Arabians Ltd. — Celebrating 30 Years of Passion

Mishaal

*

HP …

TA K I N G I T T O T H E N E X T L E V E L

B Y N A N C Y RYA N

PRECEDING PAGE: *MISHAAL HP (ANSATA SINAN X MESOUDAH M).

BELOW: ISRAELI NATIONAL CHAMPION JUNIOR FILLY SANIYYAH RCA (*MISHAAL HP X MY SHOOTING STAR BY THEE DESPERADO), OWNED BY ARIELA ARABIANS, ISRAEL. FACING PAGE: BASSIRA (*MISHAAL HP X SABIHA RAQQASA BY THEE

ith each footstep toward his stall, nickers from stablemates swell to whinnies. The click of the latch signals a deafening crescendo as the stallions sound their unified alarm. Between breaths they prick their ears in his direction, waiting to receive news of what they all know — that the big white horse is about to make another appearance. As the halter is slipped on, his fine, black nostrils flare. The door slides open, and the classic head emerges, atop a long, sleek, arched neck. Muscular white shoulders appear next, and the eye can’t help but follow the level topline to the rounded hip and the dock of his raised snow-white tail. There is no mistaking when Judy Sirbasku’s *Mishaal HP (Ansata Sinan x Mesoudah M) is in the house. He stands tall in the aisle, exuding elegance, and the ethereal quality of his famous sire, Reserve World Champion and European Champion Ansata Sinan (Prince FA Moniet x Ansata Nefara). His refinement is tempered with the substance and beauty of his dam, Mesoudah M (Messaoud x Madinah), a full sister to the legendary international sire *Imperial Madheen.

With the addition of this magnificent stallion, Judy Sirabasku has assembled in one place, eight of the most influential straight

DESPERADO), OWNED BY RICH AND CHRISTEN BENAT.

SHIRA YEGAR PHOTO

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Thee Desperado has created a dynasty since his 1994 U.S. National win. The Arabians Ltd. program grew to include Desperado’s sons Thee Infidel (x Bint Magidaa), a National Top Ten Stallion and Futurity Colt; Egyptian Event Champion Stallion Pimlico RCA (x Bint Bint Jamil); and Thee Asil (x Alia Barakaa), a Regional Reserve Champion. Arabians Ltd. had recently purchased another Desperado son named The Sequel RCA, who is out of Thee Desperado’s full sister La Marsala. Alixir (The Elixir x The Prevue), a grandson of The Minstril, is about a 65 percent outcross to the Desperado lines, and kept the program in motion, but with time, Judy and Shawn knew they needed to search for a bold new infusion.

“We had a picture in our minds of a horse that would work as an outcross for these bloodlines, but we couldn’t find him,” says Shawn. “And if we couldn’t find him, the rest of our program wouldn’t work because we were getting way too close with the bloodlines.”

“What we really needed,” adds Judy,

ARABIANS LTD. OWNERS JUDY AND JIM SIRBASKU.

“was a stallion to sire daughters that we could breed to our stallions, or the goal might even be to get a top-notch colt by him.”

Judy got busy with her homework, pouring over pedigrees. For the new stallion to work, the shopping list would need to include a heavy dose of outcross breeding. Shawn launched her search in the United States, but unfortunately there were no suitable horses available at the time. From there, a five-year quest ensued.

Shawn literally traveled the world over. In Australia she became enamored with an *Imperial Madheen son, but the stars weren’t in alignment. From there, she traveled to Europe, following the tracks of the magnificent Ansata Sinan.

Shawn was judging in Italy when breeder Thomas Mayer told her about a stallion bred by Horst Preuss at Frank Spönle’s farm in Germany. Shawn made the trip to see *Mishaal HP. “As far as I was concerned we were as SUZANNE STURGILL PHOTO

Egyptian breeding stallions in the world today. *Mishaal HP was bred in Germany

by Horst Preuss, and came to Arabians Ltd. in Waco, Texas, four years ago, after an epic search. Judy and husband Jim Sirbasku sent general manager Shawn Crews on a worldwide quest for a new stallion to replenish the farm’s gene pool, made strong by their foundation sire, 1994 U.S. National Reserve Champion and Scottsdale Unanimous Grand Champion Thee Desperado (The Minstril x AK Amiri Asmarr). Thee Desperado also distinguishes himself as the world’s leading living sire of straight Egyptians. For this very reason the time had come to ensure the forward direction of the program’s mission.

