Royal Arabians, 2018, published in Arabian Horse Times

INTO CLUB ROYAL & OUR 2018 U.S. NATIONAL CONTENDERS

by THERESA CARDAMONE “It’s the lifestyle!” That is usually a big part of the answer when people are asked why they choose to spend their leisure time and expendable income in pursuit of Arabian horses. Next to a love for the horses themselves, the lifestyle is often what entices new enthusiasts to enter into the business and keeps oldtimers coming back year after year. Among current industry leaders, there are a certain few who have perfected the art of creating a total lifestyle experience for their clients.

Among those few standouts are an even smaller number who are themselves owners, breeders, and exhibitors—peers with their clientele. At Royal Arabians in Scottsdale, Arizona, Cindy McGown and Mark Davis have set the standard for an inclusive, immersive customer experience which they fondly refer to as “Club Royal.”

And just what is so special about the Club Royal lifestyle? Carol Nierenberg, a talented equine artist whose farm, Silver Box Southwest, is located in nearby Carefree, Arizona, is happy to explain. “‘Club Royal’ is absolutely the most fun one can have in the Arabian horse universe,” she enthuses. “The tone is set at the top by Cindy and Mark—integrity, the highest standards of performance and service, extreme generosity of spirit, warmth and welcome.”

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Fellow client Duke Mendel, who raises Arabian horses at his Gemini Ranch in Florida, agrees. “Renae and I feel like ‘Club Royal’ should be called ‘Club Royal Family!’ Mark Davis and Cindy McGown have opened up their life to all of us and made each and every one of their clients not just clients or friends, but part of their family. We are all treated with the utmost friendship and respect by everyone at Royal Arabians, more than anyone could ever ask for in any business or social setting.”

Rose City Arabians, an elegantly appointed farm located just across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon, is a relatively new Royal client. Owners Joe and Kim Orr credit Cindy, Mark and their Club Royal lifestyle with drawing them back into the breed after a gap of many years. “I started with Arabian horses in the 80s,” Joe explains. “I went from reining horses to halter and then took a hiatus for about twenty years to build a business and raise a family. When I retired, I jumped back in with the horses.

And I’m loving it, I’m loving all of it.”

While still adjusting to the contemporary Arabian scene, Joe has quickly caught on to the current state of the industry. He appreciates the feeling of security he and Kim enjoy in their relationship with the Royal team. “It’s a different business right now than it was in the 80s and the early 90s when I was in it before,” Joe states. “It just seems like Royal Arabians has quite a great solution, whether it’s performance horses or halter. They also handle the marketing side of it, where they are very active, aggressive and realistic. I like their microscopic honesty as far as pricing and value, sometimes it’s hard to get that, such honesty.”

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“We got back into the business because we want to have fun,” Joe continues. “We hope to be successful, but more importantly for us—I think for most of the people—is the reality of the lifestyle that we enjoy so much. And with that comes the people—and the fun! I think that Mark and Cindy are committed to that fun and the way that they treat their clients. And, obviously, their commitment to the industry is profound. They’re just super people, and that means a lot to us.”

The camaraderie and affection that exists between the Club Royal staff and their clients is a rare and beautiful thing. It affects everyone who comes within its light and seems to lack no boundaries as far as geography is concerned. Helen and Andy Hardwick may be half a world away at their Al Sahrae Arabians in Australia, but the open lines of communication and friendship keep them feeling connected and included.

“I call them friends more than I notice the fact that we’re clients,” says Helen. “They just do anything for people. They are genuine, down-to-earth, honest people. And not just Mark and Cindy, but the whole Royal team. Even though we’re only in America about three times a year, we talk to the Royal team regularly. We probably chat with Travis three or four times a week. They treat you like you’re extended family, you’re never a bother. You’re never asking too many questions or questioning anything too much.”

It is clear that Helen has found the Club Royal culture to her liking. “They treat you as a person, not a client,” she defines. “I think that’s probably the most important thing. You’re not just a person paying a bill. You are a friend first and then a client. They would give you the shirt off their back, they’re just the nicest people. I mean that of the whole team, Mark, Cindy, Travis, Guzzo, Natalia, Justin…they’re just all lovely, lovely people. They do everything for us over there, we don’t have to worry about anything. We 100% trust them.”

Helen is especially appreciative of the support that her daughter Brittney receives through the bounty of Club Royal. Two of their annual trips to America are to attend the Scottsdale Show in February and the Breeder Finals in September, where Brittney shows the Al Sahrae horses. “She also shows in amateur classes for Cindy and Mark,” Helen states with pride. “Whenever she comes over, she handles some of their horses. She loves it. It’s been a great experience for her, she’s shown quite a few horses for them and Guzzo trains her when she’s over there.” Helen pauses before she touches on something that makes the Club Royal experience even more dear to her heart. “They love her like a daughter,” she says. “Even if we had no horses over there, we would still be in touch.”

