The Borculo Elite Foal Auction 2025
- Steve Wolgemuth
- Sep 5
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 6
On the morning of August 30th, hundreds of Dutch breeders and spectators gathered at De Radstake in Heelweg for the 46th annual Foal Auction Borculo. As they entered the grounds, passing by the iconic statue of Amor, attendees were reminded of the local heritage that anchors this now-international event.
Record-Breaking Success
Nature provided a perfect sunny day for what would become a banner year for this historic auction. Under new management by Reesink Horses, the event returned to a hybrid format combining in-person and online bidding. The VIP tent reached capacity with 250 distinguished guests, spectator areas were full, and on-grounds stabling was at maximum occupancy.
The new website (borculoauction.com) was among several technological upgrades for Borculo 2025. HORSE24, which dominates Germany's sporthorse auction industry, made its Dutch debut with this event. The platform provided premier auction software supporting online, in-person, and phone bidding. Meanwhile, Master of Ceremonies Laurens van Lieren delivered expert commentary, seamlessly switching languages as international bids came in, and De Radstake proved to be an ideal event management partner.
Historic Results
Valdemar van de Watermolen, a magnificent colt by Dutch Dream out of Secret (bred by Dr Jan Greve and J.M. Sanders), commanded an extraordinary €105,000—the highest price ever achieved at a Borculo auction. This record sale reflected the growing strength of the elite international market for top-tier Dutch breeding.
Key Numbers:
Total turnover: €881,500 across 77 sold lots
47 dressage foals averaged €11,968 (29% increase over 2024)
30 jumping foals averaged €7,500
Nine countries secured winning bids
Germany led international investment, averaging €22,278 per foal
The Premium Revolution
The 2025 auction demonstrated the dramatic evolution of the Dutch foal market over three years:
2023: Top 5 dressage foals commanded 218% premium over the field
2024: Premium compressed to 117% in the focused dressage-only auction
2025: Premium soared to 437%—indicating explosive growth in the luxury market
This growth signals international recognition of Dutch breeding excellence. Elite foals with clear Olympic and breeding stallion potential are being sought out by an ever-growing luxury market, an elite class of buyers worldwide.
Global Participation, Local Foundation
While international buyers made headlines—Germany invested €200,500 total, with strong participation from the USA, Italy, Sweden, and Portugal—Dutch breeders remained the auction's backbone. Local buyers secured 53 foals for €456,000, demonstrating continued confidence in domestic breeding programs.
Discipline Excellence
Dressage Dominance: The top five dressage foals—led by Valdemar van de Watermolen, Velvet Black van de Nethe (€40,000), Valley of Hope WS (€31,000), Voici DC (€26,000), and Vienna d'Ottie (€17,500)—averaged a remarkable €43,900.
Jumping Excellence: Verosa, by Oslo out of Chacco-Blue, topped the jumping division at €21,000, leading strong prospects by proven sires including Vico Valez, Veratine, and Quando.
Looking Forward
The 2025 Borculo Elite Foal Auction demonstrated growing international interest in Dutch breeding. The return to De Radstake, combined with record-breaking sales and bidding from more than ten countries, underscored the global recognition of Dutch breeding programs. 2025 will be remembered as the year Borculo returned to its historic roots by showcasing high-quality sport foals and reassuring Dutch horse breeders that the Borculo foal auction tradition has a promising future.
For more information, visit borculoauction.com
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