Fall 2014 by The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

THE

a r a b i a n SPORT HORSE FALL 2014

PONY

JUMPER

Phenomenon TEVIS CUP EMILIE FREDE PHOTO

Aazrak

The FOUNDATION of a LEGACY

ARABIAN-BREDS at

WEG

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

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The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

a r a b i a n

THE

SPORT HORSE

a r a b i a n SPORT HORSE

CONTENTS

MAGAZINE

52 an

entice design publication

cover story

Just One Look

On the cover: Prima Rose Bonaventura and Just One Look

entice-design.com

Making room

in your life for a horse Publisher Cassandra Ingles

24 Breeder Q&A

Editor Peggy Ingles

Dorann LaPerch

Advertising (410) 823-5579

Racing the globe

kelsey russell’s journey

Website TheArabianSportHorse.com

aazrak

info@thearabiansporthorse.com

the foundation of a legacy

Submissions & Story Ideas Welcomed!

58 the tevis cup

and the blakeleys

No reproduction without written permission.

8 11 12 16 18 23 32

Bits & Pieces Molly Stanley US Pony Club Championships FEI Pony Championships Biomechanics Equine Senior Citizens Breeding for Performance

35 36 47 48 51 54 64

World Equestrian Games Conformation & Careers Region 3 Championships Beginner’s Guide to SHIH Paying It Forward Growing Up Arabian Service Listings

Fall 2014

Welcomes

French Rivi Aira

*Oration++++// x Caraechstrodinair

GOA

to the family!

Wishing my Papa *Oration the very best at Sport Horse Nationals!

Congratulations & Thank You to all who trusted our breeding program for your next Sport Horse Super Star! Tranquillity Farm • Landinair GOA (Landkoenig x Caraechstrodinair) Winston Dwyer • Magicaul Powers (Magic Aulrab x Caraechstrodinair) Seana Willis • Aurelius GOA (Magic Aulrab x Proberry Bey)

Golden Oak Arabians & Warmbloods • Denise Cossuto & Tamara Torti www.goldenoakarabiansandwarmbloods.com • 916.300.5144

Bonn-Fyre Farms

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Elikzir

Pure Polish Arabian Stallion (Ganges x Ularia) Sweepstakes Nominated • Owned by Bonn-Fyre Farms

Arabian Sport Horse In Hand- Dressage Type & Hunter Type Arabian Sport Horse In Hand Dressage Type & Hunter Type ATH Shown by Dorann LaPerch Open Justine Rose ATH

Azh Naborrs Gemini

TRAINING CENTER

LA Legacyinblack +++//

Arabian Stallion • Owned by Bonn-Fyre Farms (JY Blackwings x Naaja Black Gem)

Arabian Sport Horse Show Hack Open & ATR Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle Open & ATR First Level Dressage • Second Level Dressage Shown by Dorann LaPerch- Open Justine Rose ATR

Hermes Echo+

(Azh Naborr x L’argent) Bred by Bonn-Fyre Farms Owned by Wynne Schumacher

HA/AA Sport Horse Mare in hand Dressage & Hunter Type HA/AA Sport Horse Mare in hand ATH- Dressage Type HA/AA Sport Horse Under Saddle HA/AA Sport Horse Show Hack HA/AA First Level Dressage Open & ATR Shown by Dorann LaPerch - Open & Debbie Tomlinson - AT

Dorann LaPerch • Bonnfyrefarms@aol.com

(The Terminatorr+ x Echos Desire) Owned by Wynne Schumacher

HA/AA Geldings Sport Horse In Hand Dressage & Hunter Type HA/AA Geldings Sport Horse in Hand Dressage & Hunter TypeATH HA/AA Sport Horse Under Saddle Open & ATR HA/AA Training Level Dressage Open & ATR Shown by Dorann LaPerch SHIH-Open and Debbie Tomlinson

VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

Fall 2014 Nationals Bound with this outstanding group of horses!

Biscotti +/

Arabian Stallion (Meksiko x Ambitshus) Bred by Bonn-Fyre Farms Owned and shown by Dr. Cynthia Binder

Arabian Sport Horse Show Hack ATR Arabian/HA/AA Fourth Level Open & ATR Arabian/HA/AA Prix St George Open & ATR

EC Quo Vadis

(Dream Quest x Princess Peace) Owned by Justine Rose

HA/AA Geldings Sport Horse In Hand Dressage Type Open & ATH HA/AA Sport Horse Under Saddle Open, AAOTR & ATR HA/AA Sport Horse Show Hack Open & ATR HA/AA Dressage Training Level Open, ATR & AAOTR HA/AA Dressage First Level Open, ATR & AAOTR Shown by Dorann LaPerch SHIH Open & Justine Rose

Karnavaal

Arabian Stallion (Dakar El Jamaal x Bellah Reina) Owned by Jennifer Diamond & Jieshi Yan MD

Arabian Sport Horse Stallions in Hand Dressage Type ATH Purebred Sport Horse Stallions in Hand Hunter Type- ATH Purebred Sport Horse Under Saddle Open, ATR & AOTR Shown by Jennifer Diamond

Chips-A-Toi LOA

(HF Mr Chips x Tinker Toi LOA) Owned by Linda Stoner

Arabian Mares Sport Horse in Hand Dressage & Hunter Type Arabian Mares Sport Horse in Hand Dressage & Hunter Type ATH Arabian Dressage First Level Arabian Dressage Second Level Shown by Dorann LaPerch and Justine Rose ATH

Breeding and Training National Winning Arabian & Half-Arabian Sport Horses since 1982

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

BITS and pieces

Jim Brown

Avolte Photography

Katie Lang and FA Patriot

Wolkenzorro & Mimi Stanley

DRESSAGE NEWS Cyd Curle and her Anglo Arabian HAZEN (Silveyville’s Love {TB} x Fasach Banrion) earned a Reserve Champion in Third Level

and has brought along. Tracy Pierce and her Half-Arabian ELIJAS TRUBADOR MGF

Freestyle with a 71.833% at the Calif. Dressage Soc. Jr/Young

(Trubadorsmadrigal x Sizzlin Scotch {Paint}) earned High Point

Rider North Championships in August. More than 25% of the

Reserve Champion for Third Level Open at Lamplight Eq. Center

horses entered in the Championships were Arabian-bred. See full

Dressage Show. They had scores from 64.868% to 71.667%.

story in this issue. This fantastic pair also earned a win with a 64.5% in Third

Katie Lang rode her Half-Arabian FA PATRIOT to the Dressage Junior Rider Team Gold Medal at the FEI North American Junior/

Level Freestyle and a 3rd place with 62.692% in Third-3 at the

Young Rider Championships! You can see their test here: http://

Dressage In The Sierras show.

bit.ly/WjN4YB

Arabian DANCE FEVOR (Hey Hallelujah x Dancing Love) and

They also earned a 65.921% in their FEI Junior Individual

owner/rider Jessica Meredith won the Dover Medal for High

Test and a 63.946% in the FEI JR Team Test at the US Dressage

Score Second Level-Test 3 at the WPDA Summer Sizzler open

Festival of Champions in June. See a video of their ride here:

dressage show in August.

http://bit.ly/1ngxwMb

Laine Sklar and her Half-Arabian PALADIN SF (Aul Magic x

Eliza Banks and her Egyptian-bred Arabian stallion DBA JER-

Padua Go {Trak}) won all 3 of their Third Level classes at the Road

EMIAH+ (CN Jericho x Mi Asada), pictured below, earned the final

Runner Open Dressage Show with scores of 66-68%. Here’s a

score for their USDF Silver Medal recently. Eliza has earned all

video of one ride: http://on.fb.me/1n2MhGs

of her scores on Jeremiah, whom she has trained herself! (Photo

Mimi Stanley and Sally Henry’s Half-Arabian stallion WOLKENZORRO (Wolkenzauber {AWS} x Midnight Lace HA) earned a win in the USDF DSHB Stallion In-Hand class at the Sorenson Park Dressage Show. He also won his Second Level class with a 68.68%. Two other Half-Arabians competed as well. Sally Henry’s PR CAPTAIN HOOK (R O Dameon {HA} x PR Tarzana) and Mimi Stanley won a 1st and 2nd at Prix St. Georges with 62.632% & 63.289%. Gabrielle Myers and her PR KNIGHT VADER (R O Dameon {HA} x Can Knight Fawn) earned a 62.857% at 2nd and a 67.432% at 1st Level. Toni Over for earned her final scores for her USDF Bronze Medal. All points were earned on her Arabian mare BEL SOLE+/ (Lasodo x Shazrah Femme) that she purchased as a youngster

Vicki Wright)

Fall 2014

Photo by Megan Seiil

BITS and pieces

Elijahs Troubador MGF & Tracy Pierce Pip Sumsion and her Arabian HERMANO ROJO (El Hermano x

Saint’a Boy & Maggie McAlary sister Samantha earned Reserve in Limit Equitation, winning that

Binnt Sabo Meadow) earned the Bronze show First Level Division

flat class and the Pre-Children’s flat on Half-Arabian ARTIKULATE

Champion and overall high point with a 72% at the Mid Island

(Titan {AWR} x Nariadnissa).

Cadora Dressage Festival. They were also Gold show Reserve Champion in the Training and First Level with 67% & 65%. Even more remarkable is that they were named JUDGE’S CHOICE - an award for the judge’s favorite horse & rider combination of the entire show! Laura Killian and her Half-Arabian MS SPANISH LEGACY (Saphiro {Lusitano}x Legacy Of Ariston) earned a 67.375% in Fourth Level to win the class recently at White Fences.

Prima Rose Bonaventura and her Arabian cross pony JUST ONE LOOK topped a class of 46 of the top ponies in the country the 2nd jumping round at the USEF Pony Finals. She flew around the huge course in 58 seconds! See our story on Prima in this issue. Half Arabian JAG ROYAL KNIGHT and Anna Tootle placed 19th Overall and 13th Over Fences in the Medium Green Pony Hunters at USEF Pony Finals. The pony is owned and bred by Kathy Gilker. Junior rider Taylor Bowman and Sarah Asby’s Half-Arabian IMNAHA (Ideal {Old} x Alu Minchah) won the Pro/Am Jumper Relay at the High Desert Classic. Watch a video here: http://youtu.be/ xix0OX2m5TM. Matthew Belcourt and his Half-Arabian LJS INTRINSIC (Ironman {Old} x Fourever Yours) placed 3rd in the .80m Jumpers at the Vermont Summer Festival. Intrinsic was bred by Marie Emrey, Lazy J Sporthorses. Maggie McAlary has recently been competing an Anglo Arabian bred horse, SAINT’A BOY (31% Arabian) and has placed in some 1.45m jumper classes on the East Coast this summer.

EVENTING NEWS Michigan’s Richland Park CIC and Horse Trials were held the end of August and included a few Arabian-bred horses in the comJAG Royal Knight

HUNTER & JUMPER NEWS

petition. UK-bred Hal Arabian MARBLE ARCH and Stephen Bradley finished dressage in 3rd place in the CIC2*, had 2 rails in Stadium, but went double clear on cross country to finish 6th overall.

Fresh from a great Youth Nationals, Julia Weinerman was

Lauren Kieffer and syndicate owned Anglo Arabian VERMICU-

Champion in both Pre-Children’s & Maiden Equitation plus Re-

LUS headed out on their second ever Intermediate and finished in

serve in Novice Equitation at the Sussex Horse Show on her Half-

13th after some time on cross but double clear stadium. This pair

Arabian SUPERSTARR JLP (HF Mister Chips x Uta M {KWPN}. Her

also placed 3rd in the Intermediate at Seneca Valley Pony Club

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

BITS and pieces (cont.) Photo by Allie Armento

photo courtesy Corinne Frankel

Corinne Frankel & Excalibur (PL Calib) Spring HT earlier in the summer. Anglo Arabian HOUSTON and his new owner Anna Hasselquist competed in Junior Training at this, their first competition togeth-

Heiress Of Piaff Amateur Handler. She also competed in the Sallie B. Wheeler US National Hunter Breeding Championship, placing 10th in Yearling Fillies and 6th in Amateur Handler.

er. They earned a 36.80 in dressage, had just one rail in stadium

Arabian mare NAYSA (Piaff x Nova Wind) was inspected & ap-

and picked up a little time on cross country to finish in 5th overall.

proved for breeding with the American Trakehner Association late

What a great start to their new partnership!

last month. The inspector gave her all 7s & 8s, and pointed out

Welsh/Connemara/Arabian QUICKY DE BARBEREAU and Les-

her “good bone,” “light trot,” “big eye;” calling her “a great am-

lie Law competed at the Full Gallop August Horse Trials in Training

bassador to the Arabian breed.” Later in the summer, Naysa was

and finished in 2nd place with double clears in stadium and cross

inspected and approved by the Oldenburg NA registry, earning a

country.

98.5 and admittance to the Main Mare Book. Naysa is owned and

At Waredaca Horse Trials, Corinne Frankel and her Half Arabian EXCALIBUR (PL Calib) earned a 4th place overall in Preliminary

bred by Tamara Boose. Half-Arabian SINATRAS SINSATION (Sinatra Song {Han} x Afirelight) and owner Jessica Klein earned a 77.6% to win the USDF

Training Level. Playland Farm’s PL IRISH QUEENIE with Maya Kuntze earned a

Prospects In Hand Colts/Geldings class at Autumn Hill Dressage

7th place finish in Beginner Novice Rider and PL IRISH PEARL with

Show. They are qualified for and will be competing at the USDF

Glenda Player finished 9th in Open Novice.

Breeders Championships. He was bred by Susan McAdoo.

There were 5 Anglo Arabians slated to appear in Eventing at

SUSAN MCADOO PHOTO

the World Equestrian Games. Two from Spain, one from Poland (bred by Janow Podlaski), one from Russia and one from Sweden. See our story in this issue for more! Arabian DJAIPOUR (Djouras Tu x Puce) and Yfke Bourget of France placed 7th out of 52 entries in Eventing at the FEI European Pony Championships last weekend with double clears in Cross Country & Stadium. The French Team earned a win for their team as well. See our story on Yfke in this issue.

