Arabians
International by Mary Kirkman
Ask Sandro Pinha and Gil Valdez about their personal histories in the Arabian horse industry, and they shy away from the question. This is about their clients, they say. It’s the horses and the customers that are important. But that’s really no problem; talk to their clients, and you can learn a lot about Pinha and Valdez. A picture emerges of two horsemen whose basic values of hard work, integrity and talent have built an operation that attracts longterm clients. They have fun, the customers say, and they win their fair share—but there is so much more to it than winning. Amazingly, despite an outstanding record in competition—the list of successful Arabians they have presented is plenty long enough to put them at the top of their profession—much of what clients and friends appreciate most about Sandro and Gil resides outside the show ring. The best thing about having a horse at Arabians International, several say, is the trainers’ honesty, followed closely by their communication skills. Then Sandro in particular is cited for his ability to evaluate a horse’s potential, and customers know that Gil is sharp at spotting talent. Gil is also declared absolutely the best at nutrition and overall horse care (“He did all of the conditioning on Magnum Psyche. Enough said there!” David Boggs says), even though he now spends more time training and they both direct the program of care. The integrity issue is one of long standing. “The most important thing is, these guys are honest. That’s all I’ve heard from everybody and that’s been our experience,” says Lucky Lurken, who with his wife, Raegen, has known Pinha and Valdez
since the trainers’ early days at Midwest. Gil prepared the Lurkens’ horses, and Sandro showed several to national championships. “In any type of a deal you do, I would trust them explicitly,” Lurken says. “I know that they’re not going to do anything that’s not on the up-andup—ever. My respect for both of them is over the rainbow.”
Who They Are At this point, Sandro Pinha and Gil Valdez’s backgrounds have been well publicized in the Arabian community; Sandro grew up in Brazil, Gil in Mexico. Both loved horses, and they met in the mid-1990s at Midwest, where Sandro got his first big break showing the training center’s powerhouse show string when David Boggs was unavailable. In the meantime, Gil had been named manager of the training program there
and had emerged as one of the accomplished conditioners in the Arabian industry. Midwest was a learning experience that both remain grateful for today, but eventually, they were bound for careers on their own. They found them in Scottsdale, where Sandro became known for his work with North Arabians’ International Training Center and Gil headed All Stars Arabians before finally, in March 2010, they opened Arabians International together. Through the years, for an array of clients (many of whom are still with them today), they handled some of the finest horses in the industry, among them S Justadream, Legacy Of Fame, Magnum Chall HVP, Lethyf Falconesse, BHF Dark Angel, Legacys Renoir, Shutup And Dance, and many more. Since they founded Arabians International, that list has grown exponentially, with such
names as El Nabila B, Grand Commandd, El Chall WR, He Be Showy DFA, Cavalli, RD Challs Angel, Freedom PA, and more. Their international marketing contacts and showing commitments are worldwide, including North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and other areas. The result is a full-service operation, complete with an amateur program, that is home to one of the most successful marketing programs in the business today. Their success, clients say, rests on their overall approach. “It’s important to us that our horses have the care and preparation,” notes Bob North. “The show ring is only a percentage of their time.” “In the beginning, I knew that Gil was a good horseman, a very caring horseman,” says Bob Battaglia, who kept halter horses at Midwest and remains a friend. “The horses came first, and that’s why I was very happy that he was taking care of mine; I knew that there would be nothing that would slip under the wire. Since then, I think he’s become not only an accomplished horseman, but also a great showman. I met Sandro in Brazil, and I thought right from the very first that he was extremely talented. Again, the first concern was that he knew his horses and how to take care of them.” According to Gil, their formula is simple. “You learn their personalities and what they need,” he relates. “Every one of the horses are different; they’re not on the same schedule. You learn about them.” He adds that even
for professional trainers, both he and Sandro spend a lot of time in the barn. Mike Weinstein, a member of the partnership which owned El Nabila B when the stallion was named national champion in 2010, says it is about more than just knowing the horses—although that is a great part of it; a trainer has to know everything about competition too. “The very top guys out there, and there is a handful of those, are successful for a reason,” he says. “They have an idea of the type of horse that will be successful at a particular show and the type of presentation that will be favorable with the judges (if they don’t want a hard show or, say, a mature look, you have to be aware of that). And you have to be very knowledgeable about what it takes to get a horse looking its best. Not everyone can do that. There’s a talent at getting horses where they need to be. “There is the psychological part too,” he continues. “If the horse has had psychological issues, you have to be able to have thoughts on how you can get around that, so that the horse can appear happier and enjoy it more than they have in the past. An older horse can be tough to show because he’s seen everything. I know Sandro puts in a tremendous amount of time because he’s serious about training the horses. He tries to get the horses prepared so that when they hit the ring and have those few brief moments, they look the part. That takes a lot of time and energy, and you need to do the schooling yourself and get to know the horses.” In Weinstein’s case, that knowledge was critical to El Nabila B’s winning the national championship. “He was happy,” the owner says. “Sandro didn’t push him. He brought out the best in him.”
