from great promise - the arabian sport horse...
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64 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine 65June/July 2013
continued on page 96
by Shayna Dolinger
This cross of Polish Arabian Piaff
and Hungarian mare Virag produc-
es more than Sport Horse athletes
for the big ring; it produces horses
that are an affair of the heart.
In 2006, I was extremely fortunate to
obtain and import from Germany Virag, a
Hungarian Warmblood mare sired by Colo-
nado (Contender) and carrying the impor-
tant German jumping/dressage lines of
Landgraf and Ramiro Z, some of the most
influential and successful lines in Europe
today. Virag was a dream come true after a
long search for a hunter/jumper mare.
Having the same interest in Sport
Horse prospects, a long-time Arabian horse
lover/competitor and dear friend Kelly Ro-
driguez contacted me with what would be
a turning point in my Sport Horse program.
I remember Kelly starting off with say-
ing, “Shayna, I want you to keep an open
mind and look at this stallion, his name is
Piaff (Eldon x Pipi). Piaff is a tremendous
athlete, big powerful mover, has excellent
confirmation, and is a great match for your
Hungarian mare; do not say no until you
look at him.” Kelly knew I would be quick
to say NO because it was an Arabian, es-
pecially since I was from the open hunter
and warmblood world and with that comes
the stereotype thoughts of crazy Arabian.
She also knew I had Arabians years ago
that were jumping machines and saw the
window of opportunity to twist my arm a
bit because I was bored with business as
usual with the open hunters.
So, the research on Piaff began. Comb-
ing the internet articles and blogs, maga-
zines and film in various languages finding
every scrap of information I could on the
stallion: Multi-International Champion of
Poland, the Netherlands; Multiple Stakes
Winner, to interviewing representatives
from the Pride of Poland/Piaff Partnership
for hours on the merits of the stallion and
requesting his racing records from Po-
land. The stallion had to prove to me he
was more than just a pretty face, he must
be a performance horse and he must be
able to pass-on his athletic abilities. Piaff
exceeded my expectations, not only was
he conformationally correct and moving
horse, but he was a great racehorse with
multiple wins on the track, dressage, clas-
sic hunter, native costume and while in the
USA started over fences.
Understanding the importance of
breeding for performance and form to
function, Piaff was approved for Warm-
blood breeding with the German Rhein-
land Pfalz-Saar (RPSI) as a Book I stallion.
Their criteria states, “The RPSI stud book is
divided into Stallion Books I and II, and is
open to mares and stallions of recognized
Warmblood breeds, as well as Thorough-
breds, Arabians and Anglo-Arabians. RPSI
(“Zweibrücker”) horses are bred for quality
of movement, correctness of conformation
and clear character. This foundation pro-
duces a superior athlete with high train-
ability and competitiveness for any of the
sport horse disciplines.”
Piaff met my list of criteria and addi-
tionally, in order for offspring to be eligible
for a full Passport and Brand, both parents
MUST be approved in Stallion/Mare Book
I and only those offspring may be consid-
ered stallion candidates with the possible
chance of breeding on later. (If one parent
is missing approvals and does not have ac-
ceptable bloodlines/paperwork, then the
offspring is only eligible for a Certificate
of Pedigree -- no chance of a colt having
a chance to go threw the approval process,
thus cannot breed on through the registry.
So, the deed was done. In 2007, Piaff
and Virag blessed us with the arrival of
Countess of Piaff, a huge, correct, power-
ful moving grey filly who shined during
her RPSI inspection and was approved as
a Premium filly; something that was ex-
tremely important to me as I was striving
to breed a performance horse.
For an approved RPSI Arabian/Warm-
blood cross, Countess had enough Arabian
type to compete in halter, which she loved. I
will never forget the squeals of excitement
and joy from the very successful Arabian
stallion owner and breeder Denise Gainey,
“OMG, look at her TROT, that is just wrong,
she is a Warmblood!!!” Countess’ handler
was a former track competitor and she just
about trotted him off his feet. The filly
earned a Top 4 Region 15 Yearling Halter/
Region 15 Halter Futurity as a 3 year old
and Sport Horse In-Hand Region 15 Top 3,
in addition to wins in SHIH at various rated
Arabian Shows, but she was bred compete
in the jumper/hunter ring!!
At 4 years old, I started Countess under
saddle. She was easy, with a smart, willing
attitude and wanted to work more than
eat or do anything else; you could turn on the outside arena lights and she would run
and stand under the lights waiting for her
saddle. After getting the basics started—
walk, trot, canter; I sent the filly out for fin-
ishing. In just a few short months and at
her first Arabian show, she won the SHUS
with a professional and won the SHUS se-
lect rider class with me. We were excited
and looking to our next show in 2 weeks
and Region 15 in 6 weeks.
Just when you think you are on top of
the world and have the highest expecta-
tions for your horse tragedy strikes and
everything comes crashing down.
While attending the Virginia Arabian
Horse Association Show (VAHA), I received
a call saying that Countess had injured
herself in the stall at the training barn.
