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SPORTS PONY STUDBOOK SOCIETY A DEFRA approved Passport Issuing Organisation Studbook Office: The Last House, Keysoe Row West, Keysoe, Bedfordshire MK44 2JJ Tel: 07703 566066 Email: |
| 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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Nominate a Pony for the Horse & Hound Outstanding Mare Award
At the British Breeding Breeders’ Awards Dinner on Saturday 12 January 2012, the prestigious Horse and Hound Outstanding Mare Award will be presented to the breeder or associate of the mare who, in the opinion of the relevant equestrian sport discipline and the Awards Committee, has made an outstanding contribution to British breeding. This outstanding contribution may be through her progeny or through her own competition success (if she is British-bred). So mare can be nominated if: she has produced a British bred foal or foals which has/have gone on to compete at a high level within a sport discipline and/or she has attained an excellent sporting record herself. Nominations of horse mares are being grouped into the 3 Olympic disciplines but there is a separate category for ponies which will ensure that a pony mare goes forward onto the short list alongside one mare from each of the other categories. However, in order for a mare to go into the pony group, it has to be clearly stated on the entry form that the mare is a pony. The closing date for nominations is Friday 21st December and they must be made by completing the nomination form (which can be downloaded here). More information (and tickets) for the British Breeding Breeders' Awards Dinner may be found here.
BANDALERA (Ski Dancer x Corston Comet) 2012 Eventing Team Silver Medallist 2011 Eventing 9th Individually Photos by kind permission of Hannah Owen |
Some Top British-bred Pony Mares
CATHERSTON NUTSAFE (Catherston Nightsafe x Dutch Courage) 2010 Eventing Team GOLD Medallist 2008 & 2009 Team Silver Medallist
FALAZA (Libro x Embla George) 2011 Jumping Team GOLD Medallist & Individual GOLD Medallist |
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2012 Dancer Medal awarded to Rembrandt DDH
The 2012 SPSS Dancer Medal has been awarded to the SPSS Graded dressage pony stallion Rembrandt DDH (Renoir x Viktoria’s Chirac) in recognition of his contribution (with rider Maisie Scruton) to the British pony dressage team at the 2011 and 2012 Pony European Championships.
The SPSS instigated the Dancer Medal in 2007 as testimony to the achievements of the pony stallion Dancer, better known in the UK as Broomford Dancer. During Dancer’s illustrious career he represented Holland and Great Britain at the European Pony Dressage Championships and is also a renowned sire of some of Europe’s top pony stallions and performance ponies.
The Medal is an original piece of artwork commissioned by the SPSS from Belinda Sillars and is modelled on Dancer himself. It is a discretionary award given annually to a worthy SPSS registered pony that has achieved excellence in either competition or breeding.
Bred by Heinz Muller in Germany, Rembrandt had already been on the Dutch dressage team twice, winning Team Silver in 2009 then Team Gold in 2010, when he came to the UK to be ridden by Maisie Scruton. Despite them being a new partnership, they quickly impressed the selectors and so were selected for the British team for the 2011 Championships. At the Championships, they scored an impressive personal best in the Team Test to take 6th place and be the highest scoring British combinations. Maisie and Rembrandt then went on to score well in the Individual and Kur Championships, being placed 9th both times.
In 2012, Maisie and Rembrandt had another very successful National and International competition campaign, resulting in selection once again for the British team at the Pony European Championships. The team finished in fourth place with the highest British Pony team average (of 70%+) recorded to date. This was a great end to pony careers together as Maisie moves on to horses to compete at Junior level in 2013.
Read about other Dancer Medal recipients here |
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2012 SPSS AGM Announcement
SPSS members are invited to attend the 2012 AGM. It is being held on Thursday 13th December 2012 at 12 noon at SPSS Head Office (Sock Farm, Chilthorne Domer, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 8QZ). Please before Thursday 6th December if you plan to attend.
The Agenda can be downloaded here |
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Champion Jumping Pony 2012 SPSS Graded stallion, Rotherwood Signature |
Rotherwood Signature Rules
At the 2012 SPSS Young Jumping & Eventing Pony Championships the SPSS graded WPCS Sec B stallion, Rotherwood Signature (known as "Treacle") triumphed in a very competitive class and successfully defended his 2011 Young Jumping Pony Championships title despite a late change of rider! Everything was planned for Treacle's regular jumping rider, 10 year old Maisey Sloan, to compete him but she was unwell the day before leaving Treacle's owner, Trudy Golding of End House Stud to search for a substitute. Fortunately, Lara Whiteway was able to stand in and, although Treacle is considerably smaller than the horses she normally rides, she was even showing off his flying changes!! Judge, Gillian Milner commented on that Treacle had a "super front and hind leg technique". As well as the SPSS Thermatex rug awarded to the Champion, as highest scoring M&M, Treacle also won a £30 voucher from Acre House Equestrian, a saddle cloth from the SPSS (as he was the highest scoring SPSS registered pony) and as top 6 year old pony, a lesson from Show Jumping Trainer Ken Pritchard.
Click here for a full report on both the Jumping and Eventing Pony Championships and the other classes on the day including breeding information on all entrants. |
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SPSS Ponies Eligible for 2013 NPS Supreme Dressage Championships
Qualifiers are now taking place around the country for the 2013 NPS/Fodder Feeds Supreme Dressage Championships. This competition was introduced by the NPS Dressage Working Group to encourage both the performance and education of British bred ponies and their riders and qualifiers run through to 31st March 2013. The Championship Final will then be held at the prestigious show venue Addington Manor Equestrian Centre, Buckinghamshire on Sunday 14th April 2013. The set tests for 2013 are Prelim 12 and Novice 27 and SPSS passported/registered ponies may be entered in the "Part-bred", "Mini" or "Junior" sections. For more information and a list of qualifiers see here or look for NPS Dressage Working Group on Facebook. |
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 Top Red and Linsay Coleridge Smith on their lap of honour as 2012 Young Dressage Pony Champions Photo by kind permission of Hannah Owen
And as Stallion Champion with Alice Perry Photo by kind permission of Julia Shearwood Photography |
The young SPSS passported and British-bred stallion WFS Top Red (Top Yellow x Pilgrims Red) proved that he was well named when he was declared 2012 SPSS Stallion Grading Champion and 2012 Young Dressage Pony Champion on consecutive days at the end of September.
