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There he stood, in the prime of his life and one of the finest Arabian stallions ever to leave his native Poland. *Emigrant (Ararat x Emigrantka) had traveled six thousand miles to his B Y
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new home in California. With his head held high
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and ears pricked, he scanned the grounds. After a brief assessment of his new surroundings, he drew a chest full of hot, dry air and blasted the call to anyone within the range of his voice. *Emigrant had arrived.
Preceding page and below: *Emigrant pasb (Ararat x Emigrantka).
“It was a big deal,” recalls *Emigrant’s owner Manny Vierra of Valley Oak Arabians in Brentwood, California. “We took him off the trailer at the farm and he looked around and put his head way up in the air, and boy, he let all the mares and everybody know he was there.” It was a big deal. With the help of Raymond Mazzei of Furioso Farm, the purchase and importation of this stallion took more than a year of negotiations. The quest to tap into his precious bloodlines began when the 18-year-old stallion was just a youngster winning the first of his many championships. “I am excited because I have made more than 185 trips to Poland and I watched him mature and I can hardly believe he is here. It was something that just took a lot of time to accomplish,” adds Raymond.
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* E M I G R A N T
The recently completed main barn at Valley Oak Arabians in Brentwood, California.
*Emigrant is a celebrity in Poland. In addition to winning the European Championship in 2001, Polish National Championship the following year, and a Reserve All Nations Cup Championship in 1999, he was Michalow Stud’s primary progenitor of the Saglawi I sire line through his sire Ararat (Palas x Arra). He is considered a star example of what is known as the “diamond cross” of Palas and Negatiw blood heritage.
Two of *Emigrant’s winning get: Bottom left: Emrod (x Empressa), Senior Champion Stallion, 2005 Vilhelmsborg International B Show. Bottom right: Gaspar (x Gaskonia), 2006 Polish National Champion Stallion.
Aswan Palas Panel Ararat *Bandos Arra Arba
*Emigrant pasb *Bandos *Eukaliptus Eunice Emigrantka Palas Emigracja Emisja
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Yosreia Nil Platina Negatiw Bandola Comet Abhazja Negatiw Bandola Comet Epigona Aswan Panel Carycyn Espada
* E M I G R A N T
Nazeer
For now, *Emigrant will stand at Furioso with Valley Oak’s other imports, Honorrs (Affirmmed x Padrons Contessa) and *Al Maraam (Imperial Imdal x The Vision HG), leased from Israel’s Ariela Arabians. *Al Maraam returns in January, and at that time *Emigrant and Honorrs will settle in and begin their duties at Valley Oak’s new breeding facility. 6 ▪ VALLEY OAK ARABIANS ▪ WORLD
* E M I G R A N T
Left: The 2003 stallion Honorrs (Affirmmed x Padrons Contessa), owned by Manny and Diana Vierra of Valley Oak Arabians.
Left: The yearling colt by Honorrs Dante VO (x WCA Mon Cherie by Monogramm). Below: The 2007 filly *You Tou F (Honorrs x Yarra by Abakan), imported from Holland. “Honorrs is throwing faces and length of leg for me,” Manny Vierra says.
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“I have two great stallions that I can cross on my mares,” says Manny, who is anxious to see the outcome of this new direction in his breeding plan. “I have one *Emigrant daughter here. I bred her to *Al Maraam and she foaled a filly — that cross worked perfectly. The Polish farms leased *Al Maraam as well, and crossed Get sired by *Al Maraam: him with all their mares with great results. Michalow and Janów Top left: The 2009 straight Egyptian stud farms are the best breeders in the world, and I watch what filly (x Black Raaqis by Thee Outlaw). Top right: The 2008 colt Al Mareek VO (x Oksanadik by *Sanadik El Shaklan).
works for them.”
Bottom: The 2009 bay filly (x *Yakchina F by Almonito).
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* E M I G R A N T The 1998 stallion *Al Maraam (Imperial Imdal x The Vision HG), is currently leased from Israel’s Ariela Arabians.
