SFA WIND CHIME (FAME VF x WiNTERSET) and filly by *Al Maraam
by Jeffrey Wintersteen
B
reeding Arabian
Manny first “became infatuated with Arabian horses,” as he
horses is a passion
tells it, in 1983 when he lived in San Martin, California. Before he
that often consumes
knew it, Manny had six horses and needed to build a ranchette with
a lifetime, and
a barn for his new charges. “From this beginning, the passion for the
nothing better exemplifies this
horse became an addiction for the horse, and here I am 35 years
than Manny Vierra’s love and
later with 60 horses,” explains Manny with a good-hearted laugh.
devotion in creating Valley Oak
“I love how charismatic they are, they just capture you. To me, the
Arabians. Located not far from
Arabian horse is a living, breathing work of art.”
San Francisco, the picturesque
Manny acknowledges a lot of bumps and bruises along the
farm’s 20 acres, in the
way, but a few successes as well. One of the first of his notable
agricultural hills of Brentwood,
successes came during the 1990 Cal-Bred Futurity Show in Santa
are surrounded by peach and
Barbara. The three-year-old colts class had 31 entries, a testament
cherry orchards, and beautiful
to how competitive it was back then, but Manny took top honors
vineyards. It is here that Manny
with DBA Extravagance (Huckleberry Bey x Serinette by Serinask)
has gathered a collection of
shown by Mike Neal.
horses unique to the Arabian
On the national level, his first big success was with Oksanadik
world, each selected or bred to
(*Sanadik El Shaklan x Kaprycious by *Salon). Greg Gallún, his
fulfill his distinctive vision.
regular trainer, showed her to the class win in Scottsdale but was
on the preceding page:
ARIA QATARS ANGEL (*ABHA QATAR x BHF DARK ANGEL)
promised to another client in the championship. Steve Heathcott picked up the lead for Manny and then went Scottsdale Reserve Champion Mare. “Greg trained the mare and did all the work on her, and was good-natured about not being able to be on the lead. VALLEY OAK > 2 < WORLD
OKSANADIK (*SANADiK EL SHAKLAN x KAPRYCiOUS)
AFIRE CHIME VO (AFiRE BEY V x SFA WiND CHiME)
Greg and I have a good relationship, still I enjoy ribbing him about
broodmare band and one of
it,” chuckles Manny.
the most beautiful Afire Bey V
While Manny enjoys the accolades of the showring, he has a
daughters anywhere. SFA Wind
breeder’s eye and that is what first draws him to a horse. When
Chime is expecting a foal this
he latches on to something that he wants to incorporate into his
spring by Ever After NA.
program, he doesn’t let go until he has it. Nothing typifies this
Manny, however,
more than how he acquired SFA Wind Chime in 2000, a mare that
maintains that his approach
is one of the finest daughters of Fame VF and would become a
to breeding isn’t new. “I have
foundation mare at Valley Oak Arabians. The 1994 bay mare was
never tried to reinvent the
out of the *Eter daughter Winterset, and a few years earlier, she
wheel, but just wanted to look
was U.S. National Reserve Champion and Canadian Champion
at the best breeders in the
Futurity Filly. Manny was visiting Gallún’s farm at the time, as Greg
industry, watching what they
had wanted to show him a two-year-old filly. “As I walked by SFA
did and what they produced. I
Wind Chime’s stall, she had her blanket on,” remembers Manny.
just wanted to emulate them,
“But she turned around and looked at me; it was like, wow!” Manny
and then, hopefully, add to the
immediately asked if she was for sale and was persistent enough to
breed in my own way.”
eventually bring her home to Valley Oak.
In his search for the best
SFA Wind Chime has had eight foals, all of them for Valley
breeders, Manny traveled a lot
Oak Arabians. Manny first chose the English sire Afire Bey V for her,
in the early years, often with his
indicative of his out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to breeding.
good friend Raymond Mazzei.
