INFORMATION AND AUCTION CONDITIONS
1. FREE STAY FOR FOALS UNTIL 1 MAY 2027
Foals can stay at Stal Optimus free of charge until 1 May 2027. Veterinary expenses are not included.
Extended stays after 1 May 2027 are possible. Contact us for the conditions.
2. VETERINARIAN CONTROL
All foals are checked by a veterinarian. The report can be found on the webpage of each foal.
All foals can also be viewed before the auction at our farm.
3. LIVE FOAL GUARANTEE FOR EMBRYOS
If the mare loses the foal during pregnancy or the foal is born dead, Optimus will pay back the amount paid for the embryo.
Extended stays for the surrogate mare at Stal Optimus are possible at the following conditions:
• From December 2026 until birth of the foal: €250 per month (excl. VAT).
• Birth at Optimus: €350 (excl. VAT).
• Stay of the mare and the foal till weaning €350 per month (excl. VAT).
• Also after weaning foals can stay further at Stal Optimus. Contact us for the conditions.
4. SURROGATE MARES
The surrogate mare that carries an embryo remains the property of Optimus and must be returned to Optimus by the Buyer no later than 6 months after the birth of the foal, in good health, dewormed and vaccinated. The Buyer organises and pays for the return of the surrogate mare.
No rent is charged for the surrogate mares. Only a deposit of €2,000 has to be paid when the mare is picked up. This amount of €2,000 will be fully paid back when the mare is returned in good condition.
The surrogate mare may only be used to carry and raise the purchased foal, unless the mare is purchased.
The surrogate mares of lots 22, 23, 24, 27, 28 and 29 can be purchased for €2,000 (excl. VAT).
5. VAT
No VAT will be charged in following 2 cases:
• The invoice can be issued on a company in the European community, outside of Belgium, with a legal vat number. The foal/ surrogate mare must be delivered in the European Union and cannot remain in Belgium.
• The foal or surrogate mare (embryo) is sold outside the European Union and both of following conditions are fulfilled:
○ The foal or embryo is transferred outside the European community
○ The buyer will submit valid transport- and export documents within 6 months after the auction date.
If the documents are not provided or the foal or embryo is not transferred outside the European community the sum consisting of the VAT will be charged.
See the full auction conditions below.
6. CONDITIONS OF THE ONLINE AUCTION
6.1 AUCTION INFORMATION
a. The Stal-optimus.auction is organised by OPTIMUS AGRO NV, with its registered office situated at Fortsesteenweg 17,2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver (Belgium).
b. All foals and embryos, sold by stal-optimus.auction are bred by Stal Optimus. In that regard, no commission is counted.
6.2 RISK
The risk relating to each foal remains with Stal Optimus until one month after the auction. In case the Buyer prefers to pick up the foal earlier, the risk is transferred at that moment.
6.3 IMPLANTED EMBRYOS
a. LIVE FOAL GUARANTEE
See also section 3 above. The Live Foal Guarantee applies under the following conditions:
• Pregnancy Loss: If the mare loses the foal during pregnancy (miscarriage).
• Stillborn Foal: If the foal is born dead.
In the event that either of the above situations occurs, veterinary proof (vet report) must be provided within 24 hours to Optimus by email at dries@dsf.be.
In both conditions described above, the amount paid to Optimus for the embryo will be refunded.
b. In combination with your stablename, the name of the foal must have the suffix "Optima" if it is a filly, "Optimus" if it is a colt.
c. Embryos bought through this auction cannot be offered in any other auction as an embryo nor as a foal. Once the foal is 1 year old the buyer is free to offer it at any auction.
d. After the auction all surrogate mares will be checked again for pregnancy by our veterinarian. If the surrogate mare is not pregnant, the sale of that embryo is cancelled. Optimus has no obligation to deliver another embryo.
6.4 GENERAL CONDITIONS OF THE ONLINE AUCTION
a. To participate in this auction implies that these auction conditions are explicitly acknowledged and accepted without reservations.
b. The buyer guarantees, at all times, the correctness and completeness of the personal information he/she provides when registering for the auction. The username and password that the buyer uses during the auction are strictly personal and cannot be communicated to somebody else.
c. The sale is concluded when the lot is allotted to the highest bidder. Bids and payments are made in EURO. The ownership passes to the Buyer after Optimus has received full payment.
d. The auction website will state an indicative closing time of the auction per specific good. If, however, a bid is made in the last 5 minutes before the closing time of that lot, the auction time for that specific lot will be automatically extended by 5 minutes. The extended time will become the new indicative closing time.
e. In the auction a good is allotted to the highest bidder.
f. Pick-up
After the Auction and payment by the Buyer, the Buyer is free to pick-up the foal or surrogate mare at Stal Optimus.
Foals can however stay for Free until 1 May 2027 (see section 1 above).
In principle surrogate mares must be picked within 1 month after the auction. Buyers can however leave the surrogate mare longer, even after the foal is born (see section 3 above).
g. The Auction takes place 'by bidding'. The Bidder is bound to a bid; it is considered being irrevocable and unconditional. Each Bidder who places a Bid shall be deemed to be bidding for himself or herself, and is personally bound to Stal Optimus Auction for his/her obligations.
If multiple persons declare that they are placing or have placed a Bid jointly, they are jointly and severally liable for the resulting obligations to Stal Optimus Auction.
Stal Optimus Auction is entitled to participate in the Auction and to Bid in the name of third parties on the Lot(s) offered by means of the Auction.
h. Stal Optimus Auction organises the Auction and determines how it is conducted.
Stal Optimus may, at its sole discretion, withdraw a lot, correct lot information, reject an invalid bid, or suspend, extend or cancel the Auction, as reasonably necessary.
Participants acknowledge that an online auction may experience technical problems, interruptions or delays. Stal Optimus Auction cannot guarantee uninterrupted access to the Auction Website and, to the extent permitted by law, is not liable for losses resulting from these technical problems, interruptions or delays.
i. Stal Optimus shall not be liable for any visible and/or hidden defects. In any case, the liability of Optimus shall be limited to the amount paid by the Purchaser
j. Any dispute arising from this auction and its consequences will be exclusively ruled by Belgian law. The Courts of Antwerpen shall have exclusive jurisdiction to take cognizance of the disputes.
k. Stal Optimus Auction retains the right to modify these Auction Conditions without prior informing Participants. In the case of such modifications, the new Auction Conditions will automatically come into force as per the next Auction and as published on the Auction Website.
l. Stal Optimus Auction is not liable for anything directly and/or indirectly related to the Auction, Auction Conditions and the Lots, except in cases of wilful intent or wilful recklessness on the side of Stal Optimus Auction.