Virgina Tech WINS at Dressage at Devon!

During the week of September 22, 2008, four Virginia Tech students traveled with a Virginia Tech-bred foal to Devon, PA, to compete at Dressage at Devon, the most prestigious dressage competition in the hemisphere and the largest sport horse breeding show in the world. The students competed against top professional handlers and the country's leading horses to earn an unprecedented win in the famed Dixon Oval. This is the first time any horse bred by a university program or campaigned by university students has ever taken a blue ribbon at Dressage at Devon!

The students, Rebecca Arnold of Martinsville, VA, Kelli Beavers of Lebanon, VA, Claire McGill of Monroe, CT, and Alison Parker of Herndon, VA, had all participated in the Virginia Tech Summer Sporthorse Internship Program, in which they received instruction in conformation analysis, biomechanics and proper handling and presentation techniques for sporthorses. In addition, students in the internship participate in all aspects of running a large breeding farm and assist with ongoing research at the horse center. Coaching the students was Dr. Rebecca K. Splan, Associate Professor of Equine Science in the Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences.

The winning foal was Landmark VT, no stranger to success with an already-stellar resume. In July he was shown by Virginia Tech students to multiple wins and two Reserve Champion titles at the Dressage at Lexington breed show, and on September 20th was named Premium and Champion Colt of his foal inspection. In addition to his win at Devon, he also placed fifth there in the GAIG/USDF Regional Breeders' Colt Championships under an international panel of judges and against older horses. He is one of the first foals in North America by the international dressage star Lingh, whose owner Karin Offield generously donated frozen semen from her incredible stallion to the Virginia Tech's top-ranked sporthorse breeding program.

Virginia Tech Students go to Germany!

For two weeks in May 2008, 18 Equine Science students from Virginia Tech traveled to Germany as part of an exciting new study abroad course. The purpose of the trip was to educate them about the sporthorse industry in Germany, and was held in cooperation with the International Sporthorse Registry/Oldenburg Registry NA. The girls participated in the German Reitabzeichen, which tested their technical knowledge and riding skill in both showjumping and dressage. The group performed brilliantly in front of the German judges, and all earned their certification with a very high group average! The girls were treated to many daytrips to top breeding centers, and guided tours of Verden, the German National Equestrian Federation and the Olympic Training Center at Warendorf. Other special events included mare shows, a Bundeschampionat qualifier for young event horses and an extraordinary mare and stallion show at Neustadt/Dosse. The trip was highly successful in educating and inspiring these students and we are looking forward to the next tour of Germany in 2010.

Virgina Tech WINS at Dressage at Lexington!

On Friday, July 10, Virginia Tech's 2009 Sporthorse Summer Interns attended their first-ever breed show at Dressage at Lexington. The three students, Josie Gomon from Baltimore, MD, Lauren Kinter from Cleveland, OH, and Laura Krohn, from Ellicott City, MD, did a super job and took home excellent ribbons.

The 2009 filly Fanfare VT (Fielding/Unmistaken xx) won her ISR/OLDNA IBC and was third in a very competitive Fillies of 2009 class. Another young filly, Roslyn VT (Rapture R/Domingo) was second behind her stablemate in the ISR/OLNDA IBC and placed sixth in the Fillies of 2009 class. Congrats to our students on such a fine job!

2009 Hokie Harvest Sale List is Now Online!

The 28 horses to be offered in the 15th annual Hokie Harvest Sale are now listed! Check out the Sales List to see which horses will be sold on the evening of Friday, October 30 in Blacksburg VA. This will probably be the last time our horses will be sold in the Hokie Harvest Sale, so please come out and support this student activity! In the future we will sell most of our horses privately, rather than offer them in an auction setting.

Virginia Tech Hosts 12th Annual ISR/Oldenburg NA Mare and Foal Inspection

On September 19th, we were honored to host our 12th annual ISR/Oldenburg NA mare and foal inspection. Almost 90 students (and several alumni) helped with the event, which has grown to become one of the largest inspection sites in the country. ISR/Oldenburg NA is the largest independent sport horse registry in North America and Virginia Tech is a major breeder with the organization. We were delighted to welcome back as inspector Dr. Christian Schacht, Breeding Director for the registry. Dr. Schacht is a great friend to Virginia Tech, and has worked with us to organize many learning opportunities for our students, including our summer study abroad program and working studentships in Germany.

At the inspection, horses are judged in-hand on their conformation and gaits. They are given numerical scores for components of these traits. This information allows breeders to make appropriate breeding decisions for their mares or determine if they are on track in meeting the registry's breeding goals with the quality of the foals they are producing.

Twenty-five horses were presented for inspection. Virginia Tech took top honors in both the mare and foal divisions. Four of five mares presented by Virginia tech earned their Premium Mare titles! The Champion mare was Virginia Tech's new acquisition, the 7YO Danish Warmblood Granlygaard's Feuty, by Blue Hors Future Cup. "Fleur", as she is known, was one of the top ten mares of her age group in Denmark and was recently hand-picked for importation by Olympic judge Anne Gribbons. This stunning mare scored 108 points. Reserve Champion mare was Nutmeg, a 13 year-old daughter of Nebelhorn, the Grand Prix dressage stallion who stood at Virginia Tech for many years. She scored 107 points.

Champion Colt was Riot VT, by Virginia Tech's own stallion Royal Appearance. He narrowly beat out Crossfire VT, who is sired by Concerto Grosso, who stands iin the Abingdon area. Both colts are owned by Virginia Tech and scored 8.3 overall.

Champion Filly was Balsam VT, by Virginia Tech's senior stallion Baladin d'Oc. Balsam VT scored 8.5 across the board to also become the High Score Foal on the day. Balsam VT and her mother Primrose were purchased earlier this year by Dr. Gale Ford of Hickory, North Carolina. Reserve Champion Filly was Roulette VT, another foal sired by Royal Appearance. This jumper-bred filly earned a final score of 8.3. She was recently purchased by former APSC student Josephine Gomon, who just completed a summer internship here at Virginia Tech and has accepted a new position with Kent Island Sporthorses in Maryland.

In all, 9 of 12 foals presented by Virginia Tech were named Premium Foals. This is outstanding, considering the registry aims for only 20% of foals to earn Premium status! The generous donations of top quality mares and breeding services from our supporters in the industry, along with some smart breeding decisions, have allowed us to exceed this percentage by far! We are looking forward to seeing these promising foals develop their careers in sport.

Thanks to everyone who participated or spectated at the event! It was a great learning opportunity for our students and for the regional horse community!