october/november 2013

a r a b i a nSPORT HORSE

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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013

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SPORT HORSENationals

2 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

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publication

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PublisherCassandra Ingles

EditorPeggy Ingles

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WebsiteTheArabianSportHorse.com

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Submissions & Story Ideas Welcomed!

Copyright 2013 All rights reserved.

No reproduction without written permission.

20 drivenAn Amateur and Her Homebreds Flourish

32 why racing is my sport of choiceby Ron Hevener

34 tally ho!Arabians in the Hunt Field

38 battle of the breedsA True Test of Versatility

42 2013 sport horse nationalsCover Story

62 zharNot Your Average Show Horse Story

72 dark pranksterby Maurine Webb

78 eventing starPurebred Arabian “Sienna”

84 from the ground upBy Laine Sklar

C O N T E N T S


TH

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MAGAZINE

6 Bits and Pieces

13 SHN Sportsmanship Awards

14 JR/YR Dressage Champs

17 Going Gold

18 Biomechanics

26 A Wild Ride

28 Conformation Clinic

66 Silk Roads Legacy 74 It’s Never Too Late

76 Dressage with Linda Zang

88 Classifieds

89 Service Listings

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5October/November 2013FOR SALE


HUNTER & JUMPER NEWSFrench-bred Anglo Arabian POEME D’AMOUR DE BUISSY

(39.44%) and his owner/rider Misti Cassar won both of the 1.40m

Jumpers at the Blenheim Summer Classic Horse Show in Septem-

ber. She and the gelding also competed against the nation’s elite

jumper riders and horses at the Showpark All Seasons Summer

Classic Horse Show. Misti and Poeme placed 5th in the $33,000

Showpark Jumper Classic at 1.50m, less than 4 seconds off from

the winner’s time in the 40 horse class.

Next up for them was the Sacramento International Horse

Show and right away Poeme and Misti topped a 1.40m jumper

class of 23 entries. The big Saturday night class at the show was

the $54,500 Land Rover 1.60m Grand Prix in which they were the

1st and fastest of only 6 clear rounds and were on their way to a

clear second round when a funny distance resulted in a stop and

fall for Misti. She is fine luckily and will be back in the tack soon.

They did finish in 6th place of 34 entries. (photo above by Denise

Romani of DROM Photography at last year’s show)

WELLEN GOLD LEAF, a crossbred pony out of the Welsh/Ara-

bian mare Good As Gold (sired by Arabian AM Lord Elope) placed

8th at the USEF National Pony Championships in the Green Large

Pony Hunter Model class out of 79 ponies! Good As Gold has pro-

duced several high quality show hunters.

Arabian Pony Jumper GAME ON, reg. as Paso Grande Beaux (El

Paso Grande x Libertys Charm), and his 10-year-old rider Alissa

Brandt competed this week at the US Pony Jumper Champion-

ships. They placed 24th of 44 in the individual phase on a ex-

tremely tough course, and placed 6th in the Pony Jumper Farewell

BITS and pieces

Class. They are pictured here with a 4th place from the previous

week in the NAL Pony Jumper 1.05m class at the KY Summer Clas-

sic. “Tiger” is owned by Kaitlin Miller-Roberts, who took him to

the Championships and won Team Gold in 2011 and Team Silver

in 2010 in addition to winning the Jumper Style Award both years.

Nine-year-old Bailey Lones showed her Arabian mare HEARTS

ADRIFT (Lasodo+// x Al Thameena) at a Tennessee H/J Assoc open

show recently. This adorable pair were Reserve Champion in Short

Stirrup and Equitation and also placed 2nd in the Pony Medal

class. The mare’s sire, Lasodo+//, is a six-time National Champion,

seven-time National Reserve Champion and eight-time National

Top Ten in Third Level up to Prix St. George Dressage. He suffered

a severe case of founder last year, but has miraculously recovered.

He is 26.

The bay Half-Arabian mare ABILITY (MHR Nobility x Nikita

{KWPN}), owned by Gregg & Nancy Shafer and ridden by Kristin

Hardin, competed in the Gold Coast Horse Show Series at Los An-

geles Equestrian Center. In both 1.10m jumper classes Ability en-

tered, she came out on top. She has been consistently winning at

open shows against all breeds for the past two years under Kristin.

Additionally, she is a Canadian and US National Champion Jumper

at Arabian shows, including a win at Scottsdale in the Gambler’s

Choice.

A French-bred Anglo Arabian hailing from Canada has been

campaigning in Europe this fall. Kara Chad’s mare OURA DE

ROUHET (37.94%) and Kara Chad placed 6th in the 2* in Vienna

on the Longines Global Champions Tour. Earlier in September,

they were 3rd and 10th at Lausanne. In June, 17-year-old Kara

and her mare won the Junior/Amateur 1.30m Welcome at Spruce

Meadows National.

Ability & Kristin Hardin

Poeme D’Amour & Misti Cassar

7October/November 2013

BITS and pieces (continued)

and Dressage Show, and hosted the National Championships for

Dressage Seat Equitation. Only the top 2 riders from each USDF

Region around the country were chosen to compete in the Finals.

Many riders borrowed local horses to compete on, due to long

distances and the elevation at Estes Park. Four of those horses

were Arabian-breds.

Raissa Chunko rode her Arabian INCH PINCHER (Virgule Al

Maury x Saahira) to a 5th place in the 13 & Under Medal Finals.

Above photo is Mary Jo Hoepner’s Half-Arabian MILLENNIUMS

DRESSAGE NEWSOne of the newest members of the Dressage Foundation’s

Century Club is also the oldest horse on record to have partici-

pated. Kathy Knappitsch and 35-year-old Anglo Arabian GENERAL

LEE are from Fairview, Texas where Kathy owns a dressage facility.

General Lee, owned by Erica Elias, is a boarder and a semi-retired

lesson horse there.

Erica got General Lee for her ninth birthday when he was just

6, and has boarded him at Kathy’s for 10 years. Kathy has taught

countless riders on him, from age 4 on up. They say he has never

been lame, loves to be ridden and is a great teacher. Kathy herself

is a lifelong horsewoman who trained and competed in Europe,

including passing the instructor’s course for eventing at the Cadre

Noir in Saumur.

Raissa Chunko & Inch Pincher

General Lee & Kathy Knappitsch

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Nate Asby, pictured above, who rides dressge wth one hand

because of mild cerebral palsy, won the Adult Amateur Training

Level Test 3 class on his purebred Arabian gelding TAYS BENAZIR

(Tayako Bask x My Dee Ruffles) at the USDF recognized open dres-

sage show at the Lake Oswego Hunt Club in Lake Oswego, OR.

Their score was 68.8%, greater than 9 other non Arabian horses.

Estes Park, Colorado was the venue for the Paragon CDI***

TREASURE (Millennium LOA x La Treasure {ASB}) and his rider Jen-

nifer Salinger placed 11th in the 14-18 Medal Finals. They were

8th in the Warm Up class.

Arabian gelding ALI RAMSES MAHAL (Ali Taj Mahal x Ali Ruh

Krizia) owned by Vicki Borelli and ridden by Megan Carpenter

placed 12th in the 14-18 Medal Finals.

Half-Arabian FLASH ZAYRAFF (Viva Zayraff x Rambur Licorice

Stick {Welsh}) owned by Jennifer Gage and ridden by Melanie

Doughty placed 8th in the 13 & Under Medal Final after an 11th

in the Warm Up.



September 7 – 8 at Kentucky Horse Park, the National Dres-

sage Pony Cup show was held. The show is open to all ponies,

with special awards for certain breeds, plus high point awards for

riders. The show offers classes from Introductory up to FEI Pony.

Jacqueline Hollandsworth competed there on Arabian mare RSA

TALK OFTHE STREET (TTT Omaran x Haap Nicole), owned & bred

by Jacqueline Raysik. They won the Champion Arabian Award and

Reserve Grand Champion Intro Level Adult Amateur. They also

earned qualifying scores at Training Level for Regionals. Jacque-

line also competes with the mare in eventing, remarkable since

she has only been under saddle less than a year.

cow-y and feels as though his dressage background has been of

great benefit. Over the weekend, Zee competed at a 2 day Ranch

Roundup. He finished 6th out of 27, the only Arabian in a sea of

Quarter Horses, in the Reining With Cow class. First Zee did a rein-

ing pattern, then a cow was released at the far end from its herd

and he had to keep it at that end. They are scored 50% on the cow

work, which he did very well.

The Polish stallion *EMPRES (Monogramm x Empressa) cre-

ated quite a stir at Canadian Nationals last year when he was

named National Champion Sport Horse Stallion at the age of 17.

This well-traveled bay was born in Poland at Michalow State Stud,

was exported to the Netherlands in 2002, exported to Belgium in

2004, came to the US in 2007, and now resides with his owner

Prue Crtichley in Manitoba since 2011. He earned an impressive

Top 5 Colt title at the Polish National Show as a yearling, First Pre-

mium at the Dutch National Stallion Show and a Gold Certification

in Belgium at his Stallion Licensing.

Empres has also been competing in Dressage, at both Open

and Arabian shows. Just in August, he won 2 Canadian National

Top 10s in Training & First Levels. More recently, Empres, ridden

by D.J. Cairns, earned an amazing 86.46% to clinch the Training

Level Championship and went on the win Reserve Champion in

First Level at the Westman Fall Festival Dressage Show in Mani-

toba.The judge commented that he was ‘a lovely elegant horse.’

Half-Arabian FIRST CLASS IMAGE (Frohwind {Old} x Flash Ofan

Image), owned and ridden by Kathy Pittman, won their First Level-

Test 1 Class with a 69.655% at the Green Country Dressage Clas-

sic II Show. They were named High Score Arabian/AA/HA of the

show! Kathleen also competes with him in Working Hunter and

has even done some Ranch Sorting with him.

Laine Sklar and her 6-year-old Half-Arabian PALADIN SF (Aul

Magic+/ x Padua Go {Trak}) rode their first Third Level test at the

California Dressage Society’s San Diego Chapter Summer Show

Some horses, like people, specialize in one thing. Other horses

can do it all. Arabians are known for their versatility but you must

agree, this horse is special. Purebred gelding ZEE DE MAN (Zee

Impressive x Zee Bunny) is owned by Laura Hinson. Before she

bought him, Zee had started his career as a Reining horse, even

earning a Top Ten at Youth Nationals in Reining 14-17. He did

some Trail and Walk-Trot as well. In 2011, he debuted at Pebble

Beach in 3rd Level. He moved into Fourth and Prix St. Georges in

2012, competing at mostly open shows very successfully. In 2012,

Zee was USEF Horse of the Year in FEI Combined Amateur Dres-

sage.

This summer, Laura has sent him into the Competitive Cow

arena, which he took to like a duck to water. Laura says he is very

*Empres & DJ Cairns

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Katie Lang & FA PatriotLaura Killian & MS Spanish Legacy

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last weekend. They won the Third – 1 class with a 64%, and

earned 2nd places in Third – 1 with a 61% and Third – 3 with

a 64%. Laine has now earned all of the scores required for her

USDF Bronze Medal on this horse. Read our feature story on them

on page 84.

One purebred and 5 partbred Arabians represented their

breed at the prestigious Dressage At Devon Horse Show. AL-

MARAH POWER REIGN (AM Double Dream x AM Lady Delane),

owned by Debbie McCaffrey scored a 71% in the Arabian In-Hand.

Judge Kristi Wysocki commented: ‘Elegant head and neck,’ ‘Clear

rhythm, reaches with shoulder,’ ‘Steady tempo,’ ‘Relaxed’ and

‘Well Mannered.’

In the Partbred Arabian In Hand, 1st place was HIDDEN TREA-

SURE, reg. as GRACESHIDDENTREASURE (Ahmeetz x Illeana {ISH})

owned by Bianca Rosso with a score of 76.7%.

2nd place was MS SPANISH LEGACY (Saphiro {Lusitano} x Leg-

acy of Ariston) owned by Laura Killian with a 73%.

In 3rd place was WINDSWEPT BOSTON BEAU (SH Boston Bean

x Fleur D’Amour{Gr}) owned by Michelle Owens Reider scoring a

72.6%.

And 4th was SHANAS ROMANCE (Soprano {Old} x Anoutofcyte

Romance) owned by Laura Killian with a 70.6%.

Hidden Treasure also won the following against all breeds -

ADULT AMATEUR HANDLER: 2nd 76%

DHSB MAIDEN MARES 4 & OLDER: 17th 67.9%

USDF SUITABLE TO BECOME A DRESSAGE HORSE U/S – 5 YR OLDS:

9th

MATERIALE – 4 & 5 YEAR OLD MARES: 10th 72.3%

MS Spanish Legacy also competed in -

IBERIAN: 3rd 74.4%

DHSB MAIDEN MARES 4 & OLDER: 13th 72.45%

Shanas Romance won the following against all breeds -

JR/YR HANDLER: 4th 66.5%

2 YEAR OLD FILLIES: 7th 70.9%

Katie Lang and Half-Arabian FA PATRIOT (Flurry of Ca-Lynn

{Friesian} x La Sada Mega) rode in 3 classes against all breeds.

Their results were:

FEI Junior Individual 60.702% - 5th place

FEI Junior Team Test 58.784%- 5th place

FEI Junior Freestyle 61.650% - 5th place

Heather Sanders and her Half-Arabian gelding CP MERCURY

BEY (AA Apollo x La Contessa De Rossa {ASB}) competed in Sep-

tember at the USDF and Rocky Mountain Dressage Society Region

5 Championships and came home with two tri-colors. They were

Reserve Champion for USDF Amateur Grand Prix, with a 61.383%

and Champion RMDS Amateur Grand Prix, with a score of 61.596!

Read our interview with Heather on page ?.

DRIVING NEWSHalf-Arabian AELFLEAH MAGICOU (Cinemagical x Hanks Pata

Neil {QH}) competed in the American Driving Society-sanctioned

event at Longview Lake, Kansas City held Sept. 21 & 22, 2013.

“Kitty” and her owner, Edna Oakley, placed 2nd in the Single

Pony Training Level Horse Driving Trials. Edna bought Kitty from

her breeder Tamara Woodcock in November of 2009. Edna had

taken up driving at age 53, then moved to Missouri at 59 where

she could keep her horses at home. She says she benefited from

membership, lessons and clinics with driving clubs in Iowa and

now Missouri. Edna has done a limited number of combined driv-

ing events (Skunk River HDT in Ames, Iowa and Longview Lake CDE

and HDT in Kansas City, MO) as well as some pleasure shows off

and on for about 7 years. On Oct. 10, Kitty and Edna will head to

the National Drive in Lexington, Kentucky. It is the largest single

gathering of recreational drivers in North America. It includes clin-

ics, demos and other activities in the 100 acre Kentucky Horse

Park.



