Afire Bey V

Royally Bred … Loyally Raised

by Jeff Wallace and Tjeresa Cardamone The training barn at Shea Stables is always a hub of activity, filled with horses full of promise and people who shape them into performers who consistently win at the highest possible level. Holding court among them for over 25 years was a majestic bay stallion, his keen eyes always betraying an interest that belied his regal calm. Known as much for his kind intelligence as he was for his beauty and talent, the power of Afire Bey V’s magnetic presence drew anyone who entered the barn right to his stall. He was the highlight of every visit, having earned that spotlight by developing into the most accomplished sire the Arabian breed has ever seen. With offspring earning well over 2,500 national titles and thousands more garnered by his grand-get, he was the number one sire in the Arabian breed for 16 consecutive years, leading across all disciplines, and a 2-time Readers Choice Overall Sire. Afire Bey V was so far out in front of his nearest competitors that the title was seldom in question. Often his own sons have been his closest competition as his progeny have stocked the stables of nearly every leading performance trainer for many years.

In truth, it would be surprising if there were a horse in the Shea’s champion-filled barn that did not have the blood of Afire Bey V running through its veins.

Ever since he arrived as a young prospect sent by legendary breeder Sheila Varian, Afire Bey V made his home in Michigan with trainer/managers Tim and Marty Shea and new owners Gail and Dave Liniger, of Maroon Fire Arabians. He was the catalyst for the enduring, collaborative business relationship between

the two couples that flourishes to this day. Theirs is the perfect example that proves the theory; good horses are not simply born that way, their success depends upon the humans into whose hands they fall. Fortunately for Afire Bey V and the Arabian breed, his raw talent, abilities, and tremendous potential could not have found more fertile ground in which to germinate. His story is one of a loyal team of four people who never wavered throughout his long life, providing the horse with the knowledgeable management and promotional support that took his natural gifts and talents and shaped him into a legend.

By his royal breeding, anyone could predict that the son of the legendary Huckleberry Bey and the Bask daughter Autumn Fire had the genetic potential to be a superstar sire of English horses. Huckleberry Bey had earned United States National Reserve Championships both as a Futurity Colt and as an English Pleasure horse before becoming the sire and grandsire of many national champions. He was so famous, the Breyer Company created a model of him to represent Arabian horses to the general public. Huckleberry Bey’s bloodlines allowed him to channel the finest qualities of his sire, Bay El Bey, who was a Canadian National Champion Stallion and twice U.S. National Reserve Champion Stallion and his dam Taffona, an exquisite daughter of the brilliant sire, Raffon. A tremendously versatile show horse, Raffon was named U.S. National Champion English Pleasure horse after winning the U.S. National Champion Stallion title several years earlier.

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Dave and Gail Liniger, Tim Shea, Allen Zeller, Sheila Varian and Marty Shea with Afire Bey V.

“As his breeder and the hills of home where he spent his youth, our memories and grief for Afire Bey V are one-of-a-kind and very personal,” says Sheila Varian, Varian Arabians. “He was a great son from a large family of exceptional brothers and sisters, sired by Huckleberry Bey out of the wonderful *Bask++ daughter, Autumn Fire. Like his siblings he grew up running on Colt Hill, playing with others his age. He is a fourth generation Varian Arabian. We are proud of his life, his accomplishments and his legacy. His history and heritage and that of Varian Arabians are one and the same.”

Afire Bey V’s pedigree is packed with powerhouse performance horses. His dam Autumn Fire was arguably the best producing daughter of Bask, the legendary United States National Champion Stallion and U.S. National Champion Park Horse, and one of the greatest sires the breed has ever seen. She produced nine foals who grew up to be national winners including U.S. National Champion English Pleasure horses August Bey V and Alyaska Bey V, and additional U.S. Reserve National Champions Autumn Blaze V and

Ambush V. Autumn Fire’s daughters have produced a staggering number of champions between them.

Her dam, Sparklingburgundy, provided an additional influx of “trot,” being a Park horse in her own right, and was a daughter of one of the foundation sires of American breeding, the fabulous Fadjur. In many ways, Afire Bey V is a true representation of the “American bred” Arabian, his pedigree a melting pot of bloodlines springing from importations from Europe and the Middle East that began nearly 100 years ago.

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Even with such a powder keg of potential, it took the right combination of ownership and management to guide Afire Bey V’s career as it skyrocketed him to the top of the list as the premiere sire in the history of the Arabian breed. Sold to someone else who did not have an equal level of experience, dedication, and resources, the same genetically charged individual might have had an insignificant impact on the breed. After all, no horse can do it all by himself. Instead, because of the four talented and resourceful people who devoted themselves to his success, Afire Bey V was given the opportunity to fulfill his destiny. This was a team who knew what to do, and how best to support and promote Afire Bey V in ways that were tasteful and extremely consistent. As just one example, he was featured on the back cover of a prominent breed journal every month for over 20 years!

The trickledown effect of that loyalty made him among the most recognized of all stallions and contributed to his unprecedented success as a sire. Afire Bey V has been the life’s blood of the English performance division for so long, it is hard to remember a time when he was not. One year, seven of the eight National Champions and Reserves in the major English performance classes were his direct get! It is impossible to calculate the dollar value of the hundreds of National Champions that spring from him, or the impact he has made on the Arabian horse economy.