BREEDER NEWS Shayna Dolinger and her Half Arabian filly HEIRESS OF PIAFF (Piaff x *Virag {Hungarian WB}) competed in Hunter Breeding at the Upperville and Warrenton Horse Shows. They placed 7th at Upperville in Non-TB Yearling Fillies. At Warrenton, Heiress was 8th in Yearling Fillies and 6th in

Sinatra’s Sinsation

Molly Stanley

Fall 2014 This summer, we lost one of the staunchest supporters and most respected breeders of Arabian Sport Horses in this country. Marlyse “Molly” Stapleton Stanley began her Classic Spanish Arabian breeding program over 40 years ago, but her plan was actually a childhood dream. When she was just 10, Molly predicted her future, writing “My ambition is to raise horses with strains of Arab, racing, riding and mountain blood so they will have stamina, speed and gentleness.” In the course of fulfilling her life’s ambition, Molly gravitated to the Spanish Arabian horse, finding that these horses met all of her criteria for an excellent jumping horse. She and her husband Dave traveled to Spain 57 times and imported 99 Arabians to the US. They also maintained a breeding farm in Seville and have owned over 550 horses. Molly and her daughter Lisa Stapleton trained and showed many of their homebreds to National Championships in Working Hunters, Jumpers and Dressage. Quite a few horses were Certified Field Hunters and frequent foxhunters as well. Names like Exodus I, SS Orion, Bouganvillea, Discoteca, Iberia, Joyamia and Jezabel SSB are but a few. Just last year, several Stanley Ranch-bred mares in foal to Molly’s stallion Czantiago were purchased and shipped to Spain to foal, bringing this program full circle. Her homebred Czantiago, named for Iago, an exceptional jumper the Stanleys purchased but were unable to import, passed inspection for both the Trakehner and RPSI Stud Books. Last year, Czantiago completed the 70Day North American Stallion Performance Test, one of only a few Arabians to have done so. Molly has said that he is the best horse she has ever bred, and that is saying a lot!

Photo by Rob Hess

Molly served in the past as Chair of the Hunter/Jumper and Sport Horse Committees. She was instrumental in the creation of the Sport Horse Division and Sport Horse Nationals, serving on the Show Commission for several years. Godspeed Molly, thank you for all of your hard work. You are missed.

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

2014 US PONY CLUB

FESTIVAL & CHAMPIONSHIPS Story & Photos by Cassie Phelps

Khaki shorts and polo shirts took over the Kentucky Horse Park July 14-21. United States Pony Club members arrived at the Horse Park to compete in this, their 60th weeklong event. Held every three years, Pony Club Festival includes competition in Quiz, Tetrathlon, Games, Polocrosse, Dressage, Eventing and Show Jumping. Festival brings together over 4,000 Pony Club members from across the country and this year all the states except Hawaii were represented! Combining half a week of National Championship competition with half a week of clinics, D Camps, and seminars is no small feat and USPC pulled it off. Pony Club Festival Championships

Cassie Phelps and Silk Roads Legacy

portion is like no other show, barns are off limits for parents and non competitors,

your first ride of the show horses and rid-

would like to see from exhibitors through-

and horse management judges prowl the

ers were checked from head to toe and

out the competition. This year Pony Club-

alleys. Tack stalls, feed stalls, and horse

graded from exceeds standards, meet

bers shared the horse park with the North

stalls are all judged on cleanliness and or-

standards and below standards. Each

American Junior and Young Riders enjoy-

ganization complete with required equip-

discipline had their own area of the Ken-

ing Pizza Parties and shopping together.

ment lists. Stalls are labeled by team

tucky Horse Park that was claimed as their

On Friday after the awards ceremonies

and every horse has their own personal

territory with rides going continuously

had finished horses and riders participat-

stall and feed charts, barns were opened

throughout the week.

ing in the clinics either stuck around or

at 6am closed at 6pm with night checks each night from 8:30-9pm. Turnout inspections are held before

During the competition several of the

started to move in to ride and learn!

disciplines were given clinics after hours

For Dressage the clinicians included

from their judges on what the judges

Lendon Gray, Katy Barglow (USDF Bronze,

Fall 2014 and more! As to be expected, there were several Arabian-bred horses and ponies in attendance. Casie Newkirk was team Captain for the Delmarva Region. Riding her Arabian gelding Cajun Classic (VA Sirius x Ebonysha), they earned a first place in Training Level Horse Management and a second place in the Training Level Dressage Championship. (See Sidebar) Cassie Phelps and her Half-Arabian Silk Roads Legacy competed in the First Level & Up Dressage with their team from HB Midwest Region in addition to a clinic with Kevin Bowie. Danielle Drbal and her Arabian

Nichole Purcell brought her Half-Ara-

Silver and Gold medalist winning Young

with Dr. Rae Birr, DVM, Basics of Equine

bian TF Texas Royale with the Old Domin-

Horse titles to Grand Prix), Cathy Fred-

Nutrition with Eileen Phethean – Ken-

ion Pony Club and competed in Training

erickson, Annette Gavin-Hastilow (Brit-

tucky Equine Research, Equestrian Sports

Level Dressage as did Laura Cogan and

ish Horse society BHSII level trainer and

Psychology with Daniel Stewart, Equine

her Arabian Bow with Central New Eng-

instructor), Karine Gordy, Nancy Grout

Dentristry with Rood and Riddle, Rehab

land Region. Danielle Drbal and her Arabi-

(graduate A pony clubber), Ann Haller, Su-

and Recovery taught by Dr. Chris Newton

an pony represented the Midwest Region

san Harris, Lori Hoos, Reese Koffler-Stand-

and Kirsten Johnson, What to do until the

in Games competition.

field, Sue Kolstad, Nancy Later Lavoie, Su-

Vet arrives with Hagyard Equine Hospital,

san Posner USEF R judge, Terri Rocovich, Sue Winslade. Clinic goers were treated to games clinics included Sara Greiling. Polocrosse was taught by Dori Johnson. D camps were taught by Alexandra “Allie” Sacksen, Eventing clinicians included some of the top USEA Eventers such as Gina Miles, Bill Hoos, Alita (Bunny) Hendricks, Cherie Gaebel, Erika Adams, Jennifer MerrickBrooks (Canadian A pony clubber), Missy Ransehousen, Jerry Schurink. Show Jumping clinics were taught by Linda Allen, Kevin Bowie, Otis Brown, Kyle Dewar, Bobby Dreyer, Richard Lamb and Deb Willson. Indoors seminars were held such as the ABC of Nutrition taught by Matthew Strom, Conformation for the D level held

Laura Cogan and Bow

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

MY TRIP TO

US PONY CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS By Casie Newkirk

D. MERRILL PHOTO

I live in Elmer, NJ and I am a C-2 Dressage member of Fox and Hounds Pony Club (which is a part of the United States Pony Club) based out of Mullica Hill, NJ. My dressage “dance partner” is my 13 year old Arabian gelding Cajun Classic. I have owned Cajun for almost 3 years and we are currently showing First Level dressage and schooling some second and third level movements. He is a joy to ride and has a wonderful work ethic and he always knows how to make me laugh and makes new friends wherever we go. In July, Cajun and I traveled to the United States Pony Club’s Festival at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. We qualified in Training Level dressage at our Delmarva Region C Dressage Rally where our team took first overall and second in Horse Management. Cajun and I also placed second for our Musical Freestyle test. Every 3 years, Pony Club Championships are held at the Kentucky Horse Park and also includes an educational portion (this is optional to attend, but you can come for education without qualifying for Championships). It is comprised of three days of mounted and unmounted clinics held after the four days of competition. On the two in-between years, USPC holds a Championship East at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA (Cajun and I competed there last year in Training Level Dressage.) The Championship West is held at various equestrian venues in the West/Midwest. At this year’s USPC Festival, we competed on a Delmarva Region team of four riders with one unmounted team member

open at 6 am and close at 6 pm and we are required to return to

known as a stable manager. The stable manager is a vital part of

the stables between 8:30 and 9:00 pm for night check.

the team because we are not only judged on our riding but also on

We arrived Monday evening and had to be set up and be ready

the care and cleanliness of our horses, tack and stalls. The barns

for our stable area to be checked by the Horse Management judg-

D. MERRILL PHOTO

Fall 2014 Trail in the morning, which involved a 5 mile trail ride through the countryside on the park property. After having Saturday off, Cajun was full of energy but handled the ride well and it was great for both of us to get outside the dressage ring. That afternoon we had a First Level dressage lesson where we did some no stirrup work and lateral work. On Monday morning we had a dressage lesson with a Pony Club National Examiner with which we worked on fine tuning our aids. Monday afternoon in our last lesson we learned some western skills and worked on neck reining and basic reining movements. We did some rollback to lope departures and Cajun was really good at them! The instructor said it was the best one he’d Casie Newkirk & Cajun Classic at the Turnout Station for inspection.

seen all weekend! Sadly, the week flew by and before we knew

es by noon on Tuesday. We also had jogs on Tuesday, which is a

it, it was time to go home. Cajun handled the trip home well and

favorite of mine because I love to show off Cajun’s floating Ara-

we even got him to drink at one of our pit stops! I really enjoyed

bian trot. He enjoyed himself too and wanted to go again on our

my time in Kentucky and couldn’t imagine doing it with any other

way back to the barn!

horse than Cajun. It was great to see how many people were cu-

The next three days we had one or two rides a day starting

rious about Cajun and this wonderful breed. He definitely turns

with Turnout Inspection on Wednesday morning, when they check

heads wherever we go. I also have an Arabian mare at home

to see how clean our horse, tack and attire are. Also after our last

named JL Delilah that I started in Pony Club with, she is 17 now

ride each day, we had turn back inspection where they check to

and I take her ranch sorting from time to time.

be sure we took proper care of our horse and tack at the end of

For more info about USPC please visit ponyclub.org

the day. Friday was the last day of competition and the award ceremony. We worked very hard everyday and stayed on top of things which paid off when we won first place in Horse Management and second place overall in Training Level Dressage out of 18 teams from across the country! We were also one of the first teams to receive the Margo Leithead Award for Excellence in Horse Management, which was a huge honor. Although placing well was great, what I really enjoyed about championships was bonding and working with my team, making new friends and showing off the great versatility and temperament of the Arabian breed. Cajun made just as many friends as I did and a couple of competitors even remembered him from last year - one calling him a “social butterfly.” On Sunday began the mounted lessons. We had Competitive

Casie and her successful Delmarva Region team.

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Arabian DJAIPOUR (Djouras Tu x Puce) and Yfke Bourget of France placed 7th out of 52 entries in Eventing at the FEI European Pony Championships in July with double clears in both Cross Country and Stadium. Yfke and Djaipour also assisted the French Team to win the Gold Medal. We contacted Yfke to find out more about her and Djaipour. What is your age and riding history? I’m 15 years old, and I have been riding since I was 3

much, because she has shown a lot of confidence in me for the past two years.

years old and began show jumping at age 7. Did you have prior experience with Arabians? How did you get in to event-

This was the first time I

ing?

rode an Arabian, and it was

When we moved three

a fantastic experience. I

years ago, my new Pony

hope I will have the oppor-

Club specialized in eventing.

tunity, sometime, to ride

I tried it and I liked it right

another one again!

away. The pony I had was not ready for competition

What

on a high level, so we went

plans?

are

your

future

looking for a new one. Very

Djaïpour is still with

luckily we found Djaïpour

me until the end of Au-

(owned by Clémentine Du-

gust, and then will join his

rand), a purebred Arabian

future rider. I’m sure our

pony of 14 years. He is very

separation will be very

beautiful, kind and very cou-

difficult. For two years he

rageous in cross country, a

gave me everything he

good jumper too. It sure is a

had, was kind and gener-

privilege to ride him.

ous. I will never ever forget

We got along very quick-

him!!! Mum has a big pic-

ly and for the past two years

ture made of him, so I can

we have had great results.

see him every day in my room.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment to date?

Next year, I will return to show jumping. I unfortunately don’t have a eventing

In the past two tears, we have won several Eventing

horse. My horse, Sweety du Reverdy, is a French horse of 8

‘Grand Prix’ in France. Last year, we finished with a Silver

years. I hope to be qualified for the ‘Juniors’ next year, but

Medal at the European Championships in Arezzo, Italy in

the road is still very long!

the Nations Cup and placed 13th in individual. This year,

I don’t see anything else in my life other than horse rid-

we won a Gold Medal and were 7th in individual. A very

ing, and would like to be a professional rider in the future.

nice way to finish our pony years! I thank Clémentine very

The only limit is the one you set yourself!

PlayLand Farm Fall 2014

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The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

BIOMECHANICS A SERIES BY LISA MAY

Testing Balance & Crookedness Forty years ago, Mary Wanless set out to discover what makes someone “talented.” Now with six books, multiple DVDs, and clinics worldwide, her “Ride With Your Mind”TM (RWYM) method of rider coaching explains how we can shape the horse’s athletic use of his body like talented riders do. Her pioneering work has seeped into that of many others who refer to “rider biomechanics.” Wanless’s strategies can be understood most clearly from the source. THERE ARE PROVEN WAYS TO DISCOVER BALANCE AND CORRECT OUR CROOKEDNESS The horse’s movement mirrors our own movement patterns. Struggles with two-track work, falling in or out, lead preferences, irregular speed or striding, difficulties with bend, and steering challenges can all indicate rider issues. Despite equine health professionals’ best efforts, a crooked rider will repeatedly pattern crookedness in horses. Ride With Your Mind Coaches specially trained to see the subtleties of balance in rider and horse can view much of what is occurring in the rider’s sitting surface through a pair’s movement.

The Equisense Smart Ride Balance Sensor. measure the forces exerted between the rider and the saddle. The Equi-sens SRBS uses hi-tech materials: a multitude of pres-

Mary Wanless’ colleague Robert Feinberg responded to a

sure sensors and a microprocessor measure pressure under the

rider’s balance frustrations by creating a very cool device: the

rider every few seconds. The results are instantly displayed visu-

patented Smart Ride Balance Sensor (SRBS). Hilda Gurney, USDF

ally through LED lights or through vibrating indicators on oppo-

Hall of Fame inductee and past Olympian demonstrated SRBS on

site sides of the body to inform the rider whether she is balanced

video in her 2012 presentation to the US Dressage Federation

centrally, more to the right or more to the left in the saddle.

convention. She said, “We have an obligation to harmonize with our horses.”

