■
entlemen farmers may be
From a time in the mid-1970s when
1 described as those who farm
Shirley first expressed a yearning to
mainly for pleasure. On a
become acquainted with Arabian
large farm in southwest
horses, Halsdon has grown to a stud
I England, only a few miles
of about 160 meticulously selected
I
I from the Atlantic Ocean, the
BY
and bred horses and has acquired a
1 pleasure aspect of gentleman
M ARY JANE
position of international respect for
farming embraces Arabian horses. The
PARKINSON
the excellence of its stock.
gentlemen farmers are Shirley and Shirley, the quiet but strong driving
Charlie Watts, their farm is Halsdon Arabians, and their pleasure in the Arabian horses is
force of Halsdon Arabians, is not the typical horse-crazy
complete.
girl who realized a childhood dream. Rather, the horses came into her life through her pursuit of a career in
“Horses are a basic essential of my life,” says Shirley.
sculpting as a young adult. Perhaps the lovely curves of
“When I had none, I dreamed of horses. Now, when I'm
Arabian conformation and the splendid motion of the
not with them, I dream of them still. Their gentleness I
breed represented elements she wished to capture in
love, love, love, and my Polish Arabian mares have that
clay. Whatever the case, in about 1974 she asked her
gentleness above all others.”
mentor, sculptor John Skeaping, to find for her a horse of Arabian bloodlines. The part-Arabian fit beautifully
For Charlie Watts, the bonding with the horses is no less
into Shirley and Charlie’s passion for the country life and
intense, but certainly less frequent. For many months of
the quiet they enjoyed in an ancient farmhouse in the
the year, he’s on the road, as drummer with the
Cevennes Mountains in the south of France. The Arabian
perpetually popular “Rolling Stones,” which career
qualities soon convinced Shirley she wanted to know
accommodates his desire for the country life and the role
more about Arabians and to own purebreds.
of gentleman farmer. In those early years of ownership, back in the Wattses’ The contrasts of Charlie’s two worlds are highlighted as
home country of England, Shirley involved herself in the
he walks the barn aisles, touches a horse, inspects a new
schooling and basics of training for her horses, then sent
foal for the first time, or shares a trail ride with Shirley.
them off to professional trainers for showing. The first
Because the moments are few, they are even more
inkling of the prominent place the Halsdon horses would
precious. In spite of his absences, Charlie’s involvement
assume in European showing — and as it turned out,
with the horses increases year by year, as he is a
buying — came in 1985 when Bright Dancer, a mare of
presence at shows and sales. He does enjoy the shows
Crabbet lines, won the European Ridden Championship
and counts them as a necessary, if minor, facet of
at a show at Leiden, Holland. Then a few years later,
owning and breeding Arabians. So, with the success of
Friday The Fourth, a gelding who, according to Shirley,
the Halsdon breeding and show programs over the years,
could be unbeatable on his good days and almost
Charlie’s worldwide recognition is more and more often
impossible on less-than-good days, won the European
as an Arabian owner and breeder, rock star though he
Ridden Championship in a show at Ostend, Belgium.
may be.
Those wins only increased the interest in Arabians, and it 2 -HALSDON-WORLD
Above: The stallion Simeon Sadik, bred in Australia of Egyptian bloodlines, brings to Halsdon the rarity OF THE BLACK COAT COLOR AND THE ELEGANCE ASSOCIATED WITH HIS PEDIGREE. He SIRED CHAMPIONS IN AUSTRALIA AND WAS A CHAMPION THERE HIMSELF. Left: Since his importation in 1995, Simeon Sadik has added European show honors: World Reserve
Champion Stallion at the Salon du Cheval and UK International Champion Stallion. Here the Wattses and Paul Atkinson collect a championship ribbon for Sadik. Previous page: Piechur, the international sire — HAVING SIRED IN POLAND, THE UNITED STATES, AND England — came to Halsdon in 1992 at age 13. The FOLLOWING YEAR, PlECHUR (HERE WITH SHIRLEY WATTS) made his European show debut and he’s collected Nations Cup Champion Stallion, European Reserve Champion Stallion, and UK International Champion Stallion. Piechur sires well on both Crabbet and Egyptian- related stock at Halsdon, and the RESULTING CROSSES HAVE REPRESENTED HALSDON WITH GREAT SUCCESS AT MANY SHOWS.
