Spanish Parade, a registered Anglo-European Sport Horse, was points away from jumping into the Grade A jumpers in Ireland when Grand Prix show jumper Sarah Ballou of Emigrant Springs Ranch in Grass Valley imported him in 1999. The 16.1hh chestnut stallion has a quiet and good-natured temperament that immediately caught Sarah’s attention. His willingness to jump around a big course in a snaffle bit was a tip-off to the future success they would enjoy in the Grand Prix arenas in California, Oregon and at Spruce Meadows in Canada.



After a successful competitive career, Spanish Parade has moved on to full time stallion duties, though he still enjoys a hack around the property with his new owner, amateur rider Elizabeth Radakovich. Superb temperament and conformation make him ideally suited to breed uncomplicated progeny that are sound, athletic and balanced. His progeny in Ireland have excelled at three-day eventing.
Irish show jumping legend Eddie Macken once referred to Spanish Parade as having “the heart of a lion…he is the spitting image of his sire.” His sire is Ireland’s notable Carroll’s Flight, who was the Irish National Show Jumping Champion in 1987 and 1988 with Eddie aboard. He and Eddie had several international Grand Prix wins and rode for several successful Irish Nations’ Cup teams. They twice won the Irish Indoor Derby at Ireland’s Champions of the Year show.
Carroll’s Flight is by the Thoroughbred stallion, Highland Flight and his dam is Warrington Lass by the stallion, Errigal, most famous as the father of the legendary stallion, King of Diamonds.
Spanish Parade is out of a dam by the Thoroughbred stallion, Smooth Stepper, and she is half-sister to the Grand Prix jumper, Spanish Arch, who was exported to and competed for Sweden. The granddam of Spanish Parade was by another well-known Thoroughbred stallion, One Wing. Both his dam and granddam were good show jumpers.
Spanish Parade stands at Emigrant Springs Ranch, located in the pristine foothills of the Sierra Mountains. The 120-acre ranch, situated in the green and gold rolling hills of Grass Valley, is a full-training facility and home to Sarah and her husband Sandy. The facility boasts acres of winding trails as well as full care board and training.
“Everyone’s favorite thing about Spanish Parade is that he has the best mind,” says Sarah. “Even when he goes for collection he’s quiet and kind, unlike the traditional image of the wild stallion.” She goes on to say that, “Spanish Parade produces straight-legged babies with good minds. Just like their sire.”
Spanish Parade is recorded with the Anglo-European Studbook and the Show Jumping Association of Ireland. The Anglo-European Studbook is a British based studbook for performance horses, recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and by the EU. It is a full member of the World Breeding Federation of Sports Horses, and maintains close links with the British Horse Database.
For information on breeding to Spanish Parade, contact Elizabeth Radakovich at 775-529-0415 or via e-mail emradakovich@hughes.net. For more information on Spanish Parade on the web visit www.emigrantspringsranch.com.