Here is an on the road, on the scene report for Eurodressage. I have a confession to make. Although I have been covering the elite auctions in Vechta for years, I have actually never have been to one.
OK, I did attend a Munster auction and have tried out horses there, but I can't deny that the auctions in Vechta and Verden speak much more to my imagination of grandeur, top quality and a great atmosphere, and are, therefore, much more appealing.
This year the time has been ripe for many new experiences. I attended the Oldenburg Stallion Licensing, went touring through Germany visiting various stallion stations, revisited the Belgian competitions and was crazy enough to fly to Florida for horse shows twice in three weeks.
So why not add the Vechta Spring Elite auction to this programme? I'm a driver's-licence-late-bloomer. I only got it last October and have driven to Germany once for the P. I Auction in December. Though I have played German G. S for friends who went horse shopping in Germany on many occasions, my trip to the Vechta Elite auction was my second 'major' drive into Germany on my own. It was Friday today, so that meant weekday rush-day traffic and, boy, let me tell you that German drivers are pushy!
They get so close to your fender indicating to move your ass in the other lane right away, or otherwise they'll run over you. It takes exactly kilometers from my home in Mol, Belgium to the parking of the auction centre in Vechta, Germany. That means a 3-hour drive. I parked right behind the barn, got my camera out and headed towards the office where I saw my first familiar face, Thomas Rhinow.
