It’s about time! The great tradition of Futurity auctions, featuring prospects and top show horses, has finally arrived on this side of the Atlantic. The Blazing Futurity Auction is a dream come true for enthusiasts around the world who, until now, have looked only to the prestigious and show-stopping sales in Oklahoma as their benchmark.
Thanks to a newly established partnership between TFY, organizer of the Cremona event, and 5 Star Equine Sales, Europe’s first auction house dedicated exclusively to American-bred performance horses founded last February in Northern Ireland, the ACME Stallion & Prospects Presentation will evolve into a major hybrid event in 2025. Partly online and partly live under the lights, sounds, and colors of CremonaFiere’s famous oval arena, it promises a professional, modern auction experience during one of the most anticipated weekends of the European reining season.
Breeders, trainers, and buyers will have a unique opportunity to connect through a transparent and reliable online sales platform. Its goal is clear: to bridge the gap in an increasingly global market, expanding the visibility of European horses not only across the continent but also to potential buyers in North America.
Today, European breeding programs are producing horses with bloodlines, genetics, and quality fully on par with their American counterparts. The timing could not be better to open the market in the other direction, from Europe outward.
That vision is precisely what inspired Madeline Munns Parker, founder and CEO of 5 Star Equine Sales, to embark on this new venture. Born and raised in Florida, Maddie grew up immersed in the western lifestyle, from her first reining competition as a child to her years as a rodeo queen. After taking a break during her teens and later relocating to Northern Ireland in 2022, her passion for the sport reignited, and she quickly became part of Europe’s reining community.
Having experienced both the American and European equine industries firsthand, she recognized how far European breeding, training, and competition programs have come. She realized that European horses and riders deserve a sales platform that truly reflects their quality, ambition, and professionalism. From that conviction, 5 Star Equine Sales was born.
Supported by the experts at Pweb Solutions, the Cremona Futurity auction will mark 5 Star Equine Sales’ official debut.
Bidding opens at 8:00 a.m. on November 13 and closes at 4:00 p.m. on November 15, following the ACME Stallion & Prospects Presentation, held in the main arena of the Reining Futurity on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
The auction will also be open to all horses competing at the Futurity, and participants will be recognized by a uniquely colored (yellow) bridle number. In addition, horses not physically present in Cremona can be nominated and showcased in the digital catalog, which includes photos, videos, and detailed profiles of each horse. Naturally, those presented live during the ACME event, which will also be live-streamed, will benefit from the added exposure of performing before a large, enthusiastic audience gathered for the Futurity Open Finals.
All bids will take place exclusively online, allowing buyers worldwide to participate remotely.
To celebrate this first major event, and as a gesture of good luck, 5 Star Equine Sales will waive all entry and catalog fees for this occasion. Sellers will only need to cover stable fees if they wish to participate in the ACME Stallion & Prospects Presentation.
An outstanding lineup of horses is already confirmed, and entries are now open for a limited number of additional horses, including show horses.
“This partnership marks a new chapter for horse sales in Europe,” says Madeline enthusiastically. “It’s time to raise the bar for how top-quality horses are presented and sold. This is how champions change hands.”
She firmly believes this collaboration between TFY, IRHA, and 5 Star Equine Sales is just the beginning of a long-term partnership. The shared goal is to develop a leading annual auction for Europe, one that embodies the prestige, professionalism, and excitement of the famous Big One in Oklahoma, where business moves fast, transparently, and with true passion.
Infos:
Annalisa Pariali (TFY): +39 335 7529186, annalisa.pariali@gmail.com
Madeline Munns Parker: +44 787 3717052, info@5starequinesales.com