31 Aug Report from the Road: Rocky Ridge Stables in Honeybrook, Pennsylvania
August 31, 2022
Report from the Road: Rocky Ridge Stables in Honeybrook, Pennsylvania
Date: August 26-27, 2022
Location: Honeybrook, Pennsylvania
Host: Rocky Ridge Stables
KWPN Judges: Viggon van Beest & Lammert Tel
The second KWPN-NA Keuring of 2022 was organized last Friday and Saturday at Rocky Ridge Stables in Honeybrook, Pennsylvania. This well-organized and very hospitable inspection was held in a beautiful location under sunny and warm conditions. The quantity was also not very large at this inspection, with the average quality being somewhat lower than in Goshen, Indiana.
FOALS class
A total of ten foals (eight Vb, one Reg. A and one Reg. B.) competed for the Championship title. The quality varied from satisfactory to good, with eight foals receiving a first premium and two foals receiving a second premium. Three foals were eventually invited for the final.
The filly Sallianne (Globetrotter Sport x Erianne Elite by Vaandrager), bred and owned by Ben Fisher Jr. from Manheim PA, became Foal Champion. Sallianne is well developed, has a good harness horse type and has a lot of appearance. She has an appealing front and strong connections with her front leg being remarkably far in front of her torso. In addition, she has a very well-developed withers and clean leg quality, with her hind leg being a bit long. She trots in a very harness-typical and powerful way, and puts on a lot of front, action, suspension and suppleness. She always starts well from the hind leg and also has the capacity to easily switch tempo.
Second place was for filly Saralonda (Atleet Keur x Alonda Ster Pref. by Talos), bred and owned by Raymond Stoltzfus from Morgantown PA. Saralonda is a real harness type foal with front and a beautiful head. She stands well in the rectangular model, has strong connections and a correct and hard foundation. In the trot she has a beautiful posture, very good use of the front leg and good suspension. She would have made it more difficult for the winner, if she would have shown a little more bend and strength in the hind legs.
Third place was for Sergeant THS (Jaleet x Fieke Keur by Baanbreker HBC), who is also bred and owned by Raymond Stoltzfus of Morgantown PA. Sergeant THS is a normally developed harness-typical colt with a lot of front. He also has strong connections with a very well-developed withers and a hard foundation. In trot, he showed more than sufficient front with good suspension and good balance. The front leg has a lot of forward reach but could have a little more action.
Two-year-old mares- class
The only two-year-old mare presented in this class, received a first premium and was invited to the General Championship. Pidane (Globetrotter Sport x Didane Ster by Manno Pref), bred and owned by Jesse Ray Miller from Paradise PA, is a typical Harness type mare with an appealing front, but she could have more muscle and suppleness and length in her body. She presents herself freely and happily, radiating a strikingly beautiful appearance. She has good suspension and a good balance which she combines with sufficient action and power.
THREE-YEAR-OLD AND OLDER MARES for studbook registration and/or Ster and THREE-YEAR-OLD stallions for Ster
One three-year-old Vb-mare, one three-year-old ADHHA-registered mare, one four-year-old Vb-mare and one three-year-old Vb stallion were presented for studbook registration and/or Ster declaration whereby the three-year-old Vb-mare and the three-year-old ADHHA-registered mare could indeed be declared the Ster predicate.
First place was for the chestnut mare Miss Donder-T (Hiro-T x Triple H. Sonia by Dondersteen), who was bred and owned by Leroy K. Fisher from Ronks PA.This youthful Harness mare has a good harness horse type with a rectangular model and is well- balanced in conformation. She has a nice front with a nice head and very well-developed withers and shoulders. In addition, she has a good foundation and a beautiful topline. If we are being really critical, her loins could be a little more connected.Her light-footed trot is characterized by a beautiful posture, a lot of suspension and leg technique, with a lot of balance and more than sufficient action in the front leg. She consistently brings her hind leg well under her body, but she should be able to shift in tempo just a little better. Miss Thunder-T was invited to the General Championship later in the day.
Second place was for Onda (Waldemar x Alonda Ster Pref. by Talos), who was bred and owned by Raymond Stoltzfus from Morgantown PA. Onda is a strong and well-muscled Harness type mare who has a good neck but should show a little more youth in her appearance. She has good withers and shoulders, and her foundation is hard with remarkably good feet. At the trot she has a nice posture and shows strength and good balance. She uses her front legs with good action, but her front leg could reach forward a bit more. The use of the hindleg is more than sufficient.
STER & KEUR mares in hand
In this class, four mares were presented. The number one was invited for the General Championship.The strong and Harness- typical moving Champion of the three-year-olds a few years ago, convinced us again. Kiralonda Keur (Globetrotter Sport x Alonda Ster Pref. van Talos), bred and owned by Raymond Stoltzfus from Morgantown PA, always shows off in her performance. Although she was a bit overweight, she never stops going and she went through the arena with a lot of front, joy and allure. It was no surprise that she won and was invited to the General Championship. Subsequently, Lamone Ster, Idalburga Keur and Edaperty Keur were drawn up.