“The program worked with Thee Desperado for a long time because Desperado has nothing that doubles up in his pedigree, except for *Morafic way back,” explains Shawn. “So in Thee Desperado, we started with a horse that had no linebreeding or inbreeding.”

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TWO SONS OF THEE DESPERADO: TOP: PIMLICO RCA (X BINT BINT JAMIL), EGYPTIAN EVENT SUPREME CHAMPION STALLION, REGION 9 CHAMPION STALLION, AND LAS VEGAS WORLD CUP TOP FOUR SENIOR STALLION, OWNED BY ARABIANS LTD., AND BRED BY DAVID AND DEBRA GEISER, LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA. BOTTOM: THEE INFIDEL (X BINT MAGIDAA), A NATIONAL TOP TEN STALLION AND FUTURITY COLT, OWNED BY ARABIANS LTD. AND THEE INFIDEL GROUP.

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close as we had ever been to the right horse for us,” says Shawn.

“But I needed Judy’s confirmation that what she had envisioned in a stallion was what I had seen in Germany. Judy looked at the footage I brought home of *Mishaal for two seconds, and said, ‘that is him.’ She was sure, and she was right.”

In Shawn’s opinion, *Mishaal HP was one of the world’s great straight Egyptian stallions, and was greatly relieved that her search ended in success. Here in the flesh was a breathtaking beauty, embodying the mystery of the horse she was beginning to think didn’t exist. He had only been shown once, in Aachen at the competitive German Arabian Breeding Society’s National Stallion Licensing competition. So impressed were the judges, they awarded him the best rating possible and a platinum medal saying he was the stallion with the most exceptional head and Arabian type. Later, *Mishaal HP’s younger full brother, Mutair HP, would be named Germany’s Junior National Champion before being sold to Saudi Arabia.

Bringing home the prize was the next step. Judy remembers the day she watched the video of *Mishaal HP. “When I saw him on the screen, he took my breath away. I thought he was beautiful and I loved his pedigree, but mostly he just really reminded me of Ruminaja Ali. He has beautiful dappling and that wavy mane that Ali had. The way he prances is just exactly the way Ali did.”

Without even watching the tape to its end, Judy instructed Shawn to do whatever it took to acquire the German-bred beauty.

With Frank Spönle’s assistance, Mr. Preuss agreed to lease the stallion and *Mishaal HP was soon on his way to Waco.

That was in 2005, and later, after exercising their option to purchase, today Judy and Jim Sirbasku own the big grey outright. Right away, Arabians Ltd. clients clamored to see him and lined up to breed their mares to him.

Several signed up for lifetime breeding rights.

That means a client may breed once a year, every year, for the life of the stallion.

John and Jeri Merryman, of Waco, were the first to purchase a lifetime breeding.

“From our first sight of *Mishaal HP the day he arrived we were impressed by this tall, snowy-white stallion,” says Jeri. “As he was being walked around after his long, tiring trip, he carried himself with such presence and flair, that he took our breath away. We knew we wanted to breed select mares to him.

We didn’t hesitate.”

Thornewood Farm owners Lisa CifreseGeha and Richard Geha in Stockton, New Jersey, say the decision to become lifetime *Mishaal HP breeders was easy, since they own two Thee Desperado daughters. Yet pedigree aside, the stallion sold himself. “We were enamored with him the first time we laid eyes on him,” says Lisa. “His presence, his movement, and his charisma drew us in immediately.

Isis Arabians owners Roxanne and Dennis Parks are awaiting the arrival of their first *Mishaal HP foal out of their Thee Desperado daughter Josalina. “When I first met *Mishaal HP I was awestruck with the

THEE DESPERADO (THE MINSTRIL X AK AMIRI ASMARR

BY THE EGYPTIAN PRINCE), THE WORLD’S LEADING LIVING SIRE OF STRAIGHT EGYPTIANS.

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ABOVE: THEE ASIL (THEE DESPERADO X ALIA BARAKAA BY RUMINAJA ALI), EGYPTIAN EVENT WORLD CLASS CHAMPION STALLION AND REGION 9 RESERVE CHAMPION STALLION, OWNED BY ARABIANS LTD. AND MAIDEN CHASE ARABIANS. BOTTOM: REVELATIONS ASA (THEE ASIL X PIMLICOS GHAILAN BY PIMLICO RCA), 2007 EGYPTIAN EVENT RESERVE CHAMPION JUNIOR COLT, PICTURED WITH PREVIOUS OWNER STEPHANIE ELSEA, LEFT, AND CURRENT OWNERS AMAD AMER AND NASER MOUSHTAHA OF EGYPT, RIGHT, AND SHOWN BY LUIS PANIAGUA.

