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Dear ARABIAN HORSE LOVERS,
The exciting time has come to put your young horse in kindergarten class (longeing); the foundation is being built and as always, we want to keep a willing happy horse. So make no mistakes that can scare or damage the horse.
The young horse (best not to start longeing before three years of age) is more likely to hurt itself during training, such as the back hoof touching the front leg, etc. Be sure to always place leg protection on the young horse. The older horse has better balance and coordination; however, please continue the use of leg protection.
Longeing a horse correctly is a great art. On the longe, the trainer can see if the horse is moving with the right rhythm. When the horse is moving to the left, the longe line should be kept in the left hand, at the height of the horses mouth
Christina de Kragh of Guerlian Stables, France pictured riding her Champion Arabian stallion ARNELLE ACAPULCO (JS Marrak x Platinum Fantasie). Fresh cooled & frozen semen available worldwide in 2014. Please contact: vitalcell.km@bluewin.ch Desert Mirage - JUNE/JULY 2014
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and the whip in the right hand and visa versa moving to the right. The longe cavesson is placed over the snaffle bridle (make sure the bridle is soft/middle thickness) with a good fit so nothing is rubbing. The cavesson is used so as not to hurt the horse’s mouth and the half halts are felt more on the horses nose and not in the mouth (the most sensitive part). The longe, ideally seven meters in length, is attached to the middle ring of the cavesson. The snaffle reins will be twisted around each other and the throatlatch of the bridle opened and refastened to secure the reins. The saddle is securely on; make sure it is light and comfortable with a soft protective saddle blanket/lambskin and the girth is protected with lambskin. After two weeks, let the stirrups down loose when you longe.
The longeing circle should ideally be approximately 14 meters in diameter; it is not good for the articulation of the joints to turn on small circles! Initially, walk with the horse
on the circle to show him the way and praise all the time. If the horse wants to move inwards from the circle, flip the longe line a little to make waves to show him to stay out on the circle. Use your voice with the same words each time…a soft voice for coming down from a trot to the walk (example—ugh,ugh), and a sharper voice from a walk to the trot and a trot to the gallop. Use your voice in accordance with the temperament of the horse; do not pull on the line, use your voice. Do not crack the whip, simply lift it up to signal the horse to move forward and lower the whip to slow down. Stay behind the head of the horse. The longe line should be kept taut and not twisted; do not get your horse’s legs or your own legs twisted in the line.
Work on the longe is the first step in obedience/confidence training. The horse should recognize our superiority in rank to him and respect us but never fear us; the trust/confidence is built for riding later. The work on the longe should be no more than 20 minutes in total (10 minutes to each side). Every second day only, when the horse stops on the longe (changing direction), you should walk towards the horse.
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The horse should not walk towards you. Always be calm. After a few weeks you can put a pole on the ground, walk the first times with the horse over it, he can then walk and trot over it himself building confidence and performing new tasks. The next week a cavaletti may be introduced, you will see when he is ready. For the show horse, as they start a little younger, running on a straight line is better for the joints rather than circles; however, again, do not over do it.
After longing the horse, make sure the hoofs are re-looked at and that the skin is okay underneath the girth, etc. Perhaps he is hot under the saddle and requires a small shower and a wet sponge in his face. Please check his mouth that the bridle has not rubbed. Now…carrot time! Important information: As this is the first time your horse has had a bridle in the mouth, make sure the dentist has checked the mouth and teeth as well as the overall health of the horse before you begin longeing. Enjoy your Arabian horse...is he enjoying you? Jean Paul Guerlain
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JUNE 2014
Dear Desert Mirage Readers... Summer is upon us and the International Show Season is underway! Desert Mirage wishes all of the owners, breeders and exhibitors at this year’s Egyptian Event & the Menton Arabian Horse Show very successful venues! As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions regarding the Arabian horse and the articles that are published in this magazine. Please forward these items to: info@desertmiragemagazine.com. Sincerely,
Laura J. Brodzik Owner/Publisher Desert Mirage lauraj@desertmiragemagazine.com DesertMirageMagazine.com LJB Publications LLC 001.248.866.8756
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The last thing on the mind of most people in a horse business, or con-
sidering starting one, is business management and the business management discipline required to be successful – or at least okay. Hopefully, I can convince you why business management should be at the top of your list before the end of this article. The business management discipline component is your responsibility. Business management discipline is mostly acquired and the majority of us need to work at it every day! The failure of most horse businesses can be attributed to the absence of good business management and not using a business management system to help them anticipate, track and measure their business. Recordkeeping and accounting systems are not management. They record history. However, purchasing a good business management system will not help unless you have the discipline to maintain it and use it! Now I have your attention let’s break a horse business down into three simple principles. • Marketing and Sales: No customers, no business. • Income and Expenses: It’s not what you make, it’s what you keep. • Business Management: If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. Most horse businesses start from a love affair with horses. That isn’t a bad thing as long as you don’t let your heart dominate your business decisions. Don’t get me wrong – if you are in a horse business or plan to start one, your love of horses had better be on the same level as your aptitude for the type of horse business you are in or planning. Most horse businesses require putting in long hard days, and business management is not at the top of your ‘things to do’ list at the end of the day. Too often the only reward in a horse business is the nicker when you walk by a stall or the peaceful munching of hay when you turn out the barn lights. Unfortunately, in today’s business environment too many horse businesses are sustained by that love affair even when their financials tell them they should ‘fold the tent’. When the money is gone it is a ‘lose – lose’, for you and the horses. Don’t let it get there. If you are in any business there are an incredible number of things to think about and a horse business is no different. In fact, there are way too many things to list in a short article - so I will try to make it as simple as possible and still add value. The majority of horse businesses
