IDHSNA Stallion Service Auction

Breedings to Demo stallions Braveheart, Bridon Beale Street, and Cradilo, will be up for bid in the 2010 Irish Draught Horse Society Stallion Service Auction, to be held online February 21 through March 7! Breed your own exceptional purebred or partbred Irish Draught! Auction preview is up, so set up your log in and get ready to bid: www.irishdraughtauction.com

Spotlight on Demo Rider: Tom Dvorak

Tom Dvorak was born in Germany and began riding as a child. Little did his family know at that time that his passion would take him around the globe with an illustrious Dressage career.

In 1982, his family relocated to Canada, where Tom became a member of the Silver medal winning Canadian Young Riders' team. In 1990, Tom represented Canada at the World Equestrian Game sin Stockholm on his horse, World Cup. In 1993, Tom and Assanti were members of the Gold Medal Team at the North American Dressage Championships, and later qualified to represent Canada at the 1996 World Cup in Los Angeles. That same year, Tom and World Cup were named to the team representing Canada at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. At the end of 1997, Tom won another World Cup Qualifier at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair aboard Clearly Canadian, and the team went on to represent Canada at the 1998 World Cup Finals in Goteborg, Sweden.

The past decade has been another series of accomplishments in the Dressage world. In 2001, Tom competed at the World Breeders Championsips in Verden, Germany, aboard the 5-year-old Fortissimo, placing 17th overall. In 2002, Tom and Lenz were part of the Silver Medal Team at the Cup of the Americas, claiming the Individual Bronze medal. In 2004, Tom teamed up with Ashley Holzer and riding Beaumarchais and Westside Lady, won the Can Am Team Challenge at Devon. In 2007, Tom and Beaumarchais were named to the team representing Canada at the Pan American Games in Rio, bringing home the Silver Team Medal and placing 4th individually.

Tom and his wife, Ellen, call Hillsburgh, Ontario, home. Tom trains out of Gilbrea Stables, owned by Alex Wilson. Look for Tom doing Dressage demos aboard Steeped in Luck in conjunction with the Irish Village at the World Equestrian Games Demonstrations.

Spotlight on Demo Horse: Steeped in Luck

Steeped in Luck (aka: “Eamon”) is a dark bay 16.3 hand Registered Irish Draught stallion owned by Keith and Elizabeth Douglas of Pairadox Farm (http://www.pairadoxfarm.com) in Canada. Eamon was imported from Ireland in 2002 as a weanling and is by Mount Diamond Flag RID out of Steeple View RID. His pedigree is rich in performance bloodlines including King of Diamonds and Pride of Shaunlara. Although Steeped in Luck's bloodlines are through and through jumper lines, he has demonstrated his versatility showing the past few years in open dressage competition. Eamon was Ontario’s Second Level (2008) and Third Level (2009) Dressage Champion in open competition. In addition to his athletic performance, Eamon is true to breed standard. In 2007, he competed at the North American Irish Draught Annual Show in Chicago. He was entered in 4 classes and won all 4 classes, including the highly competitive in-hand stallion class. Eamon is currently being ridden and trained by Olympian Tom Dvorak from Hillsburgh, Ontario. Eamon and Tom draw attention wherever they go, with judges stopping to inquire on what breed he is and commenting on what a beautiful mind he has. Tom says of Eamon, “as a trainer there is much to admire about him: his temperament is amazing, his willingness to work and learn - exceptional, the capability to collect - it's dead easy for him. He has turned a lot heads.”Eamon and Tom are in Wellington, Florida for the winter season competing at Fourth Level. Their first show was the Jim Brandon Center’s Gold Coast Opener CDI, and Eamon and Tom secured a 4th and 2nd place in competitive Open Division at 4th Level! After a hard day of work, Eamon showed true Irish temperament and laid down and took a snooze while his braids were removed. Eamon was housed in the CDI barn and so inadvertently got his temperature taken by the FEI vet on his rounds. The vet then asked that he be removed from his stall, but not for medical reasons, but because he wanted to take pictures of him with his iPhone to show his friends! Just another example of how Eamon makes new fans and friends everywhere he goes. Look for Tom and Eamon performing Dressage Demonstrations at the World Equestrian Games in conjunction with the Irish Village. You won’t want to miss this pair!

Video: Bridon Beale Street Eventing

Video of Demo horse, Bridon Beale Street, eventing in California. Look for more of the same at the World Equestrian Games!