ALTERNATIVE IBOP
Two mares started the Alternative IBOP which, just like in the Netherlands, had to be ridden twice. One of them succeeded and that was the just mentioned Miss Donder-T (Hiro-T x Triple H. Sonia by Dondersteen), bred and owned by Leroy K. Fisher from Ronks PA. This mare performed in a convincing way and was rewarded with 75.5 and 76.5 points, which allowed her to be declared Keur.Mares, stallions and geldings that achieve 75 points or more for the IBOP can earn points for the Sport predicate. Miss Donder-T could add 15 points. When she reaches 50 points, she can be declared Sport.
GENERAL CHAMPIONSHIP in hand
The two-year-old Pidane and the Keurmares Miss Donder-T and Kiralonda competed for the General Championship at the end of the second day of judging. Brand new Keurmare Miss Donder-T was found to be the most complete mare in this group and eventually won the Championship title after a nice final.
STALLIONS for breeding license
The stallion Nedaperty (Globetrotter Sport x Edaperty Keur by Unieko Keur), bred by Ivan K. Fisher of Narvon PA, and owned by Rocky Ridge Stables of Narvon PA and Ben Fisher Jr. from Manheim PA, was scored linearly on the first day of judging and invited to the Alternative IBOP. He was then was invited to the Regular IBOP on the second day. After evaluation of his conformation, movements and pedigree, this stallion unfortunately did not get licensed. Although the stallion, who was introduced very professionally by Aaron Jay Fisher, is certainly appealing in terms of conformation and movement, he should have been performing in a more Harness-typical way.
Young Drivers Class
The Young Drivers Class had three participants. They were accompanied by an adult driver during their tests. The enthusiasm for this section was absolutely fantastic, both inside and outside the arena. We were so pleasantly surprises that the American youth is also very fond about our unique Dutch Harness horses!
Despite the young age of the riders, the horses were all well-presented. The approved KWPN stallion Globetrotter Sport took the win, followed by the Keurmare Genderose (Aron HBC x Venderose Keur by Roy M), bred by A.P.van Doorn from Soest and owned by Rocky Ridge Stables of Narvon PA. The Reg. B mare Magnalidee (Finale x Tidee Ster by Jonker), bred and owned by William Duffy of Ashby MA took the third place.
FINE HARNESS CUPS mares
Fine Harness Cups were held for mares on both days. As with the IBOP, points for the Sport predicate can be obtained in the driven classes, which provides an extra incentive. It is always wonderful to experience the atmosphere and enthusiasm of the drivers and the audience present.
Four mares participated on the first day. It was the sharp and full of action moving harness typical Keurmare Jemarine (Ditisem x Ballerina Keur Pref. Sport by Vaandrager), bred by J.T. Seinen from Punthorst and owned by Rocky Ridge Stables from Narvon PA, who took the win and was the first mare in America to earn the Sport predicate. The win was certainly not given to her easily, as she only defeated the beforementioned Keurmare Kiralonda after crossing the finish line.
On the second day, the same four mares competed against each other again and the tides changed. During the drive over, the strong harness typical and temperamental Kiralonda took the win and Jemarina placed second. Compared to the first time, Kiralonda’s pace was now a bit slower, which showed her talent even better. Both mares achieved a nice number of points for the Sport predicate due to their good performances.
FINE HARNESS CUPS studs
The first Fine Harness Cup for stallions was a wonderful reunion with a number of KWPN approved stallions that were exported to America.
Atleet Keur (Patijn Pref. x Sintia Ster by Waterman Pref.), owned by William Duffy of Ashby MA, Globetrotter Sport (Cizandro Pref. x Lilonka Ster Pref. by Harold), owned by Aaron Fisher of Rocky Ridge Stables of Narvon PA and the already twenty-year-old but well-preserved Vaandrager HBC (Manno pref. x Himone Keur Pref. by Renovo Pref.), owned by Ammon P. Stoltzfus from Narvon PA, competed against each other.
After an exciting race in which Atleet and Globetrotter drove again, Atleet became the winner. He showed himself as we know him; very harness typical with a lot of front, body posture, a high gripping front leg use and a strong hindleg placed very well under his body. Globetrotter also performed well but had to give in to the winner in respect to posture and hind leg use.In addition to Atleet, Globetrotter and Vaandrager HBC, Nedaperty also took part in the second Fine Harness Cup a day later, and again the first two stallions were driven again. Globetrotter was placed first this time and received loud applause. He showed himself very action-packed with a nice front and great suspension. Atleet, who made some mistakes this time, was honorably placed second.