SPSS News

British Dressage (BD) will be running a Young Pony Championship in 2016. Qualifying classes will be held where the ponies will enter the arena in groups of two and ride a set pattern which will be commanded. This is not considered to be a dressage test and marks will not be deducted for riding the wrong pattern. The pattern is designed to assess the quality of the pony’s paces, talent and training. Marks allocated at this stage are used solely to determine the top six ponies, which then return to the arena for final judging. Final placings are decided between the top six ponies, disregarding the previous marks. Ponies will not be stripped or ridden by the Judges.

Eligibility, saddlery and general rules are the same as for BD Young Horse classes (see the 2016 BD Members Handbook), except for:

Ponies must not exceed 149cm.
There will be separate sections for 4, 5 and 6 year olds and pony must be of the relevant age to enter. Age is taken from the 01 January in the year of foaling.
Riders are eligible from the beginning of the year of their 12th birthday. There is no upper age limit.

Adults may ride ponies in these classes, but should be of an appropriate height and/or weight and therefore not overburden the pony.

The top three ponies with scores of 7.0 or above will qualify to take part in the Championship. If any pony in the top three is already qualified, then the qualification will pass down to the next pony, provided that they have scored 7.0 or above. At the Championship combinations will be asked to ride a dressage test. Tests used will be the same as the Young Horse tests.

2011 Champion, Der Kleine Lord competing at the 2014 Pony European Championships where he won Team Silver & Individual Bronze medals ridden by Alexandra Hellings

2013 SPSS/BD Young Dressage Pony Champion - 4 year old SPSS passported Cruz ridden by Jayne Turney. In 2015 they were BD National Medium Restricted Champions

SPSS ELITE graded Classic's Charmeur, 3rd overall in 2013 - shown competing at Hickstead in 2015 ridden by Ollie Booth. They competed internationally for GB in 2015

Photos by Qorum Photos

2015 SPSS AGM Announcement & British Stallion Event

SPSS members are invited to attend the 2015 AGM. It is being held on Saturday 9th January 2016 at 10.30am at Bury Farm Equestrian, Mill Road, Slapton, Bucks LU7 9BT. The room will be open from 10am and we plan to have hot drinks and cake for attendees.

We have once again chosen to hold the AGM at the same location as the British Bred Sport Horse Stallion Event as we had more members attend last time than in previous years and we are again seeking members' input into future events and initiatives. The stallions are due to start parading at noon and tickets are available on the door; more information is available here and the SPSS will have a display stand at the event so please come and chat to us even if you're not able to attend the AGM.

The ELITE Achievers

We delighted that one stallion and 5 mares have been awarded the coveted SPSS ELITE graded status in September & October 2015. This accolade is only awarded to stallions and mares who have either represented their country at FEI competition or are the dam of an International competitor.

Balfour Blodwen (WPCS Sec B, Balfour Diamond x Thornwood Royalist), bred in Wales by Natalie Gawley who is also her current owner, was awarded her SPSS Elite status in recognition of her successful progeny, including DST Don’t Panic (by FS Don’t Worry) who represented Great Britain at FEI International Pony Dressage in 2015

Boss Junior (Pony Hannover, Boss x Night-Star I), bred in Germany and owned by Jennie Gilchrist of Romanno Stud, was awarded his SPSS Elite status in recognition of his successful progeny, including Best Before Midnight who represented Germany at FEI International Pony Dressage in 2008 & 2009

Howelfly Rosie (WPCS Sec C, Glantraeth Sion x Penchwintan Brythonfab), bred in Wales by H W Roberts and owned by Meirion Jones of Machno Stud, was awarded her SPSS Elite status in recognition of her successful progeny, including Machno Rembrant (by SPSS Elite graded Carregcoch Bleddyn) who represented Great Britain at FEI International Pony Dressage in 2015

Leila (unknown breeding), a 16 year old mare owned by Catriona Moon, was awarded her SPSS Elite status in recognition of her own success in FEI International Endurance including 2 Senior Open European Championships, a Senior World Championship and the 2014 World Equestrian Games