The horses’ comfort level in the ring is no accident, Valdez observes. Just as the key to conditioning is figuring out what each horse needs, so too is developing a horse’s talent at showing. That is part of what works at Arabians International. “We’re very involved with how the individual horses think and how they act and what makes them happy,” he says. “You have to do what they like, so that when they go into the arena, they are happy to do it and they can enjoy being show horses. It makes our lives easier when they enjoy what they do.”
Beyond The Show Ring Paralleling Pinha and Valdez’s work in the show ring has been their success in marketing. “They have established a training, showing and marketing facility to equal any in the world,” says Judy Schmid, who with her husband, Ron, has known Sandro and Gil since the Midwest days. Sandro showed Legacy Of Fame for them, and Gil showed the stallion’s first Scottsdale champion, Legacys Renoir.
“They truly are Arabians International,” she says. “They have marketed horses that we have owned or bred to South America, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and the U.S.A.” Among them were Guiliano, who went to Australia; Legacys Rosina, sold to the United Arab Emirates; and recently, Gemini VII, purchased by an owner in Saudi Arabia. The Schmids, who have been in Arabians since 1978 and once rode in distance competitions, also send qualified youngsters to Arabians International. “We understand genotype and phenotype, and using a combination of those to improve your mare,” Judy notes. “We don’t take them anything that doesn’t have potential.” “Sandro and Gil make a great team,” offers client Dean Wikel. He and his wife, Terri, have been in Arabians since 1990; in “six or eight” years with Sandro and Arabians International, they have collaborated on such horses as Cavalli, Freedom PA,
Miss Amerika, RD Challs Angel, and Fadila PCF. Sandro arranged the purchase of some of their favorite Arabians, and facilitated the sales of Cavalli and Troubadour PA to the Middle East. “It’s been kind of a natural fit for us,” Wikel says, “because we’re in it to have fun and try to make a little money along the way—breed quality Arabians, prepare, train and market them. And they’ve been instrumental. Sandro has a great following from other countries; he’ll get on a plane and fly 15 or 20 hours to show horses for someone on the other end, and while he’s there, he’ll meet with four or five others who want to do business with him. That’s very important for people in the U.S. He’s getting a network that he is able to work with throughout the whole Arabian world.”
Bob North, who with his wife, Dixie, remained a client after Pinha left the North facility, agrees. “Sandro has a good relationship with clients in the Middle East,” he says. “He shows there for several people, and he is a Brazilian, so he has a lot of contacts there. And over the past few years, in conjunction with Gil, a lot of clients have been developed in Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, and places like that who are new players. They have a wide variety of clientele, some of which are recent entries into the Arabian industry.” Another quality at Arabians International that gets high marks is top-flight communication. Sandro and Gil not only return telephone calls; they initiate them. “People want to know what’s going on,” Sandro comments. “Good or bad news, they want to hear—especially bad news. Anybody can call you and tell you how great things are. When things are not so good, that’s when people appreciate being told what’s going on.”
That’s just part of good business sense, Bob North says. “Sandro is one who I think has done a very good job in business, with no real formal training. It’s just his inherent personality and logical thinking.” Perhaps that relates to the honesty issue; it may be a personal trait, but it is good for business. “The thing I probably like the most is they don’t give you smoke and mirrors,” Dean Wikel says. “Sandro will just tell you either ‘you don’t have a chance so don’t waste your money,’ or he really wants your horse. Sometimes it’s hard for you to swallow, if you were thinking your horse is better than it really is, but he’s being truthful in telling you that your goal is probably not going to be met. “I probably like that almost as much as I like going there—and I really like going there!” he smiles. “When we go up to Arabians International, we’re entertained. There is always something going on, and you feel like you’re their best client. I think every one of their clients would say the same thing. You all feel like you’re more than a client.
