KWPN Online Foal Auctions 2026: Full Calendar, Video Days and Buyer Tips

Between late July and late September 2026, the KWPN is staging seven Online Foal Auctions. For anyone in search of a future dressage or showjumping horse, or for breeders looking to sell a foal through a structured digital auction, this is one of the busiest periods of the year. Below we set out the confirmed 2026 calendar, the bidding process and the most important practical tips — drawing a clear line between what we have verified through official KWPN sources and what remains an assumption based on previous editions.

Why this auction series matters in 2026

The Dutch sport horse market is more international in 2026 than ever before. With the World Championships in Aachen (11–23 August 2026) and CHIO Rotterdam (18–21 June 2026), the Netherlands draws a great many foreign buyers over the summer, and young KWPN foals have for years been one of the most heavily traded categories in this flow. The timing of the KWPN Online Foal Auctions sits tightly between those headline events: the first video day falls just after CHIO Rotterdam, while the final two editions close in the week after the KWPN Championships (26–29 August in Ermelo).

For anyone who has not bought through the official KWPN platforms before: these auctions run via kwpn.auction, not through general online horse-auction platforms. Every foal is KWPN-registered, inspected by a KWPN inspector and has undergone a veterinary check before the auction.

Confirmed 2026 calendar

The video days are the physical selection moments at which the foals are presented, filmed, inspected and recorded on video for the auction platform. The bidding windows then close online afterwards — usually within a span of a few days.

Verified source: KWPN page Online Foal Auction and the auction platform kwpn.auction, checked on 27 May 2026.

The bidding windows each open at 10:00 and close at 20:00 on the final day listed. During the closing minutes a bid can still be overtaken by a higher one: the system then applies a short extension to prevent automated "snipe" strategies (the so-called "soft close"). The exact extension period can vary slightly from edition to edition — check this per auction on the product page before you place your maximum bid.

How a KWPN Online Foal Auction works

The process is built around four phases:

1. Entering foals. Breeders enter their foal via the KWPN entry form. For 2026, the entry fee is €250 (excl. VAT) per foal. Not every entered foal automatically makes the auction — a KWPN selection committee assesses aptitude, type and quality.
2. Video day. Selected foals are presented on a set Saturday in Ermelo (National Equestrian Centre) or in Erp. During the day the foal is filmed loose at walk, trot and canter and — for jumping-bred lots — over a low fence. A KWPN inspector assesses the foal on site. A veterinary inspection also takes place; the findings are added to the auction dossier.
3. Online bidding window. The catalogue dossier (breeding, video material, vet report, the inspector's remarks) goes online on kwpn.auction roughly two weeks before closing. Registered bidders see the highest price live and receive email or push notifications when they are outbid.
4. Settlement. Once a lot is awarded, a sale confirmation follows immediately. The buyer contacts the breeder to arrange transport. KWPN paperwork and any passport amendments are handled through the studbook.

For buyers, registration on the auction platform is free. There is no compulsory deposit in advance, but the KWPN reserves the right to refuse or block bidders in the event of non-compliance with earlier transactions.

What happens on a video day in Ermelo or Erp?

The video days are open to the public and offer serious buyers the advantage of seeing a foal move "live" before they bid. In Ermelo, most editions take place at the National Equestrian Centre — the same grounds that host the KWPN Championships, the Pavo Cup finals and the NK Dressuur. In Erp, the video day unfolds at a breeding venue with comparable facilities.

A typical video day runs as follows:

• In blocks of roughly 15–25 foals, the youngsters are presented in turn by a professional handler.
• For dressage-bred foals, the focus is on aptitude in trot and canter, rhythm in walk and self-carriage. For jumping-bred foals, free jumping over a low oxer or vertical is added.
• A KWPN inspector dictates a first impression out loud; this is later added in written form to the catalogue dossier.
• The veterinary check at this stage usually consists of a general clinical assessment. X-rays or more extensive vet examinations on request are arranged by appointment with the breeder and are usually not included in the standard auction procedure.

Anyone unable to attend in person misses little: all the relevant video and inspection information appears later in the online dossier. Even so, a live visit often reveals details — temperament under the pressure of a crowd, how much give the foal shows through its hooves — that are less visible on video.

Tips for buyers of a KWPN auction foal

1. Study the pedigree, not just the name

A top sire does not automatically mean a top foal. Pay particular attention to the dam line: has the dam competed herself, or produced offspring that have gone on to compete? How many times has the sire x dam cross been tried before, and with what result? KWPN pedigree data via kwpn.nl gives insight, mare by mare, into earlier offspring.

2. Watch the video several times — with the sound off

Sound and commentary can sway you without your realising it. Watch the movement at least three times with no sound and, on each pass, focus on one thing: scope in the walk, rhythm in the trot, balance and self-carriage in the canter. With jumping foals, look for technique (knees level, bascule) — not just height.