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But Manny also has a variety of other options. “I have ten *Laheeb daughters that I think he will cross with very well. I have an Honorrs daughter that I will breed with him next year. I also have daughters of Poganin, Pesal, *Ganges, *Eukaliptus, Monogramm, *Ecaho, Padrons Psyche, and Fame VF, and feel he is the perfect outcross horse for them. There is not one other stallion in this country with his bloodlines. “So he was handpicked for my breeding program. When he gets home next year (he is at Furioso now) he will be the chief sire at the farm. I have his stall ready with a view and everything.”
Right and below: *Galia Bis (Pamir x Gracja Bis by Monogramm), a pure Polish import, and her 2009 colt by *Al Maraam, below left.
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* E M I G R A N T Right: The 1996 mare *Workuta (Monogramm x Wiazma by *Arbil) was purchased from a private breeder in Poland. Above is her 2009 filly by *Al Maraam.
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But to actually get the Michalow director Jerzy Bialobok to agree to part with *Emigrant was no easy task. A lot of Manny and Raymond’s success in this respect was due to timing. “I’ve had my eye on him since he was born,” explains Raymond. “I watched him as he was shown and I watched his breeding career. He is an interesting horse because he is the Seglawi I sire line, responsible for so much beauty in the Polish breeding programs, starting with Palas (Aswan x Panel), Parma (Aswan x Pokaznaja), and *Magnat (Aswan x Monopolia).
Right: The 1998 mare *El Dorada PASB (*Sanadik El Shaklan x Emigrantka by *Eukaliptus), unanimous U.S. National Champion Senior Mare and multiple champion in Europe, who Manny leased for two years. Below: *Epima (Ekstern x Epimeria by Pesal), 2003 grey mare.
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* E M I G R A N T Two Pesal daughters Manny Vierra purchased at the Pride of Poland Sale in 2008: *Erotika (x Erotomanka by *Eukaliptus), above, and Balagula (x Balerina by Ararat), right, pictured with her 2009 colt by Poganin.
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“And until a stallion of such stature has been used to his full extent, he is untouchable. You can only do this when the horse comes of age,” continues Raymond. “*Emigrant was used in Poland more extensively than many of the great horses that have already come here. His daughters are used more at the Polish studs than the daughters of any other stallions of recent years.” In fact, over the years, Manny had even tried, without much success, to buy more *Emigrant daughters. “Raymond and I made several trips to Poland and every time we went to the stud farms, I would pick out mares I liked — invariably they would be *Emigrant daughters. But you couldn’t buy them!” He even tried the private breeders. “There was a farm in Poland that had three full sisters and I hoped they would sell me one, so I visited. I drove out of Warsaw about two and a half hours to the farm. But when I got there they didn’t want to sell any of them!”
Fiamma CF (Enzo x Luvs Promise C by *Padron), and her 2009 colt by *Ecaho (Pepton x Etruria).
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* E M I G R A N T Manny purchased the *Emigrant daughter *Sariene (x Sari by Argo), above, from his good friend George Altenberg. At left is Sariene’s 2009 filly by *Al Maraam.
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In addition to siring some of the world’s most desirable Arabian mares, *Emigrant has already sired some exceptional stallions including Emrod (x Empressa), Polish and Swedish National Champion, and Gaspar (x Gaskonia), who was the Polish National Champion Junior Stallion in 2000 and “Best in Show” at Bialka. Gaspar went on to win the Polish National Champion title in 2006, the same year his dam Gaskonia was named Polish National Champion mare and best in show. Another star sired by *Emigrant is Eurykles, out of Eutona and bred by Janów. Eurykles is as athletic as he is beautiful and is excelling in performance competitions in Europe.
*Emigrant.
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* E M I G R A N T Two fillies out of *Emigrant daughters: Ensanada VO (*Laheeb IASB x Emiria by *Emigrant), right, and Ernestyna VO (Poganin x Ernesta by *Emigrant), below.
