B y
N a n c y
R y a n
I never believed that the Arabian horse could make such a difference in my life but it has. Of all the things that I am still involved in, the business ventures and charitable activities, nothing gives me more pleasure than being on the farm.
~ Frank Hennessey
Frank and Carol Hennessey decided they had put their new passion on hold long enough. So in 2006, just as the couple had begun to settle into their retirement, they steered their golden years into a hairpin turn and jumped with both feet into the world of Arabian horses.
Frank and Carol Hennessey
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“Hennessey Arabians was formed as an outgrowth of our love of the Arabian horse,” says Frank. The infatuation began when longtime business associate Jeff Sloan invited Frank and Carol to Scottsdale to consider investing in an Arabian horse. Their initial interest rapidly turned into something more when “Carol and I were introduced to Erte JCA (*Gazal Al Shaqab x *Egzonera),” recalls Frank. Right then and there Frank and Carol say they were attracted to the Arabian breed. They began by entering into partnership with the Sloans and the Pride of Poland LLC. Besides Erte, the Hennesseys invested in about 50 highly bred Arabians including *Piaff PASB (Eldon x Pipi), the lovely mare *Elandra (Monogramm x Erlanda), *El Nabila B (Kubinec x 218 Elf Layla Walayla B), and LD Pistal (Magnum Psyche x Halana). Yet somehow, the Hennesseys wanted more involvement. “As our love of the Arabian horse intensified,” says Frank, “it became clear that we wanted our own farm, our own horses, and our own breeding program.” So the mission began. ~3~
Above: George Z Below: Team Hennessey. Frank, Pedro, José and George Right: The beautiful Eukaliptus daughters: *Ekstazia,*Pepesza and *Alegoria
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“It took approximately two years to find the farm that has become Hennessey Arabians,” says Frank. “We looked in California and in Florida, finally settling in Ocala, where we purchased 93 acres. We are committed to making an incredible, wonderful environment for the Arabian horse.” The Hennesseys chose a beautiful spot smack in the middle of prime Florida horse country. The soft green pastures, granddaddy oak trees, and warm and friendly winters — a world away from the winters in their home in Michigan — make this horse heaven their vision come true. From the miles of four-board fencing, to the state-of-the-art lab and even the crushed rubber footing in the presentation arena, the Hennesseys have spared no expense to make sure everything about their place puts the horses’ comfort first. “The first order of business was to decide upon the type of Arabian farm we wanted to be,” says Frank. “This is a girl’s-only farm.” That means the Hennessy’s had no immediate plans to stand a stallion (more on this later). “The first priority was the establishment of our foundation herd,” continues Frank. “What better place to start than to look at our partnership investment and to buy those mares that we so love? The first three horses acquired were horses that we had purchased at the Pride of Poland sale in Poland. We concentrated on *Eukaliptus daughters, namely *Pepesza (Eukaliptus x Pestka), *Amba (Eukaliptus x Albigowa) and Alegoria PASB (Eukaliptus x Algora). We then added *Ekstazia (Eukaliptus x Elawra) from Marsha Parkinson’s Canterbury Farm in Maryland. These horses pretty much assure that our foals will have incredible necks, good legs, and powerful hips and will be good movers. Our breeding program is designed to add beautiful, refined heads to what are already powerful athletic frames.”
“A horse gallops with his lungs, preserveres with his heart, and wins with his character�
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~Tesio
*Pepesza (Eukaliptus x Pestka, by *Probat)
“And God took a handful of southerly wind, blew his breath upon it, and created the horse." ~Bedouin legend
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To help them make the proper breeding choices, the Hennesseys were fortunate enough to be able to bring George Zbyszewski (better known as George Z) to their team. “George Z is the genius behind our breeding program, and travels the world to find the perfect horses,” explains Frank. Hennessey Arabians is looking forward to next year’s foal crop, with good reason, according to George Z. “The choices of the stallions for the 2008 breeding season include Aria Impresario (*Marwan Al Shaqab x GC Echlecticca), the 2007 triple crown yearling colt; *Equifor (*Gazal Al Shaqab x Eqviria), on lease from Janow Podlaski State Stud, Poland, to Marsha Parkinson; Eden C (Enzo x Silken Sable); Om El Bahreyn (*CG Balih El Jamaal x Om El Benedict) and Polish and multiple U.S. National Champion *Emanor (*Wojslaw x Emanacja),” says George. Embryo transfers for 2008 include: Oceania O (*Pershan El Jamaal x Om El Jimala) to Eden C, Diamond Lil (Versace x LF Eursofab) to *Equifor, NDL Martinique (*Muscat x *Martisa) to Om El Shahmaan by *Sanadik El Shaklan and GH Falcon Femme (Falcon BHF x *La Femme Versace) to Eden C.
