ARABIAN HORSE WORLD L E G E N D. L I F E . L U X U R Y.
HERE'S TO THE ARABIAN SPORT HORSE
01/02 20
AbsolutelyArabians … B el i e v e I n Yo u r D re a m s ! by Barb Suvaka After being retired from showing for three years, the handsome black stallion Tuxedo Thyme ABA, aka “Tux,” pictured above, returned to the Sport Horse Nationals in 2019 and won his fifth National Championship in Sport Horse In-hand Dressage Type, shown by David Conner. His proud breeder and owner, Barb Suvaka, Caledonia, Wisconsin, shares his story.
I
could not be more proud of this beautiful boy and all he has accomplished — not only in the showring but also as a sire. I never in my wildest dreams planned on owning a stallion, much less one that is black and as awesome as Tux! My journey started back in 1993 when I bought his dam SMA Alad Khelima (Alad Khemofix x Aldebaran Scarlet) from an ad in the Milwaukee Journal Newspaper. I was just planning to have a couple of Arabians to enjoy again, since I had gotten out of horses when I went to college. Little did I know that this mare would have such an impact on my life. When I think about my journey with Tuxedo Thyme ABA (Pyro Thyme SA x SMA Alad Khelima), there are many things that stand out, beginning with his birth in 2004. I was at work and I had a neighbor keeping an eye on things. She called me right away about the foal, but I had to attend a meeting before I could come home, so needless to say, I was pretty distracted. I rushed home to find this beautiful colt that was a greyish color. I had never seen a
black foal, so I called my trainer at the time, Mike Neal, and he told me, “You have a black.” That was a total surprise. Tux’s show career began when he was a yearling, and by the time he was 11 years old in 2015, he had accumulated 16 National titles, four of which were National Championships (AHA and USEF) and 44 Regional titles across four different AHA Regions. When Tux was four we started his under-saddle work with KYB Dressage. A working student at the time, Endel Otts, was charged with Tux, and he believed that Tux was very talented and that he would shine at the upper levels. Looking back I’m amazed at the insight Endel had with Tux. He was right. In 2010, Jamie Lawton came into Tux’s life. Jamie figured him out right away, they clicked. Jamie had never shown before so Tux was his first show horse. Together, they excelled in everything and quickly started winning in dressage, sport horse show hack and sport horse in-hand. In 2013 we entered our first Sport Horse Nationals in Virginia, where Tux won his first National Championship in Sport Horse In-hand ATH. It was so sweet being named as the owner, breeder and handler of my National Champion Stallion. Plus my husband came to that show, which he seldom does, so he got to be there for this experience. Later in 2013 Tux also won USEF National Champion Horse of the Year – Arabian Dressage FEI Combined Level. Tux and Jamie progressed to FEI Level Dressage and continued to win at local and regional shows. Sport Horse
ARABIAN SPORT HORSES > 1 < WORLD
TOP LEFT: TUXEDO THYME ABA (PYRO THYME SA x SMA ALAD KHELIMA BY ALAD KHEMOFIX). SOME OF HIS GET ARE PICTURED ON THESE PAGES. TOP MIDDLE: TUXEDO N LACE ABA (x MIAKODA C), 2019 FILLY OWNED BY KAITLYN MATRANGA. TOP RIGHT: VELVET TUXEDO (x SUN-KIST MEKISHA), 2017 MARE, EXPORTED TO KUWAIT. BOTTOM LEFT: DIAMOND TUXEDO (x BLACK SATIN SF), 2015 GELDING OWNED BY VICKI EBERSOLE PEREZ. BOTTOM RIGHT: KROWN ROYAL THYME ERS, A 17.3 HAND GELDING OUT OF THE DUTCH WARMBLOOD MARE GOBSMACKED ERS. HE WAS A 2018 AND 2019 CHAMPION HALF-ARABIAN GELDING AT THE DEVON DRESSAGE SHOW.
