Knabstrupper Grading Results 2009

2009 marked the 5 year anniversary for KNN gradings in the UK. This year’s grading took place at Rodbaston College, Staffordshire, on the 19th September. The gradings are organised and run by the KNN’s daughter society the Knabstrupper Society GB (KSGB).

For the first time this year the judging panel included UK judges, an aspiration of the society since its inception. In addition to the Danish judges, KNN Chairman Poul Gerhard Pedersen and warmblood judge Svend Soerensen, UK judges Susan and Paul Attew and Terry Hyde made up the panel. It was a very positive experience to have these highly qualified and internationally experienced UK judges attending and much gratitude goes towards them for their time and enthusiasm in getting involved with the breed.

Best Youngstock title, and ultimately Best in Show, went to the 2 year old filly Blacklaw Vice Versa, owned by Vicky Thomson-Carr. Blacklaw Vice Versa is by the Hanoverian stallion De Niro out of the recently deceased prolific silver medal Knabstrupper mare Vixen. Vixen leaves a legacy of 18 offspring to the breed. The judges commented on this young filly being a feminine sports type with real beauty and quality awarding her a First Premium with a spectacular overall impression of 9. This is the second time this young filly has achieved this coveted award, gaining Best Foal and Best in Show at the 2007 grading. Her handler, Justin Hollis, topped off the day with the award for Best Handler.

Two of the stallions presented on the day went on to obtain their breeding approvals. Theresa Vimmerslev’s home bred 3 year old stallion Halfdan Heimdal, by the late advanced dressage stallion Hamlet Frydenlund out of the performance tested mare Bakkegaardens Stella, took the title of Best Stallion, receiving another year’s licence.

The 4 year old Danish bred stallion Lammegaardens Liberty, by Pors out of Roxane Frydenlund (herself the dam of Hamlet Frydenlund), owned by Sarah Gibbons, successfully passed his performance test gaining life time approval. Sarah plans to take him to her native Canada in the new year and we hope this will be the start of another exciting chapter in the history of the Knabstrupper.

The Best Foal title was contested between Tresaison stud’s filly Tresaison Hollywood by Nobody’s Harlequin, out of Yellow Gram and Susan Bradley’s home bred colt Ragstone Xavier by Xhogun Middelsom of Blacklaw Stud out of Zerina. Wowing the judges with his movement and expression, the title of Best Foal ultimately went to Ragstone Xavier.

Background Information

Knabstrupper gradings in the UK:

Knabstrupper gradings have taken place annually in the UK since 2005, making 2009 the 5th anniversary. Originating from the co-operation between UK owners and breeders and the Danish Mother Studbook, the KNN, considerations of the foundation of a UK daughter society began. The Knabstrupper Society GB (KSGB) was set up to represent Knabstrupper owners and enthusiasts in the UK. The KSGB runs Knabstrupper gradings in the UK under the auspices of the KNN in the capacity as its daughter organisation.

The KNN grading and assessment format

KNN gradings and assessments are open to Knabstrupper horses, ponies and miniatures. Horses can be presented according to two standards; the Sports Horse standard and the Classical standard. Youngstock can be shown for assessment.

Mares can be presented for full grading from the age of 3. Stallions can go forward for their first licensing at the age of 2. They will need to be represented each year to obtain an annual licence until they have passed their final grading. To pass their final grading they must pass a performance assessment, which they can do from the age of 4. The performance assessment includes a ridden test under own and test rider, jumping under own rider and an endurance test.

Stallions adhering to the pure bred criteria (depending on the year they were born, a transitional rule becoming stricter for each year) may obtain a limited licence if they do not obtain sufficient marks at the ordinary licence assessment. To obtain a full grading they will also have to later pass a performance assessment and obtain a minimum score of 7 overall at the ordinary licence assessment.

At the grading the Best Foal, Youngstock, Gelding, Mare and Stallion go forward to contest the Best in Show title.

The KNN is an open stud book, meaning approved outcrosses of verified breeding may be eligible for full Main Stud Book status; others may be eligible for entry into the Appendix.

For more information please visit the web sites of the mother stud book and its UK daughter society on:

www.knab.dk and www.knabstruppersociety.org.uk

All pictures courtesy of Sarah Box (www.sarahboximages.co.uk)