The Scottish Sports Horse Held their stallion grading at Dabbs Activity Centre, Giffordtown, Fife on the 1st of
March. This was the second year that all stallions had to satisfy x-ray requirements submitted to Rossdales &
Partners in Newmarket, and despite the fears of the high costs that would be incurred by stallion owners the
number of entrants were at their highest yet.

Horrendous weather conditions the day before almost put a stop to the event with the graders Dr. Gert
Teunissen of Nederlands Rijpaarden en Pony Stamboek (the Netherlands Riding Horse and Pony Studbook),
a practising large animal Vet, and Mr Ulrich Hahne, Studbook Manager of the Hannoveraner Verband
(Hanoverian Society) finding themselves having to land in Newcastle. Fortunately after refuelling, the plane
was finally able to land safely at Edinburgh airport where they were greeted by studbook manager Alison
Bradley who delivered them safely to the Balgeddie hotel in Glenrothes.

Bright blue skies replaced the previous days driving rain and gale force winds and set the windy but dry
scene for the outdoor trot up inhand and having been fully briefed by Chairman, Andrew Henderson the
graders set to their task of assessing the first of the stallions forwards following their initial vetting.

The first in the line up of eight stallions was the strikingly handsome Acordo O owned by Braeface Stud, this
dark liver chestnut, a son of Concorde (KWPN Preferent) out of Nalita (KWPN Ster Preferent) by Damiro
was bred in the Netherlands by P Oosterbosch. The graders deemed this stallion worthy of achieving
Licensed status reaching the overall highest marks of the day with a combined average for Conformation and
Jumping of 77.08% and for Conformation and Movement of 72.32% entitling it's owner, Claire Campbell of
Braeface Stud to receive a copy of the "Worldwide Sport Horse Stallion Directory 2008" in addition to a
Scottish Sports Horse embroidered velvet rug.

The second group of eight stallions included Voss who also achieved very high scores, a combined overall
average for Conformation and Jumping of 75.83% and for Conformation and Movement of 67.50%. This six
year old chestnut owned by Mr & Mrs Brake of Dorset and was presented by Harry Aird. He was also bred
in the Netherlands by C Rijs. This tall substantial silver apple chestnut, a son of Voltaire (KWPN Preferent)
out of Pireina, a KWPN Ster mare, sired by Animo (KWPN Keur), is currently jumping at Foxhunter level,
having achieved more than four Foxhunter double clears, while at home is jumping 1.30 to 1.40 m.

There were in total 25 horse stallions and 3 pony stallions entered, of which 27 were presented, the
remaining entrant regrettably having been hurt on the journey to the venue.
L C Napenay was the third horse to obtain Licensed status, Argentinian bred, he is a 15 year old Grade A International Show Jumper
bred by Jorge E Piovano and now owned by Dr Steven Monahan. And obtained the highest overall jumping
and conformation score of the day of 78.3% and a tremendous 9.3 for character! L.C. Nappenay has had a
very distinguished show jumping career competing throughout the Americas and in Europe and the UK. He
has also combined this with a successful career at stud having been the foundation Stallion of La Carlota
Stud in Buenos Aires before being brought to the United Kingdom to be ridden by Monica Campbell. He,
along with the four Registered horse stallions and the one Registered pony stallion, also received an
embroidered Scottish Sports Horse velvet rug.

The first in this group of stallions to acheive Registered status was Apollo IHS bred by Braeface Stud sired
by the SSH approved stallion Allround , Apollo, now owned by Wendy Ferguson of East Linton House
Aberdeenshire, followed by Ardencaple Colosseum, owned by Wilma Collier of Dunfermline and bred by Mrs
M Paul, this charming grey stallion out of a Mackrocket mare sired by Cruisings Mickey Finn, an SSH Listed
stallion, who is now standing at stud in Ireland after a period of show jumping on the Continent with John
and Robert Whittaker . The graders commented on this stallions calm outlook on life coupled with his great
jumping ability.