Dave and Gail Liniger have a wealth of corporate knowledge between them, having developed the ReMax Real Estate Corporation into one of the leading realty firms in the world. They utilized their decades of experience to provide the leadership and business acumen that melded perfectly with the Sheas’ extensive horse experience. Dave dove into the study of pedigrees and developed an amazing eye and intuition for knowing a great horse. The Linigers have become astute breeders, twice taking home the APAHA Breeder of the Year award. They have also won that prestigious title in association with the Sheas. The Liniger/Shea team was also the recipient of the coveted 2012 USEF Pegasus Award for Breeders of the Year.

Tim and Marty Shea have been breeding and training Arabian horses since the 1960’s and have also won

the APAHA Breeder of the Year award themselves.

Tim is one of the most talented and respected English performance trainers on the planet, as evidenced by the hundreds of National Championships that have been won by horses in his barn. Marty’s savvy and incredible instincts provide a perfect balance, and contribute in no small way to the overwhelming success they have enjoyed for so long. Between them, the Liniger/Sheas have bred over 50 National Champions or Reserves, a mind-boggling number.

Marty Shea elaborated on the depth of the relationship between the Sheas and the Linigers, “We are not only business associates, we are friends. We are truly friends.

We’ve been around each other and in business with each other since around 1988. That’s when we first got started and then it just evolved into a very mutual respect for one another.” Dave Liniger uses the same skills of leadership that have made his Remax Realty one of the top real estate companies in the world in all of his enterprises, including Arabian horses. “He hires experts and lets them either sink or swim,” Marty explained.

However, he always provides support and resources to ensure the best chance for success, be it professional development opportunities for Remax agents or funding a breeding program.

“The Linigers have been the clients from heaven,” Marty expounded. “Dave Liniger has a sense of good things, period. He buys good dogs, he buys good horses, he buys good cars; he just has a sense of quality. They do not micro-manage. They supplied the great mares and the stallions, they added all the ingredients and they let us do the mix. We needed to guide them along with what we knew; that’s what they trusted us with.” Nearly 30 years later, trust remains the foundation of their beautiful ongoing relationship.

To the Linigers, Afire Bey V was a family horse.

Whether eating carrots from Gail’s hand or taking Dave or another member of the family out for a ride, he was the entire package of talent, beauty and brains. As Marty described, “That’s the crux of the Maroon Fire/Shea Stables breeding program, disposition. He personified that. He had a majesty and quietness about himself. He

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was a sensitive and sensible horse, not a foolish horse.”

The Maroon Fire/Shea team managed his care to keep him both physically and mentally healthy throughout his long life. “Afire Bey V was ridden nearly every day

by Tim’s assistant trainer Alan Zeller,” Marty continued.

“Ann Hernandez, our breeding manager, also handled Afire Bey V and did a great job with him. Both of those people loved the horse tremendously and took pride in the fact that they were around him.”

Afire Bey V’s extensive legacy is full of extraordinary horses. “One of Mr. Liniger’s favorites is Foxy Afire.

He absolutely loves her; she is a beautiful, beautiful mare. That is a mare that stands out in his mind and personifies beauty. I would say Afires Heir is probably my favorite and one of the most successful,” Marty confided. “That particular horse happens to be one that Tim and I bred, but there are many other outstanding horses.” Afires Heir had an unprecedented show career, placing first on each and every judge’s card every single time shown, including an unbelievable four unanimous United States National Championships in English Pleasure. His dam, Brassmis, is one of the few purebred mares to have produced national champions

in performance and also in halter, as exemplified by her daughter, U.S. and Canadian National Champion Afire Storrm. Brassmis is also the center of one of Marty’s favorite memories. “She came from Cedar Ridge Arabians, the Ames family. They had an auction; it was on a Sunday because I was in church. And I said to my sister, ‘excuse me a minute, I’ve got something I’ve got to do.’ And she said, ‘what are you talking about?’ And I said, ‘I’ve got to go bid on a horse!’ So I bought her over the phone; it was Brassmis!” Marty finishes the story with a twinkle in her eye, “Almost every foal she’s had has been top ten or better.”

The Maroon Fire/Shea magic cross to date has been breeding Afire Bey V daughters to their “junior stallion,” eighteen-year old IXL Noble Express, who was sired by six-time U.S. National Champion Park Horse or Reserve, MHR Nobility. Noble Express is another exceptional stallion purchased by the Linigers; he was 2006 National Champion Park Horse and 2007 Top Ten Stallion in halter, finishing third on the judges’ cards.

The Sheas have a two-year-old sired by Noble Express out of a full sister to Afires Heir that is kindling a good deal of excitement. And there is another two-year-old

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colt owned by the Linigers, Justice Afire, who is by Afire Bey V and out of a Noble Express daughter. “Kind of the flip side of the pedigree that we’re real high on,” Marty stated.

to take four or five mares and breed them out of your program, and don’t think about that first cross, but think about how you can use the results back in what you’re doing. And we are going to start doing some of that.”

If there is a downside to Afire Bey V’s domination as a sire, it is that it has become difficult to find a pedigree in the English genre that does not contain his blood.