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are service businesses - boarding stables, equestrian centers, training and lesson facilities, or a combination. I haven’t forgotten horse breeders – I am one. Horse breeders are essential to all horse businesses – no horses, no horse businesses. But, they are not a service business. They are a manufacturing business. I wouldn’t say a horse breeding business is any more or less difficult to operate, but it does have its own market and operating challenges. A simple example is cash flow. Cash flow in a boarding, training or lesson business is much more predictable than it is in a breeding business. Cash planning and the use of cash are important in both businesses, but critical in a breeding business because of unpredictable sales. Cash is king in all horse businesses! Don’t run out of cash! The majority of horse businesses today are recreational businesses. If you are in a horse business you are not just competing against other horse businesses in your market segment, you are competing against completely different businesses that are in totally different recreational markets. You are competing for the recreational dollar - do I go skiing at Aspen for a week, or do I buy a new ski boat, or do I buy a horse, or do I put the horse I have in training and show it. When people decide to purchase a horse they often have no idea as to the responsibility they have accepted. And, heaven forbid we should tell them and lose a sale. But I suggest, if you love horses you will tell them by educating them, and in the long run you will get more sales as a result. Word-of-mouth is a powerful part of sales in any business. Likeness begets likeness and people associate with people of like interests. So, make sure that what people are saying about your business is all ‘Good’. THE PLACE to stable or purchase a horse! It all starts with being a responsive business owner, and by being responsive you can start to differentiate your business from other similar businesses and capture more of that elusive recreational dollar. There is no doubt that that the economy is still weak and recovering slower than we would like. It will probably never be the same for many industries and their markets due to increasing global influences. The recreational dollar has not only shrunk, it is more informed and spent more wisely. But, in these challenging economic times the business owners who are willing to change the way they do business can create their own economic stimulus by being smarter; more organized, more efficient and business disciplined. The use of tools like a business
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management system will free up more time and let you know where you stand financially (cash) so you can spend that time and invest in gaining and sustaining a competitive edge. In fact, the current economic environment provides an excellent opportunity to get your business right sided and emerge a much better business with the potential to continue to gain market share going forward. Remember, I said the last thing on a business owner’s mind is business management. Unfortunately, this is the norm in the world of horses and you know I am right. I have taught equine business at Colorado State University and I have seen it all and heard all the excuses. I say, business management should be at the top, and maybe the first thing. Why? Because business isn’t about having fun, it is about having fun making money. Business success isn’t about the easy decisions; it is about the difficult decisions. If you want to attract more customers, or improve your facility, or get another lesson horse it takes money. If you don’t have a good business management system and don’t have the required business discipline you probably don’t have a clue as to the demands on your cash or even if you have any cash. As I have said many times before, accounting systems only record financial transactions – how you ‘spent’ your money. They don’t manage and therefore, they don’t assist you in making good business decisions without a lot of external analysis – more work, more time, and more chances for mistakes. I have never seen an accounting system that tells you how much it cost to keep a horse without using several additional spreadsheets. Do you have the time and enjoy making duplicate entries? Fact - the average person makes an error every 300 keystrokes! A good business management system will do your accounting and tell you how much it cost to keep a horse without you having to leave the system or spend any additional time and resources. I wince when I hear horse business owners tell me they just give their information to their accountant.
Then I wince again when they tell me they only need to keep track of vaccinations and the farrier. At the risk of generalizing, their accountant is probably afraid of horses, never mucked a stall and doesn’t have a clue about running a horse business. But, they can make financial transactions add up and balance. I am still not sure what value that adds to a business. If you apply for a loan, your banker is only interested in your balance sheet and your cash flow – do you have enough liquid assets to secure the loan and do you have enough cash each month to make the payment. Your banker has probably never mucked a stall either! They judge you as a business manager! I call running your horse business with an accounting system ‘Checkbook Management’ – I’ve got checks, I must have money. You need a good business management system that does your accounting, but also provides financial analysis and projections to assist you in making good business decisions! You should know your business better than anyone else and therefore, you should know how to run it better than anyone else. You just need a business management system that frees up your time and is your assistant business manager so you can do what you do best! There is some truth to the aphorism that it cost ten times more to get a new customer than it does to keep the one you have. That cost ratio is probably less today considering the computer technology, software applications, email and social networks available, but it is still a higher cost. A big part of getting new customers is developing trust and establishing an aura of expertise. People new to owning a horse or having a horse trained, etc., need to be assured that you as the horse or service provider know what you are talking about. Potential customers generally don’t make decisions quickly – and they shouldn’t. Therefore, you need to be able to send a potential customer away with literature or something that reinforces what your business offers, the benefits of horse ownership, and your horse and business expertise. You can easily
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do this yourself at a very reasonable cost using your business computer and some reasonably priced software. It you can’t do it or don’t have the time get a young university student to do it for you – just make sure they are a horse lover. By-the-way, equine science students are excellent help at a very reasonable cost. They love horses and they want to be around them. Their enthusiasm will elevate the excitement around your business and that certainly doesn’t hurt potential sales! A business management system plays a role in your sales process by scheduling appointments and managing your follow up (contact management). Potential customers associate your attention to detail and interest in them with how you are going to take care of their horse. Don’t drop the ball! Your facility doesn’t have to be an equestrian estate. But, it does need to be safe and clean with the look of good management. This doesn’t
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only apply to potential customers; it applies to keeping your current customers. A good management system will give you the reports you should neatly post for everyone to view. After all, a good management system has all the information stored in its database. Save time and money and use it to your advantage. The reports might include a horse’s information posted on its stall, its pedigree, its nutrition plan and feeding schedule, its preventative care schedule and how much bedding it gets. There should be general barn reports neatly posted that show training, lesson, farrier and veterinarian schedules to name a few. Simple things like this will give you a competitive advantage at no additional expense. It is all free if you have the ‘right’ business management system. I have often heard that if we were bigger we could compete with the ‘big guys’. This is an unsubstantiated myth and often an excuse. Big-