Nationals in 2014 and 2015 were fun — Tux was Top Ten in every class he entered. He was also in the top three or four both years in-hand, and he won USEF National Champion Horse of the Year – Arabian Dressage FEI Combined Level both years and Champion USDF All Breeds Arabian for both Prix St. George and Intermediare 1 Level. Tux is the only Arabian stallion that I am aware of who has lifetime licenses with four Warmblood Societies (Westfalen German Riding Pony, German Oldenburg Verband, Oldenburg North America and International Sporthorse, American Warmblood Society and Sporthorse Registry), a tribute to his conformation and athletic ability. He is one of very few stallions that has competed at the FEI Level of Dressage and he is the only black Arabian stallion to have achieved the AHA Legion of Masters and Legion of Excellence awards. He is also a Scottsdale Signature Stallion Sire and the top-winning son of multi-National Champion stallion Pyro Thyme SA. When I heard that the 2019 Sport Horse National show was coming to Crete, Illinois, only two hours from home, I decided to bring Tux back out. I had a lot of fun getting
him back together with Jamie and doing the Musical Freestyle Dressage Exhibition at the show. Jamie did a fantastic job of getting Tux ready. In addition, I showed Tux in Sport Horse In-hand ATH and he came very close to a championship. That’s when I decided to ask my good friend, David Conner, to show Tux in the Sport Horse In-hand Dressage Type open class which was on the last day of the show. David had been a fan of Tux’s for a while now but had never met him in person until we were in Crete. He was impressed with Tux’s beauty and agreed to handle him. “I saw him when he was National Champion ATH Stallion with Barb,” says David. “At that time I didn’t know Barb, but I thought Tux was absolutely beautiful and admired him from the rail. “It was a spur of the moment decision to have me handle Tux in the stallion class. I connected with him in his stall the day before the class. I went in there and loved on him, we got to know each other. I schooled him for the first time right before the class and he just clicked right in and I didn’t have to do anything else. I just said, ‘OK, we’re good.’ We went in and it was perfection. He did everything I asked of him. He acted like he’d been in training with me all of his life. He was just amazing. He played off of my energy so well. He’s a professional. I liked what he was doing and he liked what I was doing. Apparently the judges did, too, in a deep class of 22 stallions. “I believe that Tux could be a main ring halter horse,” continues David. “I’ve actually tried to convince Barb to let me show him in main ring. After all, his sire is one of the
ARABIAN SPORT HORSES > 2 < WORLD
winningest halter stallions, and Tux is beautiful. I’ve been trying to get more halter-minded people to breed to him. I have a black filly by Tux that is out of a halter-bred mare by Nations PSY. The filly is absolutely a main ring halter contender. She would probably have a hard time competing at Sport Horse just because she’s so turned on all the time. It was my goal to get this foal on the ground to show that this multi-National Champion Sport Horse can sire main ring halter horses as well. I am so impressed by Tux’s dressage career. I watched him over the years and I was so happy to see him do his freestyle this year. He’s pretty darn cool.” Winning this class was the best possible end to the show season for Tux and me. And as much as I’d love to see Tux in the main ring, I’d rather have him go out at the top. He’s done everything I’ve asked of him in his 16 years. Five of his foals were at the 2019 Sport Horse Nationals with him — it was so special to meet their owners in person and then watch them show. Three Tux get went home with Top Tens. After Nationals, Tux’s four-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding won a second Championship in the Half-Arabian class at the Devon Dressage show; he had won this same class in 2018. Tux’s foals have great conformation, beauty and intelligence. He is proving to be very consistent in siring great legs, hips, shoulders, necks, short classic heads, wonderful athleticism and great minds. I am so proud of him. I love this horse and am so grateful to have him in my life. We’ve had an amazing journey so far and I’m excited to see what the future holds for us and his foals and their owners. Owning a stallion is a challenge, but it’s also one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I’m amazed at how many people know who Tux is and how many followers he has. Still, as accomplished as he is, I still occasionally hear
TOP LEFT: TUXEDO
ROSE MFA (X BASMAH BINT SONIETA), 2016 MARE, OWNED BY MARTHA SKAPOF.
