Highlife Farms successful Warmblood auction, held recently at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, FL, proved to be a successful night that has many new horse owners rejoicing. The auction was hosted by Highlife Farms, owned by Kenny and Joan Sims, one of the country’s most prominent breeding farms and home to world-class sport horses.

The auction gave horse owners a chance to buy offspring from Highlife Farms legendary stallions, on a night that featured top names in the dressage community gathering for a European-style horse auction. Judith Twiggs of Clemson, SC, bought Highlife’s Dakarai for her daughter Jessica. “We are very grateful to Highlife Farms for making this happen,” Twiggs said. “When my daughter saw Dakarai she just fell in love. He’s the right horse for her, and we are thrilled that he will be able to take her as far in her dressage career as she wants to go.”

Twiggs said they had been looking for a horse for eight months, but that Jessica hadn’t clicked with any. “Jessica is a First Level rider now, but her idol is Lisa Wilcox, the head trainer at Highlife,” Twiggs said. “Jessica wants to be like Lisa and we are supporting her. Dakarai’s bloodlines are impeccable, and we are just thrilled with him.”

Richard Bowman of Delray Beach, FL, purchased Highlife’s Chianti, a German Riding Pony, for his children. “We are very happy with Chianti. She will be a dressage pony in the future; right now she is only three years old.”

Tami Hoag, New York Times Bestselling author and professional dressage rider, also purchased her newest equine partner at the Highlife Farms auction. “I bought Highlife's Aria, a three-year-old bay filly by Highlife's Diamond Stud by Diamond Hit. Aria is a lovely, big filly, already more than 16.2 hands, with long, clean legs. I love her bloodlines. She comes from dressage royalty,” Hoag said. “She will go to my trainer in California, Charlie Pinneo, to be started. Charlie has a wonderful, quiet way with the youngsters, and his training is absolutely classical. He's seen her photo and is so excited to have her coming.”

Hoag added that she thought the auction was a great success. “Everyone from Highlife worked hard to put on a top-notch, European-style event,” Hoag said.

Jessica Twiggs’ mother agreed, adding that the entire Highlife team was very accommodating in helping Jessica find the right horse. “They had several horses for her to ride before the auction,” Twiggs said. “Highlife wanted it to be a happy ending for the horse and rider, and for us it certainly was.”

John Flanagan, the managing partner of the Wellington Classic Dressage Association, said he attended the auction without any plans of buying a horse. Swayed by the pretty looks of Highlife’s Renaissance Lady, Flanagan bid on her and took her home. “I’m really enjoying her so far. She will be two years old in May but you can really tell that Highlife worked with her. She walked right on the trailer and for such a young horse she is incredibly level-headed. I am really pleased that I bought her,” Flanagan said.

For more information on Highlife’s horses for sale, or their breeding program, visit the Highlife Farms website at www.highlifefarms.com.