“I think that everyone who is producing English performance horses is searching for that next cross, and that’s something that Mr. Liniger is bent on finding,” she continued. “He is eager to get that next step. Even though we lost Afire Bey V, Mr. Liniger is enthusiastic, he is eager to keep going and doing new things.” And just how do you go about finding that next step? “That is the question!” Marty laughed. “We are putting out feelers and seriously looking at pedigrees that people are sending us. My dear friend Sheila Varian says you need

Because of Afire Bey V’s total dominance as a sire, many breeders are facing a similar dilemma in having horses who boast his potent blood. “We are not the only ones in this boat,” Marty states. “The whole English performance community is in the same situation. Jeff Wallace has steered me towards Poland. The State Studs are breeding mostly towards the market horse, the pretty halter horse, and they have stopped breeding that dynamic racehorse that produced horses like Bask.

But there are farms in Poland that are going back to breeding the old style of Polish Arabian. We’re hoping we’ll make a trip to Poland and see what we can shake out of the bushes.”

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The Perfect Storm

by Christy Egan

Afire Bey V departed from this world four months after his thirtieth birthday, late in the fall. It was almost a month after the 2015 U.S. National Championships where 49 of his sons and daughters competed, winning 94 national awards. His life and his legacy are so extraordinary, and encompass so much change and success in the industry, and so many lives, both human and equine, that it is impossible to imagine another horse will match him. Not in our lifetime. The events, people and details that made up Afire Bey V could be called …

The Perfect Storm.

Afire Bey V had one of life’s rare beginnings. He was bred by Sheila Varian and born at her ranch in California, where he spent the first years of his idyllic colthood enjoying green pastures and careful handling via the legendary Varian Way. He also embodied the perfect Arabian English pedigree of our time, with Huckleberry Bey for a sire and the *Bask++ daughter, Autumn Fire for a dam. At three he was sent east to Michigan for training with Tim and Marty Shea. There, between 1989 and 1993, he was shown in English pleasure and in park (for which he was awarded a U.S. National Top Ten). In the fall of his four-year-old year, Tim trotted Afire Bey V out of the barn and down the lane for Dave and Gail Liniger of RE/MAX™ Realty International and Maroon Fire Arabians. The stallion danced through the red and yellow leaves, tail up, delighted to be outside on a crisp, fall day. For Dave and Gail, it was love at first sight.

“Gail and I looked at over 50 stallions during the six month period before we got to Afire Bey V,” says Dave.

“Part of what we wanted was the right personality. Gail was handicapped from an airplane crash at the time and needed assistance walking. A kind and gentle heart came first for us. Afire Bey V had that heart. Yet, when you put a saddle on him and brought him into the ring, he came alive, puffed up; became aggressive. The point is, he was both beautiful and charismatic … in a word, magic!” The Linigers went to their mentors and asked them what mares would cross best with Afire Bey V. Like his grandsire *Bask++, Afire Bey V was handsome with a magnificent neck and carriage, as well as good gaits, and, like *Bask++, he needed a stronger hip. So the Linigers and their advisors set about putting together a broodmare band for the stallion. “We read a lot of magazines,” laughs Dave. “We went to ALL of the shows. By the end of a year we had 15 to 20 mares, the beginning of our broodmare band.” The Maroon Fire Arabians’ fledgling breeding program worked. About 80% of the foals from the first crops were “homeruns.”

There were no real failures; nothing that didn’t work, and the best ones were very special.

Outside of the immediate Liniger group of mentor horsemen: Tim and Marty Shea, Sheila Varian, Don DeLongpre and Gordon Potts, one of the first Arabian trainers to spot Afire Bey V and understand his potential was Joel Kiesner. “The first time I saw him was at Scottsdale in 1992,” Joel says. “I was standing on the

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AFIRE BEY V - STATISTICS Afire Bey V was the Leading Sire in the Arabian breed in so many ways for so many years. With 1,359 registered offspring as of the end of 2015, he has been the leading sire of Arabian offspring. He is the sire of 572 purebred champions and 190 Half-Arabian champions. Of these horses, 375 have gone on to make a mark in national competition at the Youth, Canadian, Sport Horse and U.S. National Championships. Afire Bey V is currently the sire of 144 national champion and 73 reserve national champion offspring. Together these horses have won 736 national and reserve national championships and 2,234 national top ten awards. All of these numbers constitute records. Just thinking about the number of rose blankets that entails and the ribbons … it’s scarcely imaginable.

Afire Bey V offspring first appeared at the U.S. National Championships in 1995, when he was ten. That year Afire Lullaby was National Champion Country Pleasure Driving and Can Can Dancer was National Champion English Pleasure Junior Horse. Within a few short years, Afire Bey V began to show up as a leading sire at the national shows and has continued to top the lists as leading sire of Performance or Performance and Halter combined every year following to date. At the 2015 U.S. Nationals, his offspring won 12 national championships, 12 reserve national championships and 70 national top ten awards. Leading the way was one of his best Half-Arabian daughters, Americanbeautie+// who garnered two national championships and reserves, making her all-time record 74 national wins, 23 national championships and 9 reserves. That record places her up there with Afire Bey V’s all-time best: Whiskey Glow+// (78 national awards, 15 national championships and 11 reserves) and Casablanca Afire+// (78 national awards, 14 national championships and 11 reserves).