The four year old Top Red was bred by Yvonne Wood and Sarah Steggall, who now owns him with Elaine Coleridge Smith. Top Red carries top performance lines on both side of his pedigree with his sire and damsire both being German Bundeschampions and his sire also having been an international dressage pony. Top Red was backed, produced and ridden at the stallion grading by Alice Perry of Windmill Farm. Alice's trainer, Linsay Coleridge Smith, kindly stood in for Alice at the dressage as Alice already had a ride in the 4 year old class. German grading judge, Hans-Heinrich Bruening said that he considered Top Red to be a "top pony stallion" and also a "prospective international dressage pony". This was confirmed when Top Red was declared 2012 Young Dressage Pony Champion the next day with the highest score recorded in the 3 years that this championship has been running.
Reserve Champion at the Stallion Grading was another SPSS passported and British-bred pony, the three year old Rosewater Mr Darcy (FS Don't Worry x Manitu N). Bred and owned by Rosewater Stud, Mr Darcy also has an impressive performance pedigree with his sire being another Bundeschampion and his damsire a multiple Pony European Championships Dressage Team medal winner.
The Young Dressage Pony Reserve Champion was LE Chiffre (Caesar 171 x Donnerwetter), a five year old SPSS graded stallion bred by Beverley Brown and owned and ridden by her daughter Samantha. Le Chiffre's sire, the SPSS Elite graded Caesar 171, is another Pony European Championship Dressage Team medallist.
Full results from the stallion grading are available here and the Young Dressage Pony Championships results are here.
Photos from both the mare and stallion gradings can be viewed and purchased through Julia Shearwood's website |
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Mares Score Highly at 2012 Grading
Thirteen mares were forward at the SPSS Mare Grading and all were accepted into one of the SPSS mare studbooks. The top 4 mares all scored over 80% achieving the prestigious Head Studbook status. The 2012 Mare Champion was the Dutch part-bred Welsh pony, Madam's Miss Maria (Woldhoeve’s Silco x Wester Aikema’s Norbert) who became the highest scoring SPSS graded mare to date. Madam's Miss Maria, known as "Dot" was a member of the 2012 British Pony European Championships Dressage Team ridden by Harriette Williams. Harriette, who presented Dot at the grading, also kindly provided the lunchtime display. Dot is owned by Becky Moody, who imported her as a 2 year old and is responsible for her training and development. This lovely seven year old mare was also awarded the prestigious accolade of SPSS Elite in recognition of her international competition career and presented with a SPSS Merit Award and Sash for her contribution to the British Team during 2012. The other three mares scoring over 80% were all British-bred and the Reserve Champion, SPSS passported Bernwode Celeste (Caesar 171 x Bernwode Brokat), scoring over 86%. Full results here |
2012 Champion Mare Madam's Miss Maria and Harriette Williams on their lap of honour at the grading Photo by kind permission of Julia Shearwood Photography |
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2013 SPSS Year Book & Stallion Guide - Advertising Opportunity
The 2013 SPSS Year Book and Stallion Guide will be published in early January next year so it can be distributed at the 2013 BBSH Stallion Parade (on Saturday 5th January) as well as being posted to members before they make their stallion choices for the year.
As in previous years, the booklet will be A5, full colour on quality, glossy paper and members can take out a full page advert for £65 (or £105 for non members). More information on adverts and an application form can be downloaded here - and definite numbers and payment for adverts by 1st November in order to meet the publishing timescales.
The booklet will include the regular reports on last year’s SPSS Events, profiles of the winners of SPSS awards and a reviews of the 2012 Pony European Championships and the 2012 BEF Futurity Evaluations. We also plan to have a section where we ask prominent pony breeders, producers, judges and trainers what advice they'd give someone starting to breed competition ponies. Finally, many of the SPSS Stallions will feature in the Stallion Guide section. |
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2011 Champion - the German-bred 4 year old stallion Der Kleine Lord pictured wearing his SPSS Thermatex Rug prize, ridden by Erin Williams and owned by her mother, Clare.
Harriette Williams & Madam's Miss Maria at the 2012 Pony European Championships. |
Entries open for 2012 Young Dressage Pony Championships
The 2012 Young Dressage Pony Championships take place this year at Bury Farm, Buckinghamshire on Sunday 30th September. The event is being sponsored by the SPSS, supported by BD and organised and run by Bury Farm as part of their BD Affiliated Show on that date (so there are other classes running offering the opportunity for young ponies to be entered in another class as warm-up if desired). There are no qualifiers for the event so entry is direct to the championships.
This will be the third time the Young Dressage Pony Championships has run in this format (previously it was part of the British Dressage Young Horse and Breeding Championships). Past competitors have gone on to compete Internationally for GB, most notably, Madam's Miss Maria who was a member of the British Dressage team at 2012 Pony Europeans having placed 2nd in the 5 year old class at the Championships in 2010.
Open to BD registered and un-registered ponies only up to and including 148cms in height (149cms with shoes) the event includes sections for four, five and six year olds. Riders/owners need not be BD members and may be any age. The prizes are generous with £75 to the Overall Champion as well as a Thermatex Rug and voucher for BD Horse registration. The Reserve Champion receives £50 and the overall 3rd placed combination £25. The other section winners receive a voucher for 50% off Horse Registration. There's also a prize of a SPSS Teddy Bear for the youngest rider!