Beginner Novice division. In Junior Novice, Taylor Blasey and her

Anglo ROCK WITH BACH (Harriman {TB} x Family Star {AA}) placed

10th. They were clear of any jumping faults, but went a teensy

bit too fast through cross country. The latter is a 2nd generation

Anglo bred by Sharon Jackson.

Lauren Kieffer’s Anglo Arabian VERMICULUS (Serazim x Wake

Me Gently {TB}) came back from a summer break to compete at

Five Points Horse Trials over the weekend. The six year old full

brother to Lauren’s SNOOZE ALARM ran the Preliminary courses

with his usual ease. Starting off with a dressage score of 28.70,

he stood in 4th place. After going double clear on cross country,

he moved up to 3rd overnight. An unfortunate rail in stadium put

them in 3rd overall.

Lauren had 4 other horses in the competition – Lucky Devil

was 3rd in Advanced, Landmark’s Monte Carlo & Meadowbrook’s

Scarlett were 3rd and 7th in Prelim and Landmark’s Monaco was

4th in Training. Lauren bought Vermiculus as a youngster and has

brought him along herself. They have completed 9 Prelim level

competitions this year with 7 placing in the top 5.

The lovely Arabian mare IN SINGLE (Wiking x Justonetime x

Brusally Orlen) who competes as “Sienna,” and her owner Mike

Morris, competed last weekend at the Copper Meadows Horse Tri-

als. They finished third in Open Novice Senior out of 24 entries.

The pair had a dressage score of 33.5, went double clear in both

cross country and show jumping to clinch their third placing. Mike

says it was “My best xc ever!” Mike bought Sienna off the track

as an endurance prospect. He was new to horses, boarded with

Olympic eventer Hawley Bennett and got hooked on eventing.

Hawley competed Sienna while Mike learned the ropes. Read our

feature on them on page 78.

At Marlborough Horse Trials, Half-Arabian PL IRISH THUNDER

(PL Diamond Hill {ID} x PL Eladdins Lite) and owner/rider Rosa

EVENTING NEWS The Anglo-Arabian sired HALIMEY GO (Askar AA x Hamamelis

Go {Trak}) who is 29.91% Arabian, competed at Fair Hill Internat’l

August Horse Trials last weekend. The registered Trakehner stal-

lion is owned by a syndicate and is ridden by Michael Pollard, at

whose Chatsworth Stud he stands. Halimey competed in Open

Preliminary, earning a 27 in Dressage, going double clear in Sta-

dium but added 3.6 time penalties in Cross Country to finish in

4th place overall.

Half-Arabian GLENLORD’S MYSTIQUE (Bridon Glenlord {RID} x

Mlladyoftheknight {Arabian}) and 16-year-old owner/rider Gaby

Stephens competed earlier this month at the USEA recognized

Event at Sante Fe in the Training division. After dressage, Gaby

and her young mare were in 11th, then had a rail in the stadium.

But a flawless cross county course put the pair in 8th place overall.

Gaby was also one of four Training Team members that won the

Team Competition.

The FEI European Eventing Championships (3*) were held last

week in Malmö, Sweden. Sixty one horses from 14 countries vied

for team and individual medals. There were 5 Anglo Arabians in

the competition and all but one completed. The Russian entry of

Igor Atrohov and INDIGO PYRENEEN (49.90%) were eliminated

on cross country. The two Spanish bred Anglos, IBERON CP (22%)

with Carlos Diaz Fernandez and HITO CP (23.75%) with Albert

Hermoso Farras, finished in 20th and 38th places respectively.

France’s PUNCH DE L’ESQUES (28.32%) and Karim Florent Lagh-

ouag finished 29th, helping Team France win the Bronze Medal.

Sweden’s JOHNNY CASH and Johan Lundin finished in 30th, with

Sweden’s team winning Silver. This pair finished 3rd in the 3* at

Strzegom earlier this year.

At Chattahoochee Hills Horse Trials, French-bred Anglo RESE-

DA DE FLEYRES (30.13%) and Sher Schwartz won their Senior

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Joa Sigsbee & KestrelKaty Groesbeck & Oz The Tin Man

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Lehnig won the Training Horse division with just 1.6 time faults on

cross country added to their dressage score for a total of 34.8. We

previously published a story on this pair.

Half-Arabian PL IRISH PEARL (PL Diamond Hill {ID} x PL Shirley)

with Glenda Player ran her first Novice here, finishing tenth. They

had finished 3rd in Beginner Novice 2 weeks ago at The Maryland

Horse Trials.

The American Eventing Championships were held at the Texas

Rose Horse Park in Tyler and featured a bunch of Arabian-bred

entries.

After the first day of dressage, Katy Groesbeck was leading the

Advanced on her homebred Anglo Arabian OZ THE TIN MAN, with a

score of 27.7. But the huge and difficult cross country course, de-

signed by Capt. Mark Phillips, changed that. Katy and “Wort” were

going very well, until they missed a corner fence, thus incurring a

20 point penalty, causing them to drop to 11th. Katy has said it

was the toughest course they’d done and they really just made a

“green” mistake.

Saturday’s rain postponed the division’s show jumping for a

day. On Sunday’s show jumping round, Katy and Wort were one of

just 3 double clear rounds! The finished up in 10th place overall.

Half-Arabian GLENLORD’S MYSTIQUE and Gaby Stephens had

a 39.6 in dressage to sit 21st, but had a mistake in striding through

a combination on cross country that resulted in a stop and ulti-

mately time faults. A double clear stadium round put them into

25th in the large Junior Training division. These two young com-

petitors will only get better and better!

In Sr. Beginner Novice Amateur, Sher Schwartz and Anglo

RESEDA DE FLEYRES were in 10th after dressage, then had double

clears on both cross and stadium to finish in 8th. Jacqueline Perez

and Egyptian Arabian IBN SASHALI (Ali Bayfire x MB Sashalli) were

24th after dressage, also had double clears in both cross and sta-

dium to finish 16th.

Anglo Arabian ROCK WITH BACH and Taylor Blasey, after earn-

ing a 32.5 in dressage to hold 22nd place. They added just 2 time

faults on cross to their dressage score, then rode a double clear in

stadium to finish in 23rd of 41 in Junior Novice.

The Grand National eventing competitions held at the Haras

de Jardy in France featured two Anglo Arabians on the podium.

CATHER DE GAMEL (Quatar De Plape x Miss Mark De Gamel x

Markus), 41.24%, and Maxime Livio lead the Grand National Pro

Elite Grand Prix division from start to finish. One of only 3 double

clears on cross country and just one rail in stadium jumping kept

them on top. This pair is fresh off of a fabulous 3* win at Haras du

Pin in August. Video from Haras Du Pin: ENCORE UNE MEDAILLE

(Veloce De Favi x Eneide x Quilling), 42.77%, and Didier Dhennin

finished second in the Grand National Pro Elite division. In 9th

after dressage, a double clear cross country (one of only 4) and a

rail in stadium moved them up to a close second overall.

The unseasonably warm, dry weather in Virginia must have

agreed with Joa Sigsbee and her Half-Arabian IB KESTREL (Karne-

val {Trak} x Bella Gold). Joa and Kestrel won the Jr/YR Open Pre-

liminary division at the Morven Park Fall Horse Trials. They were

first after dressage with a 26.50, went clean on cross country with

3.20 time faults and one rail and 1 time fault in stadium, leading

throughout.

Since our story on Joa was published in the August/Septem-

ber issue, she moved to Maryland with Kestrel to be a working stu-

dent for Colleen Rutledge. After only a month there, Joa says that

they have made a bunch of changes and that Kestrel’s stadium

jumping has improved immensely.


INSPECTION NEWS Arabian mare PERFECT LOVE GWA (Night Runner GWA x Prom-

ise EF), owned by Elaine Tolari, was inspected by the American Ha-

noverian Society and received high enough scores to be accepted

into the Studbook, a huge accomplishment! She can now produce

registered Hanoverian/Arabian foals.

One Anglo Arabian and one Half-Arabian foal were recently

awarded Silver Premium status at Rheinland Pfalz-Saar Interna-

tional (RPSI) inspections. EF Meeko EF MEEKO (Goldmaker {TB}

x Katchina Doll – Desperado V), an Anglo Arabian colt bred and

owned by Pam Dors of Evergreen Farm, was awarded Silver Pre-

mium status, being only .5 points from a Gold rating. Con Te La

Piaffe CON TE LA PIAFFE (Piaff x Virag {Hungarian WB}) is a Half-

Arabian filly bred and owned by Shayna Dolinger of Showbiz Farm.

This filly also earned Silver Premium. She is a full sister to Shayna’s

lovely Countess Of Piaff, who passed away as a 3 year old.

Two Half-Arabian foals were recently inspected and approved

by the Oldenburg Horse Society of Germany (GOV).

RIVIERRA, sired by the Hanoverian Rosenthal and out of Ara-

bian mare Maraekar (Marwan Al Shaqab x Dakars Destinee), was

awarded Premium foal status. This colt is bred and owned by Dave

& Susan McAdoo of Tobruk Farm. Rivierra’s dam is in the Olden-

burg GOV Main Mare Book.

RACHEL ARABELA, also sired by Hanoverian Rosenthal and

out of Arabian mare df China Doll (Enchanter Magic FHP x Ansa

Perfectdream), was also approved and registered. She is owned

and bred by Debra & AK Morgan of Ancient Oaks Sport Horses.

Rachel’s dam is also in the Oldenburg GOV Main Mare Book.

PR ROCK N RYE, a 2013 colt by Hanoverian stallion Rosen-

thal out of purebred Arabian mare, PR Brandywine (Tar Comet x

Rasera) attended the recent RPSI inspection at Solomon Farms

in SD. Owned and bred by the Stanleys of Prairie Rose Training

Center, Rock N Rye earned Gold Premium for his elegant type and

free, swinging movement. His 20-year-old dam, PR Brandywine,

earned a spot in the RPSI Main Mare Book One. Both Brandy’s

sire, Tar Comet and her maternal grandsire, *Ranald were cham-

pion English Pleasure horses. Rock N Rye is now branded RPSI/

Zweibrucker.

The Classical Spanish Arabian stallion CZANTIAGO (*Granizar x

Pascion S) is attending this year’s 70 Day North American Stallion

Performance Test at Silver Creek Farms in Oklahoma.

Czantiago is owned and bred by the Stanley Ranch and was

approved by RPSI as Premium, and thus could be entered into

their Stud Book 1 once he attains the performance requirements.

His dam Pascion S (*Esperanto x *Iberia) was rated First Premium

and accepted into RPSI Main Mare Book. The RPSI German Stud

Book Director Otto Schalter encouraged the Stanleys to enroll

Czantiago in the performance testing. Stallions may also achieve

the performance requirement by competing to FEI level, which

can take several years.

The stallions are assessed throughout on: Character, Consti-

tution, Temperament, Willingness to Work, Rideability, Athletic

Ability, Gaits (walk, trot, canter), Free Jumping & Stadium Jumping

(scope, technique), Cross Country (canter, scope, technique)

During the final testing, two test judges, two guest jumper rid-

ers and two guest dressage riders score each horse on Gaits (walk,

trot, canter), Rideability, Free Jumping & Stadium Jumping (scope,

technique) and Cross Country (canter, scope, technique). They are

scored on a scale of 1 (Very Bad) to 10 (Excellent).

The test started September 29th and will end on December

7th.

Last year, a Shagya Arabian stallion, Nicolette’s Revelation AF,

completed the test. Purebred Arabian SGF Ahmour completed it

in 2009 and Arabian/Oldenburg Saint Sandro completed in 2010.


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1June/July 2013

Sportsmanship Award Winners

For the first time, competitors at Sport Horse Nationals had an award for Sportsmanship offered in three divisions: Carriage Driving, Hunter/Jumper and Dressage. These

awards were sponsored by Karin and Willis Foley of Solar Hill Sport Horses in memory of their Arabian stallion Solaro S.

Participants were asked to cast their votes for exhibitors they thought best demonstrated and exemplified the ideals of Sports-manship, consistently, including but not limited to: Integrity, Good Character, Respect for themselves, their mount, fellow competi-tors as well as others, Demonstrates a positive attitude (grace) when faced with adversity, Promotion of the sport either in the saddle or on the ground, Fairness, Civility, Honesty and Respect for the Rules that govern our sport as well as judge’s decisions.

Here are the winners and some comments on each from vot-ers.

DRESSAGE – Cody Chamberlain • Cody is a well rounded and responsible young woman. I have

had the pleasure of working with her … and have seen first hand her dedication, kindness, and support of the Arabian breed and eve-ryone involved. From wishing everyone a good morning to wishing

everyone a good ride, Cody is always there with a smile and a hug, for her horse and for those she competes with. Sometimes it is hard to be-lieve she is only 15. Cody is a wonderful example of the future of our breed and sport, and what we should all as-pire to be.

• This young lady is dedi-cated, hardworking, deter-mined and yet very humble. She is a wonderful role model

for our younger generation. She works really hard and has overcome much adversity in this past year.

• She keeps a positive attitude and exemplifies sportsmanship with those she comes in contact with throughout the show season.

CARRIAGE DRIVING – Amanda Compton • Amanda exemplifies the characteristics of a good sportsman.

She graciously wins and loses, encourages fellow competitors and always considers her horses before herself. Amanda’s initial Arabian

Phot

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Sport Horse Nationals entry suffered an injury earlier this year and was unable to enter the show.

• Amanda does an excellent job promoting the Arabian breed. She not only shows her horses in open driving competitions, but has done numerous demonstrations for 4-H and Pony Club members to promote the versatility of the Arabian Horse. Amanda has helped with judging team practices focused on the history of driving, rules of the sport and the ideal driving horse. She is a great representative of the Arabian breed, their versatile nature and the association as a whole.

• Drove with a smile on her face and had her young horse’s wel-fare foremost while respecting other competitors. Despite not plac-ing in one category despite driving exceptionally well she was still smiling.

• Amanda is an excellent example of a hard working, dedicated horse owner, one that consistently puts her animals first. She is al-ways pleasant, always willing to answer questions with a smile on her face and yet is extremely driven to do well. She has donated much of her free time to helping young people learn about horses. The thing I really do admire is that her horses are primarily trained by Amanda herself and are obviously trained the right way, by hard work and being well cared for by a knowledgeable owner.

