* RB
2 0 1 3
U . S .
N a t i o n a l
C h a m p i o n
S e n i o r
M a r e
by Denise Hearst
ust one year shy of their first meeting in Naples, Florida, Neil Braverman and Jeff and Rich Sloan,
in their partnership known as Black Rock Arabians, LLC, have already made quite a splash in the breed. Last January the trio met to discuss ways they could collaborate to introduce Neil to the Arabian horse breed and laid out a business plan focused on how to achieve their goals. The business plan, among other things, included as a priority the acquisition of a cornerstone stallion, exceptional mares, and introducing new people, energy, and capital as a way to make a positive impact on the Arabian horse marketplace.
*Honey’s Delight RB (*JJ Señor Magnum x Honeymoon FHP by NV Sure Fire), 2013 U.S. National Champion Mare, 2012 Brazilian National Champion Young Mare, unanimous, and 2010 Brazilian National Reserve Champion Mare.
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The partners, Neil Braverman, Rich Sloan, Jeff Sloan, and handler Greg Gallún celebrate Honey’s victory at Nationals.
Their first purchase, just three days before the 2013 Scottsdale show in February, was the two-yearold colt FA El Rasheem (FA El Shawan x Virtuosa MLR). After his sunset-and-champagne coming-out party during the Las Vegas World Cup, attended by an eager who’s who of international breeders and enthusiasts, a syndication of the colt was successfully sold out, bringing them their first taste of success as partners. A cover story in Arabian Horse World followed (August 2013), and then a trip to the All Nations Cup in Germany, where El Rasheem was named Silver Champion Junior Colt in his first foray into international competition. Jeff Sloan recalls, “We crafted a comprehensive promotional campaign for the colt that covered every detail from the first time the public would see the colt and everything thereafter, and fortunately, we were able to execute the plan very well, ultimately leading to a record-breaking sale to a most prestigious new owner.” Fast-forward to January 2014, and El Rasheem is now owned by Dubai Stud of the UAE, and is being prepped for the March 2014 Dubai show, to be followed by the Menton, Aachen, and Paris shows. “The partners were ecstatic,” says Neil. “In addition to the record-breaking sum paid, for the next 15 years they have financial interests in breedings. We will be the exclusive agents for El Rasheem semen in North America, with 40 breedings per year for our use or to sell.” How did the men follow up on that success? With another solid hunch … this time on a young mare who was recently crowned 2013 U.S. National Champion Senior Mare. “I’ve been watching *Honey’s Delight RB (*JJ Señor Magnum x Honeymoon FHP by NV Sure Fire) since her 2012 win at the Brazilian Nationals,” says Jeff Sloan. “I inquired about buying her at the time and was told that she wasn’t for sale, but at the 2013 Las Vegas World Cup show, trainer Rodolfo Guzzo told me that she was available. “I recommended to Neil that she be the next one we take seriously and purchase. One thing led to another, and two months later she arrived at trainer Greg Gallún’s in Santa Ynez. She was everything we expected her to be and more.” But it wasn’t just the mare’s beauty or showring success that attracted them — her daughters, Esperanzza Al Ventur (by FA El Shawan) and Delight’s Divah RB (by Ajman Moniscione), had won 2012 Brazilian National Champion Junior Filly and 2012 Brazilian National Reserve Champion Junior Junior Filly, respectively. “It’s that feeling of knowing that the mare has a place in the world that goes way beyond the simple blue ribbon in the ring,” says Jeff. “Certainly that’s reward enough, but to know that she’s not only going to win the breed’s biggest prizes in the showring, but be a contributor to the breed with her offspring for years to come creates a certain unique gravitas to the situation that only a very few horses in the entire breed command.” 123 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ JANUARY 2014
FA El Rasheem (FA El Shawan x Virtuosa MLR), the first purchase for Black Rock Arabians LLC — is now owned by Dubai Stud, UAE. The partners have retained breedings, so *Honey’s Delight will be bred to him in the future.
