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ARABIAN HORSE WORLD
CONTENTS M A R C H
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N U M B E R
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AROUND THE WORLD 29th International Week of the Arabian Horse, Uruguay, by Cindy Reich ................................. 136 Middle East Championships, by Majid Alsayegh ....................................................................... 141 Israeli National Championship Show, by Arlene Magid-Williams .............................................. 144 FLORIDA Arabian Horse Association of Florida 2010 Membership Directory (“F” refers to placement withing the Florida Directory, beginning on page 63) AHAF 40th Annual Thanksgiving Arabian and Half-Arabian Horse Show, by Nancy Ryan ................................................................... 6F AHAF Purebred and Half-Arabian Futurity Rules ........................................................... 28F Florida Breeders and Trainers ........................................................................................... 30F AHAF 2010 Membership Application ............................................................................. 32F AHW ’s Heritage Breeder: The Sauey Family of Nodoroma Farm, by Mary Jane Parkinson .............................................................. 34F AHAF Officers ................................................................................................................. 38F AHAF Index of Advertisers .............................................................................................. 39F GENERAL Totally Tops 2009, introduction by Denise Hearst ................................................................ 40 Totally Tops Profiles ........................................................................................................... 52 AHW ’s Heritage Horse: Emenee, by Mary Jane Parkinson ............................................... 104 Shada — In the Red Zone ............................................................................................... 110 Southeast Breeders and Trainers.................................................................................................. 133 A Gift from the Desert: The Art, History, and Culture of the Arabian Horse .......................... 152 Arabian Horse World’s 2010 Stallion Directory II ..................................................................... 182 D E PA R T M E N T S What in the World — The Day the Dog Changed the Conversation, by Denise Hearst ............6 AHW Web Site Table of Contents ............................................................................................... 10 Let Arabian Horse World Design Your Web Site......................................................................... 16 Arabian Horse World’s Scottsdale Coverage in April ............................................................ 62 AHW ’s Special Edition. ............................................................................................................. 131 The Official Pyramid Report in May ......................................................................................... 137 Las Vegas Show Preview and Contenders in April ..................................................................... 151 Stud Farm Diaries: A Founder Episode — For Want of a Shoe, by Cindy Reich ....................... 160 At the Waterhole ......................................................................................................................... 164 The Arabian Gulf in June ........................................................................................................... 169 Arab Year ..................................................................................................................................... 170 Classified Ads (Opportunities).................................................................................................... 174 The Polish Issue in June .............................................................................................................. 178 Arabian Horse World Digital Subscriptions....................................................................... 179 For Sale/At Stud Directory ......................................................................................................... 180 The Official Pyramid Report in May ............................................................................... 194 Map and Index of Advertisers ..................................................................................................... 196 Upcoming Issues ......................................................................................................................... 198 COVER: The 2006 stallion Brixx IA (*Gazal Al Shaqab x Bella Versace by Versace), owned by Christine Bruce and John Hilliard, Lompoc, California. See story on page 110. Photo by Javan Schaller. PHOTOS FROM TOP: Page 40, page 141, page 152, page 6F, page 34F.
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and so much more!