HUNTER/JUMPER – Rachel Hynes • Rachel fell Thursday in

her first jumping round when her horse spooked. She came back that night when they let her out of the hospital to hug the horse she was riding. She could’ve blamed him and said he was bad or it was totally his fault but she never did. She loved on him and after a day of rest got back on and rode. She could have handled it totally different and I give her a lot of credit for being so positive about her boy.

• After a scary fall, Rachel came back, conquered any fear from the incident and never held a bad thought about her horse. Her philosophy of “Horses will be hors-es!” didn’t dampen her enthusiasm or cloud her excitement of being there. She finished what she started with a smile. That attitude sets a wonderful example for all competitors.

Due to the large number of worthy responses, it was decided that we award some Honorable Mentions of Good Sportsmanship to the following exhibitors. Thank you to all of the winners for be-ing an inspiration!

HUNTER/JUMPER : Missy Snyder & Katie Wojcieszek DRESSAGE Madison Benicky & Sarah White CARRIAGE DRIVING : Wayne Gavitt

of the 2013 Sport Horse National Championships

13October/November 2013 1June/July 2013

Sportsmanship Award Winners

For the first time, competitors at Sport Horse Nationals had an award for Sportsmanship offered in three divisions: Carriage Driving, Hunter/Jumper and Dressage. These

awards were sponsored by Karin and Willis Foley of Solar Hill Sport Horses in memory of their Arabian stallion Solaro S.

Participants were asked to cast their votes for exhibitors they thought best demonstrated and exemplified the ideals of Sports-manship, consistently, including but not limited to: Integrity, Good Character, Respect for themselves, their mount, fellow competi-tors as well as others, Demonstrates a positive attitude (grace) when faced with adversity, Promotion of the sport either in the saddle or on the ground, Fairness, Civility, Honesty and Respect for the Rules that govern our sport as well as judge’s decisions.

Here are the winners and some comments on each from vot-ers.

DRESSAGE – Cody Chamberlain • Cody is a well rounded and responsible young woman. I have

had the pleasure of working with her … and have seen first hand her dedication, kindness, and support of the Arabian breed and eve-ryone involved. From wishing everyone a good morning to wishing

everyone a good ride, Cody is always there with a smile and a hug, for her horse and for those she competes with. Sometimes it is hard to be-lieve she is only 15. Cody is a wonderful example of the future of our breed and sport, and what we should all as-pire to be.

• This young lady is dedi-cated, hardworking, deter-mined and yet very humble. She is a wonderful role model

for our younger generation. She works really hard and has overcome much adversity in this past year.

• She keeps a positive attitude and exemplifies sportsmanship with those she comes in contact with throughout the show season.

CARRIAGE DRIVING – Amanda Compton • Amanda exemplifies the characteristics of a good sportsman.

She graciously wins and loses, encourages fellow competitors and always considers her horses before herself. Amanda’s initial Arabian

Phot

o D

onna

Gro

secl

ose

Sport Horse Nationals entry suffered an injury earlier this year and was unable to enter the show.

• Amanda does an excellent job promoting the Arabian breed. She not only shows her horses in open driving competitions, but has done numerous demonstrations for 4-H and Pony Club members to promote the versatility of the Arabian Horse. Amanda has helped with judging team practices focused on the history of driving, rules of the sport and the ideal driving horse. She is a great representative of the Arabian breed, their versatile nature and the association as a whole.

• Drove with a smile on her face and had her young horse’s wel-fare foremost while respecting other competitors. Despite not plac-ing in one category despite driving exceptionally well she was still smiling.

• Amanda is an excellent example of a hard working, dedicated horse owner, one that consistently puts her animals first. She is al-ways pleasant, always willing to answer questions with a smile on her face and yet is extremely driven to do well. She has donated much of her free time to helping young people learn about horses. The thing I really do admire is that her horses are primarily trained by Amanda herself and are obviously trained the right way, by hard work and being well cared for by a knowledgeable owner.

HUNTER/JUMPER – Rachel Hynes • Rachel fell Thursday in

her first jumping round when her horse spooked. She came back that night when they let her out of the hospital to hug the horse she was riding. She could’ve blamed him and said he was bad or it was totally his fault but she never did. She loved on him and after a day of rest got back on and rode. She could have handled it totally different and I give her a lot of credit for being so positive about her boy.

• After a scary fall, Rachel came back, conquered any fear from the incident and never held a bad thought about her horse. Her philosophy of “Horses will be hors-es!” didn’t dampen her enthusiasm or cloud her excitement of being there. She finished what she started with a smile. That attitude sets a wonderful example for all competitors.

Due to the large number of worthy responses, it was decided that we award some Honorable Mentions of Good Sportsmanship to the following exhibitors. Thank you to all of the winners for be-ing an inspiration!

HUNTER/JUMPER : Missy Snyder & Katie Wojcieszek DRESSAGE Madison Benicky & Sarah White CARRIAGE DRIVING : Wayne Gavitt

of the 2013 Sport Horse National Championships


The California Dressage Society held their Junior/

Young Rider Dressage Championships at Starr

Vaughn Equestrian Center in August.

Racheal Tuscher of Antelope, California com-

peted on her Arabian stallion LL DARKH IMAGE (BC Classic Image

x Velvet Darkness) and his Half-Arabian daughter SG KAMILAH (x

Canadian Tango {Pinto}). Rachael and the gorgeous black stallion

were named Champion in the First Level 14 & Under. She finished

in 3rd place on Kamilah in Training Level 14 & Under.

Cyd Curle and Anglo Arabian HAZEN (Silveyville’s Love {TB} x

Fasach Banrion) were 2nd in the Freestyle Championship, 4th in

Third Level and 2nd in the Third level warm up class. Cyd, 14, was

competing against riders of all ages. Cyd recently showed Hazen

at the SNC/CDS Dressage In The Sierra Show, where they placed

first in two Third Level Freestyles with 66% and 61.5%, a first in

Third-2 with a 61.951% and third in Second-1 with a 63.143%!

The 27-year-old Arabian KJ GERWAZY (Karadjordje x Moon-

light Hope) competed with 15-year-old Eva Larsen. Gerwazy is

owned by Diane Plant and has only been ridden by Eva for a year.

Together, they placed 3rd in Dressage Seat Equitation 14-18, 8th

in Training Level-Test 3 15-17, 10th in Training Level-Test 2 15-

17 and 11th in Warm Up; scoring in the mid-to high 60s in their

tests. These were the largest classes of the show.

Eva and Gerwazy also won a trophy for being the oldest horse

at the show. Gerwazy started out as an endurance horse, had sev-

eral idle years before Diane’s trainer brought him to her place for

use as a lesson horse. Diane met him and bought him in 2003. He

was bred by Murrel Lacey.

Sophie Moss and her Half-Arabian JAMBOREE BOLERO (Jam-

boree Tuxedo x Jamboree Bonita {Arabian/SWB}) finished in 5th

place in the First Level 19-21 Championship.

Congratulations to all of these talented youngsters.

CDS Junior/young riderdressage championships

Arabian KJ GERWAZY with Eva Larson

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Cyd Curle and Anglo Arabian HAZEN

Sophie Moss and her Half-Arabian JAMBOREE BOLERO

Racheal Tuscher aboard Arabian LL DARKH IMAGE

Arabian KJ GERWAZY with Eva Larson

Racheal Tuscher aboard Half-Arabian SG KAMILAH

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Heather Sanders is a 23-year-old USDF Gold Medal-

ist, which she earned on her Half-Arabian gelding CP

MERCURY BEY (AA Apollo Bey x La Contessa De Rossa

{ASB}). Photographs by Kathleen Bryan.

Before Mercury, what was your experience with Arabian bred

horses?

I was raised with Arabian horses with my Mother, Laurie. She

has a vast knowledge with the breed and wanted to share all of

their wonderful qualities with me. My Mom owned and showed

her purebred Spanish Arabian Filly that she had purchased be-

fore I was born. I started riding her on my own at five years old.

I had turned eight at my first schooling show in Training Level.

Within a couple of years, we were Youth National Champions in

both Training and First Levels. Later, my Mother had a couple of

purebred foals that she bred and I helped raise and break.

What was his background before you got him?

My Mom’s girlfriend, Heidi Fredrick, bred Mercury. She had

a Saddlebred mare that had beautiful bloodlines but to this day

has never been broke to ride. Mercury was a handful in many

ways. Once he was broke and shown in hunt seat classes, Heidi

agreed that this discipline was not his forté. He was known to

the locals as “crazy” and unmanageable, as he would throw his

body around and “kick out” with the rider in a hunt seat class! A

red ribbon was soon placed in his tail! When Mercury was five

years old, Heidi needed to sell him but wasn’t having much luck

on any takers. My Mom and I saw potential in Mercury as a pros-

pect for dressage, but wanted a 45-day trial period. The timing

was good since Celita was not sound enough to continue up the

levels. The locals were shocked that my Mom would even con-

sider such a “crazy” and disobedient horse for her 13-year-old

daughter! There were numerous times during this period that my

Mom wanted to take him directly back to Heidi since he was so

bad! Mom made it very clear to me that I was not to be around

Mercury without her. After about 60 days, Mercury and I started

to become best buds. He began to gradually trust not only me

but also the farrier and the vet. This was huge! I went back to the

basics and gained his trust.

Can you describe your journey together up through the levels?

Our journey together has been priceless. We have always

competed and qualified in the open shows against all of the fan-

cy imported warmbloods. As I grew into my upper teenage years,

I thought I had to have a warmblood in order to be more competi-

tive. Oh boy, did Mercury prove to me over and over that he could

do it! We carefully selected dressage trainers that were sensitive

to Mercury’s temperament. We competed through Fourth Level

at Youth Nationals with many Championships. We were Arabian

Regional Champions in almost all levels. In 2010, we were Sport

Horse National Champion in Fourth Level, Prix St Georges and FEI

High Point.

What makes Mercury so good at dressage?

Mercury is one of the smartest horses I have ever known. His

work ethic is flawless. There has never been one time where he

said, “I don’t feel like working today”. When he is learning some-

thing new, he keeps trying until he gets it. He loves to learn and

wants to be the very best at everything he does. From the mo-

ment we met Mercury as a yearling, we knew he had a busy brain

and he needed to use it. His natural athletic ability is a true gift.

We often times call him “Gumby.”

GOLDGoing

Continued on page 83

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BIOMECHANICSA Series by Lisa May

I first met Lisa May in the winter of

2012. A local instructor gave me

a present of a lesson with Lisa as

she was passing through Virginia Beach

on her way home from Florida. Little did I

know at the time what a stroke of luck that

would be. Fast-forward to fall 2012. My

friend, Christian, lives on the Outer Banks

isolated by geography and acts of Mother

Nature. She works with her horse for long

stretches of time relying on books and her

own intuition. Last fall, Christian was tell-

ing me about all she was gleaning from

reading the Mary Wanless books. To get

me started, she was kind enough to send

me a gift of Wanless’ Ride With Your Mind:

an Illustrated Masterclass in Right Brain

Riding. It is funny to see how one event

can lead to another, totally unexpected

one.

We all have challenges with our rid-

ing positions. For over a year, I have been

struggling with my left hip. It felt like it

was pulling back, as in not fully engaged.

When I read Mary’s description of being

plugged into the horse’s long back mus-

cles, it was like a light bulb went on for

me. I went to work feeling for the long

back muscles and worked on connect-

ing my seat bones to them. The concept

of the “mantrap” also resonated with me.

This was a good explanation for what I felt

was going on with my left hip; it was not

engaged, resulting in a gap between my

left seat bone and the left long muscle in

the horse’s back. When I could keep the

seat bones engaged, it felt like the hollow

of the horse’s “mantrap” disappeared, too.

Excited by what I read, I went on to read

Wanless’ Ride With Your Mind Essentials. I

decided to go online and see if Mary had

any clinics in the U.S. Then, I remembered

my lesson with Lisa and that she is a certi-

fied Ride With Your Mind instructor. I con-

tacted her and found myself driving over

three hours to her at Idylwild Farm on New

Year’s Eve day—what a great start to the

New Year! One of my challenges with my

own horse is precise steering. Lisa started

me off with some unmounted work.

We began with exercises that shared

a common point. We walked side-by-side

up and down the barn aisle while Lisa

gently challenged my balance from dif-

ferent angles. She also demonstrated and

then asked me to try imitating how a horse

walks. The purpose of the first exercise

was to notice my instabilities at the walk

and then notice how a horse would be

unstable and subject to the greatest influ-

ence from the rider.

Our second exercise had us facing

each other as Lisa mirrored my stance. By

watching Lisa, I was able to see my crook-

edness and reposition myself so that I

was standing squarely. The next exercise

involved using two bathroom scales. With

one foot on each scale, I was able to see

how unevenly I was distributing my weight.

These were really light-bulb moments for

me. With Lisa mimicking my stance, I was

able to see how much more I stood to the

left. The scales reinforced this fact by let-

ting me actually see and feel the differ-

ence when I squared myself up. My body

is reinforcing this for me because my hip

A Rider’s StoryForty years ago, Mary Wanless set out to discover what makes riders “talented.” With six

books, multiple DVDs, and clinics worldwide, her “Ride With Your Mind”TM (RWYM) coaching method explains how any rider can learn to shape the horse’s athletic use of his body. Her pioneering work has seeped into that of many others who refer to “rider biomechanics.” Wan-less’s strategies can be understood most clearly from the source.


will bother me when I put more weight on

it. I am consciously trying to stand evenly.

When I catch myself leaning on my left

leg, I will shift the weight to my right for

contrast. The next thing to tackle was also

reflected in the standing exercise: I stand

with a slight twist to my torso.

During my mounted session, we put

the unmounted principles into practice

adding changes to seat and leg position.

I came away from my first lesson with Lisa

with a lot to work on until our next ses-

sion. I have especially focused on being

aware of my weight distribution. I’m also

rolling my thigh more inward on the sad-

dle. Creating a mental image I can refer

back to helps me a lot. My image is that

of having more of the inner surface of my

thigh in contact with the saddle. Lisa also

mentioned narrowing my thighs. My men-

tal image is using my knee joint as a pivot.

Now my lower leg finally feels inde-

pendent—a first for me. Also, while I am

familiar with the concept of opening the

hip joint, I don’t think I ever truly expe-

rienced it before this new leg position

opened my hips.

Where I board, the winter footing has

limited me to walking. It turns out that

walking can be perfect for doing work that

requires concentration and focus—just

what working on the concepts I learned

during my lesson with Lisa required. In

February, I headed from Virginia Beach up

to Lisa’s for my second lesson.

