Tag Archives: KWPN

Awards, Breeds, Contributors/Press, Events

Iron Spring Farm Designated as a KWPN-NA Platinum Breeder

Leave a comment
Judgement ISF was bred in the U.S.A. at Iron Spring Farm. He is famous for his many international wins, including the $1,000,000 CN International at Spruce Meadows. He retired sound at 18 years old and is siring champions in eventing, dressage and jumping. Photo: Terri Miller.

Coatesville, PA — In 2010, the KWPN-NA launched a new program to herald North American breeders. The Breeder’s Achievement Awards, sponsored by Rabobank, recognize breeders who have accomplished significant results throughout the years with their breeding programs. Three levels of awards – silver, gold and platinum – are determined by points. Iron Spring Farm was recently designated as a Platinum-level breeder due to their many decorated horses.

To receive Platinum-level status, a breeder must earn 100 points. An explanation of the complete point system can be found at http://kwpn-na.org/display/files/BreedersAchievementAwards_Program.PDF. For example, a young horse awarded First Premium status earns its breeder 1 point; a horse receiving its Star predicate means 2 points to its breeder. A breeder who produces an Approved stallion attains 10 points. So an impressive number of spectacular horses are required for a breeder to achieve Platinum status.

Iron Spring Farm has been producing sport horses for more than 35 years. The goal has always been an athletic horse with a willing, kind disposition. Some of the bloodlines of choice include the stallions Consul, Contango Preferent, Judgement ISF Crown, Rampal Crown, Roemer Preferent, Sir Sinclair and UB40. Mares have been chosen to compliment these lines and have been athletes and champions in their own right.

Continue reading Iron Spring Farm Designated as a KWPN-NA Platinum Breeder →

Breeds, Contributors/Press, Dressage

Iron Spring Farm Stallions’ Historic Rankings in the 2012 KWPN Breeding Values

Leave a comment

UB40’s Sons Impress in Holland

Apache, by Iron Spring Farm's UB40, received a 10 on his trot at the KWPN Stallion Show. Photo by Sjoert

Coatesville, PA — Over the past few decades, North American breeders have been educating themselves on the best bloodlines and crosses required to produce top international talent. As a result, these dedicated breeders have traveled extensively in Europe and imported some of the best breeding stock. While trips across the pond will undoubtedly continue, North American breeders are no longer required to leave home to produce exceptional horses. Access to high-ranking international bloodlines has never been easier. In February, the KWPN (Royal Dutch Warmblood Studbook) released their 2012 Breeding Values and many of the sires and damsires are available right in the U.S.A.

The Value of Bloodlines

Each year the KWPN (Royal Dutch Warmblood Studbook) collects and analyzes extensive performance and health data for each Approved stallion and their offspring. It then provides an assessment of genetic ability and statistics with rankings for both dressage and jumping. The resulting report, known as the KWPN Breeding Values, can then be used by breeders to make informed decisions about their breeding programs. This data is among the most comprehensive within the warmblood industry and has helped make the KWPN one of the consistently top-ranked WBFSH studbooks. In 2012, Iron Spring Farm stallions had historic rankings, including Contango Preferent, Sir Sinclair and UB40. In addition, their sires, grandsires and offspring were also highly rated, making a multi-generational influence on the modern sport horse.

Continue reading Iron Spring Farm Stallions’ Historic Rankings in the 2012 KWPN Breeding Values →

*Featured/Spotlights, Breeds, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, FEI

FEI World Championships for Young Dressage Horses, Verden (GER)

Leave a comment

ASTRIX DOES THE DOUBLE, BUT WOODLAND FAROUCHE IS THE SHOW-STEALER by Louise Parkes

The Hannoverian mare Woodlander Farouche, with Michael Eilberg on board, produced spectacular scores to take the 5 Year Old title at the FEI World Championships for Young Dressage Horses 2011. Photo: FEI/Karl-Heinz Freiler.

Lausanne (SUI), 8 August 2011 – Over 50,000 visitors descended on Verden, Germany for the FEI World Championships for Young Dressage Horses 2011 over the weekend as the KWPN stallion, Astrix, claimed his second gold medal in succession with The Netherlands’ Emelie Scholtens on board.  But the sensation of the event was the Hannoverian mare, Woodlander Farouche ridden by Great Britain’s Michael Eilberg, who took the coveted 5 Year Old title with a spectacular score of 9.72%.

Staged in the heart of Lower Saxony, these Championships have long been recognised as the cradle of the equine dressage stars of the future, and this year’s crop of youngsters were a truly exciting bunch.

TALKING POINT
The British-born Woodlander Farouche, bred by Lynne Crowden in Monmouthshire, England, became the talking point of the show when scoring 9.28 to win last Friday’s 5 Year Old Qualifier.  The judges awarded scores of 9.5, 9.2 and 9.7 for trot, canter and walk, and 25 year old Eilberg described the mare, which he has been riding since she was three years old, as “an incredible horse”.  Looking forward to Sunday’s final he added, “There is of course more pressure to come, but it is a good feeling that she has already presented such an outstanding performance. This strengthens the self-confidence of both of us,” he pointed out.

Second place went to Damon’s Divene, daughter of the double World Champion stallion Damon Hill out of a Rubin Royal dam and bred by Christian Becs.  Helen Langehannenberg steered the horse to a final score of 8.76, while two others shared third place.  Belgium’s Tom Franckx-Goen was awarded a mark of 8.64 with the Dutch-bred IPS Bon Bravour, and Germany’s Jessica Michel matched that with the Hannoverian Swing de Hus.

Continue reading FEI World Championships for Young Dressage Horses, Verden (GER) →

Breeds, Contributors/Press, Dressage

Contango Son Don Tango High Score Dressage at KWPN Stallion Performance Test

Leave a comment
Don Tango by Contango was the High Score Dressage Stallion at the 2011 KWPN Spring Stallion Performance Testing. Photo by Jacob Melissen

Coatesville, PA – Contango’s son Don Tango was awarded the High Score Dressage stallion at the 2011 KWPN Spring Stallion Performance Test. The handsome young stallion received 9s on rideability, temperament, self-carriage and balance during the testing. Don Tango became the fourth Approved Stallion by Iron Spring Farm’s Preferent stallion Contango, joining Citango, Maestro and Ravel. Contango, who won both the jumping and dressage portions of his own stallion testing, has become recognized as one of the most influential KWPN stallions of his generation.

“We were very excited about Don Tango’s success at the Stallion Testing. His sire was an exceptional horse to ride,” said his Contango’s owner and rider Mary Alice Malone. Contango and Mary Alice won 33 Grand Prix titles, including the prestigious Grand Prix at Dressage at Devon-CDI-W. Unfortunately Contango passed away in 2007, but he is still available to breeders via excellent quality frozen semen.

Don Tango received excellent scores at his stallion testing. His walk and canter each earned an 8, and his trot received an 8.5. In addition to his exceptional movement, the judges described Don Tango as a balanced stallion with a good temperament. Don Tango is out of Oronia Keur, who is by Jazz Preferent out of the Star mare Joyce, by Ulft Keur.

Continue reading Contango Son Don Tango High Score Dressage at KWPN Stallion Performance Test →