Iron Spring Farm's three-year-old homebred Friesian stallion, Pilgrim ISF, was awarded the prestigious First Premie Star designation and was selected for KFPS stallion testing during the Friesian Horse Association of North America (FHANA) KFPS keuring on September 29, 2008. Iron Spring Farm's success during the keuring also includes Pilgrim's dam, Toltsje fan't Boekehof, receiving an 82.5 on her IBOP (performance) test to earn the prestigious Model designation. She also received the Champion Mare Award.
"We had a great keuring," enthused Mary Alice Malone, owner of Iron Spring Farm. "We are especially proud of Pilgrim. I really love riding his sire, Erik. Pilgrim has inherited all of his father's good traits—his generous disposition, great gaits and wonderful nature." Erik's other show-stopping offspring at the keuring was his 2008 colt, Aloha ISF, who was named Colt Champion. Erik is already the sire of an approved stallion, Arjen 417, as well as numerous keuring champions and First Premies.
Toltsje fan't Boekehof, by Anton 343, is one of the farm's premium mares. In addition to Pilgrim ISF, she is also the dam of Jonas ISF, a Star stallion, who is competing in dressage, and Gurbe fan't Boekehof, a First Premie Star gelding. Toltsje's first three offspring have all been First Premie Star. She herself has been top-placed at Dressage at Devon. Malone continued, "A farm's broodmares are as important as the stallions. Toltsje is the type of mare we strive to own&dmash;a modern type with excellent gaits and disposition."
Erik was not the only Iron Spring stallion receiving accolades during the keuring. Teade 392 sired the Reserve Champion Filly, Athena CHF. Bred and owned by Richard and Nancy Kennedy, Athena CHF was also awarded First Premie. "She's the biggest baby we have had," Richard Kennedy says. Athena CHF is the third First Premie foal for Athena's dam, Saakje Meinsje. And although Kennedy was confident that Athena would perform well at the keuring, he hadn't seen her trot. "Most Friesians prefer to trot, but Athena canters all over the field!" he said.
With backgrounds in dressage and eventing, the Kennedys became interested in Friesians after seeing a demonstration at Dressage at Devon many years ago. "I was so impressed by the demonstration, I thought we should have some Friesians," Kennedy recalled. The next year, the couple watched Mary Alice Malone show her Friesians, so they began to add Friesians to their herd. Now the farm produces a couple of foals every other year.
Teade's son Sylvester P was also selected for stallion testing at the Michigan keuring. Bred and owned by Klaas and Mares Vanderploeg, Sylvester P is out of the Star mare Bauwina W., who comes from an impressive full-papered mare line. Although the Vanderploegs have 10-15 foals each year, Sylvester P immediately caught their eye. "He's very strong in his gaits and very easy to work with," said Mares Vanderploeg of Ithaca, MI. "Our 14-year-old daughter rides him." The family has bred two other approved stallions and felt that Teade would be a good complement with Bauwina W.
More information and photos can be found at www.ironspringfarm.com.
About Iron Spring Farm
For more than 30 years Iron Spring Farm has been importing and breeding high-quality sport horses. Iron Spring stands nearly a dozen Warmblood and Friesian stallions and offers programs to help breeders produce, raise and market exceptional athletes of their own. Visit www.ironspringfarm.com for complete information.