid online as well.

What sets the Belgian Mare Auction apart is its live concept with a dedicated focus on broodmares. In total, 21 mares are included in the collection, complemented by a pony that will open the evening. According to De Wilde, the offering was deliberately curated to include horses you do not come across every day. “You want to bring something unique, mares that don’t appear on the market regularly. Those opportunities often disappear quickly. That’s why we purchased mares throughout the year with this auction in mind.”

Sport and genetic appeal

The pedigrees in the collection speak for themselves. One of the headliners is the ten-year-old 1.50m Grand Prix mare Plots Princess (Plot Blue), ridden and bred by Marcus Ehning. Her dam is none other than Noltes Kuchengirl, Ehning’s former top mare with an impressive résumé, including victory in the World Cup Final in Geneva and strong performances in Grand Prix and Nations Cup competitions. Plots Princess has built up her own sport record as well and competed at CHIO Aachen as an eight-year-old, where she also secured an eighth-place finish.

Ola Kala de Regor (Darco x Cento) is also expected to attract plenty of interest. This mare is a direct daughter of Centa de Muze, competed herself at 1.45m level, and has already produced promising foals that performed strongly on the market, such as Cergy LVP Z and The One Z.

Beyond individual sport results and success in the foal market, the auction also places strong emphasis on renowned damlines and close relations to international top horses. The collection includes, among others, the full sister of Olympic stallion Nevados S, a half-sister to Hardrock Z, and a half-sister to Uricas van de Kattevennen. There are also mares tracing back to famous names such as Candy (Spruce Meadows winner), as well as descendants of Prima Donna van ’t Paradijs and H&M Butterfly Flip.

Marco De Wilde underlines that the selection was intentionally built with both breadth and depth. “We are extremely proud to present this collection. Every mare comes with a story, and for true connoisseurs it will be an evening to genuinely enjoy.” The damlines also feature families that have shaped top-level sport for years, with references to Kashmir Van Schuttershof, Sapphire van ’t Merelsnest, Hortensia van de Leeuwerk, Pacino, Walnut de Muze, Carthina Z, and Itot du Château. “Ten mares have Olympic blood in the damline. That says enough about the quality and appeal of this collection.”

Practical information

The doors at Loheky Stables open on Saturday, January 17 at 7:00 PM. Visitors will have the opportunity to view the mares, enjoy live entertainment, and join the auction team for a drink. The auction itself is scheduled to start around 8:15 PM. Entry is free, and online bidding will also remain available.

More information can be found via www.belgianmareauction.com

Questions can be sent directly to info@belgianmareauction.com