8 minute read
Khalid Arabians
In a relatively short time, Khalid Arabians has become a force to be reckoned with in the show ring. With success in both purebreds and derivatives, across multiple disciplines, Catherine Cunningham and her family have cemented their place in
Australia’s show ring family.
I first spoke to Catherine for Arabian Studs & Stallions five years ago, and had watched with interest how this family’s success had grown and changed over that time. ‘What have we learned during that time?’ asks Catherine. ‘We are still learning each and every day that the Australian Arabian World is very small. Every horse is unique and has its own way and timeframe. I have learned that there is no set approach that fits every horse, just a set of skills required to gain trust and bring out the best in these amazing horses. They are so incredibly clever.’
Since we last spoke, Khalid Arabians have produced some exceptional youngsters and I am keen to hear how that transition from purchasing to breeding had transpired. ‘We have learned so much about young stock, breeding and foaling down. We have had our share of joy and heartbreak and been through some difficult foalings. Luckily, with my midwifery background, the physics of foaling and managing a malpresentation are not so daunting… and it is helpful to have a ‘phone-a-friend’ whilst waiting on expert help when required,’ she laughs.
‘Most of all we have learned Arabians are both addictive and majestic.’
Khalid Arabians have come a long way with their breeding program, particularly with the stock sired by Part Arabian Stallion Roseglen Crown Royale, fondly known as‘Fame’.
‘It is so special being able to select a mare to breed to our Fame. He is a very special part of our stud and has achieved so much in halter and saddle. He brings to the table his glorious palomino colour, with correct conformation and an exuberance that commands all to stop and adore him. A friend has affectionately named him Mr Horsekins (after Jennifer Hawkins) as he struts his stuff around the paddock. As a breeding horse, we were obviously chasing colour from him and we had an interesting first year. Two of his three foals were chestnut and each had a hint of palomino, a golden coloured patch on the hip of the colt and a splash of gold on the filly’s leg…we were hoping those splashes of colour would spread. They did not, and sadly the only palomino colt passed away at four days old.’
That said, the five youngsters on the ground by Roseglen Crown Royale are doing an exceptional job for their sire in the show ring, excelling at the highest levels.
At the 2021 East Coast Arabian Championships alone, the progeny of Roseglen Crown Royale were awarded:
Royale Gezan KA • Champion Junior Part Arabian Entire
Royale Innana KA • Reserve Champion Junior Part
Arabian Filly • Reserve Supreme Junior Part Arabian
Royale Elegance KA • Champion Junior Half Arabian Filly • Supreme Junior Half Arabian • Grand Champion Junior Derivative of the Show
‘To say we were thrilled with East Coast is an understatement, it was so rewarding to see our homebred foals taking out those awards. Royale Gezan KA had won his first Australian Championship the year before, which was a huge thrill, but to see all of our babies out there that weekend, it was unbeatable.’
Khalid have two homebred weanlings from 2020 who show exceptional promise for next season; a cremello colt and a palomino filly. ‘Right now we are educating them but we are very excited to showcase these beauties later in 2021.’ Catherine’s son Aiden has developed an all-encompassing passion for Arabians, which has sent him on a new, international journey. ‘It all began at home with his purebred gelding Sharjah WPI. The love he developed for Sharjah soon became an addiction to all Arabians, and he followed his dreams down south to Victoria for a year, which then led to opportunities to come home and show the Khalid Arabian horses. He is now chasing his dreams in a land too far away during COVID times, but he is having the time of his life at Ted Carson Arabians, in Alabama, USA. He is experiencing such foreign elements for a Queenslander, from snow to tornados! His training and show skills have developed rapidly with such busy show programs under the mentorship of Ted Carson.
‘I believe his biggest thrills come from taking teams of horses across the country to compete at Scottsdale. The excitement in his voice was obvious, and although he said he knew he didn’t have the winner, his horse made a stellar entry and to be side by side with world famous trainers was the thrill of a lifetime.’