Although entries can be made on-line through Bury Farm's website, postal entries are preferred as all entrants are requested to provide information about the pedigree etc of their pony so that breeding information can be provided to spectators. Further information, including entry form, prize list and full rules, can be found here. The judges for 2012 are both very used to evaluating dressage ponies as they are the FEI International Judge, breeder & trainer, Jennie Loriston-Clarke, who has judged the Dressage and Eventing at past Pony European Championships and Rachel Hillier who, as well as being a British Dressage List Two Judge, also used to be a British Dressage Pony Team Selector. |
| Spectators are very welcome and a running order will be available including information about the breeding of each pony. The Bury Farm Restaurant will be open serving hot and cold food and drinks and there will be further information about the SPSS available. | |
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Entries open for 2012 Young
Jumping & Eventing Pony Championships
Entries are now open for the SPSS Open Young Eventing Pony Championships, and the SPSS Open Young Jumping Pony Championships . Both events are being held on Saturday 27th October at South View Equestrian Centre, Cheshire as part of the 2012 International Performance Showcase & Auction Event. Also being held as part of the same event is the Parys Horses Open Small Young Eventing Horse Championships (for 148-158cm horses).
Both of the pony events are sponsored by the SPSS and open to any 4, 5 or 6 year old pony. Riders can be any age (including adults) and there's a special prize of a SPSS teddy for the youngest rider. Each Champion will win a SPSS Thermatex rug as well as a sash and extra rosette and provided there are sufficient entries, there are cash prizes to third place for each age group as well as other prizes for the top ponies.
There are also special prizes in both Pony Championships for the highest scoring Pony Club member as well as tack shop vouchers for the best M&M pony.
Entry forms, rules, full prize lists and more information can be found here for the Jumping Championship and here for the Eventing Championships (also including information about how the competition will run)
Spectators are very welcome and a running order will be available including information about the breeding of each pony. |
2011's youngest competitor (by 3 years!) 8 year old Maisey Sloan relaxes with her SPSS Teddy having ridden 5 year old WPCS Sec B & SPSS graded stallion, Rotherwood Signature to be 2011 Jumping Champions |
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Bathleyhills "Harold" (Bathleyhills Monet x unknown) Photo by kind permission of Kevin Sparrow
Strictly Dun Dancing (Langwedh Sunny Jim x Perspectief) Photo by kind permission of Kevin Sparrow |
Futurity 2012 - Halfway Report
The 2012 Baileys Horse Feeds/BEF Futurity Young Horse Evaluation series has reached it's halfway point with eight of the sixteen evaluations completed. Excitingly for SPSS breeders Bathleyhills Stud, the top scoring sports pony at this point is their chestnut colt foal by their own young SPSS graded stallion, Bathleyhills Monet. The foal, known as Harold, is out of a Dutch mare (of unknown breeding), Marieke, and he was entered in the Dressage section at Arena (UK) where his excellent Elite score of 9.20 was not only the top scorer of the day but has also placed him as the second highest scoring horse or pony across all venues at that point. The only other Sports Pony to receiveve a coveted Elite premium by the halfway stage was also at the Arena UK Futurity and was Victoria Leggat's foal Strictly Dun Dancing out of SPSS Graded mare Willowmeanabusiness (by Perspectief).
The remaining 2012 dates/venues are given in the table below and spectators are welcome at all the events, with one of the judges generally commenting on each entry after it's evaluation.
See www.bef.co.uk for more information
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Entries Open for 2012 SPSS Stallion & Mare Gradings
Entry forms are now available for the 2012 SPSS Stallion & Mare Gradings which are being held on Saturday 29th September at Bury Farm Equestrian Centre, Mill Road Slapton Bucks LU7 9BT.
The mare grading will take place in the morning, judged by Hans Heinrich Bruening & Celia Clarke then the stallions will be presented in the afternoon. The stallions also have the option of doing the British Showjumping stallion assessment as Geoff Glazzard will be part of the judging panel, alongside the German judge, Hans Heinrich Bruening, and GB's renown international judge/trainer/breeder, Jennie Loriston-Clarke.
The height limit for both mares and stallions is 158cms and early entry is advised as last year all spaces were filled well before the closing date. Specialist equestrian photographer Julia Shearwood will be the official event photographer.
Click here to Download the 2012 Mare Grading Entry Form Click here to Download the 2012 Stallion Grading Entry Form
Spectators welcome – Free Entry |
 The smallest stallion to grade in 2012, the Welsh Section A, Sunwillow Jubilee Photo by kind permission of Julia Shearwood Photography |
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LE Chiffre and Becky Moody By kind permission of www.jumpforit.co.uk |
LE Chiffre Qualifies for British Dressage National Finals
The 5 year old SPSS Graded stallion, LE Chiffre (Caesar 171 x Donnerwetter) made his mark at the first of the British Dressage Summer Regional Championships at Frys East Yorkshire on July 13th. Ridden by Becky Moody, LE Chiffre warmed up by winning the Open Section in his first ever Medium test and it was also only his 5th British Dressage competition!!. They then competed in the Elementary Open Regional Championships and finished 2nd with 70.94%. This great score has qualified them for the prestigious Espayo Dressage National Championships in September. More information about the Championships, including how to get tickets, is available here.
LE Chiffre was bred by Bev Brown of Leamside Equestrian and is owned by her daughter, Sam. He is by their SPSS Elite dressage stallion Caesar 171 out of a German-bred mare who includes the famous sire and competition pony, Dancer, in her ancestry. |
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All Teams Announced for Pony Euros
The British Eventing, British Showjumping and British Dressage Pony Selectors have announced the teams for the 2012 Pony European Championships which are being held from 17th - 22nd July in Fontainebleau, France (more information can be found on the Championships website - here).
