Arabian Horse Times-Vol.45-No.11 by Arabian Horse Times

Volume 45, No. 11 $7.50

Patricia Dempsey • 352.430.3456 • Lady Lake, Florida w w w

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l o v e d s

a r m

c o m

WORTHY OF THE WORLD’S STAGE

DAUGHTER OF THE LEGENDARY VALORI TRF SIRED BY *MARWAN AL SHAQAB

MULTI-NATIONAL CHAMPION

VALORI TRF DA Valentino × Satin Chall LL, by Magnum Chall HVP

2 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

LAS VEGAS WORLD CUP 2-YEAR-OLD FILLY CONTENDER WITH ANDREW SELLMAN

Proudly owned by Joanne Gunabalan

Clarkston, MI | JrGunabalan@aol.com Andrew & Angie Sellman | www.ArgentFarms.com | 715.425.9001 Volume 45, No. 11 | 3

Contents Issue 4 • Volume 45, No. 11 2oak ridge 30 34

240

38 42 46 82 84 90 94 31tutto 45tutto 157 160 168 173 178 190 206

Cover Story: The Champion, The Travelling Ambassador, The Sire ... Vitorio by Jeff Wallace The 2015 ARBC Celebration Party And Awards by Christy Egan Region 12 and Spotlight Futurity Stallions—Setting Precedents In Presenting And Promoting Arabian Horses by Christy Egan U.S. National Halter Survey Results Leaders Of The Times: Goddess Of Da Vinci by Kara Larson The World Class Operation Of Arabians International LLC by Anne Stratton The Life Of Psy … From Rescue To All Around Horse by Catherine Cole Women Around The World: Olivia Strauch with Kara Larson The Celebration Event And North American Halter Championships —Q&A With Bob Battaglia And Bob North with Anne Stratton The Halter Revolution—What’s Coming At The Nationals by Anne Stratton Ajman National Show 2015 Tre Balzane Stud In Italy by Monika Savier A Judges Perspective: Colleen Rutherford with Jeff Wallace Breeding Arabians—What’s Going On Here? Part III by Anne Stratton A Touch Of Style—Jenn Trickey Al Shaqab—Hariry Al Shaqab An Interview With Michałów Stud Director Jerzy Bialobok with Jeff Wallace The AHT Rising Stars Of 2015 Trainer’s Workshop—Building A Better Community At Kiesner Training by Christy Egan

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214 228 235 240

Marketing The Arabian Horse Today 2015 Scottsdale Leading Sires 2015 Scottsdale Open Houses The 2014 C. Jarvis Insurance And AHT Readers’ Choice Awards

Volume 45, No. 11

by Kara Larson Volume 45, No. 11 $7.50

2015, Issue 4

On The Cover:

Vitorio TO (DA Valentino x Sol Natique), owned by Oak Ridge Arabians.

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276 282 289 305 306 310

2014 APAHA Horseman’s Awards by Kara Larson 2015 Scottsdale Photo Contest Scott Trees—Through The Lens On His Life, Work And Making A Difference by Mary Kirkman 2014 USEF Awards—A Great Year For Arabians Scottsdale: The Volunteer Viewpoint by Catherine Cole Ferandelli In Memoriam

6 44 172 308 311 316 319

Comments From The Publisher Guest Editorial: V—The Legacy Of Sheila Varian, by Evie Tubbs Sweeney Faces & Places Amateur Spotlight Calendar Of Events Looking Ahead Index Of Advertisers

Design by: mickĂŠandoliver Photography by: Kelly Campbell

Aljassimya Farm originals We will only be exhibiting home bred horses at the upcoming ABWC in Las Vegas. Please help us cheer on our new generation, shown by Bart Van Buggenhout and Giacomo Capacci! www.aljassimyafarm.com | info@aljassimyafarm.com

Volume 45, No. 11 | 5

Comments Publisher Lara Ames Operations Manager/Editor Barbara Lee Writers Mary Kirkman Kara Larson Anne Stratton Advertising Account Executive Tony Bergren Creative Director Jeff Wallace Production Manager Jody Thompson Senior Designer Marketing Director Wayne Anderson Print & Web Design Tony Ferguson Leah Matzke Melissa Pasicznyk Editorial Coordinator Proofreader Charlene Deyle Sales Assistant/ Accounts Receivable Sharon Brunette

© Copyright AHT, Inc. dba Arabian Horse Times. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Articles or opinions published by the AHT, Inc. dba Arabian Horse Times are not necessarily the expressed views of the AHT, Inc. dba Arabian Horse Times. AHT, Inc. dba Arabian Horse Times is not responsible for the accuracy of advertising content or manipulation of images that are provided by the advertiser. ARABIAN HORSE TIMES (ISSN 0279-8125) Volume 45, No. 11, April 2015, is published monthly by AHT, Inc. dba Arabian Horse Times, 20276 Delaware Avenue, Jordan, Minnesota 55352. Periodical postage paid at Jordan, Minnesota 55352 and at additional entry offices. Single copies in U.S. and Canada $7.50. Subscription in U.S. $40 per year, $65 two years, $90 three years. Canada $65 one year, $125 two years, $170 three years, U.S. funds. Foreign Subscriptions: $95 one year, $185 two years, $280 three years, payable in advance, U.S. funds. Sorry, no refunds on subscription orders. For subscription and change of address, please send old address as printed on last label. Please allow four to six weeks for your first subscription to be shipped. Occasionally ARABIAN HORSE TIMES makes its mailing list available to other organizations. If you prefer not to receive these mailings, please write to ARABIAN HORSE TIMES, Editorial Offices, P.O. Box 69, Jordan, MN 55352. The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographic materials. Printed in U.S.A. • POSTMASTER: Please send returns to Arabian Horse Times, P.O. Box 69, Jordan, MN 55352; and address changes to Arabian Horse Times, P.O. Box 15816, North Hollywood, CA 91615-5816. For subscription information, call 1-855-240-4637 (in the U.S.A.) or 952-492-3213 (for outside of the U.S.A.) Arabian Horse Times • P.O. Box 15816, North Hollywood, CA 91615-5816 • Tel: 952-492-3213 • Fax: 952-492-3228 1-800-AHTIMES • www.ahtimes.com

From The Publisher Here’s To The Mothers With Mother’s Day just around the corner, I find myself thinking about the most important Arabians of springtime— the dams of the foals that make every year hopeful for horse breeders. Once it gets warm enough, all of our Cedar Ridge babies run in pastures that happen to be right out my front door, and I love watching them with the mares, seeing how they learn as they grow up.

I just love the Arabian. My parents have always bred horses, so I have been around the process of breeding, since I was very young, and I’ve been intrigued with what goes into creating the best crosses. In my youth, I was so enamored with the stallions, the sire side of the pedigree. I thought you could breed just about anything to a stallion and he would reproduce himself. But through age and experience, I have changed my opinions. In my eyes, it is actually the mare who is the most important component in the creation of the foal. As I speak more to experienced breeders, I find many of them share that thought. Stallions are magnificent; no question about it. And because the successful ones sire many foals each, they have a profound influence on the breed. But have you ever thought about the influence the good mares, who produce just one foal each per year (unless you are doing extensive embryo transfer programs) have? Even at only one foal a year, many have become iconic. Most stallion owners know this. It is definitely an asset when your stallion is hailed as a “broodmare sire,” meaning that his daughters are good producers. So as we approach Mother’s Day for humans, let’s take a moment to revere our mares. They carry us in the show ring and on the trail, they are our companions, they are the lifeblood of our breeding establishments—and as the custodians of their foals, they probably have more say than anyone in the Arabian horse’s enduring reputation as a breed for being “part of the family.” I will always be grateful for them.

Lara Ames Lara Ames Publisher

6 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Contact Greg Hazlewood mobile: 602.549.8726 www.HazlewoodArabians.com

Justify x Gloria Apal

Jack & Elizabeth Milam www.RegencyCoveFarms.com

Volume 45, No. 11 | 7

theBlack

Swan

ROL Intencyty x Sylviah WLF

8 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Triana T riana rh rh

Las Vegas World Cup Mare Halter Presented by David Boggs OWNED BY TRIANA HOLDINGS, LLC BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN

WWW.MIDWESTARABIAN.COM

Volume 45, No. 11 | 9

10 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Arriving soon ... 2015 foals by

A-JERICHO U NITED S TATES N ATIONAL R ESERVE C HAMPION AHBA W ORLD C UP S ILVER S UPREME C HAMPION S COTTSDALE S IGNATURE S TALLION C HAMPION

owned by THE ABEL FAMILY Lacombe, Alberta, Canada

A Jakarta x Destiny VF • 2012 COLT Nominated AHA Breeders Sweepstakes, Silver Sire Breeders, AHBA World Cup, Scottsdale Signature Stallion SCID, CA, LFS Clear

For breeding information, contact: david@midwestarabian.com David Boggs • 612.328.8312 Nate White • 563.663.7383 Judi Anderson • 612.328.1057

www.midwestarabian.com Volume 45, No. 11 | 11

The Art Of Drama

Artemas

( JJ Bellagio x Duchess of Marwan, by Marwan Al Shaqab)

Presented in Las Vegas by Mr. Rodolfo Guzzo for Stella Bella Arabians

Guzzo Worldwide LLC 9720 East Cactus Road Scottsdale, Arizona Guzzoworldwidellc@gmail.com

Office: 480-361-6926 Fax: 480-361-6928 Cell: 760-443-4853 WWW.GUZZOAT.COM

Portrait of a Goddess

Goddess DaVinci OF

(Da Vinci FM x Goddess of Marwan, by Marwan Al Shaqab)

Presented in Las Vegas by Mr. Rodolfo Guzzo for Stella Bella Arabians

STELLA BELLA

Michele and Benjamin Bassichis Stella Bella Arabians 4515 Dorset Road Dallas, TX 75229 www.stellabellaarabians.com Volume 45, No. 11 | 13

SCOTTSDALE SIGNATURE STALLION CHAMPION AUCTION YEARLING FILLY WITH SYDNEY DAZZO Rodan LTD+// x Verily PCF

SEE HER IN VEGAS WITH JOﾃグ RODRIGUES 14 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Depth of quality for a successful breeding program!

National Champion

Padrons Psyche x LV Fantine, by LV Cartell

Proudly owned by

DAZZO ARABIANS, LLC

Sam, Vicki & Sydney Dazzo of Albuquerque, New Mexico momdazz@aol.com

National Champion

Magnum Chall HVP x Veronica GA, by Versace

Contact Rodrigues Training Center, Inc. João Rodrigues Mobile: 480.889.4393 www.RodriguesTraining.com • info@RodriguesTraining.com Rodan LTD stands at Becker Stables • 530.477.5588 www.beckerstables.com • info@beckerstables.com Volume 45, No. 11 | 15

16 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Cover Story:

THE CHAMPION, THE TRAVELLING AMBASSADOR, THE SIRE ...

2011 United States National Champion Three-Year-Old Colt 2011 United States National Champion Futurity Colt 2010 Canadian National Champion Two-Year-Old Colt 2010 Brazilian National Champion Junior Colt 2009 United States National Champion Yearling Colt 2011 AHT Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Choice Halter Horse of the Year

by JEFF WALLACE

Vitorio The Champion In Italiano, the word Vitorio means “champion.” No word better describes the magnificent bay stallion Vitorio TO (DA Valentino x Sol Natique, by Solstice), a five-time National Champion bred by Morse's good friends, Ed and Maureen Horton of Thirteen Oaks Arabians. This winter, Vitorio will arrive back in the United States to take up residence at Midwest Training and Breeding Stations under the capable guidance of David Boggs and his hand-selected team of stellar professionals. The Arabian horse community is waiting with bated breath to see what is next as David takes the lead in Vitorio’s magical return. With five national titles already under his belt, it is highly likely that he will add a few more accolades and accomplishments in the near future.

Vitorio The Travelling Ambassador Janey Morse has continued the legacy she and her late husband, Don, began at Oak Ridge Arabians. In his honor, she remains teamed with David Boggs who helped facilitate one of the most significant exchanges in American/Polish breeding history. It is due to their collaboration that, Vitorio is standing the 2014 and 2015 breeding seasons at Michalów State Stud while Oak Ridge has had the great pleasure and honor of leasing and showing Michalów’s *Wieza Mocy—undefeated in America—to an adoring public. While his photos are impressive, seeing Vitorio in the ﬂesh has the power to raise “goosebumps” on the observer. His near-perfect conformation and remarkable

presence have drawn the attention of breeders from throughout the world. Most notably. Vitorio is the first American-bred stallion since Monogramm to be leased by the Polish government to stand inside the Polish State Studs. His sire line, which traces back to *Mirage, is a rarity in the Polish gene pool and therefore, coveted by breeders. With the purposeful re-introduction of his sire line and the proven quality of his dam line, Polish breeders have made a conscious decision to use Vitorio to bolster elements of their breeding program that needed support, by covering some of the most important broodmares in the world. Over 30 mares from the Polish State Studs of Michaloﾌ『, Janoﾌ『 Podlaski and Bialka, were bred to Vitorio, and the first fifteen foals from those matches, which are arriving right now, are being observed like a precious 2 窶｢ OA K R IDGE

collection of Faberge’ eggs. Included in that group of mares are the ethereal “white swans”—World, All Nations Cup, European, Dubai, Poland and United States National Champions: *Emandoria, a double Bandola mare through her dam, Emanda; Galilea, a daughter of the exquisite sire Laheeb and out of the beautiful Monogramm mare Georgia; as well as *El Dorada, by *Sanadik El Shaklan and out of one of *Eukaliptus’ most dazzling daughers, Emigrantka. The results of those pairings are expected to be nothing short of spectacular. They are depending on Vitorio to augment the “bay on bay” gene pool that carries with it the Kuhailan characteristics that have excited breeders for centuries. Their confidence in this horse is a priceless endorsement that has enriched his value in the world marketplace.

"Watching and being a part of the journey of a young horse that I deeply admire go through all the stages of growth in a near perfect way, is a rarity and quite something to behold for me and all of Team Midwest; not to mention, for a client that I deeply love and admire like Janey Morse and her family. To have been a part of the planning to see Vitorio set sail to stand two seasons inside the famed Michalów State Stud in Poland and cover many of the world's finest Arabian mares makes this great young stallion a once-in-a-lifetime horse, to say the least." —David Boggs

OA K R IDGE • 3

VITORIO The Sire This young stallion’s offspring have been a spectacular success for Oak Ridge and breeders in North America, earning 140 elite titles! His sons and daughters have won many championships and reserves in a variety of halter divisions while competing against entries from all over the globe. With over 60 foals expected in Poland—as the result of his two years in service there—serious

AJ MANAYER

(Vitorio TO x Anna Marie BHF)

2013 Breeders World Cup Gold Supreme Champion Yearling Filly 2013 Scottsdale Grand Champion Junior Filly 2013 Unanimous Scottsdale Champion Yearling Filly of Jan. 1 - April 15 4 • OA K R IDGE

breeders from all over the world will have the opportunity to witness the results when they make their annual pilgrimage to the Pride of Poland events this summer. The early arrivals have been nothing short of spectacular so far, and have set the stage for a plethora of Polish and European champions in the near future. Vitorio, the 2015 Scottsdale Leading Halter Sire, eagerly awaits the performance careers of his firstborn foals on the coming horizon. Anticipation is at an all-time high on both sides of the Atlantic now that Vitorio has earned the focus of the entire Arabian public. The story of a great show horse turned young supersire in demand, is unfolding perfectly before our very eyes!

PRINCESS RAHERRA ORA

(Vitorio TO x Raherra)

2015 Scottsdale Signature Champion Yearling Filly ATH 2014 Arabian National Breeder Finals Silver Champion Weanling Filly

OA K R IDGE â&#x20AC;˘ 5

... The Sire

VITORINO DC (Vitorio TO x Kharalisa BPA) 2015 Scottsdale International Bronze Champion Junior Colt 2015 Scottsdale Champion International 2-Year-Old Colt 2014 United States National Top Ten Yearling Colt 2014 Unanimous Region 7 Champion Yearling Colt 2014 Breeders World Cup Bronze Supreme Champion Yearling Colt 2014 Breeders World Cup Reserve Champion Yearling Colt

LADY VITORIO ORA (Vitorio TO x TM Mona Lisa) 2014 United States National Top Ten Yearling Filly

6 â&#x20AC;˘ OA K R IDGE

VITORIA BECKHAM (Vitorio TO x Legacys American Rose) 2015 Scottsdale Grand Champion Mare JTH 2015 Scottsdale Reserve Champion Mare 3 & 4 Years Old AAOTH 2014 Iowa Gold Star Champion 2-Year-Old Filly 2014 Region 3 Reserve Champion 2-Year-Old Filly

MC VULCAN (Vitorio TO x Lovins Khrush SSA) 2015 Scottsdale Signature Stallion Champion 2-Year-Old Colt 2015 Scottsdale Reserve Champion 2-Year-Old Colt 2014 Arabian Breeder Finals Silver Champion Junior Colt 2014 Arabian Breeder Finals Champion Yearling Colt 2014 Scottsdale Signature Stallion Reserve Champion Yearling Colt 2013 Arabian Breeder Finals Gold Champion Weanling Colt

OA K R IDGE â&#x20AC;˘ 7

... The Sire

CHANTILLY LACE ORA (Vitorio TO x Raherra) 2014 United States National Top Ten 2-Year-Old Filly 2014 Region 7 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly 2014 Scottsdale Signature Stallion Champion 2-Year-Old Filly ATH 2013 United States National Top Ten Yearling Filly 2013 Unanimous Arabian Celebration Champion Junior Filly 2013 Unanimous Arabian Celebration Champion Yearling Filly 2013 Unanimous Iowa Gold Star Futurity Champion Arabian Auction Yearling Filly ATH 2013 Breeders World Cup Silver Champion Yearling Futurity Filly 2013 SSS Reserve Champion Auction Yearling Filly AOTH

THE BIG BOPPER ORA (Vitorio TO x She Be Adiva KBS) 2015 Scottsdale Champion H/A 3 & 4 Year-Old Gelding 2015 Scottsdale Reserve Champion H/A Senior Gelding 2014 Scottsdale Champion H/A Supreme Classic 2014 Scottsdale Champion H/A Junior Gelding 2014 Scottsdale Champion H/A Gelding JTH 2014 U.S. National Champion H/A Gelding 3 & Under 2014 U.S. National Champion H/A 2-Year-Old Gelding 2013 U.S. National Champion H/A Yearling Colt/Gelding 2013 Arabian Horse Celebration Champion H/A Gelding 2013 Iowa Gold Star Futurity Champion H/A Auction Yearling Saddle Colt/Gelding ATH 2013 Scottsdale Champion H/A Classic Gelding AAOTH

8 â&#x20AC;˘ OA K R IDGE

TOMORROW'S CHAMPION

ORA

EYRON ~ 2014 COLT (Vitorio TO x Luxemere Jizette, by KM Bugatti)

OA K R IDGE • 9

Bey Shah+ Raffoleta-Rose *El Shaklan Precious As Gold Autumn In Gold *Padron Padrons Psyche Kilika Echo Magnifficoo Magnifficaa FA Jamaara FA Fame VF+

Versace DA Valentino DA Love

*Salon Solstice *Passionate Sol Natique *Naborr Natique++ *Ruzica

Negativ Sonata El Paso *Dagmara Negativ Lagodna Gerwazy Rosjanka

For breeding information, contact: david@midwestarabian.com David Boggs • 612.328.8312 • Nate White • 563.663.7383 • Judi Anderson • 612.328.1057

OWNED BY

OAK RIDGE ARABIANS • Freeport, Illinois LEASED BY

WWW.VITORIOTO.COM

MICHALOW STATE STUD • Poland WWW.MIDWESTARABIAN.COM

Hunt & Show Hack

Feature coming in May Trainers Exhibitors Breeders Sale Horses Clothing Tack Trailers ... Be included in the MAY ISSUE of Arabian Horse Times' Hunt & Show Hack Feature! 1.800.248.4637 or 952.492.3213 Tony Bergren - 231-286-6085 Jeff Wallace - 323-547-4116

www.ahtimes.com

Volume 45, No. 11 | 29

The 2015

ARBC

Celebration Party Awards and

by CHRISTY EGAN

he Arabian Reining Breeders Classic (ARBC) changed the entire scene of the Wells Fargo Ring 5 during the 2015 Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. Set just south of the Reining office and designed on two levels, horsemen and spectators arrived and discovered a beautifully decorated tent, convenient tables, comfortable chairs and a great view of the reining ring. There was a handicapped access ramp, and refreshments were served to visitors throughout the week. On Thursday evening at the show, the combination of the ARHA Celebrity Slide and the ARBC Celebration Party and Annual Awards banquet drew a real crowd of several hundred Arabian and Quarter Horse people. The gathering and buffet dinner were presented to showcase the ARBC’s first Annual High Point Awards for Arabian and Half-Arabian reining horses and the ARBC Youth Scholarship winner announcements. “The ARBC party had a huge turnout,” says a pleased Amanda Brumley, ARBC Manager. “There were long lines for the food buffet and great response from those that attended. People talked to me again and again about prospects and ideas for breeding Arabian and Half-Arabian reining horses. There were lots of kind kudos and people saying thanks for the ARBC High Point and Scholarship awards. The ARBC was created to help bring together NRHA, ARHA and ARBC reiners, breeders, trainers and enthusiasts. It was designed as a way to help build the sport of reining for Arabians and Quarter Horses. The method is a proven way to grow and develop a super strong, independent niche within the horse industry, with an emphasis on more shows, more energy and competition, bigger prizes and more reining horses!” The ARBC High Point program, the foundation for the awards ceremony, was based on money won in the Reining Futurities at both the 2014 Scottsdale Arabian Show and the ARBC at the 2014 High Roller Reining Classic in Las Vegas. Horses with the highest combined total earnings received High Point Champion and Reserve Champion ARBC trophies and money. The 2014 ARBC Leading Purebred Arabian Owner was

30 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Cotton McNutt whose total earnings of $24,360 won her prizes and a $2,500 check at the banquet. Leading Half-Arabian Owner was Susan LeFevre-Friedman. Top Arabian Purebred Breeder was Dick Ames with total earnings of $24,360 and a check for $5,000. Leading Half-Arabian Breeder was Cori Vokoun’s Buckshot Farms with earnings of $40,643 and an ARBC cash prize award of $5,000. Buckshot Farms also won Leading Non-Arabian Sire with Were Dun (Hollywood Dun It x LA Cody Money), earnings of $40,878 and an ARBC cash prize of $3,750. Were Dun is a producer of offspring with total earnings of over $108,000, national champions and reserves and multiple Scottsdale champions and reserves. “It’s so great to be recognized with Were Dun,” says Cori Vokoun. “Were Dun crossed the $100,000 mark siring and showing with exclusively Half-Arabian get. He’s had finalists in the Scottsdale Reining Futurities almost every year since its inception. We bought him when he was two, specifically for breeding, because of the huge success of his sire Hollywood Dun It with Arabian mares. I am so very excited about the ARBC. It’s the way we are headed with reining. The Scottsdale presentation by the ARBC was awesome, enthusiastic and had a great turnout!” Were Dun passed in April, 2014, but Buckshot Farm offers frozen semen and will continue to breed their mares and others to this great reining sire. Reserve to Were Dun was Jerry Lees Surprise (Surprise Enterprise x Mizzen Topsail), 1996 NRHA Open Derby Champion and a listed NRHA All-Time Leading Sire. “His offspring have won over a half-million dollars in competition,” says Jerry Lees’ owner at the time of the award, Talmage Smedley. “He sired great movers, big stoppers, and balanced athletic horses. He improved every mare I ever bred to him.” Jerry Lees Surprise is standing at Heritage Ranch and Stallion Station and is now owned by Sam Bourn. HH Maxemus (Zee Mega Bucks x Khabreah) Leading Purebred Sire with 2014 ARBC offspring earnings of $33,387 (and a prize check for $3,750), is also sporting relatively new owners. “We bought ‘Max’ a year ago to breed to a number of mares that I and my partner Lisa Kirkpatrick own,” says Stacey Grandon. Our first foals will be arriving in the next few weeks;

we can’t wait!” Among HH Maxemus-winning offspring are national champions: Miss Maximus, All Maxed Out RA, and Buckshot Dunit Again, as well as numerous national top tens, regional and Scottsdale winners. Winning Arabian Trainers were Andrea Fappani, riding purebred Arabians and Crystal McNutt, who was reserve in the Purebred Trainer division and won the Half-Arabian Trainer. Between Crystal and Cotton McNutt, they won nearly $80,000 in total earnings between Scottsdale and Las Vegas and over $6,000 in ARBC cash awards, giving them ample cause to applaud the ARBC and celebrate the fruits of this first year’s participation. Ancillary High Point awards included Kori Kelley, Champion in Youth 13 and Under A/HA, Amanda Burns, Champion in Youth 14-18 A/HA and Medora Fralick in Non Pro A/HA. The ARBC also awarded Eleanor Hamilton of Eleanor’s Arabians a special Lifetime Achievement Award which included a particularly beautiful trophy. Eleanor ended her acceptance speech with some anecdotal stories about her ranching childhood in the Sand Hills Country of Western Nebraska. “My dad told my mother not to worry about my riding out at a gallop bareback to bring in the Remuda for the cowboys,” Eleanor quipped. “My dad said, ‘That girl can put a gopher down a hole!’ and by golly … I still can!” The Scholarship presentations were also very well received. Sixteen-year-old Ryan Melendez won the 14-18 division. “It was a huge honor to be nominated and, of course, to win!” says Ryan. “I think the program is really good for the Arabian horse. Maybe someday, the NRHA and the Arabians can do even bigger shows together. That would be so great for both groups. The $5,000 scholarship prize will go directly toward my dream of attending Stanford University. It’s definitely not cheap to go there. Every

bit I can earn and win will help.” Ryan does videotaping of school games to put away extra money and he is also hoping for college tuition assistance in the form of a golf scholarship. Mentioned previously in the Ancillary awards, Kori Kelley also won the Age 11-13 division, and 8-year-old McKenna Bein won a $1,500 scholarship in the 10 and Under division. Reining horse breeders start with the ARBC by enrolling their stallions in the program. Stallion owners pay an initial nomination fee; then an annual enrollment fee. Stallions are invited to participate in the Scottsdale and Las Vegas ARBC promotion by bringing their promotional materials and sale horse information to the ARBC booth at the shows. The ARBC is currently on a stallion enrollment campaign and has also agreed to sign up aged stallions (and those recently deceased, over the age of 20 or sterile with frozen semen) for a modest $750 lifetime enrollment fee. After the Scottsdale show, the ARBC looks forward to the Second Annual Arabian Reining Breeders Classic Futurities held at the High Roller Reining Classic, September 1120, 2015. Currently ranked at number 4 in the NRHA Leading Events, the show will offer prizes and cash payouts of more than a half-million dollars in 2015! The High Roller Reining Classic runs ten days and the exciting competition, including the $77,000 added ARBC Futurity for Arabians and Half-Arabians is expected to attract reiners from all over the U.S., Canada, South America and Europe. Once again, there will be big prize money to be won by those ARBC exhibitors who compete and win at both Scottsdale and Las Vegas! For additional information, contact Amanda Brumley, brumleymanagementgroup@gmail.com or (602) 677-3774, or go to www.arabianreiningbreedersclassic.com.

Volume 45, No. 11 | 31

CONGRATULATIONS!

2014 High Point Scottsdale and ARBC Futurity Winners. High Point placings are based on money won in the Reining Futurities at both the 2014 Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show and Arabian Reining Breeders Classic. Horses with the highest combined total earnings receive High Point Champion and Reserve Champion ARBC Awards.

Arabian Owner 1. Cotton McNutt 2. Bryan Nelson

Total Earnings $24,360 $10,125

ARBC Cash Award $2,500 $1,250

Half-Arabian Owner 1. Susan LeFevre-Friedman 2. Michelle Deroch

Total Earnings $37,739 $11,480

ARBC Cash Award $2,500 $1,250

___________________________________________ Arabian Breeder 1. Dick Ames 2. Dusty Morgan

Total Earnings $24,360 $17,406

ARBC Cash Award $5,000 $2,500

Half-Arabian Breeder 1. Buckshot Farms 2. Sage Hill Arabians

Total Earnings $40,643 $20,850

ARBC Cash Award $5,000 $2,500

___________________________________________ Arabian Trainer 1. Andrea Fappani 2. Crystal McNutt

Total Earnings $23,712 $15,786

ARBC Cash Award $2,500 $1,250

Half-Arabian Trainer 1. Crystal McNutt 2. Tyson Randle

Total Earnings $39,239 $18,630

ARBC Cash Award $2,500 $1,250

___________________________________________ Arabian Sire Total Earnings 1. HH Maxemus $33,387 Owner Stacey Grandon & Lisa Kirkpatrick 2. Another Hero $17,406 Owner Dusty Morgan

ARBC Arabian Sire Cash Award $3,750

Non-Arabian Sire Total Earnings 1. Were Dun $40,878 Owner: Buckshot Farms 2. Jerry Lees Surprise $20,850 Owner: Talmage Smedley/Smedley Performance Horses

ARBC Non Arabian Sire Cash Award $3,750

32 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

$1,250

CONGRATULATIONS!

2014 High Roller Reining Classic High Point Ancillary Non Pro & Youth A/HA Winners.

Ancillary High Point Awards (NRHA Category 1 Division A/HA) points given, based on each High Roller Reining Classic Slate 1st through 10th place. Combination of points from both slates of these divisions constitutes winners. Scores based on the following point system: First - 10 points, Second - 9 points, Third - 8 points, etc. In the case of a tie, the High Point Award will be awarded to the rider with the highest judgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s score from the FIRST slate of classes.

Youth 13 & Under A/HA High Point Champion, 20 points: Kori Kelley, TR Skid Mark owned by Katie Harvey, San Antonio, TX Youth 14 - 18 A/HA High Point Champion, 19 points: Amanda Burns, Easy Dun It owned by Amanda Burns, Scottsdale, AZ

Non Pro A/HA High Point Champion, 16 points: Medora Fralick, BJ Dark Hero owned by Medora Fralick, Hayden, CO High Point Reserve, 15 points: Diane Comeau, SH Cool Dude owned by Diane Comeau, Sherwood Park, AB Canada

High Point Reserve, 18 points: Amara Spizzirri, Take A Spin owned by Amara Spizzirri, Scottsdale, AZ

CONGRATULATIONS!

2014 ARBC Youth Scholarship Winners. Age 14 - 18 Division

Ryan Melendez - $5,000

Jacqueline Pakula - $2,500 Age 11 - 13 Division Kori Kelley - $3,000

Age 10 & Under Division McKenna Bein - $1,500

Quinn Eisenfeld - $1,000

Winners were presented with their High Point Awards during the 2015 Arabian Reining Breeders Classic Celebration Party, Thursday, February 19th at the ARBC booth located along ring 5 at the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. Volume 45, No. 11 | 33

Region 12 And Spotlight Futurity Stallions Setting Precedents In Presenting And Promoting Arabian Horses with Christy Egan

he Region 12 Championship Show, one of the first regionals of the year, runs Monday through Saturday, May 4th-9th. This southeast AHA region is a large, formidable area, encompassing fifteen or more local Arabian shows annually, plus a confluence of some of the most important Arabian horse breeders in North America. One of the largest regional shows, Region 12 offers a level of competition and quality facility that rival the very best. 2015 judges include Bruce Bates, Terry Holmes and Susan Witte. Holmes is also judging the Canadian Nationals later this summer, and Susan Witte will be part of the halter panel at the U.S. National show next fall in Tulsa. As if this were not enough to attract exhibitors and horsemen, the show is rapidly reinventing itself as a premier example of cooperative management and innovation, certain to set horse show precedents into the coming decade. Lisa Blackstone, Region 12 Director and Show Commissioner, has helped energize plans for this year’s show, starting with an assist from the Perry, Ga., Chamber of Commerce. “We contacted them to invite their help in bringing in local horse enthusiasts and families,” Lisa says. “It will be the first year that they have a booth at the Region 12 show to direct

34 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

visitors and their families to a variety of interesting, fun activities in Perry. Within just a few miles of the fairgrounds, visiting the new local FISH center with its angler-friendly information/directions or downtown Perry with its charming shops and Southern hospitality are a good place to start.” Another ‘good place to start,’ even more close-at-hand than Perry’s old town, is the Region 12 Man Cave … new this year! The Man Cave is a big “thank-you” to all of the husbands and wives who support their spouses’ Arabian horse addiction with time, money and patience. The room, which will be located convenient to the show ring, will offer a big screen television, full size pool table, darts, hoops, and a poker table, all in a lovely, decorated, air-conditioned setting. Long suffering spouses are also at the center of the First Annual Region 12 Chili Cook-Off. If you are coming to the show and are good with chili peppers and beans, be sure to bring your crock pot! Probably slated for Friday afternoon, the Chili Cook-Off is still in the planning, but there will be prestige and prizes for the winner! In conjunction with the local Chamber of Commerce there will be a Military evening during the show with

Secretary of the Region 12 a special invitation to families Spotlight Futurity, noted that stationed at Robins Air Force there will probably be about 80 Base near Perry. A special stallions in the Spotlight Service cordoned off section will be set Auction this year. However, it’s aside to honor our servicemen and not too late to nominate your women, and a horseman will be stallion. Even a late nomination provided to talk about and explain is still worth the fee when you the classes throughout Friday consider all of the marketing evening. Also on Friday evening, and promotional activity for Cynthia Culbertson will be the the stallions between now and speaker for the Spotlight Futurity the auction itself, scheduled Educational Seminar, entitled for Thursday evening, May “Romance and Reality, the 7th. “The visibility at the History of the Arabian Breed and auction, the live streaming its Relevance Today”; sponsored broadcast, the stallion promotion by Markel Insurance and held in on-line and the new sales the Commercial Exhibitor Area at Lisa Blackstone opportunities for offspring are Reeves Arena. Another Chamber Region 12 Director and Show Commissioner. just a few of the great reasons affiliated “perk” has several of the to get involved,” says Kimberly. better Perry restaurants remaining “When we recently put up the Spotlight Auction Sale open later in the evening to accommodate horsemen Opportunities page, three horses sold from it within the and exhibitors with late night schedules. For more first thirty days!” information, check your exhibitor packet. The Spotlight Stallions and the Region 12 show are really two different functions that come together once each year to celebrate the southern Arabian horse. People often think of the five or six American Arabian Stallion Futurities as a “Halter-only” situation, but it’s not entirely true. The total Spotlight Stallion Futurity prize money of $178,000 includes $57,000 in prize money for hunter pleasure, western pleasure and English pleasure. Of all the major Arabian Stallion Futurities, only two: Scottsdale Signature and Region 12 Spotlight include performance competition. Kimberly Douglas,

Spotlight Auction evening festivities will begin at 5 pm, Thursday, with cocktails in the Reeves Arena. The theme of the party is, Everyone Is Invited! There will be a special “live” area for the serious bidders and a special “fun” area for the not-so-serious party folks (and that includes everyone!). There will be food, a $10 bottomless glass of beer or wine, entertainment from 6 pm to 9 pm courtesy of the auctioneer, bidders and Spotlight Stallions; and from 9 pm to midnight, courtesy of a live band, folks dancing, laughing and carrying on. Allison Mehta of Talaria Farm is in charge

Volume 45, No. 11 | 35

of the party décor and much of the arrangements. “These futurity programs are so critically important to our industry right now,” says Allison. “Many are fair trade in the auction, but sometimes you get a real bargain on a great stallion. The auction classes with the amateur handlers offer a much more level playing field. I am looking forward to orchestrating the decorations and the party, even though the set-up and take-down will have to be accomplished in hyper-time. This is a new challenge for me and I have wonderful, dedicated people to help. So many Arabian horse breeders and owners have worked so very hard to make the Spotlight program a success.” Then, just like Cinderella’s Ball, the whole affair will stop abruptly at midnight, the band will pack up, the arena will undergo a quick change-back to performancehorse-friendly, and all the little “pumpkins” will have to make their way off to dreamland. The Region 12 show attracts exhibitors from many hundreds of miles away. A major area that contributes a nice number of horses and riders is Region 9, especially Dallas/Fort Worth and vicinity. JT Keller, Gordon Potts, Bob Hart Jr. and the Clarks from Long Meadow with their trainer, Stanley White III, all travel to Region 12 in May. Linda Clark has called the Region 12 show one of her family’s favorite horse shows of the year. “We have attended the Region 12 show for at least the past 10 years,” Linda says. “We don’t mind the distance because there’s great competition, the people that run it

do a wonderful job, and the facility is well laid out with good footing and plenty of arenas for warm-up.” This year the Clarks are bringing two new show horses, Jo Money, in the Half-Arabian Western Pleasure Amateur with Linda and DLC Thebuckstopshere, 2014 U.S. National Champion H/A Western Pleasure Futurity, now showing in H/A Western Pleasure Junior Horse with Stanley White III. It’s easy to see why people attend this show. A championship, a top five ribbon … they all have real prestige at this show. You’re very likely to see your Region 12 competitors down the road at the Youth, Canadian, Sport Horse and U.S. National Championships later in the year. It’s the top-of-the-line regionally, and a lot of fun along the way. n

Spotlight Auction Sale Opportunities page: (http://www.spotlightfuturity.com/opportunities/)

36 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Our Bags Are Packed ...

We'll be there! COVERING THE SHOWS • Al Khalediah Arabian Horse Championship • All Nations Cup, Aachen • Arabian Breeders World Cup • Arabian Foal Festival • Arabian Horse Celebration & North American Halter Championships • Arabian National Breeder Finals • Brazilian Nationals • Canadian Nationals • Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship • Iowa Gold Star Futurity • Mediterranean & Arab Countries Arabian Horse Championship, Menton • MN Breeders Fall Festival • Ohio Buckeye Sweepstakes • Polish National Championships • Regions 7, 9, 10, 12 & 14 • Salon du Cheval—World Arabian Horse Championship, Paris • Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show • U.S. Nationals • Youth Nationals

Before or after the show, contact: Tony Bergren • 231-286-6085 • Tonyb@ahtimes.com Jeff Wallace • 323-547-4116 • Jeff@ahtimes.com 1.800.248.4637 or 952.492.3213 • www.ahtimes.com Volume 45, No. 11 | 37

Halter Survey Results 607 respondents

Number Of Years With Arabians 1 - 10 years . 11 - 20 years 21 - 30 years 31 - 40 years 41 - 50 years 50+ years . .

. . . . . .

Count . . . . . .

. 56 119 172 164 . 80 . 16

. . . . . .

