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MEET THE PER SONALITIES
art I I
Presenting The Personalities—David Boggs
PRESENTING THE PERSONALITIES
D a v i d B o g g s Part I I
M I DW ES T T R A I N I NG & BR EEDI NG S TAT IONS ELK R I V ER , M I N N ESO TA & SCO T T SDA LE , A R I Z ONA by Jeff Wallace with Theresa Cardamone
Tell us about your visit to the Tersk Stud in Russia with Bob Stratmore. This was one of the great opportunities of my life. Bob truly loved the Russian bred horses. His father did business in Russia and so there were opportunities and connections there. He and Howard Kale spent time in Russia together, working on the American acceptance of the Russian registrations. When they imported the first Russian horses, they were not eligible for registration in this country. Bob worked very hard, and became close to Sascha Ponomarev, who was the director of the Tersk Stud at that time. Like Poland, the best horses could only be bought through auctions. I remember at one of the sale previews, I had the great pleasure of meeting the white Aswan daughter, *Narada, Lot One of the auction. (During that era, Bob Stratmore had a collection of 15 daughters of Aswan, the largest collection second to Tersk). I remember all the guests and breeders were transported from the hotel together, and rode to the stud farm in a bus for the sale preview, to return to the little hotel in Pyatigorsk just after. His collection of Russian bred mares included mares such as Nairobi, Naina, Penalba, Kapriza, Peonga, Pudra, Madonna of Tersk, Monogramma and her daughter Malutka, by Salon, and then Salon himself. I was the first person who ever trimmed the bridle path of Salon. I still have the braided clipping today as a remembrance of this great stallion. Salon was stoic, strong, and regal, he was so shapely, and athletic, a Schreyer painting come to life. The perfect shoulders and necks of the Russian bred horses came from Muscat, not by mistake, they were handed down from his sire, Salon. The blend of Aswan and Salon made all the sense in the world to the Russian breeders, and Stratmore
diligently followed their plan. And Kale followed that plan as well. I also still have a piece of the great Aswan’s mane. It was magical just to touch him, to see him. When he died, they buried Aswan with dignity, standing up, with his saddle on as the general he was. Stud manager Ponomarev showed Bob and I the grave, we paused for prayer and acknowledgment. The Russians truly respected Aswan and they knew just how to use him—they were such master genetic breeders. Our journeys to the Tersk stud farm seemed to take us far into the countryside, in the middle of nowhere, and sometimes it seemed like it took forever to get there. But, once arrived, we witnessed that herd of four or five hundred magnificent breeding horses, and I was always in awe. There I first met the great stallions Pesniar, Tamerlan and Kan Kan. I must admit, some of the horses were extremely tall and almost looked a bit Thoroughbred to me. Tamerlan was 16 hands tall, as was the very famous mare Taktika. So what I learned back then from Bob was what each of them gave us were contributions, a part of the big puzzle of breeding. I remember Dr. Kale saying at a breeding seminar one time that a beautiful painting takes many different colors of paint, understanding they all had something special to contribute to the breed. Bob was fortunate to purchase and own the horse that would grow to become the love of my life, Padron, when he was four months of age, and the three of us enjoyed a journey through life that this man only dreamt of. And the amazing stallion Tamerlan, the racehorse; to this day still holds track records at Tersk. Do you know how many horses you have exhibited to championships throughout the world? No, but I am grateful and thankful for each and every one.
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*Padron
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My first Scottsdale Champion was the Garis daughter named One Exception. Having exhibited horses to major championships all over the world, is there one that stands out in your eyes that you showed and think should have won a major championship, but did not? Padrons Psyche. The champion stallion in 1991 was Simeon Shai and Padrons Psyche was the reserve champion. He was so brilliant and it was a very closely fought battle. I think in that same class there were the great stallions Echo Magnifficoo and Kharben in the top ten, and these gentlemen all became national champion stallions one by one, except Psyche. Psyche went into the breeding barn, and directions changed, ownership changed and life went by. But he’s the horse to me, that most deserved to be a national champion. I loved how charismatic, very bouncy, and really fun he was to show—very tall and leggy. Psyche made an unbelievable entrance through the fog that finals night at the U.S. Nationals.
*Salon
Who was the first horse that you exhibited to a national and Scottsdale championship? My first United States National Champion was a Half-Arabian gelding named FA Zud. I was probably 20 years old.