When *Honey’s Delight arrived from Brazil, her 2013 El Shawan filly had just been weaned. “She looked like a momma as opposed to her showgirl self,” says Greg. “It was great for the Bravermans, and Jeff and Rich, to see her upon her arrival, because even with her long Brazilian winter coat we all could see her excellence from the moment she stepped off the van.” “My wife Jeannie was sorry to see El Rasheem go,” says Neil. “But she really loves *Honey’s Delight. Honey is so personable and well-mannered. She just loves the attention and is so responsive — it’s almost like human-to-human communication.” With not much time to get her in shape and qualified for Nationals, Greg took *Honey’s Delight to the Region 3 show in early July. “It was a bit sooner than we would have wished, but it was the last Regional show on our calendar,” says Greg. “In spite of the fact that she was far from being in ideal show condition, she was named Regional Champion Mare, and qualified for Nationals. “Even as a newcomer to the U.S. National arena she didn’t let us down,” Greg adds. “She was victorious in her age division in a class that was super tough — I believe she scored 4.5 points higher than the Reserve Champion. In competition that included numerous National, Scottsdale, and World Cup Champions, we were over the moon with her statement win. “When Honey was named the U.S. National Champion Senior Mare it was a surreal moment. The level of competition and the dynamic of the mare finals were unforgettable. For a mare so young to be national champion in both Brazil and the U.S. is amazing. Then add to that, she is the dam of two international-winning fillies as well, all before her sixth birthday — well, it’s really incredible.” Honey’s provenance leads to the little city of Atibaia, a short drive north of São Paulo, Brazil. The area is well known for its flower and strawberry crops … and is now made even more famous by the products of Haras das Cascatas, a small stud run by sisters Alessandra and Adriana de Moura. “We are a small farm, with a small number of horses,” say Alessandra and Adriana. “Our father started to breed Half-Arabians in 1982, when we were young. In 1989 we lost our father, and my sister and I decided to live on the farm with our mother. It is so nice to stay near our horses and see the newborns just in time — it’s really amazing! We all love Arabians, and we are always talking with Dr. Nelson Moreira, our vet and a really special friend, about which stallions will be the best cross for our mares. “We are always looking for a beautiful Arabian, but with a lot of movement, presence, and long neck,” continue the sisters. “For us an Arabian horse must be recognizable from afar — he must have a lot of type.” The de Moura sisters bought Honey’s dam, Honeymoon FHP (by NV Sure Fire by *Aladdinn) 124 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ JANUARY 2014
*Honey’s Delight RB
Above: *Honey’s Delight RB, center, is pictured with two of her champion offspring after winning Champion Young Mare and Champion Produce of Dam at the 2012 Brazilian Nationals. Esperanzza Al Ventur (by FA El Shawan), left, was the Brazilian National Champion Junior Filly, and Delight’s Divah RB (by Ajman Moniscione), right, was Brazilian National Reserve Champion Junior Junior Filly. Honey’s Delight was bred by Adriana Espindola de Moura on the far right, along with Lygia Espinolda and Alessandra de Moura, pictured center. Honey’s and Esperanzza’s owners Camilla and Eduardo Gama, who owned her at the time of the win, are at left. Left: *Honey’s Delight RB in 2010 winning Brazilian Reserve Champion Young Filly.
about 15 years ago in a small auction, on the advice of Dr. Nelson. “Honeymoon FHP’s dam is AN Gazala CH (Sahibi x Regab), one of the most important mares for the legendary Brazilian farm Haras Capim Fino … and for Brazil,” they say. “She was famous for producing Yankee Flower’s FHP (by WH Northern Yankee), a gorgeous Brazilian National Champion … so Honeymoon comes from a great line. “Honeymoon has a long beautiful neck, body and attitude and *JJ Señor Magnum has a very beautiful face and a lot of a attitude, too. So we expected a great result, but *Honey’s Delight RB was more stunning than we could have imagined. “There was a lot of luck involved, too, because on the day of Honeymoon FHP’s insemination a lot of things went wrong — the motoboy was late, Honeymoon FHP fell and hurt her knees, some of the semen spilled on the floor — it was a crazy moment.
But it seems that nothing would stop *Honey’s Delight RB from coming to make history! “Throughout the years we have had a lot of great moments, but one of the most important was when *Honey’s Delight RB was 2012 Brazilian National Champion Young Mare with the highest score of the show. We couldn’t believe it when her two daughters won also. “Today we have a full sister of *Honey’s Delight RB named Honey’s Desire RB, a really special filly with many qualities to become a great, great mare, and two half sisters (by Magnum Psyche): Magnum Moonrose RB and Magnum Moonwish RB. We also have an embryo of Honeys Delight RB by Ajman Moniscione again, due next March.” By the time of her Brazilian National Championship, Honey was owned by Eduardo Gama of Arabes de Santa Ventura, because, as he explained, “My father was a breeder of Arabian horses in the 1980s and he told me that she was the most beautiful mare that
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Right: Esperanzza Al Ventur is now owned by Al Khaled Stud, Saudi Arabia, and in their ownership won 2013 All Nations Cup Gold Champion Junior Filly and Silver Champion Yearling Filly at the World Championships at Paris. Below: Delight’s Divah RB was sold to Alsayed Stud of Saudi Arabia and has since won the Bronze Yearling Filly at the Elran Cup in Belgium, Silver Yearling Filly at the UKIAHS show in the U.K., first place in her
class at the All Nations Cup in Aachen, Gold Yearling Filly at the King Abdul Aziz International Championships in Saudi Arabia, and Top Ten Yearling Filly at the World Championships at Paris.