Among the mares that have crossed particularly well with Afire Bey V are the daughters of numerous great *Bask++ sons. These include The Chief Justice, Zodiac Matador, Cognac, Promotion and Bask Flame. Barbary (Bay El Bey) and Pask (*El Paso) daughters have been among his finest crosses. When bred to daughters of noted halter sires like *Aladdinn and Padrons Psyche, Afire Bey V has produced outstanding national winning halter horses. There are also several Saddlebred and Dutch Harness mares that have bred consistently well with Afire Bey V. Of them, of course, The Small Town Blues, with her 14 champions and 12 national winners (11 of them national champions and/or reserves) stands tall. Dutch Harness Mare Ritida is also a spectacular example, especially since this year at U.S. Nationals, five of her seven national winners sired by Afire Bey V placed national champion and/or reserve in their classes. Her top son, Adams Fire, now has 14 national championships to his credit.

The Afire Bey record stands alone. No stallion in our time, standing at public to a group of mares numbering 500 or more, has a better percentage of champions to number of get. His is 56%. His percentage of offspring that have won their national awards in English competition is 85%, with the balance of winning percentages split almost evenly between Halter (7%) and other performance classes (8%).

Afire Bey V was the Leading All-Time Sire of Champions, National Winners and Offspring in the Arabian breed. As his good friend and lifelong trainer Tim Shea said of him, “For 27 years he lived in the first stall to the left of the door. Every morning I still look up, expecting to see him. He didn’t owe anything to anybody.”

stats by Christy Egan

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rail and here was this dramatically different bay stallion.

He was beautiful, big and tall, with a long, round neck.

I instantly thought to myself, ‘This horse is going to change the breed.’ When I was growing up, anybody who could get their hands on a *Bask++ horse was turned into an instant ‘somebody.’ They rode on the ‘coattails’ of that great horse. Afire Bey V was my generation’s *Bask++.”

Kiesner got his chance and soon began training Afire Bey V sons and daughters, quickly realizing there was something different about these horses. “Some of the trainers that worked the pure Polish Arabians in the show rings of the 60’s and 70’s would get tough with them. Afire Bey V horses have large personalities. They are very intelligent; very sensitive. Physically they are perfectly suited for their job. They can be praised and rewarded or just as easily insulted. The Afire Bey V horses did not respond well to roughness and constant reprimand and consequently they taught horsemen how to be kinder, more thoughtful trainers. You have to keep these horses happy and have respect for them, if you want to succeed with them. I personally owe Afire Bey V and the Sheas a great deal. I would not be where I am today without them.”

One of the extraordinary things about the Afire Bey V horses and certainly one of the keys to their ultimate success was their ability to work with a broad range of riders. Dennis Wigren, trainer and manager at R.O. Lervick Arabians, has worked with over a dozen Afire Bey V horses including national champions ROL Firecracker+// and ROL Lets Dance+. “Afire Bey V horses put me on the map in the Arabian English division,” Dennis admits. “I like the way they are real show horses, their expression and how they hit the ring like ‘stars!’ There’s so much quality to them. Many of them won as four-year-olds with amateurs up, while they were still junior horses, and every single one I had, eventually became a great amateur horse.” Most all of the biggest English trainers in the business today find it easy to pay homage to Afire Bey V. “The credit for a large majority of our winning show string and our success goes to Afire Bey V,” says Jim Stachowski of Stachowski Farms. “There have been so many of them for us … literally champion after champion. They show enormous quality and big, performance motion in the show ring.

They have a certain look about them that you can’t miss and they are consistent, which gives them an edge and makes them big time national winners.” Trainer John Ryan agrees. “So much of my career has been influenced by the Afire Bey V horses. I am not sure where I would be today without him. Afire Bey V horses have a near perfect blend of attitude and athletic ability. They are built to do their job and they are very giving horses.” John rode Defying Gravity RGS+// and Afireandbrimstone SCA to national championships. “Just stay out of their way and let them excel,” suggests John. “Let them do what they enjoy. Let them be who they are. There are few unnecessary miles with these horses.” Of all these trainers the last word must go to Tim Shea, since he was the first to ride and train Afire Bey V, and, with his wife, Marty, is the critical management piece of the Afire Bey V success puzzle. “Afire Bey V had that fabulous neck and a wonderful softness from his poll right through to his hocks,” says Tim. “*Bask++ had a huge influence on our English Arabian horses but there was no *Bask son that really took over after he died. At the time we all thought there would be another pure Polish stallion that would step up, but it didn’t happen. It wasn’t the answer. Afire Bey V was.”

There is much conversation about the Liniger’s marketing of Afire Bey V. In 60 years, no one in the Arabian industry ever promoted a horse as consistently or for as many years as the Maroon Fire Arabians and Shea Stables team promoted Afire Bey V. Their advertising and marketing program flourished and endured for 27 years. Much has been made of the importance of the advertising and promotion afforded Afire Bey V, but the man who paid for and instigated all of it, Dave Liniger, relegates it to simply a powerful and important detail. “You can’t sell an empty box,” Dave notes. “If you have an average horse and promote him the way we did Afire Bey V, you’ll get nothing from it. The proof is in the progeny. The fact that he was marvelous, coupled with the promotion, commanded the attention of the entire Arabian industry.”

