Dressage at Devon Presented by WTDirect

Iron Spring Farm Sweeps Day One at Dressage at Devon Breed Show
Sally Silverman for Equestrian Sports Promotions

Devon, PA--September 25, 2007—It was a clean sweep for Iron Spring Farm at the opening day of Dressage at Devon Presented by WTDirect. The Coatesville, PA farm swept the Colt Championship, the Filly Championship and the Young Horse Championship under dazzling blue skies and the warmth of a perfect Indian summer day. The show, in its 33rd year, enjoyed an impressive roster of some of the top fillies and colts recently born into the sport horse world.

More than 200 yearlings, colts and fillies vied for the Young Horse Championship. Iron Spring Farm secured the Young Horse Championship as well as the Reserve Championship. Bien Sir ISF was the champion of the day, while Bedazzle ISF was crowned Reserve Champion. Bien Sir, who also won the Colt/Gelding Championship, is a US-bred KWPN-NA (Dutch) warmblood yearling by Sir Sinclair out of Toraya. Bedazzled ISF, who also won the Filly Championship, is a KWPN-NA (Dutch) warmblood yearling also sired by Sir Sinclair out of Inea. Both youngsters also claimed the Great American/USDF Colt and Filly Championships, respectively.

“It’s a dream come true,” said owner and breeder Mary Alice Malone of the numerous tri-color ribbons her horses earned. “Sir Sinclair and UB40 are producing beautiful, elastic horses with great self-carriage and great temperaments. We are thrilled.” Malone praised Rob de Bruin who handled the Iron Spring Farm horses. “He’s so good with the horses. He talks to them,” she explained. De Bruin passed the credit to the youngsters’ sire, Sir Sinclair. “Sir Sinclair made his own advertisement today. It was the best day ever,” he said.

In the Colt/Gelding Championship class, the Reserve Champion was Saracchi owned by Ken La Chey and bred by Hans Butta Scherbring. Rheporter, an American Hanoverian, bred and owned by Maurine Swanson was Reserve Champion in the Filly class. The chestnut filly is by Royal Prince out of E.M. Whisper.

The Breed Show at Dressage at Devon is considered one of the most prestigious breed shows outside of Europe offering three full days of in-hand and under saddle competition focusing on the movement, conformation and general impression of the horse. Horses that have competed in the breed show have gone on to the Olympic Games, the World Cup Finals and the World Championships. In 2006, Idocus became the first breed show champion to win the Grand Prix. Dressage at Devon Board member Melanie Sloyer explained, “There isn’t another show like Dressage at Devon outside of Europe, so this is definitely the place to be if you want to see bloodlines and offspring in action.”

By the end of the Breed Show, officials at the top of their field from through the US and Europe will have judged 425 horses, representing close to 30 breeds, in about 70 classes. The event is a qualifier for the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Breeders Championship East Coast Series and the Championship Final, the North American Breeders Futurity Championship, and the Born in the USA Breeders Awards.

On Thursday, the Performance Division kicks off, featuring Olympic veterans and Olympic hopefuls in some of the most impressive horsemanship seen in this country. Continuing throughout the weekend, the show offers great shopping, dining and educational opportunities as well.