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ruguay has long been famous for its endurance Arabians, many of whom are competing at the top levels of the sport internationally. But Laetitia d’Arenberg of Estancia Las Rosas is one of a nucleus of breeders who are establishing Uruguay as a resource for fine Arabian show bloodstock for breeders worldwide. With the same drive and integrity that has carried Las Rosas to the highest echelons in cattle breeding — in four different breeds, no less — as well as three breeds of sheep, Laetitia has elevated the Las Rosas Arabian program to a respected position in the worldwide Arabian horse community as well. “The breeding program at Las Rosas was conceived very seriously from the beginning, with the normal mistakes of beginners. But the goal was always clear: to breed world-class Arabian horses,” explains Olivia Strauch, manager of the Arabian horse division. “We always thought that common sense and good taste would take us there. “‘Natural beauty’ is what best represents how we think an Arabian horse should look,” continues Olivia. “Made-up horses in fancy poses are a lot of fun, and we really enjoy the shows, but the horses we want to breed must win shows and be beautiful out in the pastures.” “The good news is that we still haven’t bred a horse that has come close to our ideal,” says Laetitia with a genuine smile. “I say ‘good news’ because this elusive goal is what keeps us dreaming every day. The dream is to breed a Najdah al Zobair, an AJ Sawahi, or an Emandoria one day.” The acquisition of a special colt will surely bring Las Rosas a step closer to that dream. It began at the 2012 U.S. Nationals, where there was a buzz about a yearling colt just in from Europe with Ted Carson. Word on the street was that he was “different” in a fancy, European-type way. When the effervescent grey colt burst into the ring, flagging his tail as he trotted down the rail, the crowd erupted with applause. Yep, he is different all right! Excalibur EA (Shanghai EA x Essence Of Marwan EA by Marwan Al Shaqab) was awarded National Champion Yearling Colt for breeder and owner Albert Sorroca of Equus Arabians of Barcelona, Spain. “I thought he could be what we were looking for from the moment I first saw his Nationals win photo,” says Olivia. “I was very impressed to see this combination of head and neck, and started my research. We scheduled a visit with Ted Carson before the 2013 Scottsdale Show, where Excalibur was named Reserve Champion International Breeders Classic Junior Colt. “Normally, in this business nowadays, the real horse is less than or not close to what you see in the photos,” remembers Olivia. “But the grey colt that appeared through the curtains of Ted’s barn was much more than we expected. Added to his correct conformation, he has an unbelievable carriage and charisma that blows your mind. We just felt we needed to have this horse.”
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Facing page: The Las Rosas farm in Uruguay, which Laetitia purchased from the late Count Federico ZichyThyssen 20 years ago. To this day, she says, “he is an inspiration for us.”
Excalibur EA (Shanghai EA x Essence Of Marwan EA by Marwan Al Shaqab), right and below, in Belgium with trainer Tom Schoukens.
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Top left and right: Excalibur EA at the 2014 All Nations Cup in Aachen, Germany, where he was named unanimous Gold Champion Junior Colt and high scoring horse, recording the highest score in the history of the All Nations Cup and of all ECAHO shows. He is pictured with, from left to right: Brazilian trainer Dejair de Souza, breeder Albert Sorocca, Las Rosas Arabian horse manager Olivia Strauch, and handler/trainer Tom Schoukens. Left: Excalibur EA at the 2014 Las Vegas World Cup where he was Silver Supreme Champion Junior Colt, pictured with, from left to right: Albert Sorroca, breeder of Excalibur EA and his sire Shanghai EA; Olivia Strauch; Princess Laetitia d’Arenberg of Las Rosas, Uruguay, owner of Excalibur; and trainer Ted Carson who also showed Excalibur to his 2013 U.S. National Yearling Colt Championship and 2013 Scottsdale Reserve Champion International Breeders Classic Junior Colt.