Magic (KWPN, Donnerhall x Variant), bred in Holland and owned by Jean Feeney of Lochlanes Stud, was awarded her SPSS Elite status in recognition of her successful progeny, including Sandman (by Regazzo) who has represented The Netherlands in many FEI International Junior & Young Rider Dressage competitions from 2007 onwards

Morrigan Jemima (AHS PB, Sharaza x unknown), bred in Wales by Sally Harris of Morrigan Stud who still owns her, was awarded her SPSS Elite status in recognition of her successful progeny, including Morrigan Jeremiah who competed for Great Britain at FEI International Pony Eventing in 2009

SPSS ELITE graded stallion Boss Junior with his owner, Jenifer Gilchrist

SPSS ELITE graded mare Morrigan Jemima

Photos by kind permission of Julia Shearwood

SPSS ELITE graded mare Howellfly Rosie

with her 2015 SPSS Premium foal Machno Rubina (by Machno Special Edition)

Photo by kind permission of Julia Shearwood

Central Scotland Mare Champion and SPSS ELITE graded mare Magic

Photo by kind permission of Julia Shearwood

SPSS ELITE graded Balfour Blodwen

Photo supplied by owner

SPSS ELITE graded Leila

Photo by kind permission of Julia Shearwood

Super Stallions

2015 saw a super group of stallions presented for grading with 10 of them being accepted by grading judges Hans-Heinrich Brüning, Jacke Mathieson and Geoff Glazzard. Our congratulations to the breeders & owners of. all of the stallions that were accepted at the SPSS 2015 Stallion Grading:

2015 Champion Stallion Ardbear Spirit (CPBS, Coosheen Thyme x Village Boy), a 13 year old Irish-bred by Michael Conneely and owned by Barbara Bagshaw

2015 Reserve Champion Stallion Zumanji Decor (ZFDP, Zospecial x Davignon I), a 6 year old British-bred by Shane Reilly and owned by Kristina Floyd-Walker

Bathleyhills Vue Parfaite (WPCS PB, Bathleyhills Monet x Batman), a 3 year old British-bred and owned by Penny Walster

Wadacre Spiderman (SPSS, Strahlemann x Waikki of Wadacre), a 2 year old British-bred and owned by Wadacre Stud

Good Luck (DRP (Rhein), Good Looking x Bodo), a 3 year old stallion German-bred by Petra Datema & Frank Janssen and owned by Kristina Floyd-Walker

Lyndell Maytrix (WPCS PB, Abraham x Derwen Royal Express), a 11 year old British-bred by Lynda Head and owned by Lyndsey Bakewell

Balfour Whisper (NPS, Strinesdale Matador x Thornwood Royalist), a 7 year old British-bred by Natalie Gawley and owned by Joshua Rees

Moorlane Malaki (WPCS D, Betws Enfys x Pantygronw Deio), a 8 year old British-bred by R Staton and owned by Jo Freer

Fames Dakota (AHS PB, Dakota Ink Spots x Parys El Jamaal), a 5 year old British-bred by Donna Butcher and owned by Robyn Crisp

Abbeyvale Romeo (WPCS D, Dearnevally Golden Image x Ebbw Magic), a 3 year old British-bred by Mr M Edwards and owned by Chelsey Ann Leeman

Champion Stallion 2015

Ardbear Spirit, his rider Jo Callwood and (from left) SPSS judges Hans-Heinrich Brüning, Jacke Mathieson and Geoff Glazzard

Reserve Champion Stallion 2015

Zumanji Decor & Kristina Floyd-Walker

SPSS Supreme Youngstock Champion

Miss Luna Eclipse

with her owner, Penny Walster, the Youngstock Final Judges, Hans-Heinrich Brüning, Jacke Mathieson and Geoff Glazzard and the trophy kindly supplied by Horsology

SPSS Reserve Supreme Youngstock Champion

Bathleyhills Golden Lustre

Photos by kind permission of Julia Shearwood

Outstanding Youngstock

Our congratulations to the breeders & owners of the youngstock who scored 80% or more at one of our 2015 evaluations and received a coveted GOLD PREMIUM:

Aberaeron Santillana Valentina (BSH/WPCS PB, Palousa-San Sebastian x Lyfni Hebog), a yearling filly, British-bred and owned by Johanna Shaw of Aberaeron Stud

Bathleyhills Dressed Up (AHS PB, Bathleyhills Monet x Dressman Junior), a 2 year old filly, British-bred and owned by Penny Walster of Bathleyhills Stud

Bathleyhills Golden Lustre (WPCS PB), Bathleyhills Monet x Thistledown Copper Lustre), a 2 year old gelding Britishbred and owned by Penny Walster of Bathleyhills Stud

DBM Good Golly Miss Molly (SPSS, Good Luck x Synod Ruskin), a filly foal, British-bred and owned by Kristina Floyd- Walker of DBM Dressage

DeLaRoche Black Gold (SPSS, Hilkens Gold Card x Hilkens Black Delight), a colt foal, British-bred and owned by Lucy Sheldrake of DeLaRoche Stud

Lochlanes Dreamweaver (SPSS, Debonair x Synod Rum Punch), a filly foal, British-bred and owned by Jean &Catherine Feeney of Lochlanes Stud

Miss Luna Eclipse (SPSS, Classic’s Charmeur x Joldis Charmant), a yearling filly, British-bred by Emma Middlehurst and owned by Penny Walster of Bathleyhills Stud

Wadacre Benedict (WBS-UK, Bretton Woods x Waikki of Wadacre), a colt foal, British-bred and owned by Jeanette Matthews-Griffiths of Wadacre Stud

Pictures of the Gold Premium youngstock, a list of all those youngstock that achieved a SPSS Premium and a graph showing the score distributions can be found on this page.

Magnificent Mares

Our congratulations to the breeders & owners of the 2015 Regional Champion and Reserve Champion Mares:

South-West England Champion: Blackwoodland Canterbury Bella (CPBS, Gurteen Paddy x Coosheen Finnegan), bred in Ireland and owned by Cynthia Robinson

Reserve Champion: Coswarth Peridot (SHB(GB), Fairground Attraction of Coswarth x Hill Farmer), bred in England by her owner Cheryl Fox

South Wales & Western England

Champion: Middleton (BSHR, Midnight Stars x Don Larino), bred in England by her owner Adele Hayton

Reserve Champion: Desana (BHHS, Diamond Hit x West Country), bred in England by her owner Ann Luckman and on loan to Georgie Webb

Supreme Champion Mare 2015

Shannon Stewart's Mystique

North Wales & North West England

Champion: Landslow Melody Maker (BCPS, Ardbear Spirit x Marvyn Pookhaun), bred in England by her owner Barbara Bagshaw of Landslow Stud

Reserve Champion: Balfour Butterfly (NPS, Fly By Moonlight x Thornwood Royalist), bred in Wales by her owner Natalie Gawley of Balfour Stud

North East England

Champion: No Promises (OLD, Caesar 171 x Don Primero), bred in England by Portia Manning & Birgit Galloway and owned by Leamside Equestrian Ltd

Reserve Champion: Jipson Jenny Wren (NPS, Bradmore Toy Soldier x Sandbourne Royal Ensign), bred in England by Mrs J A Weedon and owned by Leamside Equestrian Ltd

South Scotland

Champion: Mystique (SSH, Argentino x Voyage), bred in Scotland by Debbie Bridges and owned by Shannon Steward

Reserve Champion: Zalmerina (OLD, Rubin Star N x Zalmeco), bred in Scotland by Hilary Crane and owned by Jennie Gilchrist of Romano Stud

Central Scotland

Champion: Magic (KWPN, Donnerhall x Variant), bred in Holland and owned by Jean Feeney of Lochlanes Stud Reserve Champion: Rockridge Cassandra (IPS, Limmerick x Vivaldi XI) bred in Ireland and owned by Sophie & Henry Church

Central & Eastern England

Champion: Stambrook Miss D’Mena (WPCS PB, FS Don’t Worry x Tsing Lite), bred in England by her owner Sarah Rook