TOP RIGHT: FOUR
OF FIVE TUX GET SHOWN AT THE 2019 SPORT HORSE NATIONALS, FROM LEFT TO
RIGHT: PATCH N THYME (X FOLLOW MY HEART), 2018 HALF-ARABIAN, OWNED BY JAN SHARP; DESTINY N THYME (X DB SAHARA JULL), 2017 FILLY, OWNED BY TWYLA HIATT RAY; THYME FOR ROSES (X SCA E-TERNAL ANGELL), 2017 FILLY, OWNED BY DONALD AND ANJANETTE WILLIBY; AND TUXEDOS CROWN JEWEL (X SUN-KIST MEKISHA), 2017 FILLY, OWNED BY FAY M. ROSS. MIDDLE LEFT: THYME TRAVELLER MFA (X THEE ARIELLA), 2016 COLT, OWNED BY MARTHA SKAPOF. MIDDLE RIGHT: TUXEDO
THYME ABA WITH DRESSAGE TRAINER JAMIE LAWTON.
BOTTOM: NIGHTHYME REVELRY (X ENDEAVOR TO PERSEVERE), 2019 BLACK COLT, OWNED BY KEELEY WATERS.
people say that they love Tux and would consider breeding to him if he wasn’t a “Sport Horse.” This always stuns me to realize that there are still many people who think Sport Horses aren’t of the same caliber as “Main Ring” horses. Horses should not be pigeon-holed based on what they or their parents have shown in. Maybe it’s time to open our minds as to what Sport Horse is all about and how those qualities can help any horse perform better in any division. After all, the definition of Dressage is 'the training of a horse to perform special carefully controlled movement . . . Doesn’t that sound like what we all want with our horses? Whatever you do though, have fun with your horses and Believe In Your Dreams… Arabians will take you there if you let them.
ARABIAN SPORT HORSES > 3 < WORLD
Believe In Your Dreams... Offered For Your Consideration
Thymeless Dance
(Tuxedo Thyme ABA++++// x Danza Bella by Nations PSY)
2019 BLACK Filly
C O N TA C T OW N E R S
David Conner connertraining@gmail.com (443) 206-1661
or
ARABIAN SPORT HORSES > 4 < WORLD
Barb Suvaka bsuvaka@yahoo.com (262) 880-1943
//
MY LIFE WITH
THE ARABIAN HORSE: DAVID CONNER A key tenant of David Conner's training approach is the belief that every horse has a unique personality and ability set. “I strive to develop each horse with thought and care,” he says. “Every horse deserves to be happy and reach their full potential in whatever they are comfortable doing.” This philosophy has garnered David multiple National Championships, Supreme National Championships, Regional Championships, and Egyptian Event Championships. Most recently David showed the 2019 U.S. National Sport Horse Champion Stallion Tuxedo Thyme ABA (Pyro Thyme SA x SMA Alad Khelima), Legion of Masters and Legion of Excellence, for Barb Suvaka. We caught up with David after Sport Horse Nationals to find out how the Arabian horse captured his heart.
Q. W H AT WA S YO U R
gaze at all the mares in the pastures and go ARABIAN HORSES? through her stallion A N D H OW D I D YO U K N OW barn – it became an T H AT T H I S B R E E D obsession for me. B E L O N G E D I N YO U R L I F E ? When I was 11 years old my parents bought I was born with that At this year’s Sport Horse Nationals David won both National me my first Arabian horse gene. My parents Champion Half-Arabian Yearling Colt/Gelding and National mare, Winsom Memory had no interest in Reserve Champion Half-Arabian Yearling Colt/Gelding in the (Al-Marah Memory x horses. Once, as a small same class. At left is National Reserve Champion FINNEAS RZ (Finery x Desired Millicent), and at right is National Champion Shurwin by Winraff). child, I was in a Toys “R” NUMERO UNO MFA (Uno Don Diego x Thee Ariella). Both She was 100% Crabbet, Us store and saw a are sired by Warmblood stallions and out of straight bred by Friendship Breyer set of an Arabian Egyptian mares. Farms. horse family. I still have I have her daughter, her daughter’s daughter, the picture from when I was four years old on and she's in foal right now for the fourth Christmas getting those Breyer horses. From then generation. on, whenever I was asked what I wanted to be, the Arabians are like art to me. That’s why I have a answer was “An Arabian horse trainer.” passion for breeding. Because breeding Arabians is It was a veterinarian who got me into Arabian like manifesting your vision ... they are born looking horses. She was my parents’ dog vet and also an like living art. Arabian breeder. I would walk around her farm and I N T R O D U C T I O N TO
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// Q : D O YO U S H OW H O R S E S U N D E R S A D D L E A S W E L L?
