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
Home Information & FAQ Membership Passports Registration
Stallions For Sale Grading Events

 

2019 SPSS STALLION GRADINGS

 

For more general information about Stallion Gradings, please click  here

 

Click here to jump to Entry Forms

 

*** 2019 SPSS Tour Update ***

Sadly, due to the worsening situation with equine influenza, the SPSS Directors have reluctantly made the decision to cancel the planned 2019 SPSS GRADING & EVALUATION TOUR (which was to include Mare Grading & Performance Testing as well as Youngstock Evaluations) and instead we will now just offer Stallion Grading at 3 venues (see below for details of venues & vaccination requirements).

 

This very difficult decision was taken after seeking expert advice & much deliberation and we appreciate that many will be disappointed.

 

However, we are delighted that the British Breeding Futurity have kindly agreed to allow SPSS Mare Grading at all their 2019 evaluation events. This opportunity is open to barren mares (of any age) as well as mares with foals entered for the Futurity. All mares MUST meet the Futurity equine influenza vaccination requirements (see their website here).

 

SPSS Premiums will also be awarded to SPSS member’s SPSS passported or overstamped youngstock alongside the Futurity Premiums as well as to SPSS passported/overstamped foals on the Elite Foals Tour where it may also be possible for a mare to be graded (subject to availability of SPSS judges and suitability of the venue).

 

** Stallion Gradings**

 

Saturday 14th September 2019

Sidewood Dressage, Sidewood Farm, Forth, Scotland ML11 8ET

 

Sunday 15th September 2019

Wellow Equestrian, Scott's Farm, Wellow, Newark, Notts NG22 0EQ

 

Monday 16th September 2019

Kings EC, Sturts Farm, Winslow, Bromyard, Herefordshire HR7 4SR

 

Open to sports ponies and small horses up to 158cm

 

Important note: Up to date and complete vaccinations for Equine Influenza will be required as per the FEI regulations; plus one within the 6 months prior to the event.  No vaccination can be within the 7 days prior to the event.

 

Judges:  Hans-Heinrich Bruening & Jacke Mathieson

 

If you have any questions or queries, please call Phil at the SPSS Studbook Office on 07703 566066

 

 

** Mare Gradings**

 

2019 Futurity Venues where SPSS Mare Grading is now possible:
 

Saturday, July 27, 2019 - Pencoed College, Bridgend
Sunday, July 28, 2019 - Fosshey Stud, Cheshire
Monday, July 29, 2019 - Richmond EC, N Yorks
Tuesday, July 30, 2019 - Richmond EC, N Yorks
Wednesday, July 31, 2019 - Vale View EC, Leics
Thursday, August 1, 2019 - Writtle College, Chelmsford
Friday, August 2, 2019 - Bilsington Priory Equestrian, Kent
Entries close Monday 22nd July - please enter by email

 

Monday, August 26, 2019 - Grange EC, Okehampton
Tuesday, August 27, 2019 - Catherston Stud,
Wednesday, August 28, 2019 - Catherston Stud, Hants
Thursday, August 29, 2019 - Addington Equestrian Centre, Bucks
Friday, August 30, 2019 - Swallowfield EC,
Saturday, August 31, 2019 - Newton Rigg College, Cumbria
Sunday, September 1, 2019 - Drumcarrow, St Andrews
Saturday, September 21, 2019 - Solihull RC

Entries close Friday 16th August - please enter by email or post

 

All mares MUST meet the Futurity equine influenza vaccination requirements (see their website here).

 

Click here for Mare Grading Entry Form

 

Qorum Photos will be attending all of our Stallion Grading  days and photos will be available for purchase via their website as soon as possible after the Tour has finished (note that it is unlikely that there'll be time to upload the photos during the tour due to the need to travel each evening to the next location).  As a condition of their attendance, we are unable to allow any other commercial photographers at the event so, although family and friends are fine taking photos of ponies they are there to support, please limit your photography to this as otherwise we may be unable to secure such services in the future which would be a great shame.

 

If you have any questions or queries, please call Philippa at the SPSS Studbook Office on 07703 566066

 

Spectators welcome at all SPSS events – Free Entry

2019 Stallion Grading Locations

 

Jump to:

 

Entry Forms

 

Closing Dates

 

Entries & Times

 

Stabling

 

Photographer

Rosettes and Sashes waiting to be presented at the 2018 SPSS AGM and Awards Presentation

 

Stallion Gradings

 

Click here to download an information sheet about SPSS Stallion Grading

 

Hans-Heinrich Brüning & Jacke Mathieson will be the judges at the 2019 Stallion Gradings. 