Reserve Champion: Wayward Windless (BSPA, Goshka Ringo VII x unknown), bred in England by her owner Tessa Frost

2015 Supreme Mare Champion

Mystique

(SSH, Argentino x Voyage), bred in Scotland by Debbie Bridges and owned by Shannon Steward

Reserve Supreme Mare Champion

Stambrook Miss D’Mena

(WPCS PB, FS Don’t Worry x Tsing Lite), bred and owned by Sarah Rook

You can find out more about all of these mares, including photos, as well as a complete list of mares that graded with the SPSS at one of the 2015 SPSS Mare Gradings here.

Photos by kind permission of Julia Shearwood Photography - strictly no copying or other reproduction

Reserve Supreme Champion Mare 2015

Stambrook Miss D'Mena & Mollie Harris

SPSS Supreme Youngstock Champion

Miss Luna Eclipse

with her owner, Penny Walster, the Youngstock Final Judges, Hans-Heinrich Brüning, Jacke Mathieson and Geoff Glazzard and the trophy kindly supplied by Horsology

Photo by kind permission of Julia Shearwood

The Success Continued..

The last SPSS gradings and evaluations of 2015 were held at The College EC, Keysoe on the 16th & 17th October. As well as it being the Central Regional Mare Grading & Youngstock Evaluation, there was also the Youngstock National Final which saw those Gold Premium youngsters able to attend compete for the title of SPSS Supreme Youngstock Champion 2015.

On the day, with best of the best were judged by Hans- Heinrich Brüning, Geoff Glazzard & Jacke Mathieson and the Supreme Champion was declared to be the yearling filly, Miss Luna Eclipse, bred by Emma Middlehurst and owned by Penny Walster. With "Luna" being SPSS passported it was a fantastic end to the 2015 Youngstock Evaluations.

Photos by Julia Shearwood Photography from all our 2015 Gradings & Evaluations can be viewed and purchased on her website: www.equestrianphotography.co.uk

Terrific Tour

We are extremely pleased with the support for our first Regional Tour and the fantastic feedback we’ve received. The Tour took place from 21st to 25th September and took us to 7 venues from Cornwall to Perthshire where we graded 50 mares and evaluated 64 foals to 3 year olds. We applauded 6 fantastic Regional Mare Champions and Reserve Champions, awarded one stallion and 3 mares the ultimate SPSS accolade of ELITE, saw 8 amazing mares go into the Head Studbook and a further 41 gain Main Studbook scores (although some had to go into the Prelim Studbook as they had incomplete pedigrees). Seven top class youngstock reached the 80% threshold to be awarded a Gold Premium and a further 54 were awarded a Premium. The Elites, Regional Mare Champions & Reserves and Gold Premium winners so far are listed on the next page - and all the graded mares and premium youngstock are listed on our website. Meanwhile, we’re gathering ideas for possible locations for 2016, especially areas we did not get to this year. So if you would like a Mare Grading & Youngstock Evaluation near you, please contact us with approximate numbers and any suggestions for location and venue (eg equestrian centres, studs etc).

The first GOLD Premium of the Tour went to SPSS passported

DBM Good Golly Miss Molly (Good Luck x Synod Ruskin)

Photo by Julia Sheawood

Cruz and Jayne Turney at the National Dressage Championships in 2015

Photo by kind permission of Kevin Sparrow

Second National Dressage Title for Cruz

Our congratulations to the breeder, owner and rider of the 6 year old SPSS passported gelding, Cruz (Caesar 171 x Don Larino), the 2015 British Dressage National Medium Restricted Champion. Cruz, who competes as Cruz III, was bred by Rachel Silk in Worcestershire out of her small Oldenburg mare, Chaniera (Don Larino x Casteddu xx). In 2012, Cruz was bought by Olympic Gold medal winning dressage rider, Charlotte Dujardin, who sent him to her friend Jayne Turney for backing just before Christmas 2012. Jayne brought Cruz on slowly in 2013 but they still finished the season by becoming the SPSS Young Dressage Pony Champions at what was only his third competition and first time indoors.

