Utophia going to Auction

[LeannePip]

Just seen a post from H&H on FB about Uthopia being sold at auction as his owners have gone bankrupt so he is now owned by two insurance companies . . .

. . . I didn't think animals could be claimed as assets and hence sold by 3rd parties to reclaim costs? Or is it because he has such an obvious value its irrelevant?

 

[FfionWinnie]

You can definitely auction animals in this scenario perhaps it's only if they are a business asset tho. I've seen a lab breeder who went bust have their animals auctioned off, for instance.

 

[vallin]

I'm not quite sure how it works as to my understanding the owner went bust and her share was bought by an investor in something like 2010 BUT her name remained on paper as the owner?! Have just been reading various newspaper articles and it all seems very confusing!

 

[Diamore]

hopefully at stud will buy him and he can retire to stud

 

[be positive]

This has been ongoing for years and was why he could not compete for a while, at his peak he was a very valuable asset and was probably financed by his owners businesses rather than personally, no different to a racehorse that is owned by a company that ends up in liquidation, the horses have to be sold usually by auction to get the market price, it is a shame it was not sorted out years ago and I hope he gets a decent home or even better stays with Carl.

 

[FfionWinnie]

I'm not quite sure how it works as to my understanding the owner went bust and her share was bought by an investor in something like 2010 BUT her name remained on paper as the owner?! Have just been reading various newspaper articles and it all seems very confusing!

To me that smacks of a poorly thought out attempt to prevent the horse being used to settle the bankruptcy.

 

[Lanky Loll]

Can't help hoping that as his competitive outlook isn't great (needs at least a year off) no one will turn up for the sale and as there's no reserve Carl can buy for minimum bid - wishful thinking I know but...

 

[LeannePip]

Can't help hoping that as his competitive outlook isn't great (needs at least a year off) no one will turn up for the sale and as there's no reserve Carl can buy for minimum bid - wishful thinking I know but...

Thanks very optimistic LL! I think thats how we'd all like it to go unfortunately i dont think needing a year out will stop good or unscrupulous buyers looking for a bargain! Hes still an awesome horse who ( unfortunately or not) is still entire, hence could still be a huge revenue stream for a new owner ride-able or not

 

[KautoStar1]

Given the debacle over the sale of Totilas and the public outcry over the break up of his partnership with EG and the horses subsequent issues, I suspect the European dressage community will keep their hands firmly in their pockets. What the emerging equestrian nations, such as those in the middle east, decide to do is another matter.

 

[j1ffy]

Statement from Carl: http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/news/show/2601-statementissued-by-bd-on-behalf-of-carl-hester-mbe

It's very sad indeed. I hope he finds a way to buy him and that he doesn't end up being sent to a distant country and hammered as a 'schoolmaster' for an oligarch's child...

 

[shadeofshyness]

There's already crowdfunding to buy him for Carl.

Very sad.

 

[dressage_diva]

Do you have a link to the crowdfunding page?

 

[Welly]

Crowdfunding might be the best option, do you know the link shadeofsyness? I think it's the closest I will get to owning a top horse!

 

[_GG_]

The biggest concern for those who know Utopia is his welfare. He has needed specialist care and treatment for the past few years and this needs to continue...something that can't be guaranteed if he is sold and removed from the care at Carls yard or the Stud just down the road where he also lives for some of the year. That stud is owned and run by my vet...it is Uti's welfare that is the worry, nothing else.

It is such a sickeningly sad story that the importance is put on money and not the welfare of an animal.

 

[Tash88]

Statement from Carl: http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/news/show/2601-statementissued-by-bd-on-behalf-of-carl-hester-mbe

It's very sad indeed. I hope he finds a way to buy him and that he doesn't end up being sent to a distant country and hammered as a 'schoolmaster' for an oligarch's child...

My thoughts and concerns exactly. Like Kauto said, I expect the European/American community will show Uthopia and Carl the respect they deserve but I don't think the same can be said for the Middle East, where wealth often exceeds humanity.

 

[SusieT]

But if the horse is not sound the interest will be much lower - like any horse sale there is nothing stopping a good or poor buyer coming along. /I expect a breeding enterprise will buy him and some of the european ones i wouldn't send anything to anymore than the middle eastern ones..

 

[popsdosh]

Weve been here before! He was for sale before the last olympics as well. To be honest if CH cannot raise the money with a buyer whats the world coming too. Wont be chucking anmy of my money into crowd funding to buy somebody else a horse who already has a lot more than I have. Dont get sucked in people all this hype started before over him and Valegro.

 

[Fun Times]

Weve been here before! He was for sale before the last olympics as well. To be honest if CH cannot raise the money with a buyer whats the world coming too. Wont be chucking anmy of my money into crowd funding to buy somebody else a horse who already has a lot more than I have. Dont get sucked in people all this hype started before over him and Valegro.

I like Carl and Charlotte a lot and I think they have done a tremendous amount for the sport but I agree with the above. This is the problem when you ride a horse that belongs to someone else - it is no different whether it be a world beating grandprix dressage horse or your next door neighbour's plod. Ultimately, you have been given the opportunity to ride a horse that you haven't paid for, so you do so knowing that at any time that opportunity may be taken away. And whilst the horse's welfare is a genuine concern, there are a lot more horses that are not on the "world stage" whose treatment and welfare should be of far greater concern.

 

[ycbm]

The biggest concern for those who know Utopia is his welfare. He has needed specialist care and treatment for the past few years and this needs to continue...

What's wrong with him?

Is he actually suitable to breed from??

 

[_GG_]

What's wrong with him?

Is he actually suitable to breed from??