WITH A COACH While SRBS was designed for use while riding your horse with

A NEW MEANING TO ‘RIDING BY THE SEAT OF OUR PANTS’

your saddle, my favorite use of this tool is first with your saddle on a saddle stand. Using it with a coach trained in rider anatomy

Smart Ride Balance Sensor is an electronic sensing pad that

people learn things they’ve never known about how their sitting

can be worn over breeches in easy on/off shorts to continuously

surface feels to the horse. Distinct from reading external visual

Fall 2014

Equisens breeches holding the SRBS sensor. SRBS “LED indicators made it easy to see how Cunningham’s weight shifted during lateral exercises. A mediocre half-pass ridden with the rider’s weight incorrectly on the outside seat bone improved instantly when Cunningham changed his position to Wanless and coaches working on rider asymmetries at 2014 Teacher Training.

weight the inside seat bone.”

signs the SRBS measures the combination of uneven pelvis posi-

While different schools of thought and different horses may

tion, upper leg positions, habits of body coordination or inten-

prefer the opposite or equal weighting, most riders’ greatest

sity/laxity of muscle tone in the rider’s sitting surface—upper

challenge is consistency—first in training and then in execution.

thighs and seat—that are the causes of imbalance. Using SRBS,

Since we live in our crooked bodies, it’s hard to discover that our

together coach and rider can discover the forces the rider’s natu-

lack of awareness may be confusing or frustrating our horses.

ral sitting position exerts. They can smoke out how the rider’s

Just like a missing filling can feel like a chasm, change can feel

balance alters when giving aids to the horse. Then, they can sys-

bizarrely wrong! This scientific device gives objective feedback

tematically unravel what to change in the angles and twist of

that enables us to become aware of the way we use our bodies.

thigh and pelvis or muscular tone in the sitting surface to achieve

Go to www.Equi-sens.com for detailed technical info, sales and

balance and intended aids.

rental information, and an audio interview between Wanless and Feinberg.

ON YOUR OWN! OR WITH FRIENDS Even without a coach, curious and patient riders can typically

We can use our own anatomy to communicate to the horse a

find solutions with 20 minutes of Smart Ride Balance Sensor ex-

streamlined framework for movement. Find out more about these

perimentation. Setting up a mirror in front and to at least one

strategies for using the brain to communicate with horses through

side of the saddle stand allows you to see whether your torso

behavioral science and biomechanics! There’s a wealth of informa-

tends to position left, right, forward, backward, curved or twisted.

tion at www.Mary-Wanless.com including coaches worldwide—with

After you’ve discovered how to alter the more subtle attributes of

five in the USA at www.RideWithYourMindUSA.com and two in Can-

your sitting surface, most people can figure out the coordination

ada.

between their sitting surface and an upright, centered, square and symmetrical torso.

Lisa May, the first accredited US RWYM coach has been working with Wanless since 1997 and Horseman Mark Rashid since 2000 www.MarkRashid.com. Also a Professional Association of Thera-

WITH HILDA GURNEY In Hilda Gurney’s 2012 USDF presentation she showed video of assistant trainer Sean Cunningham wearing the Equi-sens device. Quoting from USDF Connection 2/13,

peutic Horsemanship International instructor, she travels for clinics from her home in Maryland and assists riders anywhere by way of video critique. www.IdylwildFarm.com.

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Making Room in Your Life

for a Horse

An excerpt from The Smart Woman’s Guide to Midlife Horses by Melinda Folse, used by permission from Trafalgar Square Books (www.HorseandRiderBooks.com). The Smart Woman’s Guide to Midlife Horses is available from the TSB online bookstore (www.HorseandRiderBooks.com), where shipping in the US is FREE.

One of the biggest questions most of us face when contemplating a big life change, such as adding all that horses entail to the mix of an already busy existence, is how do we do it without making the craziness we may already be feeling worse? It can be done, but it takes some mental restructuring and flexibility, a new set of rules, and what experts call “self-management.”

Prepare to give up something else “Horses are not like boats, RVs, or motorcycles,” says Equine Massage Therapist and midlife horsewoman Emily Kutz, referring to the other kinds of “big purchases” frequently made in and around midlife. Her path back to horses began when her neighbor’s daughter shared stories of her own horseback riding lessons, and once Emily felt her old dream reawaken, she began making changes to her life to accommodate it. “People need to really understand what they’re getting into when they commit to bringing a living, breathing being into their life with another set of needs, requirements, and responsibilities.” Contemporary philosopher and best-selling author Alexandra Stoddard hits the nail on the head when she tells us “You’re going to have to give up something you already have or possibly, another dream . . . when you say good-

Fall 2014 bye to the weeds you didn’t plant, you make room for the flowers of your choice.”

Yes.” 2. Let friends and family know what you’re doing and enlist their help.

Practice the “art of no”

3. Identify why you’re afraid to say “No.” (Are you afraid of

We are perhaps the last generation to grow up driven by a

conflict? Rejection? Missed opportunity? Regret? Guilt?)

need to please others at the expense of pleasing ourselves. Now

Sometimes just shining a little light of awareness on your

don’t blow this out of proportion here. I’m not advocating selfish-

fear puts it into a healthier perspective.

ness, nor am I dogging niceness and “doing for others.” But when the inability to say “No” to the requests of others, even to your

Clear your own trail

own detriment, robs you of the ability to live an authentic, fulfill-

To figure out where to start clearing the trail to your horse-

ing life, it’s time to hit the brakes and find a new way to get your

filled life, track your time use in your journal for a full week. At

“doing for others” into a healthier perspective. Here are a few

the end of the week, group your time entries in the following cat-

tips from the experts to acquire this skill with the ultimate goal of

egories:

making room in your life for your own heart’s desire.

• Work

“The reason ‘No’ is difficult at first,” writes Stoddard in her

• Sleep

book Making Choices (Harper Paperbacks, 1995), “is that many of

• Home (household tasks and errands)

the demands made on us appear as though they are our respon-

• People (family and friends)

sibility.” However, the onus is not really on us, she advises, until

• Personal maintenance (bathing, dressing, personal ap-

we say, “Yes.”

pointments and tasks)

Combine this sense of mislaid responsibility with the pace at

• Self (activities that renew you mentally, physically, emo-

which most of us are used to living—and the momentary adrena-

tionally, spiritually)

line rush we have become addicted to when we do manage to be

Tally the total time spent each week in each category. These

all things to all people—and the idea of slowing down, reflecting

numbers reveal where your priorities are right now. Is this a life of

on our life, making new choices, and creating time and space to

balance and joy? What adjustments do you need to make? What

live out our dream may seem completely unrealistic.

do you wish your priorities were?

“Just say ‘No,’” says Stoddard. Start small. Start anywhere.

Now reorder your priorities to reflect the “horsey” life you

Just start. Say “No” to everything in your life that isn’t part of

want to lead in terms of how you spend your time. Use this new

your new master plan built around your making time in your life

list as your guide as you start to enforce your new set of priorities

for a horse.

by saying “No,” scheduling less, and canceling until you reach a

Recognizing the power and importance of this two-letter word is only half the battle. The hard part comes in learning how

balance of time and choice that reflects your personal values and who you want to become in the second half of your life.

to use it and still live with yourself, as well as those around you who think you’ve taken leave of your senses! It should be men-

Create time, space, and opportunity where you think there’s

tioned that those in your life who love and support you will tog-

none

gle back and forth a bit in their approval of the “No You.” It takes

If you’ve searched your soul and decided that although this

some readjusting on everyone’s part as you learn to play life by

horse thing is really something you want to pursue at this time

a new set of rules.

in your life, you really and truly don’t have the time, or money, or

It takes time, determination, and practice to build your “No” muscle. With that in mind, here are a few workout tips from selfhelp experts: 1.

Take some time between receiving a request and responding to it to help break the habit of the “Automatic

ability to commit to it, perhaps you should think again. Take one lesson a week. Or, just one lesson a month. This isn’t as much about gaining ground as a rider as it is about just getting on a horse on a regular basis and “keeping the dream alive.”

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine Make a “horse date” with yourself once a week. Or,

around horses and horsemanship, either in reality or in the

once a month. You can do this in addition to your monthly

virtual realm. You don’t have to see the world from the back

lesson, or in place of it, if you can’t afford a trainer at this

of your horse to enjoy exploration in his company. Disci-

time. Use your “date” to watch a training DVD, read a horse

plines such as driving, trick training, liberty work, and agil-

book or magazine, or attend an online webinar. Become a

ity offer many options for fun without getting in a saddle.

student of the horse, as Dr. Deborah McCormick advocates. Go to the show! Depending on where you live, there is

Melinda Folse is a writer based in Fort Worth, Texas. Finding

probably some kind of horse event within driving distance.

herself to be just one among millions of Baby Boomer women

Just Google your favorite breed name or discipline, along

who once dreamed of horses and are now recapturing that dream,

with your location, and fill up your calendar! Admission is

Melinda let her own struggles do the talking in The Smart Woman’s

often free or minimal, and it’s a great way to tap into the

Guide to Midlife Horses, a tongue-in-cheek account that is a little

horse community even if you don’t show, own a horse, or

bit memoir, a little more self-help, a whole lot of practical guide-

even ride. If you love the sight, sound, and yes the smell of

book, and all heart. Melinda’s next book Riding Through Thick

horses, it can be quite a welcome mental break to just go,

and Thin is due to be released by Trafalgar Square Books in Spring

watch, listen, and learn. It is also an opportunity to stroll

2015.

down barn aisles, meet owners and breeders, and maybe

Trafalgar Square Books is the leading publisher of equestrian books and DVDs. Small, privately owned, and located on a farm

even pet a few noses (watch out for teeth). Physically unable to ride? Join one of the many horse-

in rural Vermont, it is your source for practical, how-to books and

related online communities now available, check out an

DVDs for every level, discipline, and breed, with the good of the

equine encounter retreat, and find imaginative ways to be

horse in mind. Visit TSB online at www.HorseandRiderBooks.com.

Jassas

Dressage • Endurance • Sport Purebred Arabian Stallion imported from Qatar Sired by Djebbel and out of Jessorca (x Samtyr) Big bones, fabulous endurance, mild temperament $650 LFG transported fresh or frozen

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Jassas x Alexis (Danish Warmblood)

Fall 2014

Equine Senior Citizens Story and Photos by Jan Sharp

Good fortune continued for Java when

Ashton’s little brother, Jensen, used to

one day, a lady leaning against the rail

spend his time during his sister’s riding

heard Java’s name announced at a show

lessons playing with toy trucks in the are-

and wonder if she was the same Java

na sand. All that changed the day Ashton

that she had known years ago. She was!

bought her new show clothes. Jensen

Java had everything that anyone could

Through her, Java’s real name, Hot Java

asked where his were. He hadn’t been just

have wanted in a horse, yet much of her

(Charrkhan x Denmarks Fairy Tale) was dis-

playing with toys, he had been watching

life was spent slipping through the cracks.

covered and after a little detective work,

and listening and now he too needed a

Circumstances beyond her control always

her papers were located and reunited

horse.

kept her on the back burner. She was

with her. That opened the door to Arabian

started under saddle late in life, aban-

shows for the pair.

he bay Arabian mare known as

Originally purchased years ago to be a companion to their then yearling filly, the

doned at a boarding stable and never

family’s purebred gelding, Zam Abu Dhabi

given a chance to show what she might

(Faborr x Zam Kaazar), was pressed into

be able to do.

duty. He was safe and would take care of

As it happens, along the way and over

a little boy. Jensen wanted to show where

the years as she changed hands, her pa-

his sister showed, so it wasn’t long until

pers were lost as well as her complete

he too began showing dressage. And, like

name. When she failed to attract a buyer

his sister, he made it his goal to compete

at any price on Craigslist, Java was slated

someday at an Arabian show.

to be put down – a skinny old horse that

At the 2014 Region 14 show, 8 year old

no one wanted.

Jensen trotted down center line aboard 30

At the same time, on the other side

year old Abu, and came out with a Reserve

of town, parents who were looking for a

At age 28, Hot Java and 13 year old

first horse for their daughter heard about

Ashton Yarosh trotted down center line at

Java’s plight and saved her.

the 2014 Silverama, winning second place

As luck would have it, the family spot-

With a change of diet, farrier visits, a

in dressage and sixth in Junior Native Cos-

ted a sales flyer for a six year old purebred

dental float and lots of TLC, Java began to

tume. Despite earning a good score, the

mare while at the show. As a result, they

blossom. It wasn’t long before she and her

pair finished just out of the ribbons in her

came home with a new dancing partner

girl began winning 4-H ribbons, followed

Region 14 dressage class. But they were

for Ashton. Java will be passed down to

by continued success in open shows and

there, together at the regionals, compet-

Jensen, and good little Abu will retire…

eventually the dressage ring.

ing and holding their own.

again.

Championship in W/T Dressage. It was Abu’s big day in the spotlight.

Q&A

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Dorann LaPerch Breeder Q&A Photos courtesy of Dorann LaPerch

ROB HESS PHOTO

We came to discover that she was every inch an Arabian—a horse with great intelligence, superb athletic ability and tremendous endurance. We named her Bonnfyre. At that time, I was involved in Three Day Eventing/Combined Training/Dressage, and she excelled in both dressage and jumping. I could not imagine having anything but an Arabian from that point on. I studied everything I could about Arabians and hoped one day for a purebred. In the meantime, I was asked by someone in my club if I could also work with their Arabian who everyone else deemed “crazy,” and I was suddenly known as “The Arabian Girl” in the club. In March of 1976, I somehow talked my parents into taking me to an Arabian sale in Pomona, CA “just so I could see a lot of Arabians in one place.” We came home that day with my first

Dorann with LA Legacyinblack+++//

purebred Arabian, an unbroke 3-year-old gelding that stole my heart the moment our eyes met. I did all the training of him my-

How, when and why did you get involved with Arabians?

self. We started out at local shows and did incredibly well. In

My involvement with Arabians began when I had outgrown

ning six U.S. National Top Tens in Dressage and Jumpers as well as

my pony in 1975, and we were in the market for a horse. I had

30 Regional Championships, Reserves and Top Fives in Dressage,

been told so many negative things about Arabians by the people

Jumpers and Working Hunters. He was with me until the day he

who ran our riding club. I was told that “Arabians can’t jump or

passed at age 32, and he will always be my “heart horse.”