In 2014, Jayne qualified Cruz for the BD Regional Championships at Novice Open level before passing the ride to the multiple Pony Team & Individual medallist, Phoebe Peters, and they won the Addington Manor Regionals and then the British Dressage National Novice Open Championships. This year, Jayne and Cruz won the Medium Restricted Regional Championships at Keysoe then triumphed at the Nationals, scoring 72.22% and finishing more that 2% ahead of second place.

SPSS Stallion wins GOLD at Pony European Championships

Isobel & Maisie Scruton’s SPSS Elite graded stallion Rembrandt DDH (Renoir x Viktoria’s Chirac) and his 13 year old rider, Clare Hole were key members of the team and contributed to Britain’s amazing triumph in the Team Test. This is the first time that Great Britain has won Pony Dressage Team Gold and Remy’s score of 71.718% was the second highest British score, the highest being Phoebe Peters & Danish-bred SL Lucci (Lukas x Bazar) whose scored an impressive 80.077%. Clare was the youngest of the British dressage team riders and this was her first Pony European Championships but she rode with poise and maturity, which was resulted in a final placing of 11th in the class of 57 riders. Clare & Remy were then 14th in the Individual Test, scoring 70.439%, and so also qualified for the Freestyle, in which they again finished a creditable 14th. At the prize giving, Clare said that Remy had been really relaxed and that she always enjoys riding him in tests.

Rembrandt DDH & Clare Hole

Photo by Qorum Photos

SPSS Stallion selected for Pony European Championships

The annual Pony European Championships is the pinnacle of achievement for sports ponies and their young (16 and under) riders and there is always considerable competition for British team places. This year, there was especial interest for the SPSS as three SPSS Elite graded stallions were campaigning for places. In the end it was Rembrandt DDH (Renoir x Viktoria's Chirac) and his 13 year old rider, Clare Hole that got the coveted call up for the team. The SPSS 2015 FEI European Pony Championships are taking place from Wednesday, August 5th to Sunday, August 9th 2015 in Malmo, Sweden. The Championships consists of the FEI European Pony Dressage, Eventing and Jumping Championships and GB sends teams to compete in each of the disciplines.

Reports on the build up to the Championships can be found on out dedicated page (here) with news of team contenders, selection trials through to updates during the event as the action happens. Information can also be found on the Malmo 2015 website

Entries Open for 2015 SPSS Stallion & Mare Gradings

and Youngstock Evaluations

Entry forms are now available for the 2015 SPSS Stallion & Mare Gradings and the Youngstock Evaluations which are taking place around the country in September & October. The full list of dates/venues plus entry forms etc can be found here but in September we are grading mares and evaluation youngstock (colts, fillies and geldings from foals to 3 year olds) at 6 venues from the very South West of England, through Wales to the North East and finishing in Scotland. The in October we're in Keysoe, Bedfordshire where, as well as the grading mares and evaluating youngstock, we will also be licensing stallions and having a national final for the best of the evaluated youngstock.

All mare gradings will take place in the morning followed by the youngstock evaluations and the lead judge will be our regular expert, Hans-Heinrich Bruening, who is flying in from Germany both for the September Tour and the October weekend. Hans will be joined by our other regular expert, Geoff Glazzard, in October for the stallion grading and Geoff will also be one of the judges at the Youngstock Final.

The height limit for both mares and stallions is 158cms. Youngstock are to have an expected maximum mature height of 158cm - unless they have a SPSS passport in which case there is no height limit. Early entry is advised as we will have limited time at each venue. Specialist equestrian photographer Julia Shearwood will be the official event photographer. Find out more (including closing dates etc) here.

Spectators welcome at all venues – Free Entry - Free Programme

2014 Stallion Champion, Taraco Fabrizio

Photo by kind permission of Julia Shearwood

2015 FEI Pony European Championships

The 2015 FEI European Pony Championships are taking place from Wednesday, August 5th to Sunday, August 9th 2015 in Malmo, Sweden. The Championships consists of the FEI European Pony Dressage, Eventing and Jumping Championships and GB sends teams to compete in each of the disciplines.