Eventually almost all of creating and implementing the Afire Bey V marketing fell to Marty Shea. Those who came to the Shea Stables in search of Afire Bey V

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offspring frequently praise Marty’s ability to discover the right horse for rider and owner. There was also the complete management end of the business, which also fell to Tim and Marty Shea. Liniger is full of praise for the Sheas and the admiration is mutual. “The Linigers are the perfect owners and clients,” Marty says. “They have let us make decisions and trusted our judgement.

They never micromanage with us and we work hard every day to be worthy of that trust and confidence.”

There is undoubtedly a certain amount of headshaking among those in the horse industry over the Shea’s three-decade relationship with the Linigers. Some call it incredibly good luck that the Sheas were able to discover and keep the Linigers. “How amazing,” they say to Tim and Marty, “that you found someone like Dave and Gail and have kept them interested in the horses for 30 years.”

Dave would probably reply that it was he who was lucky to find people he could trust with his horses and his business like the Sheas.

As for keeping him in the business, if you ask Dave Liniger what other passions in his life have kept his attention like the horses, he would answer, “Everything.”

Whether it’s Nascar racing, big game hunting, scuba diving or Arabian horses, he is a man who stays the course, no matter how tough the road, if he cares about what he’s doing. If you ask what he saw when he looked at Arabian horses, he answers, “Peace.” He will tell you stories about mares and babies in the green pastures of summer and the contrast between the “real life” of the horses and the demanding 18-hour days of creating RE/MAX™ International. “There’s also the fascination

and challenge of being a breeder,” Dave says. “Did I select the right mare?

What is the stallion going to bring to the breeding?

If it doesn’t work, do I try it again or go in another direction? I started out as an Arabian horse breeder by talking to Sheila Varian.

She is brilliant. I spent hours asking her questions at every opportunity. I did that for years and I’m sure she must have thought I was crazy. For the most part, my mentors in the business were the Sheas, Don DeLongpre and Sheila, with their many years of experience.

I eventually trusted Tim and Marty Shea with all of the management for our breeding operation and I still trust them today … implicitly.” The big question is, will the legacy of Afire Bey V fade away or continue at Shea Stables and Maroon Fire Arabians? There is really no doubt. There are 1,000 frozen straws of Afire Bey V semen to consider, exceptional young colts and fillies that combine the bloodlines of Afire Bey V and his stablemate, IXL Noble Express+, to show and to breed.

The continuing story, like the legacy of Afire Bey V, shows no sign of slowing; no lack of ongoing enthusiasm and energy.

It is obvious that there were four great pillars supporting the success of Afire Bey V and his momentous legacy: Bloodstock, Management, Promotion and Marketing and Longevity. Afire Bey V, his contribution to the breed and his great record, would not have been possible without Tim and Marty Shea, who would not have been possible without Dave and Gail Liniger, who would not have had this incredible success story without Afire Bey V. It was, and is, a great collaboration. A Perfect Storm. ■

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When you think of Afire Bey V, what is the first thing you think of?

I had the pleasure of meeting Afire Bey V a handful of times, and was always struck by an undeniable “it” factor that he exuded even well into his older years. I always knew I was in the presence of a “great one”. Through his kids I have an ever deeper insight into who he was. All of his offspring share the same characteristics of intelligence, beauty, athleticism and trainability, and are true “show horses” when they hit the arena. My family is thankful that we have been able to share in this great horse’s legacy, now and moving into the future. —Lori Lawrence Beauty, athleticism, and a great neck. Afire Bey V’s get have that neck, the flexibility in the poll, and the incredible shoulders and movement. Afire Bey definitely left his mark on the breed—beautiful strengths that should carry on for generations.

—Lorie Henderson The first thing I think of is how grateful I am to the Linigers and to the Sheas for setting such an outstanding example and standard of excellence with their breeding program based on Afire Bey V. My first stud, PS Afire Chief was an Afire Bey V son raised by a small breeder in Atlanta. In addition, both my remaining stallions, Baskghazi and The Renaissance are Afire Bey V’s grandsons. A good many of my mares also are by Afire Bey V or are his grand get. At Smoky Mountain Park Arabians, I have bred the Afire Bey daughters to my Afire Bey V son and grandsons with excellent results. We are getting athletic size, quality, soaring necks and trot. For this reason, and others, I am grateful for Afire Bey V, the Linigers and Sheas, for their contribution to the SMP breeding program.

—Jacque Thompson

When I think of Afire Bey V, I think of how blessed we are to have ROL Divine Style. Afire Bey V passed on his intelligence, beauty and performance talent to one of his youngest producing studs. He sired many Arabian champions and national champions and we are fortunate to have one of his finest. There is no doubt, that Afire Bey V is one of the most admired and beloved Arabian horses. We will indeed miss him.

—Nancy De Lisi Neck, throat latch and presence.

—Brian Murch All the babies we have had by Afire Bey V over the years have had a big trot, a big heart and a willing attitude to go forward! He will be greatly missed in our breeding program.

—Roger and Linda Lervick The first thing that comes to mind: How many great daughters Afire Bey V has produced to carry on his lineage. Being fortunate to have one of the best of all time, not only in the show ring, but in the breeding barn producing national champion quality offspring, no matter which stallion she has been bred to. Thank you Afire Bey V for my Rumina Afire! Without you, we wouldn’t be able to carry the torch for our breed into the future.