I was excited to try out the concepts

I’d been practicing on my own. My second

lesson was entirely mounted. We reviewed

the main points of our first lesson. Lisa

asked me to verbally go through the posi-

tion checklist I would run at the beginning

of a ride. It took me two circles to com-

plete reciting the list! Lisa suggested that

I create a short trigger list to use as a tool.

It shortened my check-in and also gave

Lisa words to quickly direct my attention

to some aspect of my position that needed

attention or adjustment.

We worked on turning, using the

analogy of an ice skater. Lisa guided me

through using the angle of my hips and

the direction of my belly button to turn

the horse. I also pictured a weathervane

or a helix or anything revolving on an axis.

I find that there are usually several ways

to visualize the concepts. Once I’m doing

something correctly, Lisa encouraged me

to adopt whichever image works for me.

With figure-eights as our school figure,

we incorporated changes of direction. The

horse gave me roundness in his body and

shaped himself to my intended figures in

response to very subtle signals—mostly

from my core—with little need to use my

hands and legs.

The most amazing thing to me was

when the lesson was over. Lisa and I were

untacking, and I discovered that I had been

riding bitless! This totally underscored

that I was riding using the correct body

mechanics. What I am learning is filling in

gaps I have in my riding. I am eagerly look-

ing forward to my next lesson with Lisa.

My friend from North Carolina, who gave

me my first Ride With Your Mind book, will

join me for the trip and a lesson!

As athletes, we can use our own anato-

my to communicate an optimum framework

for the horse’s movement. Find out more

about strategies for using the brain to com-

municate with horses through behavioral

science and biomechanics at www.Mary-

Wanless.com and www.RideWithYourMin-

dUSA.com.

Lisa May is an accredited RWYM coach

working with Wanless since 1997. Also a

Professional Association of Therapeutic

Horsemanship International instructor, she

travels for clinics from her home in Mary-

land www.IdylwildFarm.com.

http://www.mary-wanless.com

http://www.mary-wanless.com

http://www.RideWithYourMindUSA.com

http://www.RideWithYourMindUSA.com

http://IdylwildFarm.com


DrivenM

y interest in competitive car-

riage driving was by chance

and out of a need for a job

(any job) just after I graduated college.

I lucked into a live-in groom’s position

at Ayrshire Farm in Upperville, Virginia

owned by Cisco Systems co-founder,

Sandy Lerner, working with her 50+ herd

of Shire horses. At the time, I had no idea

who the owner was, but I immediately fell

in love with the beauty of the farm, the

elegant stables, the immaculate carriage

house and the colossal horses.

Growing up, I had driven a few times

and thought, like several inexperienced in-

dividuals in the discipline, driving would be

far easier than riding. You just sit and steer,

right? I was really in for an eye-opener, ap-

parent from day one on my interview! The

English coachman and barn manager, Paul

Maye, took a team of four horses galloping

down a grassy slope, through a creek and

up a hill with four people hanging onto the

carriage! I was in awe, excited and scared

all in the same moment.

During my nearly five years working

at Ayrshire Farm, I learned that carriage

driving takes a great amount of prepara-

tion, skill and attention to detail. I learned

how to put together singles, pairs, four-in-

hands, tandems and unicorns. I learned

the history and traditions for the whips

(drivers), grooms, horses and carriages

themselves. I learned safety is of the ut-

most importance. I was taught that ac-

cidents most commonly happen due to

driver error. A horse that bolts and loses

its rider is not nearly as problematic as

one that bolts with a carriage

chasing behind it as it gallops

back to the barn! Fortunately,

I had excellent teachers and

we never experienced any

major mishaps. We never cut

corners in training the young

horses, always giving them a

solid foundation before actu-

ally “putting to” the carriage.

I learned that carriage driving takes a great amount of preparation, skill, and attention to detail.


DrivenAn amateur and her

homebreds flouRish

by Amanda Compton

Louie Louie AA and Amanda


In truth, the Shire yearlings were larger

than my adult Arabians! And having a

team of horses weighing four tons in front

of you demands great respect.

After I left my position at Ayrshire

Farm to further pursue my equine dental

business, I soon realized I missed carriage

driving and all that driving competitions

entail; the elegance of a beautiful horse

and carriage with polished harness and

gleaming brass, moving smartly and with

confidence all with subtle cues from the

driver’s hands. With the encouragement

from the life-long friendships I made at

Ayrshire Farm, I started training my two

young, homebred Arabian geldings for

driving. From the beginning it was appar-

ent, the younger of the two, Louie Louie

AA (Gai Madrigal by Gai Parada x Maid of

Orleans by Lea Baron) was better suited

to the task. His full brother, Mardi Gras AA,

wanted nothing to do with it! He was much

happier trail riding. I had done everything

the same with both horses; taking my time

introducing them to harness, long reining,

and working under saddle. When I asked

my driving friends for advice, they simply

replied, “He doesn’t want to do it. You can’t

force it or someone will get hurt.” So I con-

centrated on the more willing dapple grey,

Louie Louie.

Louie Louie is built like my idea of a

model Arabian – well balanced, nicely laid

back shoulder, strong hip and a lovely nat-

ural extension to his trot. His dapple grey

color stands out in a crowd. People have

often asked me “What’s he crossed with?”

and their response to my answer has been

“There is no way he’s purebred. He’s too

quiet!” or “He’s bigger boned than most

Arabians I’ve seen.” They’re further sur-

prised to learn not only do I compete and

train him myself, but I also bred him. Louie

is the result of a goal I had written in my

journal when I was 15 years old, thumbing

through page after page of Arabian horse

magazines and studying pedigrees. I had

simply stated “To breed and train my own

Arabian horse and one day compete at Na-

tionals.”

It takes hours to prepare the equip-

ment for a driving show and every detail

must be taken into consideration. First

there is the horse to clip, bathe, groom and

mane to braid (optional, but preferred by

many judges). Second there is the harness

to tend to clean, which includes polishing

the hardware (brass metal in our turnout)

and leather. The carriage must be spotless

and contain the proper “appointments”

and “spares” which can be examined by

the judges at any time, most commonly

during a turnout class. A driver must carry

a whip; wear brown gloves and driving

apron or lap robe (traditional attire to pro-

tect the whip’s clothes).

In 2008, I started competing Louie

Louie at driving events. We entered pleas-

ure shows, arena driving trials (ADT’s), as

well as a few combined driving events

(CDE’s). He was Novice Horse Champion

at his first ADS (American Driving Soci-


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ety) rated show at the Piedmont Pleasure

Driving Show in Middleburg, VA. He won

Champion Single Horse at the Bonnie Blue

National Show, the Jameswood Pleasure

Driving Classic, and the Delmarva Driv-

ing Club Pleasure shows. Louie Louie was

Reserve Champion at the Susquehanna

Valley Whips & Wheels and My Lady’s

Manor Pleasure Driving Shows in PA. He

was Reserve Champion Single Horse at his

first FEI event, the Carriage Association’s

Carriage Classic in Lexington, KY winning

over two entries who had tried out for the

World Equestrian Games. At the prestig-

ious Walnut Hill Carriage Driving Competi-

tion in Pittsford, New York we placed sec-

ond in reinsmanship and sixth in turnout

out of eighteen entries. We competed at

our first sanctioned Arabian show at East

Coast Championships in 2011, winning

champion in working, timed obstacles and

reserve champion in pick your own route.

Louie Louie continued to progress,

typically winning Champion or Reserve at

many of the shows, all in open competi-

tion against Morgans, Friesians and vari-

ous warmbloods. We even won the covet-

ed Concours d’Elegance at three different

shows, an honor awarded to the turnout,

in the judge’s eye, that presents the most

elegant impression throughout the day.

However, our favorite classes continued

to be timed obstacles, where you drive

against the clock, between sets of up to

20 cones, with balls carefully balanced on

top. Dislodging an obstacle or ball off the

cone, results in a 5 second penalty. Your

horse can have no more than two canter

strides (gaining an advantage) or you are

penalized with an additional 5 seconds in

time for each break.

It was finally time to make my dream

of competing my own homebred horse

at Arabian Sport Horse Nationals (SHN) a

reality. In September 2011, we traveled to

Kentucky and competed against some of

the best Arabians and half-Arabians in the

country. The turnouts were immaculate!

At the end of the week, I was pleased that

Louie Louie brought home five Top Tens

in Turnout, Reinsmanship, Timed Obsta-

cles, Gambler’s Choice and Pick Your Own

Route, placing no lower than fifth on the

judge’s cards. My favorite memory from

SHN was not in the show ring, but driving

him back to the barns after a class. As we

passed a group of people, I said aloud to

my horse “Walk-on Louie.” A gentleman

near us spoke out, “Is that Louie Louie?

He’s my daughter’s favorite horse at the

show! She keeps talking about this dapple

grey driving horse named Louie Louie!”

The best equipment and carriages

does not make a driving horse. The horse

has to enjoy what they are doing, be for-

ward-moving, confident and totally trust

what the driver is asking of them. It is more

apparent a horse enjoys their job during

timed obstacles (cones, gambler’s choice,

scurry or pick your own route) than in a

rail class such as working, reinsmanship or

turnout. In pleasure driving shows or train-

ing level CDE’s, cantering is not permitted.

Cantering is permitted in preliminary, in-

termediate or advance level competitions.

Increased speed increases the difficulty in

driving a course and the horse must be fit,

balanced and very responsive to the driv-


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er’s cues from the voice, reins and whip.

Every June, the esteemed Upperville

Horse Show takes place in Upperville, VA.

It is the country’s oldest, horse show, now

in its 160th year and known for its elite

horses and equestrians. The $5000 Car-

riage Driving Grand Prix is hosted by the

show prior to the televised Jumper Clas-

sic and also includes working, reinsman-

ship and Concours d’Elegance classes. It

attracts drivers from around the region,

many of whom have competed on the U.S.

Horse and Pony Teams and represented

the country world-wide in combined driv-

ing. This competition is special as it does

not follow pleasure driving rules, and con-

testants are permitted to canter or gallop

through the 20 pairs of cones. The goal is

simple – fastest time wins!

Louie Louie and I had competed at

Upperville twice before, the first time win-

ning a fourth place and last year placing

second, just ten seconds behind interna-

tionally known driver and British native,

Kate Shields. After last year’s competition,

I worked up the nerve to ask Kate if she

would be willing to give a few lessons and

she gracefully obliged. Kate has a solid

background in dressage and places high

emphasis on a horse moving correctly bal-

anced and engaging their hind end in or-

der to be able to athletically maneuver for

any event. Despite only taking a handful

of lessons, her experience and knowledge

helped strengthen our performance.

The Upperville Carriage Driving Grand

Prix is held in a grassy ring, and this year’s

June weather brought on the usual thun-

derstorms so often seen that week, mak-

ing the footing a little less than desirable.

The single ponies and their drivers went

first. Just before Louie Louie and I were

Finale AA and Amanda, 2013 Reserve National Champions Scurry Obstacles

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called to go next, the turnout in the ring

tipped over while making a fast turn be-

tween obstacles. Fortunately, neither pony

nor driver was injured, but it was a disturb-

ing reminder to be careful with excessive

speed.

We were the first turnout of the sin-

gle horses to go next. It took less than a

minute, as Louie Louie and I galloped the

entire course, with only one ball down. He

really seemed to enjoy himself, ears for-

ward, balanced and responsive, the best

cones course we had ever done. It was

tense watching the other competitors,

especially the accomplished driver Anna

Koopman and her Morgan who was ranked

third in the US in Intermediate Single

Horse last year. When she completed the

course, Anna had one ball down, too, giv-

ing us both the same five-second penalty.

When the official results were announced,

Louie Louie and I were only two seconds

faster, giving us the win for single horse!

I was so proud of my horse and delighted

with our performance.

This year’s Sport Horse Nationals was

a success for us! I had originally planned

to compete Louie, but a stifle injury in July

unfortunately sidelined him for the rest of

the year. Louie’s younger brother, Finale

AA, is still green in the carriage with lim-

ited experience off the farm, so my origi-

nal plan had been to show him next year.

With just two short months of preparation,

Finale was heading to his first Sport Horse

Nationals! We were able to squeeze in two

shows prior to SHN, and he surprised me

with his willingness and trust even during

obstacle classes, which we had not yet had

time to practice.

At SHN, I was overjoyed when we took

National Champion in Timed Obstacles,

Reserve National Champion in Scurry

Obstacles, and four Top Tens in carriage

driving reinsmanship, turnout, pick your

own route and gambler’s choice obsta-

cles. It was amazing winning my first Na-

tional Championship with my own horse, a

dream I had since I was a teenager and had

my first Arabian, a 1984 paternal brother

to Finale named Star Anthem (Gai Madrigal

x Mashan).

Finale AA’s story is unique and he is

truly a special horse, not only to me but

to a few other people as well. Although he

is a full sibling to both of my homebred

geldings, Louie Louie AA and Mardi Gras

AA (Gai Madrigal x Maid of Orleans), I had

sold his dam, Maid of Orleans, in 2004.

The new owners, Alex and David Ben-

net bred her back to Gai Madrigal again,

under the guidance of his owner Sandy

Kaktins of Star Arabians. Curious to see

the outcome, I visited Alex and David a

few times at their farm in West Virginia.

When I saw the yearling colt (MQI Freedom

Quest aka Finale), I fell in love him. I gently

asked if they would consider selling him,

to which they graciously declined. For the

next year, I thought about that handsome

colt and his potential as a sport horse,

knowing he was the last and

final offspring of both the sire

and dam. Out of the blue the

following summer, I received

a phone call from Alex. She

explained that she had always

felt he was really mine, and

she knew he would reach his

full potential with—they were

giving him to me! “Finale” has

been by far the most gener-

ous gift I have ever received,

and I am forever grateful to

them.

In the crowd that Friday night at Sport

Horse Nationals was my friend and men-

tor, Sandy Kaktins, who watched her stal-

lion’s last foal win his first National Cham-

pionship. Also present was my friend Paul

Maye, who hired me as a groom at my first

carriage driving job over a decade ago. It

was definitely a special moment for me to

have the people who helped shape my life

present for the win. In the future, I hope to

be able to compete Finale and Louie as a

pair or tandem… maybe even at SHN 2015!

