GRK Farms, published in Arabian Horse Times

We Welcome You To...

Amazingly Beautiful ...

Photos by Zach Duncan, Ferrara & Stuart Vesty

GRK FARMS

by KRISTI HOPP

s

ixteen years ago, in 2003, with his children grown and starting families of their own, Gary Kehl was contemplating the idea of retirement. He purchased two Half-Arabian pintos for trail riding, but beyond that, never thought that by 2019 he would be heading a hugely successful Arabian horse breeding and showing operation.

It all really began when, for “something to do,” he attended an Arabian horse auction with a friend.

It didn’t take long for him to be mesmerized by the beauty and grace of the Arabian horse, and with a purchase that day, he began the journey that would include the establishment of GRK Farms, his namesake and passion. He clearly recalls the moment it all began with a smile, “I was hooked by the beauty and mystique of the Arabian breed.”

With the purchase of that first purebred Arabian, Gary knew what he wanted to do, but knew that he would need help. With his mind set on what he wanted to achieve, Gary sought education, guidance and expertise from a number of top professionals in the Arabian horse community, and it was not long after that he met up with Priscilla Cluff, a young trainer with tons of talent and an incredible drive.

He started acquiring horses, hired Priscilla as his trainer and farm manager, and GRK Farms established its roots in Utah.

N

ever one to take on new challenges lightly, Gary and Priscilla teamed up to breed, raise, train and go on to show one of GRK’s earliest champions, Billie The Kid GRK (Sundance Kid V x Just To Fool You (APHA)). The black mare with the unmistakable white bald face has been a formidable presence in the western pleasure arena since her junior horse years, with Priscilla and Gary’s granddaughter, Chloe. Then there is Lady Justify GRK ( Justify x Fortessa MCF) who has been extremely successful with granddaughter McKienna. Between Chloe and McKienna, Gary and his entire family have been enjoying success in the show ring on these GRK-bred and trained horses. Each have won numerous titles at Regional, Scottsdale and National levels in western and hunter pleasure. Most notably, Billie The Kid GRK and Chloe were national champions at the 2018 Youth National Show not just in the 14 & Under class, but also the much deeper Elite JTR class.

Chloe &

Billie The Kid

McKienna &

GRK

Lady Justify

GRK

W

ell-started in his vision to create beautiful Arabian performance horses, Gary knew he also wanted to bring more attention to his passion for the beauty and presence of Arabians and wanted to begin branching out into halter breeding.

Again, seeking direction and education from leading industry professionals, he was introduced to Doug Leadley, who introduced him to OFW Rhianna. Thus, the GRK Halter breeding program was born. Bred by Orrion Farms, OFW Rihanna is sired by National Champion OFW Magic Wan, and out of *Hafiti Julianna, a dam almost certainly ensuring her future as a consistent broodmare, having produced OFW Psylhouette, dam of World Champion EKS Alihandro. OFW Rhianna is a half sister to OFW Ana (by DA Valentino), who has a number of stellar accolades at title shows. Before launching her career as a broodmare, however, Gary did campaign OFW Rhianna, where she earned a number of Regional Championships before becoming U.S. National Reserve Champion in her 3-year-old year.

Proving the value of his investment, OFW Rihanna has thus far produced three foals who have more than exceeded expectations. The fiery chestnut filly Everanna GRK, by Ever After NA, was sold to overseas buyers, thereby establishing an international presence for GRK. Next, she produced an exquisite black bay filly by Kanz Albidayer, Hafatianna GRK, who was retained for the rapidly expanding GRK breeding program and is expecting her first foal by EKS Alihandro. And in 2018, OFW Rhianna gave birth to a filly named Fabrihanna GRK, by RFI Farid, a sensational stallion whom Gary took notice of in 2017 after becoming the number one sire at the World Championships in 2016. Gary was, to say the very least, “excited” by Fabrihanna’s birth.

Above Everanna GRK, by Ever After NA; Hafatianna GRK, by Kanz Albidayer and Fabrihanna GRK, by RFI Farid; three beautiful f illies out of OFW Rihanna.