Padrons Psyche
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What horse would you have wanted to be on the end of the lead line, but never showed? There are a few of them, and Aramus would be one. He was one of the most beautiful Arabians ever. To this day, he would be able to prance into an arena and win everything. He came to show in Minnesota, and I remember standing in front of his stall in awe that I could even be in his presence. Quality, like Gladys Brown Edwards created in her trophy, come to life. Another would be Muscat. What a majestic and powerhouse stallion he was. And I could have kept up with him better than Howie, because he could really trot! Do you remember those gardens at Karho farm and the waterfall? When they would have their open houses or sale presentations with lunch and cocktails, and those big wooden doors would open and the Russian parade would start. One year I was there with Mr. Chauncey, and was sharing with Howie how much I loved the stallion and he said to me, “How would you like to present Muscat today?” I couldn’t believe it! Those big wooden doors opened and the music started, and I had the great honor to handle Muscat, trotting him around and around that track. It was the thrill of a lifetime—that was my moment with Muscat. He was very much like his sire, Salon, he too, had the shape and character of a Schreyer painting come to life and knew he was born to be a king. Of the countless gorgeous U.S. National Champion Mares you have shown, which ones reign supreme for you and why? Bask Calonett was probably the most perfectly conformed mare, her conformation so outstanding that she won before you even set her up. She really didn’t enjoy showing, however. She had been through a lot when I met her, but we took our time and we made friends, and we succeeded together. The Polish *Wieza Mocy has a special blend of beauty and conformation like no other that I’ve ever seen, and that Polish way of dancing. If there would be one perfect mare for me, Wieza wins, she may be the greatest of all time. Looking back, I so appreciate the refinement of Amber Satin, she was a lady of poise, and very special charm. Her delicate throat latch was beyond belief, and also her powerful hock action from her father, Muscat. I remember showing her with a baby at her side. While the baby waited outside the gate, I walked her to center ring and turned her towards the gate. She heard her son whinny and every vein popped and she just froze. I remember the feeling, and the judges’ looks. She was looking for her
Bask Calonett
Amber Satin
baby, and her ears—you could put a pencil between them—they were so tight. She was very sculptured. Another I adored was the most famous NH Love Potion, who sold at the Lasma sale. There was an exotic uniqueness about her, that Polish look, and she was very adored by all. With her black bay color, her long, graceful neck, and her height, she was very fancy on the end of the lead. Joe Morrissey, who was in the Thoroughbred business, had never owned an Arabian, but was intrigued by them. He had friends who enjoyed
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*Wieza Mocy
attending the Lasma sales, so I brought them all to the preview, and when he saw Love Potion he said he’d like to buy her. He asked me what I thought she’d go for and the consensus of everyone there was that it would be somewhere around a million five. The bidding opened up at a million, and we hadn’t even started yet. Joe turned to me and asked me if the mare was really that good, and I said, yes sir, she is. He never looked back. He had his own strategy and he was buying that mare. He paid $2,550,000.
JBK Mystic Fawn and her sister FS Mystic Lady, both U.S. National Champion Mares and daughters of Padrons Psyche, were the epitome of type and femininity. Fawn had perfect balance and an exquisite face and Mystic Lady had the charisma of her sire and of her grandsire, Padron. Both were very popular and remarkable mares. RH Triana, The Black Swan, is America’s sweetheart and on her way to becoming one of the most decorated mares in our breed. She has amazing stature and the longest, most well shaped
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JBK Mystic Fawn
*JJ Afarina
Bey Serenade SF
NH Love Potion
neck I have ever seen on a mare. We are super excited for Scottsdale, where she will aim for the third jewel in the Triple Crown. I was just as grateful to be at the lead of Scottsdale Champion Mare WN Antique, U.S. National Champion mare La Duquesa, Scottsdale Champion mare *JJ Apharina, and U.S. National Champion Bey Seranade SF. What keeps you motivated to find the next champion? Never-ending passion and love for the breed—Arabianitis.
Can you put a dollar amount on the horses that you have marketed for your clients? No, but IÂ have been blessed to be involved in the sales/purchases of many of the giants in our breed, stallions such as *Padron, who was syndicated for 11 million. Followed by: Kharben, Bey Shah, Fame VF, Aza Destiny, Almaden, Cajun Prince, Legacy of Fame, Legacy of Gold, Mishaah, *El Shaklan, *Shareen El Shiekh, Padrons Psyche, Magnum Psyche, *Magnum Chall HVP, *Fausto, DA Valentino, Vitorio TO, Da Vinci FM, Baahir El Marwan, and *Baha AA.
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RH Triana
You have a unique way of introducing the Arabian horse to new people. Please share. We enjoy sharing the Arabian horses in our care with others through open house events and many fun functions throughout the year. Midwest puts on a “Kid Day” for young students, school members and their families both in Minnesota and here in Arizona. We were thrilled to be a part of the presentations during the Farm Tours sponsored by Arabhorse.com on January 3rd. Scottsdale has become a huge part of your marketing program. What makes this setting so unique? The equine inhabitants that reside in the Midwest stables there, the special location and address on Cactus Road, and the remarkable and very talented and hardworking group of people that make up Team Midwest. Scottsdale is truly the Valley of the Sun!