Not sure, but it's no secret he's been receiving regular vet and physio care (above normal) for the past four years and he has a year left to go before he can be ready to work again. Without knowing what the issue(s) are, we can't know if it would affect his use as a sire, but since he was standing at the stud down the road last season, I can't see it being an issue.

 

[VRIN]

He was ridden at Olympia in December - so is this something new that is wrong with him. I thought it had been reported that it was the legal situation which had prevented him from being competed earlier this year too..

 

[_GG_]

Care and treatment don't mean that he can't be ridden...but I think the concerns for his welfare are based on the fact that selling him will risk him not getting the care he needs whatever that may be.

I've seen the gofundme page and it was set up in the states. No idea how they propose managing it as Carl apparently doesn't want any help like that.

Who knows. I don't know Carl, I just know a good few people who do and have some connected horses here on livery, so I'll trust what his friends say, which is to please not give money to a donation page...he's doing all he can and will update the public and ask for help if it comes to that.

 

[_GG_]

Found the gofundme page...started in America, nothing to do with Carl himself.

 

[popsdosh]

Found the gofundme page...started in America, nothing to do with Carl himself.

Just if people have short memories the last time this happened some people made money out of it and it wasnt Carl or Charlotte!
Please dont go giving!

If the horse has been seized to pay a debt there is nothing that can be done to stop the sale Just leave it to carl as to be honest the less publicity the better. Let it be a lesson to all with horses in the Law they are another chattel with no greater legal protection than your car or furniture and often worth more! If the bailiffs turn up they can seize them!

 

[_GG_]

Just if people have short memories the last time this happened some people made money out of it and it wasnt Carl or Charlotte!
Please dont go giving!

If the horse has been seized to pay a debt there is nothing that can be done to stop the sale Just leave it to carl as to be honest the less publicity the better. Let it be a lesson to all with horses in the Law they are another chattel with no greater legal protection than your car or furniture and often worth more! If the bailiffs turn up they can seize them!

That's what I've said as well in my other posts...hence not actually putting the link to the gofundme page here.

 

[elliefiz]

He was ridden at Olympia in December - so is this something new that is wrong with him. I thought it had been reported that it was the legal situation which had prevented him from being competed earlier this year too..

This. There have been numerous statements given that the horse is not unsound in the past and his restricted career was due to the ongoing legal issue. Suddenly now he has an injury which has only been alluded to by Richard Davision and not confirmed by the owner, a vet who treats him or Carl himself? How very convenient! He was due to go to Las Vegas for the World Cup finals in March but was prevented from doing so by the legal wranglings. If the horse is sound enough to compete GP with the correct management then I'm sure he can be sold to someone who will also ensure this happens. This idea that only Carl can look after him is frankly rather insulting to everyone else in the world of equestrianism!

 

[Goldenstar]

This. There have been numerous statements given that the horse is not unsound in the past and his restricted career was due to the ongoing legal issue. Suddenly now he has an injury which has only been alluded to by Richard Davision and not confirmed by the owner, a vet who treats him or Carl himself? How very convenient! He was due to go to Las Vegas for the World Cup finals in March but was prevented from doing so by the legal wranglings. If the horse is sound enough to compete GP with the correct management then I'm sure he can be sold to someone who will also ensure this happens. This idea that only Carl can look after him is frankly rather insulting to everyone else in the world of equestrianism!

It's not insulting to feel that an older horse with management issues used to be being ridden in competition by two of the best riders in the world kept on a dressage yard with very enlightened attitudes to turnout and hacking will be happier left in the home he knows .
I hope Carl Hester can secure the horses future .

 

[_GG_]

This. There have been numerous statements given that the horse is not unsound in the past and his restricted career was due to the ongoing legal issue. Suddenly now he has an injury which has only been alluded to by Richard Davision and not confirmed by the owner, a vet who treats him or Carl himself? How very convenient! He was due to go to Las Vegas for the World Cup finals in March but was prevented from doing so by the legal wranglings. If the horse is sound enough to compete GP with the correct management then I'm sure he can be sold to someone who will also ensure this happens. This idea that only Carl can look after him is frankly rather insulting to everyone else in the world of equestrianism!

I can't see anything that has said the horse is unsound, nor can I see anywhere anyone has said or implied that nobody else can look after him or give him what he needs. All anyone has said is that there is a concern for his welfare, which I can totally understand because just because it's more than possible that places other than his current yard can look after him properly, it is also possible that at auction, he could sell to literally anyone...so that removes the confidence of where he may end up.

If he was being sold on the open market, people would have a say in who he could or couldn't go to. Homes could be vetted, his care could be foreseen with a degree of confidence. Selling at auction like this with no reserve makes it all quite scary.

It would be good to know that there was some form of vetting process for anyone registering to bid on him at least.

 

[shadeofshyness]

Crowdfunding might be the best option, do you know the link shadeofsyness? I think it's the closest I will get to owning a top horse!

It was on the Sylvia Loch Classical Riding FB group, but Sylvia has since asked everyone to hold off on it until Carl knows what is happening. She seems to know him personally so I'm sure there'll be an update.

 

[VRIN]

I can't see anything that has said the horse is unsound, nor can I see anywhere anyone has said or implied that nobody else can look after him or give him what he needs. All anyone has said is that there is a concern for his welfare, which I can totally understand because just because it's more than possible that places other than his current yard can look after him properly, it is also possible that at auction, he could sell to literally anyone...so that removes the confidence of where he may end up.

If he was being sold on the open market, people would have a say in who he could or couldn't go to. Homes could be vetted, his care could be foreseen with a degree of confidence. Selling at auction like this with no reserve makes it all quite scary.

It would be good to know that there was some form of vetting process for anyone registering to bid on him at least.

It does say that he will need at least 12 months off before he is ready to compete - that does suggest a problem. It was said to be the legal situation that prevented his competing in March..