Another group of horses from the bankrupt Eurocommerce stables are due to be sold through an online auction this weekend (9-12 May).
A similar auction of Eurocommerce’s assets took place last month, including Olympic 2012 silver medallist London, who sold for €8.6million (£7m). A further 9 horses that were not offered last time, and 2 who failed to sell, are now being sold in a separate arrangement.
The most notable lot is former Eurocommerce rider Gerco Schröder’s top ride New Orleans. Buyers bid €210,000 (£7m) for him last month, but he was not sold as the price was deemed too low.
London was bought by Glock Horse Performance Centre, which also supports dressage rider Edward Gal, so Gerco could keep the ride. It was announced last week that Gerco is now officially a “Glock rider”.
“The past few weeks have been so incredibly exciting — just the fact that Gaston and Kathrin Glock bought London and that I can continue to ride him,” said Gerco.
“I am unbelievably happy to be a part of the team, and for me this is a great honour.”
It has also emerged that Saudi showjumper Abdullah Al Sharbatly bought 3 horses — including Dutch showjumper Albert Voorn’s ride Tobalio — at the first sale.
The Saudi Olympic bronze medal-winning rider served a reduced 2-month ban in 2012 when 1 of his rides tested positive for steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone.
There was outrage from the equestrian community that 4 retired horses were included in the initial sale.
One of them — the 23-year-old Monaco, who competed at the 2008 Olympics — was bought by Teza Englefield from Essex. But 4 days later she was approached by Gerco and agreed to sell him back.
The other retired horses were sold to 3 different owners, but have now been bought back by the Schröders so they can enjoy their retirement together.
The provisional list of horses to be included in this second auction includes another retired showjumper— a 21-year-old stallion called Napels.
This story was originally published in 8 May 2014 issue of Horse & Hound.
