World class jumping horses up for auction

The Dutch have taken a very successful approach to ensuring their riders have the best horses to compete on. Perhaps it could be a good model for other countries to follow! The uniquely structured syndicate group was the brainchild of Dutch equestrian journalist Jacob Melissen, and started in 2006 with 2.6 million euro to invest in jumpers. Its approach is to acquire young and talented horses and ensure they are trained well. If they show any promise, they are placed with top riders for a certain period of time. It certainly has proved successful, and the Showjumping Fund of the Netherlands, or SFN, will hold a sale of top show jumpers on September 21.

All six horses currently under its ownership, including SFN Zenith N.O.P. – Jeroen Dubbeldam’s World and European Championship mount – will go up for sale via an internet auction operated by BVA Auctions in the Netherlands.

It was Jacob’s initial vision to create a financial fund, open to Dutch equestrian fans who wanted to invest in keeping some of the finest Dutch-bred horses on home soil and made available to Dutch riders. Uniquely, five of the nation’s leading horse dealers – Emile Hendrix, Willy van der Ham, Egbert Schep, Teus van den Brink and Johan Heins – advise the SFN Board on which horses to purchase and which riders they should be given to. Only when all five agree unanimously will an investment go ahead.

The SFN has been closely responsible for an unparalleled period of Dutch success both at team and individual level. Its strategy has achieved exceptional results, not only through the world class SFN Zenith N.O.P., who will be the highest profile lot offered at the September sale, but also through the superb Aquila SFN, who has been ridden with great success by Wout-Jan van der Schans (see details below).

Another former star of the SFN, Utascha SFN, who was sold in December 2013, competed at the FEI World Equestrian Games and two FEI European Championships, as well as in numerous Furusiyya FEI Nations Cups.

Discussing the sale, Henk Rottinghuis, the President of the SFN Board, says, “The first SFN has been hugely successful and has not only contributed towards an unprecedented period of success for the Netherlands in the sport of show jumping, but has also given the original investors a great deal of pleasure in supporting the horse and rider combinations. We thank everyone involved in the SFN for their support and commitment over the last 10 years, and we hope to reward them with a good financial return from the auction.

“The original SFN always had a lifespan of 10 years and the Board has been focused on ensuring that the investors received a significant financial return. It is this approach, managed in partnership with Van Lanschot Bank, that has allowed us to launch SFN II, which will be open to investors from around the world, and which we hope will enjoy equal success and support for the sport in the Netherlands.”

SFN Zenith N.O.P., an impeccably bred 12-year-old bay gelding (photo at top of page). This son of Rash R, out of Sascha, a Jalisco B line mare, has surpassed the expectations of the SFN, who acquired him as a seven-year-old. SFN Zenith N.O.P. and Jeroen Dubbeldam have been regulars on the 5* Grand Prix circuit in recent years, with highlights including team and individual gold at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Caen 2014, team and individual gold at the FEI European Championships in Aachen in 2015, and team gold at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, also in 2014.

Aquila SNF, (above), another outstanding 5* horse. The 10-year-old chestnut gelding has represented Holland in Nations Cup teams with Wout-Jan van der Schans; most notably when one of only two combinations to jump double clear in Dublin in 2015 and in La Baule in 2016. Aquila SNF was the recent winner of the 3* Grand Prix at CSI Luxembourg in June, again as one of only two to jump double clear.

SFN Zenith N.O.P. and Aquila SFN will be aimed at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro before entering the sales ring in autumn, with both making the longlist announced earlier this week.

Chuck Blue SFN will be offered from the stable of Emile Hendrix, where he is currently ridden by Niels Knape. A nine-year-old gelding, with world class breeding, Chuck Blue SFN has been competing in 1.40m classes with continued success.

Djumpsina SFN, an eight-year-old daughter of Zurich, moved to the yard of Gerco Schröder at the end of 2015 following a successful career to date in the Dutch young horse classes. Gerco will bring the mare on over the summer, giving her valuable competition experience before she goes up for auction.

Another to achieve great success in the young horse classes is Eloma’s Blue SFN, who under Wout-Jan van der Schans was joint winner of the KWPN six-year-old championships in 2015, finishing sixth in the World Championships six-year old final in Lanaken. The seven-year-old stallion has a promising future and will continue to progress through the age-class ranks in 2016.

Similarly, Ferrari SFN, the youngest horse to be offered for sale in the SFN consignment, will continue to train in 2016 under Hester Klompmaker. The six-year-old stallion, by Argentinus stallion Thunder van de Zuuthoeve, is full of promise and an exciting prospect for the future.

The horses can be purchased by auction, both on location or online, on Wednesday September 21, 2016.  For further details on all horses due to feature in the sale, you can visit www.sfnauction.com