Nothing gives me more gratification

than seeing my young horses do well, after

all those years of dreaming about it when I

was a teenager. I proudly answer, “Yes, my

horses are Arabians!” I take pleasure in all

the hard work, preparation and dedication

involved to put together a confident yet

elegant carriage driving horse and stylish

turnout. Driving is a sport that asks every-

thing of your horse, with the use of fewer

aids and requires the utmost trust between

horse and driver. It’s also a history lesson,

taking you back to a time when it was a

necessity. And the added bonus? You get

to wear pretty, smart-looking clothes and

sophisticated hats!

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RIDEA Wild

by Madeline Erce

In 2004, the day my mom and I

moved our two horses to a new

stable, the owner of the stable

asked us, “Would you like to buy

a wild horse?” My mom and I laughed off

the question, as I was a beginner rider at

that time. Little did we know!

Fast-forward to a warm August night

about a year later, and we got a call from

the stable owner saying one of our horses

was colicking. We rushed him to our lo-

cal veterinary hospital where he made

it through surgery—but just barely. It

would be six months before I could ride

him again. Telling that to a 12-year-old

girl who lived and breathed showing was

obviously devastating.

The wild horse was our only option. It

turned out that the wild horse wasn’t re-

ally so wild. He was an Arabian, JW Alex-

andrite (Safire x Lucinda On Fire), and he

was a sweet horse who just needed some

attention. I trained and broke him myself

because we knew there was something

special about him.

We took him to our first Arabian A-

rated show that next summer. To our sur-

prise, he won his first Training Level dres-

sage class with a 76%! We

couldn’t believe it.

We headed to our first

Arabian Canadian Nation-

als in 2010. After a great

Regional show, my family

and I were so excited to

see how Canadian Nation-

als would go! We would be

showing Training and First

Level there. It was great

competing, but we didn’t

have our best rides. We

came home with nothing.

Not a single Top Ten rib-

bon, and certainly not any

roses. Were we way out of

our league here? The only

thing we could do was try

again.

We headed to Canadi-

an Nationals the next year,

having no expectations.

We rode First and Second

Levels that year. Alex and I made Top Ten

in both rides! I was ecstatic. This was more

than I had ever hoped for. Being Top Ten

on an older horse that came out of the

pasture with a young rider was amazing.

Later that week, I was especially excit-

ed for a class that had been newly added

that year - Sport Horse Under Saddle JTR.

I knew it was a long shot, and the begin-

ning of our week had already been unfor-

gettable. I couldn’t hope for a win but I

could hope for a great ride.

And a great ride it was. My brother had

been carrying a lucky golden horseshoe

around the show grounds. The announcer

mentioned that just before he called our

names for National Champion. I cried

my way up to the presentation where

Victory pass after Second Level win, 2012

Phot

o by

Jeff

Jan

son


the rose blanket that I had dreamt about

was placed around Alex’s neck. Alex and

I galloped out of the ring and I cried and

hugged him for the next three hours. That

was a moment I will never forget.

In 2012, we decided to make our third

trip to Canadian Nationals. About a month

before we were due to leave, I was sched-

uled to have surgery. The surgery was to

remove a lump in my thyroid that could

cause problems as I grow older. It wasn’t

great timing but I didn’t really have a

choice. I had the surgery and was resting

for a few days afterwards.

Then I received a call I will never for-

get. It was a call from the doctor’s office

saying that I had two types of cancer, and I

would need to schedule a second surgery

immediately. That is not news a 19-year-

old wants to hear.

My mom and I cried a lot that day. The

second surgery was scheduled about a

week-and-a-half before we left for Cana-

dian Nationals. I had a ton of support from

my family and from a very special horse

show friend of mine, Chari Madrigal. She

came and visited me one evening in the

hospital and showed me the meaning of

a true friend.

The surgery was successful. Need-

less to say, between the surgery and the

drive up there, I was exhausted when we

arrived. I would be riding Second and

Third Levels, but I knew Alex would take

care of me. We left with an unbelievable

National Championship in Second Level

and Reserve National Championship in

Third Level. My special boy had done it

again. A horse I broke and trained myself

was a Multi-National Champion! It was

absolutely a dream come true.

This year at Canadian Nationals, we

made Top Ten in every class—Third Level,

Fourth Level, Show Hack

and Showmanship. Alex

was also Top Ten in the

Showmanship 14-18 with

a great friend of mine, Ka-

rissa Held.

We also headed to our

very first Sport Horse Na-

tionals this year. We came

home with 3 Top Tens – in

both Sport Horse Show

Hack Open and ATR, plus

one in A/HA/AA Fourth

Level Dressage ATR!

This horse has given

me more than I could ever

ask for. He makes me so

happy. I plan to show him

Fourth Level and Prix St.

Georges next year if every-

thing goes as planned. He

has taught me patience,

perseverance, and to never

give up on a dream.

Win shot, 2012

Madeline Erce and Karissa Held both Top Ten in Showmanship

AATH and JTH 14-18, 2013


Elaine Kerrigan:

Pleasant head and expression on a nicely developed neck show-

ing good length of its topline, though appears a little thick in the

throatlatch. Neck flows smoothly into withers that could extend

further into the back for a better saddle position. Adequate slope

of shoulder to go with nice lengthy humerus. Loin, hindquarter

muscling and gaskin could show more development on a hip of

good angles. Would like to see more bone of the lower legs and

muscle development of the forearms and gaskins. Forelegs look

tied in at the knee and appears to have a steep left front hoof in

this photo. This fellow seems to be more developed in the fore-

hand and needs to catch up with his hindquarters to enhance his

sport horse career.

Judy Hedreen:

This rose grey has an attractive head with a lovely, soft eye. The

throatlatch appears clean and meets a nicely shaped neck. The

neck appears a little longer than ideal for a sport horse, placing

the horse on the forehand. The shoulder is long enough and

could meet the humerus at a more open angle for greater elastic-

ity and reach. The front leg could be longer and needs more bone

to match the body. While a little difficult to see in this photo, the

angle of the front hooves do not appear to match the angle of the

Conformation ClinicWith Elaine Kerrigan,Judy Hedreen, and Peter Mileo

pasterns. If so, this broken angle and steep hoof angle may lead

to soundness issues in the future. The withers are pronounced,

but I would like to see them extend further into the back for a

secure saddle fit. The back and loin connection appear good and

with muscling should be strong. The gaskin is broad but the hock

should be larger, extending more into the cannon. Overall, this is

an attractive, useful-looking horse.

Peter Mileo:

Pleasing expression. Neck shape is OK but could be longer and

a bit finer through the throat. Shoulder appears to be straighter

than ideal. Not much of a wither for saddle fit. Short back with a

longer looking loin that runs uphill. Also appears to be a bit longer

in the coupling. Hind end could be longer and deeper. Angula-

tion of the Ilium is adequate but I don’t think this horse will get

under itself with the shorter length from buttock to stifle. I’d like

to see larger joints on a horse with this size body. Knees are flat

but small. Hocks appear smaller, too, though they do appear to

be low set.

Elaine Kerrigan:

Very pretty, typy head and ears with alert expression. Topline of

neck could be longer and withers could set further into the back,

though they all tie in smoothly. Steep shoulder. Loin and hind-

quarters have good size and development, clearing possessing

the ability to have carrying power. However, the appearance of a

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rather straight angled hock and dropping fetlock on the weight-

bearing right hind leg is concerning for future soundness as a ca-

reer sport horse. Adequate leg bone all around, though the stance

of toppling over the forehand and over-stretched left hind leg is

not flattering for a sport horse presentation.

Judy Hedreen:

This starburst grey has a beautiful head sitting on a well-shaped,

well-set neck. The poll is a good length, which will help with flex-

ion, collection and balance. The shoulder-humerus angle appears

more open and should allow for greater reach. The front legs have

good bone, length and angles. With the open shoulder and slop-

ing pasterns, this horse should give a comfortable ride. The wither

has the height and definition for a good saddle position. It ex-

tends into a strong back with a very good loin flowing into a well-

developed hindquarter. The hip-buttock-stifle angle is correct

which should give a longer stride. Both the gaskin and hock look

broad and strong which, with the good hip, should make for good

carrying power and collection. The hind pasterns are quite short

and over-angled, detracting from this good hindquarter. Overall,

this horse looks like a good sport horse prospect.

Peter Mileo:

Pretty head and ears. Nice shape of neck. Shoulder angle is good

but short going into a barely adequate wither, which is typical of

many Arabians. Short back and loin. Hindquarter could be long-

er, though the angle of the ilium is not as flat as many Arabians.

Horse appears to have an equilateral triangle in the hind end.

Nice joints with flat knees and low-set hocks. Overall, a pleasing

picture, though I don’t like the stretched pose. It takes away from

the horse’s good features.

Elaine Kerrigan:

Attractive head with attentive, calm expression set on a nicely

shaped neck tying into the withers and shoulders smoothly. Shoul-

ders are a little steep in angle, though the humerus is of good

length and angle to the shoulder. Withers tie well enough into the

back for an acceptable saddle position and loin coupling is fairly

smooth and developed for the ability of the nicely muscled and

angled hindquarters to carry with strength and power. Good bone

in the hind legs, however would like to have seen just a little more

bone in the forelegs. It also appears that this horse might be a

little back at the knees. Cannot comment on the hooves, but pas-

tern angles appear appropriate. Lovely presentation of a compact,

sturdy sport horse.

Judy Hedreen:

This bay has a lovely, harmonious look with a pretty, feminine

head and a soft eye. The clean throatlatch connects the head to

a very well shaped and neck. The poll could be slightly longer

to aid with flexibility. The shoulder is long enough but could be

more sloping. The humerus looks of good length in relation to the

length of the shoulder, which may help with elasticity given the

shoulder angle. The forearm looks long and strong, meeting a nice

short cannon. Although hard to tell, I’d like to see more bone in the

cannon. The wither is high but could extend further into the back.

In this photo, the L-S joint appears behind the point of hip. This

connection may not provide sufficient strength from behind to lift

the front-end nor allow for sufficient ability to collect, important

for both jumping and dressage. A well-developed gaskin connects

to a broad, strong hock that extends well into the cannon with has

good bone. I cannot comment on the pasterns or hooves as they

are in the grass. Overall, this horse looks like a good sport horse

prospect.

Half-Arabian #1

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Peter Mileo:

This is my favorite horse of the 4 shown in this study—just a nice

picture for a riding horse. Good balance, bone and overall the an-

gles are good, though I’d like the shoulder to be slightly more laid

back. I’d also like a slightly smoother coupling. Other than those

two points, this horse has nice, flat bone, low set hocks, short can-

nons and good angles in the pasterns.

Elaine Kerrigan:

Though not particularly Arabian in type, the head is handsome

and in proportion to the body. Good length and shape of neck,

tying smoothly into a nicely sloped shoulder with good angle and

length of humerus. Withers extending well into the back, creating

a very nice saddle position. Short back with strong loin carrying

into the ample hindquarters, though some may consider the croup

to be a bit flat, it appears to me a strong power feature with the

loin connection and the hip angles. What can be seen of the legs

shows adequate bone and maybe over angled in the hocks. Very

nice example of a sport horse that shows the balance of being

capable to carry himself over fences or across the dressage court.

Judy Hedreen:

This attractive bay was photographed from off the hip, which does

not allow for a good look at the front end of the horse. He has

a pretty head with a soft, intelligent eye. The throatlatch looks

clean, and the poll long enough. The neck is of good length and

shaped fairly well, but appears to be set on a little low. The shoul-

der is of good length but could be more sloping, which would cre-

ate a better angle with the humerus, although the angle appears

adequate. This horse has a very good front leg, sitting well under

the front of the shoulder. It has a strong, long forearm set into a

short, strong cannon. The withers seem flat and should be more

pronounced for better saddle fit. The back appears short but has

a strong connection through the loin. While a flat croup may al-

low for a long, flowing stride, in this case the flat croup affected

the angles of the hip/croup resulting in the hind legs standing out

behind. This, coupled with the over-angulation of the leg may pre-

vent the horse from collecting well for upper level dressage or

jumping. I cannot comment of the pasterns or hooves, as they are

not visible. Overall, this is a nice horse and should do well in sport.

Peter Mileo:

Pleasing expression in its face. The neck is planky and base heavy.

Shoulder angle is okay, but considering this is a Half Arabian, it has

the least desirable riding wither of the four. Short back and loin.

The hind end surprises me considering this is a Half Arabian. The

croup and ilium are far too level for this horse to engage the hind

end. I’m not sure what the cross is but I would like more angula-

tion in the hind end for a riding horse. Adequate bone and hocks

are set low. Rear legs may be behind plumb, which is probably

due to the less than desirable angles of the hind end.

Half-Arabian #2

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About Elaine Kerrigan About Peter MileoAbout Judy Hedreen1970 saw the beginning of Kerrigan

Bloodstock, with the goal of producing Ara-

bian sport horses. With that I pursued dres-

sage, endurance and a little jumping. With

a special interest in the bio-mechanics of

horses and riders, I also have an extended

education as a large animal veterinary tech-

nician and as a graduate of the USDF judges

learner program. KB Omega Fahim++++//

is a stallion of my second generation. He

has achieved 4 USDF National Champion

awards at FEI level dressage, and 4 AHA

Sport Horse National Champion awards

at FEI level dressage. He has offspring that

have also attained USDF and AHA Sport

Horse National Championship awards. KB

Omega Fahim++++// has been inspected

and approved for breeding purebred Shag-

ya-Arabians.

Peter Mileo has been breeding Arabian

horses since 1990. He started with Fadjur

line horses and evolved toward CMK horses.

After several conversations with Sandy War-

ren of Warren Park Stud hoping to breed a

mare to Aulrab he discovered a coming 2

year old colt by the name of Magic Aulrab

and purchased him. After a short show ca-

reer they started riding endurance where

Peter feels he learned about what makes

a good horse. “Regardless of bloodline or

even breed a horse needs to have balance,

well let down legs and solid legs and feet.”

Peter has studied many videos of horses

under saddle and at liberty from Arabs,

Warmbloods and the great Standardbred

mare Monimaker. This has given him a well

rounded knowledge of what a good athlete

is and why.

Judy has been breeding sport horses

since 1981. She is the breeder of Far Star

that represented the USEF and American

Hanoverian Society (AHS) in the 2003

World Championships for Young Jumpers in

Belgium, ridden by Laura Kraut; Animation,

winner at Spruce Meadows and Champion

at Indio; Agincourt, winner at Spruce Mead-

ows and Champion at Indio under Hap

Hansen; and USDF Horses of the Year Ghita

and Coco Chanel.