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regal power, elegance, and type in such a magnificent horse,” recalls Roxanne. He is what every girl dreams of — a big white stallion that can be her own.”

Louise Crofts felt the same way. “The first time I saw *Mishaal HP I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. There, standing right in front of me, was the very horse I used to dream about as a child. He looked like he came straight out of a fairy tale. He has an ethereal quality about him. And the best thing about him is that he passes on his wonderful traits to his offspring.” She and husband Dash own Crofts Haven Arabians in Cypress Mill, Texas. Dash adds, “We have two foals due in 2009. One is by *Mishaal out of one of our Desperado daughters and the other is by Desperado out of our *Mishaal daughter. We couldn’t be more excited.”

“When we saw *Mishaal for the first time we were both struck by the majesty and beauty of his appearance,” says Eunice Stigall of Houston. Eunice and her husband Zane decided to become lifetime breeders after seeing *Mishaal HP’s progeny for the last two years.

Lifetime *Mishaal HP breeders Wanda and Gary Kenworthy of Paradise Arabians in Dalton, Georgia, are very pleased with their colt Scapa, the first *Mishaal HP colt born in the U.S., out of their tall, stretchy, bay mare Erie Anna (Thee Infidel x Imbadia EV).

Erie Anna produced another colt and filly

by *Mishaal HP. “We had for some time been searching for the right outcross stallion for our respective programs,” explains Gary. “Wanda and I were blown away by this magnificent, alabaster-white, platinum-rated sire Shawn found in Germany.

Lyn Rogers of Lynlee Arabians in Waco anxiously awaited *Mishaal HP’s arrival. “I knew from the first that I not only needed but wanted to breed my Thee Desperado daughters to this stallion. He has been a wonderful investment for the farm and is giving me beautiful offspring. What an asset to our program!”

“I had to have a piece of him,” exclaims Anne Marie Keri of Trinity Arabians in Loma Linda, California. “When I first saw *Mishaal, my heart skipped a beat. He was magnificent — big, strong, drop-dead gorgeous and the purest white I’ve seen in a long time! He also had the Ansata bloodlines and a proven pedigree for my breeding program. We’re expecting a foal by him out of my foundation mare Thee Kieshta (Thee Asil x Bint Kieshta).

But for Louise and Dan DeRusseau of LD Arabians, who purchased two lifetime breedings, a lot of it is about disposition.

“Disposition is so important to me!” declares Louise. “We’ve been thrilled with every *Mishaal-sired foal that we’ve had, and I look forward to breeding many more. He puts on such typey small heads, gorgeous athletic movement with a lot of blow and snort, and with such friendly and calm dispositions.” *Mishaal HP has attracted discriminating breeders outside the world of straight Egyptians. Brent Stone, co-owner of three-time National Champion and two-time Scottsdale Champion stallion Enzo (Padrons Psyche x RD Bey Shahmpane) is enthusiastic about using

ABOVE: THE SEQUEL RCA (THEE DESPERADO X LA MARSALA), EGYPTIAN EVENT RESERVE SUPREME CHAMPION STALLION, OWNED BY ROCK CREEK ARABIANS OF TEXAS, INC. BOTTOM LEFT: TRULY SEQUEL RCA (THE SEQUEL RCA X ASILA RCA), A 2006 FILLY, OWNED BY DR THOMAS AND STEFANI ANNETT. BOTTOM RIGHT: 2008 BAY COLT (THE SEQUEL RCA X MINSTRILS KISS).

*Mishaal HP in his program. “I am breeding some of my best mares to him in hopes of getting fillies to eventually breed back on Enzo,” explains Brent. “When I went to Waco to see him I was blown away with the quality of that horse — the size and substance — and he had a lot of movement. I also saw some foals there at the farm and they were off the charts. I bought five breedings to this horse. I want *Mishaal HP to be my ‘secret weapon.’ I am going to breed at least three more mares to him this year, and I am breeding Enzo’s dam RD Bey Shahmpane (Bey Shah x Bey Shahdar) to him.