he had ever seen in his life, and to complete it, her grandmother, AN Gazala, was a mare who was considered in her day to be invincible in the ring and a very good mother. “What I like most about Honey is her amazing charisma … the way that she walks, her eyes like deep pools, and especially how sweet she is,” says Eduardo. “I have a yearling daughter from her called Emozione Al Ventur by FA El Shawan. She will be in the ring this year and I’m sure she will be as amazing as her mother. I have received offers from important breeders but she is not for sale. “*Honey’s Delight RB is a beautiful part of our history — after all, I asked my wife to marry me in her stables — and I’m glad to know that we are a part of her history too.” Meanwhile, Neil and the Sloans have formed a new partnership — Masterpiece Arabian Partners LLC — that includes Honey, along with another mare, JJ Astounding Echo, who is in foal to El Rasheem. “We have six partners in her ownership; most of them were in the Rasheem partnership,” explains Neil. “These financial partners are business associates of mine; not horse people … yet! But it’s really growing and it seems as though everybody in Naples, Florida, knows about El Rasheem. I get calls from friends saying, ‘Why didn’t you call me?’ “We’re taking Honey to Scottsdale, not to show, but we’ll have a private showing and cocktail party at Pomeroy Arabians’ facility, which Greg Gallún has leased for this year’s show, and we may make a select few embryos available.” 126 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ JANUARY 2014
“Honey is so complete, so correct, and impressive — a big and elegant mare who is just extraordinary everywhere,” adds Jeff. “Some of the best breeders in the world have contacted us to buy her embryos. But we really want to keep most of them to use in our own program.” Never men to rest on their laurels, Neil and the Sloans are pursuing the purchase of other world-class Arabians. They recently added a 2013 Versace colt named Conquest BR, out of a Padrons Psyche daughter. “He’s amazing,” says Jeff. “You’ll see him at Scottsdale. Although he’s only a yearling, he has the look and conformational quality, as well as a world class pedigree — everything it takes to be the next big deal.” With the partnerships gaining strength, great strides have also been made this year at Neil and Jeannie Braverman’s Harrison, Idaho, ranch, where some 20 Arabians now reside. “Our ranch is now an approved site for shipping and storage of frozen semen, and we’ve finalized a deal with Select Breeder Services to be their Northwest representative,” Neil says. “So we’re well on the way to being a first-class equine reproductive center.” We asked Neil how he’d gauge the success of his Arabian enterprises thus far and he said, “We are more than on track to achieve our goals. It’s been quite a year, and yes, our lives have changed … in a good way. I remember after Honey’s win at Tulsa, we partied back at Greg’s stalls for almost two hours. Honey just stood there in the middle of it all, soaking up the attention. It was quite a testament to the Arabian disposition.” Since Tulsa, Honey’s been enjoying some down time. “She has many things yet to do, but for now she is soaking up the California sun,” says Greg. “We could not be more thrilled for all the partners in *Honey’s Delight, and we commend Neil Braverman and the Sloans for the bold move to acquire her. We are honored to be a part of her story.” When we last spoke with Jeff and Rich in these pages, they expressed their desire to ignite a passion for the Arabian breed in new enthusiasts and to play a part in moving the breed forward, both through their own Aria Arabians and subsequent partnerships. With the unfolding El Rasheem story, bold new acquisitions yet to be announced, as well as the promise of mares like *Honey’s Delight, one could be forgiven for wondering if Neil’s and the Sloans’ vision for the breed knows any bounds.
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Neil Braverman and the Sloans recently purchased the 2013 Versace colt Conquest BR, out of a Padrons Psyche daughter.
*Honey’s Delight RB enjoying some down time soaking up the California sun in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Masterpiece Arabian Partners LLC
380 N. Old Woodward Avenue · Suite 290 · Birmingham, MI 48009 · USA
Jeff Sloan 248.766.2903 jeff@blackrockarabians.com
Neil Braverman 239.821.5454 neil@blackrockarabians.com
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Rich Sloan 248.766.2905 rich@blackrockarabians.com