follows quite naturally that after some
Another major arrival at Halsdon that
years of riding and showing, Shirley
year was that of Paul as manager of
wanted to breed her own.
the farm. Paul and his wife Joan had established themselves on a small
For Shirley and Charlie, the first joy of
farm in Yorkshire where they did
breeding a winner came when their
early training of some of the Halsdon
mare Bintang (Royal Storm x Bint Azsher by Azsher),
horses. Paul brought a background of growing up with
bred in England, produced Mahjid, a 1988 colt (sired by
ponies, then training with Thoroughbreds, a National
Melchior) who won his yearling class at the British
Diploma in Business Studies, then 16 years with Grange
Nationals. Enough to reinforce the thoughts of anyone
Arabian Stud (first as stud groom and later as manager)
only mildly contemplating breeding Arabians.
until the stud closed in 1988. “I am extremely fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time,” says
Shirley would no longer be content to buy, train, and
Paul of his move to Halsdon.
show Arabians. Her challenge would come through careful buying and even more thoughtful breeding.
“Versatility is of course one of Paul's major virtues,” says
Indirectly, the major win of Friday The Fourth in the late
Shirley. “We also value him for his extreme patience, his
1980s pointed the way to the makeup of the Halsdon
depth of understanding of the horses’ needs, and an
breeding program. At the Ostend show, the Polish-bred
extraordinary empathy with the stallions, although he
Penitent (Partner x Penza by Faher) went European
would deny it’s extraordinary. Plus his great compassion
Champion Stallion, and the Polish Pilarka (Palas x
for the horses. All essentials for his role.”Joan — whom
Pierzga by Negatiw) collected the title of European
Paul describes as his greatest friend, supporter, and critic
Champion Mare. “Those two ethereal greys, with their
— does accounting and payroll for Halsdon, along with
floating movement, their type, and their beauty totally
other office management tasks as needed by Shirley.
captivated me,” Shirley remembers, “and we s >on acted By the time Paul and Joan became a part of the
upon that impression.”
operation, the Wattses were well established at Halsdon Shirley and Charlie approached Paul Atkinson, then
House, a seventeenth-century manor house that in its era
manager of Grange Arabian Stud in Lincolnshire,
was the center of a major farming estate of several
England, with a tall order: find for them a colt of
thousand acres. In 1982, the Wattses purchased the
bloodlines similar to Penitent and Pilarka, a colt that had
house and 30 acres of pastureland — all the land that
the potential to become a major show horse and a
had not been sold off in small parcels. Since then, in
breeding stallion. Within a year, Paul had located Platoon
pursuit of Charlie’s goal of restoring Halsdon to its
HT, a 1987 grey bred in Holland. He is a great-grandson
former glory, the Wattses have purchased several
of the Tersk-bred Palas and of Palas’s sire Aswan (by
hundred acres of adjoining farmland.
Nazeer), and a great-grandson of two of Poland’s finest, the fabled Comet and the internationally appreciated
Shirley contributed her artistic eye in the design of the
Bandos (by Negatiw). Platoon came to Halsdon as a
stud, always ensuring the aesthetic appeal of the entire
three-year-old and won the British National Colt
farm. About 400 acres of post-and-railed pastures are
Championship that same year.
bordered by grass walkways which provide useful and 4 ■HALSDON ■WORLD
Above: The colt Ali Khamsin is the product of breeding an English-bred stallion (Carmargue) to an American- bred mare (Liana El Shaklan, by El Shaklan). Ali Khamsin, foaled in 1996, combines Egyptian, Spanish, Polish, and American bloodlines. Right: For Shirley, Gai Radiant (Gai Parada x Zee Radiance by Gai Warsaw) combines many of the qualities SHE VALUES IN ARABIAN HORSES. GAI RADIANT AND TWO OF HIS DAUGHTERS WERE IMPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES IN 1997. Paul Atkinson describes Gai Radiant as a very dependable SIRE OF THE RENOWNED GAINEY TYPE.