—Steve Lazzarini Afire Bey V is a true blessing to the Arabian breed. Classic beauty, style and grace, with a heart as big as his legacy.

—Tracy Kujawa, Angel Heart Farm

The best performance sire since *Bask.

—Barbara Chur

The Linigers and Marty & I, would like to thank everyone who bred their good mares to Afire Bey V and to all of you who have trained and shown his offspring. Without you, none of this would have ever happened—you believed in him as much as we did.

Afire Bey V was a game changer, not only for us, but also for the whole Arabian industry. There are very few, and he truly was. His record as a sire is unequaled in any breed of livestock.

So, with heavy hearts we mourn his absence, but we look forward with great anticipation, to ours and yours continued participation in his legacy. He was in every sense, a class act.

We will miss him—always.

—Tim Shea Ar abian Horse Times | 64 | Volume 46, No. 9A

… T h e St al l i on Fo r A l l S e a s o ns UNANIMOUS CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPION AND TWO-TIME U.S. NATIONAL RESERVE CHAMPION ENGLISH PLEASURE HORSE ROL DIVINE STYLE IS ONE OF AFIRE BEY V’S YOUNGEST PRODUCING STALLIONS.

Afire Bey V x IXL Miss Firefly, by MHR Nobility

The first Divine foals arrived in 2015 and many more are coming in 2016 from a list of prominent breeders, including: Tim and Marty Shea, R.O. Lervick Arabians, Cedar Ridge Arabians, and Gene and Erin LaCroix.

Reserve a breeding in his limited book to create something “Divine.”

OWNED BY: DELSAN ARABIAN LLC • NAPLES, FLORIDA TRAINED BY: GOLLADAY TRAINING AT CEDAR RIDGE ARABIANS • JORDAN, MINNESOTA FOR BREEDING INFORMATION, CONTACT MIKE BRENNAN, 952-492-6590

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In Memory of Afire Bey V Not since *Bask, has there been a stallion who has raised the bar so much for so many of us in the Arabian breed.

Afire Bey V is a treasure lost to us now, but his legacy will live on in his children’s children.

We at Adandy Farm, are so blessed with three of his sons— a National Champion and two Reserve National Champions.

They are like fine jewels in the tapestry of the life of Afire Bey V.

GITAR MF

CITATIONN

Afire Bey V x Gitara

Afire Bey V x KAZ Baskteena

CATHY VINCENT ADANDY FARM 302.236.6665

THE FIRELORD Afire Bey V x Barbarys Jubilee

MERRILEE LYONS SILVER STAG ARABIANS LLC

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A tribute to his great sire ...

SIRE OF 160 CHAMPIONS 83% OF HIS GET SHOWN ARE CHAMPIONS SIRE OF 27 PUREBRED 41 HALF-ARABIAN NATIONAL WINNERS

Afire Bey V x MC Justa Kate, by The Chief Justice Breeders Sweepstakes nominated

S Justa Flash (Justafire DGL x Lorece)

DEBBY HOLDEN • LEEDS, ALABAMA • 205.305.9386 • DEBFHOLDEN@AOL.COM WWW.JUS TAFIRE.COM

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M

omentous losses compounded by the reality that these stallions, as father and son, shared enormous success in the same years.

Afire Bey V proved to be the greatest performance sire since *Bask. His success as a sire spanned 25 years, while Baske Afire’s was developed in a short 13-year span. Their statistical success was astonishingly close when you consider the 12-year gap between their breeding years.

I am deeply saddened by the loss of Baske Afire and Afire Bey V, and will be forever perplexed by the untimely death of these legendary super sires within a month of one another. Their path to a rich afterlife through the success of their sons and daughters is imminent. I am grateful for my time with Baske Afire. He will be alive in my heart for as long as I live.

—Barbara Chur

Baske Afire Strawberry Banks Farm www.StrawberryBanksFarm.com

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AEPA Enrolled Sire • Breeders Sweepstakes Nominated Sire MN Medallion Stallion • SCID Clear

Proudly owned by Bill & Shirley Reilich Standing at Kiesner Training • 865.984.5245

WWW.AFIRESHEIR.COM

5x National Champion & Reserve

National Champion

National Reserve Champion

To experience the spirit of Afire Bey V in our horses, is not only an incredible thrill, but an extraordinary honor.

His contribution to the Arabian horse goes unrivaled.

Afire Bey V x Ritida

Afire Bey V x Noblemis

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17x National Champion & Reserve

8x National Champion & Reserve

10x National Champion & Reserve

12x National Champion & Reserve

5x National Champion & Reserve

National Reserve Champion

National Champion

Lori, Carey & Nicole Lawrence Rancho Santa Fe, CA Phone: 858-756-4387 • www.StarlineArabians.com • Trained by Kiesner Training, Louisville, TN

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THE AFIRE BEY V LEGACY LIVES ON AT SMOKY MOUNTAIN PARK ARABIANS Thank you, Dave and Gail Liniger, Tim and Marty Shea and most of all ...

Thank You Afire Bey V!