The venue in Malmo is a more of a "pop up" site than the big permanent venues (eg Millstreet, Arezzo and Fontainebleau) of recent years. However, it is a lovely location, between the sea and the city with the XC running through a public park. As the venue for the 2013 Senior European Championships as well as an annual Horse Show (being held the week after the Pony Euros), there is a large permanent surfaced arena which is being used for all the events.

National Dressage Title for SPSS Pony

The SPSS is delighted that the 8 year old SPSS passported dressage pony, Bathleyhills Sea Wurzel (aka “Albert”) and his 13 year old rider triumphed at the British Dressage Winter Championships in April becoming the 2015 Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Restricted Music Freestyle Champions.

Our congratulations to Albert's breeder, SPSS Life Member Penny Walster of Bathley Hill Farm Stud as well as to his rider Grace Johnston and his owner, Grace's mother Claire. Grace had chosen music from the “Little Mermaid” and designed her test to best show off Albert's considerable ability. Grace & Albert, who was the smallest Champion of the show, are pictured on their lap of honour.

Albert is by SPSS Elite graded sire Caesar 171 (Condor x Askan) out of one of Penny’s foundation mares, the SPSS Head Studbook graded WPCS Sec B Loveden Sea Swallow (Gigman Jacana x Downland Sea Eagle). Loveden Sea Swallow's other progeny include the SPSS graded mares Bathleyhills Sea Swift (by SPSS graded Thursden Vallye Raphael), Bathleyhills Sea Spray (by Chateau De Brion and Bathleyhills Sea Breeze (by Casino Royale K) as well as the successful 128cm jumping pony Bathleyhills Sea Mist (by Kouros Sweet William)

Photo by kind permission of Kevin Sparrow

SPSS Studbook Secretary, Philippa Cole, presents to Dancer Medal to Caesar 171 and his owner, Samantha Brown

Photo by kind permission of Gill Hagen-Green

Caesar at the 2015 Leamside Stallion Parade

Photos by kind permission of qorum-photos.com

2014 Dancer Medal awarded to Caesar 171

The 2014 SPSS Dancer Medal has been awarded to the SPSS Elite Graded dressage pony stallion Caesar 171 (Condor x Askan) in recognition of the considerable success of his progeny in 2014.

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.

Caesar, a Weser-Ems stallion was bred in 1989 by Benno Stolle in Germany. Now owned by Samantha Brown of Godrics Stud (which is based at Leamside Equestrian in County Durham), Caesar was graded in Germany gaining a good score in his performance test (including two 10s). After being imported to the UK, Caesar achieved an impressive dressage performance record being British Dressage Restricted Medium Winter Champion in 2000, a member of the GB Pony Team that won Silver at the European Championships in Germany in 2000 and the Bronze medal winning team in 2002.

Having focussed on his competition career initially in the UK, Caesar's first UK foals weren't born until 2006. but he has already sired 3 SPSS graded sons (ELITE LE Chiffre, Rosewater I Claudius & Godrics Campeggio) and 3 SPSS graded daughters including the 2014 Mare Champion, Ella and the 2012 Reserve Champion Mare, Bernwode Celeste.

In 2014, three of them were particularly successful and Caesar was awarded the 2014 Dancer Medal in recognition of this. Caesar's 2014 star progeny who were the key contributors to him ranking 8th (and being the only pony listed) in the British Dressage Top 40 Sires (2014 Season) listing are:

his 7 year old SPSS graded stallion son, LE Chiffre, who was named as Reserve for the 2014 GB Pony European Championships Dressage Team with his rider Lara Kuropatwa as a result of having had scores of over 70% in international competitions
his 5 year old gelding son, Cruz, who was British Dressage National Novice Open Champion ridden by Phoebe Peters
his 5 year old daughter, Ella, who was 4th at the Frys British Dressage Regional Championship at Novice Open level (ridden by Kelly Oxtoby) and was the 2014 SPSS Mare Grading Champion

Caesar is pictured being ridden by his owner Samantha Brown at the 2015 Leamside Stallion Parade where he showed that even aged 26 he can still wow the audience.