The SPSS is delighted that Elite Stallion Rembrandt DDH has been selected for the Dressage team with his owner and rider, Maisie Scruton. Remmie and Maisie were also on the 2011 team and were the highest placed British combination in the Team Test. One of the other ponies selected for the dressage team also has an SPSS connection as Becky Moody's Madam's Miss Maria had a filly foal, Starledna, in 2009 by SPSS Elite Stallion Caesar 171. Madam's Miss Maria also competed in the first SPSS sponsored Young Dressage Pony Championships in 2010 and she was 2nd in the 5 year old section.
The full lists of selected ponies can be found here (Eventing), here (Jumping) and here (Dressage). We wish all those selected the best of luck at the Championships and offer our commiserations to those not selected this year. |
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Janou Bleekman & Cregaan Scenic |
2012 British Eventing Pony Championships
The last of the key selection events for the Eventing ponies was the 2* Charles Owen British Pony Championships at Brand Hall from 1-3 June. Forty-one ponies were entered and the competition was fierce. However, Janou Bleekman & Cregaan Scenic used the experience they gained as part of the Bronze medal wining British team at the 2011 Pony European Championships to good effect. They did a good dressage test for 3rd place at the end of the first day, then completed a stylish clear cross country within the time to be in second place going into the show jumping. Then they achieved one of only a few clears show jumping within the time to finish as Champions and possibly also earn themselves a place on the 2012 team. Click here full report and more photos. |
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Tresparrett Spirit of Two-Rivers showing his jumping style at home at TBS |
In Memory of SPSS Stallion, Tresparrett Spirit of Two-Rivers (2008 - 2012)
It is with sadness that we report that young SPSS Graded stallion Tresparrett Spirit of Two-Rivers died suddenly in his stable on the 19th May 2012. This Welsh Section A stallion was bred by Roberta Jones and Emily Kenton and arrived at Trevoulter Barton Stud (TBS) in Cornwall as a yearling. Known as "Norman", he was successfully shown in hand before becoming the first Welsh Section A to grade with the SPSS in 2010. Small in size but huge in character, he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his owner Lynne Pluess, her daughter, Kerensa Pluess-Cobbledick, and the rest of the team at TBS.
TBS have a supply of frozen semen and so it is still possible to take advantage of Norman's bloodlines, while stocks last. Read more about Norman including a tribute from TBS here. |
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Bernwode Brokat Gains ELITE Status
The SPSS is delighted to announce that the graded stallion Bernwode Brokat has been awarded the accolade of "ELITE" by the studbook. This prestigious status is given to those stallions (and mares) that have either represented their country at a FEI international competition (under saddle) or are the sire/dam of a FEI international competition pony/horse. The SPSS ELITE stallions are a select group with just 4 other ELITE stallions currently registered with the SPSS for the 2012 stud season.
Brokat earned his "ELITE" by representing Great Britain at the FEI International Dressage Competition at Zilveren Spoor, Moorsele, Belgium (17-20 May 2012). Ridden by 13 year old Ruth Hole since October 2011, Brokat has moved up to International Competition after a number of years where his primary "occupation" was as a sought after breeding stallion. Read more about Brokat and his achievements both under saddle and in breeding (he has been the BEF Futurity Pony Sire of the Year for the last 3 years and sired both Mare and Stallion Grading Champions) here. |
Bernwode Brokat and Ruth Hole at Moorsele International Dressage Competition May 2012 |
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The young SPSS Graded stallion, LE Chiffre (Caesar 171 x Donnerwetter) made his competitive debut a winning one at Beaver Hall, Staffordshire. Competing in the British Dressage affiliated Elementary classes, LE Chiffre (aka "Peanut") was ridden by Becky Moody and scored an impressive 73% in his first class winning outright. Peanut's breeder, Bev, and owner, Sam Brown of Godrics Stud, reported that he was then a little tired for the second test but he still scored 67.6% and placed 1st in the Open section (and 2nd overall).
Four days later, Peanut and Becky competed at Vale View and they again won the Open section in both classes with Peanut becoming more confident. They scored 72.65% in one class (and were overall winners) and 67.2% in the other. These results have qualified him for the British Dressage Summer Regional Championships.
Prior to this, Peanut's ridden outings had been limited. He went to the Stallion Display at Hartpury in January 2011, where he rose to the occasion and performed well in the electric atmosphere despite only having been backed a few weeks earlier. Then, having had a training break over the summer, in October 2011, he did a couple of Novice tests "Hors Concors" to allow him to gain experience without pressure. Peanut has been based at Becky Moody's yard over the winter and is trained by both his owner, Sam Brown, and test rider, Becky Moody.
Peanut is being aimed at the 5 year old class at the SPSS Young Dressage Pony Championships (being held on Sunday 30th September at Bury Farm Equestrian Centre, Buckinghamshire).
Peanut is pictured at Vale View, in the warm up (above) and test (below). |
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Beth Vernon and the British-bred, SPSS Elite mare, Falaza at the 2011 European Championships By kind permission of Hannah Owen |
SPSS Elite Mare, Falaza (Libro x Embla George) and rider Beth Vernon won Team and Individual Gold at last year's Pony Europeans and they were in action at the Pony of the Year Show over the Easter weekend. Competing in the Pony of the Year JA Grand Prix alongside most of the other top pony combinations, Falaza and Beth won one of the qualifying competitions and placed 3rd in the other. Winners of this class last year, Beth and Falaza were foot perfect across first two rounds in the final and then recorded the fastest clear round in the 6 pony jump off to win again. A great result showing that they remain on fantastic form.
Ponies and riders seeking selection for the 2012 Pony European Championships have to compete in certain competitions, which have been designated as viewing trials by the selectors and the first of these is at Wales & West from 4-7 May. Updates from these trials and other key competitions will be posted on the Pony European Championships page as results are available. |
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SPSS Pony is 2012 Pony Dressage Champion in Australia
The Sports Pony Studbook Society (SPSS) passported, British Bred dressage pony, Rosewater Driving Miss Daisy became the 2012 Australian Dressage Pony Champion of Champions last month. Daisy is by FS Don't Worry out of the British-bred and SPSS graded mare Broomford Bellisima (Broomford Dancer (GRP & SPSS Elite Graded) x Wittinger (Hann)) was bred by Sarah Eberle and Lucy Northcott (Rosewater Sports Ponies) in the UK in 2008.