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ARABIAN HORSE WORLD 800.955.9423 or 805.771.2300 info@arabianhorseworld.com w w w. a r a b i a n h o r s e w o r l d . c o m 62 6 ARABIAN HORSE WORLD 6 MARCH 2010
A R A B I A N
H O R S E
Publisher Editor and Sales Manager Editor Sales Associates Art Director Art Production
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W O R L D
Denise P. Hearst Lynn Anderson Mary Jane Parkinson Robin Cloward, Wendy Flynn Melanie K. Davis Leigh Brandt, Louise Herndon, Elizabeth Howard, John Johnson, Jamie Kirkland, Kirsten Mathieson, Sannie Ricasata, Janet Van Hoorebeke Rhonda Hall Gary Gannon Douglas Tatelman Steve Andersen, Betty Finke, Joanne Fox, Nancy Ryan, Cindy Reich
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Copyright Š2010 by Source Interlink Magazines, LLC. All rights reserved. Arabian Horse World is a Source Interlink Media, LLC Publication Reproductions of contents, either whole or in part, not permitted without written consent of publisher. Address all advertising and subscription related queries to: ARABIAN HORSE WORLD 1316 Tamson Drive, Suite 101 , Cambria, CA 93428 Phone: (800) 955-9423 or (805) 771-2300, Fax: (805) 927-6522 www.arabianhorseworld.com s info@arabianhorseworld.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES (NO REFUNDS): All residents of the U.S. and possessions $40 per year, $59.95 for two years. Canadian $72 per year ($128 two years) in U.S. funds. Foreign $88 per year ($160 two years), bank draft in U.S. funds must accompany order. For all subscription information contact 1-800-955-9423. Send new subscription and change of address information to Arabian Horse World, 1316 Tamson Drive, Suite 101, Cambria, CA 93428. RENEWALS: Send to Arabian Horse World, 1316 Tamson Drive, Suite 101, Cambria, CA 93428. Allow six weeks for processing. ARABIAN HORSE WORLD’S WORLDWIDE WEB ADDRESS: s HTTP WWW ARABIANHORSEWORLD COM s % MAIL SHOULD BE SENT TO INFO ARABIANHORSEWORLD COM Arabian Horse World reserves the right to edit all written materials submitted for publication. Printed in the USA Any submissions or contributions from readers shall be subject to and governed by Source Interlink Media’s User Content Submission Terms and Conditions, which are posted at http://privacy. sourceinterlinkmedia.com/submissions.html In the January issue, “German Stallion Registration Show� article page 226, second paragraph: the homebred Taymar is a fouryear-old son of the Canadian-bred straight Egyptian Kyro KA. In the February issue, “2009 World Championships, Salon du Cheval,� article page 88, winner of First Place Stallions FourYears-Old and Older Eden C is owned by Dona Bellinger, Paonia, California, and on lease to Athba Stud, Saudi Arabia.
6 6 ARABIAN HORSE WORLD 6 MARCH 2010
WHAT IN THE
WORLD
The day the dog changed the conversation by Denise Hearst
I
t’s been raining. And raining. Here in California we’re not used to the weather getting in our way. The brooding sky. The blown-off roof shingles and branches everywhere. The mud. I’m out of sorts. Inside the house, I pace like a cat, blocked from the activities I rely on to keep myself exercised and sane. It’s the kind of weather that makes me dwell on love and loss and all kinds of dark things. And my old rubber boots are cracked and my socks are soaked. The manure cart is so heavy ‌ I fiddle around in the barn. I braid JJ’s lovely white mane when it rains because he likes to roll in the black clay mud. And I had to have Copper shod all around last week. His hooves got so soft, and the red rock I brought into his pen sanded his hind hooves down to little nubs. Another $100 shoeing that’ll maybe see one trail ride. See what I mean? It’s not pretty around here. I don’t know how you people in the north cope. Please e-mail me your tips before we go slowly mad. Seriously, I mean it. It hasn’t been easy on Rio either. You try living with a 20-month-old Aussie who hasn’t burned it off in a few days. Still, Rio is trying to show me how much fun we can have playing soccer with the Jolly Ball in the mud, splashing in the new pools where there were never pools before, swimming in the freely flowing creeks that maybe only flow for like a minute every few years. We practice our agility start-line stays when I open the barn door — a super great game if your name is Rio because there are rabbits under the hay pallets that must be flushed and chased. He keens a little but holds that stay, because he’s learned that the release itself is a huge reward. We also practice down stays in the fresh shavings while I brush out manes and tails, a soft rain falling on the tin roof.
Rio.