I took riding lessons at a dressage barn when I was a kid, and that love of riding has stayed with me. The core basis of all my training stems from my dressage background. All of my sport horses in hand are trained with the expectation that they will go into performance. But my career right now has changed focus because of the success that I’ve enjoyed in halter and sport horses. That said, I have a couple of performance horses in training. Q. D O S P O R T H O R S E S G E T T H E R E S P E C T T H E Y D E S E RV E I N O U R B R E E D ? I F N O T, W H Y D O YO U T H I N K T H I S I S ?
“My mare ENCHANTED MEMORY (VA Sirius x Winsom Memory). She is the first horse I ever bred and is out of my first horse I got as a kid,” says David.
TOP:
“My goal with my personal stallion PALIDOR C (Mirage V x MP Cheressa) is to prove that he can sire freaky, exotic, international quality beauty,” says David. “Beth Conti, the owner of Mirage V, sent him to me as a yearling for training. When he got off the trailer I gasped. He looked like the horse that embodied my type – VA Sirius (Imperial Imdal x VA Marlayna). I’ve never had a horse give me that feeling that Sirius did until I saw Palidor. He just stole my heart in that moment. A year later, I bought him. I just knew in my heart that he was my horse. He’s siring our most beautiful foals right now that are merging the two arenas."
MIDDLE:
A lot of people think of sport horse in-hand as trotting around a triangle. That’s not what it is. We are putting these horses in front of judges to appraise them as if they are going on to be performance stars. While I appreciate beauty, I believe in form to function and feel that all halter horses should have the ability to perform in other disciplines. Likewise, it’s important to me that the same horse can win in both main ring halter and sport horse in-hand. I have shown a National Champion Sport Horse who also went on to be a U.S. National Top Ten Stallion in the main ring. And at Regionals, I have run from the main ring after winning, to the stalls with the garland on, done a quick running braid, thrown a bridle on and won Champion Sport Horse at the same show with the same horse. I can’t think of many other trainers who do that. Q. D O YO U S E E A D I V I D E I N O U R B R E E D B E T W E E N T H E MAIN RING PEOPLE AND THE SPORT HORSE PEOPLE?
Yes, and I feel like it is my mission to address that divide. I will continue to show main ring halter and sport horse in-hand. And I will show them how I want them to be shown. I am not going to conform to what a popular trainer is doing in their main ring halter stand-up. I want the horse to be happy, and I think the prettiest horse is a happy horse. A sport horse is judged on their ability to perform under saddle because they are conformed correctly. And I think main ring halter horses should be judged the same way, otherwise, why are we breeding them? Q. H OW D O E S YO U R H A N D L I N G D I F F E R B E T W E E N T H E T WO C L AS S E S?
It differs a lot, and I train these horses to know the difference between how I run and how I present them. If I am showing a main ring halter horse I am much more flamboyant in the way I run. I even step higher. I make these noises,
BOTTOM: “DM PALIMARAH (Palidor C x Marah Nabila), is the first foal sired by my stallion Palidor C. Miller Pinson and I bred and own her.”
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// sometime I even snort at them. And they know that it’s time to pop their tail and be free and flamboyant and bounce, and they know that’s allowed. And then when I change my stride and change my energy, and put the bridle on, and put the braid in, they know to be quiet and show like a performance horse. Arabians absolutely do get that. Q. W H AT D O YO U E N J OY M O S T A B O U T S P O R T H O R S E CO M P E T I T I O N ? W H AT A DVA N TAG E S D O E S S P O R T H O R S E O F F E R A R A B I A N OW N E R S ?
Sport Horse has encouraged more amateurs to get involved. It has allowed owners to feel confident enough to want to handle their own horses. I always train my horses so that an amateur can handle them. Q. H OW D O YO U F E E L A B O U T T H E WAY A R A B I A N S A R E E X H I B I T E D I N T H E M A I N R I N G T O DAY ?