Under Cindy and Mark’s leadership, Royal Arabians has taken a prominent position as a premier patron of the breed. They generously sponsor shows, auctions, and many other events dedicated to the Arabian horse and are always involved in outreach opportunities that encourage participation from total outsiders. Travis Rice is a very important member of the Royal team and is often the point person for Royal Arabians activities. In addition to his responsibilities as sales manager, Travis is the common link, the liaison between each member of Club Royal and between the farm and the Arabian public. He expounds on Royal Arabians’ successful outreach efforts during the past year.

“It’s very important to take the Arabian horse to new faces,” Travis remarks. “People don’t just turn on the television, see an ad for Arabian horses, and say, ‘Gee, I’ve got to have one of those.’ You have to get new people to see the Arabian horse.” Travis has been instrumental in helping to guide the growth of the Royal program as they include more cross-overs with the outside public in general.

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Last fall, Royal Arabians hosted a special event, Horses & Hot Rods for Hearts, to benefit the American Heart Association. It was a glamorous event with show cars provided by Barrett Jackson. Travis notes how Cindy donated a gorgeous, Las Vegas Gold Champion gelding which sold in the live auction.

The beautiful young horse not only raised $25,000 for the foundation, he was the introduction for two new, excited owners into the Club Royal fold.

“Donating the horse brought two brand new people into the industry,” Travis enthuses. “Robyn Andrews and Sylvain Allard are ready to play, and they want to do it right, get into it the right way. They attended the Las Vegas show with us and ended up making an offer for one of the champions. Robyn comes almost every day to feed their boy carrots. She knows that if she wants, she can go into the Royal clubhouse and get a bottle of water or pour herself a glass of champagne. The doors are always open.”

In May, another charity event brought the Arabian horse in direct contact with people who would otherwise never get close to them. Royal Silver Box LLC, an ownership group comprised of Cindy McGown, Mark Davis and Stu and Carol Nierenberg, volunteered their lovely mare Bianca AL as the Royal Arabians ambassador at the Health & Horsepower event at Chandler Porsche. Complete with red carpet, Bianca offered event-goers an opportunity to be up-close-and-personal with an Arabian horse for the first time.

This summer, Royal Arabians was a major sponsor of the first Arabian horse show to ever be held in China. Mark and Travis made the long journey to witness the historic event and to further demonstrate the support of Royal Arabians to the expanding world of the Arabian horse.

The Club Royal team supports each other, each member playing to the other members’ strengths. It is a collaborative spirit that the clients find both engaging and rewarding. “Rodolfo Guzzo is one of the top halter trainers in this industry,” Duke Mendel states emphatically, “and his care and love for our horses is unmatched! His passion for the Arabian horse is obvious and the preparation of our horses with him and his team is impeccable. Guzzo’s beautiful wife Natalia is the best at what she does, and she is there for all of us every single time we need her. She makes sure anything that anyone needs gets done and her love for her family is infectious.”

Carol Nierenberg concurs. “Guzzo is a master horseman, an equine psychologist bar none, and a fount of knowledge, information and perspective on the Arabian,” she says. “Natalia always remembers my hot chocolate spiked with Bailey’s and facilitates—without fuss or muss—the myriad details of Arabian ownership: contracts, registrations, show entries, travel arrangements. It is an essential service that, thanks to her oversight, conscientiousness and attention to detail, is now something we hardly have to think about (and when we do, it is simply with gratitude to Naty for the lack of petty frustrations and annoyance!).

For Carol, the seemingly effortless way that every problem is faced, and every decision made, is a result of the collaboration they practice. “The fun happens because the whole Royal team—Travis Rice, Rodolfo Guzzo, Natalia Nieves Guzzo, Carlinhos Souza and the great barn crew, Lee Courtney—all work so hard behind the scenes (and on the scene, every time we appear!) to make sure we are graciously hosted in peerless fashion, and that our horses are flawlessly conditioned and beautifully presented, whether in the show ring, or on Royal grounds. The ambiance is created by Travis, whose beaming smile, big hugs and superb hospitality—not to mention his encyclopedic knowledge of Arabian pedigrees and his willingness to share it—make every client feel ohso-special because, to him, each person is.”

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Duke couldn’t agree more. “Travis Rice is the consummate host any time we are at the farm or at any event that we all go to; not to mention his knowledge of the Arabian horse and pedigrees is second to no one. His beautiful wife Yassna has become a dear friend in a very short time and we adore her. And Justin Cowden! What can I say about him? One word, AMAZING! His work ethic and will to win each and every time he gets on a horse is absolute! He is nearly unbeatable and I’m glad to be with him and not against him.”

Travis describes the culture of openness and understanding that exists among the Club Royal members. “Everybody’s welcome at Royal,” he avers.