Are You... Breeder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breeder/Exhibitor . . . . . . . . . Breeder/Owner . . . . . . . . . . . Breeder/Trainer . . . . . . . . . . Breeder/Owner/Exhibitor . . . . . Breeder/Owner/Trainer . . . . . . Breeder/Trainer/Exhibitor . . . . . Breeder/Owner/Trainer/Exhibitor . Owner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Owner/Exhibitor . . . . . . . . . . Owner/Trainer/Exhibitor . . . . . Exhibitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Count . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. .1 . .4 . 31 . .3 321 . 14 . .1 112 . 20 . 76 . 17 . .5 . .2

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

% of Total

. . . . . .

. 9% . 20% . 28% . 27% . 13% . 3%

% of Total

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

0% 1% 5% 0% 53% 2% 0% 18% 3% 13% 3% 1% 0%

Did You Show At The U.S. Nationals Count

Yes No

% of Total

458 149

75% 25%

Last Time Showing At U.S. Nationals Count

1 - 9 years ago 10+ years ago 20+ years ago 30+ years ago Never

362 68 12 16 149

Judging Procedure Prefered AHA Scoring System Comparative System Current Practice No Answer

Count 168 254 176 9

% of Total 60% 11% 2% 3% 25%

% of Total 28% 42% 29% 1%

Which System Would Make You More Likely To Participate AHA Scoring System Comparative System

Count 305 302

% of Total 50% 50%

Where Would You like The U.S. National Halter To Be Held? All In The Pavilion

Count 148

% of Total 24%

Mostly in the Pavilion, but for Final Junior and Senior Arabian Breeding Stallions and Mares, in the Ford Truck Arena on Friday and Saturday nights 459 76%

Do You Favor The U.S. Nationalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Current List Of Titles Offered, With A Full Panel Of Gender And Age Restrictions, Or Do You Favor Fewer Titles in Order To See Larger Classes? Current number of classes Fewer classes (for more entries in each)

Count 162 445

% of Total 27% 73%

Volume 45, No 11 | 39

Daydreaming ...

Angelina Showlee (Showkayce+ x SC Zimpatique, by Shah Azim)

Presented in Las Vegas by Mr. Rodolfo Guzzo for Stella Bella Arabians and Day Dream Arabians, Inc.

Guzzo Worldwide LLC 9720 East Cactus Road Scottsdale, Arizona Guzzoworldwidellc@gmail.com

Office: 480-361-6926 Fax: 480-361-6928 Cell: 760-443-4853 www.guzzoat.com

with Stella Bella

Hello Darling (*Hi Hello Boy x Charlotte DDA, by Showkayce+)

Presented in Las Vegas by Mr. Rodolfo Guzzo for Stella Bella Arabians and Day Dream Arabians, Inc.

STELLA BELLA

Michele and Benjamin Bassichis Stella Bella Arabians 4515 Dorset Road Dallas, TX 75229 www.stellabellaarabians.com Volume 45, No. 11 | 41

Goddess

Leaders Of The Times: April Calendar Feature

Of Da Vinci by Kara Larson

Goddess Of Da Vinci (Da Vinci FM x Goddess of Marwan).

It all begins in the pedigree. And in the eyes of Ben and Michelle Bassichis, owners of Stella Bella Arabians, their exceptional mare, Goddess of Da Vinci has a pedigree unmatched. Ben offers, “Goddess of Da Vinci’s pedigree is a “who’s who” of horses that have made a significant positive impact on the Arabian horse breed. There are multiple generations of quality show horses on the dam line, culminated in Goddess of Marwan. A mare whose career was tragically foreshortened, Goddess of Marwan produced only one mare with the Da Vinci FM cross.” 42 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

And it was this cross that brought Goddess of Da Vinci into the world. Da Vinci FM was the 2013 Scottsdale International Silver Champion Stallion, and her dam, Goddess of Marwan, was a U.S. National Champion Yearling Filly, and dam of four champions from five registered foals. She is a daughter of World Champion Stallion *Marwan Al Shaqab and superb broodmare Amety B, who has produced 10 champions, six of them national winners.

From this successful line, Goddess of Da Vinci’s pedigree has come to life in her show ring presence. Goddess has been garnered with the title of 2013 Scottsdale Reserve Senior Champion Mare. She was also the Scottsdale Junior Champion Filly and U.S. Reserve National Champion Yearling Filly in 2011. Ben shares, “In the show arena, our beautiful Goddess of Da Vinci always puts on a fantastic performance and radiates beauty and her proud lineage throughout.” It was also in the show ring that Ben and Michelle’s favorite memory of Goddess occurred. “Our first amazing memory was seeing Goddess at the 2014 U.S. Nationals,” says Michelle. “It was the first show that we were able to watch her compete in person. We were so nervous; we could barely sit still. She came trotting into the arena with her head held high and an electric beauty that dazzled the entire arena. We knew right then that this legendary mare was the start of our Arabian future. She looked gorgeous, carried herself with confidence, and we had numerous people offering congratulations on her great presentation. We were so honored and touched by all the support we received from the Arabian community.” These past awards have brought Ben and Michelle immense joy, especially since they are new to the Arabian world. Despite their novelty, they are well aware of the magnitude this mare possesses. “As new owners and breeders in the Arabian horse business, owning Goddess can be summed up in one word ... amazing! She makes an impression on everyone who sees her, as she did on us when we first met her,” exclaims Michelle. And the excitement surrounding this horse doesn’t stop there. Ben shares, “Everyone we encounter in the Arabian world loves Goddess of Da Vinci. It is exciting and humbling to own a horse that evokes such magnetic response in people. No arena is too big to make her look insignificant. She is a powerful and athletic mare whose poise and beauty are truly extraordinary. She never fails to live up to her name.” Stemming from this mare’s appealing likeability and engaging charm is another incredible moment for Ben and Michelle. “After the 2015 Scottsdale show, Perry Payson arranged a private showing for about 40 top show dog people at Guzzo Worldwide. When Rodolfo brought out Goddess, she put on her usual spectacular performance. Afterward, one of the guests was so entranced by her that he asked if he could touch her,” shares Michelle. “Soon, all the guests crowded around and had their hands all over Goddess. All the while she kept her head up, calm and majestic, and just soaked in all the enamored attention. Goddess showed no nervousness, just the pure ability to enjoy human interaction that charismatically exemplifies her breed.” As her name, charisma, and pedigree continue into the next generation, Goddess has produced two superior babies, Basilio

Goddess Of Da Vinci with owners, Ben and Michelle Bassichis.

CS and Satin Doll GA, both out of JJ Bellagio. For Ben, it is the latest 2015 foal that has really ignited his interest. “Although she has produced amazing foals in the past, our current favorite is the 2-month-old filly, Bella Goddess SBA. Full of Goddess’ statuesque energy, she has her sire’s beautiful eyes and visage. We think she is an amazing foal who will surely make an impact.” From her show ring success, the wonderful beginnings of her breeding career, and her contagious charm, Goddess of Da Vinci present Ben and Michelle with something unique. As this mare’s past, present, and future link, Ben considers the span of her impact. “Her influence on the breed started decades ago, from the breeders who made careful and wise decisions which resulted in Goddess of Da Vinci. Maintaining an extremely strong dam line, crossing with *Marwan Al Shaqab, then crossing with the dynamic Da Vinci FM and his incredible pedigree, amazing things were sure to happen. We just hope her effect is to bring continued strength and balance, which will cross well with dynamic and beautiful stallions. She is the type of horse that excites us about the Arabian breed, and will hopefully inspire others to get involved. She is an excellent ambassador to represent the very best of what we can breed in North America.” At the end of the day, Ben and Michelle simply love Goddess of Da Vinci, and hope that someday, she will be able to join them in Texas. “We really enjoy seeing her in the show arena, however, at some point we would love to bring her home. It is purely a selfish desire to have her close where we can spend more time with her and also allow Goddess some natural horse time.” Ben adds, “She has produced amazing offspring up to this point and we plan to continue crossing with stallions that will allow her incredible pedigree and strengths to be celebrated. If and when she comes to Texas, she is too amazing to not bring into the show arena periodically ... so stay tuned! When she does come to the Dallas area, we encourage people to come visit her, as she adores the love and attention.” n Volume 45, No. 11 | 43

Guest Editorial: V—The Legacy Of Sheila Varian by EVIE TUBBS SWEENEY, Executive Producer

he world premiere of “V: The Legacy of Sheila Varian” appropriately took place at the Clark Center for Performing Arts in Sheila’s hometown of Arroyo Grande, Calif., on the weekend of Varian Arabian’s annual Diamond Jubilee, August 3, 2014. The weekend celebrated Varian Arabians’ 60th anniversary breeding Arabian horses. Over 600 people attended the sold-out historical event, while more than 5,000 more watched a live stream from more than 40 countries around the world, signifying her global impact. The audience was very moved, because though this is indeed one of the greatest horse stories ever told, it is also—perhaps even more so—a human story. For there is not one of us that isn’t struggling with something. Maybe it’s a bad doctor’s appointment … maybe it’s a job loss … or shattered dreams. This story is about perseverance, dedication, and most of all, what can happen when someone digs deep to follow their calling and ends up changing the world. And we have Sheila Varian to thank for that. n

44 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

How It Works:

The World Class Operation Of Arabians International by ANNE STRATTON

Plenty has been written about Sandro Pinha and Gil Valdezâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Arabians International, in Scottsdale, Ariz. The roster of awards won by horses appearing with Sandro, Gil or their clients is impressive; add trophies that Pinha and Valdez won before they opened their own operation, and the depth of their reputation is even more remarkable. National awards, World Cup championships, Scottsdale tri-colors and international trophies make Arabians International one of the most successful operations in the world.

Still, it is doubtful that even Pinha and Valdezâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fans realize how comprehensive their halter record has been. Just the highlights of last year provide a glimpse. At the World Cup, the Arabians International team collected three gold, two silver and five bronze championships, along with five class wins. At Tulsa in October, Pinha alone scored national championships with a quartet of halter contenders ranging in age from yearling to aged stallionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and then flew to Brazil to present a staggering one-third of the winners at the Brazilian National Championships. And when this year opened at Scottsdale, he led four junior champions (purebred colt, filly and gelding, and Half-Arabian filly), while Gil showed a fifth, the Half-Arabian colt. Add in other titles there as well, and clients who contribute a procession of awards in amateur, and the picture comes into focus. That is just a typical year. Business as usual. The trick is, they keep doing it. Pinha especially, has been high profile for about 15 years, and Valdez has long had his own following. It is not, however, a job they take lightly. In fact, especially given the time zones of the world, it is a 24/7 commitment. Top: Sandro Pinha

Left: Scottsdale Champion H/A Classic Junior Gelding DOM

PERIGNON LL (Vitorio TO x Rohara Mademoiselle), shown by Gilberto Valdez for owner Linda Lane.

During the “high season,” 80 or more horses call Arabians International home, including the show string, six topclass breeding stallions, broodmares and recipient mares. As important as the training, showing and breeding efforts is the marketing activity; the farm maintains a worldwide network of contacts to keep their clients supplied with horses, and also handles sales on behalf of its owners. Millions of dollars (literally) in horses and breedings change hands there annually. For the past two years, Arabians International has been recognized as Arabian Horse Times Readers’ Choice Marketer of the Year. So, how do they do it? It takes a village, the saying goes, and in this case, a steady hand at the helm—one who makes his priorities clear. “The horses come first,” says Pinha. “If the horses are not cared for, we have nothing. We’re nowhere.” That is where it begins and ends, and with the team he has, it works. “I think their success is due in large part to attention to detail,” observes Scottsdale veterinarian Laura Harris. She would know; she takes care of the farm’s equine medical needs. “That is accomplished by delegation of responsibility between veterinarians, farriers, office management and trainers. Everyone has their own area for which they are responsible. Everyone contributes and communicates.” 2 ArAbiAns internAtionAl

The key is that everyone, from Pinha and Valdez to the grooms (many of whom have been with Pinha for nearly a decade) is skilled and experienced, and there is communication at every level. Luiz (“Lucho”) Guimaraes is in charge of training, manages the barn and does most of the schooling. “Every time we are with the horses, we’re looking at the water, at their feet, their joints, their blankets, their whole condition,” he says. “The horses are being checked by this group all day long. Everybody is responsible for every horse—we take care of the place like a team; we all talk about things and make decisions. And the cool thing is, everybody has a little different talent that they can put into a horse.”

A breeder with a national champion to her credit, Donnelly takes care of almost everything that isn’t hands-on with the horses (although as an owner and amateur rider, she is no stranger to barn practices). And she is a liaison for everyone, the professionals and the farm’s 30 to 40 clients alike, when it comes to the business. Laura M. Harris D.V.M., who provides veterinary service to some of Scottsdale’s top Arabian establishments, is on the farm regularly. Whenever possible, she confers with Sandro daily, but if he is not available, she is able to be proactive when necessary. “We all are so comfortable working together that if I see a problem, I can initiate a solution and then let Sandro

Guimaraes, who grew up in a family of horse breeders, had his own operation in Brazil and attended veterinary school before opting for international experience. He worked in Canada and Saudi Arabia, traveling to the United States regularly to work with Pinha, before signing on for his present position. In the office, Pam Donnelly is another longtime associate. She has been with Pinha for six years and, in his words, is not only important now, but was “integral to starting Arabians International.”

Left: Lillyana PCF

Right: Luis with Veleta, 2015 foal.

ArAbiAns internAtionAl 3

know what my decisions were,” she says. “If I need to call an owner, I can. It is my policy on every farm, but Sandro encourages owner communication. The owners can call or text me directly—many of them are already in my phone from previous conversations.” Farrier Josh Morris, who handles the farm’s shoeing, is likewise free to do his job; he and Harris often consult on what is best for each horse. Pinha is open about his trust in his staff. “They are why I can do what I do,” he says simply. “I always tell people that are new, we have an open barn,” he adds, with the security of one who knows the bases are well covered. “There is nothing that we hide from anybody. If you see something that needs to be fixed, let us know so we can deal with it right away. That makes everyone’s life a lot easier.” While the horses come first, taking care of clients is also a priority. Donnelly handles most of the communication and client events, while Gil Valdez, who serves as facility manager (his design and landscaping has drawn wide praise), and also schools horses and shows, assists with the open houses and customer parties. The farm’s clients report that those parties—sometimes glitzy, often casual, always fun— are a much-appreciated benefit of working with Pinha and Valdez. The camaraderie, longtime owners say, Top: Que Syrah

Left: Nyeela SF and Pam Donnelly Right: 2015 Scottsdale Show 4 ArAbiAns internAtionAl

adds sparkle to the Arabian show scene, especially around Scottsdale time. So, the bottom line on Arabians International? All the hardware in the show ring, the global resources for horses, and the commerce conducted for clients is the result of talent and a thorough responsibility to the horses. It comes from a sound foundation at home. “I can visit all areas of the farm at any time, so I see much of what happens there,” reflects Dr. Harris. “I feel that the horses are treated with respect—and they return that respect.” Lucho Guimaraes would agree. “Everyone here really loves horses,” he says. “Before we get a horse ready for the show, we want to make sure it is well taken care of and healthy. That’s most important to us, even before training and conditioning: the horses are happy and healthy. We like horses to last a long, long time, for other shows and years to come.” n

ArAbiAns internAtionAl 5

SIRE OF NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014 & 2015 SCOTTSDALE LEADING SIRE OF HALTER WINNERS

Sir Fames HBV x Entaicyng NA

1 SCCOTTSDALE JUNIOR CHAMPION 8 SCOTSDALE CLASS CHAMPIONS AND RESERVE CHAMPIONS 20 SCOTTSDALE TOP TEN OR BETTER CHAMPIONSHIP HONORS 1 PRODUCE OF DAM CHAMPION (ALL SIRED BY EVER AFTER NA)

6 ArAbiAns internAtionAl

Beijing BHF x GA Mi Grandlady 7 SCOTTSDALE CHAMPIONS & RESERVE CHAMPIONS 7 SCOTTSDALE TOP TENS OR BETTER ALL FROM HIS FIRST FOAL CROP OF 14 FOALS!

Proudly owned by

Robert & Dixie North 619.992.9832 www.NorthArabians.com Multi-Program Nominated Sires SCID & CA Clear Represented by Arabians International Sandro Pinha 480.226.0001 Gil Valdez 480.226.7357 Pam Donnelly 480.414.8194 www.ArabiansInternational.com

Anastasiaa NA Grand Commandd x Mystica Antasia

ArAbiAns internAtionAl 7

SIRE OF INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE

Kubinec x 218 Elf Layla Walayla B, by Assad

Multi-National Champion

8 ArAbiAns internAtionAl

U. S. NATIONAL 4-YEAR-OLD MARES WITH SANDRO PINHA

Proudly owned by The El Nabila B Initiative Mike Weinstein | 408.307.6436 mweinstein@psynergy.org

El Nabila B x Om El Jinaah, by Al Lahab

Multi-Program Nominated Sire SCID & CA Clear Represented by Arabians International Sandro Pinha 480.226.0001 Gil Valdez 480.226.7357 Pam Donnelly 480.414.8194 www.ArabiansInternational.com

ArAbiAns internAtionAl 9

10 ArAbiAns internAtionAl

LAS VEGAS WORLD CUP 8 & OVER STALLIONS WITH SANDRO PINHA

Om El Shahmaan x Paris To Rome Proudly owned by

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia www.Alsayedstud.com www.ArabiansInternational.com

ArAbiAns internAtionAl 11

12 ArAbiAns internAtionAl

Da Vinci FM x Amety B

LAS VEGAS WORLD CUP & U. S. NATIONAL YEARLING COLTS WITH SANDRO PINHA

Proudly owned by Gemini Acres | Jim & Sally Bedeker Cave Creek, AZ Chris Barter 602.501.9877 www.geminiacresequine.com www.ArabiansInternational.com

ArAbiAns internAtionAl 13

2014 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPION SUPREME JUNIOR STALLION 2014 U.S. NATIONAL RESERVE CHAMPION YEARLING COLT 2015 SCOTTSDALE CHAMPION 2-YEAR-OLD COLT 2015 SCOTTSDALE CHAMPION JUNIOR COLT

Marwan Al Shaqab x RD Challs Angel

For breeding information on Titan AS or Soul Of Marwan AS, contact Arabians International Sandro Pinha 480.226.0001 Gil Valdez 480.226.7357 Pam Donnelly 480.414.8194

14 A rAbiAns internAtionAl

Proudly owned by Arabian Soul Partners www.ArabianSoulLtd.com www.ArabiansInternational.com

2015 Filly | Titan AS x Juliah B

2012 2013 2013 2014 2014

2015 Colt | Titan AS x Julia Roberts

BREEDER FINALS CHAMPION WEANLING COLT BREEDERS WORLD CUP BRONZE SUPREME CHAMPION COLT BREEDERS WORLD CUP CHAMPION YEARLING COLT BREDERS WORLD CUP BRONZE SUPREME CHAMPION JR. STALLION BREEDERS WORLD CUP CHAMPION 2-YEAR-OLD COLT

El Nabila B x Om El Beladeena

ArAbiAns internAtionAl 15

Ever After NA x Psyches Amber Dream

2014 U.S. NATIONAL RESERVE CHAMPION SUPREME JR. MARE • 2014 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPION YEARLING FILLY 2014 SCOTTSDALE CHAMPION YEARLING FILLY • 2014 WORLD CUP GOLD SUPREME CHAMPION FILLY 2015 SCOTTSDALE CHAMPION 2-YEAR-OLD FILLY • 2015 SCOTTSDALE CHAMPION JUNIOR FILLY

16 A rAbiAns internAtionAl

2015 SCOTTSDALE INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION 3 & 4 YEAR OLD MARE 2015 SCOTTSDALE INTERNATIONAL SILVER SUPREME CHAMPION MARE

WH Justice x JFN Captive Love Proudly owned by Arabian Soul Partners www.ArabianSoulLtd.com www.ArabiansInternational.com ArAbiAns internAtionAl 17

18 A rAbiAns internAtionAl

LAS VEGAS WORLD CUP 3-YEAR-OLD FILLIES WITH SANDRO PINHA

Abha Qatar x BHF Dark Angel

Proudly owned by Desert Horse Partners LLC Jeff Sloan | 248.766.2903 Milford, MI www.ArabiansInternational.com ArAbiAns internAtionAl 19

Kelly Campbell photo

2015 SCOTTSDALE RESERVE CHAMPION 3-YEAR-OLD FILLY

20 ArAbiAns internAtionAl

Ever After NA x Psyches Amber Dream

U. S. NATIONAL FUTURITY FILLIES WITH SANDRO PINHA

Proudly owned by Jack & Elizabeth Milam Newcastle, OK | Scottsdale, AZ www.RegencyCoveFarms.com www.ArabiansInternational.com

ArAbiAns internAtionAl 21

Pitonisa AS

Scottsdale & National Champion Owned by Arabian Soul Partners

2015 SCOTTSDALE CHAMPION PRODUCE OF DAM ALL SIRED BY EVER AFTER NA & PROUDLY BRED BY LISA MARKLEY

Amani Al Shahania

Scottsdale Champion Owned by Al Shahania Stud

Forever Mi Dream

Scottsdale Reserve Champion Owned by Regency Cove Farms

Proudly owned by Lisa Markley & Leanne Reel Lisa Markley Arabians Lisa Markley | 480.220.3100 lisamarkleyarabians.com Scottsdale, AZ

22 ArAbiAns internAtionAl

www.ArabiansInternational.com

BROODMARE EXTRAORDINAIRE

Padrons Psyche x Mi Amber Dream, by Magic Dream

ArAbiAns internAtionAl 23

Arbiteur x Donatella Versace

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WWW.AHTIMES.COM/SUBSCRIBE 1- 855 -240 - 4637 Volume 45, No. 11 | 81

The Life Of Psy

From Rescue To All Around Horse PA R T I by Catherine Cole

BEFORE

orse lovers love to look at good horses and trainer Kim Christy is no exception. From finding a future national champion on the side of a mountain pasture to home grown breeding, Kim is always on the lookout for the next great Arabian horse. One early morning, while scrolling through Facebook, Kim came upon a sale ad for a good-looking sevenyear-old black purebred Arabian gelding. Psyon SMA certainly had ‘the goods’ being the grandget of three of the breed’s great stallions: Desperado V, Padrons Psyche, and Ali Jamaal. Psyon SMA (“Psy”) was currently a local Southern California horse being advertised for sale by a private owner. Intrigued by the pedigree and price ($4,000), Kim called the owner and made an appointment to see the handsome black gelding. Kim recollects her first live view of Psy, “The photo accompanying Psy’s ad was when he was two; he looked healthy and happy. Arriving at Psy’s current home, my partner and I made it to the end of a dirt road. There, we saw two small box stall size pens, each housing a horse frantically pacing and clearly searching for feed. Both 82 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

AFTER

horses were literally about half their ideal weight; it was amazing that they could even stand given their starved condition, much less summon the energy to wear down their feet in a relentless search for food. I felt sick to my stomach. We quickly figured out which horse was Psy as his black coat had miraculously retained an ebony sheen. But that was the only sign of health on him. My partner (large animal veterinarian M. “Wayne” McNeel) estimated his weight at 450 pounds. Psy had gaping summer sores on his left jaw and feet, and his back had ‘rain rot’—open sores front to back. Still, it was obvious this was a quality horse who had met a terrible, terrible fate.” The other horse was in equally bad shape. Fate was about to turn tide for both. Kim quickly telephoned a friend who was involved in a local horse rescue. Kim was able to take on the rescue of Psy, but couldn’t and wouldn’t leave the other horse behind. With the rescue horse trailer on the way, Kim firmly negotiated the acquisition of Psy. Kim remembers, “I told the owner we would take both horses off their hands as it was glaringly obvious they

The Life Of Psy

were unwilling or unable to care for the horses, or any animals, for that matter. I bought Psy for next to nothing, had his papers signed off, and made certain the other horse would be rescued. When it came time to load up Psy, I was told he wouldn’t haul. Well, he happily and willingly got into our trailer! Psy fed on a bit of hay during his short trek back to our barn. We didn’t want a starved horse to founder!” Upon arrival at the Kim Christy Show Horses barn, Psy’s new home was a spacious box stall cushioned with plenty of shavings. Dr. McNeel, had Kim start Psy on free feed and Core Builder, an all-natural supplement that promotes weight gain and muscle support. With a low rescue weight, Psy was skin and bones. He had little, if any, muscle. Kim says, “We initiated Psy to his exercise program very, very slowly. After spending a few days settling in, we started hand walking him daily for just a few minutes. Any more than that raised the concern that Psy might tie up. A couple weeks later, Psy moved forward to a ten-minute longe. Three weeks of that and we increased his exercise to about 30 minutes. All the while, Psy had constant veterinary care for his summer sores and rain rot. His weight gain was incredible—you’ve never seen a horse more grateful and smart about free feeding. It was clear this horse was appreciative and happy in his new home.” Kim goes on to say, “Psy had been advertised with a photo as a young horse being started with saddle and bridle. He had had a great start in life. He was sweet, quiet, and incredibly tolerant of all the treatment and medications he needed to cure all the damage done. We didn’t know the extent of his training as a riding horse, but we knew we had a gelding who was kind, gentle, sweet, and smart. Psy immediately bonded with the entire barn clientele, but most especially with my nine year old daughter, Christy.” Fast-forward six weeks post-rescue to Psy’s first saddling and ride, “Yes, Psy was clearly very green broke. Poststart he had been taught some bad habits. But being the smart guy he is, Psy quickly became a part of our training program,” shares Kim. Never one to push any horse too quickly, Kim schooled Psy as if he were a young horse. “When he knew how to

turn and get around an arena,” she adds, “we got several different people on him. He took good care of them. From our barn, we can ride straight out of the property and onto beautiful trails. Psy has taken clients and my daughter out on our trails. Six months after his rescue, Psy is pretty much our all-around horse.” While offers to purchase have been extended to Kim for this black beauty, Kim sees him as a permanent member of her training barn and her life. “My daughter and Psy have their own special connection. What is more special than the bond of a youngster and their horse? Psy not only packs my daughter around, he also has started doing weekly Team Penning. Psy as a riding horse is balanced, forward, and consistent. We see his future as that of our all-around Arabian horse performing everything from working western to the hunt discipline. Walk-Trot is definitely in his future. Psy is the perfect versatile Arabian horse we all dream to own.” All horses deserve to find their job and enjoy a happy home. As their caretakers, this is our foremost responsibility. Stay tuned for more adventures of ‘The Life Of Psy!’ ■ Volume 45, No. 11 | 83

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WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD Olivia Strauch

A R A BI A N HOR SE TR A INER AT L A S ROSA S A R A BES U RUGUAY

with Jeff Wallace

ow did you come to know the Princess? Through a friend in common who is a breeder in Uruguay, Gustavo de León. It was hard for him to persuade the managers at the farm to hire a woman. It was the first time a woman was working at Las Rosas. This was 2004.

Did you arrive at Las Rosas with a vision or is this something that formed as your career grew there? No vision at all. I was just a girl willing to learn and who wanted to work with horses. My dream was to become a trainer. Actually, I did it for some time, training and showing horses for Las Rosas and other clients in Uruguay, but when the quality of the horses started to get better and the competition tougher, I felt it was time to leave the whip behind and bring the “real ones!” I’m highly self-demanding and quite obsessed with perfection, so I will only do the things I believe I´m good at. I was very lucky to have the opportunity to learn while working in a great position; that’s why I will always be so grateful to Laetitia and the general manager of Las Rosas, Roberto Serventi, who trusted and believed in me from the beginning. What was it like growing up in Uruguay? Uruguay is a quiet country—nothing happens here. Everything seems impossible. If you are a dreamer, you are nuts. So I always felt I was. When and how did you come to know the Arabian horse? My family owned a cattle farm two hours from Montevideo (the city were I grew up), where my grandma had a couple of Arabian mares. I always admired them in secret, because the breed didn’t have a good reputation in Uruguay at that time. The most popular horse here is the “Criollo” and everyone said Arabians were crazy and good for nothing. There was something about them that attracted me though … they were different, which made them special.

When I was around eight years old, my mother took me to “Expo Prado” to see the Arabian horse show, and I remember walking around in the stables and thinking, “I will be part of this someday; I bet I will.” What is it like traveling the world with the Arabian horse? Everyone says that when it comes to things that you dreamed about, you don’t appreciate them as much when you finally have them. But I certainly do! I enjoy every instant of every trip from the moment I leave to the airport. Mine is a lifestyle I wouldn’t change for anything else in the world. I do what I love every day around fantastic animals, meet amazing people, visit amazing places all around the world and get paid for it. Olivia, your intense focus and loyalty to Excalibur EA over the last few years is quite impressive. Tell us the story of how you found this horse and why you love him so. People here tease me that I am married to Excalibur! All my friends were married with children by this time. I’m the only one single in a group of eleven best friends from school in the ultra-traditional and conservative Uruguay. I just do what I feel happy doing, and for the moment, that is being around the horses. I don’t think ahead or plan much; I just live what life has prepared for me. With Excalibur, it was love at first sight, which never happened to me before with a horse. I had been looking for a stallion for Las Rosas for the last 4 years, but never saw anything that I really felt we should take home. That is, until I saw the 2012 U.S. Nationals email blast from Ted Carson with Excalibur. Something captured my attention and I felt I should inquire more about this horse. In the end, he conquered us all and we ended up buying him. I cannot say I was a “visionary” and knew he was going to be a World Champion—not at all! I just felt he was the horse we needed to upgrade our program. Volume 45, No. 11 | 85

Roberto Serventi, Laetitia dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Arenberg, Olivia Strauch and dog Frida. 86 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD

I saw him as a breeding horse more than a show horse. By then, I already thought we should produce our champions, not buy them. A very important thing about Excalibur and me is that he was the first big deal I did on my own. Nobody advised us or pushed us to buy this horse; I liked him, so went after him, and made the decision with Roberto and Laetitia. What do you think Excalibur EA offers our breed? I love to read about the history of the breed, the strains and bloodlines, and I am lucky enough to have a place to do my experiments and make my own judgments (and hopefully they profit for the farm!) Before purchasing Excalibur, I did some research on his pedigree, and afterwards I met breeder Albert Sorroca. I also had the opportunity to visit Equus Arabians in Spain, to meet his sire Shanghai EA, his dam Essence of Marwan EA, his grandmother, the beautiful Salymah EA, and many of Excalibur’s brothers and sisters. There I knew that I was on the correct path. So many beautiful and well-built horses present in his pedigree was a great affirmation for me.

Olivia Strauch and Excalibur EA.

If we consider that Excalibur is a horse that represents the best of his predecessors, being a balanced, correct, charismatic and handsome horse, what he offers the breed is the return to a “real horse” that can be pretty without giving away all the rest.

he was not “all that.” I even heard somebody say he was a “glorified gelding.” After we decided to take him, we heard a lot of “he is not pretty enough for Europe,” “it’s impossible to beat FA El Rasheem,” “you don’t have

OLIVIA Describe what it’s like to be involved with a European Triple Crown winner? Being involved with World Champion and Triple Crown Winner Excalibur EA offers the gratifying feeling that owning these kind of horses is not an exclusive privilege of the most rich and influential people in the business. I can say, “It’s possible; we did it!” You had tremendous competition in Paris. Describe the thrill of the win. Most people said we were crazy to buy this horse—that he was too expensive and that

STR AUCH the politics” and many other discouraging comments. This negative atmosphere made the thrill even bigger, the adventure even more exciting, and the will to win huge. We felt like the Uruguayan soccer team in the World Cup: against all the odds. The dream of Laetitia since she was 15 years old and mine for the last 10, reduced into a few minutes while we stood beside a horse and a golden saddle—and you think you own the world. What an amazing, unforgettable feeling.

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Who are your mentors in this breed? Rodolfo Guzzo inspired me in every aspect of this industry, opening many doors and my eyes to everything. He belongs to the select group of people that created his own way of going and had the generosity of letting us in—not only me, but many others that today, are somebody in the business. Dejair Souza is one of my best friends and the most talented and sensitive horseman I have ever known. I have had the privilege to watch him school, and I speak with him about horses for endless hours. Gustavo de León was the person that encouraged me to live for and from horses, and believed I could do it when I didn’t.

Olivia Strauch and Rodolfo Guzzo.

Do you have a social life outside of Arabian horses? If yes, tell us a little bit about that. I try to! It’s very tough when your job is your hobby and your passion and the most important thing in your life. Despite all, I love my country, and if I still live here, it is because I cannot be gone for a long time away from my family, my friends, my habits, and traditions and won’t leave behind the idea of someday raising a family just as mine, right here. Do you prefer the ocean or the desert? The countryside! What was judging the Breeder Finals like? Did you enjoy it? It was probably the only aspect of the business that I haven’t experienced before and I felt honored to have been invited. I was very nervous from the day I received the invitation until the morning of the second day of judging. Fellow judges, organizers, and the trainers in the ring made it very easy for me, which I appreciated immensely. I had a great time!

Olivia during a winning moment.

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In your experience with the breed, what is on your mind currently in regards to the industry? Endurance comes to my mind and I must admit that I feel a bit jealous. This sport is getting more and more popular in my country—attracting many breeders who used to show halter horses before. The main reason is that it’s easier and cheaper to be successful in endurance than in the show ring (and more profitable). The other reason is that it’s still an amateur sport where everyone

WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD

can participate (owners race their horses at the World Championships for example) while in halter you need to pay professionals to do everything for you if you want to compete at a high level. I don’t really have any great ideas to solve this; I’m not even sure if the solution exists, but I see it’s a problem and people are leaving the business. I’ve read some discussions about the future of the industry and appreciate the efforts of people like Scott Bailey and Riyan Holte regarding these matters. With your global perspective, please tell us how you feel about the current state of the Arabian horse. Selection is making a horse that is getting closer and closer to the image of perfection. To be competitive nowadays, you have to think on breeding a very complete horse. It’s very challenging to be part of this process, and at the same time, a big responsibility. We are carving the future, so we should emphasize more on the art than on the money. You have traveled to so many different shows at so many different destinations; which is your favorite and why? My favorite show in the world is Aachen. It takes place in a country I admire, in a charming city, has wonderful parties, the best horses in the world, and it is fairly judged.

It’s very challenging to be part of this process, and at the same time, a big responsibility. We are carving the future, so we should emphasize more on the art than on the money. Versace is my all-time favorite. Although I never had the chance to meet him, I can recognize his classic style generation after generation. Our stallion Dominic M (Da Vinci FM x Rosa la Valentina— double Versace) has his look and that’s why we bought him and I love him. And Bask, because people from the “time of Bask” are kind of superior for me. They tell stories of the “good old times” and stuff like that, from when I was not even born and I hate them for that! What women in the breed did you or do you most admire? Eileen Verdieck, who taught men how to train a halter horse, and Robin Hopkinson, who could show a horse as well as most of them did. ■

Are there any lines or strains of the Arabian breed that you wish to know more about? I would love to stay in Poland for some time and learn as much as I can from them. They are a world reference with a rich history. What breeding programs around the world do you admire today and why? I admire ALL true breeding programs, but unfortunately, these are getting scarce around the world. Whether I like their type of horse or not, I love to meet committed breeders with a project. Breeding is a journey with no end and that’s why it is so fascinating. A real breeder enjoys every step of it and the ones that don’t get frustrated easily. I visited Australia for the first time recently, and I was very impressed with the Mulawa and Simeon Stud programs and owners. If you could resurrect any two horses, owned by yourself or anyone else, who would they be and why?

Olivia with Christine Jamar.

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The Celebration Event And North American Halter Championships Q&A With Bob Battaglia And Bob North with Anne Stratton

ake two well-known and highly praised equine events, combine them, and what do you get? If they are the Arabian Horse Celebration and the AHBA World Cup, you get a dynamic new affair with a lot of potential for the Arabian horse community: the Arabian Horse Celebration and North American Halter Championships. (Okay, so the name is rather a mouthful, but its point is crystal clear.) It is four days of full-on promotion for the breed, including a horse show that features new and prestigious halter titles, scheduled so that the audience, without leaving their seats, can see some of the best halter and performance competition on the calendar. Now that it has been announced, organizers aren’t wasting a minute. The first combined show will be held September 3-6, 2015, Labor Day weekend, at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center—better known in Arabian circles as Freedom Hall—in Louisville, Ky.

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On March 17, online on AHT Live, the magazine’s Jeff Wallace spoke with Bob Battaglia, who has led the Celebration through its three years of history, and Jeff Sloan, of the AHBA Board of Directors, about the new effort. Here, we tapped Battaglia again and consulted Bob North, who has been a member of AHBA’s Board since the World Cup began 10 years ago. The central message? Everyone agrees: it is to promote the Arabian horse in an exciting, friendly and fun atmosphere. First, tell us what happened that led to this new collaboration. BOB BATTAGLIA. During the Scottsdale open house tours this past January, a few breeders, trainers and exhibitors were talking about putting together a great, fun event. Bob and Dixie North, Scott Bailey and a few others who are with the World Cup were

part of it, and we came up with joining forces. We’d spoken about it before, but the time had never been quite right. (Some people may not remember, but I was on the board of the World Cup in the beginning, and we had performance classes there for the first two years. The reason we stopped was that logistically it just didn’t work well in that show ring.) So, it was not surprising that we would all have the same common goal of putting the performance and halter back together. BOB NORTH. There also was a meeting of more than 80 halter trainers and handlers in Scottsdale in January, where people voiced what they felt was needed in the halter arena today. So, going into this, we knew that one of our goals would be to create a show that meets the needs of the halter community, and also benefits the Arabian horse worldwide by showing the horses in a way that will make people want to come and see it, and participate in it.

the halter and the performance communities, in having a combined halter and performance event, like we did in the old days. BOB BATTAGLIA. Also, the point of having only one ring is so that everyone can see the Arabian horse

Bob Battaglia Arabian Horse Celebration, President

The Celebration was a natural fit for us. And while we’re committed to Louisville this year, afterward we can go anywhere if we feel that we should. This is a combination of mutual interest and respect, and it allows us to present a show that has both halter and performance in the same arena. Why such emphasis on better coordinating the halter and performance schedules? BOB BATTAGLIA. Our thought was that blending the two shows could start to bring the breed back together. The separation of halter and performance is, to me, hurting the breed. At the Nationals and even Scottsdale, halter and performance are separated; they are different shows going on at the same time, and if you are a breeder, you cannot go from the breeding ring to the performance ring, or vice versa, and see the horses. The way the schedule is, it is impossible. BOB NORTH. What we found when we talked to people was that there was still a lot of interest, both in

Bob North Arabian Horse Breeders Alliance, Director

and its versatility. That way, new people can see if they want to be involved—and who wouldn’t want to become involved with Arabians, given their personality and ability? And we also have to let them see that Arabians are no more expensive than any other breed, and that they are a family horse. How much does an eastern location matter? BOB BATTAGLIA. I think we were all aware that there is no major halter show in the East in the fall of the year, and as I understand it, the World Cup had been interested in answering that need for some time. BOB NORTH. Our motivation is to create a classy halter show which is fun for the participants and the trainers, and will also be a show which showcases our beautiful Arabians in halter. There was a feeling that we’ve missed out on that for the last number of years, particularly on the east coast (although there are some very fine futurities, they are mostly for amateurs).

