Breeder Focus - Cre Run Farm The 2019 Stallion Guide is happy to honor Cre Run Farm as our U.S. Breeder in the Breeder Focus special. Farm owner Deb Mihaloff comments for Cre Run Farm. Cre Run is an unusual name for a farm. What is its meaning? The name actually is a shortened version of "Creating Runners" and defines what we do - specifically creating Arabian racehorses. Please tell us a little bit about your history with Arabians. My love and passion came about because my grandmother bred Arabians when I was a child. I remember going to the Michigan State Fair to watch her show her horses. I was given my first horse, a Quarter Horse/Arabian cross named Smokey, at age 17. I bought my first mare with my mother – Neils Creek Rakla, who at the time was in foal to *Asadd++, eventually producing the filly MHF Rafame. That was the start of my breeding program. Eventually I moved from show ring to racing, and we (Deb and husband Alan Kirshner) were brought into the sport by Alec and Louise Courtelis. We went into a partnership on Darley Champion Flaming Tron Ku, and saw the great Wiking when he was initially sold in Poland.
opportunity to breed an excellent prospect without the cost of buying and owning a mare. With all the success you've had as a breeder, could you tell us about the physical qualities do you look for in a mare and stallion to breed? I have always wanted to keep as much type in my breeding program as possible. Maybe not as much as the show world, but I want to still be able to tell that they are Arabians. I look for overall balance, correct legs, a strong shoulder and a powerful hip. Like many people, I divide the horse into three segments looking at overall balance. The shoulder and wither is very important because typically 60% of a horse’s weight is carried on the front end. If you have a huge rear end, but not much shoulder, the front may not be able to keep up. How much emphasis do you put on performance when deciding to breed a horse? Race horses are proving the athletic ability of the Arabian. They also excel in second careers, which helps promote the horse to the general public. In addition, the horse’s character and disposition is also very important. We need to make sure these horses have the fabulous dispositions for which the Arabians are known.
Since you started in the sport, Cre Run Farm has become a household name in Arabian racing for many years. Tell us a little bit about the farm. The farm was established in 1986, but over the years has evolved into more than just an Arabian horse farm. Through Cre Run Enterprises, we have established Cre Run Farm, Cre Run Training Center and Equine Lifestyles Arabian Racing Partnerships. The 180 acre facility includes over 60 acres of pastures, a complete reproductive facility and a race training facility with a 5/8 mile track for starting young stock. We stand a variety of stallions and have an outstanding herd of broodmares. What can you tell us about your overall successes? With our overall ownership record, we have won over $2.5 million. As a breeder, our horses (which include Royal Atheena's bonus and horses bred in partnerships) have earned almost $3.8 million. We are extremely proud of this success. What does the future look like for Cre Run? Last year we had 15 runners bred by us. This includes horses leased out or owned by others. We plan to have five 3-year-olds in 2020 to join our existing string and three 3-year-olds to come in 2021. We currently have 30 mares of breeding age (20 or less), and none of them have Burning Sand blood, making them a perfect outcross to Burning Sand stallions. Many of these mares are available to lease, which gives others a great
Alan Kirshner (center) and Deb Mihaloff (right) celebrate with Keith Brackpool after their Thess Is Awesome won the Sheikh Fatima bint Mubarak Darley Award S. (Gr.1). Photo by Pamela Burton.
26 • Arabian Finish Line • 2019 Stallion Guide