Video: Tom Dvorak & Steeped in Luck

In June 2009, Demo rider, Tom Dvorak, and horse, Steeped in Luck, took home Third Level Reserve Champion at what could be Canada's largest dressage show ever. the pair showed in the OPEN division at Third level for the first time. Class sizes ranged from 17 to 19 horses. Combined scores over the 3 days resulted in Steeped in Luck being awarded Reserve Champion at Third Level.



After completing his 3rd and final test, FEI "I" judge Jane Weatherwax's curiosity got the best of her - she had to ask Tom what breed the stallion was while commenting that his mount had the most BEAUTIFUL MIND! Ms. Weatherwax, who judged the most recent Pan American games, gave Steeped in Luck a 70% in one of his 3 tests over the weekend.

Video: Amy Hunter & Cradilo Win Grand Prix

On June 6, 2009, Demo horse Cradilo and rider Amy Hunter won their first Grand Prix event in Mason, Iowa. Weather conditions were sloppy, and this was intended to be a warm up event for the pair after taking a month off upon returning from intensive training in Ocala, Florida. The pair ended up having a clean round and taking home their first Grand Prix win! This is the type of excellence you'll be seeing them Demo at the World Equestrian Games.

Spotlight on Demo Horse: Glenlord's Laralie

Glenlord’s Laralie (aka "Lara") is a 4-year-old 16 hand stunning chestnut Irish Draught Sport Horse mare. The Stephens family in Texas have had Lara since she was weaned. Lara was purchased to be the future upper level event horse of young rider Gaby Stephens. Lara is currently in training for dressage, and when she comes out of dressage training she will begin her jump training. When Lara was a yearling, she went to the American Warmblood Society for inspections and approval. She won the Bronze Medal. She was a judge favorite for her wonderful temperament and her fabulous conformation.
Lara's sire is the late Bridon Glenlord RID. Her Dam is a Jockey Club Thoroughbred/GOV Oldenburg. Lara is proving to be the epitome of the Irish Draught Sport Horse, with her wonderful movement, temperament, and heart. It is a testament to the breed that these horses are trusted with young riders, and Gaby can't wait to show the world what she and Lara can do together at the World Equestrian Games! Look for them in the Demo ring.

Spotlight on Demo Rider: Gaby Stephens

Gaby Stephens is a 12-year-old horse crazy girl! She has been riding since she was 6-years-old, but really began competitive training starting in 2005 when she started to learn dressage. Gaby and her pony, Royal Spiritual Wind (aka “Spirit”), won countless titles and awards in dressage and open shows since then, competing up to Training level. Gaby was the 2008 Reserve Junior Champion for the Central Texas Dressage Society on Spirit. Gaby and spirit then started eventing together until Gaby outgrew her. Gaby’s current mount is Doin a Dash (aka “Reckless”), an AQHA Appendix who has evented through Training level. Gaby and Reckless will be competing in Beginner’s Novice at USEA shows in the Spring and Summer of 2010.
Reckless will be teaching Gaby the ropes of upper level eventing, and concurrently Gaby will begin her Dressage career with her future upper level event dreamhorse, Demo horse Glenlord’s Laralie (aka “Lara”). Watch for this young rider and horse performing Dressage demonstration at the World Equestrian Games and beyond!

Spotlight on Demo Horse: Fernhill Henry Juan

Fernhill Henry Juan (aka "Gideon") is a seven year old Irish Sport Horse/Selle Francais cross. Gideon was brought over from Ireland in 2006 when Ashley and her dad made a horse-shopping trip. When Ashley tried him for the first time he was only four years old, had just been broken to ride, and had just had a week and a half off because the trainer had been on vacation. Ashley says even then he was a complete gentleman. She proceeded to be the first one to put him over fences, which he handled like he had done it all of his life. Even though he was so green, he had such an unbelievable natural talent, Ashley and her father knew that this was one they could not pass up. Gideon made the long trip to Texas, and then had to make the even longer trip that we call growing up.
Ashley has taken Gideon’s training slow to allow him to grow up and come into his full potential. In 2007, Gideon took third in the Young Event Horse Trials held at Roadrunner Farms. He started showing in the Hunter/Jumper circuit in 2008 and has since been to a few select shows. Most recently he competed in the 1.15/1.20m jumper classes at both The Great Southwest Hunter/Jumper Show and The Final Chase Horse Show held at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Houston, Texas.

Gideon is quite a large horse, standing at 17.1, but Ashley was watching him stand there like a little lamb while he got body clipped in preparation for a show. He was just standing there half asleep while a guy worked on each of his back legs. He was so unbothered! This is the mind we love about the Irish Horse!!!

Watch for Ashley and Gideon to perform Show Jumping Demonstrations in conjunction with the Irish Village at the World Equestrian Games.