1978, we went to our first Class A Arabian show in Santa Barbara, and we were hooked. That gelding, Azrakenez+/, wound up win-

do dressage” and that “Arabians are crazy.” So when we did go

Bonnfyre was tragically lost in a trailer accident while on her

to look at a mare that was a Half Arabian, I was looking at her

way to a three day event in in the fall of 1976, and my parents

because she was half something else. My parents wound up pur-

and I said that if we ever had our own Arabian farm we would

chasing her for me.

name it after her, hence the name Bonn-Fyre Farms. By 1979,

Fall 2014

Full brothers Khonan+ and Attila The Hunk+/ (RK Khareem x Winerwaltz - imported Hanoverian mare). Khonan was born in 1993 and was the first of Dorann’s warmblood crosses, fondly called “Dorannoverians.” He is owned by Cheryl Pelly and competes in Dressage at Intermediate-1. Attila was owned by Debbie Tomlinson from the time he was a weanling until he passed away last year.

we owned eight Arabian horses and my father decided to fulfill his dream of one day owning property. He purchased 26 acres of vacant land and began the building of Bonn-Fyre Farms. We moved onto the ranch in 1982. By that time, I had also decided to spend my professional life with Arabians and had a full barn of training horses.

How many horses have you bred? I have bred 68 so far.

When you decided to breed Arabian horses what were your goals? My first goal was to breed a horse that I could not afford to go out and purchase. When I started breeding, it was in the day

When did you breed your first Arabian?

when top-quality Arabian show horses brought enormous pric-

The very first foal I bred was born in 1979 sired by the *Naborr

that performance would also be something it had to be able to

son The Phoenician+++. We had purchased our first purebred

do. The stallions I bred to at the time were accomplished halter

mare in 1977. Cedella was by the Polish import *Cedr (Equifor x

and performance horses. This included the amazing *Naborr son

*Cosmosa). We still have one of her sons, Pro-Ceedr, who turned

The Phoenician+++ (who I had the privilege of owning after his

30 this year, and we were blessed with a daughter from him last

breeding career was over) and the Russian import *Procent that

month. He has produced some stunning Sport Horses in the last

had competed in 4th Level Dressage when he was in Holland prior

few years.

to his import to the United States.

es. Originally, producing a halter horse (what we now call Main Ring Halter) was my main goal, though there was never a doubt

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine In 1990, I decided that another goal of my breeding program would be to produce a Half Arabian that could be competitive on the Open circuit (along with the Arabian circuit). I decided to use Hanoverians for my warmblood half. It took me a couple of years to find the right mares. Winerwaltz, an imported German, Main Stud book mare and L’argent, also German Main Stud book (who had high enough scores she could have gone on to States Premium) turned out to be superstar producers. Every foal of L’argent that has shown has won National or Regional titles both in-hand and under saddle, while the offspring of Wienerwaltz went on to compete on the open circuit at the FEI level.

Who was your biggest influence regarding your breeding decisions? There is not one person that influenced me but a breeding program that influenced me. The horses produced in Poland by Janow, Michalow and other state studs were the ones that captivated me. Horses that were not only beautiful but extraordinarily athletic and who had stood the test of a racing career to show that they had both the body and mind to do the work. The emphasis they put on the broodmares contributions to breeding was also something I paid attention to.

Dorann’s beloved Azrakenez+/ who started it all.

What do you consider your greatest achievement in breeding horses? I will start off by saying that every time I see a newborn foal take its first breath and its first step it is a feeling like no other. In terms of show ring achievements, The Terminatorr+ (Azh Naborr x L’Argent- Hanoverian), U.S. National Champion Half Arabian SHIH Stallion, is a horse that makes me still pinch myself

Hermes Echo+ (The Terminatorr+ x Echos)

Landesmesiter (LA LegacyInBlack+++// x L’argent [Hanoverian])

Fall 2014 SUZANNE STURGILL PHOTO

whenever I see him move. He has the gaits, mind and structure to have been an Olympic caliber dressage horse. To me, he epitomizes form and function. He is also an amazing sire. Attila The Hunk+ and Khonan+ are also standouts for me with Attila being a U.S. Reserve National Champion and an Open FEI competitor. Khonan+ who is 21 this year is still competing at the FEI Level on the open circuit and continues to win year-end dressage honors each year. We have two Olympic competitors literally being up the street from me, and our open dressage shows have tremendous quality, and it is wonderful to see my horses out there competing with some of the very best. Recently I have added the pure Polish stallion Elikzir (just crowned 2014 Region II Champion Stallion SHIH) and some outstand-

Pam George with The Terminatorr+ (Azh Naborr x L’argent)

ing pure Polish and Polish-bred mares to my program. They are just having their first foals for me and I believe I have many more great achievements to come.

What characteristics do you consider “must haves” in a breeding animal? Temperament is paramount. Without a great temperament and work ethic it does not matter how pretty or talented a horse is. As a trainer I learned long ago and it is not something I will give on. Balance, correct conformation, soundness and athletic ability are also imperative. In regards to soundness, I will not penalize a horse that has had a career and has issues as an older horse or one that sustained an injury.

When matching a stallion to a mare, what do you consider their most important attributes in order to produce a successful sport horse? As I have mentioned, temperament, character and work ethic are the

Khonan+

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine most important things. I want to see both the mare and stallion

Accomplishments

be exemplary in that regard. You can’t train temperament, but you can take a horse with less than stellar talent and a lot of try and compete at the top levels. A Sport Horse has to be willing to

Attila The Hunk+/

work hard to be successful. It goes without saying that they have

2004 U.S. Reserve National Champion Dressage First Level AAO

to have the conformation to do the job as well.

2003 Pacific Slope Champion First Level Dressage 2003 Region II Reserve Champ Half Arabian SHUS Open and ATR

What advice would you give to someone considering breeding Arabian sport horses? It’s the same advice I would give someone with any horsebreeding endeavor. Breed quality not quantity. Do not have the

2005 Region II Champion Second Level Dressage AOTR 2005 Region II Reserve Champion Third Level Dressage Open 2006 Region II Champion Third Level Dressage ATR 2006 U.S. National Top Ten Third Level Open 2006 U.S. National Top Ten Third Level ATR 2008 Region II Champion Fourth Level Dressage Open 2008 Region II Reserve Champion Prix St George

mindset that you will breed many to get that “one good one.” Start out with the best broodmare you can find. Preferably it is

The Terminatorr+

one that has a strong tail female line in terms of production.

2012 U.S National Champion Stallion HA Stallion SHIH ATH

Find a stallion that not only compliments her but also improves

2004 Region II Reserve Champion HA/AA SHIH

mares that have similar weak points. Remember that strengths

2004 U.S. National Top Ten HA/AA SHIH Stallions ATH

do not automatically overcome weaknesses when breeding. For

2008 Region II Champion HA/AA SHIH Stallions

example, a long-necked horse bred to a short-necked horse does

2012 U.S. National Champion HA SHIH Stallions ATH

not magically give you a medium length neck. Set a goal prior

2012 U.S. Reserve National Champion HA SHIH Stallions

as to what it is you want to produce and keep that as the key to

2013 Region II Champion HA SHIH Stallions

making your breeding decisions. When I have a client that asks me about what stallion they should cross their mares to, my first

Khonan+

response is, “What is it you are trying to produce?” Without that

USDF Bronze Medal in 2008

goal in mind, breeding is like throwing a stack of cards up into the

USDF Bronze Freestyle Bar in 2010

air and seeing what falls.

USDF Silver Medal in 2011 USDF Silver Freestyle Bar in 2014 DASC I-I AA (Open Breed) Champion 2012 DASC HighPoint Year-End Half-Arabian 2007, 2010, 2011 DASC Freestyle (Open Breed) Multiple years - Year End and levels

Landesmesiter U.S. National Top Ten Two Regional Top Fives

Predatorr++ Legion of Merit in just four shows Champion Sport Horse in Hand and Dressage

Attila The Hunk+/

Te r

m sa

Heiress of Piaff

Fall 2014

Showbiz Farm and Shayna Dolinger wish to congratulate and thank our Amateur Handlers for a successful show year with Heiress of Piaff:

Region 15 Champion - Cody Chamberlin East Coast Reserve Champion - Caitlyn Saranchak Upperville Colt and Horse Show & Warrenton/Sallie B Wheeler USEF Hunter Breeding Nationals Shannon Ferguson VAHA District 6 - Becca Canterbury

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Racing the GLOBE by Maurine Webb

estiny is an inevitable or

off her horse, was dragged down the trail,

predetermined course a

knocked unconscious and suffered a bro-

Kelsey said, “The best part of endur-

person’s life will take. So

ken epiphysis (growth) bone in her foot.

ance is the distance, I could ride all day

Gold (Brogan + Hals Metourmaline.)

it is with Kelsey Russell,

Amazingly, during her three month recu-

long. I love being with the horses. The

who had the good fortune to grow up right

peration on crutches, she decided to take

worst part is when the horse gets unman-

across the street from the famous endur-

up endurance riding full time and give up

ageable and you can barely stay on.” To

ance rider Valerie Kanavy.

softball. The rest is history!

date, her most memorable experience was

Kelsey was raised in Williston, Flori-

Kelsey is the youngest member of

when she won the individual gold medal,

da, where both her mother and aunt had

the United States Endurance Team at the

in the CEI4* division, riding My Wild Irish

grown up with horses and were accom-

Alltech FEI World Equestrian GamesTM in

Gold, at the 2011 Adequan/FEI North

plished Western riders; therefore it was

Normandy, France and riding Valerie Kana-

American Junior and Young Rider Champi-

only natural that Kelsey would follow in

vy’s, Anglo Arabian mare, My Wild Irish

onships in Lexington, Kentucky.

their footsteps. During her early

In 2012, she enjoyed competing

years, she rode in Western Pleasure

with Team USA at the FEI Junior and

and Barrel Racing competitions with

Young Rider World Endurance Cham-

her aunt. Her first horse was a thor-

pionship in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The team

oughbred who could no longer race

finished fourth among nineteen en-

due to an injured hind ankle.

trants and Kelsey came in sixth indi-

In 2008, when Kelsey needed

vidually riding Valerie’s Gold Raven.

extra forage for two of her horses,

Then in 2013, she competed

she approached Valerie who agreed

again for Team USA, on “Irish” (aka

to let Kelsey’s horses graze in her

My Wild Irish Gold,) in the FEI Junior

pasture and in return Kelsey would

and Young Rider World Endurance

take care of two of Valerie’s horses

Championship in Tarbes, France. This

that she must leave behind for the

time she placed fifth individually,

summer (Valerie has a summer

the best effort since 1998 of any U.S.

training center in Fort Valley, Vir-

rider/horse combination in any World

ginia and her winter facility in Wil-

Championship. She loved her time in

liston). That winter, Kelsey began to

Tarbes; the team was there for an ex-

ride with Valerie on the weekends

tended period of time, which allowed

for fun, as she was heavily involved

them to see more of the countryside

in competitive softball at school.

and to participate in more team en-

Her first endurance competi-

durance classes.

tion was the “Gator Run” in Janu-

In preparation for the Games,

ary 2009. In her third race, she fell

“Irish” and Kelsey worked out six days

Fall 2014

Kelsey winning the 75-mile NAJYRC race in Lexington, Kentucky. a week for four hours per day; this includ-

allows time for relaxation.

YR Championships 2015. At Valerie’s two

ed trail exercises, laps on the horse walker

Kelsey’s plans, after the Games, are to

facilities there are a lot of young horses

and swimming. Irish loves swimming in the

prepare for the Pan American Games 2015,

whose skill levels need to be brought up

pond and looks forward to it, as if she were

the FEI JR/YR World Endurance Champion-

to par, so they can qualify for FEI spon-

going to a spa.

ships 2015 and the North American JR/

sored Junior and Young Rider events.

Valerie’s training facility is perfect for

Besides endurance, Kelsey will be

endurance, situated in the George Wash-

attending the College of Central Florida

ington National Forest with its terrain of

in Ocala, with a major in pre-Veterinary

mountains and hills; it allows horses to

medicine and in the summer she is tak-

build muscle while walking up and down

ing business courses at Virginia College

steep inclines and prevents pounding in-

online, just in case vet school does not

juries caused by strenuous exercise.

work out.

While training or competing, Irish’s

As August 28th approaches, in my

regular diet consists of a feed that is high

mind and heart there is a vision of Kelsey

in protein and fat, some sugar beet pulp

and her teammates galloping across the

and a supplement of oats to prevent her

sands surrounding the picturesque Mont

from tying-up. Irish also receives supple-

St Michel. Go Team USA!!

ments to build and repair muscle, vita-

Kelsey and Irish were pulled for lame-

min E and flavored electrolyte powder

ness at the third vet check unfortunately.

mixed with water and liquid potassium

Team USA had only one of their riders

by mouth, via syringe, to prevent dehy-

complete, Jeremy Olson and Wallace Hill

dration. Kelsey also exercises regularly, eats nutritious meals, gets plenty of sleep and

Kelsey and Irish winning the 2012 FITS 50mile race, with friend Eone from South Africa.

Shade, who finished 31st.

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

BREEDING FOR

Performance at Playland Farm

BY GLENDA PLAYER

s a breeding farm, it’s a

ing the Irish Draught bloodlines, which

bur is owned by an ambitious and talented

beautiful

rewarding

we have crossed with our Arabian sport

young rider, Coriinne. Coriinne is an avid

experience to watch the

horses. So far, the cross has been very

eventer and has her heart set on making

homebreds that you have

successful with many of our Arabian sport

the Young Rider team for AREA II. She and

spent countless hours breeding, raising,

horses going on to find wonderful homes,

Calib train with professional event rider,

and training grow into successful adult

and claiming a permanent spot in hearts of

Sinead Halpin. So far, Corinne has done a

horses. Whether as sport horses, pleasure

people and families everywhere!

fabulous job with Calib and is well on her

and

horses, or becoming the best friend to that

You may ask, where are some of these

way to achieving her goals! This summer

homebreds now and what are they doing

the pair finished 3rd in a very competitive

Last year, Arabian Sport Horse Maga-

with their owners? We thought we would

Training-level division at the Horse Park of

zine did a showcase on our 40-year-old

give you an update on a few of these tal-

New Jersey among other top finishes at

breeding program that was started under

ented horses!

the Training level.

one girl (regardless of age!).

the guidance of the late Mrs. Tankersley.