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mare Milordka, born in the early 19th century at Prince Wladyslaw Sanguszko’s Slawuta Stud. Today that mare family Izabella
Pawelec-Zawadzka,
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Arabian
Horse
Organization executive committee member and the head of the Polish Arabian Horse Breeders Society is probably the best person to put *Emigrant’s pedigree and importance into perspective. “His pedigree is rich in horses who made milestones in the history of the Arabian breed,” she says. “Without them one could hardly imagine contemporary breeding. On his paternal side appears the most precious Egyptian bloodlines, whereas the maternal side contains the results of 200 years of consistent Polish
is represented at Michalow with the famous “E-line” of horses. “The foundress of that line,” continues Izabella, was Eskapada, one of the most beautiful *Naborr daughters out of Estokada by Amurath Sahib. At the advanced age of 21 she was able to gain the Reserve Championship of Poland. From that dam line descend such international stars as Edeon, Ekstern, *El Dorada, *Elkana, Emanacja, Emanda, *Emandoria, Emigrantka, Emilda, Emiliusz, Emira, Emmona, Emrod, Espada, Espadrilla, *Emanor, Erlanda, and of course *Emigrant. The ancestry of those valuable horses
breeders’ work.” At the root of the family tree is the foundation
(Continued on page 22)
The Valley Oak barn has 35 stalls, a 2,000 square foot reception area, and a 70 x 140 covered arena at one end.
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* E M I G R A N T Diana and Manny Vierra and their 8-week-old Rottweiler puppy Brodie.
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A Conversation with Jerzy Bialobok, Director of the Michalów Stud, Poland
How important has Emigrant been to the Michalów program, and what, in your opinion, will be his legacy in history? Emigrant was a very important stallion in the Michalów breeding program due to his pedigree and conformation. He’s out of our beloved Emigrantka and sired by Ararat, son of the fantastic Palas, and the Janówbred beauty Arra — herself a Bandos daughter and Comet granddaughter. He also has perfect conformation — an exotic, perhaps slightly feminine (this inherited from his sire) head, beautiful neck, and a well-built body. Emigrant stood as chief sire at Michalów during 1996-1999 and 2003-2008, siring 75 foals. (During 2000-2001 he was chief sire at Janów Podlaski Stud, and at Bialka Stud in 2002). His semen was used on 88 mares owned by private breeders. Emigrant gave five breeding sires: — Gaspar 1998 grey (x Gaskonia by Probat) – chief sire at Michalów Stud — Emrod 1997 grey (x Empressa by Probat) – exported to France (previously leased to Sweden in 2001, to Germany in 2002, and to Belgium in 2005). — Elton 1998 grey (x Elma by Probat) – exported to Spain — Arad 1999 grey (x Armenia by Tallin) – exported to the UK — Zachodni Wiatr 2000 bay (x Zuzanna by Wojslaw) – sold to Lack Stallion Depot, Poland
– in training at the racetrack — Zlota Nic 2005 grey (x Złota Orda by Pesal) – in training at the racetrack — Zenga 2005 grey (x Zmowa by Monogramm) – in training at the racetrack — Karbala 2005 grey (x Karolina by Laheeb IASB) – at the Stud — Wajgelia 2006 grey (x Wejmutka by Laheeb IASB ) – in training at the racetrack — Lacrima 2006 grey (x Loretta by Wojsław) – at the Stud — Encantada chest., 2008 (x Egea by Laheeb IASB) – at the Stud In 2009 two fillies by Emigrant were born out of Tonacja and Emetyna. We also have a full sister to Emigrant at the Stud – the 2001 grey mare El Haza. Emigrant’s greatest legacy left at Michałów are his daughters, currently six elite mares and several younger ones, as well as his son Gaspar, who himself boasts an outstanding charismatic daughter named Debowa Laka (x Debowa Góra by Laheeb IASB).