I bred most of my best mares, including daughters of *Ecaho and Monogramm. I don’t care if a horse is Egyptian, Spanish, or Polish.

A good horse is a good horse. But *Mishaal is the kind of horse that will improve the straight Egyptians and the Arabian horse in general.”

David Cains of Stonewall Farm Arabians is impressed with *Mishaal. “One of the things I love most about *Mishaal HP is he is a perfect example of true Arabian type,” he says. “We are very excited to be breeding one of our finest mares to him in 2009.”

Barbara Lewis of Baraka Farm Egyptian Arabian Horses in Cove, Arkansas, says she searched for years for a stallion to use as an outcross to her own stallion Ansata El Shahraf (Ansata Halim Shah x Ansata Samaria). “I knew the *Mishaal HP combination worked beautifully with ‘Thee’ horses,” remarks Barbara, “but wanted something that would TOP: ALIXIR (THE ELIXIR X THE PREVUE BY THE MINSTRIL), AN OUTCROSS SIRE FOR ARABIANS LTD. MIDDLE LEFT: BELLAGIO RCA (ALIXIR X RHAPSODY IN BLACK BY THEE DESPERADO), EGYPTIAN EVENT JUNIOR CHAMPION COLT, OWNED BY ROCK CREEK ARABIANS OF TEXAS, INC. MIDDLE RIGHT: JUSTYNN (ALIXIR X BINT BINT JUSTINA BY THEE DESPERADO), 2008 EGYPTIAN EVENT JUNIOR CHAMPION COLT, BRED BY TIMOTHY MANRING, CHIMACUM, WASHINGTON, OWNED BY AMAD AMER AND NASER MOUSHTAHA, EGYPT. BOTTOM RIGHT: THE BANDERA (ALIXIR X ARABELLA MCA BY THEE INFIDEL), U.S. AND CANADIAN NATIONAL TOP TEN HUNTER PLEASURE, AND SCOTTSDALE RESERVE CHAMPION HUNTER PLEASURE, OWNED BY GAIL AND TOM CHASTEEN

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AND BILL AND GINA BARRON.

keep the look I have. When I saw *Mishaal and his pedigree, I felt that he was one to fit the bill, and immediately booked to him. *Mishaal HP’s appeal also reaches out to breeders around the world, including Israel’s Ariela Arabians. Farm manager Chen Kedar tried to lease *Mishaal HP back in 2000, but the timing wasn’t right. “At this time *Mishaal was a young stallion, still not mature, but you could see his quality right away,” recalls Chen. “Later I had the chance to visit our longtime friends Judy and Jim Sirbasku and Shawn Crews at Arabians Ltd. Well, the young stallion blossomed into a beautiful snow-white swan — just what I was hoping he would be when I saw him in the past. Judy and Jim agreed to share with us one of their hidden treasures — a *Mishaal filly named Saniyyah RCA, with a dam line to the great Bint Bint Sabbah. We chose this filly to be an outcross for our stallions. In the same year Saniyyah was shown at the Israeli Nationals and the Israeli Egyptian Event and won both!”

Thirty Years and Counting

“Can you believe it? Thirty years breeding horses!” exclaims Jim Sirbasku. This year, Jim, Judy, and Shawn are celebrating 30 years of breeding, showing, and marketing straight Egyptians at Arabians Ltd. It all started with three horses and an investment opportunity for Jim. Now, because of Judy’s passion for the horses and Shawn’s dedication to the mission, Arabians Ltd. is one of the most successful and respected straight Egyptian businesses in the world. The main

farm sits on 160 rolling acres of pasture dotted with pin oak trees in Waco, Texas. Its stallions and broodmares are known the world over and are the result of careful weaving of the purest bloodlines. Dozens of clients reach their own horse breeding goals with the one-on-one service and support of Arabians Ltd. staff, and the business has grown to include three affiliate farms spread across the United States.

“Our success has gone well beyond our expectations,” states Jim. “I never thought we would have the success we have had with horses from our program internationally. I don’t know how many can say a horse from your breeding program has been a champion in the Middle East. That wasn’t even a dream when we started this.”

Shawn says that even in the very beginning, a plan was put into place. “Jim and Judy set goals more than 20 years ago. At the time they seemed insurmountable. But now they have come to fruition many times over.