Judy was a USEF ‘R’ dressage/sport

horse breeding judge for 14 years, a mem-

ber of the USDF Sport Horse Committee for

10 years, and is a current member of the

USHJA Breeder’s Committee. In 2007, Judy

was appointed as a judge to the Hanoverian

Mare and Stallion Committee.

http://www.pauljennis.com

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RacingWhy

Is My Sport of Choiceby Ron Hevener

Many times I am asked

why I believe racing is

the best sport for Ara-

bian horses. Well, I could be timid and

make apologies for my interest in horse

racing… but that’s not my style. My style

is to be very direct about horse racing and

say, “No other sport has the business in-

frastructure, public support and financial

opportunity that horse racing does… and

Arabians are legitimate racehorses.”

This means Arabians can do some-

thing that most other breeds of horses

can never do: they can contribute finan-

cially to the farms on which they are

raised. They can help the people who care

for them financially. In plain words, they

can make a living and that’s a great thing.

Am I saying other horse activities

aren’t sports? I’m certainly not. Although

I make a distinction between sports and

hobbies, when you consider the amount

of money that can be earned in Futurities

and Sweepstakes, the sport of showing

horses can be quite lucrative. Other horse

activities have a long way to go before

they reach the business, media and finan-

cial levels of the show ring and the track.

Being active in both of them, I know how

much it takes to get in the game— and I

know what it takes to stay there.

I manage a bloodline of Arabian sport

horses called The Selket Arabians. The

line was started in the mid-1900s (sounds

like a long time ago) by the late James An-

dreson who passionately loved Arabian

horses. Being well over six feet tall, Jim

required taller horses, so that’s what he

bred for. He also loved athletic ability and

beauty. Put these ingredients together,

and you have a strain of beautiful, athletic

Arabian horses that are taller than aver-

age. Looking at the herd and the foals, I

would say he succeeded in

his objective.

Not many people in the

show world knew that Jim

also raced the Selket horses,

starting over twenty years

ago when he found a hal-

ter champion named Furno

Khamal, the 16.2-Hand stal-

lion from Europe that would

revolutionize his breeding

program. Khamal was at a

racing farm in Florida when

Jim first saw him, and Jim

would eventually race Kha-

mal’s get in Michigan and

Delaware Park. The nice

thing was, all of Khamal’s get ever sent to

the track became paycheck horses. And a

paycheck horse is a pretty good thing.

Jim saw the future of Arabians as

successful sport horses and he encour-

aged Arabian horse owners to take the

sport horse movement seriously. In our

library, there is a Top Ten plaque honor-

ing the Furno Khamal son, Selket Mystery,

awarded at the first Arabian Sport Horse

National show, and a H/A Furno Khamal

grandson named Selket Maxx Factor has

gone all the way to the top.

Furno Khamal (16.2 H) Gold Medalist of the 100 Day Trial, Halter champion in Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, France and the U.S.

and a sire of racehorses.


Jim Andreson died just as the

horse market was beginning to

crash, and he left a herd of horses

scattered over several farms in two

countries. It wasn’t easy taking an

inventory and sorting through pa-

pers scattered all over the house.

It wasn’t easy gathering the horses

together in one place to study them

and get to know them. And it cer-

tainly wasn’t easy holding a herd of

horses together while fighting off a

long list of creditors—some legiti-

mate and some not. Although the

quality of the horses had never been

better, there were very few foals

born during this time. In spite of

that, progress was made, and those of us

working to protect and develop the Selket

Arabians were able to keep things going.

Who were these people who helped

one of the few breeding herds of Arabian

horses remaining in America? They were

a horse-loving accountant in Pennsylva-

nia, a horse breeder in Michigan, a race-

horse trainer in Michigan, horse breed-

ers in South Carolina and a famous horse

breeder from Brazil. Those are the people

who kept The Selket Arabians together

and safe against drought, escalating hay

prices, and against a cruel Court judge or-

dering monthly cash payments on a dis-

puted mortgage contract (before it was

even settled) that threatened the lives of

the entire Selket Arabians herd.

In 2012, it was decided that, for the

herd to survive and prosper, the horses

would have to go to work in any way

they could. Sales were drying up all over

the country. Feed costs

were going through the

roof, and a herd of our

size requires a lot of it.

The show ring was go-

ing through some tur-

moil of its own, but we

did have horses that

could make it on the

track. We didn’t know

if they would be win-

ners, but we knew they

could earn something if

they had a chance. With

that in mind, and for the well-being

of the horses, we closed the farm in

Michigan where the horses had been

raised for so many years and moved

them to bigger facilities and greener

pastures.

To our surprise, we landed smack

in the middle of racehorse country

with plenty of experienced help.

We had needed dependable, experi-

enced help for a long time, and the

lack of it had been holding us back.

Suddenly, we had riders, trails, big

fields and experienced workers from

the racetrack to break our horses

and do it right. We were back in the

racing business, and our Arabian

Sport Horses were the real thing.

Today, the Selket Arabians are bred,

raised and trained on big, hilly pastures

with ponds and streams. They are ridden

on wooded trails and they have the year-

round space that Arabian horses were

meant to have. The other day, I watched

three young horses being ridden by a jock-

ey for the first time. Realizing everything

it took to bring the horses this far, I asked


Selket Louchiano “The Movie Star Horse” (Grandson of Furno Kha-mal) Michigan Futurity Supreme Sport Horse Champion (In Hand).

national level Halter horse and star of the TV documentary “Fate of the Stallion!” viewed in the U.S., Canada, South America and Europe. Louchinao is our current herd sire at The Selket Arabians USA/Brazil.

Selket Exkwizitt - National level Dressage champion. Selket Mystery - Top Ten at the first National Arabian Sport Horse Show.


Tally Ho!

Arabians in the Hunt Field

Arabian horses are proving their versatility and be-

coming more popular within the equine world. As

their versatility becomes increasingly well known,

the breed continues to build recognition within a variety of dis-

ciplines. Arabians in the hunt field are an excellent example. Fol-

low along below as we catch up with four riders and owners of

Arabian horses in the hunt field.

Q&A with Carmen Gardiner

Husband and wife fox hunt riders Steve and Carmen Gardiner

ride with Long Lake Hounds based out of Minnesota. The cou-

ple hunt on their Arabian mares Carmen Echo and Gdansk Danc-

er. Both mares are out of the same dam, Summit Sunrise, while

Echo’s sire is Second Echo and Dancer’s sire is Tsultan’s Echo. The

Gardiners bred the two mares with the intention of selling them,

but when they were born, it was love at first sight, so they kept

them.

When did each of you start riding?

I started trail riding in high school. Eventually, I got into

eventing with my now 29-year-old Thoroughbred. Steve started

riding seriously about eight years ago by taking lessons with Dick

Kiesner.

by Rebekah Savage


Were each of you seeking a horse for the hunt field, or just look-

ing for an all around horse?

I was hunting my Thoroughbred, so my husband wanted to

also hunt, and we got Echo going. When I retired my old guy, I just

grabbed Dancer out of the pasture since she didn’t really have a

job at that point. Last year, we also planned to hunt our retired

show horse, Second Tsultan ++/, who is a western pleasure and

western sidesaddle champion. He was great with the hounds, but

I learned that other horses can be reactive to a stallion and de-

cided not to use him for that reason.

How long have both of you hunted your horses?

Echo has been hunted eight years, Dancer seven.

What positions have both of the horses held while on the hunt

field?

Dancer and I have been field master, whip, drag layer and ba-

bysitter. Steve and Echo have been field master and helped road

hounds.

How well suited are the horses for the hunt field?

Actually, we’ve gained a reputation as smaller horses for

being able to mount easily in the field if need be and end up

opening/closing gates, helping fallen riders, picking up dropped

equipment, etc. We have no problem keeping up. When I act as

field master, I always check with my field at the checks to see how

the pace was for the field members. I usually do the first line at a

strong trot and was surprised to find out that, while I was trotting,

many other horses had to canter to keep up. When we do have a

chance to open up, our mares can definitely keep up with the big

boys!

What are some of your more memorable moments out on the

hunt field with each of the horses?

On one hunt, we had some guests from Missouri. The hunts-

man asked me to release the hounds from the trailer, so I just held

Dancer by the reins. She just got behind me to avoid the deluge

of seven couples of hounds but did not pull. On the first line, an-

other member fell off, so I popped off Dancer, threw him back on

his much larger horse (One, two threeee!) and finished that hunt

Steve Gardiner on Carmen Echo Carmen Gardiner on Gdansk Dancer


walking in with a guest whose horse was off. After the hunt, one

of the guests from Missouri complimented Dancer. I just thanked

him and grinned. Turns out, he was from the Master of Foxhounds

Association there to observe our hunt. I was very glad that Dancer

was able to showcase both her breed and our hunt.

For both of us, we love the long hunts in the fall after the

crops are harvested and having a responsive horse under us who

knows the game. The horses know what the music of the hounds

means!

What advice would you give to a rider just starting on the hunt

field?

Do some research! There are a lot of resources online, for

example the Masters of the Foxhounds Association website. Ask

if there is someone who can mentor you, and ask questions (at

appropriate times). Each hunt does things a little differently, but

safety and courtesy are always important.

Q&A with Daryl Buffenstein

Daryl Buffenstein has certainly done his research. Buffenstein

spends his weekdays behind a desk or in a courtroom. Outside

of the barn, he is a successful immigration lawyer based out of

Atlanta, Georgia. At the barn, Buffenstein owns four Arabians,

but mainly hunts Napoleon, a 21-year-old bay purebred Arabian

gelding. Buffenstein and Napoleon have hunted together for over

ten years and have created a partnership based upon mutual re-

spect between horse and rider.

When did you start riding?

I started riding by herding cattle in Africa. My family had a

farm near the border of Rhodesia. We herded cattle with a tough

breed of pony. My dad raised Thoroughbreds for racing and I

would ride those. I also had a 14.2-hand pony. She was an Arab

cross. She was very spirited as an Arab. That’s when I really start-

ed to love Arabs.

When did Napoleon come into your life? Was he welcome on the

hunt field?

I got Napoleon at age six. People thought I would never hunt

him, they were sure he would never get over the coops. Napo-

leon was 6 ½ or 7 when he started hunting. He hadn’t hunted

much—he had only hill-topped some. We went out with a group

of about 20 riders. The first flight took off in front over a coop and

Napoleon tried to go with them. He swung around like a moth in a

lampshade. He ran backwards toward the jump. About a foot from

the jump, I dropped the contact on the reins. He swung around on

one hoof and cleared the jump beautifully. When he jumps, it’s as

if he picks up his landing gear. He’s very economical.

What positions have you and Napoleon held out on the hunt

field?

Masters of the Hunt (one of), and also Field Master for First

Flight.

What advice would you give to a rider just starting on the hunt

field?

Start slowly and do not take a green horse hunting. Even if

you are an experienced rider, don’t take a green horse hunting.

Ride a horse that has done it all, no green on green. You should

talk to the master or field master, and be sure to be introduced

to a mentor. Copy what they’re doing. A new rider should always

stay under their capabilities and ride in the second flight at least

Daryl Buffenstein on Napoleon


one or two times.

What is it like to fox hunt?

Fox hunting is a fabulous sport. It’s not about catching a fox or

a coyote, it’s about watching the hounds work together. The fabu-

lous thing about hunting is that two hunts are never the same;

the hounds are different, the territory is different—it’s never bor-

ing. It’s something I try to encourage others to do.

Q&A with Judith Oltmann-Craw

Judith Oltmann-Craw and her beloved gray Anglo-Arabian

gelding, Ricadadad (Adad x Blue Driller {TB}), started their life to-

gether after a series of events dashed with a twist of fate. “Rick,”

as he is fondly known, was being exported from the United States.

Before being shipped, he was quarantined in California to recov-

er from pneumonia. Once recovered, Craw’s sister, an endurance

rider, removed Rick from quarantine and started his training as an

endurance horse. However, she quickly discovered that Rick was

not suited for endurance due to his hot temperament. Craw, who

had just lost her fox hunting horse, was searching for a horse, and

her sister was searching for a home for Rick. The rest, as they say,

is history.

How long have you and Rick been fox hunting together?

We have fox hunted together for eight years. I got Rick in De-

cember, 2005. He is now 23 years old and we still hunt together.

What hunt club do you ride with? What positions have you and

Rick held on the hunt field?

We ride with the Tennessee Valley Hunt Club. We have mostly

been members in the field, but on occasion we have led the field.

Rick definitely prefers to be in front.

What is it like to ride on the hunt field?

Riding on the hunt field is exhilarating, spine-tingling and

goose-bump generating.

What is your most memorable moment on the hunt field?

Rick is a fox hunting machine. We have jumped some crazy

stuff. We love jumping ditches. He gives me confidence. One hunt

we came upon a downed tree. We were riding with a 17.2-hand

Hanoverian. We were the only two keeping up with the hounds

when we came upon a downed tree. The huntswoman surveyed

the tree to pick a spot to jump it. There was a branch coming out

towards the approach. I asked, “Should we remove it?” No, she

points her massive Hanoverian at it, and she breaks it with her

shoulder. I decided to kick on and hold on. Rick sailed over it from

about five strides back. I was just giddy afterwards.

What advice would you give to a new rider on the hunt field?

Know your own skill and know your horse’s skill and tempera-

ment. Don’t try to fit a square peg in a round hole. If your ability

and temperament are not suited, it’s dangerous.

For more information about what fox hunting is, where to fox

hunt, the history of fox hunting and much more, visit Masters of

Foxhounds Association and Foundation at www.mfha.org.

Judith Oltmann-Craw on Rick Judith Oltmann-Craw on Rick

http://www.mfha.org/


BattleBreeds

of the

A True Test of Versatility

The first week of September holds one of the most prestigious horse shows in the world, the Spruce Meadows Masters. Riders from around the world compete in some of the most exciting competitions that International show jumping has to offer, including the

Atco Electric Six Bar, a Nations Cup tournament, and the CN International. In 1984, a second-ary competition was formed to showcase different breeds and their versatility in show jumping as well as several other disciplines. With that, the Spruce Meadows Battle of the Breeds was formed.

Each breed representation can consist of up to four horses and compete as a team, with two horses per team, competing in the disciplines of Compulsory Skills, Jeopardy Jumping, Precision Driving, Barrel Racing and Trail. In the 2013 competition, 12 breeds—from Shetland Ponies to Gypsy Vanners—demonstrated their incredible talents and battled it out to determine which breed would come out on top as the most versatile breed in the world.