What are your thoughts on the outstanding characteristics of the Emigrant daughters and sons? Emigrant’s daughters are very feminine. They capture the heart with their extraordinary personality, balance, correct conformation, excellent movement, and overall Emigrant also sired 10 elite broodmares, listed here in dryness. They are superbly caring, loving mothers. And order of their birth year: for those who like flea-bitten greys, there is Epifania — Prudencja 1997 grey (Falsyfikat x Pergolida) – exported and Euscera. During the photo and video session for to the United Arab Emirates in 2007 the Pride of Poland 2009 Sale, two Emigrant daughters — Dobrzyca 1998 grey (x Dabrowa by Probat) selected for the auction stood out — Euscera and Zlota — Chimera 1998 bay (x Czereda by Probat) Orchidea (x Zlota Orda by Pesal). — Epifania 1998 grey (x Empressa by Probat) – exported to Tenerife in 2007 — Euscera 1999 grey (x Elcantara by Pamir) — Pustynna Roza 1999 grey (Pustynna Tarcza by Pamir) — Peczora 1999 grey (x Premiera by Piechur) – exported to the UK in 2008 — Primawera 2000 grey (x Premiera by Piechur) — Luanda 2000 grey (x Loretta by Wojslaw) — Perga 2000 grey (x Pergolida by Falsyfikat) Young and promising mares by Emigrant include: — Zlota Orchidea 2004 grey (x Zlota Orda by Pesal) – at the Stud — Wieza Snów 2005 chestnut (x Wieza Babel by Laheeb IASB) 20 ▪ VALLEY OAK ARABIANS ▪ WORLD
Emigrant stallions distinguish themselves with beauty, dryness, and good movement. Gaspar himself sports perfect conformation, movement, a beautiful coat color (flea-bitten grey), charisma, a great dam (Gaskonia by Probat), a wonderful personality, being at the same time extremely masculine.
successor, and a good home “happens” to come along, where the horse can spend his elderly years. Not all of the meritorious horses can receive a lifelong stay at their home stud, that’s why we have to find another place for them and this is the case with Emigrant. Recent photographs attest to the fact that this new home is great for him. I can say that Emigrant was my favorite. Though I think that this had a lot to do with his dam Emigrantka, whom I will never forget.
We understand that Emigrant was not for sale for many years, and it took more than a year of negotiations to finalize his purchase. What finally made Michalów decide to let Emigrant go? Indeed, Emigrant was not available for sale for a long time. But there comes a moment when the years What are your hopes for Emigrant? start building up, there is a worthy I hope Emigrant will sire plenty 21 ▪ VALLEY OAK ARABIANS ▪ WORLD
of exceptional get in his new home, to give his owners pleasure with his beauty and his trustfulness toward man, which he always held in his beautiful, intelligent eyes.
* E M I G R A N T
*Emigrant.
had something in common. They all descended from a ‘diamond cross,’ an elaborate ‘Mechlin lace’ combination of male lines descending from the Ibrahim DB sire line through Skowronek, Negatiw, *Naborr, *Bandos, or *Eukaliptus, with Egyptian blood represented through Nazeer, Aswan, and Palas. It was an infallible recipe for success.” It was for these reasons that Michalow was reluctant to let *Emigrant go, even though he had proven his worth many times over. When asked recently in an interview with “Polskiearaby” if he ever regretted selling any of the stud’s horses, Michalow Director Jerzy Bialobok answered that there were just two. “In our history we had horses whose time had come and it was not used. It doesn’t come again — people who were interested change their minds, find other horses. So on one hand I feel great sorrow, but on the other, we cannot part only with horses of a lesser category — sometimes you have to take something off the top of this pyramid and part with a Kwestura or an Emigrant.”
Below: The 2005 mare Oso Antika (*Ecaho x Oso Axotica by Monogramm) will be bred to *Emigrant in 2010. Facing page: The 1996 mare *Olita (*Ecaho x Orawa by Argo).