Spotlight on Demo Horse: Sportsfield's Zebadee

Sportsfield’s Zebadee (aka: "Zeb") is a nine year old Irish Sport Horse/Holsteiner cross. Zeb was brought over from Ireland in 2006 when Ashley and her Dad made a horse-shopping trip. Zeb and Ashley’s first cross-country experience was in Ireland in the cold, misty darkness. Ashley said she could not even see the water jump as they were cantering up to it, but Zeb, being a typical brave Irish horse, cantered straight through it. Ashley knew right then he was one they needed to buy.
Zeb has since been learning the ropes as an upper level event horse. Heather Morris rode Zeb for the majority of 2009, while Ashley finished up her Bachelors degree. Most recently Ashley and Zeb won the Open Preliminary division at Holly Hill Horse Trials in October 2009. After that, Zeb has had a little well-deserved time off and has been brushing up on his dressage moves. Bre Dorset, a FEI dressage trainer, has been helping me put him through his paces. She feels his movement is good enough to be an international dressage horse.

Zeb had a blast competing at Meadow Creek Park in October 2009, even though they had to run in the mud. The stall wall was short enough in front for him to reach his head over and get into Ashley's tack trunk and scatter all of her stuff. He thought it was great! Ashley couldn’t keep anything out or it would have either been confiscated and taken into his stall or thrown into a neighbor’s stall for sharing.
Watch for Ashley and Zeb performing Demonstrations in Dressage, Eventing, and Show Jumping in conjunction with the Irish Village at the World Equestrian Games.

Spotlight on Demo Horse: Ballynoe Rum

Ballynoe Rum (aka "Rummy") is a thirteen year old Irish Sport Horse by Convinced. He was brought over from Ireland when he was five. Ashley received the ride after her father, Ashley Classen, rode Rummy to a second place finish in the Midsouth Three-Day Event CCI* in 2003. Ashley and Rummy went on to represent Area V in the North American Junior/Young Rider Championships in 2005, where they won a team gold in the CCI**.
Rummy ran his last Intermediate Horse Trial in the spring of 2006. Since then he and Ashley have successfully competed in numerous Grad Prix in the jumper world. During the summer of 2007, Rummy won the Junior/Amateur-Owner classic and placed second in the $25,000 Grand Prix at Brownland Farms. In October of this year, he came second in the $5,000 1.20m Classic at The Final Chase Horse Show held at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center. He has truly proven himself as a well-rounded horse able to fit into any mold that Ashley asks him to step into.

In Fall 2009, Rummy competed at both The Great Southwest Hunter/Jumper Show and The Final Chase Horse Show in Houston, Tx. He took second in the $5,000 1.20m Classic the second week and only had one down in the 1.40m Grand Prix the first week. Since then his show schedule has settled down for the winter, and he and Ashley are getting back to some basic training. Rummy and Ashley participated in a two-day clinic with McLain Ward just before Thanksgiving.
Ashley feels Rummy is one of those wonderful horses because he is so constant in his work ethic. Everyday she works with him, no matter what has happened recently, he always gives her a wonderful ride and is a joy to work with on her team. Watch for Ashley and Rummy to perform Demonstrations of Eventing and Show Jumping in conjunction with the Irish Village at the World Equestrian Games.

Spotlight on Demo Rider: Ashley Bailey-Classen

Ashley Scott Bailey-Classen is a 23 year old who has, in her short life, certainly learned the fine art of the packing a lot of life into a little span of time. She developed a great propensity for focus and organization early in life in order to be able to travel the United States, Canada and Mexico for her horse shows yet complete a demanding home school program.

At the age of 5 years old she developed a love affair with the horse that would only grow with time into a passion that would consume her decisions concerning her daily existence. She has competed successfully at the FEI CCI*** Level in Eventing and the Grand Prix level of Show Jumping. At a young age she qualified for Pony Finals in the Virginia Commonwealth. She has represented the USEA’s Area V in the North American Young Rider’s Championship for four years. In 2002 her team placed 4th with an 8th Individual placing. The following year in Quebec her team took the Silver metal with a 13th individual placing. Back in Chicago for the 2004 Championships her team once again took the 4th honor with a 15th individual placing for Ashley Scott. The hard work culminated in 2005 when her team won the Gold medal and Ashley Scott won a 6th Individual. The Gold metal was shared with her beloved Irish Sport Horse, Ballynoe Rum. Ashley Scott was, all the while, competing all over the nation where she advanced from being 10th place at the Red Hills CCI** to being the highest placed Young Rider at the Red Hills CCI***. She has been the Young Rider Representative to the USEA for Area V for three years.
Ashley is no newcomer to the Show Jumping arena either. She has been successfully competing in that venue since 1992 and was invited to compete at the coveted La Silla International competition in Monterrey, Mexico. In 2006 she advanced to the Grand Prix level of show jumping and began to train with McLain Ward. Last year she won the Classic at Brownland Farms and took 2nd Place in the Grand Prix once again partnered with Ballynoe Rum. Her most recent outing with Ballynoe Rum resulted in a 2nd place at The Final Chase Jumper Classic.
Ashley Scott’s scholastic achievements have also been very impressive. She home schooled successfully since 1996 to allow time for her demanding training program. She is graduating from North Texas University with a Major in Biology and a Minor in Chemistry in December, 2009 with the honor of Magna Cum Laude. She has now been invited to attend three medical schools as an early decision recipient for the Class of 2014.