The end result, Afire Chime VO, is a valued member of Valley Oak’s
The two began to frequent
VALLEY OAK > 3 < WORLD
*EL DORADA (*SANADiK EL SHAKLAN x EMiGRANTKA)
in 2006: two fillies and a colt. El Palacio VO (by Al Lahab), was sold to Al Khalediah Stud in Saudi Arabia as a weanling. The following year the grey filly El Dulcinea VO (by Enzo) was sold to Lenita Perroy in Brazil. She was later renamed Elle Dorada. Eventually, the mare El Euphoria VO (by *Ecaho) was also sold to Al Khalediah as a five-year-old. All three have become incredible horses, each making an impact in the breed. El Palacio VO, for example is sire of Bint Hazy Al Khalediah, Silver Champion in Paris and Aachen. That same year, in 2006, Manny began construction on Marsh Creek Road, just a mile down the road from the original Valley Oak property. Manny, a Poland, in particular Michałów and Janów Podlaski State Studs.
builder by trade, put his passion
“I got a lot of support and learned a lot from my time in Poland.
into this new endeavor, creating
Through the relationships I built there, I was able to lease *Olita
one of the most beautiful
(*Ecaho x Orawa by Argo) from Janów Podlaski, and *El Dorada
equine stables to be found
PASB (*Sanadik El Shaklan x Emigrantka by *Eukaliptus) from
anywhere in the U.S., or the
Michałów.” While both were superb mares, the latter would have a
world, for that matter. It is truly
profound impact on Valley Oak Arabians.
worth the visit even without the
*El Dorada arrived in the U.S. late in 2004 and was put in
incredible horses it houses. “You
training with Greg Gallún. In 2006, with Greg on the lead, she
could say that *El Dorada made
was named Scottsdale Reserve Champion Mare and unanimous
a significant contribution to this
U.S. National Champion Mare later that fall. “The National
barn,” says Manny with a smile.
Championship is, without question, one of my most memorable
Within a few years,
moments in this business,” remarks Manny. But it wasn’t the show
Manny was looking to bring a
accolades in which *El Dorada made the biggest impact. Manny
maternal sibling of *El Dorada
took three embryos from her in 2005, and three foals were born
to Valley Oak, also out of the
VALLEY OAK > 4 < WORLD
*EMIGRANT (ARARAT x EMiGRANTKA)
immortal Emigrantka, but this time a stallion. In
proven temperament, and that is still important.
2008, Polish and European Champion Stallion
You can put a child in his stall and leave him
*Emigrant PASB (by Ararat) arrived at Valley Oak.
overnight, and he will be loving on him when you
At 17 years of age, he was another important
come back the next day. His blood will be here
piece of the breeding puzzle for Manny. “I can’t
long after I am gone.”
say enough about *Emigrant, one of the most credentialed Polish sires to arrive in America, and that is saying a lot.” But it was far more than showring credentials that convinced Manny that *Emigrant would contribute to his program. “It used to be that before you could be a breeding horse in Poland, you had to hold up on the racetrack. *Emigrant was raced 21 times before he became a breeding stallion. That was something that always impressed me and one of the reasons I brought him to the U.S. He is the perfect outcross horse and the reason his daughters are so valuable. He also has a VALLEY OAK > 5 < WORLD
*EUSCERA (*EMiGRANT x ELCANTARA)
Manny Vierra and *Euscera.
A year later, Manny imported the *Emigrant
has since been sold to Manny’s
daughter *Euscera (out of Elcantara by Pamir),
good friends Mark Davis and
bred by Michałów Stud, to give those unfamiliar
Cindy McGown of Royal Arabians
with *Emigrant an example of what he could sire.
in Scottsdale.
While *Euscera never relished showing, she was
“*Emigrant daughters will be
still named Region 18 Champion Mare and U.S.
foundation broodmares for my
National Top Ten with Andy Sellman. A number
program going forward,” explains
of *Emigrant daughters have taken their place
Manny. “It is the reason I brought
at Valley Oak as broodmares, including the exotic
in *Emigrant. You need to have
Exquisite VO (out of SFA Wind Chime), Enchant
diversification in your breeding
VO (out of *Epima), and Envision VO (out of
program, and you need to have
*Halima). Both *Epima (x Epimeria by Pesal) and
blood that works, blood that will
*Halima PASB (x *Heroldia by *Eukaliptus) are
give you athleticism, beauty, and
Ekstern daughters imported from Poland. *Epima
most important, temperament.”
