Four of the nation’s most respected dressage breed show judges will select the sporthorses to be sold at the innovative Pacific Sporthorse Selection Auction,  debuting  Oct. 20, at Christiane Noelting Dressage Center in Vacaville, Calif.

At assigned venues throughout California, Lilo Fore, Hilda Gurney, Melissa Creswick and William Solyntjes will inspect horses whose owners from across the country are hoping to participate in the auction. Prospects will include proven dressage horses, horses recently started under saddle and foals.

“Our vision is to bring the highest quality horses to a large audience of buyers looking for top notch horses” says Christian Hartung, manager of Sporthorse-Online, LLC, organizer of the Pacific Sporthorse Selection (PSS) Auction.

As an added attraction, all selected horses will be examined in a pre-auction veterinary check (including x-rays) which will be available for review to prospective buyers and their veterinarians.

While this idea is new to the United States, it compares to the European auction tradition of presenting horses selected by discriminating experts collectively in one location. For example, Hanover, Germany, each year holds eight auctions at which more than 1000 sport horses, foals, brood mares and stallions sold.

“Buyers won’t need to travel around the region to find the best and sellers benefit from a gathering of motivated buyers,” says Christian. “Breeders and sellers will be marketing their horses in the best possible way: their horses will be prepared prior to the auction by professional trainers; they will be professionally videoed, photographed and marketed through web sites, publications, social media, and at equine events.”

Prospective auction horses will be evaluated during June and July. Winners arrive in mid-September at the Christiane Noelting Dressage Center for training. They will be available for test rides starting Oct. 5.

The excitement will build with the Dressage Collection presentations on Oct. 15 and 19, followed by Gala Event the night before the Oct. 20 auction.

The festive atmosphere at the dressage center will span throughout the day with educational events, vendors and the final presentation of the Dressage Collection. The Auction begins at 3 p.m. followed by a celebration party.

Sellers interested in participating in the auction should visit the website www.sporthorse-selection.com or contact Christian Hartung at 707-454-6314 or Christiane Noelting at 707-761-9031