SPSS News - Bernwode Brokat

Bernwode Brokat

Photo by kind permission of Kevin Sparrow

SPSS ELITE graded stallion (Brillant x Diamant II)

International FEI Pony Dressage Competitor

2013 GB Dressage Pony European Championships Team Reserve

Winner of

2012 SPSS BEF Pony Performance & Breeding Award

SPSS Dancer Medal

Futurity “Leading Sire of Sports Ponies Over All Years” 2009

& Futurity Leading Sire 2010 & 2011

Sire of

Stallion Grading Champion (2010)

& Mare Grading Champion (2009)

Futurity Elite youngstock for 3 consecutive years

Brokat is a Weser Ems stallion bred by Z. G. Michelbrand in Germany and owned by Sarah Steggall of Bernwode Stud. Brokat was licensed in Germany before being brought to the UK by Sarah in 2000. Following his arrival in the UK, Brokat was backed and brought on by Tracey Crutcher & her daughter, Louise (who was just 12 when she started riding the young Brokat). One of the highlights of Louise’s time with Brokat was the 2003 Blarney Dressage Festival in Ireland where they not only helped the England team to Gold Medal victory but also won an Individual Gold Medal. Brokat’s education continued with Louise but, as her primary focus was training for the Pony European Championships with the experienced team pony Daphne, Brokat was only lightly competed.

From 2005 to 2011, Brokat was primarily standing at stud, although he was always the pony that Sarah brought out when she had visiting children wanting a ride! One such ride in August 2011, by the then 12 year old Ruth Hole, was videoed and resulted in her and Brokat being invited to the 2011 British Dressage Pony Selection Trials.

Brokat and Ruth impressed the selectors and were invited to join the international pony squad for training over the winter. Hard work at the training sessions and at home over the winter paid off with improving results in the Pony Tests at the 2012 Premier League shows. This effort was rewarded by selection to compete for GB at the FEI International competitions at Moorsele (Belgium), Pompadour (France) where they qualified for the Kur and came home as the top British combination and Leudelange (Luxemburg). As a result of representing GB at these competitions, Brokat was awarded the coveted Elite status with the SPSS.

Brokat & Ruth at the Pompadour CDI in June 2012

Photo by kind permission of Cédric Vlemmings

By kind permission of Hannah Owen & Redpin Publishing

In addition to Brokat’s outstanding competition career, he has also been a popular sire, with over 60 of his foals being registered with the SPSS to date. Brokat has consistently sired high scoring youngstock in the BEF Futurity series, where foals to 3 year old ponies are assessed for their competition potential. As a result, he was awarded the Futurity “Leading Sire of Sports Ponies Over All Years” award in 2009 and the SPSS Dancer Medal. Brokat then won the annual Futurity Leading Sire awards for the following 2 years. He also sired an Elite scoring pony for 3 consecutive years, an achievement unmatched by any other pony stallion.

The majority of Brokat’s foals have been bred by people for themselves and as a result are being brought on slowly; however, those that are out competing have gained points at Novice and Elementary dressage and others are schooling well over jumps. Two colts by Brokat have graded with the SPSS, his son Bernwode Broadway standing Champion at the 2010 grading. Brokat has also sired three SPSS graded mares, including the 2009 Mare Grading Champion, Mademoiselle, who has the second highest grading score recorded to date. Brokat is also the damsire of the 2012 Reserve Champion Mare, Bernwode Celeste. Both Bernwode Celeste and Mademoiselle graded into the SPSS Head Studbook.

At the end of 2012, Brokat and Ruth were again been accepted onto the international pony dressage squad for training over the winter. Brokat remains with Ruth for the 2013 competition season and they hope to be representing GB at more International competitions.

Brokat was the cover star of the January 2013 issue of The British Breeder (original photo by Hannah Owen and cover design by Redpin Publishing). Copies of British Breeder magazine can be obtained from Redpin Publishing (www.redpin.co.uk), please call them on 01380 734374.

In January 2013, Brokat was honoured again by being the recipient of the prestigious SPSS sponsored BEF Pony Performance & Breeding Award at the annual British Breeders Dinner & Awards Ceremony. Brokat's rider, Ruth Hole, collected the award from Jan Rogers (BEF Head of Equine Development).

Ruth Hole collects Bernwode Broakt's award from Jan Rogers (BEF Head of Equine Development)

Photo by kind permission of Trevor Meeks

Note that the SPSS Office relocated in April 2014 and the contact details at the top of the page should now be used for all contact with the SPSS
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