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Steve Smith, a longtime business associate of Frank’s, is the farm’s business manager. “He takes care of all the property, and is a man of all trades,” says Frank. And, says Carol, “He loves the horses as much as we do.” “I have had the privilege of working with Frank Hennessey for the past 20-plus years,” says Steve. “It gives me great joy to see Frank and Carol embark on their journey to become Arabian horse breeders. If you were to say to me five years ago that they would own and operate a farm in their retirement years, I would have thought that maybe you were from another planet.
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Above: Frank Hennessey and farm business manager Steve Smith
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“George—it has to be heaven for my horses.”
~Frank Hennessey
“The 93 acres are all manicured with our new barn now completed and operating,” says Steve Smith. “In one short year on the farm we have managed to complete major renovations to the barns as well as the house. We now have two wells and two generators so the horse environment couldn’t be better. We take great pride in providing the best feed and the best pastures and the best care for our horses. We even purchased a fire truck so we can water the pastures whenever we want. I can even go fishing right here with our stocked pond. This farm is truly paradise for horses and people.” ~ Steve Smith
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*Pianissima 2006 U.S. National Champion Junior Mare with Greg Gallún
U.S. National Treasures ... In just two years, the Hennesseys have had the thrill of joining four horses in the U.S. National Champion winners circle. The first was at the 2006 Nationals in what was one of the most popular mare classes in recent memory. There, the enchanting young mare *Pianissima (*Gazal Al Shaqab x Pianosa), on lease to the Pride of Poland Partners from Janow Stud in Poland, was named Champion Junior Mare. “One of the most unforgettable memories I have of her is the standing ovation she was given at the Nationals,” recalls Frank. “She was so responsive to her handler, Greg Gallún, and was the perfect show horse that evening — just so beautiful.” Adds Greg, “The reception that *Pianissima got on that Friday night when she won the Championship was like something I’ve never experienced. We had a constant stream of people coming back to the barn, having their pictures taken with her — some would even get emotional and well up. I have never seen a response like that — but that’s her.”
LD Pistal 2006 U.S. National Champion Sr. Stallion with David Boggs
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*Emandoria 2007 U.S. National Champion Junior Mare with Greg Gallún
At the same show, LD Pistol (Magnum Psyche x Halana), owned by the LD Pistal Partnership of which the Hennesseys were a part, was named unanimous National Champion Senior Stallion. In the same class, the stallion *Piaff (Eldon x Pipi), leased by the Pride of Poland Partners, was Top Ten Stallion. And NBW Angels Kiss (Magnum Psyche x BHF Dark Angel), owned by the Arabian Horse Heritage Partners, LLC, brought the Hennesseys to center ring once again when she was named Champion Futurity Filly, a repeat of her Canadian National win. The following year brought more glory when another beautiful mare leased by the Pride of Poland Partners, *Emandoria (*Gazal Al Shaqab x Emanda), owned by the Michalow Stud in Poland, claimed the U.S. National Champion Junior Mare title unanimously. “She’d already been World and European Junior Champion Filly,” says Greg Gallún who showed the mare. “I believe she will be regarded as one of the greatest mares ever — her quality, perfect structure, perfect body and head. …” Again, the mare drew visitors to her stall like a magnet, and underscored the notion that it’s one thing to win, and quite another level of satisfaction to win with a horse that people love. NBW Angels Kiss 2006 U.S. National Champion Futurity Filly with David Boggs
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“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.� ~Winston Churchill National Elagance National Fame x Crown Victoria, by *Marsianin
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“The Hennesseys’ love for their farm and animals is intense,” he continues. “When Frank asked me to manage the farm, I was overcome with excitement. I knew in my heart that the commitment would be there to make Hennessey Arabians an outstanding facility, one that we could all be proud of — a facility that would not only be great for the horses but for the people as well.” Although the Hennesseys enjoy traveling to shows and to visit other farms, their main pleasure comes from simply enjoying the horses and their surroundings. “Our interest is more in creating magnificent Arabian horses that we want to spend time with,” says Frank. “At this time, we have almost 30 Arabian horses on the farm. We are doing our best to spoil each and every one of them.”
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That keeps Carol busy. “My job is to see that they get carrots,” she says. “I lead them out to pasture and make sure they are all happy and get to roll about in the sand.” And of all the mares on the farm, Carol’s growing love for the horses manifests itself in a recipient mare with no fancy pedigree and rather plain looks. “Her name is Kopciuszek,” explains Carol, “That’s Polish for Cinderella. She is not very pretty and the people around the farm made fun of her.” That made her a natural object of Carol’s affection. Now she has a prime spot in the mare stall and is treated like a queen. “Kopciuszek was never treated like this before,” says Carol. “But she is a great mom and alerts us to all the action. If a mare is ready to foal, she whinnies and raises all kinds of Cain.”