This year’s Team Arabian consisted of two Purebreds: PA Se-

bastion with rider Sarah Ingram and Adamas with driver Cindy Ho-

lyoak, one Anglo Arabian: MJ Jaguar with rider Brennan Kavanagh,

and one Pintabian: BG Firefly with rider Katelyn Carter, with the

guidance of an amazing leader: Carol Kettlewell. Together, over

the course of five days, this team came together through last min-

ute corking, a rush cart repair and battling torrential downpours

to accomplish a very successful show.

Preparing for the Battle is just as difficult as competing. Due

to the nature of the event, it’s difficult to find horses that are well-

schooled in enough of the disciplines to make a very competitive

team. Often you’ll find horses that fit in one or two of the events

but are somewhat lacking in others. It can be quite a difficult task

to pick a well-rounded team that can succeed in their designated

areas enough to be competitive.

This year, Team Arabian was very successful. The primary goal,

as Team Leader Carol would say, is to stay safe and always have

fun. Although the results of Compulsory Skills were slightly dis-

appointing, the team came back with an excellent second place

in Jeopardy Jumping. The thrill of the week was, surprisingly, dur-

ing a horrendous downpour when the soaking-wet Katelyn Carter

and Sarah Ingram brought home a first place in the Trail obstacle

course! Katelyn and Fire were the highlight of the spectators day,

putting in the fastest, highest point-earning round of the day.

Earning 700 points, Katelyn only had one person come somewhat

close, at 650, with no one else breaking 570.

PA Sebastion with rider Sarah Ingram


Q&A with Riders Brennan Kavanagh and Sarah Ingram

What was the most exciting part of the competition?

Brennan: One of my favourite parts was after Jag had cleared

the gambler fence and pushed Team Arabian to a strong position.

Also, when Katelyn Carter amazed the crowd with her outstand-

ing performance. Her horse Firefly managed to complete every

obstacle but one, giving team Arabian another strong position

with 700 points.

What was the toughest aspect?

Sarah: The hardest part of the Battle, for me, was going into

the Trail class. Not only was I absolutely soaked from being in the

pouring rain, on my horse, for over two hours prior to going, but

it was something that I had never shown in. I’m incredibly proud

of how well Sebastion did, but I had butterflies the whole time.

What is your favorite memory of this year’s battle?

Brennan and Sarah: One member of Team Saddlebred, Adrian

Neufeld, was celebrating his 30th consecutive year competing, as

PA Sebastion with rider Sarah Ingram

BG Firefly with rider Katelyn CarterAdamas with driver Cindy HolyoakPh

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well as his successfully overcoming cancer. After Jeopardy Jump-

ing, his daughter threw a party and invited all of the teams. It

was wonderful to be together with everyone, and celebrate all of

Adrian’s achievements. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

What is your favorite part of showing at Spruce, especially dur-

ing the Masters?

Brennan: Definitely that even after you show you can go and

watch the professionals show 1.6M in the International ring.

Their horses have such power and strength you’re in awe when

they are doing their rounds.

How do you feel about all of the other teams in the Battle?

Sarah: It’s amazing to be part of the Battle because of the

people. Because we’re not part of the jumper competition, the

Battle barn becomes very close. I’ve met some amazing people

through this competition and keep in touch with most of them. I

can’t even count the number of hugs I got as everyone was pack-

ing up and leaving!

What do you think Team Arabian’s chances are against the other

breeds?

Brennan: I believe that Team Arabian has a chance of winning

the whole competition next year. If only we had done better in

one of the other events, then Team Arabian may have had enough

points to take the lead! Next year, Team Arabian will be just that

much stronger and more competitive. The other breeds are just

as strong, so you don’t know how you will do until you and your

horse enter the ring.

Q&A with Team Captain Carol Kettlewell

Why do you think Arabians are the best breed for this competi-

tion?

Arabians are ideal for Battle of the Breeds. They are intelli-

MJ Jaguar with rider Brennan Kavanagh PA Sebastion with rider Sarah Ingram

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gent and people-oriented, and because of that form great part-

nerships with their riders. They can be trained to do anything,

and they will do it well.

What do you look for in a horse and rider team that would make

them an asset for the team?

When looking for a team member, the horse and rider need

to be able to compete well in at least two events, and ideally be

competent enough in a third event to serve as a backup in case of

emergency. We look for a horse that has lots of competitive expe-

rience and the kind of temperament that won’t be rattled by the

atmosphere at Spruce Meadows—crowds, announcers, golf carts

speeding about and so on. We look at videos and we also have

some in-person tryouts for those who are close enough to attend.

What were your main duties as Captain?

As the non-riding team captain, my main duties are to provide

an extra pair of hands when needed, to liaison with the tourna-

ment office and competitions management, to deal with any pa-

perwork, to accompany the team to the warm up ring and compe-

tition ring, to keep score during the competition and strategize,

and any other duties as required. After many years in the office at

Spruce Meadows, I am excited to be out in the midst of the action.

Maybe someday I’ll have a chance to ride on the team myself!

What’s next for Team Arabian, and what plans do you have for

next year?

Next year we would like to start our selection process earlier

in the year—perhaps in March or April—and do more work to-

gether as a team before September.

Katelyn and Sarah with their Trail Class RIbbons

PA Sebastion with rider Sarah Ingram BG Firefly

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This year’s 11th Annual Sport Horse National Championships came back to its original venue of Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia.

With 537 horses entered comprising 2,076 entries, the place

was hopping! There were two new Sport Horse Under Saddle

classes for amateur owners added this year. Additionally, the

Working Hunter 14.2 Hands & Under was made a National Cham-

pionship class after having been exhibition only for the past two

years. Jessica Grissom piloted her mother, Sally’s, Arabian MA-

JARRES FANNIYA (Nasrany x Moniets Majarre) to the Champion-

ship. In Carriage Driving, the Scurry Obstacle class was also a new

addition, and the roses went home with Maren Pearson and her

Arabian CA BACKDRAFT (Afire Bey V x Ambiance V).

New exhibition classes added for 2013 were Speed Jumpers,

won by the McAllister family’s Arabian HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL

(Allience x Pajarito Esprit) with Kristin Hardin and Intro Jumpers,

won by Kristin Urban’s Arabian WELL MET (Ames Encounter x DBA

Celebration). The Beginner Novice Combined Test ran each phase

on different days, with Half-Arabian BEAUXCHAMP (Matisse {Old}

x Kueen B) and Kerry Zemlicka taking the top prize.

The largest class of the show was Arabian Sport Horse Un-

der Saddle ATR with 59 entries, won by CCF INTEGRITI (Infiniti Z x

Kaboran Senora) and owner Alice Draper. Second largest with 54

entries was the Arabian Sport Horse In Hand Geldings ATH class,

won by AM O PERICLES STYLE (Bremervale Andronicus x AM Styl-

ish Steed) owned by Wayne & Gail Clem.

The largest Dressage class was HA/AA

Training Level, won by ELIJAS TRUBADOUR MGF

(Trubadorsmadrigal x Sizzlin Scotch {PTHA}) and Tracy

Pierce, out of 46 entries. The largest Hunter class was the Arabian

Hunter Hack ATR with 26, won by Alexandria Desiderio and ORA-

TION (Dormane x Ortie). Largest of the 8-class Carriage Driving

division was the 13 entries in the Reinsmanship, won by Arabian

VPF NITE REIGN (Royal Knightfyre x MAS Knight Wind) and Sonya

Bickford.

The horse that was the most winning of the show was 5-year-

With 537 horses entered comprising 2,076 entries, the place was hopping!

LEFT PHOTO: ARABIAN HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL, CHAMPION OPEN AND SPEED JUMPERS © THE ARABIAN SPORT HORSE MAGAZINE

TOP PHOTO: HALF-ARABIAN CURZON, CHAMPION INTERMEDIATE II, RESERVE DRESSAGE GRAND PRIX © THE ARABIAN SPORT HORSE MAGAZINE


2013


old Half-Arabian HAVE ENOUGH (Shugak x Have Faith {WB}),

owned by Traci Moss and bred by Laura Gordon. Have Enough

was named Supreme Champion Sport Horse, National Champion

Sport Horse In Hand Geldings Open and ATH, Reserve Champion

in Hunter Hack Jr. Horse, HA/AA Training Level Dressage Jr. Horse,

HA/AA Sport Horse Under Saddle ATR and Top Ten in HA/AA Train-

ing Level Dressage Open, Sport Horse Under Saddle Open and

Sport Horse Under Saddle Jr Horse!

Tied for second place was CCF INTEGRITI, with 4 National

Championships and 3 Top Tens, and AL MARAH SWIFT (Al-Marah

Quebec x Reen Al Fala), with 3 National Championships, 2 Re-

serve National Championships and 2 Top Tens.

The horses with the most National Championships were Ara-

bians ORATION and CCF INTEGRITI with 4 each. Arabians AL MA-

RAH SWIFT and AUTUMN RHAPSODY (Autumn Séance x Per Rhap-

sody) won 3 each; Half-Arabians HAVE ENOUGH and PIAFFS PRIDE

(Piaff PASB x Elegant Lady {AWS}) also won 3 each. ORATION was

also named the High Point Hunter/Jumper of the show by the

Arabian-Bred Hunter/Jumper Association.

The rider that accumulated the most National titles was Kris-

tin Hardin, who rode 11 horses to 12 National Championships

and 7 Reserve National Championships!

High-score Arabian in dressage was a 78.9 earned by Caitlin

Zech on her gelding AUTUMN RHAPSODY (Autumn Séance x Per

Rhapsody) in Arabian Training Level ATR.

High score Half/Anglo-Arabian was a 78.71 earned by Heath-

er Rudd on her family’s homebred Anglo-Arabian KHEMOS KHOPI

(Kharbon Khopi x Do Yourself Proud {TB}) in HA/AA First Level


Supreme Champion Sport Horse, Have Enough © The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine


AAOTR.

High score FEI was a 70.592 earned by Jessica Fussner on

Thomas & Linda Freeman’s Half-Arabian IVE BEEN RIPPED (Shen-

nendoahs Pride {APHA} x Roscza Sadon) in A/HA/AA Prix St.

Georges Open.

“HAVE ENOUGH”The horse at Sport Horse Nationals 2013 that won the most

of any horse competing is the product of a very small breeding

operation belonging to Laura Gordon of Aiken, South Carolina.

Five-year-old Half-Arabian gelding Have Enough, or “Eliot” as

he is known, is currently owned by Traci Moss who received him

last Christmas as a gift from her husband. Laura sold him with the

understanding that he would stay with her trainer, Cynthia Cub-

bage, and she had first right of refusal to buy Eliot back.

Eliot’s older full brother, Have Another, aka “Andrew,” has also

been very successful in the sport disciplines, being in the top ten

last year and again this year for AHA High Point Horse. Andrew

was also USEF Horse of the Year for Sport Horse.

Eliot’s and Andrew’s sire is the recently deceased Arabian

Shugak (Lea Baron x SRF Lauramaar), a former Class A Champion

in several disciplines. Shugak has sired one other national re-

serve champion previously.

Their dam, Have Faith is a 16.3-hand Holsteiner/Hanoverian

mare that Laura has owned and shown since 1996 and has now

The two youngest riders were 9-year-olds Bailey Lones and

Elizabeth Graves.

Please note that at press time AHA had not verified scores

with us. If you have a correction, kindly let us know.

retired from breeding. Laura showed her in hunters and equita-

tion. Have Faith’s wonderful temperament made it a natural deci-

sion to breed her.

Both horses’ first national show—this year’s Sport Horse Na-

tionals—was a huge success, with Eliot winning Supreme Cham-

pion Sport Horse, plus 2 National Champions, 3 Reserve National

Champions and 3 Top Ten titles. Andrew brought home 7 Top Ten

titles, shown mostly by Laura. Traci could not attend, so Eliot was

shown by four different people to his wins.

“This is one of the most wonderful things I’ve done in my

life. Watching the process of them growing up and developing

has been a real learning experience,” said Laura. “They both have

great minds, but I also give Cynthia a lot of credit for bringing

these boys along.”

Traci is an amateur, new to riding as an adult, but says, “ I can’t

wait to grow my riding abilities and to bring Eliot along with lots

of help from my trainer. [During] one of the first moments after

I met Eliot, I loved the look in his eyes. I knew he was something

special!”

Sport Horse Nationals stories continue on page 48.


Cynthia Cubbage on Have Enough (left) and Laura Gordon on Have Another (right). Photo by Don Stine.



Arabian Oration, winner of 4 National Championships and High Point Hunter/Jumper pictured with Michael Desiderio. Photo © The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Arabian CCF Integriti, also winner of 4 National Championships, with owner Alice Draper. Photo © The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

High score FEI (70.592) earned by Jessica Fussner on Thomas & Linda Free-man’s Half-Arabian IVE BEEN RIPPED in Prix St. Georges.

http://ashm.co/gallery.phpView more photos at:

http://thearabiansporthorse.com/gallery.php



High score FEI (70.592) earned by Jessica Fussner on Thomas & Linda Free-man’s Half-Arabian IVE BEEN RIPPED in Prix St. Georges.

Kristin Harden with two of her jumper entries, Hope Springs Eternal and EVG Alllon Dunit, Champion and Reserve in the A/HA/AA Speed Jumper class. Photo © The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Champion of the Beginner Novice Combined Test, Half-Arabian Beauxchamp and her owner Kerry Zemlicka.

Youngest competitor of the show was 9-year-old Bailey Lones and her Arabian mare Hearts Adrift.

Photo © The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine




SDF Entourage++++//By Katie Wojcieszek

Six years ago, I leased a mare from my friend in hopes of cre-

ating myself an athletic Half-Arabian that I could take up the lev-

els in dressage. I chose to breed the Hanoverian mare, Chrysalis,

to Arabian OKW Entrigue+++// because of his free-moving gaits

and the wonderful temperament he passed along to his babies.

The result was a beautiful chestnut colt. He was a fantastic

mover and inherited his father’s uninhibited gaits. I was so excit-

ed that I got a horse with potential to be an upper level dressage

horse! However, as he grew up, it became apparent that he had

other plans. Marley absolutely loves to jump. At a young age, he

would jump the arena fence to come visit us when he was bored.

I started putting him through a jump chute, and he just excelled.

He would get really excited to go through the chute and always

came right back to me wanting to do it again.

I broke and trained Marley myself using basic dressage con-

cepts. I sent him through the jump chute regularly to fill his need

to jump. I have successfully shown him Sport Horse In Hand,

Under Saddle, Hunter Hack and Training Level Dressage. This

year, we earned our Legion of Excellence and Legion of Masters

Awards, the highest levels of the Arabian Achievement Awards!