I think what we are proudest of is looking around and seeing all the people who are now very important Egyptian breeders all over the world and who started their programs either with one of our horses or basically in our living room learning about this at our farm.”

Jim continues, “From the beginning with Shawn and Judy and David Gardner, we’ve SUZANNE PHOTO

THEE DESPERADO DAUGHTERS: TOP: DESPERADOS BELLE RCA (X MAALIS REBECAH BY THE ELIXIR).

BOTTOM: SWEET ELOISE (X KUHAYLAH NITAYA BY TAMMEN), TWO-TIME U.S. NATIONAL TOP TEN MARE AND UNANIMOUS REGIONAL CHAMPION MARE, OWNED BY ANGIE REYNOLDS.

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buoyed up the program by setting goals year after year. Visualizing our future and never losing sight of that picture has been key in our success.”

David Gardner remembers the early years. “Our friendship began in 1978 when the Sirbaskus became clients of ours. That relationship grew into a 15-year partnership that could be a modern-day business model for mutual respect and success. In 1993, when a family illness dictated that Marion and I leave the horse business to run my brother’s business, Jim and Judy purchased our interest and took over the reins of Arabians Ltd. and Gardner Bloodstock. With a model the likes of Calumet Farm, the Sirbaskus developed Arabians Ltd. into the premier Egyptian Arabian horse breeding farm in the world.

Few could argue that they are producing the finest Arabian horses in the world. With an innovative business model, they have brought more new people into the world of Arabian

horses than any individual or farm in the last 20 years. Today, 30 years after meeting the Sirbaskus, they are still our best friends and we are eternally grateful to them for carrying on our life’s work so beautifully.”

In addition to transforming newcomers into serious horse breeders, Arabians Ltd. has partnered with several worldwide leaders in the Arabian industry. A good example is Frank Spönle, whose clients at his European training center include top breeders from around the world. After arranging the lease and sale of *Mishaal HP, Frank’s relationship with Arabians Ltd. deepened.

“Frank has gone on to become a close associate,” says Shawn. “He showed *Mishaal for us at the Egyptian Event, so he not only found us the horse, he also backed up his recommendation by winning for us too.”

(Frank and *Mishaal brought home the Reserve Senior Stallion Championship.)

Frank was also the agent for the recent sale of

LEFT: RHAPSODY IN BLACK (THEE DESPERADO X ALIASHAHM RA BY RUMINAJA ALI), ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE BROODMARES AT ARABIANS LTD. ABOVE: THEE DESPERADO WITH ARABIANS LTD. MARKETING DIRECTOR JOHN NEYER.

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the beautiful mare MC Alexsis (The Elixir x AK Athena). This 1996 grey mare was the two-time Egyptian Event Reserve Supreme Champion Mare and was Top Ten ATH at the U.S. Nationals. “Frank had been trying to buy her since she was four years old,” explains Shawn.

“Alexsis is now owned by Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, of Ajman Stud. “Frank is also breeding mares to our stallions,” adds Shawn. “He bred his Padrons Psyche daughter Christina JD to Thee Desperado and has two embryos coming that will be born at our farm.

He also leased Satine CAHR, a Desperado daughter out of Magic Dream’s dam, The Dreamspinner. He bred her to *Marwan Al Shaqab (*Gazal Al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame) and that foal is due in May. So we’ve gone from us being his client, to him being our client, and we have a relationship with Frank that has been fully positive.”

Another overseas associate is Bruce McCrea of Al Mohamadia Stud, Saudi Arabian.

“My wife Karin and I have been good friends with Shawn since her days at Bentwood,” says Bruce. “I have a great deal of respect for her as a breeder and horsewoman. Arabians Ltd. has always had a great program. The whole team does an outstanding job of promoting the breed and educating new owners. I have had many dealings with Shawn, Judy, and Jim over the years and I have always found them to be honest, candid, and professional.

“Thee Desperado continues to be one of the most influential Arabian stallions,” adds Bruce. “I have had wonderful success with Thee Desperado daughters as broodmares. They are versatile and consistently produce type and athleticism. We congratulate Judy and Jim and the Arabians Ltd. team on this significant milestone and wish them continued success.”

Veteran horseman and judge Greg Knowles has been working with and showing Arabians Ltd. horses for several years. “We owe a great debt of gratitude to Greg for helping transform our program from good to great,” Shawn says. “He’s a true professional who has contributed much to our program.”

