Tag Archives: Horses Unlimited

Horses Unlimited’s Mega Reduction Sale Gives Buyers an Opportunity to Purchase Some of the Best Bloodlines with Minimum $1000 Bid

Credit: Susan J Stickle, Caption: Leonardo's Quest HU is by the Grand Prix stallion Leonberg out of dam from the famous bloodlines of Quebec and Capitol.

Albuquerque, NM — Potential buyers will have a one-time chance to purchase horses from the heart of the herd of the nation’s leading breeder, Horses Unlimited. On Saturday, August 27, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. MDT, Horses Unlimited will sell nearly 40 homebreds via auction at their farm in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Rarely does an opportunity like this come along for sporthorse enthusiasts. “We have put together the best collection of horses we have ever offered for this auction,” says Anne Sparks, owner of Horses Unlimited.  Every horse that reaches the minimum reserve bid of $1000 will be sold. The collection includes a variety of hunters, jumpers and dressage horses. They represent some of the finest Hanoverian, Oldenburg, RPSI, Holsteiner and Westfalen bloodlines available anywhere in the world, including those of Donnerhall, Weltmeyer, Wolkenstein II, Sandro, Pik L, Leonberg, Hailo, Capitol and Quebec.  “After more than a decade, I’ve decided to scale back my breeding operation. I will still be involved, just with a smaller herd of breeding and performance horses,” added Sparks.

Currently ranked first on the USEF Leading Dressage Breeders list, Horses Unlimited has proven that Sparks’ breeding philosophies produce quality athletes that have successful performance careers. The Pik L son, Pikko Del Cerro HU, is the leading point earner on the list of fourteen dressage performers bred by Anne Sparks. Last week, Pikko del Cerro HU was fully licensed as a stallion by the American Hanoverian Society. Ridden by Olympian Lisa Wilcox, Cerro is currently eighth in the USDF Intermediaire I standings and thirteenth in Prix St. Georges. His sire, Pik L, is a proven producer and potential buyers can choose from ten of his offspring in Saturday’s sale.

Horses Unlimited’s top ranking was obtained from the performance of offspring by four of Sparks’ stallions. Eight of those are sired by Pik L, with Leonberg, Glorioso Noir and Galant du Serein siring the balance of performers.  Multiple offspring by these sires are also available in the herd reduction.

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Olympian Lisa Wilcox and New Partner Pikko del Cerro HU Gain Their First Win

Lisa Wilcox and Pikko del Cerro HU show off their new partnership at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center.

Albuquerque, NM – While the snow flies across much of the country, the coveted winter dressage season began in earnest during the Gold Coast Opener Festival CDI in Florida. On the scene for the first time as a duo were Olympic medalist Lisa Wilcox and 2009 FEI 6-Year-Old National Champion Pikko del Cerro HU. There, they showed the crowd how camaraderie, talent and the fundamentals of proper training produce success.

Competing in their first USEF Developing Horse test, Wilcox and Cerro received a 68.67%, taking home the blue ribbon. This was quite an accomplishment for the pair who had only practiced the entire test three times prior to their win. This is only the first step on a successful path that they hope will include the National Developing Horse Championships and the Pan-American Games. For some, the new partnership might come as a surprise. But for those close to the team who watched the expressive Hanoverian stallion win numerous titles under former rider Mikala Gundersen, this transition is no curveball.

“I’m not a U.S. citizen and cannot ride in the Developing Horse classes,” explained Danish team rider Gundersen.  “Cerro is one of the most successful U.S.-bred dressage horses today, and I thought it was important for him to continue in the Young Horse program.” This camaraderie and generosity is something that many in the sport would commend.

For Anne Sparks, Pikko del Cerro’s breeder and owner, this is yet another demonstration of Gundersens’ character.  “Mikala approached me and suggested that Lisa take over Cerro’s ride. She believed it might be the better thing for me as the breeder,” said Sparks. “That’s what I love about Mikala. She does what is right and wanted to do what was right for my horse and me.”

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