“We don’t scrutinize if our people do business with other farms, it’s all open because there’s room for us all. If you’re having fun in business, you want to keep doing business.” He credits Cindy and Mark for their individual efforts and for putting together the right people to assure Royal’s ongoing success. “Cindy and Mark are owners, too,” he states. “They’re hobbyists that have turned it into a successful business. And, they’ve put together a great team. Because they are owners and they’ve been through some of the same

things, they resonate with the clients. A lot of people have had a different experience—such as dealing with an owner that is also the trainer—this is a totally different flip on things.”

Travis elaborates on some of the principles by which Club Royal operates. “It’s all about delivering a happy experience to our clientele,” he says. “Our clientele comes first. They get the highest end of things, they can come into the clubhouse whenever they want to and pour themselves a drink. The

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barns are always open for them. They make the farm like their second home. That’s an experience in itself! From Brazilian-style barbeques, to just a great group of people that get along with each other. That’s huge. Life is about friendships and the Arabian horse is a great focal point and centerpiece for creating friendships.”

That feeling is not lost on Joe Orr. “I can just tell that the kind of people they surround themselves with, like their horses, are of extreme quality,” Joe says. “I feel safe there. And again, we have fun with them! I love the spirit that they have, and again, the fun they are committed to and the quality and the “one stop shopping” solution, if you will, for people like us that don’t have the resources…it’s just a great solution. We just missed the trip they arranged to Brazil. I followed it through friends and the time that they had there was, just, wow! They’re going to do it again in December and we’re going with them. These trips that they have around the world to explore the Arabian horse…they’re just exactly what we were looking for.”

Club Royal has proven to be a perfect fit for Duke and Renae Mendel as well. “What more can I say?” Duke exclaims. “Renae and I are honored to be friends with and part of the Club Royal Family! The relationships we have formed with Mark and Cindy will be forever and we can’t wait to see where the next chapter takes us with all of them.” Carol sums up the clients’ feelings. “All this unstinting team effort has attracted and continues to draw good people into Club Royal, making this growing community truly our home away from home. No matter whether we win or lose at any given show, it’s the support of the team, the caliber of client it draws, and the privilege of being part of ‘Club Royal’ that makes our life with Arabian horses the BEST life it can be—and better every day!”

ROYAL ARABIANS Cindy McGown & Mark Davis, Owners 480.361.6926 | info@RoyalArabians.com | www.RoyalArabians.com Scottsdale, Mesa & Rio Verde, AZ Rodolfo Guzzo, Halter | 619.200.6464 | rodolfo.guzzo@royalarabians.com Justin Cowden, Performance | 775.901.3029 | jcowden@royalarabians.com Travis Rice, Sales & Marketing | 614.315.3682 | trice@royalarabians.com Amanda Fraser, Breeding Manager | 480.347.8955 | fraseraj85@gmail.com

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DA Valentino x Imprimista CF Owned by Royal Arabians

2019 BREEDINGS NOW AVAILABLE

* E L

T I N O

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WWW.ROYALARABIANS.COM

* H A L Y R

M E I A

L U A Ajman Moniscione x Halya De Jylbert Owned by Royal Arabians

2019 BREEDINGS NOW AVAILABLE

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*El Tino x Lumiar Ethna Owned by Royal Arabians

2019 BREEDINGS NOW AVAILABLE

R O Y A L

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A S A D

WWW.ROYALARABIANS.COM

R O Y A L

P I R U E T A

A S Titan AS x Pitonisa AS Owned by Royal Arabians

ARABIAN YEARLING FILLIES

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A L

M A L I K K

Shangrila Baltazar x RD Tora Owned by Black Horse International, LLC

ARABIAN YEARLING COLTS

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WWW.ROYALARABIANS.COM

R O Y A L

A P O N A Royal Invictus x Phaedra PR+ Owned by Royal Arabians

ARABIAN YEARLING FILLIES

ROYAL MATEO

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L U C I U S

G A

JJ Bellagio x Duchess of Marwan Owned by Arabian Empire Group, LLC | Gemini Ranch Arabians • Royal Arabians • Sandhu Arabians

ARABIAN 2-YEAR-OLD COLTS

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WWW.ROYALARABIANS.COM

M A U R A D E R

E K A

Ever After NA x SB Jullianna Owned by Eric & Karen England

ARABIAN YEARLING GELDINGS

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BELLA DUCHESSA GA JJ Bellagio x Duchess of Marwan Owned by Suzann Vince | Iniziare Arabians

ARABIAN 2-YEAR-OLD FILLIES

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G I O VA N A A L

Halyr Meia Lua x CER Belissima Owned by Royal Arabians

ARABIAN 2-YEAR-OLD FILLIES

Soul Of Marwan AS x Honey’s Delight RB Owned by Royal Arabians

ARABIAN YEARLING COLTS

ROYAL MATEO

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