A R A B I A N
H O R S E
W O R L D
M A R C H
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A story of new Arabian horse enthusiasts — excerpted from the March 2015 edition of Arabian Horse World.
Aria
Starting at the Top How brand-new enthusiasts became owners of some of the
breed’s most elite
Arabian horses.
Pictured from left to right: Tony Shooshani, Neil Braverman, Norm Pappas, Jeff Sloan with his son Ryder, and Jamie Jacob.
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This page and facing page: Aria Athena (WH Justice x Jawharra by Thee Desperado), a 2014 filly, pictured at right with trainer Steve Heathcott.
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vents, circumstance, and really good timing have made newcomers Norm Pappas and Jamie Jacob owners of some of the Arabian breed’s top horses. After only six months they find themselves in partnership with Neil Braverman, Tony Shooshani, and Jeff Sloan as owners of RH Triana, Truest, Aria Quintessa, Aria Qatars Angel, and Aria Athena. The common element in this story is Jeff ’s role in bringing the people together, selecting the horses, and managing the show and breeding programs for the new partners. Norm Pappas, from Bloomfield, Michigan, has known Jeff for more than 20 years through mutual business activities. “Jeff is an interesting guy with terrific ideas and a tireless dedication to make them happen. A few months ago Jeff was in my office discussing a new venture. He got a call and said he needed a few minutes to take it — it was ‘important.’ I couldn’t help but hear him discussing an Arabian mare. When he hung up I asked him what it was all about, and by the end of our meeting I found myself part owner of my first Arabian horse — RH Triana!”
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At right: Aria Athena. Facing page: RH Triana (ROL Intencyty x Sylviah WLF by ATA Bey Starr), a 2010 black mare, has numerous U.S. National, Las Vegas World Cup, Scottsdale, and Regional championships.
Norm then shared the story with business associate and longtime friend Jamie Jacob. The contagious enthusiasm swept up Jamie, and he joined the partnership in Triana as well. Jeff then called Tony Shooshani, who had approached Jeff at the Arabian Breeders World Cup in Las Vegas last year about possible collaboration. Tony had already made a notable entry to the Arabian horse world by purchasing partial interest in U.S. National Champion Stallion Enzo with breeders Dr. Philip Del Pozzo and Brent Stone. Tony says, “I’ve been getting more and more into it, and I love it more and more. When I met Jeff we realized we had a shared vision for how to be successful in Arabian horses. Jeff has a lifelong base of experience and wisdom, passion, and a phenomenal record in owning or leasing and then managing some of the breed’s icons. “I believe if you are passionate about what you do, success will follow. I approached him at the Las Vegas Breeders World Cup last year and told him I’d love to do something together. I expressed my desire to breed and own the best, and we agreed that when opportunities arose, we’d collaborate. Jeff has a knack for finding great horses — he has a great eye. Since purchasing Triana, the pace of acquiring high quality horses has been brisk
and exciting. I love getting the call from Jeff that starts with him saying, ‘I’ve found something interesting ….’” “I knew Triana would appeal to Tony,” says Jeff. “She is one of those horses who is so distinctive that just the mention of her name evokes her image in one’s imagination. There is simply nothing like her.” Norm, having recently attended the Scottsdale show, now realizes just how important that call was a few months ago and how serendipitous it was that it happened in his office. “It became clear to me while at the Scottsdale show that Triana is all that Jeff said she was, and more. I loved my first Arabian horse show experience and how welcoming and congratulatory
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rhTriana
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people were in supporting our entry into the breed. Along with my partners Jamie and Tony, I feel incredibly fortunate to have this great mare as our first purchase. Jeff comes from a great family and has established an equally great new family of his own with his wife Andrea. My wife Susie and I are very proud to be part of their extended Arabian horse family.” Jeff also invited his partner and friend Neil Braverman to join the group. “Jeff has spearheaded our quest for the best horses we can find,” says Neil. “We’ve had spectacular success with such horses as FA El Rasheem, whom we sold to Dubai Arabian Stud; with *Honey’s Delight RB, who brought us roses as U.S. National Champion Mare; and Conquest BR, who swept all major yearling colt awards last year including Scottsdale Junior Champion Colt, Las Vegas World Cup Gold Champion Yearling, and U.S. National Champion Yearling Colt. Owning a part of Triana is a great opportunity for me, and I’m excited to share this with the other new partners that Jeff has assembled in her ownership.”
