SPORTS PONY STUDBOOK SOCIETY

  A DEFRA approved Passport Issuing Organisation

Studbook Office: The Last House, Keysoe Row West, Keysoe, Bedfordshire MK44 2JJ

Tel: 07703 566066    Email: 

Normal office hours - Monday to Friday 10.30 am to 4 pm

Note that the SPSS Office relocated in April 2014 and the contact details at the top of the page should now be used for all contact with the SPSS
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Falaza

Photo by kind permission of Julia Shearwood Photography

 

 

SPSS ELITE graded mare (Libro x Embla George)

 

2011 Pony European Jumping Individual Champion and Team Gold medallist ridden by Beth Vernon

 

Winner 2011 BEF Pony Performance & Breeding Award

 

2011 SPSS Mare Grading Champion

 

Falaza was bred by Jane Fowles and was born in Norfolk in April 2001 and is out of Jane's 16 hands Thoroughbred cross Irish Draught mare, Chatter. Chatter was Jane's first horse who she competed regularly in dressage, show jumping and some eventing. Jane now lives in France but still owns Chatter - who is now 19 years old.

 

Chatter was bred by Hazel Offord and is by the well known Irish Draught stallion Embla George out of the Thoroughbred mare Shanty. Falaza is the only foal that Jane has bred and Jane put Chatter in foal as she was abroad for a year - getting back just in time to see Falaza's birth.

 

Falaza's sire, Libro, who sadly died in 2011, was registered with the KWPN and graded by the SHB(GB). By Faust Zee, out of a Le Mexico X Alme mare, Libro is from world class jumping lines and competed at both British Showjumping and Dressage. Libro stood in the UK at Sharon Baldwin's Meadow Stud and after looking at several other stallions, Jane chose Libro for his conformation and movement hoping he would correct Chatter's faults and provide her with the dressage horse she intended to breed.

 

As a youngster, Falaza was bought by trainer Liane Smith and her daughter, Kerry Brennan, brought Falaza on from novice to Foxhunter level. As Kerry was then too old for ponies, they sold Falaza in 2008 to current owner, Allyson Blagg, for her daughter, Beth Vernon to ride. Liane remained involved as Falaza and Beth's trainer.

2011 Mare Grading Champion, Falaza and rider Beth Vernon receiving their prizes from judge Hans-Heinrich Bruening

Photo by kind permission of Julia Shearwood Photography

Double Gold medallists - British-bred Falaza and Beth Vernon at the 2011 Pony European Championships

Photo by kind permission of Hannah Owen

In the first 3 years that she rode Falaza, Beth had many wins. In 2011 in particular, at the Pony of the Year Show they won both the JA Grand Prix and JA Small Grand Prix and were awarded the Sheila Elstone trophy for the most promising combination. They then impressed the selectors at the European Trials held at Wales and West and were selected to go to their first overseas competition - at Moorsele, Belgium - where they won a team silver medal. At the next European Trials, Beth and Falaza again impressed and they were selected to go to the International show at Hagen in Germany where they jumped as an individual combination and, despite jumping during a storm, they won a class and were placed in the Grand Prix.

 

At the final European Trial, Falaza and Beth were selected as one of the 5 combinations for the 2011 Pony European Championships in Poland. A good clear in the first, individual, round of the competition led to their selection for the team and Falaza was one of only three ponies that jumped a double clear in the team competition and so was key to Great Britain winning the Team Gold Medal.

The Individual Jumping medals are decided by a further two round competition. With the scores carried forward from the first and team rounds, Falaza and Beth started the final day in joint first place. Last but one to jump in the first round and with a group of riders on a total of 4 faults close behind, the pressure was on Beth and Falaza.  Maybe feeling this pressure, they knocked a pole to drop into the group on 4 faults and leave a German rider in the lead.

 

In the next round, however, Beth and Falaza went clear and this time it was the German rider who faulted under pressure! So the six riders on 4 faults had to jump off against the clock for the medals and the pressure grew! All six riders went clear so time was crucial but Beth and Falaza's fast time proved unbeatable so they added the Individual Gold medal to their Team one - a FANTASTIC result for Great Britain - and on a British bred pony too!!

Double Gold medallists - British-bred Falaza and Beth Vernon at the 2011 Pony European Championships

Photos by kind permission of Hannah Owen

Jane Fowles (right) collecting Falaza's Award from SPSS Chair Celia Clarke at the 2012 Breeders Dinner

Photo by kind permission of Trevor Meeks

 

 

In October 2011, Falaza attended the SPSS Mare Grading, where she achieved the highest score of the day (86.5%) and so stood as Mare Grading Champion.  In addition, she was awarded the accolade of Elite in recognition of her performance at the Pony Europeans.

 

In January 2012, Falaza was honoured again by being the recipient of the prestigious SPSS British Bred Competition Pony Award at the annual British Breeders Dinner & Awards Ceremony.  Falaza's breeder, Jane Fowles collected the award from SPSS Chair, Celia Clarke.

 

The Sports Pony Studbook Society

Studbook Office:   The Last House, Keysoe Row West, Keysoe, Bedfordshire MK44 2JJ

Tel: 07703 566066    Email: 

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Registered Office: The Stables, Higher Farm, Limington, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 8EG