Volume 45, No. 11 | 91

Youth workshops and education.

We are trying to keep everyone in mind. The Arabian isn’t just a west coast or Scottsdale horse; it is a national and international horse. Is there a particular point to calling the halter competition the North American Halter Championships? BOB NORTH. Especially since fewer American breeders go to the Canadian Nationals these days (it can be costly, traveling that far), we felt there was a gap to be filled there too. There are a number of breeders in Canada who are breeding very good horses that are competitive in North America and Europe—the world, really. We wanted to provide another option for them to show. What judging system will be used at the North American Halter Championships? BOB NORTH. Because of a survey we ran, we recently voted to use a comparative system rather than a point system—not that one is better than another. A large percentage of U.S. trainers and exhibitors requested that we do that. But we will modify the procedures somewhat [to better meet everyone’s needs]. We’ve got some innovative things we are going to introduce at this show using the comparative system, which will be very good for the existing exhibitors and trainers, but also will be appealing to new people coming to the breed for the first time.

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How will all of this affect the Celebration Event as it has been known since it began? Will its traditional elements be back? BOB BATTAGLIA. The Celebration has never been just a horse show, so it will be largely the same— offering education, promotion, competition, a stallion row, and a marketplace to buy horses and breedings— that it always has. Although, of course, adding more of the best halter horses in North America will enhance what we have. Last year, you cancelled the Celebration. Can you tell us why, and if that affects how things will be this year? BOB BATTAGLIA. Last year, the show was a little later, and with a lot of people being on the road to other shows and making plans for U.S. Nationals, many of them did not get their entries in on time. I was not going to take a chance that those who did spend the money to come would be disappointed by the number of horses in their classes (the first two years, we ran five to 20 in a class). We were able to carry over most of our deposits, and within 30 days, we refunded all of the fees already paid to us. And, of course, after we had cancelled, I was contacted by enough exhibitors to let me know that the show could have gone on as usual. But it is safer to err on the side of caution.

This year we have dates that better accommodate people who want to go to U.S. Nationals, and just about everyone who was planning to come in 2014 has told me they’re on board for this year. Can we look forward to the same bells and whistles this year? BOB BATTAGLIA. You bet. We will still have Stallion Row, with our stallion presentations in Freedom Hall and the stable area— the same as last time, except that we’re being told that we’ll have even more stallions. More owners are understanding that they can show their stallions to a substantial crowd of people, and talk about their breeding programs, without having to transport the horses all over the country. We are one of the only shows where participants also can bring their sale horses and present them to the attending public and on our live feed. So, buyers and breeders can come to one place and see stallions and sale horses from all over the country without the expense of traveling to each farm. We will have our seminars and possibly ademonstration or two, and as before, we’ll have the highest level of speakers you can get in this industry.

There will be a party atmosphere, plenty of camaraderie, and a lot of fun. And our charity will remain the Home of the Innocents. I think it’s one of the greatest charities in the country. Is there anything else you’d like to say about the upcoming event? BOB BATTAGLIA. Yes. What we are undertaking here—first with the Celebration and now with the North American Halter Championships too—is new, and I know that for some people, “new” is scary. But why should we be afraid of change? We live in a changing world. I would like to say to anyone who is nervous about new concepts, before you disparage it, join it. Why put down something that is going to promote the Arabian breed in a very positive light? The glass is halffull, not half-empty. I should also add: in its first two years, the Celebration broke some new ground and pleased a lot of people— and certainly, the World Cup has been an outstanding addition to the breed. Serious halter breeders wouldn’t think of missing it, either showing there or as spectators. This is a good team, with a good track record. Every new event is a risk, but when they go well, the rewards are presenting our beloved Arabian horse to new and interesting people from all over the world. n

Stallion Row presentations.

Volume 45, No. 11 | 93

The Halter Revolution What's Coming At The Nationals

with Anne Stratton

or halter enthusiasts, changes in the structure of its national awards program have to be the biggest news of 2015 so far. For the past few years, discontent has been simmering in the breed’s signature discipline, and the latest developments have the potential to restore its vital energy. In fact, if elements of the current plan work out, their effect on the breed as a whole could be life-changing. But that’s getting ahead of the story. Let’s start at the beginning. In an effort to improve the halter division, AHA formed the U.S. Nationals In-Hand Ad Hoc Committee to make recommendations on the subject. Members include Greg Gallún, who serves as Chair, Bart Van Buggenhout, Ted Carson, Isaac Taylor, AHA President Cynthia Richardson, and Lance Walters, former AHA president and liaison with the U.S. National Show Commission. “This small group involves breeders (North American and international), trainers, judges,” explains Cynthia Richardson, “[as well as] members of AHA’s Education and Evaluation Commission, a member of the Registration Commission, and a trainer that also has performance horses—all individuals very involved in the breeding industry.” The synergy of the AHA representatives and the breeders and trainers yields different points of view, but with a common goal. What everyone agreed on was the importance of rekindling support for the halter division, which is intended to increase responsible breeding and registration of all horses. The group agreed on a two-pronged approach: to restore the prestige of a national halter title and to jumpstart participation at the regional level. For more information on what is in store, AHT talked to Greg Gallún and Cynthia Richardson. In your opinion, what led to these changes in halter at the U.S. Nationals? GREG GALLÚN: The bottom line is that for the most part, people breed and show Arabian horses with their recreational funds; they are not a necessity. For me and for many others, what makes an Arabian horse show enjoyable and exciting is that it’s an event, as we saw at U.S. Nationals for so many years. There was a tradition of grandeur and interaction—people want

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something visually and emotionally valuable to them—and we’ve fallen away from that. Our mission statement is to restore the meaning of a national championship and the meaning of a top ten ribbon. Why does AHA feel that it is important to make these changes? CYNTHIA RICHARDSON: In the U.S. and Canada, we have reached a situation where many of our great mares are aging out. We would like to encourage owners/lessors to breed responsibly, and we need to create a widespread marketplace. Therefore, we want to rebuild the regionals, as they may well be some individuals’ “nationals.” Then we want the national shows to once again be competitive for a good horse, plus be a place to showcase the best of the North American-bred horses. Many individuals do not realize that some of the horses bred for halter go on to have a career in western and hunter pleasure. Performance trainers are coming to me and complaining that there aren’t enough young horses to choose from for the futurities and junior horse classes. What changes will occur in the halter awards system at U.S. Nationals? GREG GALLÚN: We will no longer award national titles for every section. There will be Junior and Senior Championships in Mares and Stallions, as well as Yearling Champions. If you’ll remember, the yearling titles were stand-alone when they began. Let’s use the junior fillies as an example. There will be classes for 2 year olds and 3 year olds. In each of those classes, the winner and second-place horse will move forward to the Junior Championship, along with the six fillies who had the next highest scores in the combined two classes. Some years, we may see almost all the horses going on to the championship come from one class, and other years, we’ll see more of a mix. It all depends on which of those classes is strongest in a given year, but what you will see in the junior championship is the highest scoring horses of the 2- and 3-year-old group. That doesn’t mean that the winner of each of those [qualifying] classes won’t be recognized; it will be given a ribbon and trophy and a title, such as section winner, and that should mean a lot. It just won’t be “national champion.”

Then in the Junior Championship, the traditional titles of national champion, reserve and top ten will be awarded. It will be the same for the colts, and there will be a similar setup for the senior championships. This brings back the value of champion, reserve and top ten. They will truly be the best of the best. We hope to segue eventually into gold, silver and bronze titles, like they have at most international shows, because third place at that level is usually so good that it should get more recognition. But that is not happening now; it would require a resolution. Part of why this is important is to restore the excitement and the value of the top titles. Do you remember how it was years ago when they announced the national champion mare or stallion? It was tension and drama and high emotion, with 10 amazing horses. That’s what we would like to restore, and I think most people are happy with the restructure. But it is not about the past. It’s about going forward into the future. What special perks await the national champions in halter? GREG GALLÚN: The national champions (yearling colt and filly, junior colt and filly, and senior stallion and mare) will be invited to represent North America at the Salon du Cheval in Paris in December. It is not mandatory that they accept—that is their choice—but the horses’ airfare will be paid. We already have raised the funds to do that. When we say “represent North America,” we hope that as people get used to this idea, we’ll be able to form a North American show team, with a team manager and logistical person to help with travel. There is no requirement that everyone spend all their time together, but they’ll all have to keep in mind that although the horses are showing for their owners, everyone is representing their country. On the final evening of the U.S. Nationals, will you have a parade of national champions that will spotlight the halter winners? CYNTHIA RICHARDSON: We will have a parade of the horses that have been asked to represent Team AHA in Paris. This is a great opportunity for our horses and I’m really looking forward to these outstanding horses in the ring together. When you speak of restoring prestige at the U.S. Nationals, another comment heard in recent years is that the atmosphere just isn’t “special” enough. Do you have any plans to make changes there too? GREG GALLÚN: Our goal is that when people walk into the Pavilion Arena, it is put together so that they say, “Wow!

Super!” The audio/visual and the general structure will be upgraded. We hope to have more tables around the ring for people who enjoy watching the show that way, and we’ll also have a VIP area, but in a different design from what we had before. We want to accommodate our patrons and guests, but if someone (let’s say someone new) walks into the Pavilion and wants to have a beer and something nice to eat, and sit at a table to watch the show, we also want to make that possible without his having to be a patron or wear a badge. It might cost him a little money, but it would be available. We’re looking into all of that. You already have sponsors who have donated money. AHA’s press release said that it will fund airfare for the horses going to Paris, and also the bronze trophy for the Regional Breeding Challenge Cups. Do you have enough to do everything? Who will administer the funds? GREG GALLÚN: At this point, various sponsors have donated $100,000. We’ll also be looking for donations to do the ring decorations and other upgrades. We are in control of our own funds; they will go through the president’s office, but they will not go into AHA’s general fund. They will be designated for U.S. Nationals halter. Hopefully, if everyone contributes, they will feel a little more included and a little more responsible for the resurrection of the nationals mystique. Another item on the wish list for many people was making it easier for performance people to see halter classes (specifically the breeding competitions) and vice versa. Were you able to work out a schedule that will allow that? GREG GALLÚN: I think we need to recognize that when we all used to be together, showing in one ring, the show had far fewer classes than it does now, so at this point, it is really difficult to recreate a version of that with schedule adjustments. We have what I think is a decent compromise, but we don’t have the ultimate answer yet. This year’s purebred schedule has been condensed, so that if someone wants to come and see the core classes (the purebreds), they can see them in a three-day period, rather than five or six. What judging procedures will you use, and why? CYNTHIA RICHARDSON: We will use the scorecard for all the qualifying classes. This is mandated by resolution. However, we have changed it from taking out the high and low scoring judges, to be the high/low in each category. For example, the high/low in movement. This makes it the fairest it can be for each horse. Then the top ten will be judged by comparison. There will only be six championship classes, so we have restored the value of a top ten and champion and reserve.

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It will be an exciting Saturday, starting at 11:00 a.m., so please come join us! GREG GALLÚN: I’d like to comment on the scoring system [because of all the comment about it]. We have scored events around the world for Arabian horses, and they work just fine. The problem many halter people have had with the AHA system has been that at the regional and national level, the scores were not announced to the crowd quickly enough. A scoring system works because it is interactive, so we are going to make sure that these scores are out as quickly as possible, on big screens, with upgraded audio/visual aid. To make sure, we’ve hired Arabian Horse Results, which is based in Belgium, to do it; they do the big European and Middle Eastern shows, as well as Scottsdale and the World Cup here. So, we are looking for a huge upgrade. One last question on U.S. Nationals: is it true that the show might be closed to horses that aren’t owned and bred in North America? GREG GALLÚN: We are seriously exploring making the U.S. Nationals a North American-only horse show, meaning the horses entered must be owned and bred in the U.S. or Canada, and we do have a plan for it. But let me make it clear—this is proposed. It has not passed. We have to do it by resolution, so that it can be done by community endorsement. Our thought is that this year would stay as it is; in 2016 and 2017, to come to the U.S. Nationals, the horses would have to be North American-bred, although they could be foreignowned. Then, in 2018, we would go to bred and owned here. Again I want to stress that we are looking into this concept and getting feedback from our breeders and exhibitors. This is not a backlash of exclusion. The mindset is, what is the premise of the show? What is its name? The premise of a national event is to determine the best of the best from a nation. This show is called the U.S. Nationals, not the U.S. International. For our international competitors, we have Scottsdale, the AHBA World Cup in Las Vegas and the Breeder Finals. And this is not uncommon. In Europe, for example, our horses can’t enter shows like the Polish Nationals and the European Championships, but we can show at the All Nations Cup and the World Championships. So the model does exist and it works well. I should add, AHA is also looking into offering an AHAsponsored international show—but more on that at a later date. The reason we are looking into this is that so many of our small, medium and larger breeders (of which we have very few 96 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

anymore) are emotionally so ground down, now that they feel they can’t compete against the global superstars. We need to encourage them to show. Now, let’s talk about how this can affect the regions and regional shows: what are the new Regional Breeding Challenge Cups, and how will they benefit the breed? CYNTHIA RICHARDSON: They begin this year, and we are still working out the point calculations which will decide the winners. Basically, here is how it works. The Regional Challenge Cups will recognize the region whose breeders are most successfully represented by horses at U.S. Nationals, tabulating points in both halter and performance, purebreds, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian. Because many of the entries qualify for the Nationals at regional shows, that should also boost participation on the regional level. We have needed a way to recognize our breeders—without them, we don’t have an industry. The Challenge Cups will be worthy of great bragging rights for the recognition of a job well done. At the U.S. Nationals in a given year, we will track the prizewinning horses by breeder (this is all entries who were bred by each individual breeder; doesn’t matter what stallion or mare they used, just that they are the recorded breeder). The points then will be added to the total for the region in which that breeder lives. At the end of the show, the high scoring regions in halter and performance will receive Regional Breeding Challenge Cups (very attractive bronze trophies). And finally, there is a Challenge Cup for the region with the highest total of the points from both halter and performance. On each cup, the top three breeders’ names will be recorded, but the top breeder in each winning region gets to keep the trophy for one year. We want to encourage individuals to come to the rings and cheer for the breeders in their regions. Many exhibitors currently just watch the classes on their televisions in the stall area. This takes away from the excitement of showing to a crowd and hearing folks cheering for the different exhibitors. A large crowd also adds to the performance of our halter and English horses during the classes. During the lineups, it is fun to cheer for your favorite. Let them know that you support them and their success in even competing at U.S Nationals. Then, you can make a lot of noise for the top ten and champion and reserve. Please help us add to the excitement of a win—and recognize our outstanding horses and their breeders. As we have more details, we will be getting the information out. n

17 years with you

SHAMEKH AL DANAT

ARABIAN HORSE TIMES SPECIAL EDITION

Presents the Most Unique Stallions selection on earth!

QUALITY WILL NEVER BE OUT OF FASHION... QUALITY IS THE WAY TO BE REMEMBERED...

ÂŠ Gigi Grasso

Marwan Al Shaqab

(Gazal Al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame)

World Champion

Gazal Al Shaqab (Anaza El Farid x Kajora)

World Champion

2 Tutto Arabi | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Hariry Al Shaqab

(Marwan Al Shaqab x Withe Silkk)

2015 Scottsdale Unanimous Champion Stallion

Volume 45, No. 11 | Tutto A rabi 3

Kahil Al Shaqab

(Marwan Al Shaqab x OFW Mishaahl)

2014 World Champion Stallion

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Wadee Al Shaqab (Marwan Al Shaqab x OFW Mishaahl)

2012 World Champion Colt

Volume 45, No. 11 | Tutto A rabi 5

Fadi Al Shaqab

(Besson Carol x ABHA Myra by Marwan Al Shaqab)

2013 Gold World Champion Stallion 2012 Al Khalediah Gold Champion Stallion 2012 Qatar International Gold Champion Stallion 2010 Silver World Champion Colt 2010 Menton Gold Champion Colt 2010 Al Khalediah International Champion Colt 6 Tutto Arabi | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Al Adeed Al Shaqab (Ansata Halim Shah x Sundar Alisayyah)

World Champion

Volume 45, No. 11 | Tutto A rabi 7

Sultan Al Shaqab

(Amir Al Shaqab x Abha Al Shaqab)

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Hadidy Al Shaqab

(Gazal Al Shaqab x Withe Silkk)

Volume 45, No. 11 | Tutto A rabi 9

Haytham Albadeia

(Simeon Sharav x Galagel Albadeia)

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EKS Alihandro

(Marwan Al Shaqab x OFW Psylhouette)

2013 Gold Champion Unanimous World Championship Paris 2013 Gold Champion Unanimous Aachen All Nations Cup 2013 Gold Champion Unanimous Menton 2013 Gold Champion Unanimous Dubai 2012 Gold Champion Aachen All Nation cup 2011 Gold Champion South African Junior male

Volume 45, No. 11 | Tutto A rabi 11

Maharaja HDM

(Marajj x Miss Yasminah Elamaal)

2009 Reserve World Champion Colt - Paris 2009 Champion Junior Colt - Menton Show - France 2009 Best Head Award and Trophee Espoir Award - Menton Show - France 2009 Dubai International Arabian Show - Silver Champion Junior Colt - Dubai 2009 Al Khalediah Unanimous - Champion Junior Colt - Saudi Arabia 2009 Al Khalediah Champion 2-year-old Colt & best head award - Saudi Arabia 2008 Unanimous Champion Jr. Colt - Baden Show, Germany 2008 Scottsdale Unanimous - Champion Yearling Colt, Junior Division 2008 Scottsdale Unanimous Junior Champion Colt 12 Tutto Arabi | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

LC Prince Magnum

(Magnum Psyche x Ludy el Shahller)

2008 Unanimous Champion Colt - Iowa Gold Star 2008 Scottsdale Unanimous Champion Yearling Colt - Senior Division

Volume 45, No. 11 | Tutto A rabi 13

ZT Faa’Iq

(Anaza El Farid x ZT Jamdusah)

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Jamil Al Rayyan

(Ansata Hejazi x Danah Al Rayyan)

Volume 45, No. 11 | Tutto A rabi 15

Shamekh Al Danat

(Ajmal Al Kout x Ajmal Sherifa)

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ÂŠ Nicoletta Abelli

Frasera Dubai

(Phaaros x Frasera Mashara)

Volume 45, No. 11 | Tutto A rabiâ&#x20AC;&#x201A; 17

El Thay Majdy

(Teymur B x El Thay Magidaa)

Soc. Agr. Arabian Inspiration S.r.l. Località Case Sparse, 6052044 Centoia - Cortona (AR) - ITALY Giacomo Capacci - Phone +39 335 443773 e-mail: giacomo_arabs@yahoo.com - info@giacomocapacciarabians.com www.giacomocapacciarabians.com 18 Tutto Arabi | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Luca Oberti - mobile: +39 338 5093551 lucaobertiarabians@gmail.com - www.lucaoberti.com

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Volume 45, No. 11 | Tutto A rabiâ&#x20AC;&#x201A; 43

Zoppellaro

TRAINING CENTER

SHOW TRAINING - MARKETING - BREEDING PROGRAM

ZOPPELLARO TRAINING CENTER

Diego: +39 334 2473364 via Grugno, 22 - Fontanellato (Parma) - Italy - diego.zoppellaro01@gmail.com

TRE BALZANE Stud in Italy Everybody who is breeding Arabian horses also takes some collective responsibility for their selection and breeding history. “If you have seen nothing but the beauty of their body, then their true beauty is hidden from you.” Al-Mutanabbi ‫( بيطلا وبأ‬915 AC) Arab Poet

By MONIKA SAVIER

Arabian horses are very special– in their history, their beauty, their proud noblesse, their movements, but also their sweet character and their intelligent reliability. Firmly rooted in the Bedouin culture of the Orient up to today, the breed has been the dream of horse lovers for ages – and as they made their dreams come true, they also made Arabian horses the “citizens of the world” they are nowadays. Breeding Arabian horses takes time – to be able to learn from one’s own breeding decisions, one needs to take several years into account at least. Good, solid horse breeding is firmly rooted in its rural surroundings and still takes its essence from country and farming traditions, from the love for nature, from lots of manual work, and from the greatest possible amount of free running for the horses, as this is the basis for their mental and physical health. Reproduction management, youngstock rearing, and training under saddle are challenging fields of work for qualified, dedicated people. Today, however, we go through the dictatorship of economics, which has invaded horse breeding just as it has every other aspect of life. Everywhere, the focus is on optimizing reproduction, enhancing efficiency, and getting breeding results more quickly. It is almost impossible to keep certain strategies away from the area of horse breeding: the reproductive technologies which are used in farm animal breeding, to name one, or the socalled achievements of the pharmaceutical industry.

It takes time, however, to achieve quality. This is why at TRE BALZANE stud, horse breeding has been carried out in time-proven family farm style for almost 30 years now. Breeding Arabian horses usually begins as a hobby, with people becoming professional breeders by and by, slowly learning what it takes to perform the art of interpreting genetic clues as well as the language and signs horses use to communicate with us. To be able to breed strategically and to have success is not just an accidental skill. It is not enough to have knowledge, to be able to read a pedigree and to work at improving mere looks. It takes responsibility, respect, and love for your horses – and they will return all the favors, as a contentedly happy horse is a beautiful horse.

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Water is Best at the Source TRE BALZANE stud in Umbria, Central Italy, started in the mid1980ies. The foundation stock of the breeding operation were six Thoroughbred mares for Anglo-Arabian breeding, with the asil stallion for them leased from Iran. This was Ibn Insiatur, bred by Mary Gharagozlou, a stallion who left a long-lasting impression through his willingness to perform and his superior character. It might be said that he opened our hearts for Purebred Arabian breeding. Towards the end of the 1980ies, a lot of Russian and Polish Arabians were imported to Italy, so there was also a handful of purebred mares taking up residence in the barns of Tre Balzane stud. However, they did not quite meet the ideal of Arabian horses from the Orient as depicted in historic paintings from the 19th century, so we began our search for a noble stallion for refining our tail lines. This is how we found Melek (Ibrahim x Moheba II), a smallframed, noble Dahman Shahwan stallion of 46 Tutto Arabi | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

straight Egyptian bloodlines. It was only after visiting several Arabian studs in Germany early in the 1990ies that we became aware of Melek’s importance for breeding. During a visit in Katharinenhof stud, we saw Dr. Nagel’s original imports from the Egyptian state stud of El Zahraa: Hanan (Alaa El Din x Mona), Mahiba (Alaa El Din x Mouna), and Lotfeia (Alaa El Din x Bint Kamla), as well as a number of their offspring, such as the colt Salaa El Dine. These were impressive moments, and from them the idea was born to breed straight Egyptian purebred Arabians, horses from the countries of origin of the Arabian horse. Dr. Nagel’s horses were not for sale, but some time later, we were able to purchase the filly Sulifah out of Hans Nagel’s breeding lines from the German breeder Siegfried Manz. She was a granddaughter of Marah (Galal x Maysa), a noble Obayan Om Grees mare whom Dr. Nagel had imported to Europe from Cairo, together with Hanan, Mahiba, Tamria, and Lotfeia.

“The next mare I chose was Marah by Galal, out of Maysa from the Obayan strain. She was a half sister to the stallion Ibn Galal who was imported to Babolna in Hungary. Marah was well built, her chestnut color a bright red, and she was the best mover within the selected group. (…) With Jamil, she produced two beautiful fillies, Matala Bint Marah and later a bay, Bushra. The firstmentioned stayed in Germany and produced quite a number of offspring, one of them being a noble filly, Sulifah. The offspring of these mares can be found in German and particularly in Italian studs even today.” (Hans J. Nagel, The Arabian Horse, 2013). Marah was a daughter of the Anter get Maysa, while her sire was the Nazeer son Galal, a typey chestnut colt who passed on the black color gene. Marah’s sibling Magidaa, also out of Maysa, founded a dynasty of her own in the USA, with the three famous full siblings Alidaar, Ruminaja Bahjat, and Ruminaja Ali all bred from that line later on. Sulifah’s dam was Matala Bint Marah (Jamil x Marah), and her sire was the bay Alaa Al Din (Salaa El Dine x Ashraff out of Hanan). The Obayan Strain: Sulifah was of extraordinary quality. In many respects, she resembled her grandsire, Jamil. With her class and her charisma, she became the first

foundation mare of Tre Balzane stud. Her mother instinct and fertility were impressive, and this was something she passed on to her offspring. At the moment, there are 4th and 5th generation offspring of this successful, gentle broodmare living at the farm, which usually are the most beautiful and sought-after foals in the stud. When Sulifah died in the autumn of 2014, she had graced us with five fillies and six colts. Sulifah’s Daughters: Her first daughter, the bay mare TB Hasna, was kept for the stud and went on to become the next foundation mare after her dam passed away. Her sire was the noble chestnut stallion Ken Mahbub, bred by Sylvie and Wolfgang Eberhardt from Germany. His dam Bint Bint Mahiba was the product of mating Ansata Halim Shah and Kis Mahiba, a mare of Dr. Nagel’s Katharinenhof stud who was a daughter of his foundation mare Mahiba, a Siglawi strain descendant. Sulifah’s daughter TB Qadifa, by the US stallion Bayfyrre, became a successful foundation mare of Khattab &Tahani in Cairo. The sire of her daughter TB Jumaana was Ramses (Adnan x Ansata Rebecca). TB Jumaana went on to become a successful foundation mare of Shahada Farm stud of Youcef and Lise Laghzal in Morocco.

Monika Savier with her root mare SULIFAH

TB HASNA with TB HABIB EL NIL

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Her fourth daughter was TB Johara, whose sire was Al Whaid El Dine, a son of Salaa el Dine. She was imported to Cairo and is another successful broodmare now. Sulifah’s last daughter was TB Sabah El Nil, whose sire was Ibn El Nil, an extremely typey Dahman Shahwan stallion who reached Tre Balzane stud from Cairo. TB Sabah was the product of an ideal pairing, combining fire and a gentle disposition. At the age of three years, she was yet another horse to leave the stud for Cairo, where she took up residence as a foundation mare with Mr Ahmad Esam. Sulifah’s Sons: For this mare, we had a saying: “Sulifah will forgive us any stallion.” And indeed, all of her colts were of high quality, with some of them even extraordinary in their phenotype as well as in their character and making successful inheritors, as different from each other as they may be. Among them, her black son TB Yasir by Salaa El Dine and the noble TB Hafid El Nil by Ibn El Nil certainly are her most prominent ones. In Europe, TB Yasir was extensively used as a sire, with some of his offspring successful show participants up to Gold Champion titles. Later on, he was bought by Reza Tawakoli from Tabritz in Iran, where he is now improving the asil and Egyptian Arabians there. TB Hafid El Nil is bound to take a plane to Cairo to take up residence in Aljazzar stud of Dr. Mahmoud Aljazzar. He is a type inheritor who combines superior type with a very good conformation and an extreme willingness to perform. At Tre Balzane stud, he left highly impressive offspring such as his two daughters TB Hadara (out of Habiba by Messaoud) and TB Muneera (out of Mia Mouna by Salaa El Dine), as well as his son TB Habib El Nil out of TB Hasna. Then there is TB Sahem, an impressive Al Whaid El Dine son, who is also in Cairo, passing on his beautiful type and elegant conformation in 48 Tutto Arabi | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

TB YASIR (Salaa El Dine x Sulifah)

TB HAFID EL NIL (Ibn El Nil x Sulifah)

TB HAYTHAM (NK Mudeer x TB Hejaziya)

Photo: Monika Savier

Rhabab stud of Sheikh Khalid Bin Laden. Sulifah’s last two sons, who are TB Munir by NK Mudeer (NK Nadeer x Ansata Ken Rania) owned by Marliese Day and Regina Schweikert in Germany, and TB Suhayl by Teymur B (Assad x 214 Ibn Galal), are still young and not yet used for breeding, but they are just as highly promising as their siblings.

TB HELWA (Ibn El Nil x TB Hasna)

The Daughters of TB Hasna: Of Sulifah’s daughter TB Hasna, there are three beautiful daughters living in Tre Balzane stud by now, already calling attention to themselves as broodmares. They complete the mare band of the Obayan strain. TB Hejaziya, a daughter of Ramses (Adnan x Ansata Rebecca) has produced several impressive foals up to now, among them the black colt TB Haytham by NK Mudeer (NK Nadeer x Ansata Ken Rania), who is going to be used as a sire from next year on. This year, she produced the typey filly TB Horeya by Nil Del Guado, the second Ibn El Nil son in the stud. TB Hasna’s second daughter is TB Helwa by Ibn El Nil (Montasir x Nile Allure by Ansata Halim Shah). She will have her second foal this year, out of her breeding to Al Adeed Al Shaqab. TB Heba is a daughter of NK Sharaf El Dine (Salaa El Dine x NK Aziza). She is another magnificent mare and it’s hard to imagine the stud without her. Within the next months, she will have a foal by NK Hafid Jamil. Yet another outstanding daughter of TB Hasna is TB Hilal by Nil Del Guado. She was bought by Danny Goshn from Lebanon who will present her at shows this year. Joanna Jonientz from Germany has been our successful stud photographer for many years. email: Jonientz@web.de

TB HEBA (NK Sharaf El Dine x TB Hasna)

Volume 45, No. 11 | Tutto A rabi 49

The Mare Band of the Dahman Shahwan Strain: The history of the Dahman Shahwan mares of the stud is not yet as long as that of the Sulifah family, even if for many years now, the stallions used for the mares of the Obayan family line were almost exclusively Dahman Shawan stallions. Now and then, mares from these lines were bought and later re-sold, as they were not really a match for the other mares as far as quality was concerned. One of the mares who made a place for themselves in Dahman Shawan family breeding is Habiba by Messaoud (Messaoud x Ione by Ruminaja Ali). Paternally as well as maternally, she is a member of the DS family that tails, via Farida, back to El Dahma (born in 1880), the famous mare owned by Abbas Pasha I, the regent of Egypt. We hope that her beautiful daughter TB Hadara by TB Hafid El Nil will grow up to become a foundation mare for the stud. TB Jaleelah is a daughter of our sire Nil Del Guado and out of Jasline (Rafahag x Neter Anhare). Her dam was sold to Qatar, but we plan to keep her daughter for the stud if possible. On the dam’s side, she tails back to Bint Bukra (Nazeer x Bukra), the famous foundation mare of Ansata Stud who was imported to the US from El Zahraa. Bint Bukra is another mare who tails, via the Sabah family, back to Abba Pasha’s mare El Dahma. From Neter Stud in the vicinity of TRE BALZANE in Umbria came the filly Neter Mansoura (Hamad x Mansoura El Halima by Royal Jalliel of Imperial Stud in the US). She also tails back to El Dahma, but via Tamria of the Sabah family. Via her sire Hamad with his Teymur B ancestry, she is closely related to our Obayan families. Neter Mansura was served by our upcoming sire NK Mahir (Safir Al Rayyan x Serene Bint Carima by Ibn Nejdy). Bint Mashahana Al Qusar is bred by Robert Schlereth and arrived in our stud as a filly. We have been connected in friendship to Al Qusar stud in Germany for more than 15 years, and this nice mare will continue to remind us of that. Her sire, 50 Tutto Arabi | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

HABIBA BY MESSAOUD (Messaoud x Ione)

TB HADARA

(TB Hafid El Nil x Habiba by Messaoud)

BINT MASHAHANA AL QUSAR

(Ahmady Al Qusar x Mashahana Al Qusar)

TB JALEELAH

(Jasline x Nil Del Guado)

Ahmady Al Qusar by Ashhal Al Rayyan out of KP Bint Mohssen, tails back to El Dahma via the DS line of Farida, just as her dam Mashahana Al Qusar does. This Mashahana al Qusar, by the way, is the daughter of Teymur B and Maida Bint Bint Mohssen, who is an extremely typey root mare for Al Rayyan Farm in Qatar. The Stallions of TRE BALZANE: Within our two mare families, there is a desirable amount of inbreeding consolidated, as this fact improves the predictability of type and character. When choosing stallions, on the other hand, we usually opted for partial outcross stallions in order to maintain a wider and sound genetic basis. Among the stallions we used, there were representatives of Ansata/Nagel lines such as Ramses (Adnan x Ansata Rebecca) or Teymur B (Nagel x Babolna). It was a corner stone in our breeding when we bought the stallion Ibn El Nil (Montasir x Nile

Allure) from the Ansata Nile line, who came to us from Cairo. He was a show champion who had also made successful appearances on the racetrack in Cairo. With his overwhelming Arabian charm and noblesse, he introduced some new aspects into our Obayan mare group. Our group had never been lacking in type, but even so, they were not above profiting from his extremely good legs, his toughness, and his readiness to perform when ridden. Nil Del Guado is a son of Ibn El Nil out of Fasyla by El Fasar. We bought him as a young colt. He is from an outcross dam who tails back, among others, to former imports to Babolna from Cairo. While she was alive, she was a successful show and breeding mare passing on lots of type. From the combination with Ibn El Nil, a lot of Arabian flair and refined noblesse were added to that basis. His beautiful offspring is living confirmation for this concept. NK Mahir (Safir Al Rayyan x Serene Bint Carima) is a young Siglawy Jedran stallion who can tail his descent back to the collection of Egyptian horses owned by Abbas Pasha I. He was bred by Dr. Nagel and also represents the lines of the Arabian breeder Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Thani, founder of Al Rayyan Stud in Doha. In this horse, the damline as well as the sireline are harmonious combinations NK MAHIR (Safir Al Rayyan x Serene Bint Carima)

NIL DEL GUADO (Ibn El Nil x Fasyla) Volume 45, No. 11 | Tutto A rabiâ&#x20AC;&#x201A; 51

DF NASHWAN, after 3 successful years as a breeding sire, has taken up residence with his new owner Ahmet Algait in Kuwait.

Photo: Monika Savier

Ibn El Nil (Montasir x Nile Allure) and Elisabeth Auer from Austria. She has been the successful stud manager at Tre Balzane for ten years now. F SHAKIRAH (Maysoun x Flabys Shamoniet)

Photo: Monika Savier

TB Horeya (Nil Del Guado x TB Hejaziyah) and Madri Louw from South Africa. She frequently drops in to do some work around the stud and with the horses.

Photo: Monika Savier

52â&#x20AC;&#x201A; Tutto Arabi | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

TB MUNEERA (TB Hafid El Nil x Mia Mouna)

Photo: Massimo Menghini

which Sheikh Abdul Aziz succeeded in obtaining from horses such as Ashhal Al Rayyan, RN Farida, and the Ansata Halim Shah daughter RN Dananeer who in her turn tails back to a Nagel original import, the mare Mahiba from the Moniet el Nefous line. The influence of Dr. Nagel’s breeding is also apparent through horses such as Ashhal’s sire Safir by Salaa El Dine out of Aisha, or Ibn Nejdy (Nejdy x Ghazala) who is NK Mahir’s grandsire. On Shows and Showing: We are frequently asked why we won’t attend shows with our horses. Let me quote P. Paraskevas to give that answer for me, as put down in his book „The Egyptian Alternative“: “We are insistently told that we have to concede that appearance is now what horses must be judged by. (…) Attitude and the seminal founding inner qualities of courage, friendliness to man and the paramount Arabian trait of inherent nobility are shockingly overlooked, for they cannot be quantified nor demonstrated in the show rings. Because they cannot readily be shown, advertised and given a monetary value, the intangibles that were at the very source of the Arabian greatness are today widely ignored in the shows.” I am tempted to amend this quote, stating that with most horses, the show ring takes away that natural trust in people which we, the breeders, painstakingly built up in our foals with empathy, sensitivity, conditions of rearing that are appropriate for horses, and education. So we resist the dictations of the show business, focusing our efforts on breeding straight Egyptian Arabians instead, Arabians who suit today’s media age despite their natural beauty and whom we

Photo: Massimo Menghini

INSHA SHABILAH (Nabeel x Simeon Sarice) with Robert Schlereth

Photo: Massimo Menghini

present to all friends and interested persons once a year, during our Open House where the atmosphere of competition is pleasantly absent. Judith Forbis once sent me the following lines: “After 50 years in this Arabian community, I have seen valleys, plateaus, and the peaks in the breed. The straight Egyptian Arabian is holding its own, but it is in need of serious leadership and breeder education worldwide, as well as some non-competitive activities that can bring people together. The show ring isn’t everything; winning isn’t everything. The relationships between people are everything! Without people who get along and are like-minded, the breed cannot prosper.” Well, let’s suppose people are, at root, herd animals just as horses are. As such, they are ever searching for fresh nourishment to be shared with friends – and that’s a good thing, after all. www.tre-balzane.it Volume 45, No. 11 | Tutto A rabi 53

54 Tutto Arabi | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Volume 45, No. 11 | Tutto A rabiâ&#x20AC;&#x201A; 55

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A JUDGES PERSPECTIVE Colleen Rutherford

with Jeff Wallace

I understand that the Arabian horse is a family affair for you, please tell me a little bit about that. My husband, Doug, and I managed two of Australia’s high profile Arabian farms for many years. We covered all aspects: managing the farms, the pastures, the breeding, foaling, show training and conditioning, as well as exhibiting. It gave us the opportunity to work and appreciate various bloodlines. For ourselves, we bred and showed many Australian National winners. Our daughter, Kelli Greene, together with her husband and his Tell us about your family, breed beautiful background in Australia Arabian horses at The with Arabian horses. For Palms Arabians. Kelli many years I have worked has her own successful on committees through Colleen with Abu Shaklan (SK Shakla Khan (Imp) x Joda Excitation). business with ‘Arabians NSW and Queensland to Australia’, marketing through e-blasts, advertisements promote the breed, run shows and parades; anything and web design, which are distributed worldwide. So to get the Arabian horse out in front of the public. my passion for the Arabian horse continues at least for In 2011, I received a phone call inviting me to a few more generations of Arabian horses. become a founding director with The Arabian Horse Breeders Alliance of Australasia (AHBAA), due to What does your dream horse look like? Oh goodness! my commitment and determination to promote the My dream horse could be any color, but it would be purebred Arabian. The AHBAA are an affiliated group elegant, balanced and cover the ground with a long with the American Breeders Alliance. In Australia we rhythmic stride; have huge eyes, a fine muzzle and showcase the purebred Arabian horse at Equitana—an broad forehead, and show an exuberance for life with a all-breeds horse festival—to an audience of nontail that naturally fly’s high. Arabian horse owners. Rotated between two states, we have the highest caliber of horses competing with Who was the first Arabian horse that you laid eyes a limited time and number of horses. Because of this, on and what was that experience like. This goes back our entry period fills up within 24 hours. The AHBAA to my early childhood. My cousin had a dapple-grey sees the future of the Australasian Breeders Cup stallion—he was unlike any other horse I had ever seen. becoming known as spectacle acknowledged worldwide. He was rather arrogant and so proud; ‘life and fire’ fine It is already a highlight for breeders on the Australian skin and a beautiful sculptured head. I was captivated Arabian horse show schedule. With more corporate from that moment, and it’s been a lifelong passion and sponsorship, we will be able to continually promote our pursuit ever since. amazing breed in Australia. olleen, we are looking forward to seeing you in America. Are you also excited to make this trip to the U.S.? I was absolutely thrilled to receive the invitation to judge at the Arabian Breeders World Cup. To have this opportunity to visit your country and to view your beautiful horses and judge at this show that is renowned throughout the world for its quality of horses is an honor. I love that the breeders are the real winners and receive the recognition.