“I don’t need to feel important or have anybody make me feel that way,” he adds. “But yet, isn’t it nice that you’re not taken for granted?” “They see the big picture,” says Mike Weinstein, and explains, “They know that if we don’t do well, we won’t be around.” On paper, that sounds a lot more forceful than he meant it, but Weinstein has been in Arabians long enough to have seen many people come and go. His family got into the breed in the 1970s as Aries Arabians, and was known for campaigning, among others, the 1982 U.S. National Champion Mare Kajora (“the most influential mare in the world,” he muses now, since she went on to be the dam of Gazal Al Shaqab and granddam of Marwan Al Shaqab). Today he owns horses in partnership with Jean Edwards, an association that goes back to Aries days, and Arturo Uribe and Christopher Zubiate. Winning is only part of the game, he points out; buying, selling and the social aspect of Arabian horses are all part of the experience. One of the things he appreciates about Arabians International is that Sandro and Gil, who both show for his partnership, not only win in the ring, but are free with their time in less-heralded
ways as well. “They both love to entertain,” he says, “and that’s important. In this business, only one person is going to win a class, so if you don’t make the whole experience fun, people aren’t going to stay interested very long. This year at Scottsdale, we were all at Sandro and Gil’s house; two of my partners did the cooking two nights for all the customers—there were 35 or 40 people there— and it was a great experience. Instead of being in a restaurant, we all spent four or five hours together and got to see some horses and talk and meet people. “That’s what makes the difference,” he continues. “When you don’t win, then it’s about lifestyle, and they do a very good job at that. The show is fun—I enjoy that part of it—but the camaraderie is wonderful. A trainer has to be more than just a trainer; you have to be a friend and hand-holder for these people through good and bad times. You have to keep people involved, and make it a fun experience.”
In the end, many friends and clients agree, Arabians International has been all about that formula of work, honesty, talent, and personality. Success and respect have followed naturally. “Midwest is proud of both Sandro and Gil, having given them their start in the Arabian horse business in the United States,” says former employer David Boggs. “I think they are two of the hardest working young people in the country today. Their horses look fantastic; the proof is in the pudding. Their success shows that the harder you work, the luckier you get. They’ve been blessed with a great group of horses.” Rohara’s Roxann Hart sees it professionally. “I like the fact that a high profile halter trainer visits Rohara for their top competitive stock,” she says. “They bought two weanlings from me last year and took them both to regional championships. They are people that I love to sell my good horses to because they move them forward. They will campaign them to their best abilities, and carrying the Rohara name, that’s a great source of interest for me as a breeder.” She smiles at a memory from 2003. “And I particularly have to thank Sandro for doing all the finish schooling on Rohara Allure, and then working with me to show her to unanimous national champion amateur mare.” Brazil’s Salim Mattar, of Haras Sahara, appreciates the complete nature of Arabians International and Sandro Pinha, whom he has known best since he got into
the breed. “He is one of the best Arabian horses handlers today, not just in the U.S. market but in the whole world,” says Mattar. “He has a strong track record of victories in the ring. And he’s very polite—he’s always available to help Arabian horse breeders. He receives all of us, his friends and customers, with great pleasure at his stud in Scottsdale.” Through the years, Sandro has had the higher profile in the show ring, while Gil has been known more for his quiet talent making everything happen. That is changing, clients say, as Gil’s work in competition has become more recognized. It is not, many say, about ramping up the talent at the operation; it is about a proper distribution of credit. Both trainers deserve it.
treat the horses well. You can work with them. They’re good friends as well as excellent horse people. Their hearts are in their work.”
“Sandro and Gil have formed a great union in Arabians International,” Bob Battaglia says. That he is happy for them is clear in his tone. “I look for them to just keep growing, and do bigger and better things in the future.” “We respect their horsemanship so much,” Judy Schmid nods. “They both can show, and they
“It started out being about the horses and then it evolved into a friendship for me and my wife,” Lucky Lurken says. “I’ll bet I talk to Sandro two or three times a week— about everything, not just about horses. Same with Gil. Business-wise, what they have done is incredible, in my opinion. I think they are good people, and beyond the horses, they’re two of my best friends in the world.” He pauses and then adds, “Sandro and Gil came to our country to work. They’re great people, and they’re great horse people besides; that’s just a plus. They’ve made our country a better place.” n
Perfection of beauty and quality from every angle ...
Sire of the most coveted show horses in the world
United States Canadian &Brazilian National Champion Stallion
HVP
Magnum Psyche x Taamara HVP SCID & CA Clear Multi-Program Nominated Sire Proudly owned by Lucky & Raegen Lurken, USA Sandro Pinha Gil Valdez Pam Donnelly
480.226.0001 480.226.7357 480.266.3324
Darryl Larson photo
Exotic in any Language
U.S. & Brazilian National Champion Stallion
LEFT TO RIGHT
ROHARA SOPHISTICATE El Nabila B x MFA Choclate Lilly, by Magic Dream Region 3 Champion Yearling Filly Owned by Arabian Park Arabians JULIA ROBERTS El Nabila B x Rohara Psultry, by Padrons Psyche Region 8 Champion Yearling Filly Owned by Nancy Allen Roberts DIYA FORX El Nabila B x Pocahontas K, by Borsalino K Owned by Hennessey Arabians
Kubinec x 213 Elf Layla Walayla B, by Assad Multi-Program Nominated Sire SCID & CA Clear Owned by El Nabilia Initiative, USA Michael Weinstein • 408.307.6436 Standing at Om El Arab International Santa Ynez, California 805.688.6958 • 805.490.6810 Sandro Pinha Gil Valdez Pam Donnelly
480.226.0001 480.226.7357 480.266.3324
The quality epics are made from ...
