The story of the Grand Prix Friesian stallion Xenophon SMF, Star/Elite, began in 2004, three years before his birth, when his breeder Sandra Ammon spotted his sire Goffert 369, Sport in the Netherlands.
Goffert joined the Iron Spring Farm family as a Third Level horse and became one of the first Friesians to compete at the CDI level in Grand Prix. In 2003 Goffert and Belinda Nairn Wertman won at Prix St. Georges, Intermediate I, Intermediate II and Grand Prix throughout the East Coast, including the 2003 GAIG/USDF Region 1 Intermediate II Championship. Goffert and Belinda were crowd favorites for their beautiful Grand Prix Freestyles. Goffert was such a beloved competitor and breed representative that the KFPS invited him back to the Netherlands for their 125th Anniversary celebration, which is where Sandra saw him.
“My admiration for Goffert began in Friesland, where I witnessed his Grand Prix performances with Belinda Nerin Wertman,” remembered Sandra, of Elmira, Ontario. “My fascination led me to extensive online searches, watching all his videos, and even acquiring a Goffert Breyer horse. It became my dream to own a foal by him.”
Little did Sandra realize that not only would this dream come true, but that this foal would grow into one of the most successful North American-bred Friesians of all time, a true testament to how Goffert stamped his offspring with talent.
Goffert 369, Sport
Goffert 369, Sport Breyer Model
An Incredible Match
Sandra matched Goffert with her Friesian mare Cindrl fan Aut (Teunis 332 x Remmelt 323). “Cindrl was a beautiful, gentle giant,” Sandra said of the 17.3 hand mare.
The pairing produced Xenophon, who was named after the great Ancient Greek horseman and philosopher. “Xen was beautiful. I knew I wanted him to be a dressage horse like his father. It was a mission,” she explained.
Sandra began Xen’s under saddle training and then turned the stallion’s higher education over to Jesse Collins in Marquette, Michigan. Xen and Collins debuted at Training Level in 2012, winning eight classes with scores to 78.750%. “Xen showed remarkable balance and agility,” Sandra said. “He won everything. I knew how good he was.”
Collins and Xen continued up the levels and reached FEI in 2016, winning Prix St. Georges, Intermediate I and Intermediate I Freestyle with scores to 74%. They were named Reserve Champion at Intermediate I in the 2016 GAIG/USDF Region 2 Championships. They finished the 2016 season competing at the US Dressage Finals.
After Collins relocated to Texas, Xen continued his training with Mary Ambrose, who guided him to score an impressive 79.20% in Intermediate I Freestyle at Dressage at Waterloo in 2017. “Xen achieved high scores in Prix St. Georges and Intermediate I, including the highest scores ever recorded for a Friesian in dressage,” Sandra said. Xen debuted at the CDI level the same year.
Learning the Piaffe and Passage
Cassandra Jessop, an under-25 FEI Grand Prix rider took the reins. The pair moved up to Grand Prix and competed in Florida. “They ranked 30th in the world [in the under-25 division] at one point,” Sandra said.
“A full-circle moment occurred when Belinda Nairn Wertman, who had inspired my journey with Goffert, provided lessons that helped Xen master advanced movements like piaffe and passage,” Sandra said.
Eventually Xen headed to Texas to reunite with Jesse Collins for another Grand Prix season, creating yet another full-circle moment. Xen’s performances consistently earned high scores and numerous year-end awards, including Adequan USDF All-Breed Awards and FHANA Born in the USA Award in 2016 and 2017.
Throughout Xen’s entire show career Sandra made the 24-hour round trip drive several times each year to bring him grain from Canada. She also drove his farrier wherever Xen was located as he trained and competed. “His farrier, Paul B. Martin, was a Mennonite who didn’t fly,” she recalled. “From Canada to Florida, and everywhere in between, Paul has traveled for Xen.”
A Friesian Ambassador
The high scores and incredible show record inspired the goal to compete Xen internationally. Unfortunately, COVID happened and that dream was shelved. At nearly 17 years old, Xen now lives full time at Sandra’s farm in Elmira with 30 other horses.
He continues to compete at Grand Prix in select shows and is used as a lesson horse. “He enjoys black licorice and a daily bag of carrots,” Sandra said. “He remains a USDF ambassador and has been featured in show entry magazines and USDF event posters for the past seven years.”
“Xen’s journey has taken a village,” Sandra said. “This epitomizes the passion that defines the sport of dressage. His legacy continues to inspire and set standards for Friesians in competitive dressage.”
