Daventry Equine Appraisal Services

10/19/2026

The c**t Six Seven became the price highlight of the inaugural Oldenburg foal auction held at the Fichtenhof Classics national competition on Friday 4 September 2026.

10/15/2026

Be advised that the new inspection requirements for New World Screwworm (NWS) become effective on October 20, 2026.

The New Inspection Requirements Become Effective October 20, 2026

10/15/2026

We've had the pleasure of appraising a number of talented Balou du Rouet babies over the years. He will be sadly missed! https://www.facebook.com/equnewscom/posts/pfbid0BBhSJQgCgBj22n4W2zrG1Yff7nBJ2BQ4LcxiuKjzct8Z4xoAfsoDxqLtBJKCwp4kl

Paul Schockemöhle’s stallion station has announced the passing of the flagship sire Balou du Rouet (Baloubet du Rouet x Continue, bred by Paul Schockemöhle). The 27-year-old stallion leaves behind an extraordinary legacy as one of the most influential foundation sires in modern show jumping and breeding.

Our condolences to everyone ever involved with this major stallion
Ph. © Gestüt Lewitz

10/13/2026

A veterinarian’s perspective on what these new tools can do — and what they can’t.

10/09/2026

Schwalbenfeuer, Top Seller of 2026 Joint Trakehner/Westfalian Auction in Warendorfa

10/05/2026

If a contractor damages a building, leaves a gate open and a horse escapes, or accidentally injures someone, you may face legal action.

10/01/2026

Jialotta de Vlinder, Top Seller of the 2026 DSP Foal Auction in Riedlingen

10/01/2026

We have had the pleasure of appraising a number of Hilltop stallion offspring over the years and have also bred several of our own mares to Hilltop stallions. Their customer service has been second to none. Hilltop's place in the equine industry will be sorely missed, and we thank them for their dedication over the last 35 years!

Today, the last horses have moved off Hilltop. The staff are finishing their final work days, and a stillness is settling over the farm.

There is sadness in closing the book on this remarkable story, but today I find myself trying to focus more on how wonderful it was to have been a part of something as unique and special as Hilltop. Before today, there have been more than 35 years filled with incredible horses, laughter, hard work, love, friendships, accomplishments, challenges, and so many people whose lives were touched by this very special place.

First and foremost, thank you to Jane, who built this miraculous farm and has always put the people and the horses at the top of her priorities. Her enthusiasm and love for this land, her staff, and her horses were evident in everything she did. Her generosity and desire to give back to the industry, including through the many educational events hosted at Hilltop, created an incredible foundation for all that this farm has done and meant to so many.

Thank you to every owner who entrusted a horse to us over the years, to the stallion owners who joined us in providing exceptional stallions to North American breeders, and to the thousands of breeders we have had the privilege of working with. The offspring of those stallions will carry a piece of the Hilltop legacy forward for generations to come.

And thank you to every member of the Hilltop staff, past and present, who made this farm what it became. I am especially grateful to our current staff, who have continued to show up, care deeply, and do their jobs with incredible professionalism right through the very last day, helping make this ending as seamless as possible. You each have been amazing!

The Hilltop era may be closing, but the foundation it created is not disappearing. We are excited to watch each of our staff members build their own new futures from all they have learned and accomplished here. In many ways, that is part of Jane's legacy too: creating a place where people and horses could grow, learn, and go on to do great things.

Tonight, the farm is quiet. But 35 years of Hilltop are anything but quiet. And while this chapter is ending, we hope that this beautiful property will find a new owner who will cherish it and give it its own next evolution.

The impact of Hilltop will carry forward in the horses, the people, the friendships, the breeders, and the many new chapters that began here. Cherish the great times, the people, and the horses that have come into your life because of Hilltop. We would love to hear your own happy memories, see your favorite Hilltop horses, and share in the moments that made this place special to you. Please share them in the comments below.

Thank you to all who have been a part of Hilltop, and thank you, Jane, for having this dream. ❤️

Photo credit: Rebecca Neff

09/29/2026

Wingman van de Nethe, Top Seller of the Second EDS x Stal Brouwer Foal Auction of 2026

09/27/2026

This goes for any animals we love.

When Love Means Letting Them Go on a Good Day

What does it really mean to let them go on a good day?

It means that, for you, it will probably be one of the hardest days of your life.

It won't matter if you've never had to make that decision before. It won't matter if you've been blessed with months or even years of good days. When the time comes, that good day will still feel impossibly wrong.

Because they'll look at you like they always do.

They'll nick­er when you walk through the gate.

They'll happily accept the extra treats.

They'll enjoy the extra scratches, the hugs, the attention.

The sun may be shining. The weather may be beautiful. They're eating. They're drinking. They're walking. They're comfortable. Maybe they're even standing there looking completely normal.

And you'll think:

How can I possibly say goodbye today?

That's exactly what choosing a good day means.

It means making the decision before the emergency makes it for you.

Before the next Central Valley heat wave pushes an already fragile body too far.

Before an unexpected fall.

Before colic turns into an emergency in the middle of the night.

Before an old horse struggles through another winter storm.

Before a horse that has been managing Cushings, DSLD, arthritis, neurological disease, or another progressive condition suddenly reaches a point where comfort is no longer possible.

Before you're standing in a trailer, on the side of a road, in the middle of an evacuation, or desperately trying to find an emergency veterinarian while your horse is suffering.

Horse owners know how quickly conditions can change.

Heat can become dangerous. Wildfire can change everything in a matter of hours. Roads can close. Evacuations can happen. Veterinary emergencies don't wait for business hours.

And sometimes the greatest act of horsemanship isn't fighting for one more day.

Sometimes it is having the courage to say:

“Today is still a good day. I want it to stay that way.”

Your horse won't understand why there are so many treats.

They won't know why you're giving them extra hugs.

They won't understand why you're crying.

They aren't thinking about next winter.

They aren't worrying about the next heat wave.

They aren't thinking about the disease that's progressing or the bad day that may eventually come.

They are simply living in the moment.

And if their final moment is peaceful, comfortable, surrounded by familiar people, and filled with love, then you have given them something incredibly precious.

You have spared them the fear, pain, panic, and trauma that can come when we wait until there is no other choice.

Will you second-guess yourself?

Absolutely.

You may second-guess yourself while you're making the decision.

You may second-guess yourself while you're holding them.

You may second-guess yourself for weeks afterward.

That's grief.

That's love.

And then eventually, another heat wave will come.

Another storm.

Another difficult day.

And you'll look at the empty space where they used to stand and realize:

They were happy.
They were comfortable.
They were safe.
They were loved.

You didn't wait for their worst day.

You gave them their last good one.

It will break your heart.

It may always break your heart.

But sometimes, letting them go while they are still having a good day is not giving up on them.

It is choosing to carry the hardest part yourself.

Because love doesn't always mean holding on.
Sometimes love means knowing when to let go.
By Sara Quinn