S Family Broodmares

Barninedot SIZZEL (191072)

DOB: 31/08/2000

Colour: Bay

Height: 15hh

 

Sire: NABINABAH ROCKAFELLA – HSH

Dam: Barninedot SCRUPLES

 

Sizzel was originally named Sizzle, but we had a German groom who pronounced it Sizz-elle, and it’s stuck!  She retired from polo at the end of the 2013 spring season, only for the reason that we want to breed from her.  She has been an integral part of Robert’s main string for about 8 years or o.  James has also played her on occasions and absolutely loved her.  She is the only surviving filly from her dam Scruples and presents what we think is the near perfect type and ability we are looking for in our polo ponies.  She has a really pretty ASH head and a strong but compact body to go with it, with not too much height. We predict that crossing her with the more thoroughbred type we see in Haydon Zane will produce some really lovely foals for us in the future.

Sizzel’s polo pony awards include Champion A Grade Team of Ponies, North Star 2009 under Robert.  She also won Champion Club Pony at Quirindi that year and in 2012 won Champion C Grade pony at Gunnedah.

She can be described as quick minded and quick off the mark.  She can zip her way through traffic on the field with light feet and is tough on the ride-offs.

Progeny:

• SCORCHER – 2014 Gelding (by Haydon Zane)  

 

Above: Robert and Sizzel, Quirindi 2011	Above: James & Sizzel, Windsor 2013 (final game before retirement).
Above: Robert and Sizzel, Tamarang Polo 2012	Above: Robert and Sizzel, North Star 2013
Above: Robert and Sizzel, Tamarang 2012	Above: James and Sizzel, Windsor 2011
Above: Robert and Sizzel, Timor 2013	Above: Robert and Sizzel, Tamarang 2012
Above: James and Sizzel, Windsor 2013 (her final game)	Above: Robert and Sizzel, Timor 2013
Above: Sizzel winning C Grade Champion Pony, Gunnedah 2012. Played by Robert and pictured with Hannah Rowlands	Above: Robert about to play his final game on Sizzel, Timor 2013. James then continued to play her for rest of the season.

 

 

Barninedot SOPHIA (191073)

DOB: 21/09/2001

Colour: Bay

Height: 15.3hh

 

Sire: NABINABAH ROCKAFELLA – HSH

Dam: Barninedot SERENITY

 

Sophia is a full sister-in blood to Sizzel (dams are full sisters).  She is also 1 of 4 full sisters retained as we love this breed – we always know what we’re going to get.  They are straight forward and easy mares to play.  Albeit a little lazy and ‘self-preserving’ at the start of the season when unfit, they can be pushed to the highest of levels and are up to the task required, no matter if it is low, medium or high goal.  We find that this breed is probably our best multipurpose breed for patrons and professionals and Sophia, herself, would have to be one of the coolest minded horses we’ve come across – nothing bothers this mare.  She was the type of mare capable of moving from A Grade Polo to Pony Club carrying a young child at any stage. 

Typical of this line of horses, they usually take a few years to reach their full maturity and potential, but, as we’ve proven, rather than trying to force them to reach their potential early on, we’ve had more success in just being patient and wait.  We have no worries in ‘bushing’ this breed from polo for a year or two at around the age of 4 or 5 and they’ll come back to into play to feel like they’ve being doing it for years – they seem to find their co-ordination, speed and power, every time.  One of the advantages of breeding our own lines of polo pony (especially ones that are up to 4^th and 5^th generation polo on both sides) is that we can be 100% sure of what we’re going to get and in this case we are 100% sure that all of Serenity’s progeny will end up being super easy polo ponies when they reach their prime.  .

Robert played Sophia for the majority of her career with James taking her for the past two seasons.  She has also played under professional player Dick Doolin on various occasions on the northern circuit.  Amongst other games, Dick played her to win the prestigious Northern Champion Challenge Cup at Quirindi in 2010 for the Quirindi A side.  She was also a part of Robert’s Champion Team of A Grade Ponies at North Star 2009 (along with Sizzel). 

Sophia’s younger full sister, SERENE, is James’ best horse, SAHARA is up and coming and SIREN is about to play her first chukkas.  Sophia’s older brother, Snoopy, was sold as a young gelding to our friend and neighbour at North Star, Will Coulton (son of Ben and Prue) basically as a working horse.  However, Will has taken up polo in recent years and naturally Snoopy came straight into his string playing for the first time at the ripe age of 11 yrs old – playing like he’d been doing this his whole life.  Another full brother, Savvy, was sold, with 2 other geldings his age, to play polo in Jakarta, Indonesia.  Robert and James really enjoyed playing Savvy as he is very much like Sophia in temperament and ability.  He has always been played in a snaffle and has proven to be a lovely easy horse for his owner over there. 

