As the summer progresses, stallion owners, breeders and friends of the Holsteiner horse are already looking ahead to the upcoming highlight of the year in December: this year, the Holsteiner young stallion grading will be held with the elite riding horse auction on 11 and 12 December at Elmshorn.
Re-combining the grading and auction of the young stallions and the elite riding horse auction is in part a result of the discontinuation of the ‘autumn event’, where stallion performance tests were held in cooperation with the German Equestrian Federation (FN) in previous years and where the elite auction had also found a worthy setting. Due to the reform of the stallion performance test system by the FN, the Holsteiner Verband officers have now decided to re-join the elite auction with the young stallion licensing.
Thursday: Begin of Grading and Auction of the Riding Horses
On Wednesday, 10 December 2025, the stallion candidates arrive at the Elmshorn Verband facility to familiarise themselves with the conditions in the Fritz-Thiedemann indoor arena. The live presentation of the elite riding horses in the evening will also be live-streamed. The official part of the grading begins on Thursday, 11 December, starting with the traditional inspection on hard ground, followed by the first free jumping and the auction of the riding horses. Holstein welcomes everyone to join the party afterwards.
Free Jumping Friday with Auction of the Stallions
On Friday, 12 December, the second free jumping test provides another dose of meaningful information. Anticipation is rising for the licensing decisions to be announced around noon followed by public acclaim for the 2025 Holsteiner champion stallion. The auction of the licensed stallions and non-licensed colts concludes the official part of the event and is followed by the after-auction party. Tickets for the Holsteiner young stallion grading on 11 and 12 December 2025 are expected to go on sale in mid-August.
Photo: Janne Bugtrup (Conchezz, Holsteiner Champion Stallion 2024)