The last two horse stallions to be awarded Registered Status were Dali van Overis Z, recently purchased
from Belgium by Des Le Marquand, sired by Darco out of a Nimmerdor mare, Gracia and Cassalo Z by
Casal out of a Cathargo Z mare, both of these stallions demonstrated their good jumping technique to obtain
the award.

In the pony section Tullynessle Fiscal Surprise, a son of the Westphalian approved stallion Domingo B out of
Gloria (T.S Sunrise) competing at medium level dressage and sired by Going East another successful
Westphalian stallion, owned by Malcolm and Sue Gale, , also achieved Registered status.

Seven horses and one pony were awarded Listed status, these were McJonnas, the cremello Czech
Warmblood owned by Solaris Sport Horses bred by Petra Jilemnickeho of Czechoslovakia, his sire Mineral
SV a Czech Warmblood Approved CSI eventing stallion, out of a Quoniam Zakupsky mare, the graders
commented on his very good walk and dressage qualities; Just Ross the light stepped bay stallion owned
and bred by Andrew Ballantyne, a son of Calvaro and a foal produced by the prolific mare Queen B, herself a
winner of an SSH 1st Premium and a daughter of SSH Approved stallion Goldhills; Urlanmore Cavalier, who
is owned by Ken Ashe, and bred by Patrick Carey in Ireland from Ricardo Z out of Cavaliers Delight a
daughter of Cavalier Royale; the home bred Zapata onwed by Braeface Stud the second son of SSH
Approved Stallion, Allround presented on the day out of Saskiacara, a daughter of Ahorn; Eclips V owned by
Des Le Marquand and bred by Pol Vandenberghe in Belgium is by Chin Chin out of Tanagra van de
Begijnakker (BWP Elite) by Palestro vd Begijnakker (Elite G-Label); Vivaldi also owned by Des Le Marquand
and bred by D J Menkveld in the Netherlands is by Concorde (KWPN Preferent) out of Louraine (Ster) a
Goodtimes mare, while Baldorran is owned and bred by R L Pitcairn, the sire being Marius Claudius an SSH
Approved stallion, out of Leila, a daughter of Duplikat;

In the pony section the 14..2hh pony stallion P W Little Conquest, a son of Victors Quest, a SSH Listed
stallion, out of Sophie, and owned and bred by Patrick Williams also achieved Listed status.

Copybush Charlie Whiskers the successful coloured FEI dressage pony stallion previously licensed with the
SSH in 2004 and the very successful silver disc BSJA pony stallion Western Armada were both presented
for re-assessment. It was announced that each of these stallions should retain their Licensed status for
another year to allow them time to present more foals following the SSH Guidelines as both ponies have
focused on their competition career. If the successful number of first premium foals are are presented these
stallions would be elegible for approved status.

The final presentation of the last group of pony stallions, brought the stallion assessments to an end,
however this was not the last task of the day for graders Ulrich & Gert who concluded their day with their
assessment of the beautiful Zera who successfully completed her IBOP mare performance test. Owned by
Solaris Sport Horses, Zera obtained ster at the 2007 SSH mare and young stock gradings and placed fifth in
the SSH loose jumping championships. She is a daughter of Furore (KWPN Approved stallion) out of Prija
(Ster), a daughter of Goodtimes (KWPN Approved).

The BSJA Assessment finally concluded the day's events. This was judged by Geoff Glazzard of the BSJA
who had flown in from Holland for the evaluation There were five entrants, Ardencaple Colosseum, Euro,
owned by Douglas Crawford, Igguldon Skye Laird, owned by Carolyn Thow, Patrick Williams' PW Little
Conquest and the 11.2hh Section A Welsh Pony ,SSH registered stallion, Rushiefauld Havanna owned by
Mrs D Maas of Scholland Stud, Northfield, Colinsburgh. All entrants were successful.

The whole day ran very smoothly, the stallions were well handled and showed a good level of discipline in
the loose jumping and other activities. The catering and administrative staff of Dabbs Activity and Equestrian
Centre are to be congratulated on the excellent service that they provided, and very grateful thanks are due
to all the volunteers who made the setting up, running and taking down of the show possible alongside the
inspecting vets.

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