Coco Chanel (left) and Nancy G
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*ALEGORIA PASB By Eukaliptus Out of Algora by *Probat *AMBA By Eukaliptus Out of Albigowa by Fawor *PEPESZA By Eukaliptus Out of Pestka by *Probat *EKSTAZIA By Eukaliptus Out of *Elwara by Arbil EKZOTYKA By *Goliat Out of *Edessa by *Wojslaw GAI FIERA PRIMA By Gai Fiera Bey Out of Gai Radiance by Gai Parada NATIONAL ELAGANCE By National Fame Out of Crown Victoria by *Marsianin TREJOR IA By Szanghai Out of Regala Sudan by *Sanadik El Shaklan ZORANDZE By Goliat Out of Zabrina VF by Wizjon SC ZIMPATIQUE By Shah Azim Out of SC Eulipia by Gdansk
Horses - if God made anything more beautiful, he kept it for himself. ~Author Unknown
RD ENZARRA By Enzo Out of GF Simply Magic by Magic Dream CAHR *ARIA ALEGRIA By Ekstern Out of *Alegoria PASB by Eukaliptus MARSEILLE O By Om El Shahmaan Out of NDL Martinique by *Muscat Owned in partnership with oOne, LLC.
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Left: H Marqessa H 2008 Filly (QR Marc x Trejor IA) Below: H Nability H 2008 Colt (*El Nabila B x *Walsa El Ludjin
Looking forward to our 2009 foals: *Equifor x Diamond Lil, by Versace *Equifor x Gai Fiera Prima Om El Shahmaan x NDL Martinique, by *Muscat Eden C x GH Falcon Femme, by Falcon BHF Eden C x SC Zimpatique, by Shah Azim Eden C x Oceania O, by *Pershahn El Jamaal Om El Bahreyn x *Amba *Erte JCA x *Amba QR Marc x Zorandze Versace x Ekzotyka Aria Impresario x Trejor IA Good Thunder x National Elagance
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“Oh! for a horse with wings!” ~William Shakespeare, Cymbeline
Whether it is Kopciuszek, aka Cinderella, or one of their precious *Eukaliptus daughters, the Hennesseys, George Z, Steve and the rest of the crew make sure everything is in order. Frank and Carol credit George Z with their continuing education and attention to detail. “I am such a novice at all of this and George is a great teacher,” says Frank. “We spend a lot of time talking about the horse and breeding. George has set us up with a three-ring binder on each and every horse on the property. On the first page is the horse’s registration papers. Then there is a pedigree page, a page on phenotype and genotype, race records, show records, and production records. And for every horse, we include the reason for purchasing. We never want to lose sight of the reason we purchased a horse. This gives us thorough analysis of our program.
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“The next thing we are going to do is use the new ‘European’ scoring system to evaluate each and every horse and compare all the scores,” adds Frank. “We’ll use this as a vehicle for evaluating each horse. We have done it for every foal, and we are trying to be critical. It’s fun and a great education for Carol and me, and it’s keeping us focused.” The time the Hennesseys love most is the time spent in this paradise. “Every morning when I finish my business calls, I go to the barns, brush horses, walk them to pasture,” says Frank, “and when my schedule permits, return them to the barn in the afternoon. I try never to miss night check where our horses receive their third meal of hay, consume tons of carrots and apples and listen to classical music with night-lights and fans providing them with cooling and an inviting atmosphere. During the course of the day, if I’m not in the barns, cutting grass, or mending fences, I try to visit the horses just to be sure all is well. I have been blessed to have a personal interest in horses that have
Above: H Alenzo H 2008 Colt (Enzo x *Alegoria)
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“God forbid that I should go to any heaven where there are no horses.� ~R.B. Cunningham-Graham
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SC Zimpatique (Shah Azim x SC Eulipia) in foal to Eden C for 2009
won four U.S. National Championships, two U.S. Reserve Championships, along with a Canadian and Brazilian National Championship and these have been heady moments, but the greatest pleasure is walking out to the pasture where the mares are and their newly born fillies and colts are running free and just enjoying being a horse. All days on the farm are new trials and learning opportunities.” Carol, who is a professional artist specializing in oils and watercolor, is completely inspired by the acres of beautiful scenery and especially the sight of mares and foals in the pasture. “I am not a portrait artist,” she says, “I prefer landscape. I now just have to learn how to draw the horses!” Frank has plans to build Carol a new studio and gallery for her works, which will surely come to include images of their beautiful mares.
