Interviewed by Sharon Packer

Many riders and trainers think they can purchase the best horse for their money only in the countries of Europe. In the context of a short period of time and relative distance, the market in Europe is easier to access. For the cost of a plane ticket, hotel and meals, many horses can be seen in a single trip. And that is the handicap that American bred horses and breeders struggle with that cannot be overcome at this time. But those who think the best quality of horses are available only in Europe, are sadly mistaken.

American breeders have been educating themselves for over thirty years.  American breeders have improved the quality of their horses to that of their European counterparts and then some through the following methods:  registry inspections; International, USDF and USEF breeder courses; judges at breed shows; many with trips to Germany and Netherlands under their belts; imported foundation stock and the access to the best stallions in Europe through frozen semen.

Breeders are a passionate group. They have to be to survive the ups and downs of their chosen vocation. The highs are that of a parent and are indescribable-­‐ the birth of a foal, standing and nursing for the first time, the first time outside, and later on, the training and performance efforts and successes.

But the lows are hellish-­‐ the loss of a foal that you have waited 11 long months for or worse, a foal with deformities that never survives past the first few hours; a broken leg in the pasture from normal playtime; the devastating loss of a mare who was your friend and foundation; and not to even mention the tens of thousands of dollars spent to get through those 11 months.

Another difference between the American bred horse and European bred horse is the actual cost of putting a live foal on the ground. Horses in the USA cost more for a very legitimate reason—money to produce. Most vet fees and the cost of raising is higher.  The training is significantly higher. Most breeders here in the USA are not able to start their own offspring due to their health and age. So young horses are sent out to trainers.  It is a well-known issue facing all disciplines and all breeders, that there is a severe shortage of young horse trainer who can do the job properly and affordably

Because of the issues all American breeders have in common,  a new organization has been formed called the United States Sport Horse Breeders Association or USSHBA.  The mission of the group is as follows:

1.  Support the efforts of U.S. sport horse breeder through education, recognition, and outreach

2. Identify and bring forward issues of concern to U.S. sport horse breeders in a variety of forums

3. Serve as a resource for the U.S. sport horse community

4.  Promote the welfare of sport horses in the U.S.A.

The group can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USSHBA or at the webpage http://www.usshba.org

Marydell Farm

Marydell Farm has recognized the lack of recognition for American Bred young horse for quite some time now.   As have other breeders who in the early 2000s got together and created awards for Horses Born in the USA. At Dressage at Devon, ribbons and cash prizes have been awarded to the highest placing BITUSA horse in each of the open in hand and material classes for some time now.

Marydell Farm has gone a bit further and established several “High Score Born in the USA” awards for performance horses. At Dressage at Devon, the “Feel the Dream” award was established in honor of our foundation mare. The prize is a perpetual along with a take home memento and cash with 80% to the owner and 20% to the breeder. Since then, we have established several other similar awards, one at the KDA CDI in May, and one at the Palm Beach Derby in honor of a fine friend, Patsy Albers. Saddle pads and halters are available to other shows that want to participate in this performance award for American bred horses.

Most breeders have set goals for their program.  In the case of Marydell Farm, there are two goals that go hand in hand. The first is to breed a horse that has three major components-­‐ great temperament, solid conformation and three very good basic gaits.  Along with that hope,  comes the hope that each of these horses will be amateur friendly with athleticism enough to go to the top of sport. Also the hope is that each horse has enough “flash” and sensitivity that a pro would want the ride and be able to take the horse to International competitions. Our second goal is that each and every horse has a job for life.

Although our main focus is dressage, we have hunters, eventers and jumpers out in the world. Our stance is that Temperament comes first and foremost so that each horse can have a long and productive life.

We breed mares that come from lines that have a proven performance component. Our mares have all been performance tested or backed and have performance careers. We believe that young horses need to prove their athletic ability to do the work before earning the right to reproduce themselves.

In general, we use our own stallions, Don Principe (Donnerhall/Prince Thatch xx/Durkheim) and Doctor Wendell MF (Don Principe/Sandro Hit/ Don Gregory).

Don Principe has competed up to the CDI Grand Prix and been scored as high as 76%. His accomplishments are numerous, both performance and in hand. Over the years since arriving in the USA in 2005, Don Principe has ranked at the top of each of his performance levels. As a six year old, “Prince” was 4th at the National 6-year-old Markel FEI Young Horse Championships and 4th HOY.  Under Jim Koford, Prince had enormous success all the way through Grand Prix. He was regional and BLM Champion at several levels. Under Courtney King-­‐Dye, just prior to the accident, Prince was winning at CDI competitions in Wellington, FL.   Summer of 2011, Don Principe made the trip back to Germany for training with Klaus Balkenhol and was reunited for a visit with his breeder, Adleheid Bruning.  In 2013, Don Principe with Michael Bragdell in the saddle won the 2013 Region 1 GAIG Intermediare II Championship.

As a breeding stallion, Don Principe has followed his sire, Donnerhall’s hoof prints.  Donnerhall is the late, great dressage sire of the century.  Don Principe is approved fully with the Hanoverian Verband in Germany, The GOV-­‐German Oldenburg Verband both in Germany and the USA and Oldenburg NA/ISR.