Daisy scored 9.0 as a Sports Pony foal in the Futurity at Catherston that year and this score was the equal highest for all Sports Ponies that year and in the top 5% across all entrants. As a yearling, Daisy was bought by Andrea Taylor (of Tamlyn Farm Performance Ponies, Victoria, Australia) and exported to Australia to be a foundation pony for her sports pony breeding programme.
Daisy was entered for the Australian 4 year old Young Pony Class at the 2012 PSI Dressage and Jumping with the Stars (22nd - 24th March). Ridden by Benjamin Terry, Daisy won the first round, a "Material Class" where groups of 3 ponies rode a commanded test and were awarded marks for walk, trot, canter and general impression as a dressage pony. They were then unsaddled and re-presented individually and were given a mark for conformation. The next day, the top 3 four year old ponies were ridden by the Pony Guest Rider (Cassia Montgomery) and Daisy gained a score of 7.7, which added to her first round score (of 8.26) made her the 4 year old Champion.
On the final day of the show, the judges, Emile Faurie and Joan Macartney, selected Daisy as the 2012 Young Dressage Pony Champion of Champions winning the Jill Cobcroft Trophy and $2000. A fantastic result for her Australian owner (Andrea Taylor) and rider (Ben Terry) and even more so for her British breeders, SPSS Director, Sarah Eberle, and her daughter Lucy Northcott. |
Ben Terry and Rosewater Driving Miss Daisy competing in round one (above) and working in on the Saturday (below)
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 Rembrandt DDH and Maisie Scruton do their lap of honour at Myerscough Photo by kind permission of Ken Etteridge |
Winning start for Rembrandt DDH
With two of the four "Nominated Selection Competitions" completed (Mysercough and Keysoe Under 21s Premier Leagues), SPSS Graded Stallion, Rembrandt DDH and Maisie Scruton are among the top contenders for the Pony Europeans Championships Dressage Team. Rembrandt (Renoir x Viktoria's Chirac) & Maisie were members of the 2011 GB dressage team and they scored 72.22% at the first nominated competition, Myerscough Premier League, and won the class. They followed this up by scoring 72.564% at the Keysoe Under 21s Premier League, placing 4th in the team test. Rembrandt and Maisie also competed in the Pony Individual and Freestyle Classes, scoring 68.9% for 4th place in the Individual and winning the Freestyle with 76.13%
Details of other contenders for the team are given on our 2012 Pony Europeans page - here. The selection policy is also summarised on that page. |
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Success for Belafonte d'Avalon in the USA
Owners, Kathy St Martin and Jos Mottershead, report that their homebred young SPSS Graded stallion, Belafonte d'Avalon is now in training (in the USA)with Rebecca Brown and is proving himself to be an exceptional eventer. At Belafonte's first Hunter Trial, on March 17th & 18th, he won with a double clear in the stadium jumping, a penalty score of 30 (which is equivalent to a good mark of 70%) in the dressage and a clear round in the cross country phase. The event was Meadow Creek Hunter Trial in Kosse, Texas and Belafonte was competing at at Beginner Novice level.
Belafonte then moved up to Novice level for his next competition and he excelled again, finishing on his dressage score in 4th place on an equal score to the winners (the places were split on how close they were to the optimum time and Belafonte was the fastest of those on equal scores, so placed lowest!). Find out more about Belafonte, including more pictures from the Horse Trials, here |
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Colette Hincks has sent in the first foal report of the year. The as yet un-named bay filly (pictured at 9 days old) was born on on Wednesday 7th March at 11.30pm and she is out of Bella Bagira and by Dornik B. Bella Bagira (Batman x Durello) is a German-bred State Premium mare who is in the SPSS Head Studbook. Dornik B (Derano Gold x Derbino) is one of the most successful dressage ponies ever. As a young pony, he won the Bundeschampionships four times in a row. Then, at the Pony European Championships, he won Individual Gold four times (2000, 2001, 2004 & 2007), Silver in 2006, Bronze in 2002 as well as Team Gold medals in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Dornik B is also a top pony sire with his sons Dornik Double and Deinhard B being Dressage Team Gold medallists and Di Baggio K and Dornika B being Bundeschampions.
If anyone else has had or is awaiting a foal by a SPSS graded stallion or graded mare, then please send us a picture for the foals page - here. There is a link on the page to email in pictures – but please note that you must have the permission from the photographer for any pictures sent for the website (and tell us that you have in your email). Please also include the foals name, colour, sex, parents names, date of birth and breeder. |
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Bolero - awarded Elite Premium in 2011 x Grenadier 11)Photo by kind permission of Kevin Sparrow |
Review of 2011 Futurity Results
A comprehensive review of the results from the 2011 BEF/Baileys Horse Feeds Futurity Evaluations is now available here. This includes details of all Elite Ponies as well as those ponies that were the highest scoring entrants in their age group and discipline (so beating all the horse entrants!). The Top Pony Sires and Dams are also listed (here). Data for the review is by kind permission of the BEF.
Although the focus is on the sports pony results, as some SPSS Graded stallions produce primarily horse progeny, there is a list of all SPSS Sires with more than 3 progeny evaluated in 2011 (here). For the first time, there is also a ranked list of all SPSS Graded Stallions who have had 3 or more progeny evaluated since 2007 (here).
The 2012 Futurity dates are available here and entries open on the 1st June. |
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Dates Announced For 2012 SPSS Young Pony Championships
SPSS Open Young Dressage Pony Championships supported by British Dressage Sunday 30th September - Bury Farm Equestrian Centre, Slapton, Bucks LU7 9BT
SPSS Open Young Event Pony Championships Saturday 27th October - South View Equestrian Centre, Cheshire CW7 4DL
SPSS Open Young Jumping Pony Championships Saturday 27th October - South View Equestrian Centre, Cheshire CW7 4DL
All young pony classes are open to any 4,5 & 6 year old ponies (max height 148cms). More information will be available from the Events page soon.
