The Road To Your Dreams - Part 3

By Gordon Ironside, MFS Studfarm

Life was great when Geneve was around. He was such an easy horse to handle, with an excellent temperament; you would feel safe with him being around any adult or age of child. He had the kindest of eyes, always intrigued about what was going on, and enjoyed his summer outdoors as a two year old.

In the autumn of 2000, when he was reaching the age of 2.5 years old, we prepared him for the annual British Bavarian Stallion Grading, held at Straloch Stud in Aberdeenshire. Although he was a KWPN Registered horse, he was eligible to go forward with any society. At the time we were still involved with the British Bavarian Warmblood Association, so thought this a natural way to go with him.

Royal Geneve & Gordon

This was his first outing from the Stud and he did not disappoint. He was Licensed by the judges with some of the highest marks awarded to a stallion - we were thrilled. This entitled him to be licensed to cover up to 30 mares as a 3 year old while waiting for his 100 day testing.

In 2001 he was busy with his first year at Stud; we were unsure at the time whether to progress with his 100 day testing, which would take place at Straloch Stud under the guidance of the Bavarian Verband, or to grade him with the Scottish Sports Horse, which at that time had heavy involvement with the KWPN in Holland.

Also in 2001 we purchased the Westfalian Approved pony stallion “Nibelungenheld IV”, whose full brothers represented Germany many times in European championships.

As we had two stallions, we decided to grade both of them through the SSH. With Geneve being three we had him backed that year by the showjumper, Mark Maher, along with putting one of our mares, Octavia B (by Jurius) with Mark to produce under saddle.

The time was nearing towards the SSH Stallion Grading and the nerves were starting to take hold again, as although you know you have to have your stallion graded (to get an independent view by qualified judges on the quality of your horse as a potential breeding horse), there is still a part of you that worries that he will not be well received.

Geneve came down with a virus a few days before the grading, and I remember putting him down the jumping lane at home and him hardly able to pick up his legs. At this point we were going to withdraw him, but Mark told us that all would be well on the day, and that he would be much brighter by then.

So we decided to go ahead with taking both boys down to Balcormo Stud in Fife where the stallion grading was being held.

Nibelungenheld IV & Gordon

We arrived early evening and got the boys settled into the stables, and watched with intent as the other stallion candidates started to arrive. One of these horses is the top jumping stallion “Pall Mall H” who is currently ridden by Peter Charles at International level.

It was very funny because “Nibels” our pony stallion was on the opposite side to “Pall Mall H”, but I remember going into the stables where the owner, Sandra Lynn Cordiner was standing, and “Pall Mall H” was looking upwards and petrified.

I followed Sandra’s gaze and looked upwards………….and to my horror peering over the top of the very high wall was a little brown face looking back at us……and here was our “Nibels” looking over the wall and poor Pall Mall H looked petrified! Sandra turned round to me and asked me who owned the stallion; at this point I looked down and said “I have no idea”…..and then I walked out the stables!! When I walked round the corner to see what “Nibels” was up to, I smiled to see that he had found a small ledge at the back of his stable, which made this 14.1hh pony turn into the 17hh horse that was managing to peer over the top of the wall!! To say that “Nibels” had character was an understatement, especially in-hand. However, with a jockey on his back he was the most incredible showjumping pony you could have. We had great fun on the showjumping circuit with him that year!

After that, I went back inside and had a very late night enjoying Duguld and Jackie Low Mitchell’s great hospitality, and I lost count of how many drinks I had with Sandra Low Mitchell…….the atmosphere was great that evening.

The day of the grading was upon us and Caroline was up early that morning preparing both boys ready for the judges and audience.

Both boys trotted up well, and showed themselves well for the loose movement and free jumping.

There was a large contingent of stallions that year, with some very well bred horses forward, so it was a nervous time when they were all brought back into the arena to see who had received the top award of Licensed, the second rating of Registered, the bottom grade of Listed, or those that would not pass at all.

I remember that Caroline had Geneve and I was walking round with Nibels. The judges were at the top of the indoor arena and the audience and owners looked on nervously as the two KWPN judges prepared to say what the results were.

The first stallion’s name to be given the top award of Licensed was the Gillespie Equestrians stallion “Cappucino”. This Belgium bred stallion was already Licensed by the Belgium Studbook and was a superb looking stallion.

Then we all waited eagerly to hear who was next. The next stallion to be given Licensed was……………..”Royal Geneve”! I could not believe it! To say that my dreams had come true would be an understatement. The judges went on to say what a wonderful type of horse he was, with good engaging movement and a superb jumping technique. I looked across at Caroline who was holding Geneve and she looked in disbelief across at me, with the biggest grin on her face!

Sadly Nibels only got Registered status, so we were disappointed with that because, with him being Approved with a top German Studbook, we had high hopes for him.

As only two stallions got Licensed, Margot Kennedy, the Studbook Manager at the time asked all the other stallions to leave the arena and Cappucino and Geneve got to show off to the audience who were on their feet and clapping as both did their rounds on honour. It was a fantastic feeling!

The trip home was great, although still tainted because our little Nibels had not done so well as we had expected, but Geneve arrived to a hero’s welcome with the rest of the family being just as excited as us…..