VALLEY OAK > 6 < WORLD
*HALIMA
EXQUISITE VO
(EKSTERN x HEROLDiA)
(*EMiGRANT x SFA WiND CHiME)
ENVISION VO (*EMiGRANT x *HALiMA)
ENCHANT VO (*EMiGRANT x *EPiMA)
*EPIMA (EKSTERN x EPiMERiA)
VALLEY OAK > 7 < WORLD
*GASPAR with Manny Vierra and Vikki Renfrow.
Manny’s most recent import from Poland was in the fall of 2015, with the help of Jeffrey Wintersteen, when he secured the best son of *Emigrant, *Gaspar PASB (out of Gaskonia by *Probat). “Gaspar was 17 at the time I purchased him, and I never had the intention of bringing him here to stand to the public. It was for my own personal use,” explains Manny. “He is a very correct horse, and such a charismatic stallion. I have my first foals by Gaspar, and I am so happy with them. I will bring them out to the showring next year.” One of the Polish-bred mares that
GASKONIA VO (*GAZAL AL SHAQAB x GANGES JEWEL)
came to Valley Oak, by way of Israel, VALLEY OAK > 8 < WORLD
*GASPAR (*EMiGRANT x GASKONiA)
*DUMKA (*LAHEEB x DABROWA)
V A L L E Y O A K > 10 < W O R L D
LA ESTOPIA VO
ENSANADA VO
(*LAHEEB x *SKUCiNA)
(*LAHEEB x *EMiRiA)
charted another source of blood for the farm. In 2007, with the help of Raymond Mazzei, Manny purchased the *Laheeb daughter *Dumka (out of Dabrowa by *Probat) from Chen Kedar of Ariela Arabians. Manny had been intrigued by the use of the straight Egyptian stallion by the Poles, and his resulting foals. *Dumka, bred by Michałów Stud, came to Ariela in exchange for the use of *Laheeb IASB. In Israel, Dumka was named National Champion Mare before leaving for the U.S. She left behind a filly, Dafina AA, that went on to become Israeli National Champion Mare. Because of his love for *Dumka, Manny secured a lease of *Al Maraam, by the same sire as *Laheeb, Imperial Imdal. *Laheeb was
AL MALENA VO
currently on lease to the U.S. and Manny
(*AL MARAAM x BiNT SCARLET VEiL)
requested that *Laheeb extend his stay six months so that he could use him. Chen Kedar was more than happy to accommodate Manny. “Chen has always been very supportive of my program, and I have learned a lot from her,” states Manny.
daughter Skucina), and Mariana VO (out of the
“I am very fortunate to have a mare like Dumka.”
*Pepton daughter Aepona SF). As for *Al Maraam,
Some of the *Laheeb daughters that Manny
his influence remains primarily through HDC
was able to breed and acquire for Valley Oak
Almaranza (out of HDC *Esperanza by *Esperanto
are Ensanada VO out of the *Emigrant daughter
PASB) and Al Malena VO (out of Bint Scarlet Veil
Emiria, La Estopia VO (out of the *Probat
by PH Promiscuous). V A L L E Y O A K > 11 < W O R L D
HDC ALMARANZA
Manny has also used
(*AL MARAAM x HDC ESPERANZA)
other straight Egyptian bloodlines. His biggest showring success with the Egyptian-bred horses is undoubtedly the stunning Black Pearl WP (Thee Desperado x RS Cherokee Rose by The Elixir) who was Silver Champion at the Egyptian Event in 2012. The black mare has most recently had a beautiful filly for the farm and remains a visitor favorite.