First up is Excalibur, formerly known

Next is Quintessential, formerly known

Throughout the years, there have been

as ‘PL Calib.’ His breeding is ¼ Arabian, ¼

as ‘PL Darby.’ His breeding is ½ Arabian,

many changes and additions to the farm

Saddlebred and ½ Irish Draught and is out

½ Irish Draught and is out of PL Eladdinn’s

breeding program, most notably, introduc-

of PL Calypso, by PL Diamond Hill. Excali-

Lite and by It’s The Luck of The Irish. Quinn

Fall 2014

is owned by Shannon, a recent Bridgewa-

well!

Cha is owned by Carolyn who is a young

ter College graduate. Shannon has had

PL Ace of Diamonds, another home-

rider. Carolyn is an active eventer and is

him a little over a year and is actively

bred, is ½ Arabian, ½ Irish Draught and

loving each ride with her best friend Cha

competing in both jumpers and eventing.

out of PL Indian Queen, by PL Diamond

Cha! Their trusting partnership is evident

Shannon and Quinn are a great match, and

Hill. Ace is owned by Kim, a local veteri-

as you watch them go around a cross-

his athleticism is evident as you watch the

narian. As a full-time vet of a mixed animal

country course grinning from ear to ear!

two go around a jumper ring together.

practice, Kim stays very busy! Ace won a

Next is Ari who is ¼ Arabian, ¼ Sad-

Up next is PL Lucky Empress who is ½

permanent place in her heart when she

dlebred and ½ Irish Draught. Ari is out of

Arabian, ½ Irish Draught out of PL Indian

started him under saddle! He was a per-

PL Apache and by PL Diamond Hill. He is

Queen, by It’s The Luck of The Irish. Em-

fect angel for each of their weekly rides!

owned by Berrot who is an active college

press is owned by Louisa who was look-

Kim loves hopping on him bareback after

student at Wake Forest University. Ber-

ing for a horse to get back into riding after

a long day of work and enjoying a quiet

rot enjoys riding Ari on the intercollegi-

several years off. Louisa received Empress

stroll together through the woods.

ate dressage team there and is currently

as a 60th birthday present from her moth-

PL Cha Cha is ¼ Arabian, ¼ Saddle-

a working student this summer to further

er last fall. Louisa is actively eventing Em-

bred and ½ Irish Draught. She is out of PL

develop her and Ari’s education and part-

press at the Novice-level and doing very

Calypso, by It’s The Luck of The Irish. Cha

nership.

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine While it’s very rewarding being able to watch these successful partnerships grow into their full potential, I finally have been able to claim one of our Arabian sport horses for myself! Last but not least is PL Irish Pearl, who has been keeping me very busy (and of course, having a blast while doing it!). Pearl is out of PL Shirley, by PL Diamond Hill. She is ½ Arabian, ½ Irish Draught. I realized when Pearl was born that I would likely keep her as Shirley is one of my most favored dam as we even named her after my favorite aunt: Aunt Shirley. I started Pearl two summers ago as a four-year-old. She and I are currently competing (and placing!) in the Training-level of eventing throughout USEA Area II. We both love every minute, and have our goals set to be able to move up to a one-star by the end of 2015. Having the opportunity to train Pearl, and partner with her through this journey has been a joy! As a breeder, trainer, competitor, instructor, and barn manager, I am absolutely thrilled with this cross of Arabian/ Irish Draught sport horses. We have so many progeny out and about with wonderful owners! They all have a different job and a unique relationship but one thing is always evident: we all share a place in our hearts for these special horses! These horses engulf the traits of intelligence, a willing and calm disposition, easy keepers and phenomenal athleticism for any discipline. Having a nice line of amateurfriendly horses makes my job easy, and I couldn’t pick a better suited horse for my students. I can’t wait to keep growing the line and see where the future takes all of these successful matches!

Fall 2014

2014 WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES All of the best equine athletes in the world converged on France this summer for the spectacle that is the World Equestrian Games. It is a given that Arabians are the dominant feature in the Endurance competition. Watching the live feed and seeing 174 horses, mostly Arabians milling around the paddock before the start was an amazing sight. Seeing them bolt off en masse was even more impressive. The coverage on the ground and by helicopter made you feel like a part of the race – I was thirsty and my butt hurt after the first hour! But the weather, and therefore the footing, took its toll throughout the day. One horse struck a tree and died. All but 38 horses could not complete the 160 km. The winning horse was an Australian bred mare registered as Kurrajong Concorde, now

Edouard Simonet of Belgium and his team of Arabian/ Friesian crosses. Credit: www.lequimag.be

renamed Yamamah, ridden by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al

JOHNNY CASH & Johan Lundin, Sweden

Maktoum of UAE.

VACAT JP (21.30%) & Marta Dziak-Gierlicz, Poland

In Eventing, there were five Anglo Arabians slated to compete.

After the Dressage phase was over, here are where the Anglo

JUNCO CP (34.14%) & Carlos Diaz Fernandez, Spain

Arabians placed, out of 90 entries: 35th - HITO CP, 63rd - JUNCO

INDIGO PYRENEEN (49.90%) & Igor Atrokhov, Russia

CP, 72nd - INDIGO PYRENEEN, 79th - VACAT JP.

HITO CP (23.75%) & Albert Hermoso Farras, Spain

JOHNNY CASH & Johan Lundin of Sweden were withdrawn because of an injury before Dressage. You can watch Hito CP’s test here: http://youtu.be/wIsYp70UOKI. The cross country course was altered somewhat due to the conditions, yet it still proved to be a challenge to all with 28 horses not completing the test. Junco CP was eliminated on course. So that left just three: 58th - VACAT JP & Marta Dziak-Gierlicz, Poland 60th - INDIGO PYRENEEN & Igor Atrokhov, Russia 61st - HITO CP & Albert Hermoso Farras, Spain Sadly, Vacat was withdrawn before Show Jumping, leaving only two to complete. HITO CP and Albert Hermoso Farras of Spain finished in 55th place after just 4 jump faults. The Russian INDIGO PYRENEEN’s rider fell and was eliminated. It is interesting to note that the winner, OPGUN LOUVO, is 12% Arabian with Anglos very close up on top and bottom of his pedigree. The horse that finished in fifth place, QALAO DES MERS ridden by Maxime Livio of France, has 18.29% Arabian blood. In the Combined Driving, Edouard Simonet (BEL) and a team of Arabian/Friesian crosses finished in 11th place overall out of 46 teams. They were 15th after Dressage, and moved up to 12th

Albert Hermoso Farras and Hito CP Credit: EcuestreOnline.com

after the Marathon. As the top scoring Belgian, he helped his team finish in 5th place.

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Conformation

Careers By Stephanie J. Corum

Do you have a young prospect that you aren’t sure what discipline would suit him or her best? Or are you considering another discipline for your horse but aren’t sure what he’s built to excel in? Good conformation generally means being structurally suitable to perform the intended job. While all athletic ventures require solid conformation like straight legs, good balance and sufficient bone, specific disciplines place more importance on some traits over others. If your horse has those he may be more marketable (and more talented) in that area. This article will examine the ideal traits of horses competing in dressage, eventing, hunter/jumper and reining. Of course, these are just a few performance options, but they each have desired criteria.

Reining Lisa Couler, an international reining competitor, looks for a few key conformation points in evaluating for reining potential. A straight leg is one, especially when viewed from the front. They should be coming true and straight out of the joints. To Lisa, overall balance is extremely important. She breaks the horse into the standard three sections: head and neck, midsection and hind end. “There should be a balance in the slope to the shoulder, to the slope of the hip and to the slopes of the pasterns.” She emphasizes that a well-balanced horse has an easier time with the reining maneuvers, and a long, sloping hip allows for natural stopping ability. A neck tied well into the

LIZ HALL PHOTO

chest that allows a head carriage where the poll is level to the withers is also desirable. Short, strong leg bones are important. Being a bit cowhocked behind is also acceptable as it is a more natural stop-

Fall 2014 ping position and allows the horse’s hooves clearance in the slid-

point of buttocks to point of hip (unlike the dressage horse). A long

ing stops. Finally, the horse should have a short back and level

humerus in front will allow for a longer reach and stride, whereas a

topline. Horses built downhill have a harder time shifting the

shorter humerus means the horse will have some quickness to his

power back to the hind end.

front end. A higher point of shoulder and higher neck set allows

Dressage Judy Wardrope has photographed and studied thousands of horses to examine the conformation traits of successful competitors. Specifically for dressage, she says that a stifle far enough away from the body encourages a good length of stride and will

the rider to more easily compress the front end with tightly tucked front legs. If a jumping horse has a lower point of shoulder he is typically more suitable for jumping in the hunter form of knees even and level.

Eventing

not hinder the “sitting” required at the higher levels. The length of

In the sport of eventing, a horse must complete a dressage test,

the femur (point of buttock to the stifle) is greater than the length

a cross country course of jumps and a round of stadium jumps. It is

of the ilium (point of buttocks to point of hip), which is a dressage

difficult to find a horse with the conformation to excel in all three

trait. “The longer femur and shorter ilium in the dressage horse

areas, and when you do you have one exceptional athlete. Usually

makes maintaining collection easier – less closing of angles and

the horse will do better in one area over the others, and confor-

therefore less muscle fatigue.”

mation is one of the reasons why. Generally speaking, however,

A long, sloping but elevated shoulder that is higher than the

an event horse needs a relatively long humerus for the galloping

point of hip allows for a freer moving shoulder and greater abil-

phases of cross country. It also needs a high point of shoulder with

ity to transfer the weight to the hind end. When viewed from the

a higher neck set to lighten the forehand required for all three

side, you would want to be able to draw an imaginary line down

phases. Freedom of movement for the elbow is also important.

through the “pillar of support”. Ideally it would come well in front

“An elbow that is set so close to the body that it strikes the horse’s

of the horse’s wither, straight down the middle of the leg and

ribcage will cause the horse to shorten the stance phase on the

dropping to the ground at the back of the hoof.

contact side and, as a result, shorten the swing phase on the op-

Hunter/Jumper

posite side,” says Judy. “Lateral movement will also be affected.” Of course, there is no perfect horse, but when you are looking

Like the dressage horse, a low stifle that is well away from the

at a different discipline for your horse, look carefully at the confor-

body will give a better length of stride behind and jumping scope.

mation. That, along with temperament, could give you a good clue

It is also desirable to have an equilateral triangle from stifle to

as to where the horse may excel next.

California Dressage Society Junior/Young Rider Championships, North Photos by Tamara Torti

The California Dressage Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jr/YR Championships, North were held August 22-24 at Starr Vaughn Equestrian Center in Elk Grove, California. Riders must qualify by earning three qualifying scores at their chosen level. Over a quarter of the total entries were horses with Arabian breeding! Team competitions were also offered in Equitation, Pas de Deux and Quadrille Tests. Two teams of Arabian-breds placed first and second in the Quadrille.

Cyd Curle and Anglo Arabian Hazen (Silveyvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Love x Fasach Banrion) were Reserve Champion in Third Level Freestyle with a score of 71.250%.

30-year-old Arabian gelding Shadowrun and his owner Emily Gilles earned a 71 in Dressage Seat Equitation, and a 60% and 58.214% in Training Level!

Francesca Campagna and Arabian SW Rhythm And Blues (SW Khlint x Pakossa) scored a 64.079% to win their Third Level-Test 1 class.

Madeleine Coronado rode her Arabian Rufus BL (Schubert B L x Cinder Bey) to a 1st place in Basic Quadrille and a 2nd place in Training Level Quadrille.

Emily Hyde and Arabian Annabella CF (Enzo x Annies Girl) placed 5th in Dressage Seat Equitation and scored 65+% in their four First Level tests.

Melissa Paich and Half-Arabian Faolan placed 2nd in Dressage Seat Equitation, 1st place in Basic Quadrille and a 2nd place in Training Level Quadrille.

Sophie Moss and Half-Arabian Jamboree Bolero (Jamboree Tuxedo x Jamboree Bonita) won Second Level and placed 4th in Dressage Seat Equitation.

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Aazrak Legacy

of a

The Foundation

By Kat Walden & Peggy Ingles Photos courtesy Chris Donovan

Overcoming obstacles was a specialty of a versatile stallion

big jowl, good bone, good-sized feet and a powerful hindquar-

that started out as a pony horse and ended as a field hunter and

ter with good tail carriage. Aazrak was clearly a very handsome

sire with a remarkable show record. Aazrak AHR #10821 was

horse with a sterling disposition and great athleticism.

foaled July 22, 1956 and died in the summer of 1975. He is

Although Indiana Thoroughbred breeder Richard F. Gieselman

registered as a roan; he was in fact a chestnut with considerable

owned the stallion for the first 11-1/2 years of his life, Aazrak

roaning in his coat. His sire Aaraf was by *Raffles and out of Aarah

is a product of prominent early breeder Blanche M. Tormohlenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

(Ghadaf x Nadirat by *Rizvan). His dam Aazkara was by the Rahas

breeding program. Whatever his reasons for having only one

son Azkar and out of Aarah, making his sire and dam half brother

Arabian on his farm, Mr. Gieselman cared very much for Aazrak.

and sister.

When someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s carelessness in putting Aazrak away hot

He had a blaze extending over his muzzle to his lower lip,

with too much water to drink resulted in founder, he loaded the

white on his right hind to partial fetlock with rising strip, and his

little horse into a trailer and drove hours from Bloomington, Indi-

tail may have been light enough to be called flaxen. Roaning

ana to the University of Kentucky to save his life.

is visible behind his elbow and in his flank. He stood 14.2-1/2

At the Gieselman farm, Aazrak earned his keep from the time

hands, was wide between the eyes, had small well-shaped ears,

he was three as a pony horse for the Thoroughbreds. Pony horses

Fall 2014 which was an asset later on. When Ann decided not to return to college in Indiana that fall, she persuaded Mr. Gieselman to allow her to lease Aazrak. Ultimately, she leased him for six years, moving him first to New Jersey and later to Maryland, before Mr. Gieselman finally agreed to sell Aazrak to her in 1968. In the meantime, she went to work for Jim McKay and eventually married him. McKay and Aazrak achieved an exceptional partnership that resulted in an amazing show record. He was the horse to beat in Hunter, Jumper, Dressage, Hunter Hack, English Pleasure, Western Pleasure, Pole Bending, Stock Horse, Trail Horse and Harness classes. He was Champion or Reserve Champion at numerous

Aazrak

competitive trail rides of 25 and 50 miles, qualified for national championships and was a New Jersey High Point award winner

are nearly always geldings, usually older, steady ones with some

in the early 1960’s. In addition, McKay hunted him regularly for

size. The mere fact of having been used as a pony horse at such

years with the Elkridge-Harford Hounds in Maryland, where he

a young age speaks volumes for Aazrak’s disposition. By all ac-

was much admired for his impeccable manners and calm bravery

counts he was smart and brave, although his intelligence, bold-

over all obstacles.

ness and knack for opening latches got him into trouble more than once. He suffered bad cuts to a hind fetlock one time when he escaped and became tangled in wire. All in all, he had more than his fair share of injuries as a young horse, including splints, the founder, and injuries resulting in boggy hocks. Later on, he somehow injured a nerve in one front leg, which sidelined him for several seasons. Aazrak also worked as a tease stallion on the Gieselman farm and banged up his knees in that role. Apparently he was handled with a chain through his mouth during teasing, a risky practice that can severely damage a horse’s mouth and tongue. This and a lack of quality riders early in his training gave the stallion a hard mouth. The miracle is that all of his early injuries didn’t leave him

Aazrak

permanently lame. With all his injuries, some caused by his own

All during these years, Aazrak stood at stud and covered a half

actions and some caused by less-than-stellar handling, he was a

dozen or so mares a year. He was also a family horse, and Ann’s

real hard-luck horse. This makes his lifetime accomplishments

young daughters hacked him bareback through the fields of hors-

that much more impressive.

es at home. He understood all his various roles.

