Harrie Smolders and SLF Horse Auctions will present their first online auction on Dec. 14

Details: December 9, 2020; By Staff Writers

Dutch Olympic show jumper Harrie Smolders and his partners at SLF Horse Auctions will hold heir first online auction on Monday, Dec. 14, at 1 p.m. EST.

Smolders One of the 14 quality show jumpers offered at SLF Horse Auctions is Paris, a five-year-old gelding by Vigo d'Arsouilles x Darco.The online auction, which brings the best of European show jumpers to a worldwide audience, features 14 horses with competition and under saddle experience, 15 young horses, and 15 embryos from the best bloodlines in the sport.

All of the older ridden show jumpers, a group of 14 mares and geldings which range in age from 5 to 11 years old, start at €8,000 and come from bloodlines such as Diamant de Semilly, Nebab de Reve, Quick Star, Thunder van de Zuuthoeve (sire of HH Azur), Verdi, 2010 World Champion Vigo d’Arsouilles, and more.

“We deliberately chose to set the bar high with a high-quality collection,” said Smolders. “Top riders as well as amateurs and breeders will find what they are looking for at our auction.”

THE 15 young horses – which include one mare, geldings, and stallions all at 2 or3 years old – boast sires such as Casall, Harley VDL, Zirocco Blue VDL, and Smolders’ Olympic partner, Emerald vt Ruytershof, and start at €6,000.

The embryos blend bloodlines such as Big Star x Perfect Edition de Muze, Chacco Blue x Diamant de Semilly, Dominator Z x Heartbreaker, and more, with a starting price of €5,000.

Together with his partners, Walter Lelie and Niels Fabrie, Smolders created SLF Horse Auctions in order to curate a distinctive group of horses for sale when the pandemic halted travel worldwide.

“If you don’t follow the trend, you’ll fall behind,” said Smolders. “It was difficult for foreign customers to come to us, so we decided to bring the trade to them. Walter, Niels, and I have been friends for years, and we have owned several horses together. This was a natural fit and progression of our business.”

Almost 90 percent of the horses offered in the auction come from the three auction partners.

“These are horses that we deliberately selected and kept for months, just for this auction,” said Smolders. “That way, we know the horses inside out and we are able to guarantee quality. We have a great deal of expertise, both internationally and locally. But we also have some great connections with breeders and top riders, and I think that combination is rather unique for an online auction. We have the ability to address a whole lot of people at the same time. We are certain that we can offer a beautiful collection with our first edition. With so much diversity, everyone will be able to find their next superstar at our auction.”

Those interested in bidding in the auction, which opens on Dec. 14, can register online at the SLF Horse Auctions website.

Bidding on the young horses and embryos is open until Dec. 17, and the auction for the ridden show jumpers closes on Dec. 18.

For those in the area, trials and viewing of the horses are available.

Videos of all ridden and young horses can be seen on the SLF Horse Auctions YouTube page.

For more information on the SLF Horse Auction, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Niels Fabrie at +31 622.206.340, Walter Lelie at +32 496.808.230, or Harrie Smolders at +31 610.185.963.