Above and facing page: RH Triana (pictured top right at the 2014 Las Vegas World Cup Show).
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Aria Quintessa
A key tenet for Jeff is to start right, and that requires buying only the very best. “If you want to succeed in art investing, buy a Picasso,” says Jeff, “and if you want to succeed in Arabian horse investing — buy a Triana.” Triana will debut under the new ownership and management at the Arabian Breeders World Cup in Las Vegas, with David Boggs on the lead. “She is one of those rare mares that impresses breeders, owners, enthusiasts, and judges alike,” says David. “She is mesmerizing.” Jeff ’s next acquisition for the partners has already brought them the thrill of showring success, as Truest (Trussardi x Marlene Dietrich) was crowned the unanimous First Place Scottsdale Three-Year-Old Colt, with Greg Gallún, and then was named the Scottsdale Reserve Champion Stallion. Norm is enormously proud of their new colt. “Seeing Truest competing for top honors in the Scottsdale Stallion Championship was a defining moment for me,” he says. In August of last year, Jeff and Tony acquired the relatively unknown colt together, and they recently invited the new partners to join them. “Truest is very special to me,” says Tony. “I am very close to him — he is the sweetest, kindest horse, and he came through for us in a big way in Scottsdale. A lot of new people come into the breed and like the feeling, the atmosphere that goes with owning Arabians,” says Tony. “But very few get to watch their colt win his class unanimously and then go on to capture the Scottsdale Reserve Championship. Many owners wait a lifetime for that.” “I was thrilled with Truest’s performance at Scottsdale,” says Greg Gallún. “He really stepped up to the plate, and people embraced him with such warmth. For me, Truest has the whole package — beautiful, kind, correct, and supremely bred. And while he clearly did well at the show, the exciting part is how the breeding community has shown such strong interest in using him as a sire.” The next addition to the partners’ collection was Aria Quintessa (Trussardi x MC Sophie). She, like Truest, delivered for the partners in Scottsdale when she was named Scottsdale Reserve Champion Yearling Filly January 1-April 15, shown by The 2014 filly Aria Quintessa David Boggs. The partners now have their sights set toward her competing at the (Trussardi x MC Sophie by Adoniis), owned by the U.S. Nationals this year. Quintessa Partners LLC. Beyond the importance of a horse’s being successful in the showring, Jeff knows the value of a strong pedigree, so acquiring the three-year-old filly Aria Qatars Angel for the partners was no surprise. Her sire is World Champion 9 b ARIA INTERNATIONAL b WORLD
*Abha Qatar, and she is out of the multi-National Champion mare BHF Dark Angel. She will debut at the upcoming Breeders World Cup with Sandro Pinha. Sandro shares in the excitement over this filly, saying, “Be prepared to be dazzled. Angel is simply amazing. She is refined, with tons of charisma and dynamic presence. She is truly one of the best I will ever show. And all the more meaningful to me is that her dam, BHF Dark Angel, was my first National Champion in the United States.” The most recent addition — Aria Athena — has quite a backstory, one that shows what hard work, long-standing friendships, and dedicated partners can achieve. “The thrill of being able to introduce this filly to the world and to direct her career from the very beginning, now that’s exhilarating!” says Jeff. “I’m confident she’s a worldclass star.” Athena’s story starts with Jamie Heathcott, who fell in love with Athena’s dam Jawharra (Thee Desperado x Shazella). Jamie and Steve Heathcott acquired her and then gave an embryo right to longtime friends Don and Janey Morse. Unfortunately, Don passed away before the gift could be realized, but, in tribute to Don, they bred the mare to WH Justice (Magnum Psyche x Vona Sher-Renea) and hoped for the best. Athena is the result. 10 b ARIA INTERNATIONAL b WORLD
Above right and facing page: The 2012 mare Aria Qatars Angel (*Abha Qatar x BHF Dark Angel by RSD Dark Victory).