The Jumping and Eventing Championships are being run by the International Pony Showcase & Auction team and the IPS Auction will be held after the Championships. - for more information see the IPS Website or find them on Facebook (IPS Auction). |
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Photo by kind permission of Foto-Job.com |
New Stallion - Wadacre's Wee Pocket Rocket
The WBS-UK registered, 146cms 3 year old, Wadacre's Wee Pocket Rocket (Waikiki of Wadacre (Hann) x Hurstead Spruce (BRP)) has joined the ranks of SPSS Stallions for 2012. Wee Pocket Rocket passed the Hannover Pony Verband licensing at Adelheidsdorf in February where he was the only stallion at the licensing to be handled by a young child. Of the 25 stallions forward at the licensing, 13 passed and Wee Pocket Rocket was the only British-bred stallion to pass. He will be standing in Germany in 2012 while he is prepared for his Performance Test. Find out more about Wee Pocket Rocket here. |
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The 2012 Stallion Showcase is being held at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre on the 4th and 5th Febriuary. Dressage stallions are on display fro 11am on the Saturday while the Sunday starts at 8.15 with a loose jumping competition for 3 and 4 year old horses and ponies followed by the Jumping and Eventing stallions form 11.30am. On the Saturday, there will be a Masterclass with Jennie Loriston Clark at 2pm and the she will be riding herself in a demo at 3.30pm and on the Sunday, Oliver Townend will be giving a demo on one of his event horses at 1pm. There will also be a silent auction to raise money for Help for Heroes over the weekend and the auction lots can be viewed here. Tickets are £10 each day or £16 for both days.
SPSS Graded Stallion Littledale Bright Star is on display on Saturday at 12.52 and can also been seen in stable 04. The full timetable can be seen here. |
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Top Yellow with Ellie Jolleys Lower photo by kind permission of Ken Etteridge
Fourwinds Gethin with Yo Yo Prigent Photo by kind permission of Kernesa Pluess-Cobbledick |
It is again with sadness that we have to report the devastating loss of two more SPSS stallions, the Elite Graded Westfalian, Top Yellow, and the young Welsh Section D, Fourwinds Gethin. Our heartfelt sympathy goes to the owners and connections, past and present, of these two lovely palomino stallions
Eighteen year old Top Yellow (Till the Champ x Kirby Cane Bugler) died instantly just before Christmas last year, having accidently knocked his head against the stable door. Yellow was an International Dressage pony, Westphalian Licensing Champion and dual Bundeschampion who was bred by the notable German dressage trainer Johann Hinnemann. Yellow began his FEI pony dressage career for Belgium with Delphine Meiresonne and was also ridden by an Austrian pony rider before he was brought to the UK. In the UK, he initially acted as a schoolmaster for various pony riders, including Lucie Manna and Kerry Grant, until he moved to the Wood Family Stud in Yorkshire where, after initially being competed by daughter, Sam Wood, he then focussed on his stud duties and his first UK born progeny date from this time. Most recently, Top Yellow has been with the Jolley family and recommenced his ridden career to combine schoolmaster duties with Ellie Jolleys and a successful stud career with his progeny gaining good results in the BEF Futurity Evaluations. Read more about Top Yellow including a tribute from his last owners here.
Fourwinds Gethin was bought as a two year old colt in 2007 by SPSS Chair, Warmblood breeding/grading expert and author, Celia Clarke, and her friends Richard and Jean Hurl. Known as "Rin", he was the perfect palomino Section C that Celia had sought for years - albeit that he later outgrew the height limit for Section Cs and was transferred to the Section D of the WPCS studbook. Rin was licensed by the WPCS in 2007 and graded with the SPSS in 2008 after which he moved to Trevoulter Barton Stud (TBS) in Cornwall to start both his stud and ridden careers. Backed by Kerensa Pluess-Cobbledick and her team at TBS, Rin was brought on steadily as a versatile all rounder, competing at both dressage and jumping classes with many wins and qualifications. Indeed, only days before he died in January (from complications after a colic operation), he'd qualified for both the NPS and David Broome Dressage Championships. Rin's owners have a supply of frozen semen and so it is still possible to take advantage of his bloodlines, which as they are almost completely free of Derwen and Brenin ancestry makes him an excellent outcross for mares from these lines. Read more about Fourwinds Gethin including tributes from his owners and carers here. |
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The SPSS instigated the Dancer Medal in 2007 as testimony to the achievements of the pony stallion Dancer, better known in the UK as Broomford Dancer. During Dancer’s illustrious career he represented Holland and Great Britain at the European Pony Dressage Championships and is also a renowned sire of some of Europe’s top pony stallions and performance ponies.
The Medal is an original piece of artwork commissioned by the SPSS from Belinda Sillars and is modelled on Dancer himself. It is a discretionary award previously given annually to a worthy SPSS registered pony that has achieved excellence in either competition or breeding. However, for 2011, in a break with tradition, instead of the Dancer Medal being presented to a worthy SPSS registered pony, the SPSS Committee decided that the medal should be awarded to Mrs Edith Rutherford.
Edith was one of the first SPSS Directors and not only acted as Treasurer, managed the finances and produced all the accounts, but also worked tirelessly to build and support the studbook until her retirement from the SPSS Committee in 2011. Edith was the key instigator of this award and she selected and worked with the artist in the medal’s production. Indeed, Edith is pictured (on the right) with the medal’s creator, Belinda Sillars, taking delivery of the first medal at Badminton Horse Trials.
