Thursday September 29, 2006

Rabiola, 2006 Devon Breed Show Grand Champion

Small Time Breeders Get a Day in the Sun Too

Iron Spring Farm and Hilltop Farm, two of the most established breeding operations in the United States, dominated the Devon Breed Show but many small breeders had their day in the sun too, winning individual classes on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Dr. James Bond admits that he has a passion for breeding dressage horses. He makes several trips a year to Europe to shop for horses, but it is his own horse that he bred on his Virginia farm that won at Devon. Bond's Winterthur won the Yearling Colts and Geldings class and placed sixth in the USDF Breeder's Championship for Colts.

Winterthur is a chestnut Hanoverian colt by Worldly out of Lilith (by Lauries Crusador xx). The colt is bred by Mr Bond and wife Heather Stanley of Winter Mill farm in Middleburg, VA. Dam Lilith was recently sold to Hanoverian stallion owner Angela Barilar.

Bond's dedication to dressage runs deep. Besides breeding and buying young prospects, he also insists on developing his horses' sport career. Roter Milan, a Hanoverian gelding who placed third at this year's USDF/Markel National Young Horse Championships in Lexington, Kentucky.

Another stallion making an impression in the Devon show ring was Baron Verdi, a Trakehner by Monteverdi out of Baroness XIII owned by Tim and Cheryl Holekamp. Under James Koford, Baron Verdi won the 4-years and Older Stallions (also under saddle) class.

The 4-years and Older Stallions (in hand only) division was won by the Oldenburg stallion De Luxe. Presented by Bruce Griffin and owned by Tine Beaman, De Luxe is a black Oldenburg stallion by De Niro out of Randora (by Andiamo). He is a former P.S.I. auction horse that was brought to the U.S. by Dr. Cesar Parra and acquired by Tina Beaman. De Luxe will go in training with Lisa Wilcox this winter.

Text by Astrid Appels/Eurodressage
Photos by Mary and JJ Phelps-Hathaway / Phelpsphotos.com

Complete Coverage of 2006 Dressage at Devon at Horsesdaily.com