The KWPN society recently held inspections at five different locations across the United Kingdom with the inspection tour travelling from north to south. Foals, yearlings, two year old fillies and 3-year and older mares and geldings were inspected.
The foals were placed in quality order, the mares were inspected to be added to the main studbook and for predicates. With around 100 horses presented, both in the dressage and the jumping direction, in various classes, the tour was deemed a success. A report of the best dressage horses.
The tour kicked off in Banff, Scotland, with a home-based inspection at Morayfirth Sporthorse Studfarm. At that location, the most remarkable dressage foal was the Bordeaux son He’s Bordeaux MFS, who was deemed the best dressage foal. He is out of Chirana Utopia stb, a full sister to the KWPN-approved stallion Vivaldi. He’s Bordeaux MFS was bred by Caroline Ironside of Banff and has a spectacular front leg. This champion foal sold to a new owner via an advertisement on Eurodressage.
The next day, the tour moved to Broxburn, Scotland, where next to a large group of jumper foals, a small group of dressage foals was inspected. Halexia SSH (Amoureux out of Achanenna by Umenno), bred by and registered to Solaris Sport Horses of Braco, emerged the winner. The filly has an attractive front end and balanced movement.
The following day, inspectors evaluated a large group of dressage foals in Lancashire, where the Champion title was awarded to the Sir Donnerhall daughter Hadora out of Udysee (by Jazz), bred by Julie Lockey of Thornton Bradford and registered to Becky Moody from Guntwaite. The filly has distinct dressage horse conformation and she uses her body well in movement. In addition, a sizable number of mares, from both the dressage- and jumping breeding directions, were presented for studbook acceptance. Among them was the lovely, uphill Wynton daughter Eva-Vita (out of Nikita stb prok by Houston, breeder: E. van Egmond of Asch), registered to C. Twigg of Penrith. The youthful-looking but elegant three-year-old mare, who boasts a wonderful trot and excellent carriage, received the ster predicate. Later, she was also proclaimed provisional keur.
A week later the tour moved to Warwickshire, another venue where many foals were presented for inspection. In the dressage breeding direction, inspectors did not hesitate to award first place to His Highness (by Wynton out of Fahrenheydt by Fabriano), bred by and registered to C. Wood of Redditch, Worcs. The Wynton son is a well-developed and long-lined foal with a good front end. He also boasts very good carriage and movement. In the dam line this foal is closely related to the Hanoverian licensing champion His Highness (by Hohenstein). When all the scores had been tallied after the last inspection day in the UK, it was discovered that both the best jumper foal and the best dressage foal in Warwickshire that inspection day had also received the highest scores of the entire UK inspection tour.
Several quality mares in Warwickshire were inspected for studbook acceptance. Among them was Evita (by Floresco out of Wocata keur by Painted Black, breeder: Nicola Mahoney of Easton, registered to Frazer), a mare with a good canter. Although the mare of Frazer Hood of Rattlesden earned enough points for the ster predicate, she must meet additional requirements due to her registration. The long-legged D’Arilla (by Flemmingh out of Ozarilla keur by Jazz), bred by and registered to P. Ruck of Coventry, was presented for studbook acceptance via the IBOP. The very youthful-looking mare showed abundant elasticity as well as a canter with lovely jump. For her canter, she scored an 8.5; for elasticity, she received an 8. With a final score of 78, she was awarded the ster predicate. D’Arilla's full sister Carilla had earned the ster predicate last year, also after passing the IBOP. This year, she competed in the semi-final in Ermelo, which she had qualified for via the Pavo Cup pre-selections in Hartpury. In Warwickshire, the elastic mover Carilla was presented for the keur predicate, which she subsequently received.
The final KWPN inspection in the UK this year took place last Thursday at Fiona Bigwood's and Anders Dahl´s beautiful facility in Horsham, West Sussex. Among the dressage foals, another offspring of the stallion Amoureux (by Saros van ’t Gestelhof) claimed victory. This time, the champion was the colt named Holy Amazing Destiny (out of the Carnaval Drum daughter Carnaval Delight, b/rp: Lindsey Beech of Kemsing). The colt is a good mover and well balanced.
The complete results of the foal inspections in the UK will be posted soon at www.kwpn.org.
Text by IvD for the KWPN
Photos © Kevin Sparrow
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