 

Provided that at least 5 stallions have been inspected on the day, the highest scoring stallion of that day will be declared as the Champion Stallion for that region(s) and will receive an additional rosette & sash. The next highest scoring stallion will become the Reserve Champion Stallion. The SPSS reserves the right to combine or split days/regions depending on entry numbers (we anticipate that a minimum of 5 stallions need to have been inspected for a Champion/Reserve to be declared).  

 

Then, after the last stallion grading, the stallion with the highest score across all of the venues will be declared as the 2019 Supreme Champion Stallion and receive an additional rosette & sash. The next highest scoring stallion will become the 2019 Reserve Supreme Champion Stallion and receive an additional rosette & sash.

 

EQUINE INFLUENZA (2019)

In 2019, it is mandatory for all stallions (and any accompanying equines) attending an SPSS Grading to be vaccinated for Equine Influenza as follows:

 

No stallion may take part in a 2019 SPSS Stallion Grading unless it has a current vaccination against Equine Influenza which complies with the following conditions:

• Two injections for primary vaccination, not less than 21 days and not more than 92 days apart, are required;

• A first booster injection must be given within seven months after the second injection of primary vaccination;

• Subsequent booster injections must be given at intervals of not more than one year, commencing after the first booster injection;

• The most recent booster injection must have been given within the six calendar months prior to the horse arriving at the event (but not within the 7 days immediately before the event).

The Record of Vaccination(s) in the stallion’s passport must be completed by an appropriate veterinary surgeon, signed and stamped line by line. in accordance with the FEI rules including a vaccination within 6 months (but more than one week) before the grading.

Back to top

 

 

 

Supreme Champion Stallion 2018

 Northern Champion Stallion

Wolken Von Blitz MPS

 

Photo by kind permission of Qorum Photos

 

Mare Gradings

Back to top

Supreme Champion Mare 2018

Northern Champion Mare

Bathleyhills Little Miss Sunshine

Pictured with judge Hans-Heinrich Brüning and owner Penny Walster

 Photo by kind permission of Qorum Photos

For 2019, following the cancellation of the SPSS-run Mare Gradings, British Breeding Futurity have kindly agreed to allow SPSS Mare Grading at all their 2019 evaluation events. This opportunity is open to barren mares (of any age) as well as mares with foals entered for the Futurity. All mares MUST meet the Futurity equine influenza vaccination requirements (see their website here).

 

2019 Futurity Venues where SPSS Mare Grading is now possible:
 

Saturday, July 27, 2019 - Pencoed College, Bridgend
Sunday, July 28, 2019 - Fosshey Stud, Cheshire
Monday, July 29, 2019 - Richmond EC, N Yorks
Tuesday, July 30, 2019 - Richmond EC, N Yorks
Wednesday, July 31, 2019 - Vale View EC, Leics
Thursday, August 1, 2019 - Writtle College, Chelmsford
Friday, August 2, 2019 - Bilsington Priory Equestrian, Kent
Entries close Monday 22nd July - please enter by email

 

Monday, August 26, 2019 - Grange EC, Okehampton
Tuesday, August 27, 2019 - Catherston Stud,
Wednesday, August 28, 2019 - Catherston Stud, Hants
Thursday, August 29, 2019 - Addington Equestrian Centre, Bucks
Friday, August 30, 2019 - Swallowfield EC,
Saturday, August 31, 2019 - Newton Rigg College, Cumbria
Sunday, September 1, 2019 - Drumcarrow, St Andrews
Saturday, September 21, 2019 - Solihull RC

Entries close Friday 16th August - please enter by email or post

 

 

Youngstock Evaluations

Back to top

2018 Supreme Youngstock Champion, Top Foal, Top Colt and Top Pony
Romanno River Dance

Photo by kind permission of Qorum Photos

In 2019, SPSS Premiums will be awarded to SPSS registered youngstock (ie those with an SPSS passport or that have been overstamped) that are owned by a current SPSS member and attend either the Elite Foals Registration Tour or a British Breeding Futurity Evaluations.

 

SPSS Premiums will be awarded based on the mark/premium awarded by the Elite Foals or Futurity judges.  There will not be a separate assessment for the SPSS Premiums nor will there be any additional cost above that paid to enter the Elite Tour or Futurity itself.

 

 

 

Back to top

 

Mare Performance Testing - NEW in 2018

 

Click here to download an information sheet about SPSS Mare Grading & Performance Testing.

 

We look forward to being able to offer Mare Performance Testing again in 2020.  In preparation, we recommend that mare owners at now to ensure that their mares are fully vaccinated for Equine Influenza (EI). 

