54 SIDELINES JANUARY 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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Iron Spring Farm -
By Christine DeHerrera
Totilas. Exquis Nadine. Ravel. Judgement ISF. These
are just a few of the international superstars carrying the
blood of Iron Spring Farm stallions. For more than 35
years, the farm has made some of the best European
bloodlines available to North American breeders and
developed horse management protocols designed to bring
equine talent to fruition. At the heart of the farm is owner
Mary Alice Malone’s passion for horses.
Champion Bloodlines
Back in the mid-1970s, before importing warmbloods
became commonplace, Mary Alice was determined to
fnd the best breeding stock available and she began
to investigate the bloodlines in Europe. The frst Iron
Spring Farm stallion was the Trakehner, Jadegeist, who
was purchased as a three month old in the U.S. Shortly
thereafter, a trip to Poland was arranged to visit Trakehner
breeders to fnd new bloodlines that produced athletes with
great temperaments.
“Regardless of whether a breeder has a single mare or
a whole herd, selecting the best breeding stock you can is
essential,” Mary Alice says. As the ISF program developed,
the focus turned to KWPN (Dutch Warmbloods) bloodlines.
Roemer preferent (Pilatus x Cyrano) was a successful
grand prix jumper before his importation. Once in the
USA, Roemer advanced to grand prix dressage and was
eventually inducted into the USDF Hall of Fame. He also
became one of the breed’s most infuential sires, producing
four approved stallions and more than 100 Star mares. His
son Mistral competed in the 1992 Olympic Games in show
jumping.
“Roemer was exactly the kind of horse that I wanted in my
breeding program,” Mary Alice said. “He had wonderful athletic
ability, but he was also fun to be around because of his excellent
temperament.”
Roemer’s legacy continues today; he’s also recognized as
an infuential dam-sire, counting Rousseau and Exquis Nadine
among his grandchildren.
Other prominent stallions that have called Iron Spring Farm their
home have included Glendale, the dam-sire of Totilas; Juventus,
sire of numerous grand prix horses; Rampal Crown, sire of many
champions, including Ovation ISF, who was exported to Europe,
where he won at CSIO Rome with Markus Fuchs and Consul,
sire of Approved stallion Judgement ISF and Critical Decision, an
international event horse with Missy Ransehousen.
Details, Details
Breeders need more than just quality bloodlines to succeed.
At Iron Spring Farm, nutrition and young horse management
programs have been designed to bring equine athletes to their
potential. This information has been made available to breeders
via DVD, the ISF website and in various articles throughout the
years.
“Breeders must pay attention to all of the details—shoeing, feed,
training and health care,” Mary Alice explained. “North American
breeders have made big strides in the quality of horses that are
being produced; but it takes a thoughtful program to help these
horses develop properly.”
One homebred that is the result of careful training and
management is the famous Judgement ISF. This son of Consul
won at the biggest CSIOs around the world, including the
prestigious $1,000,000 CN International Grand Prix at Spruce
Meadows. Judgement represented the United States on 10
Nations’ Cup teams, including the 2002 World Equestrian Games.
UB40 is becoming a sire of note with an Approved son
Apache, as well as many breed show and keuring champions
like El Paso ISF (pictured), the Young Horse Champion at
Dressage at Devon, 2010
Photo by Terri Miller
More Than
35 Years
of Making
History