3. Read the vet report critically

The auction catalogue contains the vet's findings report. General remarks such as "no abnormalities on clinical examination" are standard. What is relevant: head type, hoof angle, limb conformation, and any small deviations that have been noted. Anyone wanting certainty on the radiology or clinical details can, before the bidding window closes, arrange a further examination by their own vet — ask the breeder about this. Plan it well in advance; in the final 24 hours it is rarely still possible.

4. Set a firm maximum

Live bidding platforms are designed to build bidding pressure. Before you start, decide on an absolute upper limit — including buyer's fees, VAT, transport and any insurance for the first 12 months. A foal looks cheap compared with a riding horse, but the true costs over three to four years to the point of being backed are often several times the purchase price.

5. Build a relationship with the breeder

Many KWPN breeders are willing to keep the foal with the dam for up to six months, even after the auction. Discuss before you bid whether that is possible and what it costs (livery, any rearing arrangements). A bond of trust with the breeder pays off handsomely later when you have questions about those first months with the mare.

What breeders and sellers need to know

For breeders considering entering their foal, the KWPN Online Foal Auction is above all a selective channel: not every entered foal is accepted, and the KWPN inspector may decide not to pass your foal through to the catalogue. Based on the KWPN page, the following applies:

• Entry fee: €250 (excl. VAT) per foal.
• Sales commission: 4% of the sale price.
• On a "buyback" (unsold) above €3,500, an 8% commission applies; on a buyback of €3,500 or less, no commission is withheld.
• Cancelling after publication of the start list costs 50% in administration fees; before publication it is fully refundable.

For the presentation of your foal on the video day, it is advisable to bring a few things: a calm, experienced handler, a well-groomed foal, and preferably your own headcollar with your name on a label for the breeding administration. The KWPN provides handlers on site, but many experienced breeders prefer someone from their own yard who knows the foal.

After the award: paperwork, transport and transfer of ownership

As soon as a bid is accepted, the buyer receives a sale confirmation. The settlement is handled outside the KWPN, directly between buyer and breeder, with the KWPN acting as intermediary for the studbook amendments. Practical points to note:

• Passport: The FEI or KWPN passport is transferred after payment. Check that the microchip number in the passport matches the foal.
• Transfer of ownership: This is handled via the KWPN members' portal. Allow for the fact that this can take several working days.
• Transport: With a foal still running at foot, the breeder usually only arranges transport after weaning (around the sixth month). This must be clearly agreed before bidding — in writing.
• Insurance and mortality: As standard, the risk passes to the buyer from the moment of transfer of ownership. Consider short-term insurance, particularly for valuable foals.

Common mistakes — and how to avoid them

Based on previous selling periods (and the conversations we have with buyers and breeders via SportHorses.nl), we see three recurring mistakes:

1. Bidding on the "story" rather than the horse. A strong dam line is wonderful, but the physical aptitude of this foal is what you are buying. Don't be carried away by a name.
2. Underestimating the rearing phase. There are three to four years between foal and first competition outings. Budget realistically at €2,500–€5,000 a year for youngstock rearing, feed, health and farrier costs. Figures vary by livery yard and region — see also What does a horse cost? Complete guide with all the costs (2026).
3. No plan B if the lot isn't awarded. If your highest bid stays below the reserve, the foal is not automatically sold. Discuss with the breeder whether a negotiation is possible after the official close — sometimes yes, sometimes no.

How these auctions fit into the wider market

Together with the Pavo Cup (4-/5-/6-year-old dressage horses, pre-selection 27–31 July 2026, final 28 August) and the Blom Cup (4-/5-/6-/7-year-old showjumpers, late August in Valkenswaard), the KWPN Online Foal Auctions form a continuous summer programme for Dutch sport horse breeding. A buyer who attends the Pavo Cup final will often see foals from earlier auction years coming back round — an instructive way to see what a foal choice delivers three to four years on.

Verified vs assumed

In this article, the following elements have been verified directly against official KWPN sources on 27 May 2026: the calendar of seven editions, the video day dates and locations, the bidding windows, the entry fee (€250 excl. VAT), the commission structure (4% / 8% / 0%) and the cancellation terms. Source: kwpn.nl/online-veulenveiling and kwpn.auction.

What this article does not verify strictly and what should be taken as guidance: the exact make-up of the veterinary examination per edition (which sometimes differs by location), the soft-close extension in the final minutes of a bidding window (the KWPN applies this principle, but the system sets the exact duration dynamically), and the indicative figures for rearing (dependent on livery yard, region and discipline). For sporting, medical or fiscal decisions that rest on this information, consult a KWPN staff member, a sport horse vet or a tax adviser with experience of horse breeding.

Ready to start your search?

Whether you want to bid on a KWPN foal or would rather look straight at already-weaned foals or young sport horses on the market: SportHorses.nl offers a searchable selection of sport horses with verifiable papers and direct lines of contact with the breeder. Browse the current selection via the button below and put the confirmed KWPN auction dates in your diary.