What moments do you remember about Gene LaCroix as a trainer? I’ve never not been blown away by Gene’s talents. I’m remembering his performance horses year after year. Pointing to just a few, I remember seeing him on top of RHR Nobility—incredible/magical. He was so gifted that he could change or bring out the best of any horse. I remember watching Miss Cognac get exercised and thinking, how could she possibly be a park horse, until Gene got on her, and the horse just transformed. The man was and still is as amazing in the saddle as he was in the marketing of our breed. Most people associate you with the high-end horse, and are complaining that while it is possible to sell the high- and low-end horse, that is not true of the middle market. Can you share how and to whom Midwest sells the middle market horses? We take the same approach
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on marketing all of the horses; the same preparation, the same conditioning, schooling. We look to the people who want to become breeders, or are breeders who want to collect additional well-bred horses for breeding. We’re fortunate with the technologies of today which allow us to market a great percentage of the middle market horses online through the Midwestarabian.com website. Clients will look at videos, vet reports, radiographs, etc. online. The middle market isn’t so expensive today and many don’t feel the need to fly in from another country. Our website and Facebook page are maintained daily—this is a very good tool. In your eyes, what is a high-end, middle of the road, and low-end price? A high-end horse would be capable of winning a United States National, Scottsdale, or World Championship title. Those horses are rarely ever for sale, so when someone looks to purchase one and asks what they are worth, it’s hard to say. For example, people have recently inquired as to what it would take to purchase Wieza Mocy. My response is, whatever it takes to buy her. The super star range is going to be half a million dollars and up, sometimes way up! The middle market horse is $10,000 to $30,000 and the low-end is under ten thousand. You have been very successful in marketing breeding stallions. Can you share how you have had success doing this and how you keep your clients excited about breeding? This area of the market is my passion. Midwest has been aggressive about going after only the best stallions of the breed, no matter what country we
must travel to find them. We have been blessed with their contributions to the breed throughout the years which has been monumental. Padron, Padrons Psyche, Magnum Psyche, Magnum Chall HVP, and JJ Senior Magnum were just one line of King Makers. Then there was Bey Shah, Fame VF, RSD Dark Victory, Lumiar Amadeus, Almaden, DA Valentino, and Da Vinci FM. Now we have the Kings of today—the stallions of Al Shaqab, and the Aria Collection; Vitorio TO, A Jericho, and the list goes on. The super star fillies and mares seem to find their way to Midwest for those who want them promoted, or for breeding purposes to the stallions in our care. The embryo market has been huge in the halter world. What has this done for you in your marketing? It has added a new layer of marketing possibilities at Midwest and it’s a fabulous way for new breeders to enter the Arabian horse business at the top. They have an opportunity to breed and receive a foal from some of the very best mares in the world without spending a million to purchase those amazing mares. Mares like National and World Champion *Wieza Mocy, whose three embryos were sold and their owners were blessed with three fillies. Mares like RH Triana, whose embryo sold recently at the Las Vegas auction for $200,000. This seems like a lot of money, but it’s a small fraction of the value of the mare; and the successful bidder receives a foal from her. The investment group that purchased the RH Triana embryo right are breeding her to DA Valentino—one can only imagine the opportunity.
Annual Kids Day at Midwest.
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material, I read it and enjoy it non-stop until the next issue arrives in the mail. We absorb the photos and the print when we’re holding it in our hands. I value print ads tremendously, and feel they will forever be important to the true connoisseur of horses.