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Is judging horse shows a big part of your life or just an occasional thing? Judging Arabians in Australia as a National Arabian judge limits you to the number of Arabian shows you get the opportunity to judge. We try to encourage our lower level judges to officiate at many of the smaller shows held over weekends; these are normally all-breeds, as well as Arabians. I have judged at every major show in Australia and New Zealand over the years, including all breeds and increasingly Miniature Horse shows. What attracted you to the world of horse show judging? I saw judging as an opportunity to learn form to function in the horse. I was determined to be known as a judge who judges the horse as I see it in front of

This gives our classes a variety of types and heights, something for everyone. • The Arabian Pony is increasingly popular, a beautiful blend of Pony and Arabian. They truly are every little girl’s dream pony. • An Arabian Riding Pony is a spectacularly finer animal than the Arabian Pony, often having the look of a small version of a large horse perfectly in balance, combining the look of a Thoroughbred and Arabian, but mostly Pony in size. • An Anglo Arabian is Arabian and Thoroughbred; a bright and bold performance horse.

COLLEEN RUTHERFORD me, without prejudice. It seemed a natural progression when Doug and I were married for us to both become National Arabian judges in Australia. Tell us a little bit about the derivative breeds that you have in Australia. This could take several pages! The Arabian Horse Society of Australia is split into several sections in which you can register derivatives. Our derivatives are spectacular functional horses and ponies of all sizes suitable for children to adults. There is no limit to the high percentage of Arabian blood with the lowest acceptable amount of 12 ½%.

• Warmblood Arabians are becoming extremely popular; the Arabian giving the beauty and lightness, while the Warmblood helps create outstanding moving performance horses with a mind for the job at hand. • The Quarab is one of the smaller registry’s in Australia, but again, produces great performance horses. • Stock Horse Arabians are a performance horse suitable for all purposes. • A Partbred Arabian is any % of Arabian and any height. Some look like purebreds, others exhibiting the smallest percentage of Arabian. This can make for interesting judging in an open class. You need to look for both without showing bias to type and/or jeopardizing conformation, form or function. If you could resurrect any 2 horses, who would they be and why? I owned two wonderful Arabian mares I wish were both still with me today. I would love to have them to breed the champions of today—I have no doubt they would.

Colleen with Crown Affair, who she judged to 2014 Summer Show Reserve Junior Champion Gelding.

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Australia has had the best of both worlds in creating its own families of Arabians horses. We imported from Europe, giving us movement and natural tail carriage; our American imports have given us the smooth bodies, longer necks and finer throats. The

A JUDGES PERSPECTIVE

that I would never have had the opportunity to see. I have met so many fabulous likeminded people, and have had the opportunity to judge and co-judge with a number of international judges from Europe and the USA. Cindy Reich, Francesco Santoro, Bruce McCrea, Shannon Armstrong, and the 2000 Australian National Championships with Jerzy Białobok and Mark Himmel, are just a few of the wonderful breeders and judges I have had the pleasure to meet through the Arabian horse. Colleen judging at the 2014 Summer Show.

horses winning in the show ring today in Australia are a wonderful combination of all of the above, clearly evident in their pedigrees. In addition, many stunning Arabian horses are being exported overseas and many more are in the barns of small and large breeding farms waiting for their chance to shine. Australians have historically placed a lot of importance on the soundness of their horses’ feet and legs. Many breeders have one or two foals a year which may become work stock on large farms or outback stations; they might end up becoming mum’s dressage horse or the children’s pony club mount, and others are destined for the show ring.

Do you prefer the desert or the ocean? That’s difficult! I love the vastness of deserts; the colors and vistas. I look into a desert and I am in awe of pioneers, the history and the hardships they endured. But then, to watch the sun rise over the Pacific Ocean makes you grateful for the life we have. I have seen many sunrises over the Pacific now and before I return to Australia I want to watch at least one sunset over the North Pacific. What other destinations while in the U.S. do you plan to visit? Desert and ocean! I really want to see Monument Valley; I want to walk barefoot on the ground. I must see the Grand Canyon, of course, and hopefully Santa Ynez Valley that I hear so much about. And if time permits, Yosemite National Park, with a drive down the Pacific Coast to L.A. So, if you see us driving down the wrong side of the road, please be kind and point us in the right direction! n

Opportunities brought into Australia with frozen semen from throughout the world have opened up a whole new ball game, giving us a more accessible opportunity to breed to some of the world’s leading sires. What women before you in the Arabian breed did you learn the most from? Years ago I attended every seminar I could, often travelling long distances. Val Males, Leslie Dowey and Daphne McCrae, three knowledgeable Australian ladies, were instrumental with setting judges exams, formed ‘The Standard of Excellence’ in Australia and taught Doug and I about the breeding horse. How has the Arabian horse enriched your life? I have traveled to cities and parts of our wide vast land

Colleen and Doug Rutherford with daughter Kelli Greene of Arabians Australia.

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Breeding Arabians—

WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? PART III by ANNE STRATTON One point often advanced when considering how to jumpstart the breeding of Arabian horses is that more people need to participate. In times past, some owners could be relied upon to breed high numbers of promising horses to supply the show ring, but that era has pretty much passed; now, relatively few operations produce and register an appreciable number of foals a year. So, advocates say, to ensure a steady stream of horses for competition, it is important that we have more owners who breed one or two foals annually—“small breeders.” There used to be a lot more of those, too. These opinions are often followed by a discussion of the need to strengthen the breed’s gene pool as well. The use of transported semen drastically reduced the use of lesser-known local stallions whose heritage might not be as fashionable as that of current show ring headliners, and the result was that now, fewer bloodlines have as many representatives to carry them into the future. We need to restore much of what we had in past decades, many horsemen say: more breeders, more bloodlines. But how do we do it? The truth is, some pragmatic Arabian horse owners observe, that the breeding world as it was in its heyday is unlikely ever to return. And some state flatly that it shouldn’t—not until we have a market for all the horses that would be produced. That all may be true, but some action appears necessary to encourage more breeding of Arabians. So, in this segment on breeding horses, we went looking for middle ground. How do we promote breeding Arabians in today’s world? Yes, some conditions have changed. But what do we need to take into account when attracting more owners to consider breeding their horses? AHT talked to two breeders who historically have been among the top 10 in the industry by number of registrations in past years.

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population of small breeders? And, is it feasible to think that they might stand stallions of their own?

Judy Sirbasku and Shawn Crews.

Crews offered insight on the stallion issue. “Probably the most exciting part of breeding is seeing a first foal by a stallion,” she reflects. “So, it is sad that more of these young stallions are not getting a chance.” On the other hand, she notes, we need to accept the reality of today’s demographics. “Does standing one make sense for the small breeders? Some have only one mare, and there are fewer opportunities to sell the colts. In a perfect world, we would be able to use more of them, but in a real world, so few people are capable of handling and breeding them. A lot of our clients wouldn’t in their wildest dreams have a young stallion.”

Shawn Crews is general manager at Judy Sirbasku’s Arabians Ltd., which annually registers more than 20 foals and maintains horses for an array of clients. Arabians Ltd. specializes in Egyptian bloodlines, and is also known for its ability to attract and service new participants in the industry.

Much of it is just a matter of practicality. “Stallions are expensive to keep and they’re not easy,” she continues. “A lot of small breeders cannot keep one, and so as smart as it really would be to have more stallions sharing the genetics around better,

Mark Miller, who runs the historic Al-Marah Arabians, has been part of a large operation all his life (his mother, Bazy Tankersley, founded Al-Marah in 1942). Over the last five years for which we have totals—for purposes of this article, September 30, 2009, through September 30, 2013—the farm registered an average of 20 horses a year. Since Tankersley’s death, it has downsized to current levels, but with its commitment to marketing in that process, Miller is especially experienced in sales these days.

“ You don’t have to live on a farm to be a great breeder,” Crews observes. “Some of our best clients have never owned more than one mare or maybe two.”

We asked two questions: In today’s industry, what should we keep in mind when trying to enlarge the

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logistically it is just very difficult to make it work. There are fewer superstars coming out because there are fewer boys, period. “We’ve all had to do different things to keep the gene pool fresh,” she notes, “because we can’t afford to have a lot of new young stallions. Even a farm the size of ours has only a certain space for stallions, and a staff with the experience to handle them and keep all those boys happy.” There is also the cost of promotion for every new young stallion, she adds, which plays a role in the limited number of new faces available. Part of what is challenging for people who want to run their own operations these days, she confirms, is the costs involved. “In the horse market in general—not just Arabians—you have to remember the sheer cost of raising a horse today. Every farm has a cost of feed and hay, which has skyrocketed over the last seven or eight years. Those are things we have no control over.” The lifestyles of today’s Arabian owners also reflect the evolution of time, she says—again, something that affects every breed. “Years ago, when we started, a lot of breeders had a family farm. Now, a lot of breeders don’t even own a farm. They have a very small number of mares that normally are kept at a big farm somewhere close to them. About half of our people who are really active, great breeders keep their horses at our place or our affiliate farms.” And therein may lie a key to the future. While the institution of the smaller local stallion may have faded for breeders of main ring show horses, the idea of “smaller breeders” remains logistically viable if owners have the interest. “You don’t have

Mark Miller

to live on a farm to be a great breeder,” Crews observes. “Some of our best clients have never owned more than one mare or maybe two. Small breeders can become involved with a ‘nucleus farm,’ and that core farm can let them know what’s going on in the industry.” Mark Miller agrees that most people don’t want to own a breeding stallion these days. “We have a lot of customers who are small breeders and they don’t own stallions,” he says. “As near as I can tell, they won’t want [to own and stand] stallions.” And that is even though Al-Marah colts and stallions could

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“I think the thing that defines Al-Marah is that we went to Idaho to the Sport Horse Nationals, won 13 national championships, and the next day we won the 100 mile race.” - Mark Miller easily find homes among the farm’s clients because they offer temperaments that could be handled easily on a smaller, private farm. “I wouldn’t breed a stallion with a bad disposition any more than I would breed one with bad legs.” One of the keys to expanding the industry, which could then encourage more owners to breed, is understanding the current market better. One point that is generally accepted is that the equine world as a whole has seen a shift to amateur participation. What may not be as discussed in the main ring community is that other segments of the breed are growing in terms of numbers. At this time, however, few of those activities offer opportunities for high-dollar return on investment (although endurance horses are commanding higher prices, and with their appeal to the Middle East on a cultural basis, has recorded some pretty impressive offers).

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And so the question of promoting breeding adds another aspect. There is already more of it going on than many people are aware of; it just isn’t aiming at traditional main ring showing. In fact, it may not be aimed at showing at all. As noted in part II of this series, over the past 30 years, only 21 percent of registered Arabians have a competition record at an AHA-sanctioned event. Miller sees many of Al-Marah’s horses being used in the sport horse and endurance realms. “We breed a specific kind of horse, but it doesn’t have a specific purpose,” he explains. The farm remains true to the quintessential Arabian breeder’s goal of producing beautiful horses with the conformation to excel in a variety of activities and the temperament to relate well to their human associates. “I think the thing that defines Al-Marah is that we went to Idaho to the Sport Horse Nationals, won 13 national championships, and the next day we won the 100 mile race,” he says. That kind of record attracts a variety of traffic to his farm. “I’m [most often] selling to either large breeders or people with very few horses who want to use the horses they are buying,” he says. “Obviously we still sell a lot of endurance and competitive trail horses, and a lot we sell probably never see a show ring. There are a fair amount of people who just like to ride a horse and they’re looking for a good companion.” That is a refrain heard more often these days. While the traditional main ring horses get most of the headlines, the breed itself has been quietly satisfying owners with other interests. And the prices there, while not yet reaching the higher

main ring figures, have risen over the past few years, Miller reports. “Our name is synonymous with horses that amateurs can own and love,” he says. “That’s been us since day one. We’ve always, always had horses that I like to say can live in your tent with you.” He points out also that the sport of dressage, which has seen “real growth,” offers inherent attractions. “It is the only division in Arabians where you can go in a walk/trot class as an adult,” he says. “It’s an easy entry. Dressage is a sport that is designed to bring people into it inexperienced and have them move up the ladder.”

There are a fair amount of people who just like to ride a horse and they’re looking for a good companion.” - Mark Miller

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The lesson in what he is saying? “It gets down to individuals wanting horses to use.” Miller recognizes that while this is supportive of the Arabian breed as a whole, it does not, as things stand now, spur growth in the main ring industry. It is simply a factor to be taken into account by owners who consider breeding horses to sell. What he sees now, he says, are a significant number of people breeding their mares simply because they love them. That applies in both purebreds and Half-Arabians, he says—and not

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just the Arabian side of the pedigree, but also among other breed owners who want to infuse Arabian blood. Some of the resulting horses can be seen in the sport horse arena. “We need to understand that for many people, their motivation for breeding is dependent on their loving their horses, and for them, it is not a business, but a hobby,” he notes. In the right circumstances—having your own property and doing most of your own work— anyone can breed, raise and start a horse that will

“We need to understand that for many people, their motivation for breeding is dependent on their loving their horses, and for them, it is not a business, but a hobby.” - Mark Miller “Someone once asked Mother, ‘Who’s your competition?’” he says. “And she answered, ‘Chris Craft boats. Once somebody makes a decision to buy a horse, I like my chances of selling them one. I want to breed a horse that wins, but I want to breed a horse that people can have at the house, and if they comparison shop at all, I like my chances. They just have to make a decision to buy a horse.’” sell for enough to cover its expenses, he adds. The reward, however, is not usually a boost to your bank account. It is the enjoyment of what you are doing with the horse. In a sense, what Mark Miller is seeing is reminiscent of what first attracted a significant following for Arabians in the United States in the years following World War II. Addressing the market now at the entry level, which eventually could support enough participation to make people more secure about breeding horses for particular pursuits, is a matter of meeting the same challenges there always have been.

So, in two very different areas of the Arabian horse, even in a challenging time for all breeds, there are positive signs regarding horse breeding and ownership. Arriving at Scottsdale, Shawn Crews scanned the entries for the international fillies. “Fifty-nine,” she marveled. “And that’s not even the main classes!” The first step toward creating a larger supply is demand. Next month, we’ ll try to answer the question of what is going on in the Arabian horse breeding industry. Are we actually breeding too few horses? Or are we registering too few? What do we need to know as we head into the future? ■

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A TOUCH OF ST YLE J e n n Tr i c k e y AR ABIAN HORSE TIMES

CR EAT IV E M A R K E T ING PROF ESSIONA LS

How would you describe your “style” of living as it applies to your career? At various times in my career, I would call it overwhelming, yet invigorating. I can probably speak for all of us, that deadlines are deadlines, so personal life takes a backseat when there are big ones. Long days that spill into night, weekends, holidays; they become the norm. Honestly, I don’t know how my friends with kids do it. I used to love working on a holiday, because while everyone was celebrating it, I felt like I could “catch up.” Now, I try harder at working smarter and make the best of time management skills. It’s a marathon, a sprint, a juggling act, yet after 20 years of offering creative services to the Arabian horse industry, I feel I have learned to balance it out and would call it … continuous irregularity. You have to embrace the tasks when they come, but grab the “me” time when you can. That is what helps with creativity. How about your “style” of marketing and designing? There are plenty of really great designers. I look at my colleagues work all the time and really am amazed at their design solutions; talented beyond words. People don’t realize how difficult it is to keep it fresh. I guess instead of a “style,” I would call it my “practice” to keep the “forest and the trees” in sight for my clients. To keep a consistent look will add to the magnitude of the “forest,” while spending time on the individual details or the “trees” in order to get the information out. All the supporting pieces need to work together. When they do … presto … the whole thing is stronger. I think that is one of my strengths. Who has had the biggest inf luence in your involvement with Arabians? My town recreation horseback riding program introduced me to horses. I rode any and every breed of horse I could get around. Lessons from Melanie Andrews hooked me on Arabians. I was sold from the start. Easy. The tough

part was how could I include them in my everyday life. This group did that: Greg and Nancy Gallún, Liz and Harold Green, Jim Lowe, Georgia McCabe, Pat and Mary Trowbridge, and Mike Nichols. They didn’t know me from Eve and were the first people who offered me the opportunities that I needed to sink or swim in. Maybe I swallowed a lot of water here and there, but I am swimming 20 years later. Life changing. What have you given the Arabian horse industry? I would hope to think, I have offered examples of strong communication on how to promote the amazing breed. Clean and clear … I hope. What has the industry given you? This answer could go on for days. The horizons seen, the lessons learned, the long lasting relationships and the short. You get what you take out of something and I am thankful for the diverse experiences I’ve received. I would never have had them without it. How do you relax? I love to jog, and I am on a 40 & Over women’s soccer team. It’s not always pretty, but a Saturday morning game by the beach does me a ton of good. My favorite horse “zen” is listening to them eat their dinner, while sweeping the barn f loor. Haven’t done that enough lately, but that for me has always been a true decompression. How has your past informed your present? In short, cancer treatment helps you to balance everything out. Difficult to do, but cleansing. Describe yourself in three words. Tenacious, creative, intuitive. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Longevity … (so far anyway). Volume 45, No. 11 | 169

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What are the three most positive things you’re seeing in the industry today? Parallel to the spirit of the Arabian horses’ perseverance in tough times, the industry’s determination to evolve and survive in our tough economy. What is evident, are the owners who love their horses, who simply won’t go away; the organizations and creative programs forming to reward people within the industry, and the large breeders who compete in the ring, yet are working together to preserve the community. It takes a village … Do you thumb through non-horse magazines for ideas? All the time. Clean layout ideas, headline words, colors. I wish more people would, too. Where does your inspiration come from? Can’t answer that. Probably because it’s not from one place, but a daily search. As a creative, how do you see the world? A collection of positive or negative choices. I think we gravitate to one or the other, and it is our choice. Sometimes the options don’t seem to be what they are, but they will become clear at some point. Has Santa Ynez been good to you? And you to it? Ahh, the Land called Santa Ynez … utopia for an Arabian horse lover. Certainly the community has offered me opportunities within my services, but even more than that, it offers a stage for my favorite breed of horse in which I get to walk my dogs through every single day. I’m blessed on that note. Why do you think clients speak so highly of you? I hope, and continually try to offer a product they are proud of. That’s not only “ just good business” but simply “business.” Their horses are their enjoyment, so it should be an enjoyable experience. Even when I am tried and grumpy, I will always try hard, that’s my job. How, after all of these years, are you still as passionate as you were in the beginning? This is my 20 year anniversary of doing this full time. I am not less passionate, however, over the 20 years, my experiences have shifted my love for it all; probably in more of a realistic and balanced way.

Do you relate to the breeder, the trainer, or simply the enthusiast when it comes to Arabian horse? Hmmm … I think of myself as a horseman. I’m no Rob Bick or Carol Steppe, but I respect and love the animal first. I have had a “hands-on” and “handsoff ” horse life. Whatever that category puts me in, I’m good with. ■

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FACES & PLACES A r a bia n Hor s e Day s At W i l son Tr a i n i n g C enter

IKE AND PERI WILSON OF WILSON TRAINING AND BLOODSTOCK chose a beautiful weekend at their new farm in Sorrento, Florida, to invite friends, clients, family and the local community to their first annual Arabian Horse Days at Wilson Training Center. The event was held on March 7th and 8th, 2015, and emphasized just how important it is to introduce the Arabian horse to the general public.

The two-day event featured a presentation of an outstanding group of halter horses, broodmares, performance horses, fantastic foals, and some beautiful Arabian stallions. A wonderful dinner, decadent desserts, and a beautiful atmosphere of camaraderie followed the presentation. And on the second day, the local community was welcomed to the farm to see, touch, and learn about Arabian horses up close and personal. Activities throughout the event included a discussion on the history of the Arabian horse, an opportunity to meet a mare and foal, as well as a show horse, lesson demonstrations, and a question and answer forum with the trainers, Mike and Peri Wilson.

Photos by Riyan

â&#x17E;&#x201D;â&#x17E;&#x201D; For latest news and events visit www.ahtimes.com

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M. Hartman photo

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For breeding information, contact: david@midwestarabian.com David Boggs • 612.328.8312 Nate White • 563.663.7383 Judi Anderson • 612.328.1057

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S TANDING AT M IDWEST T RAINING C ENTRE F ROZEN S EMEN A VAILABLE W ORLD -W IDE

English Feature coming in May Trainers

Exhibitors Breeders

Sale Horses Clothing Tack Trailers ... be included in the May issue of Arabian Horse Times' ENGLISH FEATURE! 1.800.248.4637 or 952.492.3213 Tony Bergren - 231-286-6085 Jeff Wallace - 323-547-4116

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PRESENTING THE PERSONALITY

An Inter v iew With

DIRECTOR BIAŁOBOK M IC H A LÓW S TATE S TU D with Jeff Wallace

s it important to you to always have a vision? If yes, what is your current vision for the next generation? I believe that having a vision is fundamental in horse breeding. Breeding horses is a long-term process, the exchange of generations does not take place as fast as in other breeds. The vision of Arabian horse breeding, the organization of the entire stud (400 horses, among them 120 broodmares) and the incorporating of the latest reproduction methods and technologies require great foresight and planning ahead. I always have an honest talk with myself, trying to find a compromise between dreams and reality, a reality which is based on the unforgiving laws of economy and the market for Arabian horses, because otherwise, the stud will quickly go bankrupt. Our new generation is facing completely new challenges today. Together with the change of the political system— the end of communism in Poland and Europe, our accession to the European Union—the government’s protectionism over state-owned companies has come to an end. Even though the government still has 100% ownership of the stud, we must abide by the rules of commercial law. If you carry out your work poorly, have a bad breeding program and poor sales, then you have to be aware that despite all the history, tradition and many championship wins, you will not remain on the market for too long. The generation of our predecessors definitely had a much better economic situation; it was very stable with the government’s protectionism, but politically they had it much worse. Today, in order to remain at the very top, you must fight for it every single day.

Are you excited about the inclusion of the *Mirage sire line into the Polish breeding program through *Vitorio TO and which of his traits are you hoping to see in your foal crops? The main reason for introducing Vitorio TO to our breeding program was the new Mirage bloodline. When you look at a European show catalogue today, almost 80% or even 90% of the stallions descend from the sire line of Saklavi I (of Ali Pasha Sherif ). Polish mares usually have correct legs with a good topline and body, not to mention that they are excellent movers. In my opinion some could use a bit more neck, a larger eye, a prettier head, but the main goal is to infuse some new blood. Obviously Wieza Mocy is one of the most gorgeous mares to come out of the State Studs, what did QR Marc bring to the *Wizja family females and what did they offer him? Yes, Wieża Mocy (Tower of Power) is indeed one of the most beautiful Michałów females in recent years, though there were plenty of those in the stud’s 62 year old history: Dornaba, Elkana, Wizja, Kawalkada, Kwestura, Zagrobla, El Dorada, Elandra, Emandoria, to name just a few. Throughout its history, in both the junior and senior categories, Michałów has won the Polish National Championship 67 times, the European Championship 21 times, the World Championship 13 times and the U.S. National Championship 11 times. That’s a lot for one stud. The dam of Wieża Mocy, Wieża Marzeń, was bred to several sires: Al Maraam, QR Marc, Abha Qatar, Kahil Al Shaqab, and now we are expecting a foal by Volume 45, No. 11 | 179

Vitorio TO at the beginning of April. The best mating so far was actually with QR Marc, which resulted in two very different sisters: Wieża Marc’a (Tower of Marc) and the superb Wieża Mocy.

consolidated these traits and definitely improved the head of Wieża Marzeń’s daughter.

My wife Urszula, who thinks up all the foal names, gave Wizja’s granddaughter by our favorite Ekstern the name of Wieża Marzeń (Tower of Dreams). And Wieża Marzeń really did make our dream come true—she produced for us the excellent Wieża Mocy.

I am certain that you and Urszula are very proud of Wieza Mocy, tell me some of the important events you all have had with the ever expanding family of Wizja, over the generations. The damline of Szweykowska (born ca. 1800 in Sławuta), from which Wieża Mocy descends, is very diverse. For example, let’s take a look at Warmia’s daughters by El Paso: Wizja, Wersja, Wilejka

Sometimes in breeding you have to just trust your instincts and mate two very different horses, such as Wieża Marzeń and Ekstern.

and Wistula—each very good, but each in a different type. Perhaps that’s why it is so hard to find them a stallion, which would result in a true gem of a foal!

The family of Warmia and Wizja is made up of mares gifted with great beauty, a wonderful eye and dynamic movement. They are very dry, proportional, feminine, very proud and with huge charisma. QR Marc has further

There is a very funny story associated with Wizja. When she was leased to the U.S. and claimed the National Championship in 1977, there were many offers from American breeders to buy her. A year later, one of the

JERZY BIAŁOBOK

Jerzy Białobok at the 22nd Polish Arabian Junior Spring Show, Białka 2012, with l-r: Wieza Mocy, Gold Champion Mare, Emandilla, Silver Champion Mare, and Diara, Bronze Champion Mare.

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highly positioned officials of the Ministry of Agriculture who was in the U.S. at the time and who had completely no idea about Arabians and the current market, agreed to sell Wizja for a very small price. When Director Jaworowski found out about this (Wizja was the best daughter of Warmia and was to return to Poland), he literally had a fit. But after he calmed down a bit (in those times it was not easy to oppose the decisions of high-level officials, especially when you were not in the one and only communist Polish United Workers’ Party), he said that the suggested price is three times lower than his own assessment of such a magnificent horse and therefore, he understands that the Ministry of Agriculture will pay the stud the remaining amount. The unfortunate official quickly backed out of the deal and the mare returned to Michałów, “producing” granddaughter Wieża Mocy.

Jerzy Białobok and Grenlandia.

The Ekstern daughters have become amazing producers wouldn’t you say? The daughters of Ekstern have indeed become fantastic broodmares, but they are also show horses with many championship titles under their belt. There are 21 mares by Ekstern in Michałów currently used in breeding. This 21 year old stallion has more than 400 descendants all over the world. He definitely improves Arabian type and heads in very average and poor broodmares, he also passes on great movement. When bred to mares of great beauty, he can consolidate those traits in their daughters. We are very limited in using Ekstern at Michałów, because he descends from the most numerous and best of our damlines, Milordka. He gave very good mares in Janów Podlaski, which additionally showed talent on the racetrack.

Jerzy Białobok and Urszula Laufersweiler-Białobok with Gaspar.

Tell me why you think that is. He was, of course, an undefeated and dazzling show horse, but now seems to be just as dazzling a sire of great broodmares. Yes, Ekstern was a marvelous show horse. In 2000 he won all the major shows in Europe—the Triple Crown (All Nations Cup, European and World Championships) and the Polish National Championship. He never lost a show and remains undefeated. His numerous successful get would require a separate article. Ekstern has perfect proportions, a great body and topline, is shortly coupled, has excellent, strong legs, a short head, a wide forehead, a large dark eye, emanates charisma, and displays superb, dynamic movement.

Jerzy Białobok

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Furthermore, he is very gentle with a friendly attitude towards people.

Izabella Pawelec-Zawadzka and Jerzy Białobok.

Jerzy Białobok

The 35th Polish National Arabian Horse Show, Janów Podlaski, 2013, l-r: Urszula Laufersweiler-Białobok, Jerzy Białobok (with the trophy for the Best Breeder of the show), Izabella Pawelec-Zawadzka, Magdalena HelakKulczyńska and Alina Sobieszak.

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Tell us why you feel the sons of Marwan Al Shaqab, QR Marc and Kahil Al Shaqab have blended so beautifully with the mares of the State Studs. In my opinion, the best of them so far was Gazal Al Shaqab, for Michałów itself, as well as in terms of establishing an entire dynasty of splendid sons. Some of his best Michałów-bred mares include Emandoria, Ejrene, Norma, Wilda and Pistoria. It is difficult to give a conclusive opinion about his sons, Marwan Al Shaqab, QR Marc and grandson Kahil Al Shaqab; they definitely got off to a good start with Wieża Mocy, Pustynia Kahila and Morion. Nevertheless, we must still remember about how closely related they are. Too much inbreeding in Arabian horses can cause a lot of damage; sometimes it only improves the head and takes a toll on the correctness of legs, body, length of neck, and can ruin dynamic movement. When you were a young man working at Michałów, did you foresee filling the role that you do today as its Director? If yes, what are the things that you knew then that you would want to accomplish when the time came? I have been working at Michałów for 38 years. I always wanted to be a horse breeder, but never a director. I was especially interested in reproduction, nutrition, horse training. After getting my masters degree, I worked at many positions at Michałów, from groom to main breeder, thanks to which I am very well acquainted with the organization of running such a huge stud. It is definitely much easier being a breeder than a director (apart from horses I have to also supervise the farm’s plant production, cattle breeding and finances), but in order to bring your visions and dreams to life, you need to merge those two functions, as otherwise it is just not possible. However, the weight of responsibility towards the people, the country and history is enormous. I was able to realize many ideas, such as the building of new stables, a training center, a reproduction station (collecting and freezing of semen, insemination services), transforming an old warehouse into a banquet hall and museum. The number of broodmares has increased from 60 to 120, and Michałówbred horses are a force to be reckoned with at shows and sell superbly. Tell us about the many contributions of Izabella Zawadzka to the Polish breeding program. She is a

PRESENTING THE PERSONALITY

Sheikh Ammar Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, Jerzy Białobok, Kwestura, the Platinum World Champion Mare, Paris 2014 and Frank Spönle.

woman loved around the world for many reasons. You could write a book about Izabella Zawadzka and one volume would not be enough. She has been associated with both state and private breeding for many years, is a member of the WAHO Executive Committee, one of the founders of ECAHO, an active participant of the Arabian horse community in the U.S., and a keen promoter of Polish breeding worldwide.

*Morafic, via Marwan and Gazal, to *Ansata Ibn Halima++ with Laheeb. Of course, the import and use of Palas, an Egyptian sire, had a very good influence on our mare population in that time. Palas gave them beauty and style, while at the same time not interfering with their movement, which he himself never had. Especially successful was his breeding to the bloodline of Skowronek, a nick which was called “the Polish Golden Cross”.

She is a many-year horse breeding inspector, an initiator of trips abroad to Tersk, Sweden and the U.S. in search of sires such as Monogramm, and the mastermind behind breeding exhibitions and the Polish Ovation sale in the U.S. She is also the one that opened Poland to the world and encouraged us to travel to championships in Europe. But most importantly, she is a good person, friendly towards people and the entire world; an eternal optimist, always overcoming health issues in order to actively participate in the Arabian horse community.

Laheeb, another Egyptian sire, also gave excellent mares at Michałów: Emira, Ellissara, Estoria, Galilea. We are always looking for a good Egyptian stallion for our mares.

What positive effects have the several branches of the Nazeer sire line had on the Polish breeding program … starting with Palas, of course, to that of *Padron to

Enzo and Eden C, used on a much smaller scale, also gave some good-looking individuals, for example Piacolla. I know you breed prize winning Jersey Dairy Cattle. What do you learn from them that applies to your Arabian horse breeding and what do you learn from the horse breeding that you apply to the cattle. The breeding of Holstein-Friesian and Jersey cattle is of the highest quality and maintains very high standards. Especially the Jersey cattle herd, the best in Poland, winning prizes each year

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at breeding exhibitions. The selling of milk and breeding material brings a significant amount into the stud’s income. It guarantees us a financial stability each month. The selection process is much easier than with Arabians, but the Jerseys are also very beautiful. Does the bad luck of breeding and difficulties of the harsh Polish winter weather make it difficult to enjoy your job? In Poland we are used to the changing weather. It does make it harder for us and requires more work, but Arabians feel good here and seem to be strengthened by these conditions, building up their resistance. You have to always find joy in working with horses. Each year winter brings us new foals and that is our greatest happiness. What mare line or specific mare at Michałów are you attached to the most emotionally? I am most attached to the damline of Milordka, as it produces the best quality mares. But I hold the most affection for the damline of Szweykowska.

Do you and your wife enjoy seeing and reading about other non-Polish Arabian breeding programs around the world? Naturally both I and my wife are very interested in other breeding programs. The rules of breeding are the same everywhere: reproduction … selection … establishing your own herd … selling, but different people see and carry out these things in different ways. Horse breeding requires a lot of humility and being able to admit to your own mistakes. Otherwise you will never achieve breeding progress. If you could resurrect any two horses, who would they be and why? Warmia and Estrada, because they are no longer with us and were absolutely one of a kind. How many years have you been married? Do you remember the day you met your wife? If yes, describe that day. You would have to ask my wife that question, but it’s been a long time. It all began on August 15th, 1977. It was a beautiful sunny day, which we later had plenty of among wonderful horses.

The 30th Polish National Arabian Horse Show, Janów Podlaski, 2008, l-r: Izabella Pawelec-Zawadzka, Krystyna Karaszewska (PASB), Urszula LaufersweilerBiałobok, Jerzy Białobok and Ekstern, the 2008 WAHO Trophy winner.

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Jerzy Białobok and Gaskonia.

Jerzy Białobok with the special trophy for the Best Movement (for Equator) at the 34th Polish National Arabian Horse Show, Janów Podlaski, 2012.

Tell us the differences you feel between your vision and Director Ignacy Jaworowski’s vision. There actually isn’t much difference between mine and Director Jaworowski’s vision of the stud and broodmare herd. We have worked together for more than 20 years and have always thought that the Arabian horse has to be very beautiful, has to be a good mover and has to have as few conformation flaws as possible. It should have the right balance and proportions, style and charisma, everything should be complete. It’s not just about lovely heads, which is something that shocked us in Straight Egyptian horses. The times in which Director Jaworowski managed the stud were different than today. Our main buyers were breeders from the U.S. and Scandinavia; everything sold for very decent prices.

You are now producing top quality and world class bay horses, not just the greys that Michałów became famous for. Is this accidental or a vision from the Białobok’s? I am trying to do my job as best I can by putting a lot of heart, passion and new ideas into it. I also try to quickly correct my own mistakes when I see that genetics are playing tricks on us.

Today you have to heavily promote your own horses at shows and through various leases in order to prepare a good ground for the auction. We have to find buyers all over the world. Today our main clients are the countries of the Middle East.

I think that today the coat color is not so important. What’s important is to have a horse of our dreams underneath that coat. And as history teaches us, the breeding of greys to bays gives wonderful results, not only in regard to horses. n

Michałów was definitely more “grey” in the beginning than it is today, but that was thanks to the fabulous sires that were used in those times: Gwarny, Nabor, Negatiw, Comet, Palas, Bandos, Eukaliptus, which in most cases passed on the grey coat color onto their get. Later came “dark” sires in the shape of Probat, Monogramm, Gazal Al Shaqab, Ganges, Kahil Al Shaqab, QR Marc, which painted the herd bay.

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Oak Haven Arabians Lauren Grabski

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Rising Stars! Cassie Banks

“Congrats to our Rising Stars! We are very proud to have you be such an important part of our team! I am especially grateful for the tremendous impact you have made at Oak Haven Arabians.” -Jason

Blake and Genna Krohn, Owners Jason Krohn, Lauren Grabski and Cassie Banks, Trainers Farm 903-882-5205 • genna@oakhavenarabians.com • Jason Krohn 903-539-3812 W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

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The AHT

RISING STARS Of 2015

IN THE ARABIAN BUSINESS, A YOUNG PERSON,

especially a rising star, yearns for the respect, show ring experience,

connections, and the general wisdom that a seasoned trainer has

earned. Longing for the days when their star is finally “risen,” these up-and-comers are well aware of the one thing that makes

up for experience—work ethic. In their hopeful journey to the top,

these young horsemen are hungry for respect and success, which fuels the long hours spent in the barn. In a young life that could

have taken any direction, they chose the horse world. Vociferous with passion and enthusiasm and try, the rising stars of 2015 set out to do big things in the evolution of the Arabian breed.

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Cassie Banks

________________________________________

Cassie Banks

________________________________________ Farm affiliation: Oak Haven Arabian Horse Farm LLC Number of years in the horse industry: 15 Divisions competing in: Hunter, Western and English How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? My next door neighbor had an Arabian farm. One day I stopped in to check it out, and the next thing I knew I was hooked on the Arabian horse. Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? I did show at the youth level and when I finished up my youth career, I turned professional. Who was the most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? In the beginning, I would have to say my first trainer, Dawn Leonard. However, when I went to work for Rick Gault, that really sealed the deal. He is one of the most inspiring people Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever had the pleasure to work with.

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Annie Boylan

Why did you choose to be an Arabian trainer vs. another profession? I just love the breed and working with the horses. I was always more of an on-the-farm kind of girl, so office jobs just were not for me! What would be one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? I like to hang out and fish in my free time. Again, anything to be outdoors!

________________________________________

Annie Boylan

________________________________________ Farm affiliation: Stachowski Farms, Inc. Number of years in the horse industry: 22 Divisions competing in: Country and English How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? I started taking riding lessons at an Arabian barn when I turned four years old. My sister was taking lessons and I had to do anything she was doing. Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? I did, I showed in hunter pleasure, hunter equitation, show hack, country, English and park.

RISING

STARS

Who was the most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? There is a long list of people who played a part in me becoming a trainer, but I would say my family has been most instrumental. They all supported me in my passion and dream to one day be a trainer. My sister played a large role, especially since I’ve always looked up to her. She’s had my back and supported me through everything. My aunt has also always supported my dream and pushed me to pursue it; and my mom played a super important role as the number one horseshow mom. Without all their positive support, I don’t think I’d be where I am right now. Why did you choose to be an Arabian trainer vs. another profession? I don’t remember ever wanting to do anything else. I played sports in high school and college, but my goal was to train horses. I’ve always loved all the things that come with the job like breaking foals, giving lessons and showing, so it always made sense to me that I should do it as a profession. I wanted to do something I loved and training was it. What would be one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? I have a degree in Middle Eastern Studies.

