BY WALT SCHAEFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
STONELICK TOWNSHIP - The creme de la creme of North American sports horses has galloped into Greater Cincinnati.
These are the continent's best steeds suited for Olympic equestrian competitions.
They are called "warmbloods" - first bred in Europe about 300 years ago to develop the best military horses, said Janet Paxton. Her Paxton Farm on Ohio 132 is hosting the 100-day Stallion Performance Test conducted by the Federation of North American Sport Horse Registries.
The 100-day event culminates in a three-day program that has brought international equestrian judges and riders from Europe and elsewhere, to this rural landscape east of Cincinnati. It ends today with cross country competition, a show program and final judging.
For three months, the Paxton Farm has been home to 20 stallions from the United States and Canada. The 100-day test - a biennial event in America - is designed to determine the best North American stallions for breeding and competition. If sold, a top finisher could demand six figures. Some sports horses are beyond purchase.
"This event is bringing together the very best sports horse stallions in our country," said Mrs. Paxton. "You would have to go to Germany to see anything like this."
Some of the horses being judged or their offspring could qualify for future Olympic competition. This is the first time an equestrian event of this international significance has come to Ohio, Mrs. Paxton said.
"I want to educate people on Olympic equestrian sports. We do a good job of promoting gymnastics and other Olympic sports, and that is deserved. But there are other Olympic sports (such as the equestrian) that do not get the publicity.
"You need a very talented and athletic person and horse and both have to be at their prime at the same time to succeed. That is so difficult. You can be an Olympic gymnast at 12 or 13. You have to be at least 20 in the equestrian world to make it. It takes so many more years" to develop, Mrs. Paxton said.
The managers of the North American Federation selected Paxton Farm after a Virginia horse farm - the past location - was sold. The event bounces from an East Coast to West Coast site every two years, so it will not return here until fall of 2002, Mrs. Paxton said.
The American Federation is managed by the American Hanovarian Society and the Oldenburg Registry, based in Germany.
"The idea is to produce the horse needed for the Olympic disciplines," said Ekkehard Brysch, chief executive officer of the Oldenburg Registry. Such disciplines include free and saddle jumping, gaits, dressage, and cross country riding. "We want to get as close as possible to that quality and that athletic ability as we can." Of the 20 stallions in the performance test, eight have been foaled in North America, 12 in Europe. They are all owned by North Americans.
"We are trying to breed the best sports horses (in the United States and Canada) as we can," Mrs. Paxton said. "The Europeans have been doing this for much longer than we have. In Europe 300 years ago, there were coldbloods - the draft horses, Clydesdales - (horses with) nice personalities, very calm.
"Then you had the hot bloods - the Spanish and thoroughbreds and Arabians - hot tempered. If you want to race, they know how to race, but if you want (the disciplined horse needed for the delicate movements of) dressage, that would be difficult for them," Mrs. Paxton said.
Europeans - notably the Germans and Dutch - combined the hot- and cold-blooded breeds and created the warmbloods.
If you go
What: The Federation of North American Sports Horse Registries 100-Day Stallion Performance Test, featuring 20 of the continent's most prestigious young warm-blood stallions. Where: Paxton Farm, 5697 Ohio 132, Stonelick Township, Clermont County - one mile south of the intersection of Ohio 131 and Ohio 132. Saturday events: Cross Country Test, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m; dressage presentation to music, about 2:30 p.m.; announcement of test results 4:30 p.m. Information: 625-2022; the event is free, the public welcome.
