Sabble Farm

SAM AND BRETT WITH JOI EL JIULIUSZ

MARES ARE THE FOUNDATION OF EVERYTHING THAT IS TO COME

When it comes to the Arabian horse show scene in Australia, Sabble Farm may be viewed somewhat as a ‘new kid on the block’…and I say, ‘thank goodness for that!’ Refreshingly unbridled by pre-conceived notions or ideas regarding their horses or how things are done, in their short two years of being involved in showing Arabians, owners Sam and Brett Thomas have demonstrated bucketloads of enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn, coupled with a keen eye of what is required to own and produce a show team such as they now have…their dedication and positive spirit have been rewarded tenfold, with a slew of wins at the highest level.

Teamed up with the Future Farm family of Kate, Doyle, Kody and Jessica Dertell, the Sabble (pronounced ‘Sable’) Farm horses have enjoyed an incredible year this past show season…one that even the most successful of studs would find exhilarating. With a collection of horses, sourced from both Australia and around the globe, Sabble Farm have proven they are a force to be reckoned with. And that their Arabian horses can indeed, do it all.

Although Sam Thomas herself appears quite gregarious and social, she is notably uncomfortable when asked to talk about herself. ‘I am happy to talk about my horses, I love them with all my heart, and they deserve to be celebrated for their wins, because they are just so fabulous. We have chosen each and every single one of them because of something special, and I am so thrilled that they are being given their opportunity to shine.’ The calibre of mares that have been purchased to be the foundation of this stud is unusually high. It would be difficult to recall another program, most certainly in recent years, that had gone to such lengths to purchase so many outstanding mares and fillies in such a short time. The possibilities for this fledgling stud are endless.

Two years ago, after 25 years without horses in her life, Sam Thomas dipped her hat back into the ring by purchasing the well performed buckskin Part Arabian mare Gleniph Tiramisu, after falling in love with her while having a riding lesson by Kate Dertell at Future Farms. Sired by Crave FF (Mash x Bremervale Charmed) and Gleniph Bombe Alaska (Edenvale Arctic Snow x Brandy Crème Pussa), Tiramisu is the eldest of three full siblings, all buckskins, and had been an Australian National Champion, as well as East Coast Supreme Saddle Horse while owned by her breeders, Richard and Kerry Chapman.

Originally purchased as a riding horse for Sam, their first ventures into the show ring were fraught with nerves…for Sam, not Tiramisu! ‘I wondered what I was doing. Getting back into riding seemed at times to be a silly fantasy rather than the wonderful, life-changing experience that it was. I was given some words of wisdom from Kody

Dertell, who asked me if I liked riding my horse and was it fun? I answered “Yes”, and his response was “Well then just go out there and have fun” .. and that’s exactly what I have done ever since.’

Gleniph Tiramisu has gone on to win more awards than this article could manage, however a snapshot of her 2021 East Coast and Australian Championship wins include:

• Gold Champion Part Arabian Mare • Gold Champion Prix St George • Silver Champion Ridden Part

Arabian Mare • East Coast Champion Ridden Part

Arabian Mare

Perhaps most impressively of all, Gleniph Tiramisu was given the 2020 AHSA Derivative Ambassador of the Year award. The AHSA Ambassador of the Year award is awarded annually to two individual horses – one Purebred Arabian and one Arabian Derivative, who best exemplify the spirit, attributes and excellence of the Arabian breeds, specifically those who demonstrate considerable positive exposure for the Arabian and Arabian Derivative breeds within the greater equine community as well as to the general public. Horses participating in all disciplines of equine sport from Pony Club to Olympic level competition, as well as those involved in equine therapy and rehabilitative services, are equivalently considered by the AHSA Board during the selection process. Teamwork makes the dreamwork, and the relationship between Sabble Farm and Future Farms that began with riding lessons, has blossomed into one of the most fruitful alliances in the Arabian horse world in recent times. With guidance and support from everyone at Future Farms, Sabble Farm have purchased internationally and imported a total of eight horses, while in Australia they have purchased approximately ten Australian and internationally bred show horses. Today, Sabble Farm is home to some of Australia’s most decorated Purebred, Part Arabian, Arabian Pony, Arabian Warmblood, API and Quarab show horses.