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ger has its own set of business challenges. Stop and think about the overhead, variable cost and inefficiencies the ‘big guys’ have to deal with every day. To compete with the ‘big guy’ you only have to be better, and being smaller makes it easier to be better. Granted, you have to have enough cash positive revenue to cover your overhead. There are many successful ‘boutique’ horse businesses. Small gives you the opportunity to be unique and attract the cliental that are willing to pay for unique and special treatment. If you are small you can utilize your assets more efficiently, control your overhead better and pay more attention to your customers. A business management system will let you know how your overhead is affected and any change in your breakeven if you add another horse or lose a customer. Think about this, what if you add a horse and have to add additional barn help, but you only need 25% more barn help. Unfortunately, people don’t come in 25% slices. A business management system will help you make the right decision. Do you have your barn help work a little overtime at a higher wage and reduce your operating margin or do you add the additional barn help and add some additional services to generate more revenue to cover the added expense at your current operating margin? Bigger isn’t better, best is better! The following is an example how a good management system can save you time while assisting you in managing your horse business. In this example we will purchase a vaccine. This purchase will take the person entering the information less than a minute while providing you all the forecast, tracking, measurement and report information you need to be a good manager!When you purchase the vaccine all the item, supplier, and expense ledgers are updated automatically. The vaccine’s expiration date and lot number are tracked and reported. The vaccine is added to inventory and the vaccine’s stocking level is automatically adjusted and the repurchase reminder is reset. The breeding department is charged the expense and the cost for each horse that is vaccinated is tracked and reported. The financial accounts are identified and the credit card balance is increased while its available balance is decreased automatically. The receipt can be stored for recall if necessary. All this is accomplished with a few dropdown selections, button ‘clicks’ and minimal text entries. I could provide several more examples, but I think this gives you something to think about. I don’t mean to imply that running a horse business is easy and a good business management system will solve all your problems, but it will help. Believe me I know running a horse business isn’t easy. I live it every day. There is nothing like an ‘MBA in horse business management by baptism of fire’. A well respected business associate once told me, ‘there is nothing like hanging to sharpen the mind’. Uunderlying the success of any horse business and the management
system you chose is your commitment to keep your system current and use the information it provides to assist you in making good business decisions. Believe me; you need a horse business management system! But, purchasing one if you do not have the ‘business discipline’ to keep it current and use it is a bad business decision, and probably not the management system’s fault!
To be successful in a horse business does not require a finance education, but it does require business discipline and an understanding of what your financials are telling you. This understanding will enable you to make better business decisions. A good Horse Business Management System will do the calculations for you and analyze and report the results with comments or suggestions. A good Horse Business Management System will save you valuable time you can then use to improve your business. I encourage you to investigate how equineGenie not only helps you manage and care for your horses, but manages your business operations, support your customers and helps you be financially successful. Bob Valentine, Ph.D. President GenieCo, Inc. Box 271924 Ft. Collins, CO 80527 970.682.2645 or 970.231.1455 bob@genieatwork.com Dr. Valentine taught Equine Business Management to graduating seniors in the Equine Science Department at Colorado State University. He has been involved in the horse business for too long. If you have any questions, you can reach Bob at bob@genieatwork.com, or call him at 970.682.2645 (office) or 970.231.1455 (mobile).
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Your broodmare is now in foal with a due date next year, and you’re eagerly awaiting the foal – the product of a perfect cross. This mare could be carrying your next champion. Someone just approached you to buy your mare, however, but you have no interest in selling the in-utero foal. You could defer the sale, but the buyer proposes to buy the mare now with the understanding that the foal will be yours. Should you proceed? And if so, should your agreement be in writing?
* details regarding pre-natal care and veterinary attention as well as who pays for it
This article discusses mare sale/foal transfer arrangements.
* details of expected foal care and management, and who will pay for them
Written Contracts
* whether the mare seller is entitled to seek re-breed rights, if no live foal results
Written contracts are important in these arrangements for two key reasons. Aside from the benefits that written contracts offer, the applicable state law might require a written contract. For example, most states have a “statute of frauds” on the books. These laws generally require that certain types of contracts must be in writing to be enforced. One type of contract governed by the statute of frauds is a contract that cannot, by its terms, be completed within one year from the date the contract is made. Several years ago, the “statute of frauds” was at issue in a New York equine contract case where the court invalidated a verbal agreement. Citing this law, the court found that an arrangement governing the boarding, breeding and care of mares and resulting foals would take more than a year for the contract to be performed. Unless it is properly and timely reduced to writing, a mare sale/foal transfer arrangement is at risk of running afoul of the statute of frauds and being unenforceable. After all, horses have an 11-month gestation period. Before these transactions conclude, the buyer will own and keep possession of the pregnant mare, involve himself in the foalingout process, tend to the mare and foal, wean the foal, and later make the foal available to the seller. More than a year could pass before the contract is performed. Opposing Interests in the Arrangement The buyer and seller in a mare sale/foal transfer transaction can have differing interests, making a written contract especially important. For example: * Sellers’ interests. Sellers want their mares well-tended with reasonable and proper pre-natal care and veterinary attention. They also want buyers to give the foal a high quality of care and attention so that the foal is healthy and in good condition. Also, if the mare becomes injured or ill from the foaling out process, sellers may want to be held free of blame and free of an obligation to give the buyers a refund. * Buyers’ interests. Buyers may be unwilling to pay for extra veterinary care and costs associated with the mare and foal such as special feed supplements for the mare and foaling-out costs, and veterinarian visits. A buyer, especially with insufficient experience in foal management, might be unprepared for the handling, halter breaking, and weaning of the foal. Or maybe the buyer wants the seller to pay an equine professional to arrange this.