OFW

Rihanna

Izzabella Dona

A

Bajadior GRK, by Baha AA

nother early addition to the GRK broodmare collection was Izzabella Dona (*Jiuliusz De Wiec x Iim So Sheik).

With a unique pedigree, she has proven to be an interesting cross to many different stallion lines. *Jiuliusz De Wiec is a Monogramm grandson, with dam lines tracing back to some of Lenita Perroy’s Haras Meia Lua-best Ali Jamaal bloodlines. Iim So Sheik is a daughter of Iimagine, a Brazilian based stallion and son of Magnum Psyche.

Like OFW Rihanna, Izzabella Dona carries with her several top ten wins at U.S. Nationals and beyond. One of her first foals produced for GRK was a 2017 filly, Bajadior GRK, sired by straight Egyptian stallion Baha AA, and owned by world renowned Ariela Arabians; another, a striking colt just born at GRK’s Scottsdale farm. Also coming in 2019 is the cross with young superstar sire Exxalt, 2017 U.S. National Champion Futurity Colt. He made an initial huge splash in the show world in 2015 when he was named Scottsdale International Junior Champion Colt. Priscilla has noted that she loves the trainability of Izzabella Dona’s offspring, and is looking forward to each one.

C

ontinuing his quest to build the perfect broodmare herd, Gary took the opportunity to see a magnificent, big and bold black mare at PCF Arabians he’d heard about and was immediately sold. RD Mirella (Baywatch V x Alanna), bred by Rae-Dawn Arabians, had already produced Tesla Marc PCF, by QR Marc, who was the 2017 Scottsdale Signature Stallion Champion. Recognizing a pedigree that would enhance both his performance and halter breeding programs, Gary was enthusiastic about adding RD Mirella to his herd. Her pedigree traces back through Sundance Kid V to the legendary *Bask daughter, Balalinka, and on her dam’s side, leads to greats like Versace and JA Magnificat, just to name a few. In 2018, RD Mirella produced a nice filly by RFI Farid, and is expecting a 2019 foal by QR Marc.

RD

Mirella

Exotic One

A

GRK

nother gem discovered in Texas, in an exquisite young grey filly

by S.M.A. Magic One (Psytadel x Bint Bey Shah), out of Majaarani (Thee Desperado x Majalis). Bred by Michael Byatt, Gary acquired the filly with the exquisite head and beautiful Arabian type, immediately dubbing her Exotic One GRK. She carries some royal Egyptian blood in her pedigree, including AS Sinans Pacha, Thee Desperado, Ruminaja Ali and Theegyptianprince. This young mare was bred to Exxalt and is due to foal soon via embryo transfer.

T

hen along came FH Jemina (Eminence PS x FH Jadore).

Gary took notice of this charismatic and extremely “showy” filly as a yearling at the 2017 Arabian National Breeder Finals. She won her Yearling Filly class with ease, also catching Gary’s halter trainer, Lucho Guimaraes’ eye.

They were able to purchase the filly, and Lucho has gone on to show FH Jemina to a stunning performance at the 2018 U.S. Nationals, leading to a well-deserved Top Ten (third) in one of the most competitive halter classes at the show.

FH Jemina has been bred via embryo transfer to Exxalt, with Gary eagerly waiting to see her 2019 foal.

Jemina

FH

G

ary has succeeded in a relatively short period of time, what might take others decades to achieve.

His philosophies, dedication and vision have and will never waver. This is a splash of mares that make the GRK breeding program so impressive. By crossing them with the best of the best, it is putting GRK on the map as a top breeding farm and top go-to place to visit. Whether it be the home base in Herriman, Utah, or the farm in Scottsdale, Arizona, both are always open and welcome visitors!

S c o t t s d a l e , A r i z o n a • H e r r i m a n , U ta h B r e e d i n g , T r a i n i n g & S h ow i n g • H a l t e r & P e r f o r m a n c e

Gary R. Kehl • 801-560-9688 • garyraykehl@gmail.com | Priscilla Cluff • 801-234-0295 • priscillacluff@yahoo.com

w w w. G R K Fa r m s . c o m