Saturday, September 15, 2007, marked the 10th annual ISR/Oldenburg NA mare and foal inspection hosted by Virginia Tech. Over the past decade, the University has become the largest breeder in North America with ISR/Oldenburg NA, with two stallions and more than 30 broodmares currently active in the registry. Approximately 10-15 foals are presented each year by Virginia Tech, and the University has bred 23 Premium Foals and 6 Site Champions from 2005 to 2007. The students eagerly look forward to the annual inspection, which has been fully incorporated into the academic curriculum. In 2007 nearly 75 students helped with the day's events!
Generally the Virginia Tech site is well-attended, and this year was no exception. Thirty-seven horses were presented; 13 mares, 11 colts, nine fillies, three yearlings and one two-year-old. Inspector on the day was the consummate horseman Dr. Christian Schacht, who also generously treated the audience to a short seminar on 'The Sound Performance Horse' over the lunch hour. This was Dr. Schacht's second visit to Virginia Tech, and once again his wealth of knowledge, detailed explanations, love of teaching, and quick wit were appreciated by all who attended.
Several mares earned scores over 100 but did not quite make it to the Premium Mare book. These included the 1992 Oldenburg NA and ex-Grand Prix dressage mare Primrose (Pik Immer/Rombus/Greenhorn) , who scored 101 points, and the 2001 Hanoverian mare Consuela (Contucci/Banter/Adroit) , who earned 103 points, including a '9' for her head. Both mares are owned by the Virginia Tech Foundation. The 2001 mare PZennor (Love Affair/Key to the Kingdom xx/Lend Lease xx) , also owned by Virginia Tech, scored 105 points, but as she has only a certificate of pedigree for her Holsteiner breeding, was entered into the Mare Book.
Two Premium Mares plaques were awarded to the site hosts. The first was for the hunter-type 1997 Oldenburg NA mare Molly Brown (Mannhattan/Az Igazi xx/Flying Elijah xx), who scored 105 points. Sailing easily into the Premium Mare Book was the 1994 Hanoverian mare Dom Perignon (Domingo/Noble Dancer xx/Hatchet Man xx) , with 109 points. Dom Perignon is from the highly-regarded breeding program of Dr. Steve and Bettie Carroll of Sullivan Farm and has been attracting attention since she was named Grand Champion at the NCDCTA Fall Classic as a weanling ten years ago. As a result of her 109 score, Dom Perignon was later named as the 4th highest-scoring mare on the East Coast for the 2007 tour.
Twenty foals were presented, by sires Baladin d'Oc, Concerto Grosso, FS Daily Hero, Innkeeper xx, Oswald, Pablo, Ragtime, Rapture R, Royal Appearance, Scimitar and Wild Dance. Fourteen (70%) of the foals were named Premium.
Winning the colt division was Virginia Tech's own Windsor VT , by Wild Danc e and out of the day's high-score mare Dom Perignon . His overall score of 8.6 made him not only the top colt on the day, but also the highest-scoring colt for the entire North American inspection tour! Prior to his inspection, Windsor VT had been shown by VT students to Champion Young Horse and Reserve Grand Champion titles at Dressage at Lexington, and shortly afterward went on to place 5th in the ISR/OLDNA IBC and 4th in the USDF/GAIG Colt/Gelding Regional Championships in Virginia Tech's first-ever trip to Dressage at Devon.
Reserve Champion Colt was Big Pikture VT (Baladin d'Oc x Primrose, Pik Immer) with an overall score of 8.3, followed closely by the Third High Score Colt Roadster VT (Royal Appearance x Dionysia, Dionysios) with a final score of 8.2. Also named Premium were Roswell VT (Royal Appearance x Ultra Violet, Emilion) with an 8.2 final score, Remington VT (Rapture R x Maggiolata, Maurice) with an 8.0 final score, and the elegant grey 8.1 colt Icon (Innkeeper xx x Iliana, Egmont) , owned and bred by Koy Kincaid.
The fillies were equally impressive, and the high score of 8.6 went to Stardust, an incredibly beautiful dark bay filly by Scimitar and out of the Thoroughbred mare R. U. Lamar , by Unconscious , and owned by Angela Hertsog. Her score tied her for the top-filly and top-foal honors nationwide! Rounding out the top three in the Premium Filly ring were Reserve Champion Bella Sera VT (Baladin d'Oc x Dimple, Diwan) with a final score of 8.4, and an unnamed Concerto Grosso filly who earned an overall 8.2, owned and bred by young breeder Audrey Bevins.
Other Premium fillies included Bacarra VT (Baladin d'Oc x Consuela, Contucci) with an 8.1 score, Royal Diva (Royal Appearance x Priceless, Galoubet) , also with an 8.1, and owned by Brigitte Peterson, the 8.1 filly Orabella (Oswald x Call Becky xx, Aye's Turn xx) owned by Andrea Underdal, and the 8.0 filly Cabochon (Concerto Grosso x Bebo Bear, Bolero) , owned by Martha Jones.
One Sport Pony foal was presented, and named Premium with an 8.0 final score. She was the darling filly Diva Star VT , from the first crop of FS Daily Hero to be presented to the registry. This is the third Premium foal in a row for her Oldenburg dam Wind Star , by Wendepunkt .
With both the top colt and filly both scoring over 8.5, and such an enjoyable collection of mares and foals, spirits were high for breeders and spectators alike by the end of the long day! The annual inspection is a cornerstone of Virginia Tech's sporthorse breeding program and an important educational event for the local horse community, with detailed programs, food and beverages all provided free of charge. Many heartfelt thanks go to the students, volunteers, faculty and staff involved in hosting such a large event, with special kudos to professional photographer Alice Alley, clerk Shelby Clark, announcer Sarah Denham, handlers Andy Gibson, Sierra Pollock and Alison Parker, and of course our judge Christian Schacht! As always, Virginia Tech is honored to be a part of the inspection tour, and we are looking forward to 2008!