* who will pay board expenses, if any, on the foal * who will pay veterinary expenses related to mare’s gestation and foaling out
* acknowledgment of the seller’s ownership of the foal * how soon after foaling the seller can take possession of the foal * registration of the foal and the buyer’s cooperation in the transfer of papers * liability release (where allowed by law) * who bears the risk of loss of the mare and foal * what state’s law applies, where disputes will be handled, and provisions for arbitration or mediation of any disputes (optional) * if a dispute should arise, whether a party must pay the other’s attorney fees Obviously, the parties in these arrangements need to consider these and other elements in their contract. For best protection, legal counsel can be involved in the process.
This article is not intended to constitute legal advice. When matters arise based on specific situations, direct your questions to a knowledgeable attorney.
About the Author Julie Fershtman, one of the nation’s most experienced Equine Law practitioners, is a shareholder with Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC. An attorney and legal consultant for more than 27 years, she has successfully tried equine cases in 4 states and has drafted hundreds of contracts. She is a Fellow and officer of the American College of Equine Attorneys and has lectured in 28 states. She is listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Business Litigation and Insurance. For more information, visit www. equinelaw.net, www.fershtmanlaw.com, or www.equinelawblog.com. And please “LIKE” our Facebook Page: “Foster Swift: Equine Law.”
The process of entering into a written contract, alone, should force the parties to think about these risks and expenses and to address them in writing up front. Basic Elements of Mare Purchase and Foal Transfer Agreements Several elements can be included in a mare sale/foal transfer contract, such as at a minimum: * acknowledgment of the sale and the price Page 23
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The windows are down, it’s 85 degrees and the radio is on full blast. Sing it girl, it’s time to let your hair down and
style up for the sounds of summer. My playlist is already stacked with the countless songs for the season from Cruel Summer, All Summer Long, Summer in the City, and more. Don’t forget: it’s summertime and the livin’ is easy! Keep in mind the days are longer, the sun is stronger, the tans get darker, but most importantly the memories never fade…
TIME TO TRAVEL Pack up your bags and get ready to gallop to your destination of desire whether it’s to the bluegrass horse-country town of Lexington, Kentucky or to frolic the coastline in France. I understand packing light can be a challenge, but the key is to pack the basics, become a master at folding, and add lots of accessories. WHIP OUT THE WHITE DRESS White is always the “in” color for Summer. Of course white is one way to stay cool, but also it’s the perfect color for a basic backdrop for a pop of color. It’s a perfect blank canvas for accessories. Think about adding one basic color like a bold pink or blue to a basic white dress. Whether it’s knee length or a maxi dress, adding a leather belt is a simple way to accessorize this clean look and accentuate the waistline. SADDLE LEATHER SANDALS The “Gigi” by Sam Edelman is a standard classic sandal perfect for summertime at the beach, traveling, or daytime casual. As Edelman calls it himself, it’s the “bikini for your feet”. The saddle leather color and crocodile lining creates a perfect staple to wear with any look. Sam Edelman himself is also a horse breeder, trainer and equestrian. No wonder these sandals have such a bridle-inspired look!
EQUINE TURQUOISE Whether it’s English or Western, from sterling to gold, equestrian jewelry will showcase your love for the horse in any simple outfit. Turn that white dress into a stunning ensemble with a splash of turquoise and blue topaz beaded necklace and horse head pendant by Mars and Valentine. If you like a more vintage inspired piece, I suggest the Echo of a Dreamer piece with a horse head on top of a mother of pearl design with two strands of turquoise beading and a brass chain.
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RELAX IN LINEN Cool down your home décor with linen fabrics and light blue hues. Changing up the pillows on your couch is a great way to inexpensively re-decorate for the season. This plush pillow called “Augustus” from ApproximateNotions.com is just the right touch for summer elegance in the living room. Felicia Houghs, the designer says that “unbridled, the energy, elegance and beauty of the horse inspires my work.” Each pillow is handmade and can be personalized with an elegant monogram. AND...CHEERS (drink up of course!) Last but not least, remember to relax during the summertime. Cool off with a Moscow Mule. It’s one of my favorite new drinks for summer. If you haven’t tried it, time to get on it! What’s in this perfectly refreshingly delicious drink? Well, a simple mix of Ginger Beer, Vodka, and Lime served over crushed ice in a copper mug. It’s a classic equestrian inspired drink for any occasion, but a most refreshing way to top off the day of hard work around the farm.
Whether you will be traveling this summer or spending your days on the farm watching your equines galloping against the fence line, remember to enjoy the season and savor the memories. So, get out there and hug your horses, kiss your kids, sing out the songs of summer, and strut your best style you’ve got!
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Laura Brodzik of Lauran Arabians has loved horses since she was
a child and dreamed of breeding them one day. “I always followed the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes and longed for a Thoroughbred breeding farm,” she recalls. “But 24 years ago when I was starting to fulfill my dream of horse ownership my plans changed. I was seeking to purchase my first horse, and considered horses of several different breeds, but once I had met my first Arabians I knew they were the breed for me. I was mesmerized by them.” The first Arabian Laura ever saw was a colt by the *Aladdinn son Idol Ltd. “He was a beautiful bay colt that I wanted to buy. After getting advice from others, I realized that I shouldn’t buy a stallion as a first horse. The owners were supposed to geld the colt for me but never followed through with it,” she recalls. Wise advice for the new Arabian fancier--and not buying that colt led her to new adventures that enabled her to become a successful show person and breeder.