Left: T he staluon P ilot (Fawor x P ipi by B anat), U K International C hampion, is a grandson
OF THE HIGHLY VALUED PlLARKA (PALAS X PlERZGA BY NEGATIW), AND SHE IS IN FOAL TO HIM FOR 1999. A mong the P ilot OFFSPRING, G T a MIN (X S hahteyna by B ey S hah), W orld C hampion J unior M ale at the S alon du C heval .
pleasant riding trails and which
Criterium, and was twice named
expedite the moving of horses from
Polish Racehorse of the Year. The
one field to another. Four Shirley-
year after his purchase, Paul showed
influenced bams house 120 horses;
Piechur to European Reserve
and two outdoor arenas, an indoor
Champion Stallion at the Dutch
school, horse walkers, and a round
International Show. In addition,
pen facilitate the care of the horses.
Piechur has Nations Cup Champion Stallion and UK International Champion Stallion credits on his resume.
The Halsdon pastures, bordered by hedgerows and forestlands, provide a beautiful and natural setting for the
Piechur also bolstered Shirley’s faith in the lines of the
horses. The light clay soil is well drained, and the horses
Polish horses she first admired, as he traces in tail female
thrive on the high-quality grass produced. Many of the
to Piewica, the ancestress of Penitent and Pilarka. In the
mares are content living out day and night, including
breeding barn, Piechur is known as a dual-purpose
most of the winter months.
stallion, one who sires both halter and racing stock. In Poland, he’s recognized as the sire of two Polish
The year 1990 was a milestone for Halsdon for a third
National Champions.
reason, as that year Shirley, Charlie, and Paul made a first exploratory trip to Poland. Shirley wanted to visit the
Soon the Wattses became Polish Prestige Sale regulars,
“nest” of the Polish Arabians she had discovered through
adding the excitement of public auction bidding to their
showing and traveling. In Poland, they walked the barns
buying style. Since 1993, they’ve added 24 mares from
and pastures of Janow Podlaski and Michalow; soaked
the state studs through timely raising of bidding cards,
up the feelings of the Polish breeders for their horses
probably none with more dash than in 1998. In a
and the history and traditions of Polish breeding; and
prolonged bidding duel, they topped the Polish Prestige
drank in the beauty and type they found there. Through
Sale (and many earlier sales) by bidding the lovely
that visit, Shirley selected two mares to come to Halsdon:
Emilda (Pamir x Emanacja by Eukaliptus) to $200,000,
Ceratonia (Probat x Ceratka by Gwarny), in foal to
then, in the second lot of the sale, paying $131,000 for
Europejczyk, and Farma (Partner x Farsa by Bandos).
Maesta (Partner x Maskotka by Bandos).
About two years later, Halsdon acquired a second major
From the Millfield Stables dispersal in the United States
Polish stallion, the well-traveled Piechur (Banat x Pierzeja
in 1994, Halsdon added the noted Pilarka, Pikieta (Probat
by Bandos), then age 13. Piechur, bred by Janow
x Platyna by Czardasz), and the stallion Pilot (Fawor x
Podlaski, was sold to the United States in 1983 where he
Pipi by Banat), Pilarka’s grandson.
went 1986 U.S. Top Ten Stallion and sired 115 foals, including two National Champions. The Poles leased
The Wattses have bred 12 pure Polish mares — or
Piechur back for the 1988 breeding season, and he is
bought mares in foal to Polish stallions — utilizing the
credited with 48 1989 foals; he then went to England,
sires Ecaho, Europejczyk, Egon, Grandorr, Monogramm,
early in 1992. In addition to serving as chief sire in
Platoon HT. Rurnak, Pers, and Pilot. With that
Poland, Piechur proved himself as a racehorse. In 13
concentration, the Halsdon program is now about 70
starts, he won 11 races, including the Derby and the
percent Polish in bloodline.
6 -HALSDON-WORLD
Left: Pikieta (Probat x Platyna by Czardasz) shows the WINNING FORM THAT GOT HER EUROPEAN CHAMPION MARE, Nations Cup Champion Mare, and British National Champion Mare. Below: Pilarka (Palas x Pierzga by Negatiw), foaled in 1975, represents the Polish breeders’ early use of the Tersk-bred stallion Palas, a Nazeer grandson. Here is Pilarka with her breeder, the late Andrzej Krzysztalowicz, longtime Director of Janow Podlaski State Stud. Bottom: Egina (Palas x Estrada by Burkan), bred by Michalow State Stud, was imported from Poland in 1992. In the Halsdon ownership, she’s been named Nations Cup Reserve Champion Mare, British National Champion Mare, and Swedish International Champion Mare.