“When I first came on board, they were doing a fine job, but Shawn said she wanted to step things up a bit and take their showing to a new level,” says Greg, whom Judy calls her “adopted son.”

“First of all, I looked at the quality of the stock and that was a no-brainer,” continues Greg. “The horses were just great. So we started to tighten up the ship a bit and get things organized. Their head trainer Luis Paniagua came out to be with us in Scottsdale for the show for two or three years, which is just the most crazy time of year for us. He was able to condition, clip, and help us show these horses — some of them wild broncs that come in from all over the United States and are turned into show horses in 90 days. So he was able to live it and understand the degree of intensity required to show at that level. Luis took that and applied it to his program. He is one of the leading young up-and-coming halter trainers in the country. He has a great attitude about learning — he’s open-minded and talented.”

Greg is also a believer when it comes to the business model of Arabians Ltd. “There is no other program on the planet that makes as much sense for an investor as Arabians Ltd., and secondly, I have never met anyone more sincere, more committed and more honest in this industry than Shawn Crews. It is a joy to be around the people of Arabians Ltd.” “We also offer a heartfelt thank you to David Reissig,” Shawn says. “From showing

MC ALEXSIS (THE ELIXIR X AK ATHENA BY SAR IBN MONIET), OWNED BY AJMAN STUD, UAE, WAS EGYPTIAN EVENT RESERVE SUPREME CHAMPION AND HIGH POINT STRAIGHT EGYPTIAN MARE, CHAMPION MARE IN NORWAY, AND RESERVE CHAMPION MARE AT THE EUROPEAN EGYPTIAN EVENT. SHE IS PICTURED ABOVE WITH SHAWN CREWS OF ARABIANS LTD.

FRANK SPÖNLE PICTURED WITH MC ALEXSIS. FRANK HAS SHOWN THE MARE TO MANY OF HER CHAMPIONSHIPS AND NEGOTIATED THE PURCHASE OF *MISHAAL HP FOR ARABIANS LTD.

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LEFT AND BELOW: MINSTRILS KISS (THE MINSTRIL X PRINCESS SALAM BY THE EGYPTIAN PRINCE), EGYPTIAN EVENT JUNIOR CHAMPION FILLY AND RESERVE SUPREME CHAMPION MARE, PICTURED BELOW WITH OWNERS JUDY AND JIM SIRBASKU, RIGHT, AND SHAWN CREWS, LEFT.

SUZANNE STURGILL PHOTO

RANDI CLARK PHOTO

FACING PAGE: HELEN MARIE RCA (THE MINSTRIL X PRINCESS FARIHA BY THE EGYPTIAN PRINCE), A 1995 MARE OWNED BY ROCK CREEK ARABIANS OF TEXAS, INC.

RIGHT: ABRIEL RCA (THE MINSTRIL X ALIASHAHM RA BY RUMINAJA ALI), A 1990 BLACK MARE, OWNED BY ROCK CREEK ARABIANS OF TEXAS, INC.

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SUZANNE STURGILL PHOTO

Mark and Nancy Ness of Eden Praire, Minnesota, became two of the first Arabians Ltd. clients in the spring of 1988 when they purchased a yearling filly. “We thought we were getting a horse,” explains Nancy, “but in reality we became part of the Arabians Ltd. family.”

Mark appreciates the support and education they’ve received over the years. “It has been incredible. We couldn’t imagine entering this business without the guidance we have enjoyed.”

“I was fortunate that my first exposure to Egyptian Arabian horses was with Arabians Ltd.,” recalls Bob Miars of Miars Arabians in our amateur champions to the winners circle offer a colt buy-back program. If a client Murchison, Texas. “This was when I fell in to his second-to-none set ups, our show does doesn’t get the filly they wanted, we will buy love with Thee Desperado at a Newcomers not go on with out him. In addition, we a colt back in the form of a credit toward the Conference. I immediately became a Life thank him for the beautiful photos he’s taken purchase of a filly or mare at a later time. We Breeder to Thee Desperado and started that have documented many of our most also have a special mare lease program for acquiring or leasing mares that I could breed cherished moments in the horse business. newcomers.” to him.”

