2007 Dressage at Devon Presented by WTDirect

Iron Spring Farm’s Yearling Bien Sir ISF Claims Grand Champion
by Christine DeHerrera - Equestrian Sports Promotions

In an exciting finish to the second day of Dressage at Devon Presented by WTDirect, a yearling bested two very impressive mature horses to win the Grand Championship. Iron Spring Farm’s Bien Sir ISF claimed the night’s final victory after also earning three championships on day one. The Sir Sinclair son impressed the international judging panel and audience with his elastic, uphill movement and charisma.

“Bien Sir ISF is one of the nicest young horses I have worked around,” said Melissa Gallagher from Iron Spring Farm. “He’s super easy, just like his dad. He’s very special.” Handler Rob De Bruin also praised the colt’s easygoing temperament, which he attributes to his bloodlines. “You never know how young horses will react. For a yearling, two days [of horse showing] is a lot,” he said. “He comes out to show, but he stays quiet. He’s a horse you can trust. Most Sir Sinclair offspring are like that.” Bien Sir ISF also inherited good genes from his mother, Toraya who is by Goodtimes. Iron Spring plans to allow the spectacular KWPN-NA (Dutch Warmblood) colt to mature into a performance horse. Offspring such as Bien Sir ISF allowed Sir Sinclair to finish first and second in the Get of Sire class, a class he also won in 2006.

Claiming the Reserve Grand Championship was another Iron Spring Farm horse, Rabiola. The nine-year-old KWPN mare was the Grand Champion at last year’s Dressage at Devon. The Metall daughter strutted her stuff and also trotted off with the Mare Championship and the Mature Horse Championship.

The Reserve Mature Horse Championship, the Stallion Championship and the Great American/USDF Stallion Championship were awarded to Wellington Farm’s impressive grey Swedish stallion Stonefire 1074. The Briar 899 son was found in Sweden by Hokan Thorn, who handled the stallion throughout the day and will also ride him in the Fourth Level classes later in the week. “I cannot believe this; it’s so exciting!” said the horse’s obviously thrilled owner Taunia Reed. She recalled that her first impression of him sleeping in his stall in Sweden was quickly replaced once she saw him trot. “This horse moves,” she said. “[Hokan] says it’s like riding a rubber ball.”