To Shirley, the Polish Seglawi-type
as a Bask grandson, the Monogramm
Arabians combine the essential
influence was most welcome in
qualities of type, elegance, and beauty,
Poland. The Polish breeders credit
along with traits of most concern to
Monogramm with reinforcing Arabian
her: correct conformation and
type and siring beautiful heads and
temperament suited to riding horses.
extravagant movement.
Halsdon horses must be essentially athletes, but they must also be beautiful and elegant and true to Arabian
Shirley and Paul consider the Tersk-bred mare Piewica
type. Most of the more successful Halsdon imports had
(Priboj x Wlodarka by Ofir), imported from Tersk in 1956,
successful race careers prior to their appearances in the
a most valuable ancestress and her line the most valuable
showrings of Europe. “Race training tests temperament,
at Janow Podlaski. At Halsdon, Piewica is represented by
soundness, and ability, and while racing is important, it’s
six mares, including the world-famous Pilarka. At
only one facet in the overall Polish plan of producing
Michalow, Shirley and Paul find the most appealing the
beautiful and functional riding horses,” Shirley believes.
descendants of Estokada (Amurath-Sahib x Saga by Hardy), a mare foaled at Michalow in 1951. “The family
Through Poland’s use of the Tersk-bred stallion Palas
members are exotic, refined, and correct and are great
(Aswan x Panel by Nil) and the continuing popularity of
movers,” says Paul. The Halsdon broodmare band
his descendants, Halsdon has acquired from Poland four
includes nine mares of the “E” line, among them Egina,
Palas daughters and bought or bred nine Palas
one of Shirley’s longtime favorites.
granddaughters. The Palas blood represents the single largest sire group at Halsdon. Among the Palas
Egina and Pilarka, along with Pikieta (Probat x Platyna by
daughters: Egina (x Estrada by Burkan), 1986 Polish
Czardasz) of the Rodania family, are considered the three
National Junior Champion Filly, British National
main Polish mares at Halsdon. Pikieta, European
Champion Mare, Nations Cup Reserve Champion Mare,
Champion Mare, Nations Cup Champion Mare, and
and Swedish International Champion Mare; and Pilarka
British National Champion Mare, has earned a special
(x Pierzga by Bandos), World Champion Mare, European
place as a show horse in Paul’s heart: “The presentation
Champion Mare, and British National Champion Mare.
of Piechur for his Nations Cup win, SHF Pearlie Mae for her World Championship, Egina for her British National
Not far behind in numbers are the female descendants of
Championship, and Simeon Sadik and Pilot for their UK
Probat (Pohaniec x Borexia by Exelsjor): four daughters
International Championships are all memorable
and six granddaughters. Plus the Probat grandson Pilot.
experiences. However, if I had to pick just one horse, it
“In Poland, Probat sired very smooth bodies, fine heads,
would be Pikieta and all her major wins. She is one of
elegant necks, and the long lines associated with his
the great loves of my life, and it is impossible to imagine
pedigree,” says Paul.
a more generous, gracious, and willing show horse. Absolutely unforgettable.”
Four daughters of the American-bred Monogramm (Negatraz x Monogramma by Knippel) reflect the siring
Egyptian blood (about three percent of the Halsdon herd)
success of Monogramm during his several years on lease
comes through the stallion Simeon Sadik, imported from
to Michalow. As a representative of the Ofir sire line and
Australia in 1995; one straight Egyptian mare; and the
8 ■HALSDON ■WORLD
Above: Gai Radiant Hope (Gai Radiant x Gai Anastashah by Bey Shah) is on of two Gai Radiant daughters imported from the Gainey program in 1997. Both she and Gai Radiant Dream (Gai Radiant x Gaishea by Bey Shah) are NOWIMPORTANT IN THE HALSDON PROGRAM, AS IS THE GAINEY-BRED MARE GAI Beisha (Bey Shah x Gai Chardonnay by Ferzon), imported in 1993.
