For the third consecutive year Dr Teunissen and Suzanne Bredero from the NRPS studbook travelled from Holland to assess this years foals, young stock, mares and geldings presented by Scotland’s breeders at the annual Gradings on behalf of the Scottish Sports Horse. The graders inspected over 80 animals, traveling 600 miles over a period of four days. With a total prize fund of £1100 being offered to the highest graded animals in a number of categories the turnout and quality was excellent.

The first of the young stock to pick up the prize of £250 as the highest graded SSH filly foal in 2009 was the well developed bright bay filly foal presented at Craigmancie Stud, Inch, HHS Dramarko by Arkida a son of Arko III out of a Dramiro mare owned and bred by Mr & Mrs.Charlish, of Crathes, Banchory. HHS Dramarko was awarded a high first premium and the second highest score over the four days with a fabulous score of 9 for conformation and an overall average score of 81% (Pictured left)

Ere-Am-I by the SSH Stallion Calvaro out of a Flagmount Diamond mare owned and bred by Balcormo Stud claimed the £250 prize for being the highest graded colt foal but also the £100 prize for being the highest graded colt foal sired by an SSH stallion. The first premium colt scored 7.5 for conformation and 7.5 for movement with a high scoring 8 for canter and an overall score of 75%

(Pictured Below Balcormo's "Ere-Am-I by Calvaro)

Success for yet another Calvaro offspring, this time to one of his daughters, Francisco M out of Hamptons Ace by Stongrove Ace. Bred by Andrew Henderson, Stathaven, Lanarkshire, Francisco M scored an overall 78% with an 8 for conformation and 7.5 for movement and yet another 8 for canter picked up the £100 prize generously sponsored by Tay Valley & Equine Vets, Perthshire, as the highest graded SSH filly foal sired by an SSH stallion.

This years £250 prize to the highest scoring SSH mare went to yet another of Balcormo Stud’s homebred, “Brunette” The three year old dark bay mare by the Holstein stallion Cavalier Royale out of VDL Torrette by Matterhorn, was also this years Supreme Champion Sports Horse and winner of her class at the Royal Highland Show. She impressed the judges with her conformation movement and jump scoring 8s in all three categories with an overall 80% and also gaining the Ster Predicate.

(Pictured below the three year old mare "Brunette by Cavalier Royale)

 

The eight year old grey mare “Anemon Overcinge’s” currently in foal to Clinton, by Artos Z out of an Able Albert mare owned by J Jamieson gained Ster, scoring the highest mark of 81% over the course of the four days out of all three year old mares and over presented and was awarded £100 as the Highest Graded Mare (Non SSH)

The last of the prizes, £50 to the highest graded SSH Gelding owned by Molly Barclay went to the Palomino Pony “Andy Pandy” bred by Balcormo Stud sired by their own stallion “Court Jestar” out of Silver. Andy Pandy scored an overall of 78% with equally high marks of 8 for conformation, trot and canter.

(Pictured below Molly Barclay's 1st Premium gelding "Andy Pandy")

 

 

 

The quality of the mares presented was exceptionally high this year many of which showed a special aptitude in their jumping and were awarded the “Ster” Predicate. The first of which to do so was Solaris Sport Horses’s “Quinine” scoring 80% for conformation and 80% for jump, at the grand age of 18. Based on her IBOP mare performance test, competition results and the success of her progeny in having produced two Ster mares and one first premium foal, Quinine was also awarded “Keur” status. Quinine's' daughter “Chiquita by SSH stallion Cappucinno Van Berkenbroek a Contender son also scored 80% for her jump with an overall score of 76%

The elegant skewbald mare “Kalemino” by SSH stallion Umenno out of Kielamay by SSH stallion Kielame M owned and bred by Debbie Wheelans, impressed the judges with her extravagant paces, obtaining the highest mark of 9 for her trot 8 for her canter with an overall score of 79%. The bay mare also owned by Solaris Sport Horses “Abisag” by San Remo out of a Jaccord mare was another to be awarded Ster on the basis of the quality of movement, scoring 7 for conformation and 7.5 for movement.

(pictured above the Solaris Sport Horses' ster mare Chiquita CH by Cappucino Van Berkenbroek: right Debbie Wheelans high scoring Ster mare "Kalemino" by SSH stallion Umenno)

At Scholland two pony mares also obtained high scores, the black filly Scholland Black Magic (pictured left) by SSH stallion Rushiefauld Havanna out of Scholland Folly obtained the marks for Ster with 76% but based on the lack of pedigree was awarded a 1st premium and Rushiefield Joie De Vivre by Popsters Cherokee out of Rovel Jannus scoring an overall 75% with 8 for canter and 8 for conformation.

Two further Ster mares for Balcormo Stud with the grey mare “ Bespoke” by Chelanno Z out of a Sports Night mare, obtained an overall score of 80% with 8 for jump and 8 for conformation. Bothy Ballad by Talan out of a Cavalier Royale mare scored 77% with 7.5 for conformation and 7.8 for jump.