Laura’s newfound passion led her to her mentor. She had been advised to visit a Michigan Arabian farm called Yermeh Arabians that was local to her in 1989. It was owned by long time breeder Fred Hembrey (the Yermeh prefix came from Hembrey’s name spelled backwards without the letter B). “Fred was completely dedicated
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to his Arabian horses, farm and breeding program,” Laura remembers. “He took me to every pasture, naming each of the horses and explaining their pedigrees to me. It amazed me that he could rattle off all of this information so quickly and confidently.”
Many long time breeders of Arabians began their involvement because of the inspiration of other long time breeders. Laura could not have chosen a better friend to help her learn about the breed. Fred Hembrey’s first registered homebred Arabian was foaled in 1968, and the final one in 1988--a total of 38 horses bred, with a number of show winners including Legion of Merit Yermeh Loki++, a U.S. Top Ten Western Pleasure AOTR and Sidesaddle winner. Initially the Hembrey herd consisted of linebred *Raffles horses, a wonderful foundation that they shared in common with Lasma Arabians. In their final years of breeding, the Hembrey.s outcrossed their linebred *Raffles mares to Polish stallions including sons and grandsons of U.S. National Champion Stallion *Bask++ and a son of U.S. National Champion Stallion *Aladdinn. Laura excitedly recalls the purchase of her first Arabian horse, the gelding Yermeh Winnipeg, a.k.a. “Big Red”, a very well bred fellow. Winnipeg was a son of the pure Polish stallion Fire Lane, whose sire Barnaby++ was a *Bask++ son with National titles in halter and Page 32
BELLA ROSA LA *L A Karรกt x Sanibella LA by Magnum Psyche
2012 Grey Filly
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YERMEH WINNIPEG Fire Lane x Yermeh Winje
1985 Chestnut Gelding
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AFIRE LILY LA Afires Heir x Cocoa Ghazi by *El Ghazi
2008 Black Mare
english pleasure and whose maternal grandsire was multiple Top Ten Stallion *Werbor++. Winnipeg was out of one of the Yermeh bred daughters of Winraff++, a linebred *Raffles stallion that was an accomplished dressage horse as well as a halter and western pleasure champion. Yermeh Winnipeg’s third dam Zwaantje was a 3/4 sister to 1966 U.S. National Champion Stallion Petit Jean.
“Winnipeg had limited training at the time, and Fred suggested I place him with a professional Arabian trainer. So, off to the trainer we went. Winnipeg was trained to become a country pleasure horse and I began saddle seat riding lessons on the trainer’s lesson horses to develop my own skills. I spent every moment I could with Winnipeg, soaking up all the new information I could on the Arabian breed. Finally the glorious day came--I was able to ride Winnipeg! I showed him in halter and country english pleasure. It was not always easy as we were both novices, however he did well at halter (three regional titles) and became a nice riding horse as well.” The purchase of Yermeh Winnipeg led to a close friendship with Fred Hembrey, who was 78 and a widower when Laura met him in 1989. She comments: “Unbeknownst to me at the time, Fred was my mentor in life along with Arabian horses. I spent a lot of time with him before our daughter was born. He lived alone and I used to take him to the local Arabian shows where he knew many of the people and introduced me to them all. He taught me so much about the Arabian and caring for them, including feeding properly, grass intake, shoeing, vetting, etc. I can still hear Fred’s voice in my head today as I work around the farm. I so value the vast amount of knowledge he shared with me in those years. Fred passed away in 1995, at age 84, just a week after our daughter was born.” Page 35
ALI GAZAL LA
*Gazal Al Shaqab x Yermeh Sangayla by Gay Laddinn
2006 Bay Stallion Exported to Poland
Fred Hembrey was not only Laura Brodzik’s mentor in Arabian horses, his farm became the home of Lauran Arabians. “When I first met Fred in 1989, he was struggling a bit with taking care of his farm and approximately 15 horses. He and his family made the decision to reduce the herd, and Fred kept three of his Arabians, two mares and his 25 year old gelding Derf (Fred spelled backwards). Fred’s health began to fail and it was decided that he should sell his farm and remaining horses, which was heartbreaking for him as his life had focused around the horses for so many years. Fred told me that he wanted my husband and I to have the farm and the remaining horses. In an extremely emotional sale, we purchased the farm and horses in 1994 and began breeding in 1995--although in my heart I have always known it is a continuation of Fred’s horses. His legacy will always live on through our breeding program,” explains Laura.
