Gingerwood Farm is pleased to host the first-ever keuring (inspection) of Royal Dutch Sporthorses on Prince Edward Island on Monday, September 21 starting at 1 p.m.
“Breeding top quality horses is the first step in producing horses that can successfully compete at the international level in both jumping and dressage,” said Martie Murphy, owner of Gingerwood Farm and a top jumper rider. “I am pleased to assist horse breeders who are working hard to realize their dream of producing an Island bred horse who makes it to the Olympics.”
A keuring is a method of evaluating a horse and comparing it to other Royal Dutch Sporthorses. The keuring evaluates conformation and/or movement in relation to the breeding goal.
The three-person jury will include a representative of the Royal Dutch Sporthorse organization from Holland, Mr. Bart Henstra, as well as two representatives of the North American office of the organization. Dr. Debbie Harrison and Ms. Faith Fessenden from the USA will make up the rest of the jury.
There will be 18 horses presented from Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. This will include young horses under saddle shown as jumpers and dressage prospects. There will be foals presented as jumper and dressage prospects. Yearlings and two-year-olds will also be evaluated. A number of mares will be presented to determine if they will be accepted in the Marebook.
The jury members will give brief comments on their decisions as each group is evaluated. There will also be more detailed explanations of what they are looking for in dressage or jumping horses.
Ken Mellish from New Perth Farms is one of two breeders from Prince Edward Island. He will be presenting 10 horses for inspection, including foals, two-year-olds and three-year-olds.
The Mellishes have been producing Dutch sport horses since 2006; they imported their first brood mares from Holland in 2002. Ron Stewart from Bellevue is also exhibiting his four year old Dutch Sporthorse.
“Prince Edward Island is the perfect place to breed horses,” said Mr. Mellish. “We can grow lots of grass for feed. We use the top stallions from Europe to breed our brood mares. Our vet from Montague Veterinary Clinic uses the latest techniques to breed the mares using frozen semen from Europe.” Cindy Matheson from Tea Hill Stables offers advice on training methods. The Mellishes advertise their horses using their website www.newperthfarms.ca
“This is a highly specialized business and there is real economic potential for more people to produce top quality sport horses on Prince Edward Island,” said Mr. Mellish.
Everyone is welcome to attend.