________________________________________

Wyatt Budd

________________________________________ Farm affiliation: Stachowski Farm, Inc. Number of years in the horse industry: 15 Divisions competing in: Country and English How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? My grandparents grew up with horses and so did my parents. Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? I have been showing at the youth level since I was about seven years old.

Wyatt Budd

Who was the most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? Both my parents were very instrumental and dedicated in helping me become the horseman I am today. Why did you choose to be an Arabian trainer vs. another profession? My whole family is part of the Arabian horse business and since I was little, this business has fascinated me more than any other. What would be one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? They would be surprised at how much my life revolves around horses.

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Michael Carpio

________________________________________

Michael Carpio

________________________________________ Farm affiliation: Royal Arabians Number of years in the horse industry: 25 Divisions competing in: Halter How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? My next door neighbor bred Crabbet Arabians; my family bought our first horse there. I was the brother that tags along to my sister’s lessons. I quickly realized that the Arabian horse was becoming a passion. Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? Yes, a little bit in 4-H. I loved the barrels! I did show my Strike daughter in halter as a youth. That’s when the halter addiction started! Who was most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? To me, the horses where the most influential, in me becoming a horse trainer. I loved spending all day and creating bonds of friendship with them. The Arabian horse captivates my life. Why did you choose to be an Arabian horse trainer

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Priscilla Cluff

vs. another profession? It wasn’t much of a choice for me. Sitting in college … preparing for real life ... it was fairly clear there was nothing I would rather do. What would be one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? I don’t like onions, mustard, sauerkraut, and bleu cheese; and I was born in the Bronx.

________________________________________

Priscilla Cluff

________________________________________ Farm affiliation: GRK Farms Divisions competing in: Western, Hunter and Halter. Also coach Showmanship at Halter and Equitation How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? My first horse was an Arabian/pony cross. I fell in love with her kindness, spirit, and intelligence. I was hooked! Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? I showed my first purebred Arabian as a youth, but it was not at Arabian shows, it was at the 4-H level. I would attend

RISING

STARS

the Arabian shows as a spectator and I hoped that one day I would be able to be lucky enough to show at the Arabian shows. After graduating from BYU, I decided I wanted to be a trainer. I had very few skills, but I had a lot of desire, so I have worked hard and created opportunities to learn. Who was most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? I made the decision to become a trainer on my own, with the encouragement of my wonderful husband, Hans, and I have had fabulous support along the way. Liz Bentley has been a great mentor for me, and I also have had the privilege to learn from: Nathan Salamy, Chris Culbreth, Joe Reser, Carolyn McDonald, Gary McDonald, Julie Daniel, and many others. I have been fortunate enough to train for Gary Kehl for the last thirteen years. He is a great man who had faith in me and gave me the opportunity to develop my talent. Why did you choose to be an Arabian horse trainer vs. another profession? I just simply fell in love with the Arabian horse and I decided that working with them all day would be my dream job; so I went for it! What would be one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? I just passed the judges’ exam and I’m excited to be able to judge shows! Also, I play the organ in church regularly (and the piano from time to time). Also, I have koi fish in a big tank in my basement.

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Justin Cowden

________________________________________ Farm affiliation: Royal Arabians Number of years in the horse industry: 15 Divisions competing in: Hunter, Western and English How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? In one way or another, the Arabian horse has been in my life since I was born. My grandfather was a long-time Arabian horse

Justin Cowden

enthusiast and breeder, and his horses were my first introduction to the breed. Although I can appreciate a good horse of any breed, I haven’t enjoyed any like I have the Arabian. Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? I showed through middle school and high school as a youth, and showed one year as an adult amateur my first year of college. Who was most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? No doubt, Cari Thompson. She put countless hours into helping me learn all that I could from her as a kid and later on as her assistant trainer. Why did you choose to be an Arabian horse trainer vs. another profession? Any other profession just never made sense. I truly enjoy every day that I go to work with the horses. What would be one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? I come from a strong ranching background in northern Nevada, as both sides of my family were second generation cattle ranchers.

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Brandon Flood

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Brandon Flood

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Katie Garland

went to an aeronautical school for a year. I found out as my freshman year progressed, that I missed the horses and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really enjoy being a pilot.

Farm affiliation: Flood Show Horses Number of years in the horse industry: My whole life, 10 as a trainer Divisions competing in: Western, English, Hunter and Halter

What would be one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? I love to rock climb; I climb at a gym at least twice a week and outside whenever possible.

How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? My family has always been involved with Arabians. My parents own Flood Show Horses, and my father has been a trainer since before I was born.

Katie Garland

Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? I showed a lot when I was younger. I stopped showing once I started playing school sports. Who was most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? My parents. If they hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t already been in the business, I probably never would have known about Arabians. I lucked out that my family had a business that, as I grew up, realized I really enjoyed being a part of. Why did you choose to be an Arabian horse trainer vs. another profession? My first choice as a career was actually to be a pilot, and after high school I

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_______________________________________ _______________________________________ Farm affiliation: Garlands Number of years in the horse industry: Showing for 18 years and training for 5 Divisions competing in: English, Country, Hunter and Western How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? I was introduced to the Arabian horse by my dad at a very young age. I can remember watching him ride and train when I was younger. Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? Yes, I have been showing horses for as long as I can remember. I still remember showing SF Georgia in lead line at Youth Nationals in 1998.

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Who was most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? I would have to say my dad. Without him, I would have never been able to do so many of the things I cherish today. Why did you choose to be an Arabian horse trainer vs. another profession? Ever since I was a little girl watching my dad show, I knew that I wanted to be a horse trainer. I couldn’t think of any other way I would want to spend my days, but with all these beautiful horses. I am living the dream. The Arabian horse industry is like no other; we are all like a close knit family and I couldn’t imagine if I didn’t have all of these people in my life. It definitely wouldn’t be the same! What would be one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? Back in high school I was quite the athlete. I ran track, cheered, danced, and rode horses. You name it, and I probably did it!

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Lauren Grabski

________________________________________ Farm affiliation: Oak Haven Arabians Number of years in the horse industry: 13 years Divisions competing in: Hunt Seat and Saddle Seat How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? My mother introduced me to the Arabian horse. It was always her dream to own and show Arabian horses. She found Blake Krohn and Oak Haven Arabians and fell in love with the horses and the industry. She took me to the farm one day to show me what she was doing, and I fell in love with it just as fast as she did. Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? Yes, I competed as a youth exhibitor starting in the 13 & under, and I also showed as an amateur until I was able to finish school and earn my finance degree.

Lauren Grabski

Who was most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? My parents. Obviously, they were not the ones who taught me how to become a horse trainer, but they supported me in pursuing this career. They have always encouraged me to follow my heart and to do what makes me happy and what I love. Why did you choose to be an Arabian horse trainer vs. another profession? My brothers and I were taught to do what makes us happy, and my dad always said, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” There was never a doubt in my mind that this is what I wanted to do. I love these animals more than anything else, and I can’t imagine not being around them every day. It’s my dream job. What would be one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? I love riding and competing in the hunter division, but I grew up mainly showing and riding saddle seat horses. When I was still a youth rider, I took on the project of finishing my first horse (a hunter) on my own (with the help and instruction of more experienced riders) and fell in love with it.

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Grant Krohn

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Grant Krohn

________________________________________ Farm affiliation: RBC Show Horses Number of years in the horse industry: 21 Divisions competing in: English, Country, Driving and Halter How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? I was introduced to the Arabian horse only a few days after I was born. My parents own Oak Haven Arabians in East Texas where they have been training and breeding horses for 30 years. Horses have had a huge influence in my life from a young age. Did you show Arabian horses at Youth and Amateur level? Yes, I have been showing horses as long as I can remember. I am very fortunate to grow up in this industry where I was able to show some incredible horses and meet incredible people. Who was most instrumental for you becoming a horse trainer? My father, Blake Krohn. He taught me what it meant to not only be a horse trainer, but a horseman. He is an outstanding horseman and trainer, but above that he is a great father. He did

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Matthew Krohn

everything he could so I could follow my dreams. He made many sacrifices and devoted many hours helping me become the horseman I am today. I am so grateful to have him in my life as a mentor and a friend. I would not be where I am today if I didn’t have him in my life looking out for me every step of the way. Why did you choose to be an Arabian horse trainer vs. another profession? For me, there is no other profession that brings me the same amount of joy that the Arabian horse does. I cannot see myself doing anything else besides training horses. I love the process and how each one is like a different puzzle, and our job is to put the pieces together. What would be one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? Being a horse trainer is a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week kind of job, so there isn’t very much down time; but every chance I get, I try to head to the mountains and go skiing/ snowboarding—it is my favorite hobby and I have been doing it since I was very young. I am not a huge fan of cold weather or snow, but both of those are very acceptable when I am on the mountain. One of the main reasons I enjoy it so much is because it is something my whole family partakes in and is something we can all do together.

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Matthew Krohn

________________________________________ Farm affiliation: Oak Haven Arabian Horse Farm LLC Number of in the horse industry: 19 Divisions competing in: English, Country, Halter and Western How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? I grew up on my parents Arabian horse farm, Oak Haven Arabians. It’s a family business, so we all learned to care for the horses. As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be in the barn. My dad would let me get on some of the training horses after he finished working them. Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? I started competing in the lead line classes and have competed at Youth Nationals until I aged out. I was allowed to show some really amazing horses! I won three national championships and two reserves in western, country English and halter. Who was the most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? My father, Blake Krohn, is the person I have always strived to be like. He is the reason I became a horseman; he has taught me so many things and always encouraged me. Why did you choose to be an Arabian trainer vs. another profession? Probably the biggest reason I became an Arabian horse trainer is because I grew up around them. I have ridden all my life and once I graduated, I was already established in this industry. I feel fortunate that I had a place to start my professional career at Oak Haven. What would be one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? Most people don’t know that I like to team rope. I don’t have much time for that now, but when I was in high school, it was my favorite thing to do.

Kasey Moffat

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Kasey Moffat

________________________________________ Farm affiliation: Daniel Training Center Number of years in the horse industry: 9 Divisions competing in: Country, Show Hack and Native Costume How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? I was originally introduced to horses and the Arabian breed by my cousin, Jacki Johnson, who owned a Half-Arabian hunt horse which she started giving me riding lessons on. Jacki then bought a Half-Arabian country horse from Julie Daniel. My first encounter at DTC was taking a lesson on multi-national champion CA Blaze Of Glory+//, and the rest is history! Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? I showed Arabian horses as a youth exhibitor at the regional and national level for four years with Daniel Training Center, as well as working for Julie as a groom. After graduating, I began building a successful lesson program at Daniel Training Center, and have recently acquired the position of Assistant Trainer with the opportunity to work and show client horses.

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What would be one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? I am extremely shy when I first meet a person in the general public, but I am very outgoing within the horse community!

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Nikki Murphy

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Nikki Murphy

Who was most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? Julie Daniel. She took me in as a youth that couldn’t afford to show and let me work my way into showing at a national level. Throughout my high school years, I worked as head groom for DTC, along with a part time cashier job and taking a full load of advanced placement and honor level classes to be able to have the chance to show an Arabian horse. Julie has taught me everything I know about horses and has given me incredible opportunities to grow in my own abilities working by her side as her assistant trainer. Julie is also assisting me to run my own lesson program, Apex Riding Academy, where my goal is to bring new people into the Arabian industry and share with them my passion for the Arabian horse. Why did you choose to be an Arabian horse trainer vs. another profession? I fell in love with horses as a 13 year old girl; my passion for the Arabian horse growing ever since. Having to work my way up has given me so much joy and strength in my passion for the Arabian horse. I know that my life will be complete by teaching others to ride and love the Arabian horse as much as I do.

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Farm affiliation: Rick Gault Training Number of years in the horse industry: 12 Divisions competing in: Hunter, English and Western How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? I got introduced to Arabians when I was taking riding lessons at Black Bottom Stables in Ladson, SC. Billy Ridgill, the farm owner, introduced me to my first horse that he was training at his farm. She was a beautiful chestnut Arabian mare with a long gorgeous flaxen mane, bred by Palmetto Arabians. Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? I started showing my first Arabian horse at the age of 12. Who was most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? Billy Ridgill. Why did you choose to be an Arabian horse trainer vs. another profession? I love animals and I love to be outside! It is a job that constantly keeps you thinking. What would be one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? I am a very picky eater ... anything healthy you can forget!

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Nicole Perry

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Nicole Perry

________________________________________ Farm affiliation: Kiesner Training Number of years in the horse industry: amateur: 14 years, professionally: 3 Divisions competing in: Hunter, Country, English, Show Hack, Side Saddle How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? Margaret Rich gave me my very first riding lesson. She ran an Arabian training program in my hometown. For me it was love at first sight; I never wanted to do anything else. Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? Yes, I started showing when I was 11 years old. Then was fortunate enough that my parents helped me to compete as an amateur through college. My parents have always supported me 110%. Who was most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? Kimberly VerHage, along with Joel and Ashton Kiesner, have been key in my success thus far. Their success, passion and knowledge push me to want to be a better trainer every day.

Lauren Reeves

Why did you choose to be an Arabian horse trainer vs. another profession? I was always told that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. I can’t imagine doing anything else.

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Lauren Reeves

________________________________________ Farm affiliation: Bisch Training Number of years in the horse industry: Grew up in industry and I’m 30 years old Divisions competing in: English, Hunter and Western How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? Since my mom has been a horse trainer for over 40 years, I was lucky enough to grow up around the Arabian horse. My earliest childhood memories are of my sister and I running around at horse shows and competing in walk/trot/canter at age 6 or 7, before there were walk/trot classes. I loved growing up around the horses and living the ranch life. Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? I have shown as a youth and as an amateur. I love the rush of competing in the

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ring and the connection I feel between myself and the horse. I guess the hard work and focus has paid off, because I have been fortunate enough to win a national championship or reserve in every division. Who was most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? My mom, Dede, has absolutely been the most instrumental in me becoming a horse trainer, as well as a hardworking, independent woman. Working with her every day has really set me up for success and I am forever grateful to her for all she has done for me. She has taught me so much over the years about training the horses, taking care of them, and how to handle the business side of things as well. She continues to educate me and guide me through this process of becoming a professional, but also gives me the opportunity to learn from other amazing horsemen in the industry that mentored her or compete alongside her, most recently being Gene LaCroix, Tim Shea, and Joel, Ashton, and Dick Kiesner. Their advice and insight of the Arabian horse world truly inspired me. It was a high point for me in my career as a young professional and I am so thankful for all the knowledge they shared. Why did you choose to be an Arabian horse trainer vs. another profession? I don’t think I really chose to be a trainer, it just happened naturally. I took some time to compete as an amateur while I was in college and worked in accounting for a few years, but I always stayed involved in the industry. Then I thought, why am I getting up to go to work at the office every day, when I could be getting up and going to the barn? I love the horses, the people, the competition, and all that this industry has done for me as a person. When I wake up in the mornings, I am excited to get to the ranch and start my day. It never feels like a job that I have to go to; it feels like fun that I get to have every day! What would be one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? I think I appear very confident in the ring, but at home, I am always asking for help and looking for ways to improve myself or my horse. I love riding with my mom, and having her to bounce ideas off of, but I also enjoy learning from other great trainers.

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Lindsay Rinehart

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Lindsay Rinehart

________________________________________ Farm affiliation: Trotwood Farm, LLC Number of years in the horse industry: 21 Divisions competing in: English, Country, Park, Driving, Side Saddle, Show Hack, Costume, Hunter, Western and Halter How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? My parents were not horse people. My dad actually used to say he would never have “hay burners.” Well, little did my parents know, they would be blessed with a horse obsessed little girl! My mom did not allow me to take riding lessons until I learned about horses. She and I would lay in bed every night and she would read to me educational horse books. Before I ever took a riding lesson, I knew about saddles, feeding, grooming, different bits, etc. and at six years old I started my first riding lessons. The local stable where I learned to ride was an Arabian training facility, so it was by fate that I became involved with the Arabian horse. Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? Yes, I competed as both a youth and amateur.

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Who was most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? My parents. They were incredible supporters of my goals and dreams, always pushing me to be the best I could be. I had to maintain good grades in school in order to ride, and at one point I actually wanted to be a wildlife biologist studying mammal behavior. I didn’t end up a wildlife biologist, but horse training is kind of like studying mammal behavior! Why did you choose to be an Arabian horse trainer vs. another profession? I live and breathe horses, so when it was time to decide a career, horses were the only thing I wanted to do. What would be one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? I’m big into archery and deer hunting.

Steven Scoggins

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Steven Scoggins

________________________________________ Farm affiliation: Setting Sun Stables LLC Number of years in the horse industry: Professionally for just over 2 years Divisions competing in: Western Pleasure and Reining How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? My family has always been very involved with Arabian horses. My dad, Brian Scoggins, is an Arabian horse trainer and AHA judge, my Grandpa Scoggins was an equine veterinarian and Arabian breeder, and my grandparents, Jim and Jan Decker, were Arabian horse trainers and actively involved in the Arabian Horse Association. I guess you could say it runs pretty deep in my blood. I can remember riding my first horse, an Arabian, of course, around 4 or 5 years old and I was instantly hooked. Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? While I caught the horse bug early, school and sports kept me really busy growing up and I didn’t start competing at the Class A level until

later in high school. The Class A shows combined two things I loved: horses and competition. One of the best memories was competing in H/A Western Pleasure in Albuquerque at Youth Nationals my last year as a youth rider. I continued to show both western pleasure and reining as an adult amateur until I made the decision to go pro. Who was most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? Choosing just one is hard, given all the great mentors in my family, but if I had to pick someone, I would have to say my dad. Growing up spending long hours in the barn and on the road at shows with him gave me first-hand insight into the hard work that goes into this profession but also the rewards that come with it. I’ve always admired his work ethic and dedication to his clients and horses. Why did you choose to be an Arabian horse trainer vs. another profession? At the end of the day it was the Arabian horse that brought me to this profession. After college I tried other career paths—everything from construction to sales—but I kept coming back to the horses. Each day is different and every horse and rider presents a new challenge and opportunity.

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Wendy Shelton

Josh Shino

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Josh Shino

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Farm affiliation: Setting Sun Stables LLC Number of years in the horse industry: 22 Divisions competing in: All divisions, but currently Hunter and Side Saddle

Farm affiliation: Stachowski Farm, Inc. Number of years in the horse industry: 18 Divisions competing in: Country, English, Hunter, Western, Reining and Halter

How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? My friend in grade school had an Arabian mare. I always loved her beauty and how she would float across the pastures.

How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? I was born into the Arabian horse industry. My maternal grandfather has owned Arabians for a long time and my mother is owner/trainer of Cactus Rose Ranch, so no matter where I went, there were always horses involved.

Wendy Shelton

Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? I showed my English horse as a junior exhibitor. Who was the most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? I think it would have to be Lisa Powell. I started with Lisa and she taught me a lot. Why did you choose to be an Arabian trainer vs. another profession? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not sure; I just remember I wanted to train horses, even as a little girl. What would be one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? My age.

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Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? I have competed as a youth exhibitor for the past 14 years, but never competed as an adult amateur. Who was most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? My mother, Carolyn McDonald Shino; she introduced me to the Arabian horse. She has been the best teacher and my biggest supporter, allowing me to show many incredible horses throughout my youth years.

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was not very broke. Despite strict advice from our “ranching” family members, my parents once again gave in to my perseverance. I loved the complexity of his fiery spirit and sensitivity. After a ruptured spleen and a brief stay in the hospital, we started our show career together. I was hooked on showing, but more so, I was in love with the Arabian breed.

Danielle “Dani” Stock

Why did you choose to be an Arabian horse trainer vs. another profession? I couldn’t imagine my life being any other way. I want to spend every day in the barn! I love to see how much the Arabian horse can change people’s lives and love seeing people achieve their goals with horses. What would be one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? I have a hard time using chopsticks.

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Danielle “Dani” Stock

________________________________________ Farm affiliation: Harris Show Horses at Jade Creek Arabians Number of years in the horse industry: 25 Divisions competing in: Western Pleasure How did you get your introduction to the Arabian horse? I started riding and showing Quarter Horses as a young girl and felt an immediate connection with horses. I was determined to have a horse I could call my own and so my parents eventually surrendered. What five-year-old doesn’t need a Half-Welsh/HalfShetland pony? I outgrew her quickly and we decided to look for a breed that would grow with me. We came across a Half-Arabian/Half-Quarter Horse who

Did you show Arabian horses at the Youth and Amateur level? I started going to the “A” rated shows when I was about 10. I was the kid that had to work off training and board, so a trip to Youth Nationals was financially out of reach for me. I schooled my own horses as an amateur and showed at the regional level for a few years, but I never went any further than that. Who was most instrumental in you becoming a horse trainer? My parents were always supportive of my choice to train horses for a living. They gave up everything for themselves so my sister and I could show our horses. I probably wouldn’t have had the means to start a career training horses had it not been for their unwavering support. I think you can learn something from everyone, but there are a few that have been most helpful: Randi Vreeland, Paula Tate, Bruce Griffin II, Jaime Hernandez, the late Rock Walker, Cynthia Burkman, and, of course, Greg Harris, who has given me a lot of opportunity and support. I probably would not be filling out this questionnaire if it wasn’t for him. Why did you choose to be an Arabian horse trainer vs. another profession? This is a very rewarding profession for me. I love working hard on a horse, then watching it win with our youth or amateur riders. To me, that is the biggest test of all. I used to manage a very nice hotel on a very nice beach; it was a great job, but I’m not one for sitting inside all day. I love being outside, working hard and being tired at the end of the day. I feel like I’ve accomplished something each and every day. This job is who I am. What would be one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? I would love to be a criminal profiler for the FBI if I couldn’t train horses. ■

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Trainer's Workshop Building A Better Community At Kiesner Training by Christy Egan

“I

always thought that the concept of a Trainer’s Workshop was a good idea,” says Joel Kiesner. “We only decided to actually do the workshop a few weeks before the dates we chose. We just got on the phone and made it happen. Everybody in this business is busy, but I thought if we did not do it now, it wasn’t going to happen. We didn’t want to charge the participants anything; it was something we wanted to do for the Arabian horse community. But once we put the word out and immediately had 30 people sign up, I thought … ‘Wait a minute … we have to feed all of these people!’” Almost immediately, supportive sponsors stepped up and offered to help with the workshop by supplying catered meals. Sponsors included: Jarvis Insurance, Smoky Mountain Park Arabians, Royal Heir, Afires Heir, and Maroon Fire Arabians. “My decision regarding the panel members was simple,” Joel admits. “I gathered a few of the important people who have had a dynamic effect on my life as mentors, beginning with my dad, Dick Kiesner. When I have a situation with business or a client; when I need to talk, he’s my first call.

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He always gives me great advice. He started me on the path to being a ‘forever learner’ and inspired me to be better and to live up to my potential. My next choice was Gene LaCroix because … well, it’s Gene. I have a lot of respect for Gene. He’s one of our greatest, all-time horsemen and an extraordinary communicator. Tim Shea and I have worked together for many years. I watched him show the ‘greats.’ Eventually, and fortunately, I was able to work with him and his horses more and more. He is always saying things I think other people should hear.” Who came to the workshop? The young and the young-atheart. On March 13th and 14th, from 8:30 am until 10:30 pm, they heard the answers to their questions from the very experienced. How do you get horses in training without stealing them? How do you find the right people to call? How do you handle problems with a client when things are bad? When things are good? Gene’s presentation on the last evening encompassed his life in the Arabian horse business. He began with stories about the modest beginnings of that little farm called Lasma Arabians on Bell Road in Scottsdale, and progressed

through the fabulous stallions, show horses, auction sales and sale centers of the industry’s “salad years” in the 1970s and ‘80s. “The Workshop was a great thing,” says LaCroix. “It allowed young trainers the opportunity to observe and ride. They had the moxie to get up on horses and take instruction from us. It was like the old-time seminars at Lasma. We shared ideas; it was good. I enjoyed showing my slides and videos to the group. It tells the story of the way we were. After 1985 the sales collapsed, but it allowed me to do some other things that I also wanted to do. Train some race horses; ride a Saddlebred in Freedom Hall.” “Half of the young trainers that were there had no real sense of the ‘LaCroix’ years,” Joel says. “We told them, ‘this could be you … you could be the trainer that takes this business to the next level.’ It’s the young trainer’s network now. It was also positive to share with them that everybody in the horse business has the same problems; that all beginnings are tough and that you can make a living as an Arabian horse trainer.” “Often people in our business say to me, ‘where are all of the young horse trainers?’” Joel says. “Now I will answer them … there are a lot more of them out there than you might think!” Joel says that he would like to do workshops of this kind once or even twice a year. He believes that the gathering had a positive influence on the young trainers and that if even half of the thirty attendees were inspired or helped by the seminar, it was worth the effort. “We need to build a better community within the Arabian horse business,” he says. “The possibilities are there. The AHA is welcoming new groups and ideas. People are poised and ready to do more in so many ways. I would like to organize and inspire a specific day, once a year, when Arabian breeders and horsemen from all over America offer open barns and reach out to non-horse people in their neighborhoods.” Joel Kiesner’s energy and excitement about his workshop was palpable. Throughout this interview, he repeated over and over that he had set out to inspire young trainers and ended up becoming inspired himself. It’s a mantra repeated by the passionate teachers and mentors in every industry. n

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Youth, Amateur & Open Saddle Seat Hunt Seat Western Futurity Five Gaited Show Hack Side Saddle Driving Equitation Halter

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Introducing â&#x20AC;Ś

Kasey Moffat

While most of you already know Kasey, it seemed time to acknowledge her contribution to the DTC family and the Arabian horse industry. Not only does Kasey work incredibly hard behind the scenes with the DTC staff to expertly prepare our show string, she goes far beyond expectations by sharing her passion, dedication and knowledge with beginning riders and first-time horse owners. She is a talented horse trainer and a critical part of Team DTC. We could not do what we do without her.

We wish Kasey much success on her journey in making an impact on our industry! K ASEY MOFFAT ASSISTANT TRAINER & INSTRUCTOR 801-24 4 -7996 W W W.DANIELTR AININGCENTER.COM

Rising Star Priscilla Cluff

Performa nce a nd Ha lter For more i n for mat ion, cont ac t :

GR K FA R M S , LLC

at Copper Hills Eque st rian Center Pr i sci l la C lu f f, 8 01-23 4 - 0295 | Ga r y R . Keh l, 8 01-56 0 -9 68 8

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Rising Star

LAUREN REEVES

Welcome to the Team!

B isch Training aT L os c edros Scottsdale, Arizona DeDe Bisch | 480.250.4616 | DedeBisch@gmail.com Lauren Reeves | 480.250.0628 www.bischtraining.com Volume 45, No. 11 | 213

Marketing The Arabian Horse Today

ON THE SUBJECT OF MARKETING THE ARABIAN HORSE IN TODAYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WORLD,

there are as many opinions and formulas for success as there are people doing it. The only completely reliable maxim seems to be that the very best will always sell, and usually sell quickly for impressive prices. But how does one market all the others? And better yet, how can marketers attract new people to the Arabian horse community? For answers, Arabian Horse Times went to a selection of owners, breeders and trainers to see how they did it. This is what we heard.

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In an average year, we typically sell between three to five horses to first-time buyers. Typical firsttime buyers want to spend $5,000 to $7,500. This horse must be honest, safe, sound and beginnerfriendly. They must win at the intended level to keep the owners interested, committed and headed toward the next purchase. Quality horses in this price range are extremely hard to find. It is imperative that firsttime buyers have a positive experience with their first horse. If our relationships with first-time horse owners are based on trust, the cycle of repeat horse purchases will perpetuate itself.

Julie R. Daniel

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Julie R. Daniel

Daniel Training Center Scottsdale, Ariz. 30 years in Arabians _____________________________________________________________ How do you reach out to get new people involved in the Arabian horse business? The use of social media is critical to any effective marketing program. You can relay your message to your target audience and realize immediate results. If you have your own horse property, do you offer riding lessons? Does it lead to sales and expanded participation in Arabians? At Daniel Training Center, we offer riding lessons to students at all levels of ability. Over time, lesson clients will observe more advanced students exhibiting horses at horse shows, which often will lead to an inquiry about leasing and ultimately a purchase. Solid lesson programs are crucial to increased participation in our industry. In 2014, how many horses did you sell to first-time Arabian horse owners?

How is marketing an Arabian horse different today from when you got into the business? If you have owned Arabians for more than 20 years, what has changed about marketing in that time? Two words: social media. I’ve sold more than 50 horses through social media, particularly Facebook. The ability to reach your target audience is without boundaries, particularly those outside our immediate community. How do you go about selling an “average” horse? What price range works best? Horses under $15,000 are the most difficult to sell. Why? The first-time buyer expects this horse to be competitive at the national level. Unfortunately, a lot of the horses in this price range aren’t as competitive as the ones priced higher. As a trainer, I search long and hard to find the “average” horse that I feel I can develop into a winner for my new client. Are you able to sell an Arabian horse as an investment these days, or do you find more buyers by focusing on “ lifestyle” and “ hobby”? I think that every sale of a horse is an investment. Whether it’s a young horse in the halter ring that will be our future breeding stock, or an investment in a child’s show horse that will carry them through their youth, teaching them discipline, trust, a work ethic and absolute joy. Investment, it’s all relative! As far as what I focus on, it’s matching the right horse to the right rider.

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Leah Golladay

Golladay Training at Cedar Ridge Arabians Jordan, Minn. 22 years in Arabians _____________________________________________________________ How do you reach out to get new people involved in the Arabian horse business? If you have your own horse property, do you offer riding lessons? Does it lead to sales and expanded participation in Arabians? We do have a lesson program, and we definitely see an increase in sales from it. We have sold a number of horses to kids coming out of the lesson program into the show program. In addition to selling horses, the lesson program allows us to foster lifelong Arabian horse lovers. In 2014, how many horses did you sell to first-time Arabian horse owners? On average, we sell two or three horses to brand new riders every year. We also have a handful of lesson students who lease horses to go to local shows, to get their feet wet!

Every region has farms of all sizes, with trainers and customers looking for different levels of horses. A horse that might not fit into our program might be a perfect fit elsewhere. It’s important to know the market in your area. We sell horses that are going to be competitive at the local and regional level, on average, between $5,000 and $15,000. Are you able to sell an Arabian horse as an investment these days, or do you find more buyers by focusing on “ lifestyle” and “ hobby”? We have a few clients that are interested in investment prospects and breeding, but the majority are more focused on showing their horses and the camaraderie of the Arabian horse community!

How is marketing an Arabian horse different today from when you got into the business? If you have owned Arabians for more than 20 years, what has changed about marketing in that time? I think the market for the locally competitive horse has decreased. There are a lot of people looking for nationally competitive horses, but it doesn’t seem like there are as many competitors now that want to top out locally or regionally. How do you go about selling an “average” horse? What price range works best?

Leah Golladay

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How is marketing an Arabian horse different today from when you got into the business? If you have owned Arabians for more than 20 years, what has changed about marketing in that time? Marketing has changed in many ways in the Arabian horse business in the last 20 years. No longer do we have the growth in the industry where people just walked in the door. No longer do we have breeders still acquiring stock, so they were buyers. No longer do we have a show circuit, clear cut where we could show horses and find new and interested buyers. The advent of social media and e-blasts has made marketing faster and more sophisticated. Today we are engaged in a world market, not just a local community. Today, we as marketers have to go out and find new buyers.

Greg Knowles

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Greg Knowles

Arabian Expressions Scottsdale, Ariz. Arabian Expressions opened its doors in 1979 _____________________________________________________________ How do you reach out to get new people involved in the Arabian horse business? We are very involved in putting on “new people seminars” for the Arabian horse, where we spend a beautiful afternoon with a PowerPoint presentation and live judging, telling the story of the Arabian horse now and then. It is a complete workshop on how to succeed in the Arabian horse industry. If you have your own horse property, do you offer riding lessons? Does it lead to sales and expanded participation in Arabians? I do own my own farm. We do not offer riding lessons because we are primarily a breeding/ halter program. In 2014, how many horses did you sell to first-time Arabian horse owners? In 2014 we sold about 10 horses to new people.

We find our success mostly through our “new people seminars.” It is amazing how many people love the Arabian horse, once they are introduced to them. Another way we have found success in marketing our horses is creating a country club environment at our farm. We find people love the horse, the friendship and the camaraderie of being involved with the Arabian horse. How do you go about selling an “average” horse? What price range works best? One of the problems we find today in the industry is how to market an average horse. Now, if a horse can’t win in a competitive show, there doesn’t seem to be a good market for these wonderful individuals. We have seen some interest in the Middle East on some of the horses that are still wonderful, but not, quote, in the top five percent. Also, we find new people really do benefit by buying these horses at a lesser price. It enables new people to get their feet wet without spending too much money in the beginning to get into the Arabian horse business. Are you able to sell an Arabian horse as an investment these days, or do you find more buyers by focusing on “ lifestyle” and “ hobby”? We are finding that we can still sell Arabians for an investment; the secret is putting the right buyer and seller together. Lifestyle is also becoming a big draw for new Arabian horse owners.

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How is marketing an Arabian horse different today from when you got into the business? If you have owned Arabians for more than 20 years, what has changed about marketing in that time? In the 1980s, it was all about the tax write-offs. There were the big sales put on by Lasma, Mr. Chauncey, Kit Hall, American Farms, and Leo Hanson. Those sales drove the market and there was a trickle-down effect that helped the small breeder. Now it’s all about the show world. If you breed a filly or colt that can win a big prize, you will get a lot of money for them.

Lisa Markley _____________________________________________________________

Lisa Markley

Lisa Markley Arabians LLC Scottsdale, Ariz. 35 years in Arabian horses _____________________________________________________________

How do you reach out to get new people involved in the Arabian horse business? If you have your own horse property, do you offer riding lessons? Does it lead to sales and expanded participation in Arabians? We own a 10-acre farm. I don’t give riding lessons, but I do have a lot of people that are intrigued when I tell them that I breed Arabians. I always invite people to come to see the new foals, the mares and the farm, and when they do, they fall in love. And yes, it has led to many sales! In 2014, how many horses did you sell to first-time Arabian horse owners? One, a very nice yearling gelding.

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Unfortunately, there are very few people that are breeding Arabians now, nothing like in the 1980s and ’90s. It used to be that people would travel all over the United States going to big breeding farms and small breeding farms, hoping to find “that special one.” People don’t “beat the bushes” as much as they used to, mostly because all those farms don’t exist anymore. We happen to live in Scottsdale, Ariz., which is one of the main hubs of the Arabian horse world. There are several farms here and some excellent training centers. This draws a lot of people here because they can fly into one city and see a wide variety of top quality horses in a short time. So from a marketing standpoint, it works out great. I have several friends living in other states that get so frustrated because they don’t get the traffic to their farms like they used to. How do you go about selling an “average” horse? What price range works best? What I try to do is find the perfect situation for each of horses that I bring into this world. That’s my responsibility, first and foremost. I advertise them on websites such as Dream Horse, Equine.com and Horse Clicks, as well as by word of mouth. Usually the fillies that I have, even if they aren’t the top show horses but are still very good quality and well bred, can range from $5,000 to $15,000. I don’t keep colts intact unless they are very high quality; I am big on gelding them so that they can have quality of life. I’ve found the price for young geldings prior to being started under saddle is between $5,000 and $10,000 as yearlings and up.

There are also situations where “gifting” a horse to someone who will love and care for them is the right thing to do. For example, we have a friend that has two daughters who are horse crazy! I would much rather gift them one of my horses and let them fall in love with our breed than sell that same horse. Are you able to sell an Arabian horse as an investment these days, or do you find more buyers by focusing on “ lifestyle” and “ hobby”? I have sold mares as an investment and that has worked out well, but I think it’s best to sell horses for the lifestyle and as a hobby. _____________________________________________________________

Jason Krohn

Oak Haven Arabians Lindale, Texas Grew up in Arabian horses, professional trainer for 11 years. _____________________________________________________________ How do you reach out to get new people involved in the Arabian horse business? If you have your own horse property, do you offer riding lessons? Does it lead to sales and expanded participation in Arabians? There is no rule that says if you want to reach out to new people, you must have a lesson program and run ads advertising it in the home section of your local Sunday paper. Now, that is a great way to start. Some of our most competitive customers have come from that program. I know that many others have done just that and received new blood as a result. At Oak Haven, we have that system in place and probably only one out of five lesson customers go on to show competitively at a higher than “Class A” level. As most of you know, a lesson program is a lot of work to keep going, due to lack of horses, instructors and stalls/space. When you add all that up and then try to run a large scale training operation in addition, it makes it hard to keep it going, so then you stop. But just because your program has served its purpose doesn’t mean you should stop spreading the word about our great Arabian horse. So, at Oak Haven, we have turned to a little bit different idea. We advertise our services (training, marketing, breeding, instruction,

etc.) but in addition to that, we advertise the investment opportunity that the Arabian horse can offer. We have been advertising this way in different places, any local magazine that talks about what is happening in your area—events, best golf courses, restaurant reviews, real estate, best local getaways, and so on. Then, take the interest you generate and have an open house once a year, or twice if you have the right response. Have an open house not for your customers or other trainers, but for people who have never had any experience with the Arabian horse. The idea is to catch someone’s eye and get them excited about it. If one person leaves the open house excited, then it was a success. In 2014, how many horses did you sell to first-time Arabian horse owners? In 2014, we sold six horses to first-time Arabian horse owners. But that’s not where the challenge came in for me. Out of those six horses that were purchased by first-time buyers, only two of them continued to show. Not to say that those people won’t trickle back to competition with those horses, but in the future, I would like to sell more horses to first-time buyers that continue to show.