Sophia has a striking presence which always gets noticed and probably holds the closest resemblance to her breed’s foundation mare, WALLAROI SUNSHINE.  It was a tough call to retire her to breeding, but with 3 younger full sisters coming up behind her, and her dam now deceased, we just want more of this line in our string. We also feel that this breed offers a great opportunity in the lower-medium goal market, as they are so calm and perfect for new comers or patrons of the game.

Progeny:

• SIENNA – 2014 Filly (by Haydon Zane)

 

Above: Sophia 2011	Above: Sophia
Above: James and Sophia warming up at Windsor	Above: James taking a tail shot flick on Sophia
Above: Robert on Sophia (James on her full sister, Serene behind), Spring Ridge fields 2010	Above: Dick Doolin on Sophia to win the Northern Challenge Cup, Quirindi 2010
Above: James and Sophia, Wirragulla 2012	Above: James and Sophia, Wirragulla 2012
Above: James and Sophia, Tamarang 2012	Above: James and Sophia, Wirragulla 2012
Above: James and Sophia, Tamarang 2013	Above: James and Sophia, Tamarang 2013
Above: James and Sophia, Timor 2013 (her last game before retirement)	Above: James and Sophia, Timor 2013

 

 

Barninedot SERENITY (C2 – 191051)  deceased 2011

DOB: 01/08/1989

Colour: Bay

Height: 15.2hh

 

Sire: WALLAROI SMOKEY PADRE

Dam: Sunbeam

 

Serenity was a favourite of ours; a lovely kind bay mare who played for Robert during the 1990’s.  She was a very easy and honest mare to play and suited the low-medium goal polo perfectly, but could step up to the task of higher goal polo if required. True to her kindness, she was occasionally spotted at North Star pony club under friend’s kids who had great fun on her. 

Serenity produced some lovely foals for us who all carried her lovely nature.  We are lucky to have 4 mares retained out of her as she has crossed well with Nabinabah Rockafella.

Progeny:

• Snoopy (gelding)
• Sold to Will Coulton, North Star, and playing polo
• Sophia (mare)
• Retained.  Easy mare to play by anyone.
• Serene (mare)
• Retained. James’ best playing horse.  Also, played Ellerston and Dudley Cup under Dick Doolin.
• Savvy (gelding)
• Sold to Indonesia to play polo.  Going well.
• Sahara (mare)
• Retained. Currently playing in James’ main string
• Siren (mare)
• Retained. Played her first season in Spring 2015.
• Sunset (gelding)
• For Sale: The last foal out of Serenity.

 

Above: Serenity at Wallaroi yards, North Star, mid 1990’s	Above: Serenity and groom, Mila, North Star 1995
Above: Serenity at North Star Pony Club, late 1990’s	Above: Serenity and her last foal, Sunset, 2010. At Glenaladale, Quirindi

 

 

Barninedot SCRUPLES (C2 – 191051)  deceased 2011

DOB: 01/12/1991

Colour: Bay

Height: 15.1hh

 

Sire: WALLAROI SMOKEY PADRE

Dam: Sunbeam

 

Scruples was the second and last foal retained out of Sunbeam.  She was a pretty and smaller mare than her older sister, Serenity, and started out quite well in her career.  A knee injury prevented her from playing further polo and she joined the broodmare gang when we purchased Nabinabah Rockafella.

One of our best mares, Sizzel, is out of Scruples, but is unfortunately the only one we have after another full sister died tragically whilst being broken in.  Scruples had a few colts (gelded) that broke in well and showed signs of being quite smart.  However, they proved too big and slow for polo and were sold on to more suitable disciplines, where they have performed well for their owners.

Progeny:

• Sizzel (mare)
• Retained.  Great mare.
• Sumo (gelding)
• Sold into central QLD for stock work
• Sirocco (gelding)
• Sold for stock work/ leisure riding.
• Smarty (gelding)
• Sold. A lovely gelding. Went well as a 3 year old in show jumping. Sold for leisure riding.

 

Above: Scruples and her first foal, Sizzel.North Star 2000.