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“The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears.” ~Arabian Proverb
It’s a great new life for George Z as well. “I traveled to the Brazilian Nationals with Frank and Carol in 2006, and two years later I found myself in Ocala, Florida,” he recalls, “starting a new Hennessey Arabian farm. What I saw in Frank during Elandra’s sale at the Pride of Poland has grown and blossomed. He loves his horses. Every day he rushes his 7:00 a.m. conference call to be able to lead some of his horses to the pastures. He is the first one to wake up when a mare is foaling. He comes every time the veterinarian’s truck crosses our gate. He wants to do more and learn more. His only request to me when beginning design on the facility was: ‘George, it has to be a heaven for my horses.’” And it is. “We have eight pastures ranging in size from one acre to ten acres,” says Frank. “We also have two smaller paddocks, which I use on special occasions. We have three horse barns and an equipment and storage barn. Our newest barn includes everything we have learned over the past year and will be
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*Amba (Eukaliptus x Albigowa, Fawor)
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clean, airy, with incredible freedom for the horses. In all of our barns we use a spray system to eliminate flies and other insects and all barns have a multitude of fans to keep airflow constant. George Z insists that we have the highest-quality feed for our horses. We use timothy hay, which we import from Canada, the highest-quality whole oats (I have had a lesson on how to tell the difference), fresh carrots and apples, and yes — twice a week certain of our horses have hot mash. George is my constant teacher and mentor. He always makes me think that I am making the decisions but we all know better than that. Since I consider myself just starting out in this business, I am reticent to give advice to others but what I would say is if a young person decides to breed Arabians today, I would spend a fair amount of time studying the breed visiting farms and consulting with experts. He, of course, should have a subscription to Arabian Horse World, a magazine he would carry with him at all times. Learn what you like and buy the best animal consistent with your desires. Be sure you have time sufficient to spend with the horse because he or she needs to be your best friend.
Above: H Eqzuisite H 2008 Filly (*Equifor x Ekzotyka, by *Goliat)
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Facing Page: Ekstazia (Eukaliptus x *Elwara, by Arbil)
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Just like their horses that graze the lush pastures in Ocala, the Hennesseys, too, have traveled widely since the beginning of their venture. From their first trip to Poland in 2005 where Frank and Carol participated in the Pride of Poland sale, to visits to Brazil, Paris, Aachen, and throughout North America, the Arabian horse has drawn them into a new world. Frank has since made three more trips to Poland and values the ongoing relationship they maintain with the Polish stud farms. “We’ve met so many new friends on these travels,” say Frank and Carol. “And in turn, our farm is a place where we can welcome not only those we’ve met in the horse business, but our family and friends from other circles of our lives as well. We have an open door policy — it’s a thrill for us to share these animals.” “It’s especially gratifying to introduce ‘non-horse’ friends to our Arabians,” comments Carol. “Recently three very special young friends who had never experienced horses, visited our farm. To see their eyes and expressions light up in their first encounter is something I will not forget. Later that night, they were treated to the gift of seeing a foal enter the
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Above: *Pepesza (Eukaliptus x Pestka, by *Probat Facing page top: Frank Hennessey and *Elandra following her purchase as the Pride of Poland Sale
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world. The positive energy between the horses and those kids was magical — like nothing I had ever seen. And now, the families of those kids are horse shopping! The horses truly give us gifts daily.”“Hennessey Arabians has something special to look forward to in the near future: the arrival of Polish, U.S., and Canadian National Champion *Emanor, owned by Ron and Mila Hart, and probably George Z’s favorite stallion in the whole world. “*Emanor will be on lease to us for a time,” says Frank, “and we will use him on some of our mares. It is very exciting to think he will be here at Hennessey Arabians.”
And what of the long-term future of the farm? ““Hennessey Arabians is not devoted to any particular strains in the Arabian breed,” explains George. “We would like to produce a good horse, period. “The question about the pluses and minuses of the Arabian horse business is pretty unique to each of us who have the experience,” continues Frank. “The future of the Arabian horse is incredibly strong. Its history defines the world, and the future will be much better because of the power of the Arabian horse and the magic of being in its presence. For me to discover this passion after retirement from a very active and all-encompassing business career is like a dream come true. I never believed that the Arabian horse could make such a difference in my life, but it has. Of all the things that I am still involved in, the business ventures and charitable activities, nothing gives me more pleasure than being on the farm.”
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Frank & Carol Hennessey 12780 NW 35th Street Ocala, Florida 34482 Farm: 352.629.4931 Fax: 352-629-0561 George Z Cell: 352.857.3384 info@hennesseyarabians.com
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