At Strathaven the quality of the mares presented continued with “Parcos’s Ace” by Parco out of Hampton’s Grove bred by Andrew Henderson scored yet another overall high score of 80% but this time based on the quality of her paces, with 8.5 for canter and 8 for conformation and walk. The beautiful black mare “Wiane” by Don Primaire out of a Wellington mare owned by D Bridges scored an overall 79% with 8 for conformation 8 for her trot and canter. At the same venue D Bridges second mare the eight year old mare “Mirage” by Voyage out of St Pr Moonlight by L. P Nightstar was also awarded Ster with 8 for conformation walk and trot with an overall score of 78%

A number of First Premiums were also awarded to mares three years old or over, the first to impress the judges at Craigmancie Stud was Jaqui Lamb’s Moonlight Bay IV by the Friesian stallion Aant Fan’e Pytsjepolle out of Arabian Symphonie scoring an impressive 8 for trot canter and conformation and an overall score of 78%. The big framed German Palomino mare “Cappucin” by Caprimond son Caprigold, scored an overall 73% with the Voltaire daughter “Willow” out of a Heartbreaker owned and bred by Honorary SSH Member, Mr T Fitzpatrick with the same score and J Jamieson’s “Baloubabe Du Chance” scoring slightly higher with and overall of 74% Also scoring well was Fiona Reid’s’ Pubbledub Phantasia, a well developed skewbald mare by the skewbald stallion Concorde son “Phanten” out of Puddledub Manhatten by Dixi, scoring a high 8 for conformation and overall score of 73%

Accora by SSH stallion Udeo Magic Cordial by Corland out of the TB mare Lucy V. owned by Mr J Russel, and bred by Jackie Aird was awarded an overall score of 73% As Lucy V was dam also to the 1st premium filly foal “Ebonara” by Hemmingway presented this year, and having now produced three First Premium progeny she was awarded the “Model” predicate.
(Above Jaqui Lamb's high scoring 1st premium mare "Moonlight Bay IV" )

(Above first premium filly foal foal Sophius by SSH Stallion Clarius, left Fiona Newlands' filly foal "Archangel" by Amoureux)

46 foals in total were presented, with 26 obtaining first premiums, with the fillies generally scoring the top marks. Fiona Horne’s up and coming SSH showjumping stallion Clarius by Marius Claudius faired well with three out of the four progeny presented obtaining first premiums with all three equally scoring 73%, Success also to Solaris’ Sport Horses young stallion “Amoureux” with five out of the six foals presented from his first foal crop obtaining first premiums with two of his daughters obtaining the second highest scores of the foals with a 78%. The first being Fiona Newland’s “Archangel” out of their skewbald mare “Tarevachine” by Captain Maverick with 8 for conformation, canter and trot and the second going to the A Honeyman’s sports pony filly foal “Elissona out of Alkatinna by SSH stallion Umenno , scoring 8 for conformation and walk. Two first premiums also for Alex Midler of Craigmancie Stud the first to Craigmancie Serenade by SSH stallion “Spartan Heights” out of Rockhill Supastar by Rockhill GG with 73% and the second to Craigmancie Bay by homebred SSH stallion Craimancie Gold, a son of SSH stallion Ludwig H.

The third highest mark in the foals category went to D Bridges sports pony filly foal “Mystique” by Argentino, scoring 77% with an 8 for conformation and 7.5 for walk and canter. On the same score Jackie Airds “Ebonara by Hemmingway obtained her first premium with an 8 for conformation and 8 for canter. The fourth highest foal score of 76% went to Margot Kennedy’s Balblair Ambassador by Welton Ambassador out of the elite mare Balblair Marina with the highest overall movement score awarded to a foal in 2009 of 80% (Pictured Right Margot Kennedy's Balblair Ambassador)

The quality of young stock in the age classes, yearlings and two year olds was also exceptionally high this year, with Angela Geddie’s two full sisters “MFS Caliana” both by SSH stallion “Vision”, scoring the highest overall mark of 82% and highest overall mark for movement with 83% and younger homebred sister Bishopton’s Dior scoring an overall 78% with 8 for conformation and 77% for movement.

An equally impressive score of 78% went to the two year old colt “Tarkan" by the SSH stallion “Allround” out of an Ahorn mare owned and bred by Fiona Horne. Rockhill Carrick Gem by Rockhill triple Crown II out of Rockhill Carnaval Lady by Louella Luciano bred by Mrs.H.Whalley and owned by Mrs G McMillan, was another yearling to score well with 76% .

Two geldings also scored highly, Berty Whitefords “Abacus” by SSH stallion De Nero now gelded but competing well in dressage in Germany with 76% out of “Wild Rose” and P.J Lillington’s thirteen year old “Ocean’s Midnight Mint” with an overall score of 78%

(Berty Whiteford's' "Abacus" Pictured left)

The Scottish Sports Horse would like to congratulate and thank all of it’s breeders for attending the gradings and look forwards to seeing everyone again in 2010.

 

Photographs courtesy of Jason Masters of Fox Photographics