We’ve gone away from that beautiful show and moved into something that makes people cringe. The horses come in with their tails tucked – it’s not beautiful. The hard stance creates tension for the rest of their lives and they’re going to have to be adjusted by the chiropractor by the time they’re three years old. I choose not to conform. I want my horses to show like they are giving me their all, and that they want to show for me. I focus more on my entrance than I do on the stand up. The entrance is what captivated me as a kid. Watching the stallions come in, snorting and blowing, with their tails over their backs, just blew me away. That’s what inspired me to paint as a child. And that’s what I want to paint today. That beautiful fairytale Arabian horse. I want to convey that look in my halter horses. I try to hog it up a little in my entrances. That’s what people want to see. That’s exciting. I train my horses to be confident in themselves and to be confident in me, so that they can have their best show. Q. WHAT DO YOU DO TO KEEP YOUR HORSES HAPPY IN TRAINING?
I play with them. I allow them to get happy. Like when they feel confident and get inspired to be beautiful, instead of shanking them and disciplining them for their natural desire to snort and blow, I go with them, I’ll snort with them and run around and they think it’s fun. When they see that in-gate, I snort at them. I don’t even need to bag them up. The second I snort at them, the tail goes over the back and we go trotting. It’s all about the beauty of happy horses, and training inspired by a love for the horse.
“AA CAVALLI (Ibn Nitaya x Bint Bint Aminaa) was my first National Champion. He also just so happened to be a straight Egyptian colt, which as you know is a major feat!”
TOP:
LADY AISLINN (Sir Sinclair x CV Aislinnbeya), left, who was 2014 Sport Horse National Champion Half-Arabian Yearling Filly and 2015 Sport Horse National Champion Half-Arabian Two-Year-Old Filly, and FURSTAFIRE (Furst Impression x Afirelight), right, 2015 Sport Horse National Champion Half-Arabian Two-Year-Old Gelding and Supreme National Champion Two-Year-Old.
MIDDLE:
Kishmir MFA (UB40 x Thee Ariela) was 2017 Sport Horse National Champion HalfArabian Two-Year-Old Gelding and also Supreme National Champion Two-Year-Old! Notably, Kishmir MFA is sired by a Warmblood stallion and out of a straight Egyptian dam.
BOTTOM:
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MIRAGE V ++++// x MP CHERESSA
We are very proud to of fer this lovely 2018 filly DM
PA L I M A R A H
PALIDOR C x MARAH NABILA BREEDERS SWEEPSTAKES NOMINATED
2020 STUD FEE: $1,500.00 MULTIPLE MARE DISCOUNTS BREEDERS SWEEPSTAKES NOMINATED SIRE
Owned by and Standing at:
DAVID CONNER TRAINING 443.206.1661 CONNERTRAINING@GMAIL.COM WWW.DAVIDCONNERTRAINING.COM
BELLAGIO RCA x THEE LOTUS MAZIN
Full brother to 2x ANBF Gold Champion F illy in Scottsdale, Bella Mazin
2020 INTRODUCTORY STUD FEE 2013 STRAIGHT EGYPTIAN AL KHAMSA STALLION TESTED HOMOZYGOUS FOR THE BLACK GENE
Proudly bred and owned by Maiden Chase Arabians Standing at:
DAVID CONNER TRAINING 443.206.1661 CONNERTRAINING@GMAIL.COM WWW.DAVIDCONNERTRAINING.COM
photos and ad design by suzanne
- HE CANNOT PRODUCE CHESTNUT
MORRI SI ENNA FARM ARABIANS
INVISION MFA (*Al Ayal AA x Gaia TF by The Sequel RCA) 2017 Straight Egyptian bay colt
2019 SCOTTSDALE CHAMPION INTERNATIONAL ARABIAN BREEDER STRAIGHT EGYPTIAN JUNIOR MALE UNANIMOUS 2018 EGYPTIAN EVENT JUNIOR GOLD CHAMPION AND MOST CLASSIC HEAD BRED AND OWNED BY
MARTHA AND WI LLIAM SKAPOF MORRISIENNA FARM ARABIANS, PA Ted Carson · Contact Ted Carson, ted@tedcarson.com, 910-876-7332 or Martha Skapof, mskapof@hotmail.com, 302-743-6231
TRAINED, SHOWN BY, AND STANDING WITH
A R A B I A N S P O R T H O R S E S > 10 < W O R L D
SUZANNE PHOTO
SUZANNE PHOTO
PRESENTS FOR YOUR CONS I DERATION. . .