Young Ann Harnly (later McKay) became aware of Aazrak

In September,b 1970, McKay sold Aazrak to Raymond H. and

when she went to work for Gieselman galloping horses on his

Helen G. Smith; it was in their ownership that he sired eight of

farm one year. Soon she was working with the young horse,

his 13 purebred offspring. Altogether, Aazrak sired 28 get, 69

schooling him as a pleasure horse and potential racing as a four

grandget and countless great-grandget, so chances are good that

year-old. Aazrak did make one start in an Arabian race, but with

he will continue to contribute to the Arab breed in some small

his scarred mouth, the jockey could not rate him, and this ended

way. In addition to his purebred offspring, Aazrak also sired at

any hope of a racing career, although he showed plenty of speed,

least 15 partbreds: 7 Half-Arabians and 8 Anglo-Arabians. Many

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine more are not registered. One of Aazrak’s greatest accomplishments was impressing respected horsewoman and author Margaret Cabell Self suffi-

breds. His son Hotai Ibn Aazrak started out as a mount for young Patricia McKay, then competed at open hunter shows quite successfully.

ciently that she included him in the 1973 edition of her book The

Of Aazrak’s younger get, the stallion Sunset Enzio, a 1972

Hunter in Pictures. Aazrak is the only Arabian profiled, although

chestnut out of Lamia-Kay (Ibn Baruk x Never Die Holly), was

Self gives credit to the Arabian influence on the Thoroughbred

the most prolific according to the Arabian Horse Registry, siring

and most other light horse breeds. She also used a photo of a

29 Arabian, 16 Half-Arabian and 24 Anglo-Arabian get with the

Half-Arabian Aazrak daughter, Wickeri, in the section on Cross-

youngest foaled in 1996. As of today, Enzio has 38 registered

breds and Half-breds. Self stated that Aazrak was a prepotent

grandget comprising 6 purebreds, 25 Anglo-Arabians and 7 Half-

sire who passed along “all his good qualities and his jumping

Arabians. There are many more that are not registered.

ability.” With his exceptional disposition, tough constitution and talent, Aazrak was the kind of horse who won friends for the Arabian horse wherever he went during his lifetime. As an older horse, he even befriended an orphan foal that had been rejected by all of the mares and geldings on the farm. The foal was depressed from loneliness and in danger of dying before Aazrak was tried as an equine companion. He was a stallion whose continuing influence can only benefit the breed as a whole and the Arabian sport horse in particular. Unfortunately, he died in the summer of 1975 as a result of breaking his neck in a freak accident at the relatively young age of 19 years old.

Aazrak son Sunset Enzio Enzio was euthanized in the spring of 2000 after suffering a mild stroke. He was nearly 28 years old. Ann McKay wrote that, as a young horse, he showed as much working ability as his sire. She regretted that she never had the time, money and health to take him as far as he could go. (Ann’s back was permanently damaged by a bad fall one year, which eventually ended her ability to ride over jumps, and her husband died in 1975 leaving her a 35 year-old widow with two small daughters, Patricia and Chris.) Although he may not have reached his full potential, Enzio did compete successfully in Dressage through 4th Level, eventing through Preliminary Division, Combined Driving and even some Competitive Trail. Few horses given every possible chance in the competitive arena accomplish as much or show such versatil-

Aazrak with Ann McKay

ity. Enzio also inherited his sire’s exceptional disposition; Chris described him as her mother’s best friend and a true gentleman

His three oldest daughters between them produced 23 pure-

of a horse. The last year Ann evented on Enzio, in Training Divi-

bred offspring in the first generation and 139 in the second.

sion to spare Ann’s back, they came second three times to a USET

Aazfreya, a 1962 chestnut mare out of Freya by Al-Marah Rooz,

team rider with the difference in penalty points being less than

produced 10 foals, among them the reasonably well-known sire

two points for the three events. In the early 1980’s, Chris also

Aazkaborro, who stood in the U.S. and Canada and sired 44 pure-

competed on Enzio at Preliminary level before he retired from

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Escapade SHF 2009 Straight Egyptian Arabian gelding. He is available for the serious dressage competitor, he is tall, has large gaits and is ready to begin moving up the levels. Has successfully competed at Training Level with a National Top Ten and Regional Reserve Championship in the Junior Horse Classes.

Sunset Enzio eventing. Enzio’s success as a sport horse is hardly surprising, given his sire’s show record and his dam’s breeding. Lamia-Kay was out of Never Die Holly, a product of the Asmis breeding program. The partnership of Carl Asmis and Never Die Holly’s sire Rafmirz was well-known for elegant exhibitions of FEI level dressage, and the family is still very involved with dressage today, sponsoring a USDF scholarship to allow talented American riders to study in Europe. Lamia-Kay’s sire Ibn Baruk was a great-grandson of *Sulejman and *Fadl, who were both athletic and versatile riding horses. Ibn Baruk also had lines through his dam to action sire *Berk and multiple crosses to the exceptional hunter *Naomi

Mehdi Amir RZ 2013 Straight Egyptian Arabian colt. His pedigree boasts several performance winners and he’s just off a year of showing successfully in hand. Very level headed, easy to train, well traveled, will be a great contender in the 2 YO SHIH Class at Sport Horse Nationals in Raleigh!

through the inbred mare Haaranmin. His last purebreds are now 20 years old, and his get’s accomplishments have proven Enzio to be the strongest breeding contributor to Aazrak’s legacy of purebred Arabian sport horses. But the purebreds are only part of Aazrak’s dynasty. The crossing of Aazrak with Thoroughbreds, known as an Anglo-Arabians, became a major part of his legacy. The first, and certainly not the least, of Aazrak’s Anglo-Arabian offspring was Arzab, at right, a gelding foaled in 1965 out of a Thoroughbred mare named Fable-Lass. Arzab placed quite a bit in halter classes as a two year-old, and Ann started him out in baby hunter classes after she had him going under saddle. She had become interested in Combined Training and Dressage but hadn’t had an opportunity yet to take any lessons in either. How-

717.585.0855 www.RozeArabians.com

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine ever Mrs. Bedford, the founder of the Elkridge-Harford Pony Club, had C-rally size fences built around the hunt club, so Ann was able to school there, and she built smaller copies of fences she saw pictured in the Chronicle of the Horse. With this background, Ann entered Arzab in their first event, at Preliminary level, the New England Three Day Championships. Arzab placed fifth in spite of one stop cross country and taking down a fence in stadium due to his youth and inexperience. His next outing was at Fair Hill, where he still had one stop crosscountry, but a clean round in stadium under bad weather conditions. Next Ann entered him in an event near Washington D.C. at the old Potomac Horse Center, where Arzab was brave and jumped clear on the cross country, but Ann came off at a big log fence on a curve—the only time she ever fell during an event. Arzab was startled by the sudden appearance of two jump judges chatting in the landing zone and made an enormous, twisting leap over the log, unseating Ann enough that she slid off when he landed. She remounted and they finished the course.

Aazrak daughter Coreographer

kins for eight years, eventually coming home to enjoy a harem of mares, do some hunter trials and even win the Masters Class two years running at the Elkridge-Harford Hunter show. He showed a few times at All-Arabian shows, where the one horse who beat him was another Anglo son of Aazrak, and in his 20’s he was still winning 25 to 50 mile ECTRA competitive trail rides. Obviously, he inherited his sire’s toughness and basic soundness, as the only Anglo Arabian Arzab and Beth Perkins winning the Intermediate at the Ledyard 3-Day Event

thing that ever seemed to slow him down was a terrible knee injury from opening a gate and leading his mares down a road, where he was hit by a jeep. Daughter Chris did such a good job

About this time, Ann and her husband, Jim McKay, who had operated a foxhunting and teaching barn together, stopped mak-

with his rehabilitation that he won the Masters Classes after the injury healed.

ing their living with horses. Ann also injured her back during this

Waterfoot Larrikin, owned by Ann’s friend Jeanie Gore, was

period, and as a consequence, was unable to ride nearly as much

the Anglo that outshone Arzab at All-Arabian shows. He evented

as before. So she lent Arzab out to Essie Perkins in Vermont for

successfully up to Prelim, until it was discovered that his hocks

her daughters to ride.

had arthritic changes. Accordingly, he moved “down” to foxhunt-

Beth and Bea Perkins both evented on him, one to Advanced

ing and was a regular with the Elkridge-Harford Hunt, winning a

and the other to Preliminary. They took him to training with the

couple of hunter paces as well. As an older horse, Larry intro-

USET team at Gladstone, New Jersey, and a couple of their work-

duced several students to eventing at the Beginner Novice and

ing students also evented with him. Arzab stayed with the Per-

Novice level, and he rounded out his career as a lesson horse for

Fall 2014 selected beginners a few times a week. Despite the arthritis in

The bay stallion Post Exchange+//, by Enzio out of Thoroughbred

his hocks, careful management allowed Larry to be ridden up into

mare Reregret by Sun Again, competed in open hunter shows and

his twenties. Jeanie Gore evented at Preliminary level with two

then at breed shows. He was named National Champion Half/

other Aazrak Anglos, Discotheque (“Sam”), out of Skilful Eagle by

Anglo Arabian Adult Amateur Working Hunter in 2002 and 2003

Talon, and Coreographer, out of a Cormac mare.

before retiring from competition at 20 years of age. Post Ex-

Two other Aazrak Anglo offspring owned and ridden by Chris

change was one of only a few stallions Ann has sold. He was sold

McKay Donovan were Goshen, a full brother to Discotheque, and

primarily so he would get a chance to compete, as he is a very tal-

Gadd John Dee, out of Debbie’s Pride. Goshen, who Ann de-

ented jumper. Besides his national titles, Post Exchange was also

scribes as a “lovely big kind fellow,” was Chris’ Pony Club mount,

named USAE Horse of the Year in 2002. He sired 18 registered

and she evented him to Preliminary, then sold him as a foxhunter

Anglo-Arabians before his death in 2013 at age 30.

to pay for college. Gadd John Dee was a stallion that Chris evented up through Preliminary as well, and finished in the money at Essex on him her last time out. Named after the well-known local vet John Gadd, GD sired 10 Anglo-Arabian get and 10 Anglo grandget before his death. The announcement that the Enzio mare Jane Morganroth (named for a dear friend of Ann’s) was pregnant to Gadd John Dee brought on gales of laughter from the crowd that was present.

Aazrak grandson Post Exchange+//, Anglo-Arabian The handsome bay Anglo stallion, Quartermaster, by Yankee Lad—also the sire of Olympic gold-medal winner Touch of Class—out of the Enzio Anglo daughter Jane Morganroth (also out of Paul’s Dream), had actively competed in eventing at Preliminary level with Terry Gibson in Vermont. Quartermaster was the 1996 USCTA/ASHAI Arabian Horse of the Year and won the Arrowhead Hildago Memorial Trophy. Aazrak son Gadd John Dee at Essex 3-Day Event

Later, he was shown jumpers and then hunters by a junior rider. He sired 8 registered Anglos and many warmblood-crosses

Fralik, an Anglo mare by Aazrak out of Paul’s Dream (TB),

successful in eventing, endurance and jumping. Sadly, he was eu-

started out as a Jr. Hunter in Maryland and Virginia, with wins un-

thanized in September, 2006 due to EPM, but bred a few mares

der the coaching of Billy Boyce. Later shown in jumpers under

in Maryland in 2005. From his last foal crop is an Anglo colt out

the name Crack The Sky, she was sold to the Swedish national

of Victoria Regina (Gadd John Dee x TB mare) named Master Plan

jumping team. This talented mare competed for them until she

that is having a successful eventing career.

rebowed a rear tendon first injured when she was a foal, which

Two-time Rolex competitor Houston is a grandson of Quarter-

ended her career as a jumper. She is believed to have stayed in

master, making him 5 generations from Aazrak on the top and 4

Sweden as a broodmare.

on the bottom of his pedigree!

Aazrak’s influence on the Anglo-Arabian continues today.

The above few examples show that Aazrak has had a strong

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Quartermaster

Admiral Harnly (Sunset Enzio x S S Magsheba)

positive influence on Anglo-Arabians on the East Coast. He also

was a sire of strong merit whose descendants are still successful

sired many Half-Arabians. The first Aazrak foal that Ann McKay

in the East Coast sport horse scene today. His grandson, Admiral

owned was a chestnut gelding out of a palomino Quarterhorse-

Harnly AHR #559453 (Sunset Enzio x SS Magsheba [An Magno x

type mare that she bought by galloping race horses to earn mon-

Tochiba]), a 1994 chestnut stallion named for Annâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father, has

ey. She purchased him as a two year-old, gelded him and trained

carried on this line, but on a more limited basis. Admiral Harnly

him, initially as a pleasure horse.

was bred and is owned by Ann and her second daughter, Patricia.