The deal was done shortly after and it was decided that Excalibur and Ted would continue on to the 2013 Las Vegas World Cup in April. “Vegas was a big excitement for all us from Las Rosas because it was the first time he showed in the Las Rosas name,” explains Olivia. “And it was the first time we had a horse at this incredible show. Ted Carson did a great job and Excalibur won his two-year-old colt class easily and was Silver Champion with tough competition.” After Vegas, Las Rosas decided to take some time off with Excalibur and bring him to his new home to grow up on the vast plains of Uruguay. For Laetitia and Olivia, this was their time to get to know the young stallion. “We were stunned by Excalibur’s charisma, and how he can put on a show, but he is also beautiful in the stall, in the crossties, or grazing in his paddock,” says Olivia. “The amazing trainers and handlers we have in the industry today can disguise many faults and fool many judges around the world, but horses must be honest.” To understand a little bit more about their new super star, Olivia visited Equus Arabians to gain an insight into Excalibur’s heritage. Albert Sorroca’s farm, nestled in the foothills above Barcelona, is also the birthplace of Excalibur’s sire, Shanghai EA. “I only knew his sire Shanghai from the shows but I was so delighted and blessed to see his dam Salymah EA (Khidar x Libanon Azadika), from whom I knew Excalibur got his extreme charisma. Excalibur’s dam, Essence Of Marwan EA, is also a beautiful mare by Marwan Al Shaqab and out of the old Elizja (Esta-Ghalil x Aica by Ibn Estasha), a real queen! After this visit I was even more convinced that this horse would not fail as a breeding sire.” Excalibur had bred 26 mares at Las Rosas, including the beautiful Giwa Morab (CG Balih el Jamaal x Bint Gypsy K), 2006 Brazilian National Champion Junior Filly and 2007 Brazilian National Champion Filly. “We are eager to see how Excalibur will fit in our program,” Olivia says. “We have a nice and solid group of mares, and we thought Excalibur EA would give an upgrade of overall quality and stamina.”
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Right: The 2014 colt TC Exxalt (Excalibur EA x Vesperra by SF Veraz), with trainer Ted Carson. Bottom left: The 2014 filly (Excalibur EA x MC Psynammon by Psymadre). Bottom right: Excalibur EA in Belgium.
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Notable mares in foal to Excalibur EA:
Gaia El Lethyf (Lethyf El Jamaal x AF Vendeta by AF Positano).
Estancia LL (Magnum Psyche x CF Khashmir by Khemosabi).
Giwa Morab (CG Balih El Jamaal x Bint Gypsy K by Borsalino K).
Excalibur’s first foals arrived in the U.S. in 2014, and three of them are at Ted Carson’s in North Carolina. “Excalibur has been a special horse for us,” says Ted. “I selected him as a young colt to be imported to the U.S. to represent his sire Shanghai EA, whose frozen semen we have represented in the U.S. the past few years. In the show arena, Excalibur exhibited the most dynamic energy of any colt I have ever presented. “We are thoroughly excited about Excalibur’s potential as a sire,” Ted continues. “His first foals possess exceptional type, excellent carriage, and supreme quality. One particular Excalibur colt, Exxalt (out of Vesperra, a SF Veraz daughter), is one of the most beautiful and complete colts I have seen in a very long time. It is an enormous accomplishment for such a young stallion to have excelled in the show arena as well as the breeding barn at such a young age.” In March of 2014, a visit to Las Rosas from Christine Jamar of Jadem Arabians in Belgium triggered the next chapter in Excalibur’s life. “I was so impressed by how much Excalibur had changed since his two-year-old year,” explains Christine. “He was more typey and expressive, and his movement was amazing. So I suggested to Olivia that they bring him to Europe for the 2014 shows. He will stand here at our farm next year and I think he’ll do a good job as a sire, and get a good number of breedings, especially since his sire has been sold to the Middle East.” “Arrangements were made really fast after Christine’s visit and the horse left us two months later bound for Schoukens Training Center,” says Olivia. “I’ve admired Tom and Glenn Schoukens’ work for some time, and I thought they would do a wonderful job with Excalibur. Tom showed him at four shows, placing third in Menton in the most difficult class of the show, and he was Gold Champion Junior Colt in Ströhen and at the East Coast Cup. Most recently, Excalibur was crowned All Nations Cup Gold Champion Junior Colt with the highest score in the history of the All Nations Cup and of all ECAHO shows on record.” There is no doubt that the purchase of Excalibur EA was a pivotal moment for all involved in the Las Rosas program. “He is a step toward our plan for the Las Rosas project, that is to show our homebred horses around the world,” says Laetitia. For Laetitia and Olivia, Excalibur has brought into focus the enriching aspects of a life spent pursuing one’s dream. “For me, breeding Arabians is creating art, the process is just the same,” says Laetitia. “With the difference being that you are creating living creatures that move and express themselves in a unique way.” Adds Olivia, “Being involved in this business, and in daily contact with the horses, is an adventure and such an exciting way of living, that sometimes you think there’s nothing else that you need.” Except, perhaps, a young grey stallion who promises to carry the program forward, ever closer to the dream.
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Right: The 2014 colt (Excalibur EA x AR Most Irresistible by ML Mostly Padron), pictured with trainer Ted Carson. Bottom left: The 2014 filly (Excalibur EA x Cinderella WC by SH Hallmark). Bottom right: Excalibur EA.
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Owner Princess Laetitia d’Arenberg with Excalibur EA.
Owned by: SAS Laetitia Princess de Belsunce d’Arenberg www.lasrosasarabians.com URUGUAY Bred by: Albert Sorroca, Equus Arabians, Spain
www.christine-jamar.be www.schoukenstrainingcenter.com BELGIUM
Designed and produced by Arabian Horse World · 10/14