The next purchase for Sabble Farm was another from the Future Farms stable, a purebred filly Jalilah FF. An extremely beautiful bay, like Gleniph Tiramisu she is sired by Crave FF and out of Mystica Jamarlee (Marwan Al Shaqab x Mystica Jameelah). Jalilah FF is tail female to the great mare Silver Glint (El Shaklan x Silver Glimmer) through some of the most memorable and outstanding Windella mares, and like these mares, Jalilah FF has enjoyed her fair share of wins including an Australian National Silver Champion Junior Filly win. Shown at both halter and various under saddle disciplines, during the past season alone she has been Barastoc Champion Mare and Australian National Silver Champion Western Pleasure.

‘Jalilah FF has produced a beautiful bay colt via embryo transfer by Emerald J (QR Marc x Emandoria) in 2020, and we look forward to showing him when he is ready for it,’ says Sam.

Sabble Farm has a focus on developing and showcasing the versatility of the Arabian horse. Every horse at Sabble Farm is ridden, whether it be for pleasure, show, dressage or western. However during my conversation it appears that Western Pleasure specifically is very much on the agenda. The imported purebred stallion RD Dynamo (Bey Ambition x TF Falconsimprint) is well known for his success in the discipline, and so I ask Sam if this is by design, or chance.

‘Our adventure into Western Pleasure is very much by design,’ she replies. ‘I love Western Pleasure, it is absolutely where I see myself going as far as ridden competition in the future, and we are supporting Western Pleasure classes in Australia as much as we can. In America, the Western Pleasure classes are huge, and we hope it will take off here in Australia. One of the greatest things about Western Pleasure is that it really does suit everyone, regardless of their age or body shape. Western Pleasure is the gift that keeps on giving to the rider, and to the horse!

‘Whilst Dynamo looks amazing as a Western Pleasure horse, he is such a fantastic addition to our stable. He is part of the world renowned Rae-Dawn breeding program and is proving himself to be an incredibly versatile stallion competing across English, western and dressage. And of course he is a foundation stallion for our breeding program and we are delighted with his first crop of babies.’

In keeping with the focus on Western, Sabble Farm have also imported from the USA a black Quarab mare, HF Moon Dancing. Well credentialled in America, with success mainly in Youth and Amateur competition and some wins at National level, Moon Dancing is now shown here in Australia ridden by Doyle Dertell. The team have already won a Gold Australian National Championship in Western Pleasure. ‘We hope that Moon Dancing will help lift the profile of Western Pleasure here in Australia. That said, I can’t wait to be able to breed a foal from her…I have everything crossed that she produces an amazing black and white Western Pleasure horse – I can’t wait!’

Another American import who is proving herself under saddle is Bella Mirelle SBA. Sired by EKS Alihandro (Marwan Al Shaqab x OFW Psylhouette) and from Martini Thyme RTA (Pro Thyme SA x Martina Van Ryad), Bella Mirelle was one of the first mares imported by Sabble Farm and has

BELLA MIRELLE SBA

enjoyed an enviable show career at halter. This past season, Bella Mirelle SBA was crowned Australian National Champion Purebred Mare Under Saddle at Boneo Park in March 2021. She went on to compete at the East Coast Arabian Championships later that month where she was Supreme Purebred Mare Under Saddle, Supreme Bridlepath Hack as well as Champion Purebred Mare 4–8 in Halter.