Ann later sold him in New Jersey, where he competed in local

With equine athletes on the ground such as Ironman, Falcon

4-H and pleasure shows. There was also the chestnut mare Wick-

and Hornblower already proving their abilities in the Olympic

eri, who was foaled in 1965, by Aazrak out of a crossbred mare

disciplines, Admiral is the heir apparent to the Aazrak legacy of

named Lassy. Wickeri was purchased as a three year-old by Rob-

exceptional Arabian-bred sport horses. Ann and Chris believe he

in Stemler, who competed her successfully as a hunter in both

has just as much potential as his sire and grandsire to pass on

recognized and unrecognized shows. Wickeri was champion and

the stellar qualities that have made Aazrak a legend in the horse

reserve numerous times at unrecognized shows her first season,

world.

and she also won hunter trials. Miss Stemler and the mare were a solid team and well suited to each other.

In 2006, the last Aazrak gelding that Chris and her mother had kept track of died at the age of 38. Although Ann has retired from

In the 1990s, Enzio grandson IC Blue Shadow (by Welsh pony

her bustling breeding, boarding and teaching business, she con-

Severn Westwind and out of a Welsh/Arabian mare) was a top

tinues to stand Admiral and a few mares are bred each year. She

show hunter, winning AHSA National Horse of the Year honors

does not advertise him, relying on word of mouth as she always

in Small Pony Hunter for several years. Ann not only bred him,

has. Through Admiral, hopefully the sport horse dynasty begun

but also kept several of his get in her crossbred pony breeding

by Ann and her Aazrak will continue.

program, many of which are very successful show hunters and jumpers today. Since the 1990s, there has been a perpetual trophy in Maryland named for Aazrak that is awarded each year to the registered Arabian or part-Arabian winning the highest number of points in performance classes. Not surprisingly, many of the past winners have been Aazrak descendants. Although far from complete, the above illustrates that Aazrak

Fall 2014

Region Three Sport Horse Championships Photos by Heide Stover

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s combined Pacific Coast Arabian Sport Horse Classic (PCASHC) and Off-Site Region 3 Sport Horse Championships added in the Pacific Slopes Championship Off-Site classes for Hunters, Jumpers and Carriage Driving. This allowed exhibitors the opportunity to show jumping and/or carriage driving for three different AHA shows in one weekend. Debbie and Dayton Canaday and their Arabian Sshaq (Sshameless x D E Naztravia), winners of the Ann Bowling award for High Score Amateur Dressage.

In addition, the PCASHC also offered the newly approved Western Dressage classes as well as opportunity classes in Western Dressage and Hunter/ Jumpers in an effort to invite non-Arabians to our show to expose their riders to the Arabian Sport Horses. The show also offered all levels of dressage, from Introductory Level to Grand Prix as well as sport horse under saddle, sport horse show hack, and sport horse in hand at both the PCASHC and Region 3 championships. The show was held at Starr Vaughn Equestrian Center in Elk Grove, California on June 26-29, 2014.

Jennifer Tobie and her Half Arabian Enferno QF (Enzo x Wyman Oaks Hale B {NSH}) were named High Score Supreme Champions In Hand.

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO

SPORT HORSE IN-HAND BY BETH THOMAS

Let me start with a warning about

of course you were hopefully paying at-

Actively trot away, again a half-halt at the

Sport Horse In-Hand (SHIH): develop a

tention to how others did it. After they

turn, then really stride out to show off that

tough hide! Not every judge will think that

give your horse a good look-over, they will

wonderful trot. As you approach the end,

fabulous horse of yours is the best one of

ask you to move. You will walk the smaller

lean back a bit and ask for a little whoa

the day and more than one nationally ti-

triangle and then continue on to trot the

to make your turn, looking straight at the

tled horse has come home from another

larger one. You may be asked to re-stand

judge as you return. You may be asked to

show with less than stellar scores.

your horse or just to be excused.

re-stand your horse or they will say thank

Your score is one (or more) person’s opinion, same as any other subjective

THE TRIANGLE

you, and you leave.

PRACTICE AT HOME

class, but you do get a score sheet that

When you are asked to move off on

may explain your horse’s weak and strong

the smaller walk triangle, go to your

Showing the triangle looks pretty

points. It can also make you either cry or

horse’s shoulder, arrange your reins, take

easy; it sure isn’t rocket science, but it

be deliriously happy! Take it as an opin-

a deep breath and move off. The judges

does take skill and practice to do it well

ion, and try to improve anything that is

are looking for straightness as the horse

and show the horse off to its best. At

possible, such as moving more forward or

moves away and towards them, so there’s

home, set up a triangle in a safe area and

standing in a better way.

no need for speed here, but certainly have

use cones or rails or even flower pots to

an active walk. Make a slight half-halt at

mark the corners so your horse gets used

the turn, take a step or two, then ask you

to seeing that stuff. Outfit your horse in

The class procedure is thus: you come

horse to lengthen stride. Rebalance for

the bridle or halter he would be wearing

to the arena and most judges will ask you

the end turn, then look straight at the

in the show so he is comfortable in it.

to stand the horse up first, although some

judge and walk on.

AN OVERVIEW

Teach him to stand quietly in the open

do want to see the movement first. Fear

Unless they say something, you can go

stance: one foreleg and the opposite hind

not, they will tell you what they want and

straight on to trotting the larger triangle.

leg slightly back. This gives the judge the

Fall 2014

opportunity to see all four legs at once.

you as you move, working him with a sur-

When your horse has that down pat, get

cingle and side reins can help.

centrate. Some horses do well under both types

its ears to come forward and have it hold

Be sure to teach him to turn away from

and it’s perfectly acceptable to show

its neck slightly stretched at its normal

your left hand so when you bring it over,

both if allowed. Of course, some shows

carrying position. Some judges like to

he will automatically be in his turn and

do not split it, and you must take your

see it stretched out and down a bit. Oth-

stay straight. You may make the triangle

chances with perhaps a different type of

ers just want to see their normal carriage.

larger if you need to, as it is not neces-

judge than what your horse is. If you know

Judges may ask you to move your horse

sary to hug the markers, so you may put

ahead of time, you can decide not to show

about so they can see something better.

yourself where the footing is better. Also

or you can be a gambler and give it a whirl

It can help you significantly if your horse

be sure you know where the markers are

and may end up pleasantly surprised!

can learn to be patient, as some judges

placed in order to avoid going off course.

have them stand for a long time. During your practice sessions you will

HUNTER OR DRESSAGE?

WHAT TO WEAR That is a question we have all asked

ask your horse to perform the triangle

Increasingly more shows are splitting

ourselves on many occasions, and SHIH

and get him to move off smoothly, stay

the in-hand classes into dressage and

is no exception. Keep it simple: a pair of

straight, and come back to you nicely. If

hunter types, which begs the question—

khaki pants and a polo shirt. Shirt color is

he is kind of a sleepy guy, having a friend

which one is for my horse? It’s an easy an-

really a personal thing or you can choose

behind him with a lunge whip to encour-

swer if you are completely sure you have

one that compliments your horse. Avoid

age him forward as you cluck or whatever

a hunter or a dressage horse, but some are

shirts with barn logos please, and it is best

“giddy up” noise he can associate with. I

not 100% sure, so showing in both can

not to wear the shirt that you won when

like to use cluck for forward and kiss for

give you a good idea. If the horse does

you were champion last week.

lengthen so my horses know the differ-

consistently well in one discipline or the

ence. If the horse wants to get crooked on

other, then you know which way to con-

The majority of dressage handlers like

Continued on page 50

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine Continued from page 49 to stick to white shirt and pants, but I always wonder what they are thinking as we know how quickly white can become slime green or dirty! I have also seen ladies in nice blouses, which works well as long as it isn’t something distracting or flopping around. Gentlemen can wear khakis and polos as well, though once in a while you may see a sport shirt and tie. The suits that you would see in a halter class are just not the norm for sport horse. You may wear a hat and sunglasses if needed and gloves and whips are optional, though there is a limit on whip length.

well-braided tail shows off your horse’s

Footwear needs to be something you can

hindquarters.

AFTER THE CLASS Once you are done showing, and the

easily move in and not worry about them

Only use clear hoof dressing if you

class is complete, scores and placings will

coming off as you run the triangle. Athletic

wish but make sure your horse’s feet are

be posted at the show office. Oftentimes

shoes are the main choice as are paddock

clean. Many sport horse people do not

a table is set up with ribbons and score

boots or even rubber boots for rainy days.

like to trim whiskers and ears, and your

sheets, and it is up to you to pick them up.

Wearing your riding clothes is also ac-

horse will not lose if that is your choice.

Regionals and Nationals award in the ring,

ceptable, and for many that will get them

Level off the ear hair and make a head-

though just picking them up is also an op-

to the under saddle classes more quickly.

stall-width bridle path. Please remember

tion.

GROOMING YOUR HORSE You look great and now your horse needs to look even better. Clean and fit!

NO BALDING! If you over clip the face, you

Some sport horses are just not good

can be eliminated for it. Apply a minimum

in-hand horses for conformation or move-

of grease if you must. Too much grease

ment reasons. If you are consistently get-

can also result in elimination.

ting low scores and the same comments

Gleaming coat, starkly white markings,

Furthermore, you should not show a

turn up all the time, it may be time to

nice muscling and braided. Hunter braids

sport horse in stacked pads, as doing so

rethink your horse’s job. Lots of top per-

are best for hunters, but if you cannot

can be penalized by a judge, and pads

forming horses are not in-hand material.

bear to part with a long mane, a well-done

can also get a judge to wonder about the

Read your comments to see if you can im-

running braid that stays on the crest is

soundness of the feet. A single pad that

prove anything, and take it all with a grain

just fine. Braided manes show off the neck

protects from rocks is acceptable.

of salt. Scores can be an amusing read as

better, and that is why dressage types

Present your dressage horse in a dres-

you may have gotten a 90 and not pinned

should also be braided. Hunters also get

sage bridle and a hunter bridle for your

this week or a 68 the next and win. There

braided tails but not so for dressage hors-

hunter. A plain leather stable halter can

is no standardized scoring, so check and

es. If you cannot do a good braid job, hire

be utilized for the age two and younger

see what others have earned, and you will

someone to do it until your skills are up

horses. Two-year-olds are also permitted

get an idea on how your horse fits in.

to par. A poor braid job detracts from the

to wear a bridle. Use a snaffle only, with

horse. Please also braid the tail to the end

one rein or two.

of the dock; do not stop part way down. A

It is important to have fun with this class and be able to show off your lovely horse.

Fall 2014

PAYING IT

Forward H

elen Donnell’s Arabian gelding Stattok (AAF Soli-

(CT) at Rocking Horse Spring.

taire x ZF Desiree) shifted gears in his eventing

“Stat is a fantastic teacher and he allowed me to get better

career this year, from moving up the levels to be-

and have some great opportunities. He is a real gentlemen; he

ing schoolmaster for 13-year-old Pony Clubber,

knows his job and takes care of me when I make mistakes. He’s

Kanyon Walker.   They had a successful winter at Novice, turning

even been a patient model, standing around when I was learning

a lot of heads at the big rated events. They attracted the atten-

to braid and wrap,” said Kanyon.

tion of US Team rider Buck Davidson, who invited them to spend

They finished out the season with Kanyon’s first start at Train-

Kanyon’s spring break week at his winter base in Ocala, training

ing, running double clear to finish 6th in an open division, bested

with his partner Andrea Leatherman.

entirely by professional riders.

In the Sunshine Region Pony Club Eventing Rally, they were

At the Florida Horse Trials Association annual awards banquet

members of the winning team and had the best dressage score of

August 17, Stattok and Kanyon brought home the awards for High

the Novice division, an attention-grabbing 21.7. They proved that

Score Arabian, High Score Junior Rider, High Score Pony (Stat is

was no fluke by scoring 21.0 two weeks later to win Junior Novice

14h), and High Score Barefoot Horse.

Photos courtesy of Kayce Walker.

k o o L e n O t s u J 52

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

. . . k o o ll It T

A s ’ t a Th

by Jenna Rhodes Photos by Emilie Rucci

Who would have guessed that almost getting dumped by a

pony the first few times you ride it would evolve into a winning partnership? For ten-year-old Prima Rose Bonaventura, that is precisely how it happened. When you look at Prima’s family, it isn’t hard to imagine how she got started riding. Horses seem to run in the family. Prima’s older sister, Isabella, rides and their mother, Heather Bonaventura, has been riding since she was young as well. Presently, Heath-

er rides in the 1.35m jumpers as well as on the Quarter Horse circuit, along with helping guide her daughters through their own riding careers. Even with a family in the horse business, Prima didn’t begin to really ride until three years ago, but has grown so much in those short years. Prima, like her mother, didn’t start off riding Arabian horses. In fact, it wasn’t until Prima’s first purebred Arabian pony that she really fell for the breed. And when I say fell for the breed, I mean it literally too. Heather and Prima were on the hunt for a new pony for Prima to compete with when she test rode a particularly fiesty pony. During the test ride, the pony bucked and Prima ended up hitting the dirt. While Heather was thinking it might be time to look for other possibilities, Prima said no. She liked this one. They ended up purchasing the pony, but as Prima’s talents grew and she was ready to begin jumping over three feet, this pony was passed along to her sister and they were on the hunt for a pony yet again. During their search, Heather heard about a pony that was just sitting in a field. She didn’t have a name, and nobody knew who this little bay mare’s sire or dam was, or even what breed she

Fall 2014 was crossed with. But they did know that she was an Arabian

Prima and Heather worked diligently to prepare for Pony Finals.

cross, and this piqued Prima’s interest. When I asked why she

They had a stop at the water jump during their first round, an

liked Arabians, Prima quickly but shyly replied, “Their energy.”

obstacle neither had encountered before. Their next round, they

Heather was quick to explain that Prima normally wasn’t quite so

went gangbusters, earning the fastest time in a clear round all

reserved, and that the Arabian breed just matched her personal-

night!

ity. “They just go together,” Heather said.

As if that wasn’t enough to be proud of, they were able to

When they inquired, they were told that this pony was “too

snag tenth place out of a class of twenty-five in the final, the Fare-

much” for her last rider, and that she had a bit of a bucking prob-

well Class. But that placing wasn’t an easy feat for Prima and her

lem. Undeterred, Prima started to ride the pony that they had

little bay mare. In this final round, Kelsey’s breastplate became

now purchased and named Just One Look, barn name Kelsey. The

detached early in the course, swinging free from her saddle. The

bucking commenced, but it wasn’t anything Prima couldn’t han-

two handled it like champs and completed the course with a time

dle. “After a while, Kelsey just realized that Prima was going to

of 66.2 seconds.

stick with it and not let her get away with anything. That was they

that these two had been a team for less than a year.

truly started to click together,” Heather explains.