Jason Krohn

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How is marketing an Arabian horse different today from when you got into the business? If you have owned Arabians for more than 20 years, what has changed about marketing in that time? I have only been involved in the business side of things for 11 years, but I think that the market has changed. Now, we don’t have much market for the “average” horse. “The best of the best” sell themselves, from the top-end, finished horse to the stand out prospect, regardless of age. But I feel that our market has changed to where the average horse can be very difficult to sell. Eleven years ago, I think that you could take that average horse and find a division that it could stand out in and be competitive. Now, as trainers and breeders, we have gotten so specialized that no matter what division it is, it’s hard for that average horse to compete. How do you go about selling an “average” horse? What price range works best? I think that we as trainers need to get creative and find places for those average horses to be competitive. Maybe it’s an average saddle seat horse, but it might make a great hunter, and so on. Those average horses in the main ring would most of the time be standouts at a Class B show. Or maybe they would turn into great lesson horses. The Arabian horse is such a versatile breed, they can do or be just about anything. I understand that sometimes things don’t work out as planned and I know that being on the losing end of an investment is the pits, but what that horse will sell for is what that horse is worth. I find that if an “average” horse is not selling, then it’s either priced too high or it’s not being sold for the right “job.” If a horse is not selling, it is probably overpriced. I understand that there is a lot invested in that particular horse, and by dropping the price you will be losing. But every month you

220 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

go forward, it is costing you more time and money that you could be spending with a more competitive horse! So, by dropping the price of your average horse, you can move on. We have had luck over the past few years selling these so-called “average” horses, but when they were sold, they were no longer average. They had purpose. We made hunters into country horses, show horses into lesson horses, and country horses into cow horses, etc. You get the idea; we have to reinvent these horses and use what they are to our advantage! With their versatility, we just have to give those average horses purpose and move on. Are you able to sell an Arabian horse as an investment these days, or do you find more buyers by focusing on “ lifestyle” and “ hobby”? In our business today, I think that there is probably more lifestyle/hobby than investment. But it can be an investment if it’s done right. There are always risks. At the end of the day, horses are animals and they don’t always do what they’re told, so you must calculate the risks and make a decision on that. The best investments are the horses that appreciate at the fastest rate, so you don’t have the cost invested with time. I feel that today if the right horse is purchased, you can do both, enjoy the lifestyle/hobby and have the investment opportunity. _____________________________________________________________

Rob Bick and Caralyn Schroter

RBS Show Horses, LLC Smithfield, N.C. 35 years in Arabian horses _____________________________________________________________ How do you reach out to get new people involved in the Arabian horse business? This year we started by hosting a series of clinics in January. The first clinic was geared toward the youth riders and their horses, and the second clinic was for starting young horses, leading, tying, and saddle breaking—went from pasture to saddle. The final clinic was for the finished show horse, an overview of bridle fitting, clipping, grooming, rider apparel/appearance, and all the other finishing touches that go into a successful show season. By hosting these clinics, we hoped to bring in some new faces to our farm, which

How is marketing an Arabian horse different today from when you got into the business? If you have owned Arabians for more than 20 years, what has changed about marketing in that time? We have owned We also put on a 30 Arabians for more minute television than 35 years, and yes, show on Carolina marketing has changed. Hoofbeats TV. When we got into this The show, which business you could sell overviewed our an out-of-the-pasture, farm and our muddy broodmare for clinic series, aired Rob Bick and Caralyn Schroter $35,000 to $40,000. in more than two Now the trend is to purchase a horse that has a national million homes in the Southeast. Along with the TV win, and the buyer wants to see this horse in prime show, we advertise in all-breed trade magazines. show condition. The buyer now is more specific with his or her requirements for their next horse. We see On April 18, we are hosting an open house which will that some buyers are more interested in the personal highlight some of our up-and-coming stars, proven use of the horses, versus the investment standpoint. We show horses and stallions. We will advertise this feel that we are competing with the technology sector function in all the local tack shops and feed stores, as of the world today and children are not as interested in well as social media marketing. horses/farm life. They are, unfortunately, stuck to their phones. We would like to change the current evolution We have also started a lesson program for all level of of our youth by bringing to them an interest in and riders; we ran a Groupon campaign to gain interest. knowledge of the incredible Arabian horse, even if we have to give them a registered stick horse! If you have your own horse property, do you offer riding lessons? Does it lead to sales and expanded participation How do you go about selling an “average” horse? What price in Arabians? range works best? We do own our horse property. We have a lesson Selling a horse is an individual, one-at-a-time process. program in its infancy, which we hope to grow over the We have sold horses from $500 to a million dollars. next three to five years, and which should potentially lead It is about what price range works for the buyer, and to expanded participation and ownership of an Arabian. getting the seller and the buyer together on a price; there is not a “Blue Book” value on horses. There is We have also been fortunate enough to host the value in each horse whether it is as a pet, a show horse Budweiser Clydesdales, which generated a considerable or a breeding horse. It is all about the individual horse amount of traffic who have never been around an and buyer. Arabian or known of the versatility of the Arabian horse. we achieved. We had quite a few people who had never been to RBC and a few who were brand new to the Arabian horse.

In 2014, how many horses did you sell to first-time Arabian horse owners? We sold two horses to first-time Arabian owners, which is better than none.

Are you able to sell an Arabian horse as an investment these days, or do you find more buyers by focusing on “ lifestyle” and “ hobby”? That’s a leading question. The Arabian horse now

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may be more of a “lifestyle” and “hobby,” versus the investment. The tax law change in 1986 may have been when the investment side of horses went south. Arabians are still a respectable investment; it’s not impossible to have a horse hold its value while showing and/or breeding. It’s not easy, but it is possible. _____________________________________________________________

Lindsay Rinehart

Trotwood Farm, LLC Hickory Corners, Mich. 21 years in Arabian horses _____________________________________________________________ How do you reach out to get new people involved in the Arabian horse business? Trotwood Farm offers a full breeding, training and riding lesson program. We put emphasis on growing youth participation with Arabian horses and equinerelated activities, as well as being involved in our local Arabian club. If you have your own horse property, do you offer riding lessons? Does it lead to sales and expanded participation in Arabians? Yes, Trotwood offers a riding academy program. All of our lesson horses are Arabians or Half-Arabians. Our students quickly fall in love with the beauty and intelligence of the Arabian horse. How do you go about selling an “average” horse? What price range works best? We encourage those who have safe, dependable, reasonably priced “average” show horses to sell, to send them to our farm to present to our riders and families to purchase. If we have the horses in our barn, ready to present and available for our students to ride and fall in love with, the easier they are to sell, especially to firsttime buyers. For a first-time horse

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Lindsay Rinehart

purchaser, up to $10,000 on a safe, dependable, show horse. Are you able to sell an Arabian horse as an investment these days, or do you find more buyers by focusing on “ lifestyle” and “ hobby”? With raising several foals each season, we sell horses to buyers as investments and hobby-based. Most of the finished show horses are sold for owners to have fun riding and showing!

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Theresa Rorabaugh

Twin Creek Farms, ArabianSalesOnline.com Morley, Mich. 20 years in Arabian horses _____________________________________________________________ How do you reach out to get new people involved in the Arabian horse business? Two years ago, we created our global website, www. ArabianSalesOnline.com. It is an extension of the marketing and breeding program that we have been developing at Twin Creek Farms for the past 20 years. All of the revenues from the website go into advertising the website, in the form of e-blasts, show programs and

print advertising, so that we can reach as many new people as possible. Right now, ASO is reaching people from six out of seven continents and is in more than 135 countries around the world. We are averaging 8,000 new people each month viewing horses on our website and the percentage of new visitors is 87 percent!

buyers are very happy and satisfied, with continual communication. We want to make sure that they are pleased with their purchases and come back to buy from us again.

How do you go about selling an “average” horse? What price range works best? I normally call this classification of horse an “above If you have your own horse property, do you offer riding average” horse. It is the largest segment of the horse lessons? Does it lead to sales and expanded participation market and the most difficult to sell for a good price in Arabians? because of the large supply. Our We do own our own horse technique is to advertise globally, property, but it is an equine so that we reach as many buyers as reproduction and conditioning possible. We make sure that our center, so we don’t offer riding photos and videos are professional lessons. I did initially when I appearing and as current as moved into our local area. It possible. If the buyer asks to see led to people wanting to board more, we do it immediately. Our horses, but it didn’t lead to sales. goal is to give them what they need to feel comfortable making an In 2014, how many horses did online purchase. We design their you sell to first-time Arabian online ad and select their photos horse owners? to show what is special about that horse and why we think the Ten of the horses that I buyer would like it. It works! I’ve marketed in 2014 went to firstTheresa Rorabaugh sold many horses in the $4,000 to time Arabian horse owners. $9,000 range who went to “forever” homes—sometimes in other countries (for example How is marketing an Arabian horse different today from Curaçao, an island in the Caribbean just north when you got into the business? If you have owned Arabians of Venezuela, where it cost more to get the horse for more than 20 years, what has changed about marketing in that time? exported than it did to purchase it). These buyers Marketing an Arabian horse has changed dramatically stay in contact with updates and photos, creating a since I first began in this business. With the inception network for us all over the world. of the internet, it was a support to our marketing Are you able to sell an Arabian horse as an investment program, but we still sent hundreds of video tapes these days, or do you find more buyers by focusing on and DVDs through the mail. At the time, our base “ lifestyle” and “ hobby”? market was in the U.S., with just a small amount of Approximately 40 percent of the Arabian horses that buyers from overseas. Now, the largest part of our we market are purchased as an investment, with 60 market is from countries other than the U.S. Having percent being purchased for pleasure riding, smaller the communication and business skills to work with breeding programs and/or for showing, without international clients isn’t just helpful—it is a necessity. the purpose of investment. With so many colts and We now have clients all over the world, and our entire geldings available, it is a good thing that our U.S. sales process—from advertising and providing sales buyers are looking for pleasure riding and show materials to finalizing the sale—is all done online. horses. Additionally, that can be very positive for Since the international market is so important, I bringing new buyers into the industry. n spend a great deal of time making sure that our

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877-324-8002 | PerfectProductsEQ.com

Market your horse on the fastest growing Arabian Marketing website on the Internet.

A Division of Twin Creek Farms Using our 20 years of experience marketing Arabians & Half-Arabians to help Buyers and Breeders around the World! Contact: Theresa Rorabaugh USA +1 (231) 856.4693 cell +1 (616) 813.4095 WhatsApp +1 (616) 813.4095 ArabianSalesOnline@charter.net

Making Dreams Happen - One Horse at a Time Volume 45, No. 11 | 225

The Most Powerful Blood, Afire Bey V The Most Powerful Breeding Program, Maroon Fire Arabians& Shea Stables!

A Powerful Statement ...

(Huckleberry Bey x Autumn Fire, by *Bask)

226 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Proven Year After Year!

2015 2 015 Scottsdale Overall Leading Sire Arabian & Half-Arabian Halter & Performance Horses

2014 U.S. NATIONALS LEADING SIRE OF PUREBRED ENGLISH HORSES U.S. National Champion Park Horse U.S. National Top Ten Stallion (MHR Nobility x RY Fire Ghazi, by El Ghazi) Offering a great selection of talented young prospects by Afire Bey V and IXL Noble Express. Visit our website for videos and information. Owned by Maroon Fire Arabians, Dave & Gail Liniger Managed by Shea Stables, Tim & Marty Shea • St. Clair, MI

810-329-6392 • www.afirebeyv.com Volume 45, No. 11 | 227

Scottsdale LEADING SIRES 2015

• • • •

Halter Classes: All classes counted (SSS classes separate). Championship classes: – 10 pts., Reserve – 8 pts., Top Ten – 5 pts. Non-Championship classes: 1st Place – 7 pts., 2nd Place – 6 pts., 3rd-10th - 4 pts. Performance Classes: Only championship classes considered. (SSS classes separate). Champion – 10 pts., Reserve – 8 pts., Top Ten – 5 pts. Overall List: Sire must have a winner(s) in both halter and performance to be considered. SSS Lists: Only SSS championship halter and performance classes counted. Classes not counted: Dressage, Sport Horse, Equitation, UPHA, Showmanship/Horsemanship, Gambler’s Choice

Ever After NA (Sir Fames HBV x Entaicyng NA)

PUREBRED HALTER Points 1. Ever After NA (Sir Fames HBV x Entaicyng NA) 2. WH Justice (Magnum psyche x Vona Sher-Renea) 3. Marwan Al Shaqab (Gazal Al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame) 4. Vitorio TO (DA Valentino x Sol Natique) 5. Grand Commandd (Beijing BHF x GA Mi Grandlady) 6. DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love), deceased 7. Pogrom (QR Marc x Petla) 8. Trussardi (Stival x Precious As Gold) 9. Gazal Al Shaqab (Anaza El Farid x Kajora) ZT Marwteyn (Marwan Al Shaqab x ZT Ludjteyna)

228 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

134 104 102 92 82 74 69 62 60 60

Winners 1. Ever After NA (Sir Fames HBV x Entaicyng NA) 2. ZT Marwteyn (Marwan Al Shaqab x ZT Ludjteyna) 3. Vitorio TO (DA Valentino x Sol Natique) 4. Marwan Al Shaqab (Gazal Al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame) Pogrom (QR Marc x Petla) WH Justice (Magnum psyche x Vona Sher-Renea) 5. DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love), deceased Trussardi (Stival x Precious As Gold) 6. Gazal Al Shaqab (Anaza El Farid x Kajora) 7. Bey Ambition (Regal Actor JP x Bey Shahs Lady) 8. Da Vinci FM (Versace x Full Moon Astar) Eden C (Enzo x Silken Sable) Grand Commandd (Beijing BHF x GA Mi Grandlady) Magnum Psyche (Padrons Psyche x A Fancy Miracle)

23 14 13 11 11 11 10 10 9 8 7 7 7 7

Afire Bey V (Huckleberry Bey x Autumn Fire)

PUREBRED PERFORMANCE Points 1. Afire Bey V (Huckleberry Bey x Autumn Fire) 2. Baske Afire (Afire Bey V x Mac Baske) 3. Khadraj NA (Ponomarev x Khatreena NA) 4. Sundance Kid V (Desperado V x Sweet Shalimar V) 5. Afires Heir (Afire Bey V x Brassmis) 6. IXL Noble Express (MHR Nobility x RY Fire Ghazi) 7. Enzo (Padrons Psyche x RD Bey Shahmpane) 8. Kordelas (Monogramm x Kabala) 9. Jullyen El Jamaal (Ali Jamaal x Jullye El Ludjin), deceased 10. Versace (Fame VF x Precious As Gold), deceased

304 221 167 106 103 96 94 91 88 82

Winners 1. Afire Bey V (Huckleberry Bey x Autumn Fire) 2. Baske Afire (Afire Bey V x Mac Baske) 3. Khadraj NA (Ponomarev x Khatreena NA) 4. Afires Heir (Afire Bey V x Brassmis) 5. Jullyen El Jamaal (Ali Jamaal x Jullye El Ludjin), deceased 6. IXL Noble Express (MHR Nobility x RY Fire Ghazi) Sundance Kid V (Desperado V x Sweet Shalimar V) 7. Versace (Fame VF x Precious As Gold), deceased 8. Kordelas (Monogramm x Kabala) Millennium LOA (Bucharest V x Barbary Rose VF) Vegaz (Apollopalloza x SMS Forever Bay)

31 20 14 12 11 10 10 8 7 7 7

PUREBRED HALTER & PERFORMANCE Points 1. Afire Bey V (Huckleberry Bey x Autumn Fire) 2. Ever After NA (Sir Fames HBV x Entaicyng NA) 3. Marwan Al Shaqab (Gazal Al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame) 4. Enzo (Padrons Psyche x RD Bey Shahmpane) 5. Sundance Kid V (Desperado V x Sweet Shalimar V) 6. Jullyen El Jamaal (Ali Jamaal x Jullye El Ludjin), deceased 7. DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love), deceased 8. Justify (Magnum Psyche x S Justadream) 9. Eden C (Enzo x Silken Sable) 10. Vegaz (Apollopalloza x SMS Forever Bay)

313 144 137 124 114 92 84 78 62 58

Winners 1. Afire Bey V (Huckleberry Bey x Autumn Fire) 32 2. Ever After NA (Sir Fames HBV x Entaicyng NA) 24 3. Marwan Al Shaqab (Gazal Al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame) 16 4. DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love), deceased 12 Enzo (Padrons Psyche x RD Bey Shahmpane) 12 Jullyen El Jamaal (Ali Jamaal x Jullye El Ludjin), deceased 12 5. Sundance Kid V (Desperado V x Sweet Shalimar V) 11 6. Bey Ambition (Regal Actor JP x Bey Shahs Lady) 10 Eden C (Enzo x Silken Sable) 10 7. Magnum Psyche (Padrons Psyche x A Fancy Miracle) 9 Volume 45, No. 11 | 229

SCOTTSDALE LEADING SIRES - CONTINUED.

DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love)

HALF-ARABIAN HALTER Points 1. DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love), deceased 2. Vitorio TO (DA Valentino x Sol Natique) 3. Arbiteur (Regal Actor JP x Genevieve C) Hukam Maj (Marwan Al Shaqab x Dinamaj) 4. Picazso (Versace x Cazsandra) 5. THF Van Gogh (Da Vinci FM x KM Melanni Anne) 6. Da Vinci FM (Versace x Full Moon Astar) 7. Magnum Psyche (Padrons Psyche x A Fancy Miracle) 8. AAS-Elishahh (Eden C x Sempre) Cytosk (Mi Tosk x Cystyr)

88 68 32 32 29 20 16 15 14 14

Winners 1. DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love), deceased Vitorio TO (DA Valentino x Sol Natique) 2. Da Vinci FM (Versace x Full Moon Astar) Hukam Maj (Marwan Al Shaqab x Dinamaj)

4 4 2 2

HALF-ARABIAN PERFORMANCE Points 1. Baske Afire (Afire Bey V x Mac Baske) 288 2. Afire Bey V (Huckleberry Bey x Autumn Fire) 103 3. Starof Fame V (Fame VF x Sweet Illusion V) 61 4. What It Takes (GA N Khredible x Sonoma Sensation) 60 5. Krewe (Huckleberry Bey x Masquerade) 58 6. Pension CAHR (Matrifik x Aristo Amy) 55 7. Matoi (Zodiac Matador x Toi Ellenai) 53 8. Apollopalooza (AA Apollo Bey x TF Magical Witch), deceased 50 9. Afires Vision (Afire Bey V x Matoskette) 49 10. Millennium LOA (Bucharest V x Barbary Rose VF) 45

230 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Winners 1. Baske Afire (Afire Bey V x Mac Baske) 27 2. What It Takes (GA N Khredible x Sonoma Sensation) 10 3. Afire Bey V (Huckleberry Bey x Autumn Fire) 8 4. Pension CAHR (Matrifik x Aristo Amy) 7 SF Specs Shocwave (Afire Bey V x Spectra PR) 7 5. Matoi (Zodiac Matador x Toi Ellenai) 5 6. Allience (Aladdinn x A Love Song) 4 Apollopalooza (AA Apollo Bey x TF Magical Witch), deceased 4 Cytosk (Mi Tosk x Cystyr) 4 MHR Nobility (Elimar x Har Nahra) 4 VCP Magnifire (Afire Bey V x RY Fire Ghazi) 4 Vegaz (Apollopalloza x SMS Forever Bay) 4

Baske Afire (Afire Bey V x Mac Baske)

HALF-ARABIAN HALTER & PERFORMANCE Points 1. DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love), deceased 2. Krewe (Huckleberry Bey x Masquerade) 3. Cytosk (Mi Tosk x Cystyr) 4. AA Apollo Bey (Huckleberry Bey x April Charm) 5. Magnum Psyche (Padrons Psyche x A Fancy Miracle) 6. Hukam Maj (Marwan Al Shaqab x Dinamaj) 7. Armani FC (Eternety x Aires Bey) 8. Jake Jamaal JCA ( Jullyen El Jamaal x Von Herte Only One) 9. Da Vinci FM (Versace x Full Moon Astar) 10. Justify (Magnum Psyche x S Justadream) Psax (Padrons Psyche x Bey Shahs Lady)

96 62 54 46 45 42 39 29 26 25 25

Winners 1. DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love), deceased 5 2. AA Apollo Bey (Huckleberry Bey x April Charm) 4 Cytosk (Mi Tosk x Cystyr) 4 Jake Jamaal JCA (Jullyen El Jamaal x Von Herte Only One) 4 Krewe (Huckleberry Bey x Masquerade) 4 3. Armani FC (Eternety x Aires Bey) 3 Brandon Bey JCA (Versace x Hushahby Bey) 3 Da Vinci FM (Versace x Full Moon Astar) 3

PUREBRED & HALF-ARABIAN HALTER & PERFORMANCE Points 1. Afire Bey V (Huckleberry Bey x Autumn Fire) 2. DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love), deceased 3. Ever After NA (Sir Fames HBV x Entaicyng NA) 4. Marwan Al Shaqab (Gazal Al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame) 5. Enzo (Padrons Psyche x RD Bey Shahmpane) 6. Sundance Kid V (Desperado V x Sweet Shalimar V) 7. Justify (Magnum Psyche x S Justadream) 8. Magnum Psyche (Padrons Psyche x A Fancy Miracle) 9. Vegaz (Apollopalloza x SMS Forever Bay) AA Apollo Bey (Huckleberry Bey x April Charm)

416 180 149 137 130 129 103 102 94 94

Winners 1. Afire Bey V (Huckleberry Bey x Autumn Fire) 2. Ever After NA (Sir Fames HBV x Entaicyng NA) 3. DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love), deceased 4. Marwan Al Shaqab (Gazal Al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame) 5. Enzo (Padrons Psyche x RD Bey Shahmpane) Sundance Kid V (Desperado V x Sweet Shalimar V) 6. Jullyen El Jamaal (Ali Jamaal x Jullye El Ludjin), deceased Vegaz (Apollopalloza x SMS Forever Bay) 7. Da Vinci FM (Versace x Full Moon Astar) Eden C (Enzo x Silken Sable) Magnum Psyche (Padrons Psyche x A Fancy Miracle)

40 25 17 16 13 13 12 12 11 11 11

Volume 45, No. 11 | 231

Scottsdale 2015

SIGNATURE STALLION

LEADING SIRES

SCOTTSDALE SIGNATURE STALLION HALTER Points 1. Vitorio TO (DA Valentino x Sol Natique) 58 2. Ever After NA (Sir Fames HBV x Entaicyng NA) 48 3. Bey Ambition (Regal Actor JP x Bey Shahs Lady) 46 4. DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love), deceased 35 5. Stival (Gazal Al Shaqab x Paloma De Jamaal) 23 Trussardi (Stival x Precious As Gold) 23 6. Pogrom (QR Marc x Petla) 20 Pstrategy (Padrons Psyche x Bey Shahs Lady) 20 7. Grand Commandd (Beijing BHF x GA Mi Grandlady) 18 Valerio (DA Valentino x Bey Amore) 18

Winners 1. Ever After NA (Sir Fames HBV x Entaicyng NA) 9 Vitorio TO (DA Valentino x Sol Natique) 9 2. Bey Ambition (Regal Actor JP x Bey Shahs Lady) 6 DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love), deceased 6 3. Trussardi (Stival x Precious As Gold) 4 4. Beijing BHF (Falcon BHF x Felisha BHF) 3 Eden C (Enzo x Silken Sable) 3 Enzo (Padrons Psyche x RD Bey Shahmpane) 3 Freedom PA (Magnum Chall HVP x Bey Unforgettable) 3 Grand Commandd (Beijing BHF x GA Mi Grandlady) 3 Pogrom (QR Marc x Petla) 3 Stival (Gazal Al Shaqab x Paloma De Jamaal) 3 ZT Marwteyn (Marwan Al Shaqab x ZT Ludjteyna) 3

SCOTTSDALE SIGNATURE STALLION PERFORMANCE Points 1.Baske Afire (Afire Bey V x Mac Baske) 2.KM Bugatti (Versace x Sanegors Lady D) 3.Eden C (Enzo x Silken Sable) Jullyen El Jamaal (Ali Jamaal x Jullye El Ludjin), deceased SF Veraz (Gazal Al Shaqab x Veronica GA) 4.Bey Ambition (Regal Actor JP x Bey Shahs Lady) DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love), deceased Khadraj NA (Ponomarev x Khatreena NA)

232 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

33 25 18 18 18 15 15 15

Winners 1.Baske Afire (Afire Bey V x Mac Baske) KM Bugatti (Versace x Sanegors Lady D) 2.Eden C (Enzo x Silken Sable) Jullyen El Jamaal (Ali Jamaal x Jullye El Ludjin), deceased Khadraj NA (Ponomarev x Khatreena NA) SF Veraz (Gazal Al Shaqab x Veronica GA) 3. Bey Ambition (Regal Actor JP x Bey Shahs Lady) DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love), deceased

4 4 3 3 3 3 2 2

KM Bugatti (Versace x Sanegors Lady D)

SCOTTSDALE SIGNATURE STALLION HALTER & PERFORMANCE Points 1. Bey Ambition (Regal Actor JP x Bey Shahs Lady) 61 2. DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love), deceased 50 3. Eden C (Enzo x Silken Sable) 33 4. Jullyen El Jamaal (Ali Jamaal x Jullye El Ludjin), deceased 26 5. SF Veraz (Gazal Al Shaqab x Veronica GA) 23 6. Audacious PS (Fame VF x Hal Flirtatious) 21 Mariachi WA (Baske Afire x Brooklyn Bey) 21 7. Da Vinci FM (Versace x Full Moon Astar) 20 Enzo (Padrons Psyche x RD Bey Shahmpane) 20

Winners 1. Bey Ambition (Regal Actor JP x Bey Shahs Lady) 2. DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love), deceased 3. Eden C (Enzo x Silken Sable) 4. Enzo (Padrons Psyche x RD Bey Shahmpane) Jullyen El Jamaal (Ali Jamaal x Jullye El Ludjin), deceased SF Veraz (Gazal Al Shaqab x Veronica GA) 5. Audacious PS (Fame VF x Hal Flirtatious) Da Vinci FM (Versace x Full Moon Astar) Mariachi WA (Baske Afire x Brooklyn Bey)

8 7 6 4 4 4 3 3 3

Bey Ambition (Regal Actor JP x Bey Shahs Lady) Volume 45, No. 11 | 233

PUREBRED AND HALF-ARABIAN HALTER (ALL CLASSES) Points 1. Vitorio TO (DA Valentino x Sol Natique) 218 2. DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love), deceased 197 3. Ever After NA (Sir Fames HBV x Entaicyng NA) 182 4. WH Justice (Magnum Psyche x Vona Sher-Renea) 114 5. Marwan Al Shaqab (Gazal Al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame) 102 6. Grand Commandd (Beijing BHF x GA Mi Grandlady) 100 7. Pogrom (QR Marc x Petla) 89 8. Trussardi (Stival x Precious As Gold) 85 9. Bey Ambition (Regal Actor JP x Bey Shahs Lady) 80 10. ZT Marwteyn (Marwan Al Shaqab x ZT Ludjteyna) 75

Winners 1. Ever After NA (Sir Fames HBV x Entaicyng NA) 2. Vitorio TO (DA Valentino x Sol Natique) 3. DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love), deceased 4. ZT Marwteyn (Marwan Al Shaqab x ZT Ludjteyna) 5. Pogrom (QR Marc x Petla) 6. Trussardi (Stival x Precious As Gold) WH Justice (Magnum Psyche x Vona Sher-Renea) 7. Marwan Al Shaqab (Gazal Al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame) 8. Bey Ambition (Regal Actor JP x Bey Shahs Lady) Da Vinci FM (Versace x Full Moon Astar) Gazal Al Shaqab (Anaza El Farid x Kajora)

23 20 16 14 13 12 12 11 9 9 9

Vitorio TO (DA Valentino x Sol Natique)

PUREBRED AND HALF-ARABIAN PERFORMANCE (ALL CLASSES) Points 1. Baske Afire (Afire Bey V x Mac Baske) 2. Afire Bey V (Huckleberry Bey x Autumn Fire) 3. Khadraj NA (Ponomarev x Khatreena NA) 4. IXL Noble Express (MHR Nobility x RY Fire Ghazi) 5. Afires Heir (Afire Bey V x Brassmis) Sundance Kid V (Desperado V x Sweet Shalimar V) 6. Versace (Fame VF x Precious As Gold), deceased 7. Apollopalooza (AA Apollo Bey x TF Magical Witch), deceased Jullyen El Jamaal (Ali Jamaal x Jullye El Ludjin), deceased MHR Nobility (Elimar x Har Nahra) SF Specs Shocwave (Afire Bey V x Spectra PR)

234 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

542 407 212 126 121 121 117 106 106 106 106

Winners 1. Baske Afire (Afire Bey V x Mac Baske) 51 2. Afire Bey V (Huckleberry Bey x Autumn Fire) 39 3. Khadraj NA (Ponomarev x Khatreena NA) 17 4. Afires Heir (Afire Bey V x Brassmis) 15 5. IXL Noble Express (MHR Nobility x RY Fire Ghazi) 13 SF Specs Shocwave (Afire Bey V x Spectra PR) 13 6. Sundance Kid V (Desperado V x Sweet Shalimar V) 12 7. Jullyen El Jamaal (Ali Jamaal x Jullye El Ludjin), deceased 11 Mamage (Zodiac Matador x CF Fire Magic) 11 Vegaz (Apollopalloza x SMS Forever Bay) 11 Versace (Fame VF x Precious As Gold), deceased 11 What It Takes (GA N Khredible x Sonoma Sensation) 11

Scottsdale 2015

OPEN HOUSES...

ARABIANS INTERNATIONAL

ARABIAN EXPRESSIONS

Volume 45, No. 11 | 235

ARIA INTERNATIONAL

CAVALLINO ARABIANS

GALLUN FARMS, INC.

236 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

KRICHKE TRAINING CENTER

O’NEILL ARABIANS

MICHAEL BYATT ARABIANS

Volume 45, No. 11 | 237

MIDWEST ARABIANS

ROHARA ARABIANS

REGENCY COVE FARMS

238 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

ROSECREST ARABIANS

TRAVIS TRAINING CENTER

STACHOWSKI FARM, INC.

WIKEL/RIVERA PRESENTATION

Volume 45, No. 11 | 239

C. JARVIS INSURANCE AGENCY INC.

READERS'

CHOICE

the 2014 C. Jarvis Insurance And AHT

Readers’ Choice Awards by Kara Larson

240 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

The beginning of the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show brings a great deal of

excitement. One of the first shows of the year allows every corner of our Arabian industry a spotlight, the C. Jarvis Insurance and AHT Readers’ Choice Awards

being one of them. Held on February 16th at Monterra at WestWorld again this year, it was a ceremony that recognized and rewarded the people’s choice for the

top horses, breeders, trainers, caretakers, shows, youth exhibitors, advertisements, and more. But most importantly, it was an evening built by and for people with

immense passion for the Arabian horse. With over 520 people in attendance, the 2014 Readers’ Choice Awards certainly honored this passion.

Volume 45, No. 11 | 241

the donators of the incredible live auction items. These auction items included a Kentucky Derby package, a New York shopping experience, 2015 U.S. Open golf premium trophy club package, breedings to Zefyr, Afires Heir, Undulata’s Nutcracker, Onyx A, Baske Afire, Nutcracker’s Nirvana, Khadraj NA, and Sundance Kid V. The people responsible for these generous donations are Laura Koch and Bert Sanders, Bill and Shirley Reilich, Swanson Investments LLC; Richard, Gail, and Anne Whitaker, Barbara Chur, Shawn Stachowski, Larry Jerome, and Frank and Sara Chisholm. Photographer Stuart Vesty also donated his time and talent, making sure every winner got a photo with their well-deserved trophy.

Co-sponsor of the event, Arabian Horse Times, is lead by publisher Lara Ames, who shares, “I think the event this year was our best ever! It might have helped that the weather was perfect and everyone got to enjoy a magical evening at the lovely Monterra.” The event was also supported by C. Jarvis Insurance (co-sponsor), Ames Construction, Arabian Reining Breeders Classic, Coulter Cadillac~Buick~GMC, Jade Creek Arabians, Osteen/Schatzberg Photography, Schneider Saddlery, and Show Season Inc. Also on the list of integral contributors to the evening were

242 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Inspired by the horses, the generosity of the people who love them, and the speeches of the evening, Lara offers, “I think this is a great event to honor people, horses, advertisers— everyone in the industry. We were privileged to have such an amazing group of people there. We also had some incredible auction items. And the profits from those went to the Arabian Horsemen’s Distress Fund, Arabian English Performance Association, and the new Arabian Western Performance Association.” Some major honors came for a few legendary members of the Arabian breed as they were inducted into the Hall of Fame. The first was Howard Kale, whose resonant video and speech reminded the crowd of his deep influence in

“I think this is a great event to honor people, horses, advertisers — everyone in the industry.” — Lar a Ames

introducing and breeding the Russian Arabian horse. The second legend to be inducted was the great *Bask. Another incredible video introduced this eminent stallion and then, Gene LaCroix spoke on the stallion’s behalf. He ended his speech thanking *Bask for all he has done for the Arabian horse. “He was a fairytale come true and an inspiration for future generations,” shared LaCroix before asking the crowd to join him in applause for the deserving stallion.

Another very special moment came for Becky Nash as she was awarded the Volunteer of the Year award. She shares, “I am so honored to receive this award and be among those deserving people that were nominated. I must thank my friend, Mary Trowbridge, for without her there would be no AHDF. Jennifer and Josh Quintus and my husband, Bob, for being my backbone, and so many others that worked so very hard to support the AHDF in the past few years.

Volume 45, No. 11 | 243

I have met so many people and formed so many friendships through volunteering.” A heartwarming speech from Barbara Chur ended the evening in her merited acceptance of the Overall Sire of the Year award. “I am so excited that Baske Afire won this great recognition. It is a great tribute not only to Baske Afire, but also to his foals!” Chur adds, “He is a wonderful horse, as well as a tremendous sire, and I love him very much. Strawberry Banks Farm is so fortunate to be owned by him!”

244 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Since its origin, the Readers’ Choice Awards has been about bringing those who love the horse and deserve to be recognized into the spotlight. Lara shares, “In my opinion, these events are important to our breed as it gives everyone a chance to get out of the barn and into a relaxed atmosphere with friends. Since its conception, I found it very important to have an event that everyone could come to and have a great time while honoring those who have achieved great things in their sincere love for the Arabian horse.”

2014 AHT/Jarvis Insur ance Readers’ Choice Award Winners Favorite AHT Advertisement Of The Year

Favorite Horse Event Of The Year

Favorite AHT Editorial Of The Year

Best Horse Moment Of The Year

Favorite AHT Front Cover Of The Year

Best Team Spirit Of The Year

Rohara, September A, designed by Brandy Johnson

Bob Battaglia--A Study In Inspiration, by Mary Kirkman, April

May—Al Maliik, owned by Al Maliik LLC and photographed by Stuart Vesty Favorite AHT Calendar Month Of The Year

September—Beloveds Farm, owned by Patricia M. Dempsey and photographed by Jerry Sparagowski Photographer Of The Year Mike Ferrara

ArabHorse Farm Tours, Scottsdale

Arabian Soul owner’s reaction when Soul of Marwan AS was named Champion Jr. Colt, U.S. Nationals

Oak Haven Arabians

A/HA/AA Sport Horse Of The Year

Al-Marah Silver Charm, owned by Kelley Clark

Arabian Working Western Horse Of The Year Im The Real Deal, owned by Audrey Zinke

Half-Arabian Working Western Horse Of The Year

Show Of The Year

Hollywood Blockbuster, owned by Vallejo III Ranch LLC

Judge Of The Year

Arabian Specialty Horse (Driving, Show Hack, Side Saddle, Native Costume) Of The Year

Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show

Irina Stigler

Instructor Of The Year Julie Daniel

Caretaker Of The Year Andy Carroll

Marketer Of The Year

Arabians International, LLC Volunteer(s) Of The Year

Thunder Struck LR, owned by Lindsay Rinehart

Half-Arabian Specialty Horse (Driving, Show Hack, Side Saddle, Native Costume) Of The Year James Brown, owned by Lindsay O’Reilly French Arabian Hunter Horse Of The Year

Malieka, owned by Julie and Hannah Feldman Half-Arabian Hunter Horse Of The Year

Maybelline CA, owned by Rachel, Laurie and Dale Enns

Becky Nash

Volume 45, No. 11 | 245

Arabian Western Horse Of The Year

Halter Trainer Of The Year

Half-Arabian Western Horse Of The Year

Show Hack/Hunter Trainer Of The Year

Zefyr, owned by Laura Koch and Bert Sanders

Capt Jack Sparrow PGA, owned by Remington Monroe Equine LLC Arabian Saddle Seat Horse Of The Year VJ Royal Heir, owned by Kelli Aguirre

Half-Arabian Saddle Seat Horse Of The Year

ERA Moonlite Serenade, owned by Norma and John Diver Arabian Halter Horse Of The Year

Wieza Mocy, owned by Michalów Stud Half-Arabian Halter Horse Of The Year

I Believe FF, owned by Perry and Suzanne Perkins Rising New Star (Trainer Under 30 Years of Age) Of The Year Brandon Flood

Western Trainer Of The Year Stanley White III

Saddle Seat Trainer Of The Year Jessica Clinton DeSoto

Working Western Trainer Of The Year Jessica Bein

246 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Andrew Sellman

Wendy Potts

Versatile Trainer Of The Year Rob Bick

Youth Exhibitor Of The Year Emily Moore

Adult Amateur Of The Year Robin Porter

Halter Sire Of The Year

QR Marc, owned by Paul Gheysens Performance Sire Of The Year

Sundance Kid V, owned by Palmetto Arabians Overall Sire Of The Year

Baske Afire, owned by Strawberry Banks Farm Breeder Of The Year

Varian Arabians – Sheila Varian Hall Of Fame

Howard Kale Jr and *Bask++

Greg, Kara, and Terrie Larson.

Trotwood Farms Crew

Perry and Suzanne Perkins.

Mike and Beth Whelihan.

Marty and Tim Shea.

Susan Chase and Jean Abbott.

Ellen Handel, Lara Ames and Laurie Husband.

Dennis and Lisa Wigren.

Volume 45, No. 11 | 247

Brandon Flood and Emily Maita.

Alison Pigott and Dru Cederberg.

Darla and Steve Miles.

Barry Keleher and Barbara Chur

Tom and Leola Hansen.

John and Leah Golladay.

John Ames, Vicki Humphrey, Ellen Handel, Laurie Husband and Liz and Tom Moore.

Murray and Shirley Popplewell.

248 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Conway Arabians Crew

John and Connie Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien.

Rob Bick and Caralyn Schroter.

Jessica and David Bein.

Marissa and Gary Walker.

Vicki Humphrey, Jeanne and Raven Gropp.

Michelle Harris and Jim Diver.

Irina Stigler and Crew.

Volume 45, No. 11 | 249

Terry, Chloe, and Melissa Holmes.

Lori Conway

Koy Moody, Sarah Esqueda, Maddy and Molly Schwanz, Peyton Randle, Allie Cederberg, Raven Gropp and Caitlin Pigott.

Becca Marr, Sarah Porter, James Porter and Rachel Paulsen.

Paul and Sabrina Glans and Darcy and Bill Flood.

Jack, Debbie, and Jacquelyn King.

Colonial Wood Crew

Stuart Vesty, Troy White, Austin Boggs, Lori Watson and John Loibl.

250 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Janice and Jody Strand family.