 

Mare Performance Testing is open to all SPSS graded mares who are 4 years of age or older and it will be possible for the mare to be graded earlier on the same day. It is the perfect opportunity for those whose young mares were graded before they were backed, or for those with older mares who are presenting them for grading while they are in ridden work, to showcase their mare’s ability under saddle as a sports pony.

 

We will follow the continental model for this, with the mares being loose jumped, then presented ridden by their own rider. They will be assessed under saddle in walk, trot & canter on both reins for their way of going, their gaits & temperament. Then if the mare passes this initial assessment, she will be ridden by our test rider who will score their rideability.  The overall performance test mark out of 10 for each mare is then calculated by averaging all the judges’ scores given to a mare, with 7 or above being considered a pass.

 

All successful mares will get a certificate and a rosette or plaque then, at the end of the year, the highest scoring mares will be announced as that year's Mare Performance Test Champion and Reserve Champion.

 

We very much anticipate that this addition to our Grading & Evaluation schemes will offer a very valuable extra method for breeders to evaluate and promote their breeding programme, whilst also allowing sports pony producers to an opportunity to add a quantified achievement to their ponies and small horses (up to an expected mature height maximum of 158cm).

 

2018 Mare Performance Test Champion

Bathleyhills Sea Breeze

 (Casino Royale K x Gigman Jacana)

A Weser-Ems passported 9 year old British-bred by owner Penny Walster above with her regular rider Daisy Powell and below with test rider Anna Brown

 

 

Entry Forms

 

Entries are now open -

Click here for Stallion Grading Entry Form (all venues)

Click here for Mare Grading Entry Form (all venues)

 

Membership Application Form - click here

(Only members can enter a pony for grading;

 

Youngstock Evaluations are open to non-members

and ponies do not have to be SPSS passported OR overstamped))

 

Click here to download an information sheet about SPSS Stallion Grading

Back to top

 

 

Closing Dates

Entries close on:

Stallions 24th August 2019
Mares Monday 22nd July for Futurity Venues from 27 July to 2 August
  Friday 16th August for Futurity Venues from 26 August

 

Early entry is advised as spaces will be allocated in order of receipt of entries and once capacity is reached at each venue further entries will be placed on a waiting list. If there is space, late entries may be taken, please call the office on 07703 566066 to check.  Late entry supplement £10 per pony for grading entries.

 

We would appreciate early entries so we know that a venue will be viable.  Note that should a venue not be viable and be cancelled then a full refund (of all fees paid when entering) will be made.

 

Entries and Times

Each entrant will be allocated a time slot(s) and these will be emailed out a few days before each event. 

 

Stabling

Stabling at the venues must be booked with each venue directly.

 

Rules

The SPSS Rule book can be download here

 

Withdrawals

See Grading Entry Forms for withdrawal policy

 

More information

For more information about the grading/evaluation process, turnout etc,  please see the Info & FAQ page (here).

 

Judges

The judges for the 2019 Stallion Gradings will be Herr Hans-Heinrich Brüning and Mrs Jacke Mathieson.

 

Hans-Heinrich is a well known German judge and breeder of Hannovarian dressage and jumping horses at his family farm, Hof Brüning, which is well-known for its solid preparation work of horses for licensings, mare shows, stallion and mare performance tests as well as auctions, shows and championships.  Hans-Heinrich has judged at the SPSS mare and stallion gradings since 2010.

 

Jacke Mathieson is a breeder of warmblood horses and sports ponies.  She owns the warmblood Wolkenderry and competes him and his progeny in dressage.  Jacke also imported the SPSS graded pony Classic's Charmeur who initially stood at stud with her before being sold to a young rider, with whom Classic's Charmeur has competed at FEI Pony level internationally.  Jacke has been SPSS Chairman and judged SPSS Gradings & Evaluations since 2014.

 

Spectators are very welcome at all venues

 

Qorum Photos will be attending all of our Grading and evaluation days and photos will be available for purchase via their website as soon as possible after the gradings have finished.  As a condition of their attendance, we are unable to allow any other commercial photographers at the event so, although family and friends are fine taking photos of ponies they are there to support, please limit your photography to this as otherwise we may be unable to secure such services in the future which would be a great shame.

 

Kevin Sparrow Photography will be attending all of the Futurity Evaluations

Back to top

 

 

Outline Programmes

 

Available nearer the time! 

 

   

 

 

The Sports Pony Studbook Society

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

Tel: 07703 566066    Email: 

A Private Limited Company - Companies House (Cardiff) Registration No. 4106148

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