Most interestingly, Sabble Farm have managed to acquire two of the four special mares imported by Lusia Abbott of Alphalea Arabians in Western Australia, who has made the difficult decision to downsize her stud. The first mare purchased from Lusia was RD Caprice, bred in Canada by Murry and Shirley Poppewell, who also bred Sabble Farm’s imported stallion RD Dynamo. She is sired by Bey Ambition (Regal Actor JP x Bey Shah’s Lady) and from Gyselle (Concensus x Flashdance LTD), a special grey mare of Polish bloodlines with both Monogramm and Eukaliptus as her grandsires. Unshown as yet by Sabble Farm, she has produced a lovely colt this season by Enzo (US) (Padrons Psyche x RD Bey Shahmpane).

The second mare purchased from Lusia is Breathless Vision PCF, an exotic bay mare of extreme type. Bred in the USA and sired by PCF Vision (Marwan Al Shaqab x Veronica GA) from Breath of Spring PSY (Padrons Psyche x Takmy Breath Away), in Australia she has produced three foals and is currently in foal to RD Dynamo, which will be a very exciting foal for Sabble Farm.

Breathless Vision PCF was one of a trio of incredible mares owned by Sabble Farm who at the 2021 Australian National Championships, took out Gold, Silver and Bronze titles in the Senior Mare class. For those of us lucky enough to be there, under the floodlit arena, these mares sparkled and danced their way into the hearts of us all.

With Breathless Vision PCF being awarded Bronze, it was the most recent import by Sabble Farm who was awarded Silver. An ethereal white mare, Shayala trotted into the arena as if she wore glass slippers, so light and airy, she flew through the air with her mane and tail cascading around her…she was glorious. Shayala is sired by the Italianbred Shael Dream Desert (Ansata Shaamis x Elettra), the first of his progeny to be imported to Australia. Her dam, Cassiopeia BPA (Odyssey SC x LC Mon Amie) has Versace and Padrons Psyche as grandsires.

‘Brett went with Doyle to America to buy a western horse that was in the Marquis auction. They didn’t buy the western horse, but they bought Shayala. Brett was very impressed by her when she was at the presentation, and when he went back to her stable and met her, he fell in love with her. Brett may not have a lot of experience with horses, but he has a good eye and knows what he likes...and he got it right! Shayala hadn’t been shown in the US, however once we brought her out she was show trained for halter, broken to saddle and is ridden, like all of our horses. We will bring her out next year in ridden classes, she is so fancy and divine under saddle, and she loves it too!

‘Shayala really has become Brett’s horse – she melts when she is with him. Of course, he was a nervous wreck at the Australian Championships. I have never seen him quite like that…. we backed ourselves putting three mares in the class, Brett was pacing, these were his girls!’

As history now shows, the Gold Champion Mare that night was one of Sabble Farm’s original imported mares, the elegant grey Joi El Jiuliusz (US). From where I was standing, it was a very close call between these mares however Joi was able to just nudge ahead to take out the gold. Sired by Jiuliusz De Wiec (Debowiec x Jiullya El Jamaal) from Enjoi E (Enzo x Oso Padova), she is similarly bred to some of the other mares at the farm, with a double cross to Ali Jamaal (Ruminaja Ali x Heritage Memory), which absolutely shows in her phenotype. She is a glorious white mare, the type that would be at home in any of the finest studs the world over.

‘The vibe at the Aussies was great. People thanked us for sponsoring the dinner, we loved it. Getting together for dinner was really special, we all connected because we love horses. We were all quite overwhelmed when the winners were announced that night. I remember Jamie from Future Farms cried as much as anyone when Joi won. She is so invested in taking care of the horses. These are people that just love their horses…I love the team spirit that is the backbone of everything we do.

‘We do the horses because we love them, and we work with others because we enjoy the people and want to participate in and support the Arabian horse industry.. Why do anything if you don’t enjoy it – right now we are having the time of our life!’

GLENIPH TIRAMISU

PC GLENYS LILLEY Interview with Sam Thomas Images courtesy of Glenys Lilley & Samantha Taylor