Previous winners of the medal are: Gorsfraith Brenin (2007), Catherston Nutsafe (2008), Bernwode Brokat (2009) and SOS Kantje's Unicolor (2010). Read more about them here. |
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Redoubtable with Bob Champion By kind permission of B&M Video |
In Memory of SPSS Stallion, Redoubtable (1991 - 2012)
It is with sadness that we report that SPSS Graded stallion Redoubtable died on the 16th January 2012, a few months before his 21st birthday. This lovely stallion was bred in the USA and had an incredible 12 year career racing, including 21 wins before a career change to combine stud duties with being a winning show horse. He was graded with both the Sports Pony Studbook Society and the SHB(GB) will very be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with his owner Trudy Goulding and her team at End House stud.
Read more about Redoubtable, his achievements, pedigree and his progeny here |
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Sue and Mike Clarke, the owners of SPSS graded stallion, Dowland K.O. Bo Diddley sent in the lovely picture below of Bo Diddley's dam, Holme Grove Cezanne with both her own 2011 chestnut colt (by Casino Royale K) and her orphaned "grandson", the bay colt, Dowland Bravado. Bravado is by Bo Diddley out of the SHB(GB) mare, Broomford Bravado (by Maximillian Saluut), who sadly died 24 hours after her colt was born. Sue said that it was a very stressful and tiring few months for them, but it was helped by Cezanne who, once she had her own foal, kept an eye on Bravado too and allowed him to play with her boy (although not to suckle from her!).
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As part of their Equine Arena Grand Opening on Saturday 21st January 2012, Bicton College in Devon (postcode EX9 7BY) are arranging a Stallion Parade for stallions based in the area and SPSS graded stallion, the Welsh Section A, Tresparrett Spirit of Two-Rivers (pictured) is one of the stallion appearing. The stallions are on show between 10am and noon and afterwards there will be student displays, followed by the formal opening at 1.30pm by Mary King.
The afternoon will consist of Paula Lee riding her Advanced Dressage horse, Marco, and Sarah Cheetham providing a lesson on what the judge is looking for as well as training tips; Justin Tuff will be giving a show jumping demo using his expert tried and tested methods and Mary and Emily King will be presenting some cross country style jump training.
There will refreshments available, trade stands and the Mare and Foal Sanctuary will be in attendance. More information is available here and tickets can be purchased from Bicton College - please call 01395 562300 for more details. |
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David Buckton, SEIB Associate Director presents the Meritoire trophy to Celia Clarke to a standing ovation from attendees Photo by kind permission of Trevor Meeks |
Top Breeders Award to SPSS Chair, Celia Clarke
At the 2012 Breeders Awards Dinner, the "South Essex Insurance Brokers Meritoire" was presented to SPSS Founder Director and Chair, Mrs Celia Clarke. As the recipient of this honour is kept secret until the announcement, Celia was rendered speechless at the time of the presentation, but she later said: "I would like to dedicate my receiving this award to the memory of my friend and mentor, the late, great and irreplaceable Caroline O’Hara, founder of New Priory Stud and, as breeder of Animation, the leader of the resurgence of British breeding success at the highest level." The Meritoire Trophy is awarded annually to someone that the Awards Committee consider is making, or has made, an outstanding contribution to the Performance Sport Horse and Pony breeding industry.
The text of the citation, as read out on the night by Compère, Mike Tucker, is reproduced here and details how great and broad a contribution to British Breeding Celia has made. The other SPSS Directors and Committee members are delighted that Celia has received this prestigious award and greatly appreciate her efforts over the years in setting up and taking forward the SPSS. |
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British Bred Competition Pony Award
At the 2012 Breeders Dinner & Awards Ceremony (organised by the British Horse Foundation), SPSS Founder Director and Chair, Celia Clarke, presented the SPSS sponsored British bred Competition Pony Award to Falaza (Libro x Embla George), a rising 11 year old SHB(GB) grey mare bred by Jane Fowles in Norfolk. Now owned by Allyson Blagg and ridden by her daughter Beth Vernon, Falaza was a member of the GB Pony Jumping Team at the Pony European Championships in Poland in 2011 and won both Team and Individual Gold medals - a fantastic result for this British-bred mare and her young rider.
Falaza is graded Elite with the SPSS in recognition of her International competition successes although it is expected that she will be concentrating on her competition career for the next few years. Read more about Falaza's triumphs here. |
The SPSS Performance and Breeding Award 2011 being collected by Falaza's breeder, Jane Fowles (on right). Photo by kind permission of Trevor Meeks |
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Double Gold medallists - British-bred Falaza and Beth Vernon at the 2011 Pony European Championships Photos by kind permission of Hannah Owen |
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Jane Buchan from Baileys with Sarah Steggall for Leading Sports Pony Stallion, Bernwode Brokat Photo by kind permission of Trevor Meeks
Leading Sports Pony Mare, Loveden Sea Swallow's award. |
SPSS Breeders Rewarded at Breeders Dinner
At the British Horse Foundation's Breeders Dinner & Awards Ceremony in January 2012, the Baileys Horse Feeds/British Breeding Certificates of Merit for both the Leading Sire and Dam of Sports Ponies went to SPSS breeders and their ponies.
The Leading Sire of Sports Ponies was awarded a Certificate of Merit based on the results gained by his progeny entered in the 2011 evaluations as Sports Ponies. For the third consecutive year, the recipient of this award was the Bernwode Stud's Bernwode Brokat (Brillant x Diamant II). Brokat is an established SPSS graded sire who is producing top quality stock each year as proven by his repeated winning of this title. In 2011, Brokat had an average score of 8.52 from his top 5 progeny with the contributing scores coming from the Elite Premium Eventing foal Bolero (out of Grey Squirrel by Grenadier 11); High First Premium Dressage foal KitKat (out of Coronet by Rambo) and the First Premium winners: Dressage two year old Bernwode Golden Delicious (out of Golden Dream by Golden Dancer); Showjumping foal Waterborn Bertina (out of Sharron by Poundy Brenin) and Eventing foal Portmead Ballerina (out of Houdini's Aristocrat by Sulaatiks Pavarotti). Brokat and his new 12 year old rider, Ruth Hole, were selected for the Pony Dressage Squad training over the winter and despite it being nearly 4 years since his last competition, they have already been scoring in excess of 70%.
