British Breeder Dec 2023

Studbook News - AES
The Anglo European Studbook
Teams shone at the inaugural
WBFSH Studbooks Global
Champions Trophy
Georgia Wells riding Heart of Cicero
As the only studbook with all its
teams in the medals, the Anglo
European Studbook truly made
its mark at the inaugural WBFSH
Studbooks Global Champions
Trophy at the Longines Jan Tops
International Arena at
Valkenswaard. The only
studbook from Britain to
participate, the AES fielded teams
in the 5yo, 6yo and 7yo category.
Says Lucy Simpson, AES Evaluator and
team Selector:
“We did not have a lot of time from the
original announcement in June to put
together our teams, but everyone has
been enormously supportive of the
concept and enthusiastic. We would
like to thank everyone who participated
for all their efforts in putting their horses
forward and bringing them all the way
to Holland. We could not be prouder of
them all!”
It is perhaps not surprising that the team
of 5yo horses were the ones to find the
step up to the international arena and
big atmosphere at Valkenswaard initially
challenging. The team nevertheless
managed to end up in a very
respectable 6th position overall after the
qualifiers. The most improved horse in
this group was the mare Moneypenny
(Golden Eye x Classe), bred by Carron
Nicol whose son Leo Lamb was
piloting horses in the 6yo and 7yo
teams. After being disqualified in round
1, the mare showed a great improvement
in the second round, and really found
her stride and concentration by the end.
Moneypenny had been awarded an
Elite score at the British Breeding Futurity
as a foal, identifying her as a youngster
with international potential.
Katie Speller on Breen Equestrian’s Z7 Pink Panther
In the end, the AES 5yo team claimed
3rd position in the 1.30m final of 10
teams, with a total of 8 faults, only one
fence behind the winners, the
Hanoverian Association on 4. Katie
Speller with Breen Equestrian’s Z7 Pink
Panther (Cuick Star Kervec x Obos
Quality) jumped clear, while Tom
Dovkants with Moneypenny and
Danielle Ryder’s stallion Espeshelli
(Zambesi TN x Karandasj) each
collected 4 faults.
Says Chef d’Equipe Robbert Ehrens:
“When making the selection for the final,
it is always important to consider how
the horse has developed over the course
of the competition. Next year, the teams
will be slightly bigger, with 6 horses to
be selected, so that there can be a small
final for the remaining 3. What made this
competition particularly uplifting, was
the great team spirit in which the riders
all supported each other and worked
together. We really saw some great
examples of horsemanship and
sportsmanship, with everyone cheering
each other on.”
In the 6-year-old competition, the AES
dominated throughout the qualifying
stages and were in pole position going
into the Final.
This exceptional performance also
ensured that Georgia and Heart of
Cicero ended up in second place in the
individual competition. The final team
consisted of Emily Ward on Angela Hunt
and Nick Ward’s Millfield Lottery (Plot
Blue x Mr Blue, bred by Millfield Stud
and sold through the AES Elite Foal
Auction), Leo Lamb on his mother
Carron Nicol’s Comme Il Faut x Calido I
10 | BRITISH BREEDER