2012 Scottsdale International Bronze Stallion 2012 Region 3 Reserve Champion Stallion 2011 U.S. National Top Ten Futurity Colt Arbiteur x WN Deja Vu SCID & CA Clear Proudly owned by Armir Partners, USA Dan and Suzanne Acevedo, Managers 208-760-0816 • acevedoarabians@hotmail.com Sandro Pinha Gil Valdez Pam Donnelly
480.226.0001 480.226.7357 480.266.3324
2012 Region 8 Unanimous Champion
Stallion
SW
Marwan Al Shaqab x Fantastica HVP SCID & CA Clear
U.S. National 5-Year-Old Stallions
Proudly owned by Eyad Abdullah Mashat Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Sandro Pinha Gil Valdez Pam Donnelly
480.226.0001 480.226.7357 480.266.3324
Gazal Al Shaqab x Veronica GA, by Versace
SCID & CA Clear Proudly owned by Arabian Soul Partners Sandro Pinha Gil Valdez Pam Donnelly
480.226.0001 480.226.7357 480.266.3324
U.S. National Reserve Champion *Sir Fames HBV x Entaicyng NA
In t e r n a t io n a l Ch a mp io n *Magnum Chall HVP x Major Love Affair
Multi-Program Nominated Sires SCID & CA Clear Proudly owned by Robert & Dixie North, USA 20655 Sutherland Dam Rd., Ramona, CA 92065 Breeding Manager Mike McNally 760.789.3208 Robert North 619.992.9832 www.northarabians.com Sandro Pinha Gil Valdez Pam Donnelly
480.226.0001 480.226.7357 480.266.3324
Bernier
Las Vegas World Cup Supreme Gold Champion Yearling Colt
Beijing BHF x GA Mi Grandlady, by Minotaur+
U.S. National Yearling Colts
Magnum Chall HVP x Bey Unforgettable by Bey Shah
U.S. National Futurity Colts
2012 Region 7 Champion Stallion 2012 Las Vegas World Cup Champion 3-Yr-Old Stallion
2011 Scottsdale Champion 2-Yr-Old Colt 2011 Scottsdale Signature 2-Yr-Old Champion Colt 2011 Champion Region 7 Champion 2-Yr-Old Colt
SCID & CA Clear Sandro Pinha Gil Valdez Pam Donnelly
480.226.0001 480.226.7357 480.266.3324
Proudly owned by Pegasus Arabians Dean & Terri Wikel, Berlin Heights, OH, USA 419.588.3000 • www.PegasusArabians.com
Legacy Of Fame x Precious Legacy, by Legacy Of Fame
Danica VII 2012 Region 7 Reserve Champion Yearling Filly
Sired by Gemini VII:
Darryl
2010 Region 3 champion Stallion 2010 Las Vegas World Cup Res Champion 3-Year-Old Stallion 2010 U.S. National Topt Ten Futurity Colt 2011 Region 7 Reserve Champion Stallion 2012 Region 1 Champion Stallion
s er i o u s I n q u i r ie s a r e we l c o m e f or d i scr i mi n a t in g b u y e r s SCID & CA Clear Proudly owned by Eyad Abdullah Mashat Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ayat Hammad 2012 Region 1 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly 2012 Region 1 Champion Mare ATH
El Nabila B x Pocohantas K, by Borsalino K Co-Entry of Psynergy Equine & Hennessey Arabians, USA Sandro Pinha Gil Valdez Pam Donnelly
480.226.0001 480.226.7357 480.266.3324
* U.S. National Senior Mares
Darryl Larson photo
National Champion
Magnum Psyche x Kishaj, by MS Santana
U.S. National Senior Mares Sandro Pinha Gil Valdez Pam Donnelly
480.226.0001 480.226.7357 480.266.3324
Proudly owned by Suzanne Acevedo
U.S. National Reserve Champion Senior Mare 2012 Region 3 Champion Mare
Breeders’ Finals Senior Mares
JM
National Champion Style SRA x Llana Van Ryad Proudly owned by Arabian Soul Parnters
In foal to th e C h am pion m aker W H Ju stice for 2013
A r abi ans Soul Partners proudly i ntroduces ...