The horses let me know that the shedding blade feels really good, and that they like it when my hands are on them. See, they seem to say, we don’t have to ride, we can just be like this, chatting about stuff in the barn. Rio and I walk to the mailbox and say to heck with the mud, that’s what hoses are for. And dog towels. Home at last, light the woodstove (quickly before it’s dark because there’s no electricity!) and watch as the warm glow fills the house. Fix some dinner on the grill, pour a glass of wine, a book, a mellow, wholly satisfied dog at my feet.
Slowly, Rio’s message begins to sink in: let’s enjoy the bounty we have, and not waste a second of this beautiful life thinking about what we don’t have. Good boy, Rio.
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At the
Waterhole The Latest Scoop
New AHA Sweepstakes Premier Breeders Program Promises Big Payouts in Halter and Performance
T
he Arabian Horse Association has announced a new program that promises to boost conventional Sweepstakes while providing an innovative way for Sweepstakes breeders to participate in cash payout programs in both halter and performance. The new “Premier Breeders Sweepstakes Series” will generate prize money for specified purebred and Half-Arabian classes at AHA-sponsored National and Regional shows. The first auction will be held at the 2010 U.S. Nationals, with the first prize money classes being held at the 2013 Regional and National shows. More than three years in the making, the Premier Breeders Sweepstakes is in an addition to the traditional Breeders Sweepstakes program, which has been a fixture at the Arabian National and Regional shows for many years. A unique feature of this new program is that the stallion owners enrolled in the Premier Breeders Sweepstakes can select whether the prize money will go to the halter or performance divisions — or both. Additionally, the new program will be open to HalfArabian as well as purebred classes. The program is an offshoot of the traditional Breeders Sweepstakes program: Mare owners bid on breedings to stallions enrolled in the Sweepstakes program through an auction, with resulting foals competing in subsequent years in National and Regional classes for money from the prize money pool. Exhibitors enrolled in Breeders Sweepstakes can participate in the additional program if they choose, similar to the Minnesota Medallion Stallion and Scottsdale Signature Program, where there’s an auction class and some additional performance classes. “We felt strongly that there were lots of halter programs out there but not many that do a good job of integrating performance horses into the mix,” says AHA Sweepstakes 164 6 ARABIAN HORSE WORLD 6 MARCH 2010
Commission Vice Chair and Program Co-Chair Dean Meier. “And to make a successful National program, you really need to involve the performance horses.” Meier explains, “If you nominate your horse for halter in the new program, the auction proceeds are going to go into the yearling halter classes, with about 75 percent of the prize money being paid out at the Regionals and the balance at the Nationals. The prize money that isn’t paid out at the Regional shows (due to horses that win a class but are not enrolled in the program) will roll into the National classes and help build those prize money pools. “The other thing unique about the new program is that exhibitors don’t have to travel to Scottsdale, Minnesota, or Iowa to participate — they can show their yearling halter horses in their own Region and earn significant payouts. The foals may have more than one chance to win money for their owners and breeders by going to multiple Regional shows — allowing them more than just one shot at the money.” He adds: “We’ve all seen people donate stellar performance horses into a halter Sweepstakes auction format to support the program and those breedings normally don’t sell well because there are very limited opportunities for performance horses to be a part of the program. But with the new series, there’s really no reason for a great performance sire to have a breeding sell for a low price because it’s predominantly halter futurity.