Claudia Pease and Michelle Pease Paulson

Anne and JT Keller.

Rachel Ginter and Cathy Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor.

Shan Wilson

Oak Haven Crew

Rhonda Nelson and Robin Porter.

Jamie Gilmore, Laurie Ann Salmi, Wendy Griffith and Jennifer An Schmitt. n Volume 45, No. 11 | 251

O VERALL L EADING S IRE 2014 U.S. AND C ANADIAN N ATIONALS Arabian and Half-Arabian Performance and Halter Winners

Baske Afire

Afire Bey V x Mac Baske

252 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Thank you ...

C. J ARVIS I NSURANCE I NC . / AHT R EADERS ' C HOICE O VERALL S IRE O F T HE Y EAR

I am so happy to have Baske Afire recognized as Readers' Choice 2014 Overall Sire of the Year.

He is the best horse in the whole world! To be able to share the evening with Readers' Choice Half Of Fame recipient, *Bask, is so special. He is the one who made us love the Arabian horse.

Thank you for all your support and congratulations to all the champions sired by Baske Afire. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Barbara Chur

B ASKE A FIRE ' S BOOK IS OPEN FOR 2015, OFFERING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IN HIS SUCCESS AS A

N ATIONAL L EADING S IRE .

Strawberry Banks Farm Barbara Chur, owner ~ Brian Murch, trainer, cell: 716.983.3099 ~ Nicole Ferrell, breeding manager 716.652.9346 ~ East Aurora, New York ~ info@strawberrybanksfarm.com

www.StrawberryBanksFarm.com Volume 45, No. 11 | 253

C. JARVIS INSURANCE / AHT READERS' CHOICE AWARD

BREEDER OF THE YEAR

! u o y k n a h T VARIAN ARABIANS SHEILA VARIAN 1275 CORBETT CANYON ROAD ARROYO GRANDE, CA 93420 • 805.489.5802

VARIANARABIANS.COM 254 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

I appreciate the support the Arabian world gives me. Thank you for your recognition as RCA Breeder of the Year for the third time. For 60 years, the Arabian horse has been a love ... a passion ... and inspiration. Thank you to all the friends and supporters that have made my lifetime with Arabians so special. —Sheila

Volume 45, No. 11 | 255

“On behalf of my incredible wife Angie, and children Grayson, Saige, and Dayne, we express our gratitude for the honor of being named the 2014 AHT/C. Jarvis Insurance Readers’ Choice Halter Trainer of the Year! We appreciate your acknowledgment of our love for Arabian horses! Thank You!” ~Andrew Sellman

Andrew & Angie Sellman | 92 County Road F | River Falls, Wisconsin 54022 | 715.425.9001

www.ArgentFarms.com

256 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

C. JARVIS INSURANCE AGENCY INC.

READERS' CHOICE

2 014 C . J A RV I S I N S U R A N C E /A H T R E A D E R S ’ C H O I C E AWA R D S

Best Team Spirit Of The Year

Thank you to the entire Oak Haven family for making 2014 so memorable. We have such an outstanding group of clients that makes everyday of training horses a pleasure. We thank each and every customer for their continued support and extremely positive team spirit. Blake and Genna Krohn, Owners Jason Krohn, Lauren Grabski and Cassie Banks, Trainers Farm 903-882-5205 • genna@oakhavenarabians.com • Jason Krohn 903-539-3812 W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM Volume 45, No. 11 | 257

I Believe

2014 C. Jarvis Insurance/AHT Readers' Choice

Half-Arabian Halter Horse Of The Year

DA Vale n t in o x PF J ust Pe ac hy Keen

T han k yo u t o t he re ad e rs o f A rabi an H ors e Ti me s f o r t hi s a w ard ; i t i s a gre at hon o r. Sp e ci al t han k s t o R o d o l f o G uzzo f o r yo ur gui d an ce an d s up p o rt . — Suzan n e an d Pe rry Proudly owned by: Perry and Suzanne Perkins • 805-895-2138 Suzanne@suzanneperkins.com • Santa Barbara, California

258 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Volume 45, No. 11 | 259

Afires Heir

x MA Ghazta Trot

JESSICA CLINTON DESOTO SADDLE SEAT TRAINER OF THE YEAR C. JARVIS INSURANCE / AHT READERS' CHOICE AWARD

I feel extremely grateful for, and appreciative of the opportunities I have been given to succeed in the Arabian horse world. Great family support, great horses, and great clients, make achieving this award possible. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Jessica

www.VickiHumphreyTrainingCenter.com

Vicki Humphrey Training Center Vicki Humphrey, Jessica Clinton DeSoto & Gabe DeSoto Canton, Georgia ~ www.VickiHumphreyTraining.Com 262 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

“I’ve been fortunate to have a lifetime with Arabian horses, and still appreciate the opportunity to work with these magnificent animals on a daily basis. Sincerest thanks to my family, clients, and colleagues, for all the encouragement and support throughout yet another year I’ll never forget.” ~ Jody

Strands Arabian Stables

Janice & Jody Strand | Toddville, Iowa office 319.393.4816 mobile 319.360.5997 www.strandsarabians.com

Volume 45, No. 11 | 263

2014 APAHA

Professional Hunter/Show Hack

Liz Bentley

With deepest gratitude, I offer a heartfelt thank you to many for this honorable award. Thank you, APAHA, for all the great efforts this association does all year long. Thank you to my clients who entrust me with the well-being of their horses (my greatest teachers). Thank you to David, and my family and friends, for supporting me in this career. And, thank you to the professionals who work with our fabulous horses: Assistant Trainer Jessie Rushing, Farrier Jace Ellis, and Equine Athlete — it’s truly a team effort at IIB Farms!

—Liz Bentley

IIB Farms, Liz & Dave Bentley 25689 Oak Hill Lane, Oronogo, MO 64855 417-529-3784 or 417-825-0178 iibfarms@ckt.net www.iibfarms.com 264 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

SF Specs Shocwave x Berre Striking , by HBB Stud fee $1,500 Lindsay Rinehart • Hickory Corners, MI 269-838-6473 • trotwoodfarm1@aol.com

Volume 45, No. 11 | 265

Thank you to the readers of Arabian Horse Times for voting our 2014 calendar page done by the legendary photographer and our personal friend, Jerry Sparagowski, the best! Tune in this September!

Patricia Dempsey â&#x20AC;˘ 352.430.3456 â&#x20AC;˘ Lady Lake, Florida w w w 266 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

.Be

l o v e d s

r m

o m

design by www.photobybrandy.com

AHT/Jarvis Insurance Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Choice

2014 Adult Amateur of the Year Award

Congratulations Robin! Robin and Mike Porter : Weatherford, Texas crescentcrkfarms@aol.com : www.crescentcreekfarms.com

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C. J arvis i nsuranCe / aHT r eaders ' C HoiCe a ward YOUTH EXHIBITOR OF THE YEAR aPaHa H orseman ' s a ward JUNIOR ENGLISH s Ponsored

KGb T exas

E M I LY M O O R E

"There are so many people I’d like to thank for this incredible honor! To the two most important people in my life, my parents, thank you for raising me with these amazing animals and people in my life, for always being so supportive, for being more generous than I deserve, and for making all those early morning pre-show McDonald’s runs. To my trainers, Vicki, Jesse, Leah Beth, and John, thank you for working countless hours with me, for believing in me even when I didn’t, for building not just a barn, but a place of refuge, and for still loving me even after I “gently glided” your car into another (you know who you are). You guys are responsible for many of my favorite memories, both in and out of the show ring. Thank you to all those who have trusted me with their wonderful horse(s) throughout the years and for your unbelievable generosity. And to Jenny Lau, I extend an extra special “thank you”. I’m so grateful to have such a supportive and genuine friend like you in my life, and I can’t imagine a better partner to help honor Hollywood and the community through the Foundation with. I read in a comment somewhere how hard it would be to keep showing horses after Hollywood’s accident. I never thought the day would come where I would consider walking away, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t arrive last July. However, there were many people within the community who, whether they realize it or not, very quickly made the idea unfathomable again. It didn’t take me very long to realize that to leave my barn families, and to leave this once-in-a-lifetime community, that would be the hardest thing. I know that in the face of competition it can be all too easy to forget how much we mean to each other, but please never forget how much you all mean to me. Thank you, everyone, a million times over."

Love, Emme

Proud Parents ~ tom and elizabeth moore

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Trainers Rob Bick, Caralyn Schroter & Grant Krohn • Office Manager Janie Wasilewski 2379 Creechs Mill Rd, Smithfield, NC 27577 • 919.202.8384 • info@rbcshowhorses.com • www.rbcshowhorses.com

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Thank you ... I am humbly honored and grateful to have been named APAHAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Horseman of the Year. I would like to express my heartfelt thank you to the many talented horsemen and women who have been so generous with their sharing of experiences and knowledge which has enabled me to

grow in an occupation that I truly enjoy. A special thank you to Janie W. and Grant K., for your hard work and dedication in making RBC Show Horses a horse friendly environment. I would also like to thank the clients of RBC for entrusting your wonderful horses to usâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;they are our pride, and your support and friendship is our pleasure. To my wife of 20 years, Miss Caralyn, your patience, love and grace has made my life with the horses a joy. I thank you so much.

~Rob Volume 45, No. 11 | 271

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2014 APAHA HALL OF FAME LISA JO WHITE— INSTRUCTOR

ZACHARY WHITE— JUNIOR ENGLISH

Zach–2010, 2012 & 2013 Junior English Award Winner Lisa Jo–2010, 2011 & 2013 Professional Instructor Award Winner

Zach and I would like to say how proud we are to be inducted into the APAHA Hall of Fame. It is a great honor to have been nominated and voted for by our friends and peers for three different years. Thank you, one and all, for your support and recognition. It is humbling to join such an elite group in our industry. These awards belong not only to us as individuals, but our family—John, Rex and everyone at John White Stables. Lisa Jo White JOHN WHITE STABLES Woodstock, Illinois • 815.245.2585 www.JohnWhiteStables.com Volume 45, No. 11 | 273

Moonlite Serenade and Jim Diver

ERA

C. Jarvis Insurance / Arabian Horse Times Readers' Choice Half-Arabian Saddle Seat Horse Of The Year APAHA Horseman's Amateur English Of The Year Thank you to my parents and brother for your support, and to everyone for their loud cheers and votes!

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Jim

A special thank you to Jim and Peter, and the Stachowski team who make showing such fun!

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Volume 45, No. 11 | 275

2014 APAHA

Horsemen’s Awards by KARA LARSON

fter nearly two weeks of amazing Arabian competition in the Scottsdale sun, there stands an awards ceremony that celebrates the success, talent, integrity, and horsemanship of the previous year. This charmingly impressive ceremony is the Arabian Professional & Amateur Horseman’s Association (APAHA) Horseman’s Awards. It is an evening that brings together our industry’s best and prides itself in, as the program boasts, “honoring outstanding achievement within the Arabian community.” Held this year at the Monterra at WestWorld, the Horseman’s Awards honored legends of the breed, allowed Josh

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Quintus to try out new jokes, and paid tribute to the hard work and talent in the Arabian horse industry. Touching on the unique allure of the evening, Lori Conway, the APAHA Treasurer, thinks of the Horseman’s Awards as the Arabian industry’s own version of the Academy Awards. She shares, “I was proud to be a part of the planning and organizing of

the event, and to have it all come together into such a beautiful, glamorous, and entertaining night was wonderful.” APAHA Vice President Katie Harvey agrees that this year’s ceremony was an exceedingly special affair. Harvey offers, “I think that this year’s awards were special because we had some amazing nominees and

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great winners. And Josh, as usual, made sure that the evening was unforgettable and truly entertaining. He gets better every year! On a very personal level, it is amazing to me to see the quality of people who make a difference in our industry, and I truly enjoy seeing them recognized through this awards program.” One of these great acknowledgements came in awarding Tom and Arlene Miller the Lifetime Achievement Award. Their grandson, Dr. Trevor R. Miller, eloquently and proudly presented the life and times of his grandparents’ legendary breeding program. As these icons of yesteryear were honored, the evening also featured the promise of future talent and success. And it was envisioned through three dazzling Hall of Fame inductees—Lisa Jo White, Zachary White, and Jessica Bein.

Dr. Trevor R. Miller presenting his grandmother, Arlene Miller, the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lori Conway and Christine Ryan.

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2014 APAHA

Horsemanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Award Winners Hall Of Fame Inductees: Lisa Jo White (Instructor) â&#x20AC;˘ Zachary White ( Jr. English) Jessica Bein (Working Western)

Lifetime Achievement Tom and Arlene Miller

Horsewoman Of The Year Christine Ryan

Amateur English Jim Diver

Junior Western Josh Shino

Horseman Of The Year Rob Bick

Amateur Hunter/Show Hack Katie Burr

Junior Working Western Ryan Melendez

Breeder Of The Year Palmetto Arabians

Amateur Western Susan Copeland

Professional Halter Ted Carson

Distinguished Service Award Mary Trowbridge

Amateur Working Western Audrey Hart

Professional Hunter/Show Hack Liz Bentley

Rising Star Leah Beth Golladay

Amateur Of The Year Michelle Pease-Paulsen

Professional Western Jody Strand

Professional Instructor Laurie Long

Junior English Emily Moore

Professional Working Western Michael Damianos

Amateur Halter Stuart Vesty

Junior Hunter/Show Hack Peyton Randle

Professional English Peter Stachowski

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With prestigious awards going to the top trainers, breeders, amateurs, juniors, and volunteers, of the Arabian breed, Conway believes any event that acknowledges and awards excellence is a good thing—driving individuals to work harder and motivating them to get better and aim higher. And she is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to help make this one a reality. Conway says, “The APAHA could not do this event without the support from the farms, businesses

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and individuals that help out with their sponsorships and donations. It is because of them that the APAHA can make the evening a success.” From the generosity of sponsors and the hard work of so many, the APAHA Horseman’s Awards can carry on the tradition of excellence. Conway considers the honor of the big, beautiful bronze trophy an accolade unmatched. “These awards have very high standards. There

are strict criteria that must be met by every nominee, and a vetting process that adheres to the nominating criteria of every category of every award. To be nominated is a huge honor and each nominee should be prideful that they made the list. And when you hear your name announced as the winner, knowing that you were voted in by your peers, is especially gratifying and a reason for celebration.” In addition to the magnitude of the APAHA Horseman’s Awards, Harvey finds that the essence

of the event exists somewhere deeper. For her, it all comes down to the amount of heart, passion, and talent in the Arabian industry. “It is an opportunity to recognize those that have reached the pinnacle of achievement in the Arabian horse industry. As an organization, APAHA sees these awards as a recognition of all that we stand for— achievement, integrity, commitment and success. We have some wonderful evolutions on the horizon for the Horseman’s Awards. Be sure and look for them this year!” n

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Scottsdale 2015

PHOTO CONTEST

Champion

LISA DALES

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Reserve:

MEAGHAN ESTES

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Top Ten

MEAGHAN ESTES

HEATHER SHEDD

KASEY KRESKE 284 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

LISA DALES

DIANE COMEAU Volume 45, No. 11 | 285

Top Ten

(CONT.)

BECKY DUOOS-BOURGAZAS CHELSEY GOMEZ

CAROLEE DAWN 286 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Finalists

SHERI BOITO

HEATHER SHEDD

RONI ZIEMBA

NATE MERAZ

SOFIA KAVANAUGH

LISA KENT Volume 45, No. 11 | 287

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Scott Trees Through The Lens On His Life, Work, And Making A Difference by Mary Kirkman

Practically by definition, photographers who specialize in Arabian horses are artists. In a breed where one aspect of type is extreme beauty, it was inevitable. What might surprise new owners over the past 20 years, however, is that it wasn’t always so. At one time, most Arabian horse photos were the standard conformational or performance shots that nearly every other show breed featured, along with specialty portraits of heads. They were f lawlessly executed by a handful of practitioners who were masters of the craft, but dramatic? Not usually. As the breed exploded with growth in the 1980s, though, a newcomer behind the camera brought a fresh sensibility, and although he may not have realized it at the time, he led the charge for what is common

today. Scott Trees created images that ref lected not only the individual Arabian’s supreme quality, but also the spirit of the breed. The iconic shot of an Arabian, often a stallion, from over his shoulder, staring regally into space? The original was Baywood Park’s *Gokart, a silver grey posed in the white world of a commercial studio. A fiery stallion emerging from a cloud of mist? Nichols-DeLongpré’s Barbary. Trees had to push the envelope to distinguish himself among the other top photographers in the breed, and his technique of going for the emotion was his way of doing it—although actually, his shooting reflected his approach to life, which has been one headlong gallop at excellence.

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First, Th e H ors es “I was born into a horse family,” he says. “My mother had world champion Saddlebreds and my brother had Quarter Horses.” He learned to ride on a full brother to three-time World’s Grand Champion Lady Carrigan, using a string in place of reins and a bit (“He had a very sensitive mouth”). At 13, Trees went into hunter/jumpers when he noticed that there were “a lot of cute girls hanging around,” but he stayed and became good at it because he loved the adrenaline rush. And then his mother and stepfather became interested in Arabians. In 1967, Trees catch-led the Fadjur son Fadalan to the title of U.S. National Champion Gelding. At 17, he was one of the youngest amateurs ever to win in open at that level (along with Gene LaCroix, who had won Stallions with *Bask three years earlier), and the same day, he also catch-rode a horse to a top ten in park. So strong was the lure of horses that Trees’ longtime plan of becoming a doctor almost turned into a veterinary career. “But when I got ready to think about med school, they weren’t correlating the mind and the body much,” he recalls, an early perception that would play an important role later in his life. “That didn’t make sense to me, so I thought I would be a vet—but then I realized that I could put a person to sleep more easily than I could a dog.”

In the end, he graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in behavioral psychology that featured an emphasis on nonverbal communication. Equine experience, nonverbal communication; to go into equine photography, all he needed was a camera, and while he was in college, that came too when he borrowed one from his mother. By the time he returned it three months later, he was hooked. “I was shooting black-and-white and developing my own film,” he remembers. “Seeing the print come up in the soup—the whole process of the creation of an image—is really what drew me to photography.” He pauses to consider what he has said. “I don’t know if I would have become as hooked as I am in a digital world.” The red light of the dark room and the intense intimacy with the image, missing in the digital world, were magical. When his mother asked him to photograph her horses, the connection was complete. The last step was to make it pay, and that came too, beginning when Polly Knoll, one of the great photographers of the breed, invited him to shoot a Pueblo, Colo., show that she was unable to make. He spent three days working his head off; in the ring during the day and up all night with a friend in a rented travel trailer (106 degree temperatures, no airconditioning) developing contact sheets. By the time it was over, he laughs, both of them were hallucinating about ovals, a vignette technique introduced by industry leader Johnny Johnston. Without knowing it, Scott Trees had said yes to his career.

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Profes sional: Act O ne Over the years, Trees’ experiences have been so wall-to-wall that it is easiest to follow just the turning points. And even he would say that if one simply charts the ups and downs, the arc of his life looks more like the peaks and valleys of a mountain range. He never has been afraid to take risks, and rarely settled for mediocrity—not just in his work, but in how he spent his time. There were rough spots, sure, some the result of choices he made and some due to circumstances beyond his control. But at the end of the day, he is satisfied with always looking for challenges, not taking only what came to him, and perhaps the best discovery has been that within himself, he had the will to persevere. “You can knock me down seven times, and I’ll get up eight,” he says, and adds dryly, “although as I get older, it might take me a little longer.” In addition to horses, Trees has worked in commercial and portrait photography, and for a period was the owner of the second largest postcard distributor in the south (the historic Asheville Postcard Company, acquired while he lived in North Carolina, came with eight million cards and took eight tractor trailers to move when he sold it; its linen-textured images are popular collectibles today). He also created a high-end video production company and did some of the top work in the Arabian industry at a time when home VHS recorders were pretty new on the scene.

It was all part of pushing the envelope; some pursuits passed with time, some remain in his repertoire today. He credits his success in Arabian horse photography, where he made his first big splash in 1980, as much to sharp perception as to his artist’s eye. Other professional photographers already shot stunning pictures, but in the ever-expanding industry, Trees could see that soon, from an advertising standpoint, that would not be enough. “After working with art directors in commercial work, I got a better understanding that the image had to get attention,” he says. “If all of the car ads, say Ford and Chevy, were shot from the same angle, people would stop looking at them. With all body shots and heads shots, I felt that was happening with equine ads. Well, as beautiful as Arabians are, what made you notice one over another? My goal was not—and still isn’t—to have every picture in the magazine. If it’s just one, I hope it is the one you remember.” Women, especially, responded to his work because of its emotional quality, and just by the demographics of the industry (approximately 75 to 80 percent of Arabians, traditionally, are owned by women), that translated to strong market support.

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It took just one breakout piece, and his came with a sale catalog for Lancer Arabians; he was given carte blanche on the photo shoot, and the resulting photographs had everyone talking. “I’m sure if I saw the catalog today I’d cringe,” he admits, “but it was different for the time.” From then on, plenty of people trusted him to go for the new and different, both in still photography and the videos he had begun doing. “And it happened right when the industry boomed,” he observes. “It was a heady time.” He can’t help chuckling. “I was too young and stupid to appreciate it and thought it would last forever.” As professionals will note now, the really impressive aspect of Scott Trees’ photography at the time was that it was all done on film. No Photoshop®, no dropping out or replacing backgrounds, no dramatic color enhancement. *Gokart was posed in a photographer’s “cove,” a curved wall that required far more elaborate lighting than the casual viewer would The pose that is still revered today: the original over-the-should shot, *Gokart. realize, and the red fog surrounding Barbary was real. The photographer had to know his subject, his film, lighting and angles, and he had to have that sixth and to make matters worse, he went through a rough divorce. sense that told when, exactly, to release the shutter, because The sole relief may have been that in 1990 he met Linna each roll of film yielded only a finite number of pictures. Wickline, who would become a huge factor in his life (and after being together for nearly a decade, they married). But all And then the 1986 tax reforms shot it all down. By the end of in all, if the 1980s had dawned on a wave, the 1990s were the the decade, most of Trees’ biggest clients were out of business, opposite: they appeared like a trickle in the sand. Scott Trees | 5

Dark O n Th e H orizon, O r, Le arning H ow To Live The next turning point came in 1994, and it was another setback. Trees was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Speaking of it now, he could not be more open about the disease and how it positively affected his life—after it stopped his career in its tracks. “Under the age of 50, prostate cancer was almost unheard of,” he notes. “Under the age of 45, it was almost always fatal.” He was 44. Prostate tumors are hormonedependent, he says matter-of-factly (at home with the topic now, he is more interested in educating anyone curious than dwelling on its terrors). “It is usually fatal in young guys because they have more hormones. Most men, if they live long enough, are going to get prostate cancer, but they’ll die with it, not because of it.” He got the news six days before he was to leave for several weeks of work in Europe, a trip he’d been pursuing for two years, and his first thought was to postpone treatment until he got back. “When you’re told, ‘You have cancer and it’s a very aggressive tumor, the prognosis is not good,’ after that it’s blah-blah-blah-blah-blah, because your brain suddenly freezes with, ‘Holy s***, I’ve got cancer!’” Yeah, stupid, he agrees, but that’s how it was; at least he had the sense to talk to Dr. Tom Morgan, his regular GP and a dear friend. “I’m rattling on, ‘I can’t afford to do this, I’ve been building my career back,’ and then Tom just says, ‘Well, I guess your choice is six weeks of work or 40 years of life.’ Man, he hit me right straight between the eyes, and as it turned out, he really saved my life. I said, ‘You’re right, what have I got to do to beat this?’”

The only solution was radical surgery. “[The cancer’s] invasion was so thorough,” he reveals, “that if I’d gone to Europe, it would have killed me.” And that is when life, as he sees it now, began. “It is not what happens to you,” he reflects. “It’s how you respond to what happens to you. The three weeks before I went into surgery, on August 11, 1994, were probably three of the most difficult but cleansing weeks of my life. All of the issues that I thought I’d dealt with, but that I’d actually tabled or buried, came back and said, ‘What are you going to do with me now?’ And I said, ‘I’m going to let you go.’ I realized that all I had was right now.” Of course, even when the surgery was dealt with, things did not come easily; depression was a visitor now and then. “It took about four years of mind, body and spirit firing on the same cylinders again,” he says. “My lovely wife was a critical part of that recovery process, and we got through it together. When I look back now, it was the best thing that ever happened. It was kind of a steep price, but it was a good price for learning how to live my life. “I learned that all we’re ever really guaranteed is that we have today. I think that’s one of the hardest things for anybody to learn, but especially a self-employed entrepreneur—to live just today, in the moment. Because as a business person, you have to be looking two or three months down the road.” He had his own technique to get him through. “I’ve meditated off and on all my life,” he says, “and I have this place I go, a special ‘garden’ [in my mind]. The day I was diagnosed, in the incredibly rich and fertile soil of that garden, I planted a seed that is my tree of life. I visualized my fears as weeds, and every time I had a fear that I was going to die, I pulled the weed. Sometimes I’d be pulling that same weed over and over all day long, but it gave me a visual tool for all of the fears and everything that came up that was negative in my life. And slowly but surely, the weeds didn’t come back so often and there were fewer of them. “I still have the tree,” he adds, “and it looks beautiful. It’s changed as I’ve changed, but it’s alive and healthy. And I still pull weeds.” After his ordeal, Trees counseled other men facing the issue and even wrote a book about it, as much for wives as for the affected men, taking a humorous but unflinching approach. He never bothered to publish it, but maybe someday, he allows. In the intervening years since 1994, he and his wife have been grateful for the many advances made in treatment for prostate cancer; life has much improved for those who have survived it. But more than anything, he appreciates the extraordinary opportunity it gave him to tap into what mattered to him, and what his priorities would be for the rest of his life.

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Profes sional: Act Two Once he could deal with work again, Trees contemplated where to go from where he was. The next highlight came in 2002, when old friend Eileen Verdieck, who had booked him for the Imperial Egyptian Stud shoot in the 1980s that became one of his signature collections, provided an entree back to the Middle East. For the next eight years, he worked in North America during the show season and settled in Dubai from October to April. “One of the reasons I went to Dubai was that I thought that with digital, it was inevitable that everybody and his uncle would be taking pictures some day,” Trees says. “And part of the reason was that I was doing other things—not just photography, but videos and media consulting, working with internet design teams to implement it all into one big platform.” That included not just equine work, but commercial, fashion and architectural shooting as well. His photographic

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images from that time document Dubai’s explosive rush from the past to the future, from camel camps to luxury resorts. His goal, he says, was to chronicle its kaleidoscopic culture. For all the work, he did not lose sight of another opportunity the travel offered: a view into a unique society, a different people. The memories come back now with clarity. The one which touched him most? “When I had time on my own, I went to the [racing] camel camps,” he says. “I really enjoyed photographing the people that lived in those camps and took care of the camels. They were always so gracious

and so friendly—and those faces, those old desert Bedouins, with their camels.” He laughs. “I didn’t have to be a good photographer. I’d take a picture and show those guys and they’d say, ‘Oh, beautiful picture.’ They loved it.” He remembers one camel race in particular, with entries from Yemen and Oman as well as the U.A.E., and there he was, down in the middle of things, firing away and thinking, “I can’t believe how lucky I am!”

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He is forthcoming when asked his experience of the Middle East. “I learned long ago in my travels that if I’m going to visit another country, I have to accept it on its terms and drop my Americanisms,” he prefaces his remarks. “I can blend in, in about any culture. So, the Middle East … if you’re really honest about it, while we don’t understand their behavior, they don’t understand ours. For instance, the association of men and women. We don’t think anything about men meeting women for dinner, say, but over there, there is the segmentation of everything—has been for thousands of years. We’re saying, ‘Why wouldn’t you want to see women or talk to your friends’ husbands or wives?’ And they’re replying, ‘Why would we want to?’ “When I was first going over to the Gulf region, I was staying at the Ritz Carlton in Doha. I turned on the TV, and what was I privileged to watch? ‘Judge Judy,’ ‘Jerry Springer,’ all of the

sitcoms that make an American male look like an absolute idiot, which most of them do. This is what they were seeing of our culture! You wonder why the world looks at us strangely sometimes? When you visit an Arab city, look around: you’ll see satellite dishes everywhere. They watch, and what they see is not the Hallmark specials. I don’t think most Americans are aware of that.” Then, in 2008, the worldwide economy took a hit and family crises (successively, his wife, daughter and mother all had been in accidents) convinced him that he was needed more stateside. He also was ready to recharge his batteries; beautiful Arabian horses were beginning to run together in his mind. He came home, but he still enjoys going overseas periodically. “I love to travel,” he says, and grins. “I ask my mom, ‘Will you tell me who my real dad is? I want to know where I got this gypsy blood!’”

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Pers onal And Profes sional: N ow, Th e Third Act Looking for his next direction, Trees was keenly aware that digital photography had unleashed “thousands” of new photographers onto the scene. Like everyone else, he shoots digital, but it lacks the challenge of film for him, and he would rather create an image through the lens than in Photoshop®. “I can look back at about any picture or video I’ve ever shot and maybe not know who the horse or the person is, but I’ll remember my emotions at the time,” he says. “I get swept up in the moment of what’s going on around me. I feel it all, and part of that is what I’m trying to convey; I immerse myself as an observer. You get into a groove and everything starts coming together, the momentum builds, and you adapt to the situation as it’s dictated by the light and the subject.”

Artists get into grooves and do great work, he says, and then they get into other grooves; it is in the interim when the innovation occurs, when they reach for new goals. And he couldn’t care less about the volume. It is the creativity that matters. “Part of what keeps me going artistically is that I’m always trying to outdo myself. Somebody asked what my best picture is, and my answer is I hope I haven’t taken it yet.” So, he’s not slowing down. Some of his projects now relate to a growing concern he has for the breed. He finished off 2014 with an appearance as keynote speaker at the AHA convention, addressing the Arabian’s declining market— and the reactions he got, as trainers and owners alike approached him afterward, told him that they agreed.

What does he see in his future? He has several ideas, and his gut is telling him that what is coming may be the best part of his life yet. He’s dividing his time between still and video shooting, speaking and teaching, and trying to stay attuned to an inner compass that helps him figure out his next role. Every now and then, someone asks him about the 1980s and the prodigious amount of work he put out. “I hit an incredible run then, but those don’t last forever,” he says without a hint of regret.

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“The 1980s was an incredible time for Arabians,” he says, “but I’m not so sure that it was good for the breed, because we fostered an image of the Arabian horse that hasn’t changed much. That is that they are pretty (that’s a given), but also that they’re expensive and you can’t do anything with them. And that’s not true. “I’ve experienced other sides of the horse world, not just Arabians,” he elaborates. “I believe that if we don’t address the fact that 90 percent of these horses don’t go around in circles and stand like statues, and that there is a lot more to what they do, the 10 percent who [show] are not going to grow and thrive. And we need to address and help the general market, the other 90 percent, for everyone’s good. “I know the message at convention was well received,” he concludes. “And, look—I’ve made my living off the show side of Arabians for years, so I’m not against it. I’m just being real.” He is already part of a solution. “We need to create a vehicle that will showcase what these horses can do [in addition to showing, to create interest in the breed].” To that end, he is involved in developing media showing the Arabian relating to people. “I want viewers to think, ‘That was an interesting story, I didn’t know Arabians did that.’” The video-based delivery system remains a work in progress. Initially, it probably will be over the internet—and given the changing nature of the younger public’s viewing habits, potentially long term as well—but cable television is not out of the question. Financing also is part of the project. It will take

An early use of mist to express power and beauty: the renowned sire and English specialist, Barbary.

a small village, he concedes, but he wants to avoid hitting the traditional fundraising targets, and favors, for example, “one hundred people who give $500, rather than five people who give $100,000.” Trees smiles at the challenge of overcoming his own show background. “I’m having to open myself up, and that’s always good for me,” he says. “It’s a new way of approaching a subject I’m extremely familiar with, and for me as a creative artist, there’s nothing better.”

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Looking back, Scott Trees is open about thanking a lot of people. Legendary photographer Johnny Johnston and his wife Karen, who did her husband’s dark room work, for sure; Polly Knoll, who gave him the opportunity that launched his career; and writer/photographer Robert Vavra are among them. Then there were the clients who provided those landmark moments as An early Trees expression of the ethereal Arabian mare: from left, *Fawkia, well: Bob Battaglia at Baywood Park, Don *Pharrah, and 1971 U.S. National Champion Mare *Serenity Sonbolah at DeLonpré, Eileen Verdieck, Dick Adams, Imperial Egyptian Stud. Arnold and Audrey Fisher, Charlie and Shirley Watts and others. And family—notably his wife Linna, his daughter Maggie and his mother, what I do; you’re not going to take pictures like I do—not Harriet Spencer. “My mom has been an amazing because I think I’m better, but because everyone sees inspiration,” he says. “She’s an artist and she knows horses.” things differently. That spiritual or emotional part is what we all put into our pictures that defines our style.” But there was never a mentor, not in the accepted sense of someone to go to with a problem and ask, “How do I do this?” Overall, would he change anything about his life? “Maybe I And that led to his long term commitment to teaching (he’s would have enjoyed it more,” he reflects. “You’re so wrapped done numerous clinics) and helping anyone who wants to up in it at the time. It’s the inexperience of youth; as you get learn whenever he can. older, you think, ‘Maybe I should have slowed down a little more and breathed. Maybe I should just have gone more for “I told myself that if I ever made it in photography and a the experience rather than the job.’” He pauses, caught in the young person walked up and said, ‘Can you help me?’ I’d artist’s dilemma. “But I did enjoy it. For me, the job and the say, ‘Yes, I can,” Trees says. “I’m not one of those people art are the experience.” n who will not tell you how I do something. I’ll tell you

16 | Scott treeS

2014 USEF Awards

A Great Year For Arabians

Larry Hoffman

Larry Hoffman of Hastings, Minnesota, was

awarded the Vaughn Smith Trophy. This being his first time to receive the award, it is presented to the best rider of any horse or pony breed competing in hunter pleasure, hunter on the flat, show hack, hunter hack, dressage hack, costume, side saddle, or western dressage. Larry Hoffman has numerous wins to his name, and 2014 was no different. His year began with several top placings aboard his Arabian and Half-Arabian mounts. At the Region 10 Arabian Championship Show, Hoffman scored the Reserve Champion titles for Arabian Hunter Pleasure Junior Horse, Arabian Hunter Pleasure Open, and Half-Arabian Hunter Pleasure Open, as well as being in the Top Five of the Half-Arabian Show Hack Open. Next up for Hoffman was the Region 11 Arabian Championship Show, where he was named the Half-Arabian Hunter Pleasure Open Champion and the Arabian Hunter Pleasure Open Reserve Champion. He ended the year with strong performances at the U.S. Nationals,

Nutcracker Sweet PF

placing in the Top Ten in the Half-Arabian Hunter Pleasure and English Show Hack Championships.

Nutcracker Sweet PF (Undulata’s Nutcracker x

Ames Déjà Vu), a 2008 Half-Arabian mare owned by Juliette Dell, was named the Arabian Horse Times HalfArabian Saddle Seat Horse of the Year. This exceptional mare excelled throughout 2014, winning six championship titles and adding three more first-place finishes under her belt. She and owner Juliette Dell took home the Half-Arabian English Pleasure Champion Junior Exhibitor to Ride (JTR) 18 & Under title at Scottsdale, as well as Half-Arabian English Pleasure Junior Owner to Ride (JOTR) 14-18 and Half-Arabian English Pleasure JTR 14-18 Championship titles at Youth Nationals. At the U.S. Nationals, in a beautiful class of athletic and hightrotting horses in the Half-Arabian English Pleasure Championship, she and rider Jim Stachowski earned the red roses. ■ Volume 45, No. 11 | 305

The Scottsdale All Arabian Horse Show The Volunteer Viewpoint by Catherine Cole Ferandelli

he 60th Scottsdale All Arabian Horse Show was arguably the best ever! Some 2,400 horses entered for competition; the grandstands and the shopping areas were packed with horse lovers from all walks of life, and the show brought hundreds of millions of dollars to the local economy and is an important charity event for Cox Charities and March of Dimes. While plenty of folks “work for the money,” hundreds of others volunteer their time to a multitude of tasks that are

key to the smooth running of the event. By doing so, they are not only enjoying being part of the energy and action … they are also playing a role in giving back to a horse show that charitably gives back so much to those in need. Betty Karr has headed up the group as Volunteer Coordinator for the past two years. She was drawn to the position by her love for Arabian horses and promoting them in a variety of venues, including being in parades, holding fun local shows and doing the Meet-A-Horse event at the Scottsdale show. With a professional background as Administrative Director at several large hospitals, Betty was equipped to take on the role of heading up and coordinating the staffing of volunteers for such a huge horse show venue. Visiting her briefly in the volunteer rooms at WestWorld’s North Hall, one quickly grasps the size and scope of the operation. The area has constant comings and goings of staff and volunteers. The volunteer shifts offer opportunities to participate in the morning, afternoon or evening horse show sessions, and the opportunities to engage are wide and varied. Important to know: One need not have experience with horses to join up as a volunteer! Betty says the shift sign-up requests vary with the personality and experience of the individual. Some folks enjoy engaging directly with the public by serving up ice cream at the Social. Others like to be outdoors helping with the working western/trail division or dressage/sport horse areas. Assisting in introducing our Arabian horses to the public gives great pleasure in bringing a smile to visitors who may not have ever been near a horse of any breed. Betty shares, “The rewards for giving back depend on the individual volunteer. Some enjoy directing foot traffic at

Photo by Kevin Martens

306 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Photo by Kevin Martens

the Bridge stairwell entrance. Others want to do the meet and greet as a gate assistant (horse experience needed) or at our Information/Sales Booths. Many others enjoy the prestige of getting dressed up and presenting ribbons and prizes (horse experience required). But the best volunteers of all are those who sign up for several positions and say to put them wherever they are needed. This is a huge help in filling all our volunteer shifts.” Betty goes on to say: “There are approximately 300+ volunteers who participate in some capacity. Some of them work multiple sessions and multiple positions; some work every day. There are many others that work positions who are members of the Club (Arabian Horse Association of Arizona) and do not come through our area. This year we had a large number of volunteers from the March of Dimes who handled the Ice Cream Social and the Paint-a-Pony project for the kids, as well as helping in other areas. The ASU (Arizona State University) students from the Equine Program also help each year with the Barn Tours, the Meet-A-Horse program and the Round Pen educational demonstrations. We have something to offer for folks from all walks of life. One just needs to show up for their shift and enjoy being part of a huge, happy and giving horse show spectacle!” How can you get involved in giving back? Simply go to the Scottsdale All-Arabian Horse Show website (www. scottsdaleshow.com) and the volunteer information category. The attention to detail makes it easy to decide

which volunteers efforts are available, what they include, and when one can sign up for them. First time volunteer Alexis Cole, found herself signing up as Ribbon Presenter. She says: “This year I was simply too busy with my professional life to compete at the show. Still, I wanted to be involved in some way and be close to riders and horses. Being a Ribbon Presenter gave me the opportunity to meet staff and volunteer members at the Equidome arena center, and the huge pleasure of giving prizes to the winners! I was so impressed with the volunteer side of our show, that I will continue to sign up even when showing at future Scottsdale shows!” Being a part of this special group also gives you: • Free admission to all horse show sessions • Sign-up in a prize drawing to win a variety of prizes • Entry to the special hospitality area ringside, the last Friday and Saturday of the show • Entry to Recognition Service Award of $50 at the end of each session, to an outstanding volunteer selected because they have done something a little extra. • A volunteer t-shirt • Free admission to all the show sessions • Satisfaction of helping local charities Being part of the ‘inside action’ at the Scottsdale All Arabian Horse Show is fun, rewarding and fulfilling, and you'll have a great time! n

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AmAteur Spotlight … ALEXA TIZIANI

What are the similarities between yourself and your horse? My horse, Sushi, and I both get really crabby when we are hungry and get very determined when at horse shows. What makes you happiest? Horses. They are my passion, and after school there is nothing else I would rather be doing than riding my horses. What do you most value in your friends? Your horses? Trust is a big component in friendship; same with horses. Being able to have a trusting relationship with your horses and friends is incredibly important. Which living person do you most admire? My trainers John and Leah Beth. They are both amazing trainers and I love being around them at the barn. What is your motto? “Everything happens for a reason.” My trainer Leah Beth told me awhile ago when I had some troubles with horses in the past. When my horse, Double OH Sevenn, aka Sushi, came along after she told me this and, “The right horse will come along,” sure enough, Sushi came, and I could not be happier that we found the perfect horse. If you could be anyone for one day, who would it be and why? I would want to be Juliette Dell. She has some amazing horses, and is an amazing rider. What is your most treasured memory with the Arabian horse? Winning national champion with my very first Arabian, JAS Tucson. Tucson has changed the lives of many—kids and trainers—bringing them to many blue ribbons, regional wins, open wins, and national titles. Never once was Tucson a national champion until my first year at Nationals. I was only in walk-trot, and also competed in showmanship. The first class of the morning was the Showmanship 13 & Under, which I was nervous for as I usually show in 10 & Under. With 308 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

13 in the class, I was really hoping for a top ten, but exited the class 12th. I wandered down the hall to get changed for my next class in the other arena, when my dad walked up and told me to shake it off, as every ride is a new ride. He added that everything happens for a reason and something good is in store for me. I didn’t believe it, I was only 9, but I went with it. I shook it off, and then went in the arena with as much confidence as I could muster. Going into Canadian Nationals, I knew there would be many amazing horses in my class, but I did my best, and came out on top. Words cannot explain how happy I was. Since then, I have not shown Tucson; he has been passed on to my sister who recently went Unanimous Reserve National Champion at Canadian Nationals this year in Equitation. Now Tucson is living a great life in retirement at Grandma’s house. Tucson will always have a special place in my heart, because there is nothing more special than winning your first national championship with your first horse winning his.