The veterinarian recommended the filly
go to an emergency veterinary hospital for
treatment. We immediately shipped the
filly to Blue Ridge Equine, a hospital ca-
pable of handling trauma and severe inju-
ries. After evaluation of the filly’s injuries
and every treatment performed possible
over a 24 hour period, Countess’ diagno-
sis was a compromised tendon sheath in
one hind leg and laminitis in the opposing
hind hoof. There was nothing more than
the veterinarians could do, the filly did not
have a good leg to stand on and I asked
the attending vet to put her down immedi-
ately and end her suffering.
Everything with Countess seemed so
surreal - like it was not happening, but it
was. I just wanted to be left alone, but
wasn’t. Within a few hours, a friend who
was announcing for the VAHA show an-
nounced the loss of Countess of Piaff.
Friends were ringing my phone; trainers
and competitors shed tears with me giv-
ing hugs and their condolences. Online
The Arabian Breeders Network and Face-
book messages of condolences, love and
support from the Arabian and warmblood
communities came in from all over the
world.
The Arabian Horse Community is the
most amazing, generous and supportive
group of horse owners and family I have
ever experienced; offers of breedings,
young horses, horses with training, etc.,
came pouring in – all were appreciated
more than the English language would al-
low me to express, but I was not ready, my
heart was too broken.
For 2 years, I sat grieving, missing my
filly and Arabian horse friends and family;
so I knew I needed to do something! So I
started horse shopping, looking online, at
inspections, visiting to training barns and
breeders, auctions, magazines etc., I lost
count after looking at 2K plus horses (no
kidding). I saw many fabulous horses with
excellent breeding and talent, but ALL
would have to follow in the footsteps of
Countess, so I respectfully stepped back
From great promise – to tragedy – to beating overwhelming odds – to successCountess of Piaff and her new 2013 baby sister– their story
96 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine 97June/July 2013
SISTERS continued from page 65 explained to me the management of a
Kenney Garde 2B mares; I had realistic ex-
pectations and gave the okay to proceed.
Dr. Stanford bred the mare 5.5 hours post
ovulation with frozen semen; she ovulated
3 follicles, so utrasounding for twins at
day 14 was mandatory. Found twins and
one was pinched off and placed mare on
Regumate – hoping she would hold onto
the foal. For 11 very long months, under
Dr. Stanford’s care directives, guidance
and office visits, we successfully managed
the mare at home to term.
On April 29, 2013 Virag delivered at
Woodside Equine a healthy, vibrant bay
filly by Piaff! Yet to be named, as we are
holding out for a very special name, as she
is truly a miracle baby for Virag and Show-
biz Farm.This article is dedicated to Bill and Sarah Dol-
inger, Woodside Equine-Dr. Stanford and Dr. Ham-mond; Cabin Point Equine-Dr. Cupp, Dr. Janey, Dr. Hillyer; Janow Podlaski Stud; Piaff Partners; The Galluns; Kelly Rodriguez; Bruce and Cindy Car-penter; Susan and Temple Robinson; Karen Mar-tin; Andrea and Matt Bulifant; Robert and Denise Gainey; Judy Getter; Donald and Angie Williby; John and Sharon Turnbull; Gene Sober; Dana Donahue; Cathy Davis;The Garlands; Greg Peak; Rob Simpson; Beth Conti; Gretchen McCormick; Shelly Ellsworth Brown; Kara Hite; Janet Bellows; Kathy St. Martin; Dr. William Ley; Bill Payne; Mar-gret Gafford; Arabian Horse Community, RPSI, friends and family, without your support, suc-cesses of Countess of Piaff and our new 2013 filly may not have happened.
When you see the filly out at the shows or come to the farm for a visit, please take your pic-ture with her and know YOU were part of her his-tory in the making.
from horse shopping knowing that “the
heart wants what it wants” and sought af-
ter Piaff again.
Dreams and accomplishments can
never happen by saying “I cannot, it is
impossible or I give up,”negative actions
never get positive results.
During spring 2012, I was very fortu-
nate and blessed to purchase a breeding to
Piaff; excitement and anticipation of own-
ing another Piaff x Virag offspring began
again. I knew breeding Virag at 14 years
old may hold some challenges and had a
uterine culture test performed. Lab results
concluded the mare was rated as a “Ken-
ney Garde 2B,” not for the faint of heart
because mares statistically only have a 10
to 50 percent chance of conceiving and
caring a foal to term.
What to do now? There is nothing in
the world like a great support system, and I
found the Arabian Horse Community to be
the very best. I contacted many Arabian
breeders and asked “What would you do?”
I received honest pros and cons; as well as,
researching on the Chronicle of the Horse
breeders forum from others who had Ken-
ney Garde 2B mares. Cindy Carpenter of
Watching Hawk Arabians told me “You
need a vet that performs miracles, one
that specializes in equine reproduction.”
I sought out the expertise of Dr. David
Stanford, Diplomat of Equine Reproduc-
tion at Woodside Equine. Dr. Stanford
completed an evaluation of Virag and
Winning Moments
Bob Tarr Photography • Cincinnati, Ohio • (513) 851-8529 • www.BobTarr.com • Bob@BobTarr.com
Preserve Your North American Anglo-Arabian
Horse Association
National Show &
Year End Awards
forAnglo-Arabians
in theSport
Disciplines
Learn more atNAAAHA.com
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