Bay El Bey Huckleberry Bey Taffona AFIRE BEY V *Bask Autumn Fire Sparklingburgundy Baske Afire *Bask Baskevich Daalda Panama Mac Baske Meridian AH Meditation Algona

Celebes Aloes Algoa El Ghazi Bandos Elektra Ellora RY Fire Ghazi *Bask Le Fire Susecion RL Rah Fire Rahalima Raha Melima Delta-C Mehana

U.S. National Top Ten Arabian English Pleasure Breeders Sweepstakes Nominated Region 12 Spotlight Stallion Scottsdale Signature Stallion WCAHA All Star Futurity AEPA Enrolled Sire

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2015 U.S. National Champion BLOCK BUSTER PF (Baskghazi x Afires Quintina, by Afire Bey V) winning the Arabian Country English Pleasure Junior Horse with Jessica Clinton DeSoto, as breeder Irwin Schimmel and other enthusiasts look on.

2015 U.S. National Champion SUPREME SENSATION SMP (Baskghazi x A Love Supreme, by Apaladin), winning The $100,000 AEPA Four-Year-Old Futurity with Jim Stachowski, as breeder Jacque Thompson and other enthusiasts look on.

BETSI ROSS (Baskghazi x Tizi Melu, by Afire Bey V), ridden by Ashley Roberts. Owned by Don Nitz.

Lenoir City, TN www.SmokyMountainParkArabians.com

Rod & Jacqueline Thompson For Information Call 865-816-2406

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THE AFIRE BEY V LEGACY LIVES ON AT SMOKY MOUNTAIN PARK ARABIANS

Bay El Bey Huckleberry Bey Taffona AFIRE BEY V *Bask Autumn Fire Sparklingburgundy ML Afire Dream Nureddin *Aladdinn Lalage DF Dream Weaver Bask Clasix Clasix Dream Waiferme

Witraz *Bask Balalajka Pro-Fire Ego *Prowizja Prowarda Fire Essense Bay-Abi Mikado *Naganka BRA Quintessence Don Espada Quintina Montina U.S. National Champion Arabian English Pleasure Futurity U.S. National Top Ten Arabian English Pleasure Scottsdale Champion Arabian English Pleasure Breeders Sweepstakes Nominated Region 12 Spotlight Stallion Scottsdale Signature Stallion WCAHA All Star Futurity • AEPA Enrolled Sire

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INGENUE SMP (The Renaissance x Tranquillity Bey, by AA Apollo Bey) 2015 U.S. National Top Ten Arabian Country English Pleasure Futurity. Ridden by Cortney Schafer Downey

ESSENCE OF FIRE SMP (The Renaissance x Escada SCA, by Afire Bey V) 2015 Top Ten AEPA Arabian Horse Times Arabian Saddle Seat Futurity. Ridden by Cortney Schafer Downey

THE COMMANDER SMP (The Renaissance x Pretty Amazing,

by A Temptation) Arabian Stallion

CLAIRVOYANT SMP (The Renaissance x Read My Mind, by VF Premonition) Arabian Mare Lenoir City, TN www.SmokyMountainParkArabians.com

Rod & Jacqueline Thompson For Information Call 865-816-2406

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Waiting in the wings ...

SIRED BY

BASKGHAZILLIONHEIR SMP (Baskghazi x On Tulsa Time) Half-Arabian Gelding.

Now in training with Stachowski Farm ATLAS SMP (Baskghazi x PS Alympia,

by Afire Bey V) Arabian Stallion

NEGLIGEE SMP (Baskghazi x Night Slippers) Half-Arabian Filly

CATCHING FIRE SMP (Baskghazi x Being Watched) Half-Arabian Gelding

BASKADONIS SMP (Baskghazi x HF Ariana,

by HF Mister Chips) Arabian Gelding

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The Mares ...

TEMPANI SMP (A Temptation x PS Alympia, by Afire Bey V) U.S. National Reserve Champion Arabian Country English Pleasure Futurity ESCADA SCA (Afire Bey V x Sable SMA, by JJ Saber) U.S. National Champion Arabian English Pleasure AAOTR

BASKGHAZELLE SMP (Baskghazi x Read My Mind, by VP Premonition) BASKE AFIRE REVUE SMP (Bask Afire x El Ghazis Prevue, by El Ghazi) 3/4 sibling to Baskghazi Bred to The Renaissance for 2016 Foal

Lenoir City, TN www.SmokyMountainParkArabians.com

Rod & Jacqueline Thompson For Information Call 865-816-2406

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Joel & Ashton Kiesner • 865.984.5245 • www.KiesnerTraining.com Ar abian Horse Times | 80 | Volume 46, No. 9A

Afire BeyV x HL Justaspyce

Dr. Joseph Kinnarney & Bradley Marlow Greensboro, North Carolina

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Afire Bey V x Just Alluring

to Gail & David Liniger wtih Marty & Tim Shea for the incredible collection of the industry’s greatest show horses of all time. Because of you, Afire Bey V had the opportunity to make history.

Afire BeyV x LBC Nobelinda

14 National Championships and Reserve Championships

Scottsdale & U.S. National Champion

Proudly owned by I Ask LLC Alexa Cohn, Scottsdale, Arizona Ar abian Horse Times | 82 | Volume 46, No. 9A

“Walking into the barn every day, we are reminded of his greatness.