The influence of the horses from the Emerald Isle on Ashley’s life began with her first three horses, two Welchs and a Connemara. Since that time she has always had multiple Irish horses to ride in her barn. Due to the sound, sane innate talent of the Irish horse, her family began to breed the Irish Draught and the Irish Sport Horse for her competition horses. For the last eight years Ashley Scott has not only done well on the show circuit, excelled in her studies, but has also managed the operation of the two family farms including the boarding and the breeding operations. She is responsible for the breeding, training and competition planning for each of the 46 horses that currently reside on her farms. Tall order for a small woman but always very well done.
Look for Ashley performing Demonstrations of Dressage, Eventing, and Show Jumping on her three Irish horses - Ballynoe Rum, Sportsfield's Zebadee, Fernhill Henry Juan - as part of the Irish Village at the World Equestrian Games.

Spotlight on Demo Horse: Dandelion Diamond Rebel

Dandelion Diamond Rebel (aka "Conor") is a 17 hand 9-year-old Registered Irish Draught stallion by Rebel Yell RID out of Ballybehan Beauty RID. Conor was bred in North America at Dandelion Farm (www.dandelionfarm.com), then was owned and competed by Melissa Mysing at Breezy Hollow Hunters (www.breezyhollow.com) in Mt. Hermon, Louisiana, and now is owned by Irvin and Victoria Crawford of Hunters Trap Farm in Boyds, Maryland.
Conor has excellent bloodlines known for their jumping ability and good dispositions. He most enjoys eventing and foxhunting and has competed in and won several events. Conor, ridden by owner Irvin, is currently the senior master's horse leading the field at the Potomoc Hunt. Among his other accolades, he was Grand Champion at the 2008 Upperville Horse Show in Virginia.
Conor had a busy fall of traveling and competing. In early October, he competed and won a division championship at the IDHSNA Annual Show in Lexington, Virginia. He then headed to upstate New York to hunt with the Genessee Valley Hunt. Next, he went south again to hunt with Farmington Hunt in Charlottesville, Virginia, before heading home to lead the field for the Potomac Hunt.
Maybe the "Horse of Kings" title should be bestowed on the Irish Draught breed, as often that is the treatment they get from their owners. While at the IDHSNA Annual Show, Conor was tired from competing all day. So, as the Crawfords were preparing his dinner, he laid down in his stall. So to keep him comfortable, his doting owners placed his feed tub under his nose so that he could rest and eat at the same time! He was total entertainment for his aisle the whole show.

Conor can do it all, so look for him potentially doing demonstrations in Dressage, Eventing, Show Jumping, Hunters, and Foxhunting at the World Equestrian Games, ridden by Melissa Mysing and Brittany Fiebrandt.

Spotlight on Demo Horse: Miss Pamela

Miss Pamela (Macha Breeze RID x Shakin' JC-TB by Olympic Judge) is an 18.1 hand six-year-old Registered Irish Draught Sport Horse owned by Moira McCracken that has been in Dressage training with Leslie Bean for the past eight months. As a six-year-old she is ready to compete at the first level of dressage, with the hopes of performing at third level by the Games. Miss Pamela was put into consistent training as a five-year-old. She has been trained in the disciplines of arena and cross country jumping in addition to her dressage training. Leslie is currently working with Jason Canton for additional dressage instruction with Miss Pamela. As of January 2010, Miss Pamela is progressing steadily in her dressage training. She has perfected the leg yield, shoulder-in, renver, and traver. Leslie is schooling the walk/canter transition as well as the canter/walk transition, thus the quality of her canter is improving daily.

Moira and Leslie look forward to showing off Miss Pamela's ability to compete in the Dressage arena at the World Equestrian Games during demonstration rides promoting the Irish Draught Sport Horse.