No one watching would never have guessed

Prima and Kelsey may still be new to each other, but they are

They were able to work through the difficulties, and soon

no strangers to the winner’s circle after this very successful sum-

they realized that the mare was channeling her energy and focus

mer. It’s hard to ask for a better first show season together than

toward jumping and working with Prima instead of against her.

that, and their future looks even brighter.

They became a real team.

Like many young equestrians, Prima is hoping to someday

Kelsey competed for the first time with Prima in February,

ride in the Olympics for the United States in jumpers. Noting how

and by March they were already winning in Pony Jumper classes

far she has come already, especially with a pony that she has just

at recognized shows. Their success continued throughout the

become partners with, there is little doubt that she will make it.

spring, culminating in a trip to the prestigious and historic Devon Horse Show. They earned a third place there in the $2,500 Pony Jumpers out of 17 entries and by far, Prima was the youngest rider. Even with how well the pair was doing so early in their partnership, they were surprised and of course delighted when they were asked to represent Zone 2 at the USEF Pony Finals. (Zone 2 is comprised of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and the largest of the 12 zones.) Just qualifying to compete is a great accomplishment, and even more so at Prima’s age. “We thought maybe when she was older she would go,” Heather explained. Although it wasn’t easy,

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

growing up

Arabian

By Susie Lones

f course when you have loved horses all your life, you hope that your daughter will have the same love of horses. And when you have loved Arabians all your life, you hope that your daughter will have the same appreciation for the

breed. You hope that she will recognize their intelligence, heart, spirit, loyalty, athleticism and beauty. I guess I am extremely lucky in that department because so far, my 10-year-old daughter, Bailey, loves horses and really loves her Arabians. I got my first Arabian when I was four (and I’m now 43). When I was 12, I got a barely started three-year-old Arabian gelding. He was the best horse imaginable, and we learned together. I did hunters, dressage and western. I learned to rope cows and do all sorts of things on that special little gelding. The hunter trainers loved him, dressage people loved him and the cowboys loved him. I wanted my daughter to have that kind of experience with Arabians, too. When I was young, I didn’t get to really show—just a few backyard shows and two Arabian shows in the early 80s. It wasn’t until my 20s that I was able spend my own money from my part time jobs to go to Arabian shows, and I was hooked. Bailey was born with a barn full of Arabians, but her first love is Dapples, her miniature horse she got when she was three. She

Bailey and Dapples.

Fall 2014

Bailey on Hearts Adrift.

Bailey on Hearts Adrift. started showing him in ground rail hunters when she was four. Bailey’s first Half Arabian that she claimed as her own was born when Bailey was five. He is out of my mare and named Ackholade (Khaphur Khopi x Illuminada). Hopefully, Bailey will be showing him in Sport Horse next year. Bailey got her own Arabian to ride and show when she was six. I saw an ad for an Arabian mare by Lasodo, which happens to be the sire of my Half Arabian/Swedish Warmblood mare. We went to look at her and were just thrilled. She was under 14.2 and looked like she would do well in the hunter ring. We live in east Tennessee and show hunters and jumpers, but

“Sunny,” and Bailey fell in love again. Sunny has been wonder-

our area doesn’t have a very big Arabian population and very few

ful for Bailey. This pony has taken very good care of her but has

in the hunter/jumper world. I really wanted a pony-sized Ara-

challenged her just enough. Sunny had done some jumping but

bian that Bailey could be competitive on in the local, open and

hadn’t shown competitively in hunters, so Bailey and Sunny have

Arabian show circuit. So we purchased Hearts Adrift, known as

been learning together. They have progressed all the way from

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Bailey showing Abaskin Fine Design. beginner crossrails up to Pony Hunters and Pony Medals and

is a registered Half Arabian from a slaughter auction that Bailey

hopefully will continue to progress.

started showing locally this year and will be showing at Arabian

We recently purchased a pony named Rosie (Raindrops on

shows next year. All horses deserve a shot at love and a good

Roses HL), too. Rosie is a young 14.1h Half Arabian that Bailey

home even if they aren’t show horses. I want Bailey to have the

can bring along. We are really excited about Rosie because she

same appreciation for one of God’s most spectacular creations.

is proving to be a super little hunter prospect. Bailey has shown

At 10 years old, Bailey can ride every horse in the barn from

her four times now in the East Tennessee Hunter Jumper circuit

my 16.1-hand Arabian/SWB, to the two five-year-old Half Arabi-

shows and she has placed extremely well for such a young, green

ans to her mares. She has become quite the accomplished rider

pony. The judges and other hunter trainers have been very com-

and I couldn’t be more proud.

plimentary of Rosie so far.

Last year, Bailey (at nine years old) was the youngest com-

Bailey has a barn with six Arabians and Half Arabians, and she

petitor at Sport Horse Nationals. Even though she didn’t place in

is learning that they are a special breed. I have warned her about

the top ten, in a class of 20+ horses she managed to hold her own

all the “not so nice” things people who aren’t Arabian fans might

and looked the part. We were very proud of her. We don’t have

say, and she has learned, like me, to brush them off. It’s all about

a huge horse show budget, but we make it to two or three rated

being a good rider with a well-trained, well-turned-out horse.

Arabian shows per year and several hunter shows.

“Let that be the thing that sets you apart,” I tell her. I love horses

We are going to do our best to do this for many years to come.

of all breeds—all have their good points—I just happen to love

I may have to give up showing my horse so that I can invest a little

Arabians more. And I want Bailey to feel the same way. This kid

more in Bailey’s show experience, but that’s okay with me. We

takes care of our horses every day: feeding, mucking, grooming,

ride with Cynthia Cubbage at Arabian shows and Amanda Finger

etc. I truly believe that she is more tuned-in and bonded with

from Westwind Equine Training Center at hunter shows. We have

them because of this.

been so lucky that Tracey Lord took me under her wing at Arabian

We have a couple of horses that we have rescued, too. One

shows many years ago and introduced us to Cynthia Cubbage.

Fall 2014

Bailey and her new project Raindrops On Roses HL.

Bailey and Hearts Adrift at their first Arabian show.

Cynthia has been a fantastic coach and friend for both Bailey and myself. We love the atmosphere at Arabian shows, and we love the friendships we have made at all shows. I hope that Bailey has a wonderful future showing and riding Arabians and Half Arabians. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know if she will be famous or make her name in the Arabian industry, but that is not what is most important to us (although, I do admit it would be cool). I hope she enjoys her horses, makes great friends and learns a lot. Mostly, I hope that she will always feel that love you can only get from a bond with your horseâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;especially an Arabian horse.

Bailey and Ackholade.

Bailey with Hearts Adrift.

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

TEVIS THE BLAKELEYS AT THE 2014

CUP

By Maurine L. Webb

he Tevis Cup traverses the trans-Sierra portion of the Western States Trail, which runs from Salt Lake City, Utah to Sacramento, California. This section is 100 miles long and runs from Robie Park (Squaw Valley) to Auburn, California; it crosses steep mountain passes, descends into treacherous canyons and through raging rivers. It is considered the most difficult of all

endurance rides. This trail was originally used by the Paiute and Washoe Indians and then by the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;49ers in their quest for gold. It was the most direct route between the gold camps in California and the silver mines in Nevada. For the last four years the brave Blakeley family - father Wasch, mother Gabriela, son Barrak and daughter Sanoma - from Terrebonne, Oregon have taken on the grand daddy of all endurance races. This Tevis Cup story began ten years ago when the family moved to Oregon and purchased a five-acre ranch. Since they had the land and as a surprise gift, Wasch bought Gabri-

Fall 2014

Sanoma, Gabriela and Barrak.

ela a beautiful Quarter Horse that was Western trained; the only

It was about this time that they decided to get serious about

problem was that Gabriela had always ridden English. She and

endurance riding. They put Gabrielaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Quarter Horse up for sale

the horse had a terrible time in the beginning. Since Gabriela did

and began the arduous task of purchasing quality endurance

not want to ride alone, Wasch bought an Arabian (unregistered)

horses. They saw an ad in the newspaper offering Arabian horses

for himself.

for sale at Powers Ranch, run by Sherode Powers, a well known

One day, new neighbor moved in from California with three

endurance rider in the Northwest. He had forty horses in his herd,

Arabian stallions. She told the family about her adventures riding

one more beautiful than the other; eventually they bought their

the Tevis Cup, having ridden in twelve races and finishing six. Her

horses from him. He gave them tips on what to look for when

best finishes were second and fourth. This sounded super intrigu-

purchasing an Arabian or Arabian cross to be used in endurance.

ing to them, especially Wasch, so he decided to begin training his

Their favorite horse they bought from the Powers Ranch was PR

â&#x20AC;&#x153;greatâ&#x20AC;? Arab for the next Tevis Cup, behind their house! He really

Twin Fir Victor, an Arabian gelding ridden by all members of the

had no concept of what was involved in training for such a race

family in endurance competitions. These days, Victor is 20 years

nor what quality of horse was needed to even attempt the ride.

old and retired.

For a while, Gabriela and Wasch went on trail rides together and had great fun, but eventually it became boring.

As they gained experience, through riding endurance classes in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, they decided to buy more

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine horses. By this time they were totally addicted to the sport. Also,

rode Flammable ( x ) a 200? Saddlebred/Arabian gelding and Bar-

Barrak and Sanoma were showing an interest in taking up endur-

rak rode MCM Last Dance ( x ) a 2000? Arabian gelding.

ance riding. On the weekends, the Blakeleys train their horses

Before this year, the best that any member of the family had

in the surrounding foothills (where there is a 2000 feet eleva-

done in the Tevis Cup was 21st (PR Twin Fir Victor with Barrak)

tion change;) during the week, they ride on a 400 feet circular

and 27th (PR Twin Fir Victor with Gabriela.) This year the family

track and play catch on horseback on their property and swim

wanted to place within the top ten finishers, so they devised a

in a neighbor’s lake when it is hot, all to increase the horses’ stamina. Their horses’ diet consists of pasture grass (they rent extra acreage,) hay, a small

“

plan. Their strategy was

Their strategy paid off, except for one unexpected incident.

amount of salt, high fat

to examine the times of

“

all of the top ten riders, at each checkpoint, for the last three years and attempt to stay within those times. They also

compound feed and beet pulp. They receive electrolyte supple-

kept track of the horses’ pulse rates at each of the checkpoints,

mentation when competing.

to insure that the horses were not being over taxed. They knew

This year, only three of the Blakeleys entered Tevis. Sanoma

if they fell behind on the first part of the course they could prob-

chose to sit this one out and instead work as part of the crew.

ably make it up after the Forrest Hill Checkpoint where the ter-

Wasch rode PR Moondanzer ( x ) a 200? Arabian mare; Gabriela

rain is all down hill.

Barrak on MCM Last Dance at Cougar Rock.

Fall 2014 Their strategy paid off, except for one unexpected incident.

and back. They passed and the results were official.

Waschâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s horse fell and landed on her knees and therefore was

The following day, August 10th, they were required to return

disqualified as lame at the Franciscoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s checkpoint. Wasch had

to the McCann Stadium at 10:00 AM for a final fitness check to

made it 84 miles of the 100. Barrak and Gabriela continued on,

determine the winner of the Haggin Cup, awarded to the Best

finishing in 7th and 8th respectively. I was there at the Auburn

Conditioned horse in the Top Ten finishers.

Gold Country Fairgrounds, at the McCann Stadium, at 10:40 PM

At noon, the Tevis Awards Banquet started, and I met with Ga-

to welcome and give them congratulation hugs. It was quite a

briela, Barrak and Sanoma outside of the pavilion to take a couple

sight to see mother and son cross the finish line hand in hand.

of pictures. It was then that I got to meet Wasch, who looked tired

I watched in awe as the horses, which had to be exhausted, eat

from his ordeal in the wilderness. He had to walk back through

their hay, drink water and have a makeshift bath with bucks of

the forest with a guide from Franciscoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s check point to the near-

water poured on their heads and bodies. Gabriela and Barrak had

est road to be shuttled down to Auburn. He got back to the Gold

their own bottled water and energy bars. Then there were blood

Country Fairgrounds at 1:40 AM!)

pressure measurements, pulse readings and body fat calibrations.

We had lunch and the ceremony began, and half way through the officials began handing out the buckles for all riders that had

Alas, their job was not done, within forty minutes of crossing the finish line, they had to pass the final vet check and also com-

finished the race in 24 hours. Then the Top Ten Finishers received special certificates and gifts.

plete a soundness exercise where the horse must trot on a lead

After that, the Parade of the Top Ten horses began, each re-

line on a course approximately one-half block long, both down

ceiving a commemorative blanket, a blue ribbon around their

Gabriela and Barrak at the finish line.

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine necks and a victory walk for the cameras. Then the Tevis Cup was awarded to Heather Reynolds of Dunnellon, Florida, and her horse French Open. All of the horses in the Top Ten were waiting patiently outside the pavilion for the announcement of the winner of the coveted Haggin Cup. At this point, Barrak said, “Come on let’s take the horses back to the trailer.” Gabriela said, “Don’t you want to see who won?” Then the Master of Ceremonies announced, “The winner of the Haggin Cup is MCM Last Dance owned by Barrak Blakeley! Let’s welcome him with a round of applause!” The family went wild with joy. I saw tears well up in Mom and Dad’s eyes as they were bursting with pride for their son’s accomplishment. MCM Last Dance and Barrak returned to the awards area and the crowd gave them a standing ovation. Last Dance responded by throwing his head back and giving the crowd a loud neigh, as if to say, “Look at me, I did it!” He then received an additional yellow ribbon and was given a measure of oats in the Haggin Cup. Barrak gave his acceptance speech and then the Master of Ceremonies called up the entire family for a group photograph. Barrak and his horse made history, him as the youngest rider and MCM Last Dance as the oldest horse to win the Haggin Cup.

Gabriela and Flammable on the trail.

What a great ride!

Haggin Cup Winners and Family: MCM Last Dance, Barrak, Wasch, Gabriela and Sanoma.

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Excelsior Stables & Nicki Muller Training is proud to present Fall 2014

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at Sport Horse Nationals in September!

Watch for her in Sport Horse Under Saddle, Show Hack and First Level Dressage!