Although Aiden has been living overseas, the stud has continued to grow and the Cunninghams have put their own spin on what they want to achieve. ‘Today we do more research into breeding and stallion selection and hope to achieve our own dreams. We feel we made a leap ahead with Roseglen Crown Royale and so our Part Arabian program is on its way – we are truly blessed to have him.’ A usual day at the stud begins at 5AM with a feed up, groom and turn out for the 11 horses that are currently stabled at the farm. Show and saddle horses are worked, weanlings are handled and then it is off to work for the Cunningham family. Upon returning home later that day, everything is done in reverse…lights are on, horses are tucked away for the night and then the family enjoys a little downtime before bed. ‘It can be exhausting at times, but when you feel it is all too much, a sleep and spending more time with these amazing animals makes it all worthwhile.
‘We prepare our horses physically with lunging for the halter horses, which includes the basics in schooling. We employ a saddle trainer and have opted for dressage for education rather than pure show riding. We believe education is very important.
‘We use a professional halter trainer to do the finishing on schooling and showing as that far outweighs our ability. However we do the preparation for ring entry which gives us a sense of achievement. We prepare our horses the same for the Australian National Championships as we do for a small local show…they are equally important to us.
‘We have yet to purchase our own purebred stallion. Whoever he is, he has to be just right…I dream in believing we might be able to produce our own.’
Until then, the Cunninghams are expanding their Derivative program and have their first
PC CATHERINE CUNNINGHAM
ROYALE ELEGANCE KA OPPOSITE PAGE ROSEGLEN CROWN ROYALE
ROYALE AURORA KA
EXXALT & AIDEN CUNNINGHAM
Arabian Warmblood due in September. ‘We bred a beautiful purebred mare to a black Trekkehner Stallion. The resulting foal will be an Arabian Warmblood but will also be entitled to a pure Trekkehner Warmblood registration in its own right.
‘We are also showing and breeding a select pony program with our first homebred pony due in August by East Coast Arabian Pony stallion Westacres Lost My Sock (Kierra Park Cascade x Fairlight Acres Ascend).
To that end, there are approximately 20 horses in the stud at this time, including three young homebred mares by the imported Ulysium (JA Urbino x Marc of Ali CBA). ‘Allysum KA, Aphrodites KA and Fallon KA are each a little different, but they are all beautiful. These will be our next step in our Purebred program.’
Rather than focusing on ‘straight this’ or ‘pure that’, the Cunningham’s program successfully relies on the phenotype of the horses being used, rather than the genotype. ‘We are not hung up on the label per se, we like what we like and we have tried crosses that professionals told us will never work and here we are. Call it beginner’s luck, we will take that! We don’t want to be a small replica of another stud, we want to use what we think will work with what we have, and take it from there.’
That said, the Cunninghams are not afraid to ask for advice. ‘The traits I admire are honesty and integrity with a sense of fair play. The ability to bring passion and compassion and a general ability to support others whether they are the little fish in the sea or otherwise. So many people have helped us along the way. I admire Michelle Thomas for her breeding program and her skill; Heath Rowbottom for his compassion and willingness to impart trade secrets to improve my own horsemanship; and I admire Jason Hodgins for his absolutely flawless show skill set and Cameron Bonney for the professionalism he exuberates. I admire Colleen Rutherford for her astuteness and ability to teach; Scott Benjamin for his depth and breadth of knowledge on horses around the globe; and the wonderful Wayne Backhouse has been a tremendous support over the years. Although I don’t personally know the Farrells, the professionalism and success of Mulawa is only a dream away. Lastly I admire Ted Carson for giving a young Australian man a chance in the big world, an opportunity of a lifetime. I refer to them as the Master and the Apprentice...and I do admire my son Aiden for having the passion to chase his dreams in the big wide world (even though I still think he should be finishing his law degree).
‘I love to ride, and ill health has not allowed that until recently. Lately I was able to get back in the saddle, and simply sitting on a mare looking through her golden ears has brought an amazing sense of peace and tranquillity, a feeling I have not felt in a long time. My goals are not ambitious, for now I simply long for a gentle trail ride on a horse that I love, and to breed Arabians that will not only be a wonderful halter ambassador, but a future saddle horse and/ or a complementary addition to someone’s breeding program.’
PC CATHERINE CUNNINGHAM
Interview with Catherine Cunningham Images courtesy of Catherine Cunningham, Julian McPeak & Samantha Taylor