“Jim brings his acute sense of running “Karl Breckon and Bob Ford have Deb and Mark Burke own and operate a business to Arabians Ltd.,” states Shawn. been instrumental in helping us with our Amethyst Acres, an Arabians Ltd. satellite farm “However, expertise in business would be newcomer conferences over the years,” adds in Buchanan, Virginia. Mark’s relationship of no value if it were not for the fact that Jim. “Without them we would not have with Arabians Ltd. was sparked when he was a my wife breeds amazing horses,” says Jim. been able to introduce so many people to the youngster in East Texas and had the chance to “Her intuition and knowledge as a breeder horses and our program.” see the yearling Thee Desperado. “He stopped is uncanny. Add to that equation a staff “I think we have achieved our goal of me in my tracks,” remembers Mark. “He was comprised of some of the industry’s leading educating newcomers,” says Jim, “and we’ve the most perfect horse I had ever imagined. talents in their fields who are passionate done such a good job educating our clients on To this day he is still the horse against which about horses and people. That makes a the breeding, marketing, and sales process, so I judge all others. Deb and I enjoyed working solid program.” that they can stand on their own as breeders.” with him during our time at Arabians Ltd. and Jim believes the success rests in keeping Those clients include Richard Geha are delighted to continue working with him the program’s mission simple. “We want to and Lisa Cifrese-Geha, whose Thornewood through our relationship as an affiliate farm.” continue to create successful breeders and Farm is the newest of Arabians Ltd.’s satellite Mike Cimino, whose Colthill Crescent preserve the straight Egyptian horse. But these farms. “We feel excited about continuing to Arabians in Folsom, Louisiana, is among the goals are secondary to our goal of giving the produce such exquisite Egyptian bloodstock,” satellite farms, was also once an Arabians novice horseman the ability to be a part of says Lisa, “while providing clients with the Ltd. newcomer. “Over the past 15 years, something important.” supportive services of Arabians Ltd., and it Judy and Jim have helped me negotiate In addition, we never wanted to have pleases us to represent Arabians Ltd. in the the world of breeding and marketing these anyone experience buyer’s remorse, so we Northeast.” magnificent horses and at the same time,

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RANDI CLARK PHOTO RANDI CLARK PHOTO

SUZANNE STURGILL PHOTO

RANDI CLARK PHOTO

RANDI CLARK PHOTO

helping others to create their own dream. The ultimate proof of their support and trust came in 2004 when they asked me to become an affiliate farm. Since that time, Colthill Crescent Arabians has grown and has become a wonderful place for families to spend weekends enjoying their horses and their new friends.”

“You just don’t find better people than Judy and Jim Sirbasku,” says Bob Boggs. “Janene and I enjoyed them so much as we campaigned Thee Desperado, who is a fabulous horse and sire.

Long after the thrill of winning Scottsdale and a Reserve title at the U.S. Nationals, I am proud to call Judy and Jim my friends.”

Despite the sluggish economy, there is always a market for top horses. “We’ve sent six foals to Egypt over the last couple of months,” says Shawn. “Foals by *Mishaal, Thee Asil, Thee Desperado, and Pimlico RCA. Five were bred and sold by our clients. The affiliate farms are prospering, our horses are winning everywhere, and newcomer and client events and seminars are well attended.”

Adds Jim, “I think I can safely say we are one of the most successful horse breeding businesses in the world.” But Jim is not necessarily thinking in terms of ribbons or dollars and cents. “If you have good customer service, the money follows. Yes, we are profitable and have worked at it for 30 years,” Jim says, but he is quick to point out that the material pluses don’t add up to much if you don’t count the people involved. “Judy and I have the horse breeding business to thank for our dearest friendships and the horses themselves for the great joy they bring us on a daily basis.”

Real people enjoying real success with some of the finest horses in the world today — that defines the Arabians Ltd. experience.

TOP LEFT: JUDY SIRBASKU AND MIKE CIMINO OF AFFILIATE FARM COLTHILL CRESCENT ARABIANS, FOLSOM, LOUISIANA. TOP RIGHT: SHOW DIVISION COORDINATER DIEGO HERNANDEZ, LEFT, AND MIKE ALBERTINI, CLIENT SERVICES DIRECTOR. MIDDLE LEFT: PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ARE RANDI CLARK, LUIS PANIAGUA, SHAWN CREWS, GREG KNOWLES, AND DAVID REISSIG. MIDDLE RIGHT: STEPHANE ROBILLARD, BREEDING AND FARM MANAGER, WITH HIS WIFE MELLISA, STUD BOOK AND OFFICE MANAGER. BOTTOM LEFT: ARABIANS LTD. TRAINER LUIS PANIAGUA WHO SHOWED PIMLICO RCA TO A REGION 9 CHAMPION STALLION TITLE. BOTTOM RIGHT: LISA GEHA-CIFRESE AND RICHARD GEHA OF THORNEWOOD FARM, AN AFFILIATE FARM FOR ARABIANS LTD.