Above: Palastrina, one of four Monogramm daughters at Halsdon, was imported from Poland in utero in 1994. Both Palastrina and her dam Palba (by Penitent) added to the strength of the Halsdon show string, Palba going UK International Champion Mare and British National Reserve Champion Mare and Palastrina bringing home UK International Champion Filly. Left: SHF Pearlie Mae (SHF Southern Whiz x Citona by GB Baron), bred in the United States, became one of Halsdon’s WINNINGEST MARES IN EUROPEAN COMPETITION.
lease of four straight mares. Shirley
Piechur’s 1998 grey filly out of Gai
admires the Egyptian lines for their
Radiant Dream (Gai Radiant x Gaishea
intense type and refinement, a part of
by Bey Shah) is probably the best
her appreciation for the impact of the
Piechur filly foaled at Halsdon,
Nazeer grandson Palas and
says Paul.
granddaughter Parma (both sired by Aswan) in Poland. Paul discovered Simeon Sadik (Asfour
The Gainey group at Halsdon includes the stallion Gai
x Simeon Safanad by Sankt Georg RSI), a stunning black
Radiant (Gai Parada x Zee Radiance by Gai Warsaw), a
who had already excited worldwide attention, when he
1990 grey imported in 1997, plus three Gainey-line mares,
judged the 1995 Australian East Coast Championships,
including Gai Beisha (Bey Shah x Gai Chardonnay by
and made Simeon Sadik Champion Senior Stallion.
Ferzon), three times Scottsdale Top Ten in halter.
Shirley was immediately intrigued by Paul’s choice, and she and Charlie flew to Australia for a personal
SHF Pearlie Mae (SHF Southern Whiz x Citona by GB
inspection. Within weeks, Simeon Sadik was grazing in a
Baron), a 1990 grey mare, arrived at Halsdon in 1994, the
Halsdon paddock. After a year of let-down from showing
outcome of Paul and Joan’s serendipitous discovery of her
and acclimation to his new home — which process
earlier that year. For two years, she set European
involved daily grazing and being ridden several times a
showrings alight, going Nations Cup Champion Mare,
week — he was put back into show condition and went
Towerlands Champion Mare, British National Champion
1996 UK International Champion Stallion and 1996 World
Mare, European Champion Mare, and, the topper, 1996
Reserve Champion Stallion.
World Champion Mare at the Salon du Cheval.
“Simeon Sadik was imported to further strengthen the
The Halsdon master plan is quite simple in theory. From
‘desert’ characteristics of the Halsdon stock," says Paul.
the select mares collected over the past two decades,
“His head and eye are exceptional, and he has
Shirley has taken on the challenge of breeding offspring of
outstanding presence and extravagant motion. After two
equal, if not better, quality than their parents. “My goal is
foal crops, we are delighted with his influence, and it is
to breed horses that are not only very beautiful to look at,
interesting that two of the best foals of 1998 are out of a
but also very athletic,” says Shirley. “Arabians, after all, are
Palas daughter and a Palas granddaughter.”
the best riding horses in the world.”
The diversity of bloodlines available through American
Shirley and Paul carry on a continuous dialogue on
breeding programs has encouraged Shirley’s shopping in
breeding decisions. At the end of each breeding season, a
the United States. The most important group, says Paul, is
preliminary covering list is drawn up for the following
that of the Ferzon/Azraff lines. The Gainey/Ferzon
year, but final decisions are made only after each mare
Arabians, with their ethereal quality and wonderful type,
foals. Repeat breedings are based on the gender and
especially appeal to Shirley’s aesthetic sense. In the
quality of each foal. A mare who produces an excellent
breeding barn, they’re valued for their ability to cross
colt may be rebred to the same stallion in the hope of
successfully with the Polish Seglawi lines. (No great
producing a filly. If an excellent filly is produced and is
surprise in that the Gainey horses carry many different
likely to be retained for the breeding program, the mare
crosses to the Polish-bred Skowronek, Paul believes.)
will be bred to a different stallion.
1 0 -HALSDON-WORLD
B aija (Ali J amaal x HS M isty M oon by E l H ilal), foaled in 1990 in the U nited S tates , was imported in 1991.
Right: The manager’s residence is on one of the purchased parcels of land that were once part of Halsdon as a large seventeenth century farming estate. Below: The Halsdon round pen, viewing gallery, and show arena fit comfortably into the lovely Devonshire countryside.