With the new series, people can support whichever division they prefer.” Prize money paid in performance classes will be paid out to four- and five-year-olds in the junior horse classes at U.S. Nationals and the Junior Sport Horse Under Saddle class at Sport Horse Nationals. To avoid competition with other performance futurities, AHA’s Premier Breeders Sweepstakes program payouts will only be offered to winners that are four- and five-year-old horses in these junior horse classes. The horses will have two opportunities to compete — and win money. Another unique feature of the program is that the person purchasing the breeding at the auction gets to decide which class the money goes to. “Foal owners considering entering the prize money classes for their four- or five-yearolds do not have to designate which class the funds will go to until December 31 of the two-year-old year,” notes Meier. “So the horse should at least have been worked or the owner should have an idea of where the talents of this horse lie. So, if I breed to a big-trotting stallion and I think I’m going to get a big-trotting foal — and I wind up with a horse that’s more suitable to be a hunter — I can designate this money to go into the junior hunter class and compete for the money. Or, if I am a strong supporter of the English discipline, I can designate the money for these classes to support the endeavors of breeders and exhibitors in those divisions.” Program organizers have worked out a program at the reining futurity to have these classes run in conjunction with the already established reining futurities at the U.S. Nationals. “Because these classes are scored, a horse might be third in the reining futurity and second in the Sweepstakes part of the class and be able to earn all that more,” Meier says. Another part of the program collects money for the same classes through an
additional prize money pool collected from mare nominations. The only foals eligible to receive prize money from this portion of the program are out of those mares that are bred to a stallion whose stallion service is sold through the auction. Mare owners don’t have to purchase the breeding at the auction to enable their foals to be eligible for this prize money. A mare owner who breeds to any stallion that sells through the auction can participate in this portion of the program and enroll the resulting foals in either the performance or halter divisions or both. Premier Breeders Sweepstakes prize money programs for racing and endurance are also being developed — more details will be available shortly. For more information, go to Arabianhorses.org and click on Premier Breeders Sweepstakes Series.
AHA Board of Directors Pass Fee Increases for Fiscal Year 2011
A
t its board meeting on January 29, the Board of Directors of the Arabian Horse Association voted unanimously to increase certain fees in an effort to strengthen the organization financially. The new fee increases take effect April 1, 2010. The Board approved a $2.00 per horse service fee increase bringing the total to be paid per horse to $3.00 at AHA-recognized shows. Also passed was a $5.00 to $10.00 increase to various award programs fees and increases of fees for Half-Arabian/AngloArabian transfer of recorded ownership ($10.00) and Purebred transfer of recorded ownership ($10.00). Fee increases to additional products and services will also be incorporated. “While fee increases of any kind are never popular, these actions will help position AHA to further weather the current economic times,” says AHA President Lance Walters. “On an extremely positive note, through ongoing financial efforts and controls, the interfund balance has been reduced by approximately $500,000 since midyear.”
Arabian Horse Association Fee Increases
2010
AHA Incentive Riding Programs Frequent Rider Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25 Open Event Incentive Program Recording Fee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10 Arabian Horse Magazine Member discounted 1-year subscription . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10 Horse Achievement Awards Initial enrollment fee/horse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $45 Annual renewal fee/horse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35 Amateur Achievement Awards Initial enrollment fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $45 Annual renewal fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35 Dressage Programs Open Show Qualifying Program Annual Enrollment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35 Open Show Qualification Program Annual Enrollment after 30 days. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $65 165 6 ARABIAN HORSE WORLD 6 MARCH 2010
2009 Free $3 N/A $35 $30 $35 $30
$30 $60
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Arabian Horse Association Fee Increases
(continued)
2010
USDA All Breed Awards/horse/year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25
2009 $20
USDF All Breed Awards/horse/year 30 days after first show. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35
$30
Dressage Rider Award Program/level. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $45
$35
Distance Horse Programs Enrollment/horse
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40
$35
Distance Awards Renewal/horse/year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35
$30
Open Qualification Program Open Show Qualification Program . . Annual Enrollment — other than Dressage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35
$30
Open Show Qualification Program Annual Enrollment after 30 days — other than Dressage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $65
$60
AHA-Recognized Event Calendars Nonmembers
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15
$10
Complaint filing fee for EPRB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $200
$100
Complaint filing fee for Judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25
$10
Returned check fee regardless of cause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60
$50
Miscellaneous Fees
Program transfer fee — horses not registered by AHA
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40
$35
Adult Competition Card with club affiliation — one year
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35
$35
Adult Competition Card without club affiliation — one year
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $65
$60
Adult Competition Card with club affiliation — three year
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $105
$105
Adult Competition Card without club affiliation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $195
$195
Youth Competition Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25
— three year
$25
Life Membership
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $650
Single Event Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35
$1,000 $30
Transfers for A/HA/AA Date of sale to 6 months — members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25
$15
Date of sale to 6 months — nonmembers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50
$40
After 6 months — members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50
$40
After 6 months — nonmembers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75
$65
Embryo/Oocyte Transfer for Purebred Arabian Horses Name change — members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250
$100
Name change — nonmember. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $275
$125
Show/Ride Recognition Fees Show fee/horse
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3
$1
Regional Endurance Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35
$20
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North American Anglo-Arabian Year End Award Winners
T
he North American Anglo-Arabian Horse Association (NAAAHA) has announced the winners of its 2009 High Point Program for AngloArabians competing in working hunter, jumper, eventing, dressage, sport horse, conformation, endurance, and competitive trail. All shows and rides, whether rated or unrated, counted toward these awards.
