Source: RCMP Foundation

Hanoverians are one of the most prominent and successful horse breeds in the world today. These versatile performance horses have won every class of medal at the Olympics and at other prestigious competitions all over Canada, the US and Europe. The Hanoverians are the foundation for the world-famous RCMP Musical Ride horses.

This year, the RCMP Foundation put 36 horses from the world-famous RCMP Musical Ride Breeding Program on the auction block in September and October.

In a first, 18 of the horses were sold during a 30-day online auction ending on September 23rd, 2018 to buyers across Canada and the United States with interest from buyers around the world. $236,000 was raised.

For an encore, 18 more select RCMP Breeding Program horses were sold for $333,000 at a live auction on October 13, 2018, in Ottawa before a sold-out crowd of bidders and Foundation donors.

The live auction presented a number of “firsts” including the professional commentary of Canadian Olympic dressage medalist, Gina Smith, who began assessing the horses in July.

It was also the first horse auction in North America to feature a female auctioneer, Jennifer Dickensen of Mount Pleasant, Ontario.

Horses listed for 2018 RCMP Foundation Horse Auction ranged in age from yearlings to 16-year-olds. There were brood mares, brood mares-in-foal, and retirees from the Musical Ride, and some that did not meet Musical Ride conformation and colouring standards. Because these horses are bred specifically for the world-renowned RCMP Musical Ride, they are versatile and athletic warmbloods.

“We could not have accomplished this historic sale without the generous support of our sponsors,” says Sylvie Madely, President and CEO of the RCMP Foundation. “It is so exciting that more people than ever have had the opportunity to own one of our horses. We can’t wait to start planning for our next auction.”

To see inside the RCMP Foundation’s horse auction, watch the video HERE. 

Photo: Robin Duncan Photography