S H OW B U S I N E S S
A new phase in Christian’s young life began in 2010 when he received a spectacular gift for Christmas, the yearling gelding Aragonn (Aria Impresario x MFA Annies Song). “Aragonn was basically the horse that started me off in this industry,” Christian credits. “He was a Breeders Sweepstakes regional champion the previous year, and we did a lot of winning at the next year’s regionals; I think we had two unanimous wins that summer, which set us up for U.S. Nationals. It was the first year that there was a 2-year-old gelding championship, and it was also the first time that I competed at the national level, being only 14. It was incredible. We went Reserve National Champion and then we decided I would show him back in the junior gelding championship later in the show. I was competing against all of the top trainers and still ended up fourth at our first-ever Nationals!” That success did not go unnoticed by the other owners and trainers. The next summer, Christian was still showing as an amateur, although several trainers asked him to show horses for them at the regionals. Christian and Aragonn won a reserve championship and top ten at the Youth Nationals that year then returned to Tulsa for the 2012 U.S. National Championships. This time Christian got to cheer his horse on as Les Sichini presented Aragonn to the National Champion Futurity Gelding title. He remembers the pride and excitement of the moment. “I was so astonished to see Aragonn in first place when the cards were posted, I busted into tears,” he confides.
OV ERCO M I N G A DV ER S I T Y
FA M I LY FA R M Nestled in the hills of North Carolina is Generations Farm, a family farm steeped in a rich heritage spanning seven generations. The farm’s name was selected by owner Christian Cook to pay homage to those generations who have worked the land before him. Once a dairy operation run by his great-grandfather, the farm was transformed into an Arabian breeding and training center by his grandfather, Shannon Clark, beginning in 1982. A well-known figure in the local Arabian horse community, Clark instilled a deep passion for the horse and respect for the land itself in young Christian Cook’s heart. Clark’s stallion Deamon Deacon (Del Taurean x Rose of Silver) sired many champions, one of the best being Deacons Karma, out of Kaydette (Sur Elite x Caesars Queen), a foundation mare who produced a number of regional winners. Karma was a truly versatile champion in halter and performance. Arek (Kaborr x Arabask, by Bask), purchased from Tom Chauncey’s Desert Ara-
At the end of 2015, Christian gave up his amateur status and began training professionally. “I’ve worked with some great mentors: Ted Carson, Michael Byatt, Austin Boggs and Bobby and David. I’m humbled to have gotten to where I am, but I did it with their help.” Then, in 2016, Christian suffered a potentially career-ending injury to his knee. It became apparent that major surgery would be required. It was a tricky procedure that resulted in a lengthy rehabilitation. Christian cut no corners, balancing many hours of physical therapy with a deepening interest in genetics and pedigree studies. He was determined to fight his way back to the show ring and to continue to develop the Generations Farm training and breeding programs. On July 6, 2017 Christian ran into the show ring for the first time since his surgery, emerging with the regional reserve championship. It was a fantastic comeback. Christian appreciates the support he has received from everyone he’s met in the Arabian business, whether during hard times or good. He values those relationships and also relies on the strong team that he is developing at Generations Farm to allow him the time and energy to devote to the breeding side. Building on what he learned from his grandfather and coupled with his pedigree studies during rehab, Christian continues to carefully plan the next steps for Generations Farm.
bians, was another early stallion for the farm. A third stallion used was Cashvan Baskin, a son of the immortal *Bask++ out of the Geym daughter, Varina. These were the horses that Christian Cook grew up loving and learning from, the horses that shaped his ideals and dreams. ZADOK HR (ROL Intencyty x Princess Grace C) 2014 Bay Stallion, CHRISTIAN (in recovery), CHRISTIAN & HEIST
MARILENA (Versace x Miss Moraduke) 2001 Bay Mare GF NADIRS LEGACY (Qadar Nadir Samar x DA Satin Gold) 2019 Grey Colt DA SATIN GOLD (Legacy Of Gold x SF Wild Orchid) 1999 Bay Mare MAAXIMUS (Dakar El Jamaal x Chance To Star) 2001 Bay Stallion
P R E S ERV I N G T H E PA S T
Christian harbors a deep appreciation for vintage bloodlines and prefers to concentrate on them. “My focus is making a sound, functional horse that has a brain and could do anything the owner wants,” Cook states. “I will be crossing many different lines and trying to create the best horse for every discipline.” To that end, he is very excited to be welcoming a new stallion to Generations Farm who incorporates some of Christian’s favorite breeding horses—Dakar El Jamaal and Bey Shah—in his pedigree. That horse is Maaximus (Dakar El Jamaal x Chance to Star, a granddaughter of Bey Shah). He had been looking for a son of Dakar to breed to and found Maaximus. Foaled in 2001, Maaximus earned U.S. Top Ten honors as a stallion and futurity colt. Christian couldn’t believe his good fortune when he discovered that there was an opportunity to purchase Maax outright. The horse was exactly what he was looking for, a direct son of Dakar. “We flew out to Colorado to meet Maax and his babies,” says Christian. “When he and I saw each other, we just connected. It was so awesome, I even teared up. Because there was a bond, I can’t even tell you, it happened right then and there. It was like time was standing still. I knew this was The Horse.” In addition to his beauty and conformation, Christian was charmed by Maax’s kind nature. “He’s so level-headed,” he stresses. “Because of it, there is some special work he will be doing in our local community as a therapy horse for kids and others in need.”
I N TO T H E F U T U R E
“My goal for the farm is to breed the best horses we can produce,” Christian reminds us. “I have a four-year plan that includes breeding 25 of the farm’s mares to Maaximus in 2020, with the remaining broodmares going to Zadok HR (ROL Intencyty x Princess Grace C) and Evalution (QR Marc x Eveangelique), a champion stallion owned by Josh and Jennifer Edwards. Zadok is a 2019 U.S. and Canadian National Top Ten Stallion and regional champion, and has already sired a regional winner. We think the stallions and their daughters will complement each other. I’m excited about so many of the crosses. “I am so grateful to Laura Cronk for the opportunity of a lifetime in letting us purchase Maax, along with two of his daughters. It is huge for our future. Sharaas Dream (x Sharaa Bask, by TC Jabaskk), is from Maax’s first foal crop in 2007 and will go straight to breeding, while the 2018 filly Khaaliope HR (x Khalee Grace, by Padrons Psyche), Maax’s youngest purebred daughter, will be shown in 2020. There is a lot to look forward to.” Christian Cook has no doubt in his mind that the future generations he creates will add glory to the long heritage of Generations Farm.
EVALU TION (QR Marc x Eveangelique) 2014 Bay Stallion KHAALIOPE HR (Maaximus x Khalee Grace) 2018 Bay Mare SHARAAS DREAM (Maaximus x Sharaa Bask) 2007 Bay Mare