HUNTER/JUMPER Champion: One More Round/Bill and Alexis Doughty Reserve: Diamond Jim Kelly/Miranda Kuchera Third: R Jay Bakaro/Allan Ehrlick DRESSAGE Champion: Jamil/Mary Ann LaFerriere Reserve: Little Traverse Bay/Samantha Gioia Third: Hazen/Beth Coffey-Curle Fourth: Ashen Gazi/Dawn Cozzolino SPORT HORSE UNDER SADDLE Champion: One More Round/Bill and Alexis Doughty Reserve: Jamil/Mary Ann LaFerriere Third: Diamond Jim Kelly/Miranda Kuchera EVENTING Champion: Snooze Alarm/Lauren Kieffer Reserve: Nations Recount/Peter Atkins ENDURANCE/CTR Champion: JBK Tara/T. J. Edwards Reserve: Raemes Magician/Tom Paleczny Third: SS Allsfairn War/Susan Young CONFORMATION Champion: One More Round/Bill and Alexis Doughty Reserve: Khemos Khopi/John Albright Third: Mak My Day/Andrew Miller Fourth: Diamond Jim Kelly/Miranda Kuchera HORSE OF THE YEAR One More Round/Bill and Alexis Doughty
For more information, visit NAAAHA’s Web site, www.NAAAHA.com or call (410) 823-5579.
Passages Jim Sirbasku March 30, 1939 - February 23, 2010
Jim Sirbsku of Arabians Ltd., Waco, Texas.
A
rabians Ltd. recently announced the passing of Jim Sirbasku on Tuesday, February 23. He was 71. Jim will be remembered by the Arabian horse community as owner and operator of the world’s largest Egyptian-Arabian horse farm, Arabians Ltd. He was also hugely responsible for promoting the celebrated Egyptian sire Thee Desperado (The Minstril x AK Amiri Asmarr), with whom he had a special connection. Jim, along with his beloved wife of 50 years Judy, began their lives with horses in the late 1970s. They became acquainted with Egyptian Arabians and before long, developed their own breeding program, Rock Creek Arabians. Arabians Ltd. was created in the late 1980s with the purpose of “educating, servicing, and supporting young breeders,” and since then, has set the standard as one of the most successful Egyptian Arabian breeding programs in the world. Jim’s successful business career included many years at SMI (Success Motivation International), where he served for more than 20 years as a distributor and business executive. He later founded Profiles International, a worldwide corporation, serving as CEO until his death. He co-authored the book 40 Strategies for Winning in Business, and received numerous awards including SMEI’s prestigious Pinnacle Award for entrepreneurship and community growth, and the State Economic Round Table of Oklahoma’s Will Rogers Award. He
was inducted into the Sales Marketing Executives International Academy of Achievement’s Sales and Marketing Hall of Fame in 2002. He was co-Chairman of the Texas Air Expo in 1986 and served on the board of directors at the Dwyer Group for many years. One of America’s most enthusiastic speakers, Jim has addressed hundreds of audiences in the U.S. and abroad. He was a spokesman for the free-enterprise system and a mentor to many who have gone on to start their own businesses. An announcement from friends and family reads: “He brought out the best in all around him, as a motivator and supporter, and left everyone who met him better for having had the opportunity of knowing him. His smile was infectious and his hugs full of warmth and love.” A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Saturday, February 27, at St. Louis Catholic Church with the Msgr. Mark Deering as celebrant. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Reicher Catholic High School, 2101 North 23rd Street, Waco, TX 76708-3397, to the PKD Foundation (www. pkdcure.org) to support research for polycystic kidney disease or to Fuzzy Friends Rescue. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in a “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.
