United States Eventing Association

Galway Downs to Host Elite Eventing Horse Auction During Event

Temecula, Calif., March 18 — Someday the winner of the Galway Downs International Horse Trials might come from the Elite Eventing Horse Auction, being held for the first time on March 26-28, at the same time as the competition.

Both the Galway Downs International Horse Trials and the Elite Eventing Horse Auction, featuring nine horses, ranging in price from $5,000 to $50,000, will take place at the Southern California Equestrian Center on Los Corralitos Road in Temecula.

"The most difficult part of buying a horse is the traveling you have to do. You could spend a fortune looking at horses around the state of California or around the country, so what we're trying to do is create a one-stop-shopping situation," said Wendy Wergeles, the organizer of the Elite Eventing Horse Auction, the first such event in the western United States. "Everyone can see the horses on our website, www.focusonsporthorses.com, and then they can see them live at Galway Downs."

All the horses—12 years old or younger, with a full set of leg X-rays—will be available for observation during the first presentation of horses on Thursday at 4 p.m. in the Galway Downs main arena. Each horse will perform in the ring for 10 minutes, while announcer Malcolm Hook describes the horse's age, pedigree, training and competitive experience. Auction representatives will be available on Thursday and Friday to help prospective buyers contact the sellers to further inspect and try the horses.

During the presentation of horses, sponsor Keyways Winery, based in Temecula, will offer a wine-tasting event for the prospective buyers and spectators.

The Elite Eventing Horse Auction will not be conducted as a live auction. Instead, prospective buyers will submit bids on horses in which they're interested, which will be posted on a board at Galway Downs. Buyers will be able to modify their bids until Saturday afternoon, when the bids will close during festivities to celebrate the event. All horses with bids above the minimum set by their consignors will be sold at that point. A legal assistant will be available to help buyers and sellers complete their sales contract, and an equine insurance agent will help arrange insurance on the buyers' new purchases. Veterinarian Paul McLellan, of San Dieguito Equine Group in San Marcos, Calif., will be available throughout the weekend to examine the horses offered for sale.

The Elite Eventing Horse Auction will benefit Southern California Equestrian Sports, an organization created to help upper-level riders in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines achieve their competitive goals. President David Kuhlman will be on hand to answer questions about the organization during the presentation of horses on Thursday afternoon.

"It's kind of a natural for us to hold this auction during the Galway Downs International Horse Trials," said Wergeles. "People come from all over the western United States, Canada and Mexico for this event, so it just makes sense to do it here. Plus, I hope that the Elite Eventing Horse Auction will attract people from all the equestrian disciplines who live in Southern California."

More than a dozen generous sponsors provide prize money, prizes and other support to the Galway Downs International Horse Trials. The sponsors include: Succeed, Equine Insurance of California, Toklat Originals, Sonoma Saddle Shop, CWD Saddlery, USEA, American Wood Fibers, Custom Saddlery, SmartPak Equine, Doug Hannum, APF, and the clinicians and participants in Galway Downs' annual fund-raiser clinics.

General admission for the Galway Downs International Horse Trials is $8 in advance, $10 at the gate. Children under 12 are free with a paying adult. VIP tickets—which include seating in the ringside tent, lunch and a full selection of beverages—are also available for $55 per day in advance. For advance reservations, send an email to [email protected].

For more information on the Galway Downs International Horse Trials and the Elite Sport Horse Auction, visit www.galwaydowns.com or call 951-303-0405. To learn more about eventing, visit the U.S. Eventing Association's website (www.useventing.com).

For More Information:
Contact Press Officers John Strassburger & Heather Bailey
707-473-0991/[email protected]