The mares purchased from Fred became the Brodzik’s foundation horses. Both were daughters of halter champion and National winner sire Gay Laddinn, a son of U.S. National Champion Stallion *Aladdinn. Yermeh Alicia was out of a daughter of regional halter and park champion and National winner sire *Druch++ and her dam was an intensely *Raffles bred mare. Unfortunately she taught Laura there would be pain as well as joy in breeding Arabians. “Yermeh Alicia gave us our very first foal, Aliage LA, by U.S. National Champion Western Pleasure stallion Sensation Al Z. We were to rebreed her but she had a terrible accident in the breeding stocks, breaking a pastern, and had to be euthanized. The future of our breeding program then rested on our other mare, Yermeh Sangayla, who became our foundation mare,” Laura comments. Desert Mirage - JUNE/JULY 2014
YERMEH SANGAYLA
Gay Laddinn x Y-Santana by Barnaby++
1987 Bay Mare
BELLA ROSA LA
SANIBELLA LA
*L A Karát x Sanibella LA by Magnum Psyche
Magnum Psyche x Yermeh Sangayla
COCOA GHAZI LA
*El Ghazi x Yermeh Sangayla
1999 Bay Mare
Yermeh Sangayla was an excellent choice as a foundation mare for Lauran Arabians. Her sire Gay Laddinn had a very strong pedigree as he was a son of the leading Polish sire *Aladdinn out of a daughter of the leading racehorse *Orzel++, also a National Champion in sidesaddle and Top Ten Stallion and English Pleasure and National winner sire. Her dam, Y-Santana was a daughter of the *Bask++ son Barnaby++, the grandsire of Laura’s gelding Yermeh Winnipeg. Barnaby++ sired National Champions in halter, english pleasure and pleasure driving and National winners in park. Y-Santana is out of Yermeh Rafzaya, who has 9 lines to *Raffles through some of his best get, including the National winner producers Rafferty, Rasraff, Garaff, Rapture, Cassandra, Handeyraff and Indraff. Yermeh Sangayla’s solid pedigree enables her to be bred many different ways with successful results. The Brodzik’s have used many of the breed’s most successful stallions in their breeding program. “At Lauran Arabians, my husband Randy and I base our breeding decisions on quality stallions of U.S. National or International championship calibre. They must be strikingly beautiful and conformationally correct as well as athletic. We strive to produce quality foals that are typey and possess true Arabian characteristics and movement.” Because of these sound breeding decisions, Lauran Arabians has enjoyed remarkable success for a small breeding operation, with horses sold to Europe, Central America and South America.
The second stallion the Brodzik’s chose to breed to was U.S. Reserve National Champion English Pleasure *El Ghazi, sire of National Champions in multiple disciplines and a great broodmare sire. The mating of *El Ghazi and Yermeh Sangayla produced one of Yermeh Sangayla’s only two daughters to date, Cocoa Ghazi LA. Cocoa Ghazi LA has now had three foals by multiple National Champion English Pleasure and National Champion sire Afires Heir. Her first foal of this nick, the black Afire Lily LA, was purchased by well-known trainer, judge and breeder Gary Dearth and is now owned by Cal Poly Pomona. Lauran Arabians is offering for sale her black daughter Alia Afire LA, a two year old, and her yearling chestnut daughter, Paris LA. Laura reports that they, like their sister, are excellent english pleasure performance/broodmare prospects.
GENTLEMEN+/
DW Bonfire x Miss Wisdom
1997 Bay Gelding
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2012 Grey Filly
2008 Black Mare
The second daughter of Yermeh Sangayla retained by the Brodzik’s is Sanibella LA, who like the daughters of Cocoa Ghazi LA, is black as night. Sanibella LA is by multiple U.S. National Champion Stallion Magnum Psyche, the first stallion to be a multiple U.S. National Champion Senior Stallion. Magnum Psyche has sired 167 National winners through 2013, among them the second stallion to be named U.S. National Champion Senior Stallion twice, LD Pistal. Magnum Psyche daughters are highly valued as broodmares, and Sanibella LA is typical of his offspring as she is a halter and western pleasure type mare. Her first foal is the grey filly Bella Rosa LA, by the National winner sire *L A Karat, who was one of the first sons of World and National Champion sire WH Justice to be imported to the U.S.A. *L A Karat’s dam is a granddaughter of World and U.S. National Champion *FS Bengali and World Champion and National Champion sire *Khouros. The Brodzik’s are also extremely pleased with the beautiful filly by *Pogrom out of Sanibella LA that was born on May 24, 2014. Her name is ‘Arabella LA’ (pending) meaning “answered prayer”.
The Brodziks have also bred to the U.S. National Champion Stallions Enzo, *Marwan Al Shaqab and *Gazal Al Shaqab. The Enzo breeding with Yermeh Sangayla resulted in Scottsdale and regional halter winner LA Valenzo. Their *Marwan Al Shaqab daughter, LA Maria Bey (out of their former broodmare ATA Katrina Bey), was sold to Midwest Training Center and subsequently exported to Argentina. Yermeh Sangayla’s son Ali Gazal LA (by *Gazal Al Shaqab) was sold at the 2008 Scottsdale Show and exported to Poland’s Kielnarowa Stud, where he has been a champion halter horse and successful on the racetrack and the endurance trail as well. He now has get in Poland. Laura enthuses: “We are very proud of this stallion and our foundation mare who produced him. He has accomplishmented a great deal in Poland. I know that Fred would be pleased with the breeding choice of *Gazal Al Shaqab and this resulting colt.” Another good sale for the Brodziks was the young mare Merri Valentina, a regional halter-winning daughter of multiple National Champion Stallion DA Valentino and Merri Precious. Merri Valentina is a maternal sister to South African National Champion Stallion MH Ahsom. She was sold to a new owner in Chile after the Brodzik’s had owned her for a short time.
SANIBELLA LA & 2014 *Pogrom Filly (Background - The rest of the gang looking at the new arrival!)