In 1999, five Halsdon stallions will be
riding and driving, and it takes no effort
used: Pilot, noted for siring type,
at all for me to acquire horses.”
particularly good necks and an overall symmetry; Simeon Sadik, who fulfills all
For Shirley, that ease of acquisition is
expectations by adding refinement,
not limited to Poland; it extends to the
quality, and outstanding eyes; Platoon
United States. She and Charlie and Paul
HT, noted for siring excellent dry refinement and excellent
often take in the Scottsdale and U.S. Nationals as spectators,
necks; Piechur, already recognized as a sire of champions;
excursions which occasionally become shopping ventures.
and Gai Radiant, who infuses more elegance and
One of Shirley’s first imports from the United States, SF
refinement and transmits the heritage of his intensely
Hidden Jewel (Front Page SF x Brandie Alexandra by SR
Skowronek-based pedigree. The Aswan grandson Galba
Nadom), 1991 Scottsdale Junior Champion Filly and later
(Plakat x Gza Gza by Negatraz) will be at stud for the first
Champion at Baden-Baden, arrived at Halsdon in 1991. In
time in 1999. Galba, like the other Halsdon stallions, is a
1994 Hidden Jewel produced Hidden Charm (by Platoon
show champion. At the 1998 Towerlands show, judges
HT), UK International Champion Filly. Also, in 1991,
gave him a score of 95.8, believed to be the highest score
Halsdon added Baija (Ali Jamaal x HS Misty Moon by El
ever awarded at Towerlands and one of the highest
Hilal), who went UK International Champion Mare.
in Europe. In Halsdon’s showing effort, says Shirley, the horses are Of the 20 foals in the 1998 crop, several emerge as
presented at several county shows in England, a few small
outstanding. Simeon Sadik sired two wonderful colts and a
shows to introduce the yearlings on the show string, and
filly, says Paul, the colts out of Egina (by Palas) and Etenta
several international shows, both in England and in Europe.
(by Monogramm), both greys, both with exquisite type,
“We rarely go to shows as spectators,” she notes. “Personally,
and both out of “E” line mares. “The high percentage of
I am not a devotee of the showring, but I like to support my
Egyptian blood gives the colts short heads and strong
horses. Seeing my horses doing well (at home or at shows)
deep bodies, and they trot up a storm,” says Shirley. “The
and b ein g h a p p y in w h a t th e y ’re d o in g is most important to
Sadik filly, probably his best to date, is an exotic black out
me.
of Baija (by Ali Jamaal). Pearlie Mae gave us a Gai Radiant filly that we consider outstanding, and Gai Radiant Dream
“We enjoy Scottsdale very much because it’s a lot of fun, and
produced a Peichur filly. Although the filly is an active
there are so many wonderful horses to be seen. Last
mover and has Piechur’s size and long neck, she more
Scottsdale we purchased several horses, including FAF
closely resembles the Gainey type overall.” Paul’s personal
Victoria (Khadraj NA x Glitter VF by Bey Shah), brought her
favorite is the dramatic, masculine show-off Hidden Gold,
home and at the UK International Show in Towerlands, she
a dark bay colt sired by Pilot. “He is more Kuhailan in
went Champion Filly. To me, her beautiful head and neck
type with strong conformation, a long hooky’ neck, and a
and her total femininity are especially appealing. Also, I do
fantastic trot,” Paul notes.
love attending the Polish National Show and seeing horses of my favorite mare lines and to see the daughters and
“Most of the Halsdon effort goes into breeding, then
granddaughters of horses I admire do well year after year. A
showing and of course the schooling,” Shirley notes. “We
bonus of shows is seeing friends and acquaintances that
devote the winter months to breaking in young stock,
you’d like to see more often.”
1 2 -HALSDON-WORLD
Right: HS Santouna (Simeon Sadik x SCANDALIER BY GONDOLIER) IS A BLENDING OF EGYPTIAN, POLISH, AND American lines, including a Gainey LINE VIA GaFFIZON. Below left: Etenta (Monogramm x Emigracja by Palas), foaled in 1994 at Michalow State Stud in Poland, DESCENDS FROM ESTOKADA (AmURATHSahib x Saga by Hardy), the Wattses’ favorite “E” line mare at Michalow. Below right: Focus Seneca (Padrons Psyche x Focus Alianna by Ruminaja Ali) represents a blending of Egyptian, Crabbet, and Tersk BLOODLINES. THE 1991 FILLY, BRED IN the United States, was imported in 1992. In British show arenas, she WAS UNBEATEN AS AYEARLING AND WAS British National Champion in 1994.
