Coatesville, PA- Contango’s son Don Tango was awarded the High Score Dressage stallion at the 2011 KWPN Spring Stallion Performance Test. The handsome young stallion received 9s on rideability, temperament, self-carriage and balance during the testing. Don Tango became the fourth Approved Stallion by Iron Spring Farm’s Preferent stallion Contango, joining Citango, Maestro and Ravel. Contango, who won both the jumping and dressage portions of his own stallion testing, has become recognized as one of the most influential KWPN stallions of his generation.

“We were very excited about Don Tango’s success at the Stallion Testing. His sire was an exceptional horse to ride,” said his Contango’s owner and  rider Mary Alice Malone. Contango and Mary Alice won 33 Grand Prix titles, including the prestigious Grand Prix at Dressage at Devon-CDI-W. Unfortunately Contango passed away in 2007, but he is still available to breeders via excellent quality frozen semen.

Don Tango received excellent scores at his stallion testing. His walk and canter each earned an 8, and his trot received an 8.5. In addition to his exceptional movement, the judges described Don Tango as a balanced stallion with a good temperament.   Don Tango is out of Oronia Keur, who is by Jazz Preferent out of the Star mare Joyce, by Ulft Keur.

Don Tango wasn’t the only Contango offspring impressing the judges this spring. Three North American-bred geldings sired by Contango have been competing in the small tour classes at the California shows over the past few months. Utango, a nine-year-old owned by Denise Turner and ridden by Dominique Culham-Buck, won the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I classes and finished in second place in the Intermediaire I Freestyle at the Woodside CDI. The pair also finished 2nd and 3rd the same classes at the Flintridge Dressage CDI. 

Oslo, with owner and rider Lindsay Seidel-Wassena, claimed first place in the Intermediaire I Freestyle at Woodside, as well as the Reserve FEI High Point at Flintridge. Lindsay wrote about her Woodside experience on her blog, “Our freestyle was error free and he was even more supple today…. We ended with a score of 70.667%, which made us the Champions of the Freestyle! They played the Canadian anthem for us and then we got to lead the victory lap!” The pair has won numerous championships at the Canadian Young Rider Championships in years past and has more competitions on the schedule for this summer.
Rebecca Garrad and Con Brio have also had a busy spring with numerous successful placings at the Festival of the Horse, Wisdom Dressage and Woodside.

Contango has sired numerous Grand Prix dressage horses, including the 2009 Rolex/FEI World Cup Finals winner Ravel, New Tango, Royal Tango, Nanou, Maverick, Madorijke, Carrera, Maestro, Show Time, May Fair and Now I’m Here. He’s also the sire of the Grand Prix show jumpers Maroon, Minneavera, Newton, Nada Penny, Nouvelle, Vereist Maranci, Mompty and Carousel. Contango is available by frozen semen. Learn more at www.ironspringfarm.com.

About Iron Spring Farm
For 35 years, Iron Spring Farm has been importing and breeding high quality sport horses.  Iron Spring stands nearly a dozen warmblood and Friesian stallions and offers programs to help breeders produce, raise and market exceptional athletes of their own. Visit www.ironspringfarm.com for complete information.