If you could pick an embryo from any deceased mare, who would it be? I would have to say Padron’s dam, Odessa. I love him so much, that the thought of having him again, or something close to him makes my heart pound. You have been very successful in marketing horses in South America, especially Brazil. Tell us how that started. My first client from Brazil was Pole Levy and Pole introduced me to Mr. Nagib Aude from Fazenda Santa Gertrudis, who purchased 40 daughters of *Padron and stallions such as *El Shaklan, *Abdullah, Aza Destiny, SW Bezitiv, *Ponomarev, and Padrons Image. Mr. Audi invited me to come to Brazil, in 1982 or ‘83, and asked me to bring information on show mares, show fillies, and broodmares. It was an interesting moment. In preparation, I went to Target and picked up a portfolio to put in the picture of each mare, and her pedigree. The book contained info on more or less 50 mares to choose from. Mr. Audi paged through the folder slowly, enjoying each one, and asking a few questions about each mare, and then closed the book and set it on his desk. He said, “Well, this is very beautiful group. I’ll take them.” And I asked him, very happily, which ones would you like sir, and he replied, “All of them.” He purchased every mare that was in the book! He was an amazing man. He was very kind and a great businessman and had a passion for beautiful Arabian horses. You promote your horses to the public via print, interactive, and now social media. Why do you feel this is so important? We feel, one must reach out in every direction, and I think people still enjoy that quiet time when all of the cell phones and computers are turned off. I feel all of us really enjoy reading a book or magazine. I have found, for example, when Arabian Horse Times sends its issue out electronically via the internet, I glance through it in ten minutes. But, when I get the printed
You are always described as Team Midwest. What does that mean to you? United together. And, Fame VF we truly are. It’s not just a banner that waves. Everybody groups together—staff and clients—to have fun together, enjoy the Arabian horse together, cheer for the other, and support one another’s horses and handlers and riders through the good times and the bad. You create a social/club setting for your clients; why do you feel this is so important? It’s just part of who I am. I love this life God has given me and I enjoy fun socializing. This is a large part of what Midwest is and our doors are open to all. There is a Midwest ‘client life’ away from the show ring. I think they enjoy Midwest—90% at the farm and 10% watching the show ring. They can enjoy the horses, presentations, and barbeques; the hands-on, whether they are practicing themselves, or taking their horses for a walk; feeding carrots or hugs, and bringing family or introducing their friends, who then may become horse owners, too. Of the Midwest clients, who has been a client the longest and how many years? The Ames family (I showed my first top ten mare, Gai Fawn for them) and Dr. Danny and Mo Grossman; Pole Levy and Fernando de Santibanes. The Sloan family would also be at the top of the heap, along with Lady Gina Pelham, the Morses, the Marino family, the Halbrooks … we have been very blessed to call all of them friends, as well as clients. Your clients have a wonderful time together and love to play practical jokes on each other. What is the best
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company and the unbridled love of the horse and its well-being. Many times people are critical of halter trainers and feel that the horses, for some reason, are not cared for properly or are put through certain hardships; but we know this is not true. At Midwest, all are held to a high bar when it comes to the care and well-being of the horses.
practical joke that you feel has been played and who was involved? Don Morse was the king of practical jokes, but one of the best was pulled on him with his own mare, HP Martina. Nate and I brought her out of the stables and presented her to Don, as a “new pure Polish mare” who had just arrived from Poland. Don says, “Oh my God, I have to have her, she reminds me an awful lot of my Martina, but she is much, much better, much longer necked and a much better mover.” So we told Don we would call the seller that moment. Nate returned back and said, the price of the mare is $300,000, which was much higher than Martina was purchased for. Don says to me, “Do the contract, I’ll take her. And for God sakes, don’t tell Janey I bought her!” He was dead serious. He bought his own horse! That was the best laugh I think I have had in the horse business.
How many people does Midwest employee? It fluctuates, depending on the time of the year, but I would say anywhere from 15 to 25. Whom do you feel has been the most successful breeder and why? In the United States, it is Dr. LaCroix, but in all the world, I would have to say the Polish breeders Michalów and Janów. When one visits the stud farms and the breeding barns and fields of Poland, you’re in complete awe.
Midwest has had a lot of successful horsemen start their career with you. Would you like to share your thoughts about some of them? As a blanket statement to all of you, I am very grateful for each and every one of them, because they give part of themselves, part of their life, and an enormous amount of energy. They used their skills and horsemanship to build Midwest, to maintain the quality and integrity that our company has enjoyed all these years. Midwest has absorbed the transitions unnoticed, when one person would move on, we would be blessed to have a new team member come in. Great horsemen like Terry Holmes and Don LeFever—they were 17 or 18 when they started—they both enjoy their own successful companies now. Terry is a very astute judge, and horseman. I’m grateful to them all.
Off the top of your head, name a few great United States breeders. Lasma, Plum Grove, Dan Gainey, and Judith Forbis. The great horses of yesterday … Bask, Ramses Fayek, Ansata Ibn Halima and Ansata Ibn Sudan, Ferzon … their beauty, correctness and strength in their era of breeding have left an indelible mark in the history of breeding Arabian horses for evermore. The Arabian horse business has seen some amazing horsemen and horsewomen over the years. In your eyes, who are at the top in alphabetical order? Dick Ames, Bob Battaglia, Donald and Robert Boggs, Fernando de Santibanes, Dagmar Gordiano, Billy Harris, Vicki Humphrey, Joel Kiesner, Gene and Raymond LaCroix, Pole Levy, Rinaldo Longuini, Walter Mishek, Gene Reichardt, Alcides and Zeze Rodrigues, Tim Shea, Jim Stachowski, Jim Tasaas, Sheila Varian, and Cathy Vincent. The most astute judge of all time, to me, has to be Peter Cameron. ■
When someone leaves Midwest for another path, or to start their own business, what knowledge do you hope they take with them? I would say the work ethic, the integrity of the
Bey Shah
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