2004 Dressage at Devon - Breed Show

Contucci Festival at 2004 Dressage at Devon breed show

September 29, 2004

"It's a fun day, it's a Contucci day," Suzanne Hassler said smilingly. The American based breeding stallion Contucci sired three of the four Young Horse Championship participants at the 2004 Dressage at Devon. The Contucci offspring became Champion and reserve champion. It was a Contucci festival at the Devon Breed Show.

Contucci is a Hanoverian stallion by Caprimond owned and imported in the U.S. by Jane McElree of Hilltop Farm in Colora, Maryland. Contucci sired the 2004 Devon Young Horse Champion Cabana Boy, a 2-year old bay Hanoverian colt out of Britania (by Bordeaux). The Champion is bred by Dough and Shannon Langar but is owned by Hilltop Farm.

The Reserve champion of the Young Horse Championship was the winner of the Filly Championship, BW Corabella; a delightful bay 2004 born filly by Contucci out of Ariane (by A Jungle Prince x Renoir). This lovely young mare, bred by Blue Waters Farm, has a promising conformation with a beautiful high set neck and impressive face. Her movements were frisky, lightfooted and active.

Judge Anne Gribbons commented on the champions of the class. "Cabana Boy is a strong boned colt. He used his hindleg very well when he trotted. He is well developed for his age and has a keen expression. He's up, intelligent without being crazy, which is important for riding horses. He deserved to win."

Anne Gribbons was affected by the delightful BW Corabella. "She has enormous presence and is well developed. In front she could have had more frontleg and shoulder usage. For the moment she's a bit high behind and low in the back, but her movements have a nice suspension and bounce." Gribbons especially added that "it's great that such a young horse can be a champion over 3-year olds and colts."

Also worth mentioning is that the four horses in the Champion's ring were all homebred.

Scott Hassler, manager of Hilltop Farm, was very pleased with the great results his farm has booked again this year in Devon. "Cabana Boy was bred by the Langars and is a horse who has a chance to be a stallion. He moves really well through the body and has three good gaits."

Contucci has been one of Hilltop Farm's anchor stallions in their breeding programme. "He is really producing very consistently. His offspring are uphill movers and are a really good type. That's all coming back from Caprimond," Scot Hassler said. "Contucci's oldest offspring is now 5-years old. At the American Young Horse Championships in Lexington, there were two Contucci's ridden by amateurs."

Hilltop Farm aims at breeding athletic sport horses with a good mind and good movements. "We want to breed horses that amateurs can sit on, that can move well and are good in the mouth. We want to breed athletic, versatile dressage horses," Hassler explained.

Text and Photos by Astrid Appels

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