Shirley expresses her concerns about
Halsdon horses do not compete in
the lot of halter horses: “I should
performance classes; however,
very much like to see less severity
Shirley places great importance on
shown in the presentation of many of
their usability on the farm. The
the horses in American and European
Polish-bred horses have race
show arenas. It is scandalous that so
records, and horses at home are
many — even yearlings — are obviously under
developed for riding horses or are driven in single,
severe stress. We all know about the abuse of horses
pair, or team harness. As much as the halter horses are
in training. Why are we seemingly powerless to do
valued for their quality, type, and refinement, they
something positive to help them? Is the cruel abuse
must also possess true riding-horse conformation. The
they suffer any less disgraceful than starving them?”
Polish lines, Shirley believes, quite happily combine the virtues of both. Offspring that do not quite match
Watching Piechur win a strong senior stallion class
up to halter showing standards make wonderful all-
and then go on to Nations Cup Senior Male
around pleasure horses and they have the genetic
Championship gave Shirley one of her favorite show
background for racing and are suitably conformed for
memories of the past few years. “He was in top form
endurance work.
and behaved like an excitable youngster, then became an excitable old man,” she says. “When
One of Shirley’s great joys is saddling one of the mares
Piechur won both his European Championship and
and riding over the Halsdon lands and surrounding
his UK Championship, he saw me at ringside and
countryside. At home at Halsdon House, Shirley has
stared and stared at me, totally fixated. I didn’t know
created her own small stables area where she can
whether to laugh or to cry. Then in 1997 at Aachen,
spend high-quality time with several of her favorites.
Pikieta was totally unforgettable as she walked
"Each evening I go out for rounds of my own small
sedately into the ring and then launched into a
yard,” Shirley relates. “This is my time alone with the
blazing trot where she was lightness and yet power
horses, and we all love it. When I’m looking at a mare
personified. She repeated that entrance at the World
in the barn and a little mare in the loose stall behind
Championships in Paris. There, she did not go
me nudges me in the back to get some attention —
champion, but we didn’t dare tell her! Other special
that’s one of the highs of Arabian ownership.”
show moments: Pearlie Mae with her grandeur, yet kindly manner; Wioleta, with her gentleness and
For Shirley and Charlie, their serenity comes through
femininity; and Pilarka, and her stunning beauty.”
the companionship with their horses, and both find contentment in the knowledge that their horses are
“I’m one of the luckiest handlers alive,” says Paul.
cherished and that they have all that is needed for
“Shirley is adamant that the horses show only if they
their good health and well-being.
enjoy the process; they are never placed under any stress in order to compete. So it follows that I have
All gentlemen farmers should be so fortunate to have
never been under any pressure from the horses’
that serenity, that pleasure, especially that pleasure that
owners to win. A remarkable state of affairs in itself."
comes from knowing Arabian horses.
1 4 -HALSDON-WORLD
Above: Wioleta, one of four Palas daughters at Halsdon, was imported from Poland in 1993 and soon added show titles — Wessex Arabian Horse Show Supreme Champion and UK International Reserve Champion Mare — to her credits. Left: A familiar sight at European shows: Shirley Watts with trophy for a champion Halsdon Arabian. Below: Ankara (Europejczyk x Angola by Palas), imported from Poland in 1996, is one of nine Palas granddaughters in the Halsdon herd.
F our Halsdon broodmares reflect S hirley’s belief in blending a variety of bloodlines . L eft to right P rincess M elchia (Melchior x Radwanah by G old R ex ) of E gyptian, S wedish, G erman , and C rabbet bloodlines ; M elisha (Melchior x A l S hamsa by S unlights A llegro ) of E gyptian, S wedish, G erman , and C rabbet bloodlines ; C eratonia (Probat x C eratka by G warny) of P olish and S wedish bloodlines ; and S ilver C apra (Tornado x S ilver C aprice by N aborr ), bred in the U nited S tates of P olish, C rabbet , and T ersk lines.
HALSDON
ARABIANS
M r . and M rs . C. R. Watts , O wners Paul Atkinson , M anager
Dolton, Winkleigh, Devonshire, Great Britain, EX 19 8RS Phone: 011-44-1-805-603635 • Fax : 011-44-1-805-603639 • E-mail: halsdarab@aol.com