British Breeder Dec 2023

Studbook News - SPSS
Sports Pony - Celebrating Success
Vedouz de Nestin & Madison Seedhouse
Photo Equisportif
With the 2023 competition season
now almost over, we are delighted that
SPSS ponies are continuing to make an
impression, with some being selected for
the ultimate pony competition, the annual
Pony European Championships. The
“Pony Euros” are unique among the FEI
Youth Championships as the 3 disciplines
of Eventing, Dressage and Jumping all
compete at the same time and in the
same location, Le Mans in France this
year, making for an exciting event.
We are thrilled that 2 SPSS registered
ponies were selected for the British
dressage team. These are British-bred
George Clooney B.S (SPSS Elite
Caesar 171 x Santano) bred by Julie
Lockey & ridden by Abigail Gray and
British-born Amden Supreme Golden
Dancer (Dating AT x Scampi) ridden
by Ella Glennon. Another selected and
British-bred pony, WS Jackson, is by the
SPSS graded WPCS Sec B stallion
Chiskin Jaguar and one of the reserves,
Brouwershaven’s Jasper (Valerio x
Vita Nova’s Hanssie) ridden by Fleur
Pocock, is also SPSS registered. In the
Team competition, Ella & “Leo” were
the GB pathfinders and British Dressage
George Clooney B.S & Abigail Gray
Photo - Spidge Event Photography
(BD) reported that, at her first European
Championships, Ella rode with “maturity
and precision”. Abigail & “George”
were next to represent Team GB and
BD said that they gave an “exceptional
performance” and Abigail achieved
a new personal best score of 72.8%
which ended up as the highest for GB.
In the next day’s individual test Abigail
& George were outstanding again,
finishing 5th with another personal best
score of 74.811% which put them through
to the final element of the competition,
the Freestyle Test. To quote again from
the BD report – “The young rider and
12-year-old George create a picture of
power and precision together, with every
movement extremely well prepared
for. Performing to a selection of pieces
composed by Murray Gold for the Dr
Who series - music originally used by
George's first owner, Sophie Taylor, and
tweaked by Tom Hunt to fit Abigail's
floorplan - this talented pairing rode a
confident test showing super balance
and exemplary presentation”.
SPSS ELITE graded Glencarrig Dolphin
(Coosheen Stormboy x Coral Star), a
13 year old Connemara stallion, placed
2nd at the 2023 FEI 2* British Pony
Championships at Belsay International in
early June. Ridden by Elizabeth Jelfs for
his new owner Caroline Hawkins of
Tivoli Stud, they finished the
Championships just adding a few SJ
time faults to their dressage score. As a
result they were selected as part of the
British eventing squad for the Pony Euros.
Sadly, Dolphin subsequently sustained
a minor injury so had to be withdrawn,
devastating news for Elizabeth &
Caroline and so disappointing for us and
his many other supporters – we all hope
he is back to full fitness soon.
16 | BRITISH BREEDER