6 Halter | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES
Halter Cover Story
Gloriaa
FM
Queen Of The World b y J e f f Wa l l a c e w i t h Th e r e s a C a r d a m o n e
Stepping into the stall with FM Gloriaa is like stepping into a beautiful fairy tale. With her wistful eyes and feminine grace, the grey and gorgeous FM Gloriaa is indeed glorious. She is the perfect representation of all that an Arabian mare should be. Her haunting beauty is reminiscent of the portraits of desert horses that eager Europeans hung in their drawing rooms in the 19th century, yet it is her sweetness of spirit that sets her apart from the rest. Adored by her breeder, Mieke Sans of Belgium, Gloriaa’s ethereal, almost spiritual demeanor is quite possibly the product of the perfect upbringing.
Volume 46, No. 3 | Halter 7
“
he love I have for her is something that I cannot truly put into words,” Sans says. “I am so proud to have had a part in creating her and to have seen her f lourish. She is very special to me. Like any breeder, when I selected WH Justice for Psity of Angels, a Psytadel daughter, I had in mind producing a horse with the best characteristics of both. Gloriaa lived up to that expectation.” Both WH Justice and Psytadel have direct male lines to the exotic chestnut progenitor of modern Arabian type, the Russian stallion Patron, grandsire of legendary stallion Padrons Psyche. Gloriaa’s huge, black eyes, with their motherly expression contrast with a snowy white coat and classic conformation to make Sans’ dream of creating near-perfection a reality.
“She is one of the most beautiful mares I’ve ever seen, and one of the most beautiful WH Justice daughters in the world.” —Elisa Grassi
8 Halter | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES
“Gloriaa is the epitome of what we hoped for,” agrees James Swaenepoel, who has been involved with the mare all of her life. “She is one of the f inest representatives of Saskia RJ, who has had a profound impact on breeding programs throughout Europe.” With two close crosses to that spectacular and beloved 1987 World and European Champion Mare, FM Gloriaa echoes not only her ancestor’s quality, but also Saskia RJ’s ability to stand alone, even in top competition. She opened her career as the 2008 Belgian National Champion Filly, and among her titles are an All Nations Cup gold championship, European gold and bronze championships, and two silver championships at the Salon du Cheval in Paris.
Halter Cover Story
FM Gloriaa is among the finest of all WH Justice daughters, which puts her in very good company. Like *Bask, *Eukaliptus, Asfour, and Ansata Halim Shah before him, WH Justice has become known as a sire of superlative mares who are as exceptional in the breeding barn as they are in the show ring. When crossed with SMA Magic One, she produced Barjass Al Zobair, the 2015 Gold Champion Colt in Sharjah. Mieke Sans has retained two FM Gloriaa daughters (by Ajman Moniscione and *Al Ayal AA) and a weanling Marwan Al Shaqab son, all of whom will continue her legacy. Gloriaa is currently in foal to Om El Shahmaan, therefore folding in the blood of *Estopa through *El Shaklan. Foaled in 2007, FM Gloriaa is poised to reenter competition at the All Nations Cup show in Aachen with Frank Sponle as her escort, and some believe that her best is yet to come. “She was
with us as a junior filly and it is great to have her back now as a matured mare,” says Elisa Grassi of Frank Sponle Show Training. “She is one of the most beautiful mares I’ve ever seen, and one of the most beautiful WH Justice daughters in the world. She’s a once in a lifetime mare for her breeder and owner.” In fact, it is more than that, ref lects Grassi. “Her beauty and type are really beyond compare. She is not just a beautiful mare, she also has a wonderful soul. It is an honor and a privilege to be near her and part of her life.” There, in the barn aisle at Sponle’s, FM Gloriaa pauses as she moves from her stall, her attention diverted by the presence of young Francesco Sponle. Reaching down, she nuzzles the boy … instantly bridging the gap between glamorous show horse and mothering mare. She is one for the ages, a complete Arabian horse inside and out, the glorious FM Gloria, Queen of the World. ■
Volume 46, No. 3 | Halter 9