Read about other Dancer Medal recipients here or click here for Caesar's stallion page

Prestigious Pony Performance & Breeding Award For

Rock Dee Jay

At the 2015 Breeders Dinner & Awards Ceremony (organised by the British Horse Foundation), the SPSS sponsored Pony Performance & Breeding Award was presented to the British-bred gelding Rock Dee Jay (Arko III x unknown) who has been one of the most consistent ponies at recent Pony European Jumping Championships. The award was accepted on Rock Dee Jay's behalf by his breeder, Sharon Quigley.

Born in 2002, Rock Dee Jay was the best British-bred pony at the last 2 Pony European Championships:

2014

Team Silver & Individual Bronze ridden by Susan Fitzpatrick (IRL)

2013

Team Bronze & Individual Gold ridden by Susan Fitzpatrick (IRL)

plus

2012

Individual Silver ridden by Lisa Mooren (NED)

2011

Team Silver ridden by Max O'Reilly Hyland

Rock Dee Jay is owned by Barbara O’Reilly Hyland

Read more about Rock Dee Jay and about past recipients here

The SPSS Performance and Breeding Award 2014 being collected by Rock Dee Jay's breeder, Sharon Quigley (on right) from SPSS Committee member, Hannah Freer.

Photo by kind permission of Trevor Meeks

Pretty Picture

(Rembrandt DDH x Black Boy)

Photo by kind permission of Eclipse Photos

KMD Dornlight

(Rembrandt DDH x Dornik B)

Photo by kind permission of Kevin Sparrow

Bombay Sapphire

(Tornado af Knabstrup x Litton Talisman)

Photo by kind permission of Kevin Sparrow

Top results for SPSS Ponies at Awards Dinner

At the 2015 British Breeders Awards Dinner SPSS members and their ponies monopolised the sports pony awards with 4 of the 5 awards going to SPSS passported ponies and the other award going to a SPSS graded stallion! Impressive certificates and rosettes are always presented to the breeder of the top scoring foal, yearling, two and three year old ponies over all the previous year's Futurity Evaluations. For 2014 these went to:

Amy Cox's Pretty Picture (Rembrandt DDH x Black Boy) and Kirsty Millard's KMD Dornlight (Rembrandt DDH x Dornik B) as the joint top scoring sports pony foals gaining Elite premiums (Dressage).
Belinda Plunkett's Pretty Significant (Rotherwood Signature x High Estate) was top sports pony yearling with a High First premium (Eventing)
Alison Fearn's Tarnbrook Take It All (Thursden Vallye Raphael x Honeypot Sporran) was top sports pony 2 year old with a High First Premium (Eventing)
Lynne Crowden's Woodlander Wales (Woodlander Wavavoom x Talon Teifion) was top 3 year old with an Elite premium (Dressage). Wales' score of 9.14 made him the top scoring Sports Pony overall.

Our congratulations to all mentioned above and also to the other high scoring SPSS breeder's ponies including the other Elite winners:

Elizabeth Prosser's Bombay Sapphire (Tornado af Knabstrup x Litton Talisman) (Eventing)
Penny Walster's Bathleyhills Sea Scape (Rembrandt DDH x Gigman Jacana) (Dressage)

and those that were within 0.1 of an Elite score:

Penny Walster's Bathleyhills "Vincent" (Bathleyhills Monet x unknown) (8.98 Dressage)
Louise Smale's Cornsay Diadem (Littledale Bright Star x Kings Theatre) (8.94 Eventing)

Click here to read more about the top scoring ponies in 2014 and to see the scores of all Sports Ponies evaluated.

