DressageDaily: The Iron Spring Farm Friesians

Thursday, October 24, 2002

The Iron Spring Farm Friesians

Iron Spring Farm's, Torben After she had competed with "a horse of a lifetime", Mary Alice Malone, owner of Iron Spring Farm, decided it was time to "have fun". When Malone retired Contango, her 1999 Grand Prix ABIG/USDF Region I & CBLM Finals Champion, from the show ring, she bought a Friesian stallion, then another, and another.

Topping the highpoint awards with a 73.462 at the 2002 Bengt Ljungquist Finals October 17- 20 in Training Level was the Iron Spring Friesian stallion, Torben. The 17.2 4-year-old makes a total of three of the finest Friesian breeding stallions to be imported to the United States. For 25 years Iron Spring Farm has continued to elevate the level and development of quality breeding programs in the USA, by bringing to America the best in quality stallions and broodmares.

photo by terrimiller.com Adding Friesians to the breeding roster expands the program, which has set a standard of excellence known throughout the world. Selected for their outstanding athletic ability, and their gentle cooperative nature the Iron Spring Friesians are a joy to ride and train. A selection of registered Friesian mares with the first crop of foals by their side is enjoying the rolling pastures at the Pennsylvania facility, and Mary Alice is thoroughly enjoying her "boys".

As for Contango, while retired from the show ring, his breeding program is in full force. He continues to impact the show ring as well, represented by Persimmon-ISF, the 5-year-old a Dutch Warmblood mare by Contango, who swept all high point percentages at the 2002 BLM Finals, with the top high point score of the show, 73.846%