Iron Spring Farm Offspring Shine at the KWPN and FHANA Keurings

Eclipse ISF (Sir Sinclair) earned 1st premium and the Star predicate. He was also the High Score Young Dressage Horse in the studbook inspection. (Photo: Stacy Lynne Photography)

Iron Spring Farm played host to its annual KWPN and FHANA keurings in September and early October. The largest on the tour for each studbook, participants often pull from several states away to just attend. In the KWPN inspection, Iron Spring Farm’s stallions were on show case, notably UB40’s offspring, who showed exceptional quality and took the inspection by storm. His foals received no less than eight First Premiums and two Site Champions. “North American breeders are producing very high quality horses on par with breeders in Europe. They are continually educating themselves and improving their breeding stock and it shows in the keuring results. The top horses we see are special enough to be selected for the elite sales and championship keurings in Europe,” said Mary Alice Malone.

The DG Bar Cup is sponsored by DG Bar Ranch and is a Dressage competition for three-, four- and five-year-old horses. Gaits, rideability, balance, rhythm and suppleness are some of the factors that are considered as the horses perform under saddle.

ISF took home the DG Bar Cup for Three- and Five-Year-Olds with their two homebreds Alex Robertson’s Citation ISF (Contango) and Iron Spring Farm’s El Paso ISF (UB40). Citation ISF impressed the judges with his very active and supple walk, his self carriage and his balance in the canter. These factors, plus his rideability brought in an overall score 78.5 points. Charisma LH (Sir Sinclair) received the second highest score of 75.5. El Paso ISF, was presented for stallion approval. The highlight was his very clear and active walk, he received 77 points in the IBOP and DG Bar Cup. This score made him the best three-year old horse in the DG Bar Cup and is currently ranked third in the country. Next day, El Paso ISF received his star predicate. He will be further evaluated with the stallion committee in Holland.

Dexter (Johnson) winner of the DG Bar Cup for Four-Year-Olds with a 70 percent (Photo: Stacy Lynne Photography)

Winner of the DG Bar Cup for Four-Year-Olds with a 70 percent was Dexter (Johnson) ridden by Brendan Curtis and owned by Chris Preston. The bay gelding who recently placed second the KWPN IBC class at Dressage at Devon and has been consistently scoring well in the USEF Four-Year-Old classes throughout the year.

"Keurings are a great opportunity to gauge your horse's progress and development among his peers. Dexter, has come a long way since last year in terms of his development which is due entirely to Brendan Curtis and his team." said Chris Preston, owner of the bay gelding. "ISF and Meghan do a great job helping owners, breeders, riders and handlers improve year over year in a positive setting."

Eclipse ISF (Sir Sinclair)  was presented at the 2012 KWPN Keuring and received 1st premium and the Star predicate. He was also the High Score Young Dressage Horse ( in the studbook inspection) 

Eclipse is out of the ISF Preferent mare, Rabiola. He is the full brother to Denver ISF and is similarly long lined and athletic in type. He has a quiet temperament and according to ISF riders and staff, has been pleasant and easy to work with, both on the ground and under saddle. He was started under saddle in January 2012 and has been a star. Eclipse is already ready to show at Training Level and is considered a prospect for the four-year-old Young Horse classes in 2013..

“We are very pleased with Sir Sinclair’s offspring. They inherit his movement and talent for dressage. Eclipse is a reflection of the type of horses that Sir is siring,” said Malone.

The large dressage foal class had a championship round with three foals. Champion foal was Hollywood S.E. (Ampère), bred and owned by Siegi Belz-Fry.

The bay filly’s powerful movement combined with a modern body and good top-line gave her the first place ahead of the beautiful, modern dressage type Heavenly ISF (UB40), the full sister to El Paso ISF. Mirroring her brother, she is graceful and light-footed in her movement.

Champion Mare went to Evita ISF (Ulbert) and reserve champion Echo ISF (Ulbert). (Photo: Stacy Lynne Photography)

Transitioning to Friesians in early October, the ISF program marks a decade of breeding athletic individuals who excel in the sport horse disciplines. Uwe’s get stood out of the crowd as his foals, Monoceros ISF and Melody ISF claimed colt and filly foal site champion respectively. Champion Mare went to Evita ISF (Ulbert). Evita also went on to become overall site champion and earned her provisional Crown status.

Not to be outdone by their half-sibling Ulbert’s get, Albert ISF was awarded with Star Stallion status, Echo ISF took Reserve Champion Mare and Gina Tina HSF was Reserve Champion behind Evita. Dimer of Trilogy (Mintse) took home Champion Gelding and was rewarded with a Second Premium status.