A.D.-Auction: Get to know the Babes family and their North Star Nisty Blue, a real eye catcher!

“I have been involved with horses all of my life. I was brought up in a riding school. I started competing at a young age and have always had a passion for show jumping”, explains George Babes, founder and owner of Babes Horses. “My wife Muriel was a very successful show jumper and subsequently we started our business together in 1985. We have as a family produced many top-class horses and ponies, many of whom have went on to be European medalists. The team gold medalist pony Dollar Girl ridden by our son Graham Babes in 2011. The individual gold medal winner Cassandra Van Het Roelhof, ridden by Ireland’s Harry Allen in 2017. 2018’s Young Rider team silver medalist Boucheron with Graham Babes. Eccosse, bred and produced by us to 5* International level. These are just a few on an endless line of championship winning equines that have been produced by my family”.

“Our goal as a professional show jumping and breeding yard is to produce top class horses worthy of carrying riders from all over the world to international success. We have established a breeding program based on using the worlds best bloodlines. Diamant De Semilly, Cornet Obolensky, Chacco Blue, Baloubet Du Rouet etc all feature in our youngstock. We have bred three wonderful four year old stallions from the exceptional mare Golden Du Maurai, who has already given five international show jumpers, three of them competing at 1.60 level. We are extremely excited about these young stallions, by the outstanding Diamant De Semilly. Utilising these bloodlines with careful selection provides us with top quality offspring. All with type, scope, carefulness and bravery, all of which we need in international winning horses. For the Celtic Collection, we are very proud to present seven carefully selected horses with these characteristics, ranging from foals, yearlings, two-year-olds and three-year-olds”.

The youngest of the lot, North Star Nisty Blue is an absolute eyecatcher. She was born in April and is by European Champion Zirocco Blue and Nistria (Zamiro). Nistria has competed up to 1.40 level in international competitions. Nisty Blue has a fabulous character, with amazing movement and top-quality model.Quatro, a well grown gelding “has the heart of a lion and the grace of a swan”. Just broken, he is showing top class paces, carefulness and scope. Without a doubt, he is destined to be a world class event horse.

Another horse to watch among those presented by Babes Horses is for sure Philo. This stunning yearling colt is by Balou du Rouet and his mother, Ma Fleur JS has competed so far to 1.45 level as a seven-year-old. She was the National 5 years old champion, also winning many international classes, including spring 6 years old Grand Prix in Bonheiden, both summer and winter 6 years old Grand Prix’s in Sentower Park and many more victories all across Europe, culminating in her finishing her 6 year old year in 2nd place on the FEI world ranking list. Along with providing this exceptional colt in the same year. Ma Fleur is a daughter of Emerald and from a Cassini II dam. She is now competing very successfully in Young Riders classes. Surely Philo will be as successful as his forefathers and make his future owner very proud.

To find out more about the horses presented by Babes Horses in the Celtic Collection of The AD Auction: www.theadauction.com