Prince off springs have done exceptionally well in hand winning many Grand Championships, USDF Champion Horse of the Year awards and national American Hanoverian Championships.

Never has any stallion, yet alone one standing on US soil, produced so many “Traveling Trot” winners as Don Principe MF.

In general, we use our own stallions, Don Principe (Donnerhall/Prince Thatch xx/Durkheim) and Doctor Wendell MF (Don Principe/Sandro Hit/ Don Gregory). Don Principe has competed up to the CDI Grand Prix and been scored as high as 76%. His accomplishments are numerous, both performance and in hand. Over the years since arriving in the USA in 2005, Don Principe has ranked at the top of each of his performance levels. As a six year old, “Prince” was 4th at the National 6-year-old Markel FEI Young Horse Championships and 4th HOY.  Under Jim Koford, Prince had enormous success all the way through Grand Prix. He was regional and BLM Champion at several levels. Under Courtney King-­‐Dye, just prior to the accident, Prince was winning at CDI competitions in Wellington, FL.   Summer of 2011, Don Principe made the trip back to Germany for training with Klaus Balkenhol and was reunited for a visit with his breeder, Adleheid Bruning.  In 2013, Don Principe with Michael Bragdell in the saddle won the 2013 Region 1 GAIG Intermediare II Championship.

Duet MF, as a three year old in 2011, won the highest honor that USDF can award, the “Traveling Trot” perpetual trophy for being the highest in hand Champion of all the Champions. Duet went on to win the Mature Horse Championship at 2013 Dressage at Devon and yet another perpetual trophy for being the Highest Placing Hanoverian at the show.  Duet’s performance career has been outstanding.  She has a Reserve Champion at 1st level in Region 1 in 2012 and was 2nd level High Score Champion at the Region 1 open show in 2013.  In addition, Duet is now an Elite Mare with AHS for having a wonderful MPT (mare performance test) score and producing an outstanding foal.  Serenade MF (Sir Donnerhall/Duet MF) is the 2013 USDF Reserve Champion Filly and AHS Champion Young Filly for 2013.     

(Photo Credit:  Hoof Print Images)

David Bowie MF, another Don Principe son, also has many accolades to his name, even as a  foal.  He followed in his sister’s path and also won the “Traveling Trot” for 2012. His name is also engraved on the perpetual at Dressage at Devon for 2012, as the highest placing Hanoverian of the show. We believe strongly that “Davy” is stallion material and will compete to the FEI levels.

Dansuse MF (Don Principe/EM Fuerst Dancer MF/Fuerst Heinrich) is also a third generation offspring from our program. Dansuse means Ballerina and she is certainly that, floating above the ground, sweet-tempered and athletic, “Rina” won the 2013 USDF “Traveling Trot”.  (Pictured are David Bowie MF and Dansuse MF) 

(Photo Credit:  Hoof Print Images)

Doctor Wendell MF is the first licensed son of Don Principe.  He had many wins in Material classes as well as USDF and AHS year-­‐end Championships.   Doctor Wendell MF is a coming 6 year old in 2014 and third generation breeding from Marydell Farm mare lines. “Doc” has had many important Championship in hand classes and also Material. “Doc” was the 2010 Dressage at Devon Champion Colt and has several Championship titles to his name from both USDF and AHS. “Doc” competed at the Markel 2013 National Young Horse 5 year old old Championships and placed 6th overall. His success is a wonderful achievement for a young breeding stallion.

Doctor Wendell MF had his first test foal in 2013, a colt named Debonair MF. Debonair MF made his show debut to excellent scores and comments. The first full crop of “Doc” foals start to arrive early 2014. Doctor Wendell MF is full licensed and approved with the Oldenburg NA/ISR and is licensed with the AHS and GOV.His full approval with those registries will come with performance results.

(Wendell Haymon and Christopher Hickey)

A special mention goes to Janet Stone’s 4 year old mare, DeLovely, 2013 region 3 AA Champions and the USDF National Reserve Champion. All of this has placed Don Principe in the top 50 sires from stallions all over the world as ranked by USEF with 1185 stallions on the rooster.

Then there are Legolas CCF, Dux MF, Don Regale MF, Don Royale MF, Dynamic MF, Donna Hall MF, Destria HVH, Ducatti MF, Donneghal KF, and many others who have gone on to be wonderful performance horses for their owners and riders. Scores have reached 80% with these youngsters.

In addition, Don Principe has produced several top hunters including Duke Principe MF and Dresden’s Holiday who is the 2013 USEF Zone Champion 3 year old old and the AHS Champion for Hunter breeding.  Not to be forgotten are the eventers out there. DeLutje MF and Dune MF have also had outstanding results for being so young.

Marydell Farm also uses frozen semen from the top sires standing in Europe today. We have had foals from Fidertanz, Sir Donnerhall, Sandro Hit, Quaterback, Rotspon, Relevant, Royal Diamond. We have learned through our foals what works for our goals and what does not.

(2013 USDF Awards)