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Top left: Aria Qatars Angel’s dam, BHF Dark Angel (RSD Dark Victory x Crown Narada by *Nariadni).
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Above and facing page: Truest (Trussardi x Marlene Dietrich), 2015 Scottsdale Reserve Champion Junior Colt and First Place Three-Year-Old Colt, owned by the Truest Partners LLC, and pictured above with partnerTony Shooshani.
Janey Morse recalls, “We always knew this was going to be something very special. The filly was born with attitude, attitude, and attitude, full of energy and charisma, and a true classic beauty.” Earlier this year, Athena was sent to “prep school” with Steve at Al Saqran Stud in Scottsdale, Arizona. A chance meeting between Steve and Brad Gallún in a market checkout line led to Brad’s acquiring the filly for new buyers. Brad says about Athena, “In the world of Arabian horses there is a liberal use of superlative adjectives; some are truly deserving of those descriptions. When I saw this filly for the first time, I knew we had found one of those special horses. I see her in my mind’s eye a few years from now as a mature mare, fully white, her face, incredible neck and throatlatch, and those HUGE black eyes, and I know she will reach the peak of her beauty and be known for it worldwide.” Word of her beauty began to leak out, eventually finding its way to Jeff during the Scottsdale show. “Upon hearing of her, I grabbed Norm and rushed to see her,” says Jeff. “When Steve brought the filly out of the barn, I knew in an instant the significance of the moment.” “Jeff was speechless when he first saw her,” recalls Steve. Jeff returned for a second visit, this time with Greg Gallún. “Our mutual excitement could hardly be contained,” says Jeff. “After that visit, and quick calls to Norm, Jamie, and Tony, the filly was ours.” “She is one of the most exciting horses I have seen in a very long time. Her appeal has no boundaries, expressing qualities that will lead her to championships whether in 12 b ARIA INTERNATIONAL b WORLD
VESTY PHOTO
Truest
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JAVAN PHOTO
Above and facing page: Truest at Scottsdale 2015 with his owners and support team. He was shown to his win by Greg Gallún.
Truest
the United States, Europe, or the Middle East. She ties these worlds together with an extreme and refined head, long and shapely neck, smooth body, carriage, and that attitude that comes when a horse just knows that they’re special,” Jeff says. And so a great new partnership has been forged and a dazzling portfolio of horses assembled. “I love to see the excitement and energy level of the new partners and to watch the effects these horses are having on their lives, too,” says Neil. “I have heard Jeff talk about what a thrill it is for him to share his passion with new people. I now understand the essence of that feeling, and I feel it too. I couldn’t be more excited to be part of this with Jeff, Norm, Jamie, and Tony.” For Jeff, another new chapter has opened. “The promise of great rewards and experiences now await the newcomers who have found their way into our breed at the very top. This is what it’s all about!” 15 b ARIA INTERNATIONAL b WORLD
VESTY PHOTO
Aria
JAVAN PHOTO
Clockwise from top left: RH Triana, Aria Athena, Aria Qatars Angel, Aria Quintessa, and Truest.
Contact: Jeff Sloan 路 jeff@ariaarabians.com 路 248.766.2903 Aria International 380 N. Old Woodward Ave, Suite 290 路 Birmingham, MI 48009
www.ariaarabians.com
Contact: Jeff Sloan 路 jeff@ariaarabians.com 路 248.766.2903 Aria International 380 N. Old Woodward Ave, Suite 290 路 Birmingham, MI 48009
www.ariaarabians.com
Designed and produced by Arabian Horse World 路 03/15