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SANIBELLA LA & 2014 *POGROM FILLY ARABELLA LA (pending)
Along with their successful breeding operation, Laura Brodzik and her now 18-year-old daughter Lauren, are still avid show competitors in the saddle seat division. Laura now shows five time National winner in country pleasure driving Gentlemen+/ (DW Bonfire x Miss Wisdom), who is also a regional champion in country pleasure and a regional winner in native costume. “I realize that saddle seat riding is a lifelong learning process,” Laura explains. “I try to always gain additional knowledge so I can improve my riding skills. Gentlemen+/ has lived up to his name--he is an excellent teacher who has helped me improve my riding and who is very game to show and is extremely dependable. Our daughter Lauren showed extensively in saddle seat when she was quite young with a wonderful Varian bred gelding, Calypso Bey V+ (Atlantis Bey V x Caliphs Lidizja). He is an outstanding horse with children, and has been a “schoolmaster” for both Lauren and many other walk/trot riders. He is now a lesson horse with Shawn and Carmelle Rooker at Rooker Training Stable. He has so much to share as he is extremely kind and gentle-he loves his job and the attention he receives from the children!” says Laura. Laura reaffirms her commitment to the breed with each year’s foal crop. “As purebred Arabian breeders, our goals are to continue the breeding program that Fred Hembrey established and to breed the kind of horses he bred-Arabians with true type, great legs and feet, wonderful tail carriage, movement, with a smooth body--the complete package. We plan to continue breeding for many years to come. My personal hope is that when we retire, I will be able to look back and know we did our absolute best with our breeding decisions. I will also know that we always took excellent care of our horses, providing them with the proper nutrition and excellent Page 37
care. Our horses are so friendly to everyone they meet--a testament to our care and love for them. Our daughter has grown up with horses her entire life. Since she was able to look out the windows of our house, she has always seen horses in the pastures, and she knows how passionate her father and I are about the Arabian breed. My hope would be that she would take over our breeding program when the time comes and carry it on. That would be an endearing way to retire--to hand the reins over to our daughter.” Lauran Arabians is located in South East Michigan, Northville, USA, approximately 30 minutes from Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The Brodzik’s welcome visitors by appointment. Please contact Laura Brodzik on 001.248.866.8756 or lauranarabians@comcast.net.
BELLA ROSA LA *L A Karát x Sanibella LA by Magnum Psyche
2012 Grey Filly
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Birgit Lapsien, owner and founder of Animal Style®, was born in 1971 as a child of the Ruhr area of Duisburg, Germany.
Aesthetic principles and creativity were cradled to her right from the beginning. Birgit’s Grandmother, who worked as a qualified tailor, taught her during early childhood to put her craft abilities into operation. At about the age of eight, Birgit learned horse riding at the Duisburg zoo on an Arabian mare. The sport and all the wonderful horses made her spellbound.
Birgit’s childhood dream of owning an Arabian came true in August 2000 with a mare named Jasina. Birgit first sketched headgear and head collars for her mare to show in and then handmade them with Swarovski crystals. As Birgit’s creations met big approval in her sphere, she continued working increasingly with the highest-quality materials, i.e. the best selections of leather, genuine silver and gilt connecting links as well as color-variable crystals and precious stones.
According to the increasing demand for articles for other animal species, Birgit extended her range of articles, and the variety of individual possibilities had to find, finally, its expression in the change of the company name of originally “Show Halter” to “Animal Style”. In the course of time, Birgit developed her unique technology, used with a large part of the custom-made production that she had patented. For example, the head
collars, snaffles and headbands for horses as well as neckbands and harnesses for small to very big dogs in spite of their filigree appearance she creates can withstand the strain of tensile loading to a maximum of 1000 kg.
Birgit offers an extensive choice of unique, custom specimens to her customers. However, her trademark is the realization of her client’s individual suggestions and wishes that include the choice of their respective design as well as the consideration of the measurements and material arrangements of the desired articles. Birgit has been able to obtain business retail partners not only in Germany, but also in the USA, Great Britain, Austria and Denmark.
Birgit says, “The most important work should remain to me—to create pieces of jewelry for our beautiful animals together with you that are pleasant in their wearing comfort and still of high maximum capacity! Nevertheless, we all want our four-legged friends to feel comfortable. We, as their owners, should emphasize their beauty by our taste in the choice of their headgears, snaffles, harnesses, headbands and neckbands.” Birgit looks forward to your suggestions. She enjoys working with clients to design a custom-made piece to showcase the beauty of your animal. b.lapsien@arcor.de
animalstyle.de
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Award winning UK based equestrian artist and photographer Lois Rose. Originality is at the core of my paintings: I only paint horses that I have seen for myself and use all my own reference. I have travelled to various shows and studs to see horses to paint and greatly enjoy the real life interaction with Arabian horses that then informs my work in the studio. I am also a photographer though conversely a good photograph does not usually make for a good painting. I never have to “look” for my painting inspiration, I usually see a horse and then a picture will jump out to me. I invite visits to my website loisrose. co.uk and commissions are invited for your own original artwork.
Arabian Filly Aja Europa at Menton 2013
Oil on canvas board. I really enjoyed seeing the charismatic filly Aja Europa at the Menton Arabian show in 2013; I knew I wanted to paint her but couldnʼt pick one pose! I chose 5 poses and wanted the composition to show how I saw her, starting from top right: the impression of her trotting towards me with mane and tail flying; then
I have selected a few of my favourite paintings to discuss:
Daughters of Justice
Oil on 48”x12” canvas This painting features seven mares who are all sired by WH Justice. I have personally seen these mares (most multiple times) with these poses compiled from visiting the Menton Arabian show and the Paris World Championships. This painting was a while in the planning as I worked on the composition and then the careful sketching which underpins all of my paintings. I really enjoyed working on this painting and I am now thinking about what other compilations I can paint! This painting features as inspiration from left to right: Shirin by Aisha; Al Princess Aliha; CR Jasmeenah; Bess Faʼizah; Aja Aphrodite; FM Gloriaa; Panarea by Palawan.
turning around the arena with a powerful trot, further showcased in the top left pose as she went away from my vantage point. The stand up was furthest away from me, then the central pose as she was lead around and out of the arena. I could easily paint another painting like this of Aja Europa and I greatly enjoyed seeing her later that year at the Paris World Championships.