To complete the "double" for SPSS Ponies, Bathleyhills Stud's SPSS graded mare, Loveden Sea Swallow (Gigman Jacana x Downland Sea Eagle) was awarded the "Leading Sports Pony Dam" Certificate of Merit. Sea Swallow's excellent average progeny score of 8.88 meant that as well as being top sports pony dam, she finished equal third across all of the eligible dams! The contributors to this score were the three year old Dressage mare, Bathleyhills Sea Spray (by Chateau de Brion) who achieved Elite Premium level as a dressage pony and the High First Premium two year old dressage filly, Bathleyhills Sea Breeze (by Casino Royale K). Loveden Sea Swallow is a British-bred Welsh Section B pony and was bred by Mrs M I Lord. Bathleyhills Stud also won this award last year with their German bred mare, Mona. Sadly, Penny Walster of Bathleyhills Stud was unable to attend the dinner (due to having a very young baby) but Sarah Steggall collected the award on Penny's behalf and the certificate and rosette are pictured on the left.
The entries are expected to open for the 2012 Futurity Evaluations on 1st June, from a link on this part of the BEF website. Hopefully 2012 will be another great year for SPSS ponies!! |
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2012 BBSH Stallion Event
Last year's British Bred Sport Horse (BBSH) Stallion Event at Hartpury College was a sell-out, with standing room only at peak time. Over 700 people went through the doors to view the annual event which has become an established feature in the British sport horse and pony calendar. This year it takes place at Hartpury College (GL19 3BE) again, on Saturday 28 January 2012 from 1pm to 10pm, and is set to be bigger and better than ever, with a new trade stand area, top class stallions, international riders and an evening spectacular.
Tickets are £10 and include the new bumper stallion edition of the British Breeder Magazine, which will be launched at the event. The SPSS display boards will be set up in the trade stand area so do come and see us. More information including how to get tickets and enter stallions here.
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Photos of packed stands in 2011 By kind permission of Cat Wood |
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2012 British Breeders' Awards Dinner
The 2012 British Breeders Awards Dinner takes place on Saturday 7th January from 6.45 pm at the Grange City Hotel in London (near the Tower). At this dinner the annual SPSS special award is presented, as well as there being Certificates of Merit to the Top Pony Sire and Dam of 2011 and the top scoring Pony Futurity entrants. There's more information about the event here and you buy tickets through the website here. |
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Just to wish all our members and supporters a very happy and successful 2012. During the year, as well as our traditional events like the Mare and Stallion Gradings, we also plan to build on last year's new initiatives and further develop the Young Dressage, Eventing and Jumping Pony Championships. Information about these events will be found on the Events page once available.
There is a new Rule Book effective 1 Jan 2012 - this can be downloaded here.
Following from the success of last year's Year Book and Stallion Guide, we will be producing another one for 2012 which will contain articles and reports on 20101 events as well as information about those stallions standing with the SPSS in 2012. The booklet will be mailed to SPSS members in time to influence stallion choices for the year and will also be available at various 2012 events - including at the BEF Futurity Series. Any one wishing to place an advert in the booklet should contact the Editor, Philippa Cole |
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Key Dates in 2012
Provisional Dates are now available for key pony and breeding events in 2012. Please check with the organisers for any changes.
Baileys Horse Feeds/BEF Futurity Young Horse Evaluations 2012 The 2012 dates/venues are:
Entries open online 1st June 2012 See www.bef.co.uk for more information
2012 Pony European Championships 17th - 22nd July in Fontainebleau, France - more information here
SPSS 2012 Stallion & Mare Grading Saturday 29th September - Bury Farm Equestrian Centre, Mill Road, Slapton, Bucks LU7 9BT - click here for more information
SPSS Open Young Dressage
Pony Championships supported by British Dressage
Sunday
30th September -
Bury
Farm Equestrian Centre, Mill Road, Slapton, Bucks LU7 9BT
- more information will be available soon.
SPSS Open Young Event Pony Championships
Saturday 27th October - South View Equestrian Centre, Cheshire
followed by the 2012 International Performance Showcase & Auction
- more information will be available soon.
SPSS Open Young
Showjumping Pony Championships
Saturday 27th October - South View
Equestrian Centre, Cheshire followed by the 2012 International
Performance Showcase & Auction - more information will be
available soon.
All young pony classes are open to any 4,5 & 6 year old ponies
(max height 148cms)
2012 IPS Auction Saturday 27th October 2012 at South View Equestrian Centre, Cheshire - for more information see the IPS Website or find them on Facebook (IPS Auction).
Dates still to be announced: SPSS AGM |
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Guidance on Obtaining a Passport
The Information/FAQ and Passports pages contain guidance about how to get a passport for your foal - PLEASE READ before submitting a passport application as it will help Head Office process your passport quickly and mean that you won't have to get your vet out again to complete missing paperwork/DNA/ID chip. |
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IMPORTANT NOTICE
about Foal Registrations
Please note that DEFRA have mandated that additional information is included on the ID page of all passports from 1 July 09. Hence, it is important that the ID section of NEW version of the Youngstock Registration Form is completed by a vet rather than the back of the covering certificate as that ID section is now out of date. The latest version of the Youngstock Registration Form has Sep 10 in top right corner (click here to download). Please call Head Office (contact details at top of page) if you have any queries.
So to summarise: All foal registrations after 1st July 09 require a completed Youngstock Registration form (Sep 10 version) with the ID page completed by a Vet. |
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The Sports Pony Studbook Society Studbook Office: The Last House, Keysoe Row West, Keysoe, Bedfordshire MK44 2JJ Tel: 07703 566066 Email: |
