|  This
years' foal show organised by the Scottish Sports Horse and generously
sponsored by Bailey's horse feeds proved to be a popular event for
Scotland's sport horse breeders. Following the large number of entries
and the size of the crowd it looks like the show is set to become
a marked National calendar event! Picture Vesuvius
VU with breeder Mr R. Donaldson Right: Bushman with Breeder Mr D.
Pearce Photography courtesy of Peak Photography.
The show provided an ideal opportunity for breeders
to present their offspring at a later date in the year. As many
of the foals had already been shown along side their dams at the
Scottish Sports Horse's Summer Show and the SSH Annual gradings,
which were held at various locations throughout Scotland during
the month of September, the event gave everyone the opportunity
to observe and evaluate how these young future sport horses had
matured and developed.
The show commenced with the eldest of the fillies
born in 2002. Due to the large number of entries it had been decided
to split both fillies and colts classes into two separate age group
sections. In traditional Scottish Sports Horse Fashion the Judge
for the day for the sports horse classes was flown in from Holland
to assess this years crop of Scottish bred foals.
The fillies were presented as a group before Mr.Libertus
Alderkamp of the Netherlands. Each filly was then brought in individually
in catalogue number to be assessed on type, frame and conformation,
before being turned free so that M. Alderkamp could evaluate the
quality and harmony of their gaits. Each foal was also given a score
for walk, trot and canter.
The first winner of the day was Elaine
McFarlane’s, Newmiln Valini. Mr
Alderkamp explained to the audience the reasoning behind his decision:
‘A nice type with a lot of power, good overall conformation.
He also expressed the quality of the trot.’
Valini's sire is by the registered
Scottish Sports Horse Stallion, Newmiln Landini,
who's bloodlines trace back to Landgraf and Furioso II,
with Darco in her dams' line, Pauline Velocia.
(SSH). In second place was Woodbury’s Cruise Forth
(by S.S.H. Licensed Stallion Clyde Cruiser), owned
and bred by Mrs.P.J.Lillington. Third in the line
up was Holly (by M’Bebe) owned and bred by
Mrs.Carol Magee.
In the second class of the day the youngest of
the fillies saw La Bohe’me, an Accondy
daughter, owned by Mr.T.Collins and Ms.S.Smith
take first place. Once again M. Alderkamp addressed the audience
using the notes that he had made during each individual assessment."A
really nice sporting type with excellent movement,’ he
commented.
 The
Colts followed the fillies class and once again it was split into
age sections, this time beginning with the older colts born in 2002.
Standing in first place was Vesuvius VU,
a Jurius colt, owned by the much delighted Robert Donaldson
of Viewmont Stud. Vesuvius may very well
be the last Jurius colt and it has been suggested
that he is a possible stallion candidate. Vesuvius VU
has had a very successful year following his win as best colt and
overall foal champion at the Scottish Sports Horse Summer Show 2002.
Adding to this, is his achievement of first premium which he was
awarded at the SSH annual gradings. Good conformation and good
in all paces - a really nice type,’ said the judge.
Second in this class was Bushman another product
by Accondy, owned and bred by David.E.Pearce. Riviera owned and
bred by Mr. and Mrs.M.Malcolmson took third place. Riviera sired
by Royal
Geneve another Licensed SSH stallion and out of a Rubenstein
mare demonstrated exquisite pace and bares all the qualities of
movement of his grand sire, a most definite future dressage prospect!
 In
the younger colts class it was once again one of Elaine
McFarlanes' produce that took the first rosette, Newmiln
Vanquish, (pictured left) again by Newmiln Landini.
In second place was Our Majestic Pride
(by Accondy) owned and bred by Mr.and Mrs.M.Bond
Third place went to Craigmancie
Mars owned and bred by Mrs.A.J.Middler.
Craigmancie Mars was evidently feeling good as
he strutted around the arena, tail held high showing great suspension
and uphill movement to his stride. His sire Craigmancie
Gold (SSH) was awarded a 10 for his jumping and showed
exceptional looseness through his back in his movement at his initial
Stallion Inspection. His son appears to have inherited his fathers
qualities and demonstrated them quite clearly on the day.
With the winners of each class
chosen, the four foals were called forwards to be judged for the
Sports Horse Foal Championship and the chance to win the £300
prize money that made up part of the £1551 kindly sponsored
by Bailey’s Horse Feeds.
 After
much consideration, Mr Alderkamp called in the second placed colt
Bushman, to stand as reserve to the champion, Vesuvius
VU of Viewmount Stud.
‘It’s
quite fitting when you consider Vesuvius’ dam was fed on Bailey’s
horse feeds throughout her pregnancy and that Vesuvius is now being
fed his daily ration of "Grow and Win!' laughed owner
Robert Donaldson as, Vesuvius VU strutted around the arena sporting
his winning Bailey's embroidered rug.. This was infact a consecutive
win for Mr Donaldson as it was indeed his Filly Ullapool VU full
sister to Vesuvius that won the overall championship at
the foal show in 2001.
 Bushman,
the Reserve Champion was awarded with his prize money of £150.
This follows his successful class win at this year’s Highland
Show, and second place at the Border Union show. He is out of the
successful broodmare Lady Lochan.
Katie Lungsden MSc (Dist) BSc(Hons)
Equine nutritionist representing Bailey's horse feeds provided the
audience with an educational and informative talk during the lunch
break. Katie discussed the advantages of a well balanced feeding
regime for the pregnant and nursing mare, as well as the benefits
received by the young foal prior to and after weaning when a careful
feeding program is followed.
Following lunch Mr.Alderkamp was
joined by Mrs.Caroline Nelson, Vice Chairperson N.P.S, to judge
the Sports Pony Foal classes. For the first time in this country
pony foals were shown loose and the audience were treated to wonderful,
squealing displays of joyful bucks. The filly Veronique owned and
bred by Sandra Low-Mitchell won the opening class of the afternoon.
In second place was Chester Hill Finnbheara, owned and bred by Mrs.Barbara
Darling and third was Glen-Brae Velvet, owned and bred by John Borthwick.
|
![]](/img/right_shadow.gif){kind=small}
Mrs.Nelson
judged the Large and Small Breeds Mountain and Moorland classes.
The exquisite Waxwing Ragtime of Waxwing Stud made full use of a
free rein to impress everyone with his energetic and powerful paces
securing his first place. Second place went to Kilmannan Black Magic,
owned and bred by Mr.W.R.Ireland and third to Chester Hill Finnbheara.