darryl
SW El Marwan x OFW Heaven Sent
darryl
El Nabila B x Om El Beladeena
Sandro Pinha Gil Valdez Pam Donnelly
480.226.0001 480.226.7357 480.266.3324
Proudly bred and owned by Arabian Soul Parnters
See them at th e Arabi an Breeder s’ World Cup Las Vegas 2013
avalon
U . S . N atio n a l 3 -Y ea r -Ol d Ma r es & Futuri ty Fi lli es
Justify x Lady Zoe Hadidi
2010 Las Vegas World Cup Class Champion Yearling filly 2012 Las Vegas World Cup Class Champion 3-Year-Old filly 2012 Region 1 Champion Mare
Proudly bred and owned by Celestial Arabians Daneisha Brazzle - cell 562-712-8683 celestialarabians@gmail.com www.celestialarabs.com
Regal Actor JP x Bey Angel TGS, by Shahllenger
Sandro Pinha Gil Valdez Pam Donnelly
480.226.0001 480.226.7357 480.266.3324
Proudly owned by MC Arabians Hector & Jorge Flores
WCF
2012 National Champion
Marwan Al Shaqab x RA Sheiklani Proudly owned by MC Arabians Hector, Jorge & Miguel Flores
Making his debut at Arabian Breeders Finals, Scottsdale
Stallion Halter Legacy Of Fame x Shaffira Minnesota Breeders Medallion Stallion Scottsdale Futurity Stallion SCID & CA Clear Proudly owned by Rolyn and Judy Schmid, U.S.A 715.558.3263 Sandro Pinha Gil Valdez Pam Donnelly
480.226.0001 480.226.7357 480.266.3324
s e r io u s In q uir ie s a r e welcom e for discrim in atin g bu yers
Sir Fames HBV x Bey Starrlett WLF
Mu lti-C h am pion
bernier
In foal to P olish Nation al C h am pion P ogrom for 2013
Marauderr x Gai Schara, by Bey Shah Sandro Pinha Gil Valdez Pam Donnelly
480.226.0001 480.226.7357 480.266.3324
Proudly owned by Arabian Park Arabians
Region 7 reserve Champion 2-Year-Old Filly
Region 3 Champion Yearling Filly El Nabila B x MFA Choclate Lily, by Magic Dream Proudly owned by Arabian Park Arabians
Gemini VII x SC Psavannah
darryl
Region 7 Reserve Champion Yearling Filly
Sandro Pinha Gil Valdez Pam Donnelly
480.226.0001 480.226.7357 480.266.3324
Proudly owned by Dazzo Arabians LLC
3x National Champion Magnum Chall HVP x NV Gypsy Dancer
Owned by Arabians International On lease to Dazzo Arabians
5x National Champion Showkayce x She Be Noble
El Chall WR x Psyches Princess, by Padrons Psyche
Region 3 Unanimous Champion Yearling Colt
Sandro Pinha Gil Valdez Pam Donnelly
480.226.0001 480.226.7357 480.266.3324
Proudly bred and owned by Willms Arabians, USA JoAnn Wilms • 970.396.1893
seriou s In qu iries are welcom e for discrim in ati ng buyers
Cavalli
Bint Chall CE
Sweepstakes Scottsdale Signature U.S. Futurities and Iowa Gold Star 2013 Auction Colt
Cavalli x Bint Chall Proudly owned by Chuck and Erin Hansen
Magnum Forty Four x Sahtarah, by Sahjat
S c o t t s d a l e In t e r n a t ion al R e s e rv e C h a m pion 2 -Y r -Ol d Colt L a s V e g a s Wo r l d Cu p To p f iv e 2 -Y r -Ol d Colt
se r io u s In q u ir ie s a r e we l c o m e f o r d is c r im in a t in g bu yers Sandro Pinha Gil Valdez Pam Donnelly
480.226.0001 480.226.7357 480.266.3324
Proudly owned by Mulawa Arabian Stud Berrilee, NSW, 2159 Australia Phone: +61 2 9655 1578 Email: info@mulawaarabians.com.au
www.mulawaarabians.com.au
Photography by Emma Maxwell Design by mickĂŠandoliver
Thank you to Sandro Pinha for his great success with Oula Al Jassimya, Champion Filly, Region 2, Santa Barbara and Bronze Champion Filly at the ABWC in Las Vegas.
by Marwan al Shaqab x El Sanadika IA by Sanadik el Shaklan