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

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