A REPORT ON THE
CASPIAN HORSE SOCIETY BREED SHOW
SATURDAY 14TH AUGUST 2004, Castle Bytham, Lincolnshire
Visitors from Iran, Australia, the USA, Bermuda, France, Norway, Sweden, Holland, Dubai and Germany, attended the Caspian Horse Society's Breed Show at Castle Bytham, Lincolnshire, on Saturday the 14th August.
Heavy downpours and flooding had been consistent factors during the International Caspian Conference at Rutland Water on the previous three days so there had been fears that the show ground might be water-logged. However Saturday dawned miraculously sunny and warm, remaining so all day. There was not a sign of the previous soaking and our foreign visitors were treated to a spectacular finale to a most successful week. Several exhibitors had rented stables in the area for the duration of the Conference in order to attend both events and there were some notable triumphs over adversity in order to bring their entries to the show.
Part-Breds were better represented this year, although, owing to a combination of circumstances involving transport, some youngstock entries were unable to come forward. However, Pat Bowles' very nice chestnut yearling Bytham Charade took the Yearling and Overall Youngstock Trophy and beat the winner of both Ridden and Lead-Rein classes, Rosemary Harrisı mare, Runnymede Musuki, for the Part-Bred Championship.
Pure-bred Youngstock were led by Arjuna Zarrin Delchesp, winning 2-year old filly and full sister to the winning Foal, Arjuna Zarrin Shah, both by Arjuna Akhbar Shah out of Spark Zarrin Tara and bred by Barbara Smathers. The new Touran Memorial trophy for the Caspian Futurities Challenge went to Eric Best for Xerxes Khamal who has attended the required Youngstock classes as a Yearling, Two Year Old and Three Year Old. Shown by Barbara, Spark Zarrin Tara was judged to be the best Pure-bred Brood Mare in a charming and well-filled class.
In the Pure-bred Mare/Gelding Class, Pat Bowles' chesnut mare Bytham Oriole took the prize, beating Pandora Bestıs mare Miran Khomet in a good entry.
The stallion class was very well represented. It was won for the 3rd time by the handsome, dark bay Runnymede Felfel, bred and owned by Muriel Harris and shown by Pat Bowles. Second place went to Mrs Rebecca Mann's grey Shepton Darius, a stallion I also liked very much. The class was followed by the Stallion Parade, with a useful commentary to help prospective breeders to decide next yearıs sires.
Our joint-Judges were Louise Firouz, the original finder of the Caspian who had come from Iran to speak at the Conference and Elizabeth Mansfield, a well-respected UK judge, who also spoke there. Together they chose R. Felfel as their Supreme Caspian Champion. This very attractive stallion stands at stud in Castle Bytham with Pat Bowles and was a worthy winner.
Spark Zarrin Tara was deservedly awarded the Reserve Championship, and picked up Best of Opposite Sex as well as the Mare Premium. Bred by Brenda Dalton, this lovely dun mare is now owned by Fiona Morland, who has emigrated to Australia and will be taking her stallion and three mares. This mare will help to increase the small Caspian gene pool in Australia. However she will leave behind her winning filly and colt (both dun) to maintain the line in the U.K. Having won so many prizes, Fiona sportingly passed her Mare Premium award to Barbara so that she could use it next year for her own stock in the UK.
A late entry for the Pure-bred Ridden and Lead-Rein classes earned Mrs D Randallıs dark bay gelding Kineton Kurush 1st place in both - his calm behaviour demonstrated what the judges look for in a childıs mount. Our Best Young Handler, 7 year old Caitlin Found, showed Bytham Smartyboots how to present himself in a show ring and, from Pandora Best's stables, Runnymede Musuki's POLO PONY with Xenasean Ward gave a suitably minty interpretation in the Fancy Dress. Kineton Kurush was our Show Day Veteran and Best-Turned-Out (In-Hand) was Spark Zarrin Tara, with Best Turned out (Ridden) going to Bytham Smartyboots.
Mrs Rosemary James chose Mrs Averil Pluck's smart pair of pure-bred bay mares Every Lynne and Every Rowena as her winners in the Pleasure Driving class. In 2nd place was Colin Cornwellıs bay gelding Runnymede Apollo - Colin is well known for his success in scurry driving but has recently taken up show driving.
A reproduction of an ancient Persian frieze was presented to the Society by Dr. Shahram Dordari. He agreed that this should become the Breeder's Award for the stud producing the best results at the Breed Show and, at the close of the show, it was presented by Dr. Dordari to Brenda Dalton, of the Spark Stud at Rufford in Lancashire. A beautiful blue and white bowl was also generously presented to the Society by the Scandinavian contingent, which attended both Conference and Show.
The Breed Show was enthusiastically supported by an international audience and any shortages of leaders were willingly filled from amongst their ranks, as were some of the riders. Following on from the informative and friendly Conference, it was a good natured, fun day.
The combination of Conference and Show attracted phenomenal media coverage and has undoubtedly awakened yet more enthusiasm for the Caspian breed.