It is truly a privilege to be inspired by him daily.� ~ Steve & Diana Lazzarini

Afire BeyV x HL Raisa

Steve Lazzarini 760-219-5292 DesertVIP@aol.com Diana Lazzarini 760-625-5522 Desertvipservices@live.com

RANCH

www.RuminaAfire.com Ar abian Horse Times | 83 | Volume 46, No. 9A

MULTI-NATIONAL CHAMPION

Fire Lily

ROL

+//

Afire Bey V has played an important part in our show program. We have been fortunate to own 3 wonderful get; including, National Champion ROL Lets Dance and National Top Ten winner ROL Pure Asset.

2 National Championships 1 Reserve National Championship and 11 Top Tens in Country English Pleasure and English Pleasure Afire Bey V x Singularcylection, by Cytosk 2006 Mare ~ Bred by R.O. Lervick Arabians

MITTENTHAL ARABIANS JOHN & JUDY MITTENTHAL • SAMMAMISH, WASHINGTON

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AFIRE BEY V INFLUENCE AT R.O. LERVICK ARABIANS ...

In 2000 we chose to do an embryo transfer on our Junior English mare Singularcylection. The result was ROL Firecracker. After his success we opted to breed this mare back to Afire Bey V exclusively. Those offspring have won 17 National or Reserve National Championships and numerous Top Tens. Afire Bey V will always be an indispensable part of The R.O. Lervick breeding program.

ROL PURE ASSET+ Afire Bey V x Singularcylection, by Cytosk

ROL DIAMONDS AFIRE Afire Bey V x Singularcylection, by Cytosk

ROL LETS DANCE+ Afire Bey V x Singularcylection, by Cytosk

ROL FIRECRACKER+// Afire Bey V x Singularcylection, by Cytosk

ROGER AND LINDA LERVICK • P.O. BOX 699, STANWOOD, WASHINGTON 98292 PHONE: 360.652.0108 • TOLL FREE: 800.669.2745 • E-MAIL: CYTOSK@WHIDBEY.NET MANAGER/TRAINER, DENNIS WIGREN, CELL: 360.202.5934 WWW.ROLERVICKARABIANS.COM

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Dear Dave & Gail and Tim & Marty, We would like to thank you for sharing Afire Bey V with the Arabian horse industry. He set the standard for the breed in so many ways. Your partnership together on Afire Bey V was admired by so many. There are not many horses, owners or trainers, that can say they had an association that you all have had.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Love, Dick, Lollie and Lara Debbie Fuentes photo

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Afire Inmy Eyes Afire Bey V x Angyl Eyes, by Bay El Bey

One of Cedar Ridge’s top producing mares. Her offspring have been national winners and gone on to be great producers, including Ames Mirage and Ames Deja Vu.

Ames Lora Afire Bey V x G Kallora, by El Ghazi

Two-Time Canadian National Champion Multi-Champion in Country English Pleasure

THE AMES FAMILY JORDAN, MINNESOTA • 952-492-6590 W W W . C E DA R - R I D G E . C O M

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“I have been a fan of Afire Bey V since I saw him in the show ring, and am so proud to own three of his sons.”

(Afire Bey V x FF Windsong Bey,

by Barbary+++)

Canadian National Champion STANDING AT STUD Sweepstakes Nominated Sire Kentucky Breeders Nominated Sire SCID Clear Shipped Semen

Fuel Afire

photo by Viktoria Monroe

Afire Me Up (Afire Bey V x Noble Essence,

by IXL Noble Express+) Junior Stallion 2016 AEPA contender (Afire Bey V x Flame Dancer, by Barbary+++)

Multi-Regional/Show Champion Buckeye Champion Bred by Maroon Fire Arabians, Inc. photo by Viktoria Monroe

Owned and bred by Lorie Henderson 509 Spin Pointe Rd, Fisherville, KY 40023 • 502-477-1018

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Afire Bey V was a true legend and one of our all-time favorites who has left an indelible mark on the Arabian breed.

We are so thankful to be part of the Afire Bey V legacy through his outstanding son, Prodigy Afire+/ (x Promises Kept, by Barbary+++). We have had the privilege of sharing our lives with “Scooter” for the past 7+ years. He has made our dreams come true with three National Championships and eight Top Tens in three age divisions with just a few trips to Nationals. He’s a very special horse who has taken good care of our girls for many years now.

Kudos to Maroon Fire Arabians, for breeding such a wonderful horse. Special thanks to Chase Harvill, for the excellent job he’s done with Scooter over the years, and to Jessica Belt and the entire CHTC team for keeping Scooter happy and healthy. We are looking forward to our first Scottsdale show this year, representing Afire Bey V all the way!

—Jennifer, Kurt, Julia and Mallory Junker

JENNIFER JUNKER DRIPPING SPRINGS, TX

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Representing the best of leading sire Afire Bey V! 9-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPION OR RESERVE NATIONAL CHAMPION SIRE OF NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

Afire Bey V x Matoskette, by Zodiac Matador

English • Park • Driving • Informal Combination

OWNED BY: WINDWALKER ENTERPRISES • SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA STANDING AT: SICHINI TRAINING, LLC • 8000 W. HIGHWAY 326 • OCALA, FLORIDA LOU CELL: 904.509.8032 • EMAIL: INFO@SICHINITRAINING.COM

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