Bathleyhills Sea Scape

(Rembrandt DDH x Gigman Jacana)

Photo by kind permission of Kevin Sparrow

Pretty Significant's

certificate and rosette

Photo by kind permission of Trevor Meeks

Pretty Significant

(Rotherwood Signature x High Estate)

Photo by kind permission of Kevin Sparrow

2015 SPSS Stallion Guide

The 2015 SPSS Stallion Guide has been published and is about to be posted to members. A copy is also mailed to anyone joining the SPSS during the year; click here to find out about Membership. Non members can to get a copy by sending a stamped and addressed envelope (£1.17 postage) to:

SPSS Studbook Office, The Last House, Keysoe Row West, Keysoe, Beds MK44 2JJ

Copies will also be available at the 411 Futurity Evaluations, all SPSS Events and selected other events this summer.

The full colour booklet includes SPSS Notices and highlights from 2014 as well as featuring 28 of the SPSS stallions in the Stallion Guide section.

2014 SPSS AGM Minutes and New Rule Book

The 2014 SPSS AGM was held on Saturday 3rd January 2014 at Hartpury College, near Gloucester. We were delighted to have more members attending than in at least the previous 4 years and maybe longer. All resolutions were passed, including revisions to the Rule Book and the Memorandum and Articles of Association and we received some useful feedback from members which will be acted on.

The 2014 AGM Minutes including the revised Memorandum and Articles of Association (click here) and the new 2015 SPSS Rule Book (click here) can be downloaded for review.

Passport Reminder - British Passports for British Sports Ponies!

Don't forget that by law you must apply for a passport for your foals before the later of 6 months of age or the end of the year of their birth - so for any foals born before 1st July you need to get the application in by 31st December!

The SPSS will issue a passport to the progeny of our graded mares and/or stallions - provided the foal is not a pure-bred British Native pony as these must get a passport from their Breed Society, even if both parents are SPSS graded.

As well as being able to download the application form, the Passports page also contains guidance about how to get a passport for your foal, so please read before submitting a passport application as it will help the SPSS Studbook Office process your passport quickly and mean that you won't have to get your vet out again to complete missing paperwork/DNA/ID/microchipchip.

In particular, if you want to name your foal with any more than a single word, to avoid disappointment, please check that the first word you use isn't someone's registered prefix as if it is you wont be able to use it (and some very common words like "My" are registered prefixes!). Prefixes can be checked on www.centralprefixregister.com and can be applied for through the SPSS. Click here to download the application form or please contact the Studbook Office (details at top of page) to receive the form by post or email.

Please contact the Studbook Office (details at the top of the page) if you have any questions and we'll do our best to assist.

2015 British Breeders' Awards Dinner

The 2015 British Breeders Awards Dinner takes place on Saturday 10th January from 6.45 pm at the Grange City Hotel in London (near the Tower). At this "black tie" dinner the annual SPSS special award is presented, as well as there being Certificates of Merit to the top scoring Pony Futurity entrants in 2014. There's more information about the event here including a link to buy tickets

2015 BBSH Stallion Event

The SPSS will be at the British Bred Sport Horse (BBSH) Stallion Event at Hartpury College (GL19 3BE) again, on Saturday 3rd January from 11am to 8.30pm. As in previous years, there'll be a trade stand area, top class stallions, international riders and an evening spectacular.

Tickets are £10 and include the latest edition of the British Breeder Magazine, which also forms the parade catalogue as well as having all the latest news. The SPSS display boards will be set up in the trade stand area so do come and see us.

SPSS Stallions confirmed as entered (and the section they have been entered in) are:

Littledale Bright Star (Dressage)

Platinum Honey's Hope (Dressage)

Taraco Fabrizio (Dressage)

Woodlander Wales (Dressage)

Jonkers Metyo (Eventing)

More information including how to get tickets and the latest list of stallions entered is available here.

The SPSS Stand at a previous event

Happy New Year!!

Just to wish all our members and supporters a very happy and successful 2015. During the year, as well as our traditional events like the central Mare and Stallion Gradings, we are also restarting youngstock evaluations and combining these with a Regional Tour where we will visit Cornwall, South & North Wales, Tyne & Wear and Edinburgh holding Mare Gradings and Youngstock evaluations at a venue in each area.

There is a new Rule Book effective 3 Jan 2015 - this can be downloaded here.

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 the SPSS Studbook 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.

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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