Stallion
Colour: Brown, white star
Breed: Thoroughbred
Type: Polo pony
Foaled: 1898
Height: 14.1 hands 3/4 inch
Sire: Kilwarlin
Dam: Spanish Maiden
SPANISH HERO GSB (Vol.19 p.610) a brown colt, with a star on his forehead, foaled in 1898 and bred by Mr J.W. Mosenthal, of Stoney, Stratford. He was a, “polo playing” pony registered at Hurlingham, (Certificate No. 5521) and later owned by Stephen Mumford, of Stud Farm, Moreton Morrell, Warwickshire. Registered in Volume 10 of the Polo and Riding Pony Society, (1907-1908), as stallion 372, he measured 14.1 3/4 hands.
Spanish Hero burst into the show ring in 1907, sweeping all before him and when at The International Show, of the same year, in the class for Polo Pony stallions, three years and over, he did not gain first place, “The Times,” had this to say, “Once again the competitions were so representative and well supported, and the arrangements were so good that interest never flagged for a moment. Polo stallions were taken first, and the decision was not altogether approved by the polo men. At Islington Spanish Hero had won, and had been generally consisdered to be the very best polo stallion ever shown. He had now to strike his colours to the veteran Gownboy. Spanish Hero was in grand trim, and his breeding is worthy of note, as he is by a St Leger winner out of a mare who was by a Derby winner.” . . . . .
Other Prizes and Medals won by Spanish Hero include :-
1908:
– London Show of the Polo and Riding Pony Society, (Stallions Three years old and upwards. . . . . Twelve Entries. First Prize (Offered by Mr Tresham Gilbey), and Gold Medal offered by the Society for best Polo Pony Stallion or Entire Colt in classes 1, 3, 9-12.
– International Horse Show at Olympia 18th-27th June, (Polo Pony Stallions, three years old and upwards . . . . ) First Prize
1909:
– London Show of the Polo and Riding Pony Society, (The Open Stallion Class, . . . First Prize, “Spanish Hero”, second “Othrae”; third, “Jacko,” were outstanding and all exceedingly high class ponies. The winner, and subsequent male champion of the Show, was a masculine pony of extreme compactness, possessed of beautiful shoulders and the best of backs and loins ; he moved all round with marvellous liberty and force. . )
– International Horse Show at Olympia, 5th-15th June, (Polo Pony Stallions three years and over . . . .) First Prize
– Royal Agricultural Show at Gloucester, 22nd-26th June, (Polo and Riding Pony Stallion, foaled in or before 1906 not exceeding 14.2 . . . . ) First Prize and The Polo and Riding Pony Society’s Gold Medal for the best Polo Pony stallion or Entire colt. 1911 London Show of the Polo and Riding Pony Society, (Stallions Three years old and upwards, . . ) First Prize and gold Medal as the best Polo Pony Stallion or Entire colt.
1912:
– Show of the Polo and Riding Society, (Stallions Three years old and upwards, not exceeding 15 hands. . ) Second Prize and Reserve for Gold Medal
1914:
– Show of the National Pony Society, (Stallions Three years old and upwards not exceeding 15 hands . . .) First Prize and the Society’s Gold Medal for the best Stallion in Classes 13 to 15.
Riding Pony Stallions Awarded Board Premiums at the 1914 London Show . . . included Spanish Hero 372 , he Stood at Moreton Morrell, and travelled Rugby, Northampton and Market Harborough, (Midland)
Committee – John Darby, Hillmorton, Rugby (Corresponding Member)
C.T. Hobbs Great Bowden Market Harborough
W. George, Gayton, Blisworth, Northampton
1916:
– Show of the National Pony Society, (Stallions Three years old and upwards, not exceeding 15 hands . . ) First Prize and Society’s Gold Medal for the best Polo Pony Stallion or Entire Colt in Classes 1,3, 5. 12, 13 and 14.
Spanish Hero was now eighteen years old, Prizes and Reserves to Progeny from 1900 to 1914 number twelve, and he had produce in the London Show of 1916
Sire of Chico.
Notes:
“The Times” Tuesday 11th June 1907
In 1912 at The London Show of The Polo and Riding Pony Society, Spanish Hero was Second, in the Open Stallion Class. In the Judge’s Report it states, “The well-known champion Spanish Hero was second, losing to the winner (Arthur D), in set on of head and neck. Being mature and furnished, he showed the more substance and though advanced in years he still moves with wonderful liberty and force.”
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