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1. JOHN AND JERI MERRYMAN WHO PURCHASED THE FIRST *MISHAAL HP BREEDING. 2. JUDY AND JIM SIRBASKU CELEBRATE WINNING EGYPTIAN EVENT SUPREME CHAMPION STALLION WITH PIMLICO RCA, HANDLED BY GREG KNOWLES. PIMLICO RCA WAS BRED BY DEBRA GEISER. 3. MARK AND DEB BURKE, OWNERS OF AMETHYST ARABIANS, VIRGINIA. 4. THE BRECKON FAMILY: KARL, JACKI, AND ERICKA, WITH SHAWN CREWS. 5. MARKETING DIRECTOR FOR ARABIANS LTD. JOHN NEYER, RIGHT, WITH STACEY AND ERIC MLAK, CENTER, AND PETE GOTSIS. 6. MARION AND DAVID GARDNER. 7. BJ THEE MUSTAFA (THEE DESPERADO X KHALILI AL BAHR), WORLD CHAMPION STALLION, OWNED

BY KING ABDULLA OF SAUDI ARABIA, IS BEING PRESENTED TO PRINCE CHARLES BY BRUCE MCCREA. 8. BOB FORD. 9. RANDI CLARK. PHOTOGRAPHER AND PUBLICIST FOR ARABIANS LTD. 10. SHANA, DAVID, AND MORGAN REISSIG.

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15 ▪ ARABIANS LTD ▪ WORLD

THANK YOU TO THE MOST AMAZING GROUP OF CLIENTS AND FRIENDS

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WHO MAKE THE DREAM OF THIS BREEDING PROGRAM A REALITY …

A R A B I A N S

L T D .

S T A F F

M E M B E R S

SHAWN CREWS GENERAL MANAGER CREWS@ARABIANSLTD.COM

SUZANNE MURPHY COMPTROLLER SUZANNE@ARABIANSLTD.COM

JOHN NEYER MARKETING DIRECTOR NEYER@ARABIANSLTD.COM

AMANDA WAITS FARM SECRETARY WAITS@ARABIANSLTD.COM

MIKE ALBERTINI CLIENT SERVICES DIRECTOR ALBERTINI@ARABIANSLTD.COM

LUIS PANIAGUA TRAINER SHOWDIVISION@ARABIANSLTD.COM

RANDI CLARK PUBLICIST RANDI@ARABIANSLTD.COM

DEANNA PUTNAM MARE CARE OFFICE MANAGER MARECARE@ARABIANSLTD.COM

MELLISA AND STEPHANE ROBILLARD STUD BOOK, FARM, AND BREEDING MANAGERS ROBILLARD@ARABIANSLTD.COM

JESSICA SORENSON ASSISTANT BREEDING MANAGER SORENSON@ARABIANSLTD.COM

TARA MAUS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT MAUS@ARABIANSLTD.COM

MEREDITH GROCE VETERINARIAN ASSISTANT GROCE@ARABIANSLTD.COM

J I M A N D J U DY S I R B A S K U, OW N E R S 8 4 5 9 RO C K C R E E K ROA D • WAC O, T X 7 6 7 0 8 • 2 5 4 . 7 1 4 . 1 8 0 3 • 2 5 4 . 7 5 2 . 6 0 5 6 FA X INFO@ARABIANSLTD.COM • WWW.ARABIANSLTD.COM

A F F I L I A T E

F A R M S

COLTHILL CRESCENT ARABIANS MIKE CIMINO FOLSOM, LOUISIANA 985.796.0220 COLTHILL@MSN.COM AMETHYST ARABIANS MARK AND DEBRA BURKE BUCHANAN, VIRGINIA 540.254.1017 DEB@AMETHYSTACRES.COM THORNEWOOD FARM LISA GEHA-CIFRESE AND RICHARD GEHA STOCKTON, NEW JERSEY 609.577.1976 THORNEWOODFARM@GMAIL.COM