Ashford Z is by Againx Du Seigneur Z and out of Cavalia (Ultimo x Niveau) who was very successful up to 1.60 level with Marlon Zanotelli.

These days, online auctions are nothing new – but there is a special treat coming up in the beginning of July for anyone interested in breeding and sport. “I don’t think anything like this has happened before,” Tom Lemmens from Zangersheide says to World of Showjumping about the upcoming Z Online Auction. “There are many online auctions, but a group of horses like this is unique!”

From July 1^st until July 4^th, a group totalling 23 horses will be auctioned off to new homes. The group consists of breeding mares, foals and a few one- and two-year-old youngsters. They all have two things in common: All are of the highest quality, and they all belong to Enda Carroll who runs the renowned Ashford Farm in Belgium.

“At Zangersheide we started with online auctions about four years ago,” Lemmens explains. “First we included some foals, embryos, some breeding mares and few young horses in our auctions. We see that the equestrian community is asking for really good quality for their breeding – the best mares and the best stallions. When Enda told us about his collection, we were of course interested in a partnership,” Tom says. “At Zangersheide we are really excited to offer this group of horses to our breeders, because we really believe that a collection like this is hard to find! We have a great group with the very best mares; for any breeder who wants to start in breeding, any of these mares will be a good start – they all have a successful sport career up to 1.60m level. Earlier on, many only looked at the sires but now we see more and more how important a good mare is.”

“It is all genetics and it is actually pretty simple: You should start with the best material. I think that this group is a gift from Enda to anyone interested in breeding!” Lemmens adds.

Ode de Roches (First de Launay x Tu viens Dorval), has jumped successfully at 1.60 level with Marlon Zanotelli. The lovely mare is in-foal to Aganix du Seigneur Z, and will be auctioned together with her colt by Comme Il Faut.

Enda Carroll is the young master mind behind the very successful competition and dealing stable Ashford Farm in Belgium. “Over the last years I bought a few good foals, and I bred with some of our good mares that came back to us for retirement after a successful sport career,” Enda tells. “It multiplied quickly, and in a short time we ended up having quite a few horses. It takes a lot of time, and I am not an expert – it is my hobby. The mares that I have are so good, and so proven at four- and five-star level, that I feel like it is a shame they are with me – I am not experienced enough to make the most of it, and I don’t have the time to focus on it fully,” Enda explains about the idea of an online auction in partnership with Zangersheide. “I would love to see them going to good breeders. We have some of the best breeding mares and great young horses, I feel like I am not doing them justice by keeping them myself.”

A partnership with Zangersheide was a natural option, as they have great experience in organizing online auctions. “I am very excited about this partnership,” Enda continues. “We have some really interesting horses to offer. One is a stallion called Fandango Semilly (Diamant de Semilly x Apache D’Adriers), a full brother to Rock’n’Roll Semilly – that was very successful under Marlon Zanotelli. We also have a mare called Ode de Roches (First de Launay x Tu viens Dorval), that jumped at 1.60 level with Zanotelli. She is in-foal to Aganix du Seigneur Z, and will be auctioned together with her colt by Comme Il Faut – that is a pretty special package,” Enda tells about the collection. “We also have Kaprika (Cornet Obolensky x Calypso D’Herbiers) – the full-sister to Galan S, that has jumped on 1.60m level with both Katie Dinan and Beat Mändli. Another breeding mare that we will offer at the auction is Ominerale Courcelle (Kannan x Caprice D’Elle II), a mare that had a great sport career under Shane Breen. She is in foal to Aganix du Seigneur Z.”

The decision to sell this group was not an easy one to make, but the only one that felt right for the horses. “My biggest aim is to give the opportunity to someone who appreciates quality. I am in a situation where I have got some fantastic horses, but I am too busy to develop it any further – I think the mares and the young ones deserve a chance with someone who has the time. I think we are offering the best to any breeder – it is a variety that works for everybody,” Enda explains.

“What is so important when you start breeding, is to start with the best mares. The father is important, but the mare is even more important. I would love to see these horses go to great breeders and good homes, where they can grow, be developed and educated – to have the opportunity they deserve.”

“The reason I am doing this, is not that I want to get out of breeding, but to keep my focus on my main business. I want to give back to the breeders; I want to give people the chance to buy the best to get started in their breeding careers.”

The full collection for the Z Online Auction can be seen here.

The auction will be online from 1st to 4th of July 2017.

Breeding mare, Ominerale Courcelle by Kannan x Caprice d'Elle II , had a great sport career under Shane Breen.

Celiana AF Z is by Cardento out of Cilia by Cristallo x Concorde who competed up to 1.45 level.

Kaprika by Cornet Obolensky x Calypso D’Herbiers is the full-sister to Galan S, that has jumped on 1.60m level with both Katie Dinan and Beat Mändli.

Show Off AF Z is a 2yr old by Solid Gold Z out of MHS Ramona (Lamm De Fatan x Diamant De Semilly) who is competing 7yr olds in England and from the breeding programme of MHS Going Global.

Download AF Z is a 1yr old by Dominator Z out of UNEX Amona (Quasimodo Z x Furoe) who competed up to 1.40 level in the USA.

Zoffany AF Z is a 1yr old by Zapatero VDL out of Cilia (Cristallo x Concorde) who competed up to 1.45 level and comes from a family of 1.60 level horses.

Fandango Semilly is a 2yr old by Diamond De Semilly and full brother to Rock N Roll Semilly who competes up to 1.60 level with Marlon Zanotelli.

Dollar AF Z is a 1yr old by Dominator Z out of Good News II (Last News x Clover Hill) who competed up to 1.45 level around Europe and comes from great Irish breeding.