BLACK PEARL WP (THEE DESPERADO x RS CHEROKEE ROSE)
EXOTICA VO (QR MARC x *EPiMA)
V A L L E Y O A K > 12 < W O R L D
Manny again looked to Poland’s success for his next outcross sire. He was especially
DAMARA VO (QR MARC x *DUMKA)
taken by the success of QR Marc with the Polish mares. For example, Michałów had just had two World Championships with their QR Marc progeny: Wieża Mocy and *Equator PASB. Manny bred to QR Marc only twice, and the results were two spectacular fillies out of his best mares: *Dumka produced Damara VO and *Epima produced Exotica VO. Both young mares will undoubtedly serve as replacements for their dams in the near future. Manny has also used his own sires when he thought it was appropriate, mainly homebred Silverado VO (Enzo x Eskalona by *Salon) and Mustafa VO (*Laheeb x Alidaria by Thee Outlaw). “I never let anyone see Silverado until he
SILVERADO VO
was five,” laughs Manny. “Now he
(ENZO x ESKALONA)
is one of the most photographed horses on the farm. He is as charismatic as they come.” Two other young colts will also be incorporated into the program. The first was recently imported from Spain on the advice of good friends Philip Del Pozzo and Brent Stone, breeders of Enzo. On a recent trip to Alberto Sorroca’s Equus Arabians outside of Barcelona, Spain, the two saw a stunning linebred Excalibur EA colt that they recommended to Manny. Having been great friends with Alberto for a number of years, Manny called Alberto. V A L L E Y O A K > 13 < W O R L D
The latest addition to Valley Oak Arabians came a few months ago at Scottsdale in vintage Manny Vierra fashion. The Marquise Auction, in its
*HERCULES EA
second year, has generated a lot of buzz
(EXCALiBUR EA x ELECTRA EA)
with the quality of horses they have been able to attract. While Manny was not actively shopping, one mare caught his eye at the preview — the chestnut dynamo Aria Qatars Angel (*Abha Qatar x BHF Dark Angel by RSD Dark Victory). “She is a beautiful mover, great body, lots of substance, with such an elegant neck and throatlatch. She also has a beautiful face with huge eyes. I was thinking that this is the only mare in this sale I would take home.” The mare’s phenotype is backed up by quite a pedigree, as her dam BHF Dark Angel is a National Champion and has been a phenomenal producer. Manny figured that she would be one of the high sellers of the auction, but when the bidding slowed early, he jumped in and got her. From the auction it was a bit of a whirlwind, with Manny wasting no time in putting her back in training with Sandro Pinha, with whom she had been successful prior to the auction. The two
On Alberto’s recommendation, as well, he purchased
captured an Arabian Breeders World Cup
the colt sight unseen, based only on pictures and
Silver Champion Senior Mare title in 2017.
video. Hercules EA is by *Excalibur EA and out of
Aria Qatars Angel had great success at
*Excalibur’s full sister, Electra EA by Shanghai EA. He
the Arabian Breeders World Cup in 2018,
is currently in training with Sandro Pinha, and will be
this time under the banner of Valley Oak
pointed to U.S. Nationals this fall. “He has so much
Arabians, with a class win and second
pretty in his pedigree; I can’t wait to use him on my
highest mare score of the show. She will be
mares,” explains Manny about his ultimate goal for
campaigned for National Champion Mare
the grey 2016 colt.
in the fall with Sandro.
Another stallion prospect that has Manny
The Aria Qatars Angel acquisition
excited is one of his own making. Equinox VO
demonstrates that Manny has no intention
(*Equator x HDC Almaranza by *Al Maraam) is
of slowing down anytime soon. His passion
currently in training with Rodolfo Guzzo, and the bay
for the Arabian is as strong as ever, as is
yearling is the spitting image of his sire combined
Manny’s continuous pursuit of his ideal. For
with his trademark show attitude.
that, the entire Arabian world is grateful. V A L L E Y O A K > 14 < W O R L D
ARIA QATARS ANGEL (*ABHA QATAR x BHF DARK ANGEL)
Bloodlines and stock from around the world are available. Stallions are multi-program nominated and SCID clear.
Proudly owned by Manny Vierra Brentwood, California 510.325.3974 imannyv45@aol.com www.valleyoakarabians.com
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