Leny J. Williams March 4, 1921 - November 29, 2009 Leny J. Williams astride *Cytrys (Trypolis x *Cissa), All Arabian Show, February 1967.
L
eny Johanna Williams, an accomplished equestrian who trained, showed, and judged Arabian horses for more than 35 years, passed away November 29 at the age of 88. Leny’s family immigrated to the U.S. from Holland in 1924 and settled in Pasadena, California. She was an avid sportswoman and raced sailboats in California before moving
167 6 ARABIAN HORSE WORLD 6 MARCH 2010
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to Arizona. Leny and her husband, Willis, opened an Arabian horse training stable in Scottsdale. Their clientele included Anne McCormick, Robert Aste, Ed Tweed, and the Clays. She was a top equitation instructor and assisted several of her students to win state championships. She also was an American Horse Shows accredited judge, and judged not only in the U.S. National Arabian Horse show, but also Arabian horse shows in England and Sweden. “I came to know Leny after she had retired from the horse business and her husband had died,” says good friend Craig
Taylor. “She also did a lot of volunteer work at the Scottsdale show when her health allowed her to — selling wherever she was needed. She liked being a part of the action and being around all the people. I am enjoying the show again this year but it’s bittersweet without her company — Scottsdale was a special event that we shared together every year for almost 20 years. She had a customized golf cart we would buzz around in because she couldn’t do a lot of walking. She would always want to stop and chat with people or wave at someone. I nicknamed her ‘The Duchess of Scottsdale.’”
Greener Pastures *HS Infinite April 29, 2004 - December 7, 2009 by Nancy Wight
O
n Monday, December 7, 2009, our lives changed forever. Our kind, beautiful, gentle giant *HS Infinite (Simeon Sadik x HS Infanta) went home to heaven. We lost him in a freak accident during routine training. While being worked by his beloved trainer Bryony, Infinite took a twisted step and shattered his pastern irreparably. *HS Infinite was one of the kindest stallions in the world and was loved devotedly by his human family — especially Bryony and myself. Although only five years old, he was a dream that spanned nearly two decades, with a perfect form with a perfect name and the smoothest-riding horse. Infinite could have gone to a bigger farm, with a bigger showing/marketing budget, and had a bigger harem and a larger staff — but he was the center of our world here at Rockin’ Heart Ranch. Never did a movie star have his locks more lovingly tended, his wants and needs more slavishly met. He had Bryony, and the mutual love that they shared was the stuff of legends. He was her first horse, her first love, and her first love lost. After his passing we returned to the farm, went up to the barn and told each one of his offspring that their lovely sire had gone to heaven to wait for them there. We blew into dainty muzzles a kiss from him, all with big luminous eyes and bigger trusting hearts. I took his halter to his friend Safar (they traveled together and seemed to like each other’s company, often calling out for one another when separated) and Safar sniffed his halter for a long time.
168 6 ARABIAN HORSE WORLD 6 MARCH 2010
Bryony Hatt Wight aboard *HS Infinite (Simeon Sadik x HS Infanta).
*HS Infinite changed our lives. It is bittersweet that most of his lovely foals will live in the Middle East. Although our memories of him and his two exotic black fillies winning the Get of Sire Class at the Egyptian Event and reportedly being the talk of the show are sweet, our fondest memories are of the simple joys of day-to-day life here on the farm with Infinite, where we enjoyed his charming company and his absolute love of people.
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