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Into the Light
Oil on canvas board This relatively small painting features Aja Angelo, who was truly the epitome of a fairytale stallion when I saw him at Menton in 2012.
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Out From the Night
Oil on canvas board This painting features one of my favourite mares to paint, Bess Fa始izah. The reference for this was a rather dark evening photo as Bess Fa始izah was trotted into the arena at Menton (at my first visit to the show in 2010) and from that I wanted to paint something more otherwordly, soft and yet retaining movement.
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Silver, Velvet and Precious as Gold
Oil on canvas board Another one of my favourite subjects, FS Velvet is the model for this painting. I could not resist painting such a graceful neck-arch; shiny silky mane; and beaded head collar.
lois@loisrose.co.uk
LOISROSE.CO.UK
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Dubai is located on the southeast coast of the Persian
Gulf and is one of the seven emirates that make up the country. Dubai has emerged as a cosmopolitan metropolis that has grown steadily to become a global city and a business and cultural hub of the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, desires to see Dubai shine with sustainable development by preserving the values and cherished traditions of the desert people like‌the Arabian Horse. The last Arabian Horse show of the season in the Middle East, the Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship was held from March 20th through the 22nd, 2014 before the hot season begins. The event took place in the halls of the World Trade Center in Dubai. In compliance with the rules of hospitality, the exhibition welcomes its visitors with warmth. Visitors are invited to browse the aisles of beautiful Arabian horses or listen to large numbers of owners share their knowledge regarding breeding programs.
Beautiful Bedouin tents, trace crafts, ancestral knowledge in the manufacture of harness horses and camels, as well as the art of falconry, are a delight and enrichment for foreign visitors. Large galleries welcome the wider public who come to discover the beautiful Arabian horses. The most spectacular area of the world evolves for two days awating the Supreme Champion who is amply rewarded $200,000 USD for a gold medal in the Junior Championship and $250,000 USD in the Senior Championship. Prize monies are also given to Silver and Bronze Championship placements.
This great Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship hosts eight international judges. This year, there were 194 horses presented. These Arabian horses may have already been seen and recognized by different titles in other countries from similar competitions. Many of the Champions of the Dubai show will go on to compete in additional European shows this season. Several of these Champions will go on to compete at the World Arabian Horse Championship Show in Paris at the end of 2014.
GOLD CHAMPIONS - JUNIOR & SENIOR MALES 2014 DUBAI INTERNATIONAL ARABIAN HORSE CHAMPIONSHIP Page 51
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Senior Male Gold
MARQUIS CAHR (Marwan Al Shaqab & Rohara Magnifica) Breeder Sandra Powel USA Owner: AL KHALEDIAH STABLES KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA Desert Mirage - JUNE/JULY 2014
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ABHA QATAR (Marwan Al Shaqab & Zt Ludjkalba) Breeder: Ses Planes, SPAIN Owner: AL MOHAMADIA STUD KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
Silver
AL LAHAB (Laheeb &The Vision HG) Breeder: Ariely Arabians, ISRAEL Owner: AJMAN STIUD UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Bronze
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Junior Male Gold
FA EL RASHEEM (Fa El Shawan & Virtuosa) Breeder: Marlene Ann RIEDER USA Owner: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
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MOHARIB AL KHAZNA (AB Jamil LA Piana & Caterina FM) Breeder/Owner: Ali Ghanem, Ali Humaila, Al Mazroui UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
MAGIC OF SHAWAN (FA El Shawan & WA Priscilla) Breeder/Owner: Abdulaziz Bin Ibrahim AL BARGASH UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
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Silver
Bronze Desert Mirage - JUNE/JULY 2014
Yearling Male Gold
LOAY AL KHALEDIAH (El Palacio & llayla) Breeder/Owner: AL KHALEDIAH STUD FARM KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
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D KHATTAF (Royal Colours & D Jowan) Breeder/Owner: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
D MSHARY (QR Marc & FT Shaella ) Breeder/Owner: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
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Silver
Bronze Desert Mirage - JUNE/JULY 2014
EMANDORIA (*Gazal AL Shaqab & Emanda) Breeder/Owner: AJMAN STUD UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
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BADAWIEH AA (Laheeb & Bahiha) Breeder: Maslati & Ariela Arabians, Israel Owner: AJMAN STUD UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
NAJDAH AL ZOBAIR (Marwan Al Shaqab & JFN Bint Ludhen) Breeder/Owner: Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohammed AL THANI
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Silver
Bronze Desert Mirage - JUNE/JULY 2014
Junior Female Gold
D SHAHLA (Marajj & FT Shaella) Breeder/Owner: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
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NASTYA OS (Marajj & AB Nastrapsy) Breeder: Gestut Osterhof Owner: Ajman Stud
Silver
DELIGHTS DIVAH RB (Ajman Moniscione & Honey’s Delight RB) Breeder/Owner: Khalid AL SAYED
Bronze
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Yearling Female Gold
AJ SAWARI (Marwan Al Shaqab & Sibéria) Breeder/Owner: AJMAN STUD UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
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AJ SAYEDA (Vervaldee & Sweet Caroline LL) Breeder: AJMAN STUD Owner: Amna Bint Abdulla Aziz AL NUAIMI UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
MAGNOLIA NWA (QR Marc & Maggie Lee Ba) Breeder/Owner: Norwest Arabians Denmark
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Silver
Bronze Desert Mirage - JUNE/JULY 2014