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* E M I G R A N T VESTY PHOTO
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In fact, there was a point at which Manny and Raymond had decided to stop pursuing *Emigrant. “We gave up,” remembers Raymond. “We met one last time with Michalow and were told that he was still being used in their program.” Then came the surprise — a call out of the blue. “Finally they agreed to sell *Emigrant to us,” says Manny. “When the chance came, our offer was there and it went through.” And so the celebrating began, including Manny’s wife Diana. “My husband is a businessman and a negotiator,” she says. “Manny has such a fantastic breeding program right now and I am so proud of him. He has that knack for selecting and breeding the right horses, and it seems to get better and better. There are always ups and downs, but he has such a passion for these horses. It’s so nice to see him happy.”
The 2006 filly El Euphoria VO (*Ecaho x *El Dorada PASB).
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* E M I G R A N T The 2006 filly Rosa De Ecaho (*Ecaho x TR Silk Rose by *Nariadni).
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Manny plans on carefully breeding *Emigrant to outside mares here in the U.S. “We’re going to be selective with the mares he breeds to. We’ll know their pedigrees and what they have produced before. I am not as much concerned about whether the mare has a show record as I am with their offspring, and a lot has to do with the individual.”
Right: Israeli National Reserve Champion Mare *Dumka (*Laheeb IASB x Dabrowa by Probat). Below: The yearling filly Olivia VO (*Laheeb IASB x Oksanadik by *Sanadik El Shaklan).
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* E M I G R A N T The 2006 mare Amore De Laheeb (*Laheeb IASB x Moonlight Lady SF by *Menes).
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Raymond thinks *Emigrant will go on to do more than ever before, now that he is on U.S. shores. “He is a great horse and has always proven himself. He can sire motion, beauty, structure — great legs, cannon bones, and knees and hocks that match. He will be a horse that breeders will want to use. *Emigrant is an incredible outcross for American breeders. After all, he passed the toughest test for a breeding horse — succeeding at the stud farms of Poland.” This is one deal that was a big deal — for all American Arabian breeders and enthusiasts.
Below: The 2007 filly La Estopia VO (*Laheeb IASB x Skucina by *Probat). Facing page: The 2007 filly Eleganza VO (*Laheeb IASB x Zeeata Bey by Bey Shah).
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* E M I G R A N T 29 ▪ VALLEY OAK ARABIANS ▪ WORLD
Raymond Mazzei and Manny Vierra.
Valley Oak’s Philosophy A philosophy is really just a way of thinking and doing things. Grouping actions and ideas together to form or give birth to a creation that was in the philosopher’s mind. Valley Oak Arabian’s horse program happened this way. Manny Vierra is a searching person and his chance meeting with Raymond Mazzei started his long journey. Over the past four years a true philosophy of breeding a distinct style of Arabian horse has emerged. Vierra has used his own artistic eye and knowledge, coupled with Mazzei’s expertise and experience to start a very honest breeding farm. Manny wants to bring to America all the proven successes of great breeders throughout the world. Traveling with Mazzei has awakened a sincere breeder’s mentality that has gone far past the showring. The stallions and mares at Valley Oak Arabians fit well with each other. Their offspring are the proof that Manny has not been searching in vain. Stallions are the pulse and heartbeat of Valley Oak Arabians. All have been measured by past successes, well before they came to America. Only time will govern the pace of Valley Oak’s achievements. Valley Oak Arabians is always searching, always improving, forever learning.
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* E M I G R A N T Facing page top right: The 2007 colt Roncano VO (*Laheeb IASB x SW Cipher by Monogramm). Above: The 2007 mare Mariana VO (*Laheeb IASB x Aepona SF by Pepton).
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*Emigrant.
Manny and Diana Vierra
Stallions standing at
3600 Valley Oak Drive
Furioso Farms for 2009
Brentwood, CA 94513
For breeding information contact Raymond Mazzei
510.325.3974 路 imannyv45@aol.com
951.375.6349 E-mail: furiosofarm@aol.com
www.valleyoakarabians.com