What is your very first memory with the Arabian horse? When I walked into my very first Arabian barn, and Tucson was out in the crossties. I walked up to him, and he put his nose down for me to pet him. It was truly, love at first sight. If you could show one horse from the past, who would you show and why? Aphrodisiac. She is my all time favorite Equitation, and Half-Arabian country horse, and my dream was to be able to show her one day. Unfortunately, that will never be possible, but one day, I hope I can show a horse just like her. If you could have one super power, what would it be and why? I would like to fly. I think it would be really fun to be able to get out of anything that is in your way. What is the most memorable piece of show ring advice you’ve ever received? “Stay inside of the pack; if you get covered up, it all goes downhill from there. Also, hold your equitation while doing it; you want to make it look easy.” What would be your ultimate dream job? Anything where I could ride all day, everyday, all the time. What do you love most about showing Arabian horses? Their elegance and beauty. From watching Liberty classes, or Saddle Seat Equitation, the horses and riders are so elegant. Also, the people. There are so many nice,

caring people that you meet and they give you so much support and kindness. Who has had the biggest influence in your involvement with Arabians? My mom is the one who got me into Arabians, and bought me my first horse. My grandma did also, and has Arabians at her home also, which influenced me to fall in love with the Arabian breed. What piece of advice would you give to the 10-year-old version of yourself? And the 40-year-old? The advice I would give to my 10-year-old self is work hard, and play hard. Things do turn out in the end. Don’t give up! The advice I would give to my 40-year-old self is ride like you’re 20! What have you learned from riding and showing that has helped you in other areas of your life? That everything happens for a reason, like if you lose a friend, it will be okay in the end. Another aspect is friendship. No matter where they live, you can have friends from anywhere. They teach you a lot, from going to them with drama and asking for advice, or just needing someone to talk to, they are always there. Special thanks and appreciation to: my trainers, John and Leah Golladay, Sarah Paripovich, and especially my incredible parents, who made all of this possible. Between your pep talks and dedication, I couldn’t have had any success without you guys! ■ Volume 45, No. 11 | 309

In Memoriam

Barbara Buchanan (1930-2014)

“My beginning aspirations for

horses came from my mother,” begins John Rannenberg. “And she loved the horses. As a young girl, she was a rider. So throughout my career, she so enjoyed being a part of it. She traveled around the country—from Canada to Tampa, Scottsdale to Minneapolis, the Buckeye to regionals, and she never missed nationals. She loved it. She gave me space, but I always knew she was there. I could always hear her voice.” As the son of Barbara Buchanan, John recalls a childhood that was anything but easy. However, this single parent raising three young boys in Minnesota made sure she was bringing up good, hardworking people with genuine hearts. “She supported the family and kept a roof over our heads, but there wasn’t a lot of money for horses. Nonetheless, she allowed me to have every opportunity that she could afford. I always wanted my own horse, and from a very early age, I rode anything and everything I could swing up on. I would work for the ability to ride—whether it was feeding, cleaning or caring for the horses. My pay as a kid was being able to ride their horses, and from this, she told me more than once at a very young age, ‘You know, if I buy you a horse, that will be the only horse that you ride. This way, by you riding many disciplines and different horses, you will become a better horseman.’ That was her way of showing me another side of the situation, besides just not having the funds to have a show horse. So, I scraped, borrowed, and rode as many horses as I could; went to as many shows as I could, and as a child, I won many equitation medals and high points, doing quite well under the circumstances. And it all came back to the great support of my mother.” With her career in the real estate business, John states that she worked her way up from the bottom, and in the 70s, ended up purchasing and developing her own company in Fargo, which became the number one real estate agency in North Dakota. Serving on many boards, Barbara was a very important person in her industry and extremely well respected. When Barbara retired to Ocala, Fla., and built a home 15 miles from Rohara, she loved visiting the farm and her son in his passion. She also loved the Arabian horse community. “Not only did she have all of her friends in her industry and at home, but when she would go to horse shows,” John shares, “she would have a whole set of other friends whom she loved. She was a great cheerleader—not only for me, but she supported so many of my fellow trainers.” Just as Barbara wished, John hosted a celebration of life in her honor at Scottsdale this year, something that he was grateful to do. “I’d like to thank the many friends that came by, as well as all the kind hand written notes and many posts on Facebook,” says John. “I know she would have been so honored and I know her spirit is with me always...” 310 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

Exxpectation (1993-2015)

“Dreams … we all have them. Mine was a western pleasure horse that turned heads and made people notice,” begins Gordon Potts. “That horse, aptly named Exxpectation, or X, as we called him, truly lived up to his name, and if dreams were expectations, he exceeded ours. X was the ultimate western pleasure horse; he truly carried himself under saddle, always round and engaged, soft and supple. His reins, more accessory than necessity, were always draped. He didn’t just know his job, he loved it. Even when on the trail or a ride in the pasture, he framed up and carried himself, never shying or spooking. He was a pleasure to ride and took pleasure in being ridden. That was just his way.” Owned by Dennis and Linda Clark of Long Meadow Arabians, Exxpectation (BJD Excalibur x CHF Highlight) boasts incredible wins as a show horse, produced great offspring, and above all, was a horse that touched many lives. In appreciation for the owners, Gordon offers, “For Dennis Clark, his owner and amateur rider, his dream was much the same—a horse that would springboard him to the highest level of competition almost instantly. One that would teach him the feel and the timing that would later allow him to continue to excel on all the horses that would come later.” Gordon adds, “Dennis and Linda also valued and shared that special closeness with this great horse. That day-to-day bond outweighed any win or title. That’s the reason they do this.” Exxpectation certainly lived up to this dream. From their bond and with the Clark’s support, Gordon showed X to the Arabian Triple Crown, taking home championships at Scottsdale, then the Canadian Nationals, and finally—and unanimously—in Freedom Hall at the U.S. Nationals in Louisville. Gordon shares, “Most importantly, X was a horse that I loved being with each and every day. His personality equaled his prowess, one you couldn’t wait to be with, like you would your best pal.” Many years later, Gordon was delighted when Dennis and Linda so generously shared X with his daughter, Halle. “Seeing your child learn and grow on a horse that taught you so much is a gift that few of us ever receive. And when Halle won National titles on that same horse, words can’t describe it,” says Gordon. “X initially tested Halle and she had to learn to ride him, but once he knew she knew, he was the same every time. I always trusted my friend with my child.” Gordon closes, “I cannot begin to express my gratitude to the Clarks for sharing X with Halle and me. For both our families, it has been an unbelievable ride. And finally, I want to thank my good friend X for the last 15 years. You made all my dreams come true.”

Calendar Of Events Items for the calendar are run FREE of charge on a space-available basis. Calendar listings are subject to change; please confirm dates and locale before making your plans or reservations. MAIL notices to Arabian Horse Times, Attention: Charlene Deyle, P.O. Box 69, Jordan, MN 55352; phone 612-816-3018 or e-mail: charlened@ ahtimes.com. *Due to the intrinsic nature of these shows, Arabian Horse Times cannot be held accountable for their validity.

SEMINARS/CLINICS/SALES/ OPEN HOUSE/AWARDS

April 11-12, 2015, Shea Days @ Quarry Hill Farm, Lakeville, CT. Contact: 860-435-2571. June 26-29, 2015, Saddle Seat Riding Clinic, William Woods University, Fulton, Missouri. Contact: Gayle Lampe, 573-592-4395. August 7-10, 2015, Saddle Seat Riding Clinic, William Woods University, Fulton, Missouri. Contact: Gayle Lampe, 573-592-4395.

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

April 11-12, 2015, Pacific Slope Championship, Santa Rosa, CA. Contact: Nancy Harvey, 626-355-9101. April 19, 2015, Region 11 H/J Offsite Championship, Lake St. Louis, MO. Contact: Ryan Chambers, 314-717-7683. April 23-26, 2015, Region 7 Championship, Scottsdale, AZ. Contact: Melanni Hershberger, 480-443-3372. April 26, 2015, Region 15 26-Mile Competitive Trail Ride Championship, Unionville, PA. Contact: Kim Colket, 610-933-7074. May 2, 2015, Region 12 100-Mile Endurance Championship Ride, Asheville, NC. Contact: Cheryl Newman, 828-665-1531. May 4-9, 2015, Region 12 Championship, Perry, GA. Contact: Marilyn Norton, 715-514-5478. May 7-10, 2015, Region 4 Sport Horse Offsite Championship, Nampa, ID. Contact: Ginny Kelsch, 208-884-3071. May 16-17, 2015, Region 8 Sport Horse Offsite Championship, Albuquerque, NM. Contact: Evelyn Ann Huff, 505-437-0977. May 17, 2015, Region 18 50-Mile Endurance Championship, Millbrook, ON, Canada. Contact: Michelle Bignell, 705-932-2314. May 27-28, 2015, Region 1 Championship and Pre-Show, Del Mar, CA. Contact: Nancy Harvey, 262-355-9101.

May 27-30, 2015, Region 9 Championship, Fort Worth, TX. Contact: Melanni Hershberger, 480-443-3372. May 28-31, 2015, Region 1 Championship, Del Mar, CA. Contact: Nancy Harvey, 626-355-9101. May 29, 2015, Region 4 Dressage 4th Level & Up Offsite Championship, Auburn, WA. Contact: Kaye Phaneuf, 503-651-3037. May 30-31, 2015, Region 5 Sport Horse Offsite Championship, Auburn, WA. Contact: Kaye Phaneuf, 503-651-3037. May 31, 2015, Region 14 Hunter/Jumper Offsite Championship, Aiken, SC. Contact: Nancy Baker, 828-305-4023. June 4-6, 2015 Region 8 Championship, Denver, CO. Contact: Jo Anne Read, 303-648-3261. June 10-14, 2015, Region 10 Championship, St. Paul, MN. Contact: Leesa Berhow, 715-294-3092. June 12-14, 2015, Region 13 Dressage/Sport Horse Offsite Championship, Edinburgh, IN. Contact: Donna Auber, 330-274-2039. June 13, 2015, Region 1 50-Mile Endurance Championship Ride, Decanso, CA. Contact: Jennifer Bishop, 760-518-7065. June 18-21, 2015, Region 13 Championship, Springfield, OH. Contact: Donna Auber, 330-274-2039. June 19-21, 2015, Region 2 Championship, Santa Barbara, CA. Contact: Joyce Ann Schroeder, 805-432-6890. June 19-21, 2015, Western Canadian Breeders Championship, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. Contact: Cheryl Sproule, 306-752-4240. June 20-21, 2015, Region 10 Sport Horse/ Dressage Offsite Championship, Waukesha, WI. Contact: Nancy Miller, 608-825-9986. June 23-27, 2015, Region 4 Championship, Nampa, ID. Contact: Patricia Ann Hough, 253-847-8842. June 25-28, 2015, Region 14 Championship, Lexington, KY. Contact: 937-962-4336. June 26-27, 2015, Pacific Slope H/J & Carriage Driving Offsite Championship, Elk Grove, CA. Contact: Annette Wells, 530-344-1706. June 27-28, 2015, Region 3 Sport Horse Offsite Championship, Elk Grove, CA. Contact: Annette Wells, 530-344-1706. July 2, 2015, Eastern Canadian Breeders Championship, London, ON, Canada. Contact: Pam Worts, 519-681-3943. July 2-3, 2015, Region 6 Championship, Douglas, WY. Contact: Claude Clark, 406-388-3364.

July 2-5, 2015, Region 11 Championship, Springfield, IL. Contact: Nancy Harvey, 626-355-9101. July 2-5, 2015, Region 15 Championship, Lexington, VA. Contact: Marilyn Norton, 715-514-5478. July 3-4, 2015, Region 18 Championship, London, ON, Canada. Contact: Pam Worts, 519-681-3943. July 7-11, 2015, Region 3 Championship, Reno, NV. Contact: Sharon Richards, 916-645-2288. July 7-11, 2015, Region 5 Championship and Pre-Show, Monroe, WA. Contact: 253-847-8842. July 8-11, 2015, Region 16 Championship, W. Springfield, MA. Contact: Donna Auber, 330-274-2039. July 21-25, 2015, Region 17 Championship, Calgary, Alberta. Contact: Marion Enders, 403-227-0538. July 31-August 2, 2015, East Coast Championship, Lexington, VA. Contact: Pamela McDermott, 770-728-4383. September 6, 2015, Region 18 Sport Horse & Dressage Championships Offsite, Campbellville, ON, Canada. Contact: Dan Cross, 519-483-2239.

SHOWS APRIL April 3-5, 2015, Fiesta Del Mar A and B Arabian Horse Show, Del Mar, CA. Contact: Nancy Harvey, 626-355-9101. April 3-5, 2015, Green Country Spring Fling A and B, Tulsa, OK. Contact: Ruth Charpie, 816-765-5683. April 3-5, 2015, Arabian Springfest I A and B, Gifford, IL. Contact: Region 11. April 3-5, 2015, NCAHA/ODAHA Combined Show A and B, Raleigh, NC. Contact: Susan Wagoner, 603-320-9837. April 9-12, 2015, AHANC 66th Annual Arabian and H/A A and B Show, Rancho Murieta, CA. Contact: Nancy Harvey, 626-355-9101. April 9-11, 2015, Utah Valley Arabian Show, South Jordan, UT. Contact: Dayle Dickhaut, 208-234-0157. April 10-12, 2015, Pacific Rim Arabian Sport Horse Show, Elma, WA. Contact: Nancy Harlan, 253-797-1914. April 10-12, 2015, Magnolia Classic A and B, Gonzales, LA. Contact: Beth Walker, 225-772-6815.

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Calendar Of Events April 11, 2015, Equine Ventures Unlimited Arabian Spring Fling One Day Show I and II, Mt. Vernon, MO. Contact: Lenard Davenport, 417-725-3864. April 11-12, 2015, Sunflower Arabian I and II A One Day Show, Wichita, KS. Contact: Ruth Charpie, 816-765-5683. April 11-12, 2015, TAHSSD Spring Show A and B, Sioux Falls, SD. Contact: Summer Jakopak, 605-359-6856. April 12, 2015, Spring Sport Horse One Day Show, Terrell, TX. Contact: Carrie Woolverton, 214-498-7304. April 16-19, 2015, 9th Annual Arabian Breeders World Cup, Las Vegas, NV. Contact: 480-471-1715. April 17-19, 2015, AHBAO Spring Classic A, Eugene, OR. Contact: Heather Engstrom, 541-689-9700. April 17-19, 2015, Lone Star Classic, San Antonio, TX. Contact: Ann Lang, 512-452-1492. April 17-19, 2015, Ringside Sport Extravaganza, Lake St. Louis, MO. Contact: Ryan Chambers, 314-717-7683. April 17-19, 2015, Annual Magnolia Spring Classic A and B, Perry, GA. Contact: Nancy Baker, 828-305-4023. April 17-19, 2015, Virginia Arabian Show & Futurity A and B, Lexington, VA. Contact: Kelva Alexander, 540-351-0010. April 17-19, 2015, OHAHA Springtime A and B Show, Springfield, OH. Contact: Jean Hedger, 937-434-6114. April 17-19, 2015, BCHAA Spring Show, Langley, BC, Canada. Contact: Marla Patterson, 604-574-3785. April 18, 2015, Southern Cross Cutting Spring Fling One Day Show, Foster, OK. Contact: Kristina Garland, 940-580-0383. April 18-19, 2015, Iowa Spring Show A and B, Cedar Rapids, IA. Contact: Region 11. April 18-19, 2015, Central FL Arabian Spring Classic, New Smyrna Beach, FL. Contact: Cheryl Vandeusen, 386-566-4820. April 21-22, 2015, ASHO4U, Scottsdale, AZ. Contact: Melanni Hershberger, 480-443-3372. April 24-26, 2015, Aim At The Hood Sport Horse A and B Show, West Linn, OR. Contact: Karen Bragg, 503-682-4982. April 24-26, 2015, Daffodil Arabian Spring A and B Show, Monroe, WA. Contact: Patricia Ann Hough, 253-847-8842. April 24-26, 2015, Border Bonanza A and B, Sedalia, MO. Contact: Ruth Charpie, 816-765-5683. 312 | ARABIAN HORSE TIMES

April 24-26, 2015, Mason Dixon Classic, Quentin, PA. Contact: Pamela Turner, 607-739-3341. April 24-26, 2015, The Spring Fling, Ponoka, AB, Canada. Contact: Aldona Tracey, 780-986-6731. April 26, 2015, Spring Trail And Over Fences One Day Show, Terrell, TX. Contact: Carrie Woolverton, 214-498-7304. April 26, 2015, Royale Ranch Sport Horse & Dressage Show, Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Fallon, IL. Contact: Janet Corvallis, 618-344-5595. April 26, 2015, BAHA Spring Blast Open One Day Show, Shelbyville, KY. Contact: Lorie Henderson, 502-477-1018. April 30-May 3, 2015, The Mayfest Challenge, Fort Worth, TX. Contact: Sherry McGraw, 903-872-7279. April 30-May 2, 2015, Michigan All Arabian A and B Show, Mason, MI. Contact: Sally Epps, 920-992-3293. MAY May 1-3, 2015, Red Bluff Arabian Horse Show, Corning, CA. Contact: Sharon Richards, 916-645-2288. May 1-3, 2015, Colorado Classic Horse Show, Denver, CO. Contact: Martin Cockriel, 303-841-3414. May 1-3, 2015, Sahara Sands Spring Classic, St. Paul, MN. Contact: Mary Tronson, 763-755-1698. May 1-3, 2015, Empire State Arabian Spring Show, Syracuse, NY. Contact: Gaylon Medley, 315-626-6790. May 3, 2015, Rain or Shine Benefit One Day Show, Cle Elum, WA. Contact: Lisa Joy Kolke, 360-687-2256. May 7-10, 2015, Treasure Valley Classic, Nampa, ID. Contact: Ginny Kelsch, 208-884-3071. May 7-10, 2015, Cascade Arabian Youth Benefit, Spanaway, WA. Contact: Renate Cowan, 360-807-4217. May 7-10, 2015, AAHABC Sport Horse Classic A and B, Langley, BC, Canada. Contact: Sandra Mann, 604-532-8766. May 8-10, 2015, Region 2 Spring Qualifier, Santa Barbara, CA. Contact: Sharon Richards, 916-645-2288. May 8-10, 2015, Great Plains Arabian Classic A and B Show, Lincoln, NE. Contact: Ruth Charpie, 816-765-5683. May 8-10, 2015, NIAHAC May II Show, Springfield, IL. Contact: Ryan Chambers, 314-717-7683. May 8-10, 2015, Sahiba Arab Spring Show, Frankfort, KY. Contact: Jean Hedger, 937-434-6114.

May 8-10, 2015, Hudson Valley Arabian Show, West Springfield, MA. Contact: Beth Barnes, 860-302-2061. May 9-10, 2015, Milestone Spring Show, Campbellville, ON, Canada. Contact: Cheryl Smith-Ehrlick, 905-854-0762. May 13-15, 2015, Zia Classic A and B, Albuquerque, NM. Contact: Evelyn Ann Huff, 505-437-0977. May 14-17, 2015, NYS Horse Breeders Show, Syracuse, NY. Contact: Tari Weston, 315-701-9378. May 15-17, 2015, Diablo Arab Spring Show, Elk Grove, CA. Contact: Melanni Hershberger, 480-443-3372. May 15-17, 2015, AHACO Arab Show A and B, Eugene, OR. Contact: Patricia Ann Hough, 253-847-8842. May 15-17, 2015, ARK Arabian Victory Challenge Show A and B, Texarkana, AR. Contact: Alan Harmon, 501-330-2272. May 15-17, 2015, NJ HAHA A and B, Allentown, NJ. Contact: Joan Mitch, 610-914-7008. May 16, 2015, Utah AHC May Madness One Day Show, South Jordan, UT. Contact: Dayle Dickhaut, 208-234-0157. May 16-17, 2015, NMAHA May One Day Show I and II, Verndale, MN. Contact: Mary Smith, 859-489-3145. May 21-22, 2015, IEAHC Memorial Day Classic A and B Show, Spokane, WA. Contact: Lisa Kolke, 360-687-2256. May 21-24, 2015, Buckeye Sweepstakes, Columbus, OH. Contact: Jean Hedger, 937-434-6114. May 22-24, 2015, SCHAA Arabian Show, Temecula, CA. Contact: Nancy Harvey, 626-355-9101. May 22-24, 2015, CAHC Spring Show A and B, Denver, CO. Contact: Farra Baker, 303-355-7633. May 22-24, 2015, Spindletop Spring Arabian Show, Katy, TX. Contact: Charlene Lynch, 214-403-0460. May 22-24, 2015, AHC of CT Horse Show, West Springfield, MA. Contact: Beth Barnes, 860-302-2061. May 22-24, 2015, The Badger Classic, Jefferson, WI. Contact: Pamela Scoggins, 217-369-7753. May 23-24, 2015, MAHA Spring One Day Show I and II A, Billings, MT. Contact: Becky McAllister, 406-861-4929. May 23-24, 2015, Iowa Memorial Weekend A and B, Des Moines, IA. Contact: Region 11.

Calendar Of Events May 27-31, 2015, Illinois/Arab Inc. All Arabian Show, Springfield, IL. Contact: Region 11. May 28-29, 2015, Arabian Sport Horse Celebration and R4 Qualifier, Auburn, WA. Contact: Kaye Phaneuf, 503-651-3037. May 29, 2015, Aurora 4/5 Qualifier A and B Show, Ponoka, AB, Canada. Contact: Marion Enders, 403-227-0538. May 29-30, 2015, NC PAHA Arabian Show, Hughesville, PA. Contact: Patricia McQuiston, 570-924-4836. May 29-31, 2015, Comstock Spring Fiesta A and B Show, Carson City, Nevada. Contact: Shannon Johnson, 775-750-0237. May 29-31, 2015, Showtime 2015, East Lansing, MI. Contact: Sally Epps, 920-992-3293. May 29-31, 2015, Palmetto Sport Horse Classic, Aiken, SC. Contact: Nancy Baker, 828-305-4023. May 29-31, 2015, Virginia Arabian Show and Futurity A and B, Doswell, VA. Contact: Kelva Alexander, 540-351-0010. May 30-31, 2015, Aurora Arabian Summer Show, Ponoka, AB, Canada. Contact: Marion Enders, 403-227-0538. May 30-31, 2015, SAHA Spring Icebreaker, Moose Jaw, SK, Canada. Contact: Chantelle Dawn Rutledge, 306-483-2434. JUNE June 2-6, 2015, The Egyptian Event, Lexington, Kentucky. Contact: www.pyramidsociety.org June 3, 2015, Region 8 Lead-In Show, Denver, CO. Contact: Jo Anne Read, 303-648-3261. June 5-7, 2015, Gold Coast Classic, Watsonville, CA. Contact: Nancy Goertzen, 559-625-2631. June 5-7, 2015, Eastern Classic, Hamburg, NY. Contact: Lindsey Hager, 716-481-4907. June 6-7, 2015, Medallion II A and B Show, Wilmington, OH. Contact: Jean Hedger, 937-434-6114. June 6-7, 2015, AHAEC Summer Sizzler, Western Agriplex, London, ON. Canada. Contact: Pam Worts, 519-681-3943. June 9-10, 2015, Region 10 Pre-Show, St. Paul, MN. Contact: Leesa Berhow, 715-294-3092. June 11-14, 2015, WA Midsummer Classic A and B, Monroe, WA. Contact: Bonny Braden, 425-338-1431. June 11-14, 2015, Blue Ridge Arabian Classic A and B, Lexington, VA. Contact: Nancy Baker, 828-305-4023. June 11-14, 2015, Hoosier Horse Classic, Edinburgh, IN. Contact: Donna Auber, 330-274-2039.

June 12-14, 2015, The Alberta Classic A and B, Ponoka, AB, Canada. Contact: Aldona Tracey, 780-986-6731. June 12-14, 2015, NJ HAHA Classic, Allentown, NJ. Contact: Joan Mitch, 610-914-7008. June 17-18, 2015, Region 2 Pre-Show, Santa Barbara, CA. Contact: Joyce Ann Schroeder, 805-432-6890. June 17, 2015, Region 13 Pre Show A and B, Springfield, OH. Contact: Donna Auber, 330-274-2039. June 20, 2015, Summer Salsa One Day Show A and B, Albuquerque, NM. Contact: Tara Turner, 505-832-6823. June 20-22, 2015, Region 4 Pre-Show, Nampa, ID. Contact: Patricia Ann Hough, 253-847-8842. June 21, 2015, Summer Salsa Sport Horse and Dressage One Day Show, Albuquerque, NM. Contact: Tara Turner, 505-832-6823. June 24, 2015, Region 14 Silverama, Lexington, KY. Contact: Jean Hedger, 937-434-6114. June 25, 2015, Tulip Festival Show, Richmond Fairgrounds, Richmond, ON, Canada. Contact: Lisa McGowan, lismcgow@netscape.net June 25-26, 2015, Pacific Coast Arabian Sport Horse Classic, Elk Grove, CA. Contact: Annette Wells, 530-344-1706. June 25-27, 2015, AHANE 61st “BIG MONEY” Arabian Show, West Springfield, MA. Contact: Lurline Combs, 603-627-8645. June 27-28, 2015, PA Junior Amateur Games I and II One Day Show, Centre Hall, PA. Contact: Patricia McQuiston, 570-924-4836. June 27-28, 2015, Island Classics Arabian Horse Show, Victoria, BC, Canada. Contact: Gerald McDonald, 250-722-2150. JULY July 1, 2015, Region 11 Pre-Show A and B, Springfield, IL. Contact: Nancy Harvey, 626-355-9101. July 1, 2015, Markel Firecracker Classic, Lexington, VA. Contact: Marilyn Norton, 715-514-5478. July 2, 2015, Region 18 Last Chance, London, Ontario. Contact: Pam Worts, 519-681-3943. July 5-7, 2015, Region 3 Last Chance Qualifying Show, Reno, NV. Contact: Sharon Richards, 916-645-2288. July 6, 2015, Region 5 Pre-Show, Monroe, WA. Contact: Patricia Ann Hough, 253-847-8842. July 8, 2015, Region 16 Hunter/Jumper Qualifier, West Springfield, MA. Contact: Donna Auber, 330-274-2039.

July 9-12, 2015, Great Arabian Get Together, Randolph, MN. Contact: Leesa Berhow, 715-294-3092. July 10, 2015, Road Runner Sport Horse Qualifying One Day Show, Tucson, AZ. Contact: Rosemary Gordon Panuco, 520-797-6921. July 11-12, 2015, OVAHA Summer Sizzler II A and B, Springfield, OH. Contact: Jean Hedger, 937-434-6114. July 30, 2015, Eastern Arab Horse Show, Lexington, VA. Contact: Pamela McDermott, 770-728-4383.

NATIONAL EVENTS

July 18-25, 2015, Youth Nationals, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Contact AHA: 303-696-4500. August 16-22, 2015, Canadian Nationals, Brandon, Manitoba. Contact AHA: 303-696-4500. September 15-20, 2015, Sport Horse Nationals, Raleigh, North Carolina. Contact AHA: 303-696-4500. October 23-31, 2015, U.S. Nationals, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Contact AHA: 303-696-4500.

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

June 13-14, 2014, Mediterranean & Arab Countries Arabian Horse Championship, Menton. Contact: http://www. mentonarabianhorseshow.com August 14-16, 2015, Polish National Championships, Poland. Contact: http://www. janow.arabians.pl/en/shows/ September 25-27, 2015, Aachen National Championships and All Nations Cup, Aachen, Germany. Contact: http://vzap.org November 27-29, 2015, Salon du Cheval, Paris World Championships. Contact: en.salon-cheval.com *Go to www.arabianessence.com or www.ecaho. org for additional international shows and information. Visit www.ahtimes.com for a calendar view of these dates.

Volume 45, No. 11 | 313

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2-Year Old Chestnut Arabian Mare, 15.2 Hands Markings: Snip, Strip, Star, Upper Lip, Left Hind Leg, Right Fore Leg, Left Fore Hoof Dark, Left Hind Hoof Light, Right Fore Hoof Light, Right Hind Hoof Dark. Foaled: April 6, 2012 Sire: TRUSSARDI Dam: MC SOPHIE • Show Record: Arabian Yearling Filly Breeding Champ at the Canadian National in August 2013, & Region 4 Championship in June 2013 • First Place in the Arabian Mare Breeding Class at both, the Region 4 Pre-Show in June 2013, & ASHOU4U in April 2013 • Received 325 Points in the Ath Fillies 1 & 2 Yr. Old• 329.5 Points in the Junior Fillies of 2012 A • 150 Points in the Champ: Ath Mare/Filly • NAES Appraisal: $75,000

COCO CHANEL SA 1-Year Old Bay Arabian Mare, 15.3 Hands Markings: Lower Lip, Snip, Strip, Star, Upper Lip, Left Hind Leg, Right Hind Leg, Left Fore Hoof Dark, Left Hind Hoof Light, Right Fore Hoof Dark, Right Hind Hoof Light. Foaled: May 20, 2013 Sire: DA VINCI FM Dam: MC SOPHIE • Show Record: Unavailable • NAES Appraisal: $25,000 PRIMA DONA SA

1-Year Old Bay Arabian Mare, 14.3 Hands Markings: Snip, Strip, Star, Left Hind Leg, Right Hind Leg, Left Fore Hoof Dark, Left Hind Hoof Light, Right Fore Hoof Dark, Right Hind Hoof Light. Foaled: April 23, 2013 Sire: ZT MARWTEYN Dam: HS PRIMAVERE • Show Record: Placed Seventh at the Arabian National Breeder Finals Yearling Filly April 16-Dec. 31 • Injured Right Rear Hoof in Stall Accident • NAES Appraisal: $1,000

314 | A R A BI A N HOR SE T I MES

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Volume 45, No. 11 | 315

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134 |youth 318 ARABIAN | A r AHORSE bi A n Hor TIMES se T i mes

Index Of Advertisers A

Agricon-Logistic Horse Transports .............................................. 19Tutto (117) AHT English Feature ..................................................................................... 177 Al Rashediah Stud.............................................................14-15Tutto (112, 113) Al Sayed Stud.................................................................... 10-11ArabInt (56, 57) Al Shaqab ..................................................................1-9Tutto (99-107), 173-176 AlDanat Stud .....................................................................16-17Tutto (114, 115) Aljassimya Farm................................................................................................... 5 Aljawza Stud .....................................................................28-29Tutto (126, 127) Arabian Park Arabians, LLC ...................................................... 30ArabInt (76) Arabian Soul Partners ....................................................... 14-17ArabInt (60-63) Arabians International.......................................45, 6-32ArabInt (52-78), 79, 80 ArabianSalesOnline.com, a division of Twin Creek Farms ..........................225 Argent Farms ...........................................................................................2, 3, 256 Athbah Stud ..................................................... 10-11Tutto (108, 109), 320, IBC Austrian National & International Show...................................... 56Tutto (154)

Lane, Linda ...................................................................................32ArabInt (78) Leo Arabians .................................................................................................... 155 Lisa Markley Arabians ..................................................... 22-23ArabInt (68, 69) Luca Oberti Arabians .....................................................................30Tutto (128)

B Becker Stables ..............................................................................................14, 15 Beloveds Farm .................................................................................... IFC, 1, 266 Bisch Training @ Los Cedaros ....................................................................... 213

C Cedar Ridge Arabians, Inc. .........................................................31ArabInt (77) Crescent Creek Farm ....................................................................................... 267

D Daniel Training Center ........................................................................... 210, 211 Day Dream Arabians, Inc. ..........................................................................40, 41 Dazzo Arabians............................................................................................14, 15 Desert Horse Partners LLC ............................................ 18-19ArabInt (64, 65) Diver, Jim ......................................................................................................... 274 Dreymbay Farm ............................................................................................... 272

E El Nabila B Initiative............................................................ 8-9ArabInt (54, 55)

F Flood Show Horses.......................................................................................... 259 Frierson Atkinson ............................................................................................ 314

G Garlands ...........................................................................................................209 Gemini Acres Equine ....................................................... 12-13ArabInt (58, 59) Giacomo Capacci Arabians .................................... 98, 18Tutto (116), 320, IBC Gregor Aymar/Eyecatcher Advertising........................... 54-55Tutto (152, 153) GRK Farms, LLC ........................................................................................... 212 Gunabalan, Joanne...........................................................................................2, 3 Guzzo Worldwide LLC ................................................................. 12, 13, 40, 41

H Hazlewood Arabians LLC.................................................................................. 7 Hegg, Mrs. Mickey ......................................................................................... 314 Highland Pride Arabians ............................................................. 29ArabInt (75) Hill, Wade & Barbara .................................................................. 28ArabInt (74)

I IIB Farms .........................................................................................................264

J John White Stables .......................................................................................... 273

K Knocke Arabians.............................................................................................. 255

M Markel .............................................................................................................. 314 Maroon Fire Arabians .....................................................................226, 227, 315 Marriott-Albuquerque ..................................................................................... 318 Midwest Station I, Inc. .................................................................................. 255 Midwest ..................................................................................... 8-11, 28, 173-176 Moore, Tom & Liz ..................................................................................268, 269 Myron Bowling Auctioneers, Inc. .................................................................. 314 Mystica Arabians ...............................................................12-13Tutto (110, 111)

N North Arabians ......................................................................6-7ArabInt (52, 53)

Oak Haven Arabians .......................................................................186, 187, 257 Oak Ridge Arabians .................................................................................. FC, 28

P Pay-Jay Arabians .............................................................................................. 314 PCF Arabians ................................................................... 24-25ArabInt (70, 71) Perfect Products ...............................................................................................224 Perkins, Suzanne & Perry ............................................................................... 258

R R.O. Lervick Arabians .................................................................................... 315 RBC Show Horses................................................................................... 270-272 Regency Cove Farms .................................................... 7, 20-21ArabInt (66, 67) Royal Arabians .........................................................................................188, 189

S Shea Stables ......................................................................................226, 227, 315 Silver Box Southwest LLC ..........................................................26ArabInt (72) Simeon Stud .......................................................................20-27Tutto (118-125) Smoky Mountain Park Arabians .................................................................... BC Southern Oaks Farm .......................................................................................260 Stella Bella Arabians....................................................................... 12, 13, 40, 41 Stigler Stud......................................................................................................... 16 Strandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Arabian Stables..................................................................................263 Strawberry Banks Farm...........................................................................252, 253

T The Abel Family .......................................................................................... 10, 11 The Hat Lady .................................................................................................. 315 Triana Holdings, LLC ....................................................................................8, 9 Trotwood Farm ....................................................................................... 208, 265 Tutto Arabi................................................................................................. 97, 156

V Varian Arabians ...............................................................................................254 Vicki Humphrey Training Center ..................................................................262

W Wilkins Livestock Insurers, Inc. .................................................................... 315

Y Youngblood, Sherri ....................................................................... 27ArabInt (73)

Z Zinke, Audrey .................................................................................................. 261 Zoppellaro Training Center........................................................... 44Tutto (142)

Volume 45, No. 11 | 319

AALIHAND LIHANDRRoo LIHANDR

WORLD . DUBAI & ALL NATIONS CUP CHAMPION

EKS

Antonio Bautista photos

(Marwan Al Shaqab x OFW Psylhouette, by Padrons Psyche)

Creating One Masterpiece After Another ... In His Own Glorious Image

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Standing at Giacomo Capacci Arabians www.giacomocapacciarabians.com info@giacomocapacciarabians.com Phone +39 335 443773

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