NUMERO UNO MFA (Uno Don Diego x Thee Ariella by Thee Infidel) 2018 Half-Arabian/Half-Warmblood gelding, registered KWPN
SUZANNE PHOTO
2019 SPORT HORSE NATIONAL CHAMPION HALF-ARABIAN BREEDERS SWEEPSTAKES YEARLING COLT/GELDING
TRAINED AND SHOWN BY
2019 REGION 15 CHAMPION HALF-ARABIAN SHIH YEARLING COLT/GELDING BRED AND OWNED BY
MARTHA AND WI LLIAM SKAPOF MORRISIENNA FARM ARABIANS, PA
David Conner · Contact David Conner, connertraining@gmail.com, 443-206-1661 A R A B I A N S P O R T H O R S E S > 11 < W O R L D
Harmonious Conformation, Athletic ability and diversity of pedigree, Blend to create a colt for the next generation!
Misty Star Arabians presents for your consideration
MAKHNIFICENT KA X MISTY STAR MSA BY *MISHAAL HP
2018 STRAIGHT EGYPTIAN COLT
Bred & Owned by Misty Star Arabians FOR INQUIRIES CONTACT: DAVID CONNER CONNERTRAINING@GMAIL.COM 443.206.1661
HY WYNDS+ (HG Esquire+ x Ty Lillie Bey) 2006 stallion 6-time National Top Ten and multiple Regional Championships 2020 stud fee: $1000
SUNRISE WYNDS (Hy Wynds+ x FYF Sunrise Suprise) 2019 Sport Horse National Reserve Champion Breeders Sweepstakes Half-Arabian Sport Horse Yearling Filly Available for purchase
ALSO AVAILABLE:
THYME FOR ROSES (Tuxedo Thyme ABA++++// x WCA E-ternal Angell) 2017 chestnut mare 2019 Region 15 Champion Sport Horse Mare In-hand Dressage Type Full Westfalen passport, inspected and approved
OWNED BY WINDY CREEK ARABIANS
Donald & Angie Williby Henderson, NC
252-915-0250, Angie 252-425-7092, Don
williby89@charter.net www.windycreekarabians.com
A R A B I A N S P O R T H O R S E S > 13 < W O R L D
S
Nationals Su e s r o H c t ces r o s p
Sshalimar
(Sshameless++ x Hey Starz Afire) 2016 Reserve Champion Yearling Fillies In-hand 2017 Champion 2-Year-Old Fillies In-hand 2018 Reserve Champion Mares Hunter Type ATH
Lozen DDA
(Vitorio TO x Hey Starz Afire) 2018 Top Ten Yearling Fillies In-hand 2019 Champion 2-Year-Old Fillies In-hand
Available for Purchase — making room for future Champions
Owned and Bred by Lea Whitis Desert Diamond Arabians
Trained and Shown by John M. Joyner, Jr. • Joyner Arabians 915-276-5471 • jjhorsetrainer2@gmail.com
Training spaces available for future Champions in 2020 A R A B I A N S P O R T H O R S E S > 15 < W O R L D
Tuxedo Thyme ABA and Jame Lawton.
CONTACT:
BARBARA SUVAKA ABSOLUTELY ARABIANS 4030 W. 6 1/2 Mile Road, Caledonia, Wisconsin 53108 Cell 262.880.1943
T R A I N ED BY:
Davd Conner Tranng Cell 443.206.1661 www.davidconnertraining.com
DESIGNED AND PRODUCED BY ARABIAN HORSE WORLD · 1/20
TUXEDO THYME ABA (Pyro Thyme SA x SMA Alad Khelma) wth Barb Suvaka and Davd Conner