However, I knew I needed help with Marley when it came to

jumping. I hadn’t ridden a working hunter since I was a teenager,

and it made me anxious to jump him without any direction.

So, early this year I went to Kristin Hardin for lessons and

jumping advice. I have always respected Kristin, love to watch

her show, and knew that she would be a great match for us. She

loved Marley and was impressed with his natural jumping abil-


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ity. She suggested that we join her amazing group of horses and

go to Virginia with them this year. In the months that followed, I

took Marley to a couple shows with Kristin and continued to learn

from her. She was able to build my confidence about jumping and

helped me not to interfere with Marley’s natural talent.

Marley is 5 this year, so it was his last chance to show in the Jr.

Horse classes at Nationals. I have always wanted to show on the

East Coast and this seemed like the perfect time. My husband and

family pulled together to support us with the costs involved in

travelling to Virginia and we were able to enter the show.

Kristin hired a really great hauling company, and all the hors-

es travelled well in the semi-truck. I was even able to ride along

with them during the trip. We took 4 days to get to Virginia, which

included a layover in Kentucky where we were able to do some

sightseeing. It was an unforgettable trip across the country.

Once we arrived in Lexington, VA, all the horses settled in

great. Marley schooled really well and looked fantastic. He loves

to be at shows, and this was no exception. I am still overwhelmed

at how well we did at Sport Horse Nationals! My home-bred-and-

raised horse took home two National Championships, one Na-

tional Reserve Champion, and 4 National Top Tens (3 of which he

ranked 3rd in). I am so grateful for this once in a lifetime oppor-

tunity of travelling across the country with a horse that I created

and having him do so well!

SDF Entourage++++// Results:

Champion HA Green Working Hunter with Kristin

Hardin

Champion HA Hunter Hack ATR

Reserve Champion HA Working Hunter AAOTR

Top Ten HA Sport Horse in Hand Geldings Open,

Top Ten HA Sport Horse under Saddle Jr. Horse,

HA Hunter

Top Ten Hack Jr. Horse, HA Working Hunter ATR

Sport Horse Nationals stories continue on page 52.

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Sshaq++++//, National Champion Arabian Training Level AAOTR with rider Debbie Canaday. Owned by Debbie and Clayton Canaday.

Sofine Strait Man+, National Champion Arabian First Level Open with rider Kari Schmitt.

Autumn Rhapsody+//, high-score Arabian in dressage with a 78.9 earned in Arabian Training Level ATR with Caitlin Zech. Autumn Rhapsody+// won a total of 3 National Championships.

BR Dannys Secret+/, Reserve Champion HA/AA Second Level Open with rider Angelia Bean.

All photos are by The Arabian Sport Horse Magazinehttp://ashm.co/gallery.phpView more photos at:




Autumn Rhapsody+//, high-score Arabian in dressage with a 78.9 earned in Arabian Training Level ATR with Caitlin Zech. Autumn Rhapsody+// won a total of 3 National Championships.

Trifecta+/, National Champion A/HA/AA Fourth Level with rider Courtney Horst.

AM Chance Command++++//, National Champion Arabian Second Level Open with rider Kassie Barteau.

Jennys Fahl Sunrise, National Champion A/HA/AA Dressage Grand Prix with rider Brandi Widmer.

All photos are by The Arabian Sport Horse Magazinehttp://ashm.co/gallery.phpView more photos at:



Long in the ToothArabian horses are known worldwide for many things, includ-

ing their longevity. At this year’s Sport Horse National Champion-

ships there were nine competitors age 20 and over.

The oldest, at 25, was the Arabian/Welsh mare MSF BLUE-

MOONSTAAR (SAF Ringo Staar x Victorious Damsel). Bred and

owned by Deborah Reedy, Little Staar earned a Top 10 in Half

Arabian/Anglo Arabian Sport Horse Mares In Hand with Sydney

Myers-Donegan out of 30 horses.

Sydney began riding Little Staar as a very young girl, compet-

ing in lead line. She was eager to go to SHN this year to complete

her own Handler Of Excellence in addition to being at SHN one

more time.

Little Staar has previously earned National Championships in

Trail with several riders, adults and juniors alike.

The next oldest horse, at 24, was Arabian gelding MOSHE O

ZEL (Bask-O-Zel x Magic Jull) owned and shown by Amanda En-

drizzi. He was named Reserve Champion in First Level Dressage

Amateur and earned a Top Ten in Second Level Amateur. Before

2013, he hadn’t shown since 2007!

At 22, Arabian stallion BEYMOON ZELA (Bask-O-Zel x Mar Ab-

bie) is well known at the open dressage venues with owner/rider

Samantha Hodgson. Competing at his first SHN, they earned a Re-

serve Champion in Intermediare-2 and a Top Ten in Grand Prix.

Nancy Ziegler’s 21-year-old Arabian CHA RUDYVALENTINE

(Chez x AHC Aba Shazie) gave everyone a run for their money

in Carriage Driving. They went home with 2 Reserve Champion-

ships in Gambler’s Choice and Pick Your Route and 3 Top Tens in

The oldest horse at SHN , age 25, Arabian/Welsh mare MSF BLUEMOONSTAAR pictured with owner Deborah Reedy.

Beymoon Zela ridden by Samantha Hodgson

CHA Rudyvalentine and Nancy Ziegler


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Ride & Drive, Scurry and Timed Obstacles. This versatile pair has

competed in many disciplines and were US National Champion

Jumper in 2002.

Also 21, Arabian ZALEZHAR HALIMA (Zalezhar Ace x Valiants

Sabata), owned by Missy Snyder, attended his first SHN this year,

after having shown at just a handful of shows in his life. This

rescued cute black gelding earned 4 Top Ten titles in Working

Hunter AAO, Hunter Hack AAO, Intro Jumpers and Equitation Over

Obstacles. (See story on page 60.)

The four 20-year olds accounted for 5 National Top Tens, all

in dressage. Arabian gelding *PARADOKS+/ (Djaz x Planeta) was

imported from Latvia to race in the U.S. in 1996. He was a stakes

winner before retiring at age 7 and becoming a pleasure and

show horse. At this, his first national show, he earned a Top Ten in

Arabian Training Level AAOTR with Aneesa Romans with a 67.1%,

just missing Reserve by 0.1%!

Arabian mare KHEMALOWA (Khemosabi x Empire Lass) and

her owner/breeder Lisa Robinson earned a Top Ten in Arabian

Second Level ATR scoring 61.31%.

Arabian SAFARR (Safire x Ries SP Bouquet) earned his first na-

tional title in 2005 and has accumulated 7 National Champion-

ships at Third Level and above. At SHN, he and owner Suzanne

Sontag won a Top Ten in Open Third Level.

Half-Arabian PF LORD KAIVALIER (Kaivalier x Sofistigaitd Lady

{NSH}) ridden by owner Cathy Gage, earned Top Tens in HA/AA

Second Level ATR & AAOTR with scores of 60.774% and 59.333%

respectively.

Sport Horse Nationals stories continue on the next page.

*Paradoks+/ ridden by Aneesa Romans. Photo by Tracy Kelsey.Safarr with Suzanne Sontag. Photo by Don Stine.

Zalezhar Halima and Missy Snyder. Photo by Don Stine.



Anglo-Arabian Awards Photographs by The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

The North American Anglo-Arabian Horse As-sociation recognized the most talented Anglo-Arabians competing at Sport Horse National Championships again in 2013. NAAAHA has re-warded the top performers since 2007 by pre-senting the top five horses and riders with neck ribbons and the Supreme Champion with an em-broidered dress sheet and trophy.

At the 2013 Sport Horse National Championship Show, there

were 26 Anglos competing for these Top Honors.

The Supreme Champion was the 7-year-old gelding KHEMOS

KHOPI+++// (Kharbon Khopi x Do Yourself Proud) owned by John

Albright & Heather Rudd of Winamac, IN and bred by John Al-

bright. He earned two National Championships in Adult Amateur

Owner First Level Dressage and Amateur Second Level Dressage,

two Reserve National Championships in Amateur First Level

Dressage and Amateur Sport Horse Show Hack and a Top Ten ti-

tle in Adult Amateur Owner Second Level Dressage, all ridden by

Heather.

Eleven-year-old GALILEO+// (Alota Gator Bait x Beaus Star

Ruler) owned by Ashley Wren of Billings, MT earned Reserve Su-

preme Champion honors thanks to winning five Top Ten titles

in Open, Green and Amateur Working Hunter, Open Jumper and

Open Hunter Hack. He was ridden to these titles by his owner and

by Ashley Doyle.

Top Five awards were earned by BEYOND THE SEAZ+/ (Al

Marah Seazar x Glenna Bay), owned by Kristi & Denny Herbst of

Farmington, MO and ridden by Kaylan Herbst. This horse earned a

National Championship in Adult Amateur Owner Hunter Hack and

three Top Ten titles in Open, Amateur and Adult Amateur Working

Hunter.

With a Reserve National Champion in Open Working Hunter

Khemos Khopi+++//, Supreme Champion Anglo-Arabian, National Champion HA/AA Second Level ATR and First Level AAOTR and high-score Half/Anglo-Arabian in dressage (78.71 ) with rider

Heather Albright-Rudd.


Galileo+//, Reserve Supreme Champion Anglo-Arabian, with Ashley Wren


and 3 Top Ten titles in Adult Amateur Owner and Amateur Work-

ing Hunter, plus Amateur Sport Horse Geldings In Hand, nine-

year-old gelding ONE MORE ROUND++++// (Al Jassur Laddin x

Winifred) earned himself a place in our Top Five. He is owned,

bred and shown by Bill and Alexis Doughty of Cape Charles, VA.

Five-year-old mare AM TOKEN CHICK+++// (Bremervale An-

dronicus x Queen Christine) owned and bred by Jerry Hamilton of

Tucson, AZ, was also named to the Top Five. She did so by earning

two National Championships in Open and Amateur Sport Horse

Mares In Hand and 2 Top Tens in Training Level Dressage Jun-

ior Horse and Sport Horse Under Saddle Junior Horse. She was

shown by Jerry, Brooke Fuchs and Wendy Davis.

Anglo-Arabians accounted for a total of 5 National Champion-

ships, 6 Reserve National Championships and 42 Top Tens. Points

awarded are weighted differently for upper and lower level class-

es.

NAAAHA (www.naaaha.com) is a non-profit organization offer-

ing awards, education and promotion of Anglo-Arabian breeders

and owners in North America.


Beyond The Seaz+/, Top Five Anglo-Arabian

One More Round++++//, Top Five Anglo-Arabian

AM Token Chick+++//, Top Five Anglo-Arabian

Galileo+//, Reserve Supreme Champion Anglo-Arabian, with Ashley Wren

http://www.naaaha.com/


Not An Easy Journey Beating cancer and making it to Sport Horse Nationals. by Susie Lones

After an ultrasound, a CT, MRI and a biopsy, the Oncologist

looked at us and said, “Well you have a neuroendocrine tumor

on your pancreas, it’s pancreatic cancer. As a matter of fact, it’s

the same kind Steve Jobs had.” I looked at him and said, in a

nervous chuckle, “Yeah, he’s dead. Do you have anyone else you

can give me?” The oncologist said, “I used him because he didn’t

have surgery until it was too late. You can’t fool around with this;

you need to have surgery as soon as possible.” My mind flashed

to my 9-year-old daughter, Bailey, my family, my friends and my

animals. I looked over at my husband, Jimmy; his face was white…

he hadn’t gotten past the words “pancreatic cancer.” Then, the

oncologist left the room, and the tears came. Both of us cried.

I couldn’t help but be terrified, and not much scares me. I am

tough, and I don’t even get the flu. But in December of 2012, my

left hand started hurting. I was exhausted, and then everything

started hurting—my elbows, the backs of my knees, everything.

Pretty much anywhere there is a lymph node hurt. I was having a

hard time keeping up with work and my barn chores. That’s when

I finally went to the doctor and all the testing began.

My only bad habit was too much Diet Coke. How in the world

did I come up with something so rare and bad? I will probably

never know the answer to that.

The Oncologist sent us to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD (we

are from TN). The surgeon there wrote the text book on the Whip-

ple procedure—the extensive abdominal surgery used for pan-

creatic cancer. So, we went in May for a consultation. It’s crazy,

but when we were there I asked the surgeon, “How soon can we

do this? I have a horse show I am trying to make it to in Septem-

ber. Do you think I will make it?” He said, “I have a daughter and

a sister in horses. I understand the addiction. You should be able

to make it.” Good enough for me. Let’s do this. I rode every night

after work up until the day we left for me to have surgery.

On June 14, 2013 as I went in for surgery, the nurse explained

all the things that would be attached to me when I woke up. I

closed my eyes and said a prayer. The next thing I knew, I was

awake in the ICU. I had a nearly 7-hour surgery to remove the

tumor. It was a small, malignant type, but they got it all and there

was no sign of it in surrounding lymph nodes or tissues. As I woke

up more—with my Dad and husband there—I thought, “Well

that’s not so bad.” I looked down at my abdomen and saw the

over-a-foot-long incision and thought, “It’s over, and I am fine.”

Well, it wasn’t quite that easy. For the next four days, I thought I

was dying for sure! It hurt terribly! After nine days in the hospital,

they let us leave, but we had to stay in Baltimore for another 5

days before they would release me.

My mom was unable to make the trip to Johns Hopkins, but

she was anxiously waiting updates. My brother came for a few

days, and I know I couldn’t have done so well and recovered so

quickly without the prayers and support from all my wonderful

family and friends.

Finally, after 2 weeks we headed home to TN. Bailey, my

daughter, had stayed home with our friends. She had been a

trooper. She and her best friend had horse camp the first week,

so she was busy. When we called her, her voice would get shaky

but she never cried. I sure did when we got off the phone though.



I couldn’t wait to see her. I couldn’t wait to see the horses either.

I missed the barn and the farm and the horses. I cried because

there were horses on the news when we were in the hotel in Bal-

timore (yes I was a little emotional and silly). I couldn’t wait to

get home!

While I was recovering, Jimmy and Bailey did my normal barn

chores. My friend helped clean stalls, too. Four weeks after sur-

gery, I thought I felt good enough to at least lunge my horse, Allie.

I thought wrong. Apparently you use your abdominal muscles a

lot when you lunge. I lunged her for only a few minutes and spent

the next two days in horrible pain on the couch. So it was then

that I thought, “There is no way I am going to make it to Sport

Horse Nationals.” I sent in Bailey’s entries on the Aug 5 deadline,

but I didn’t send mine. I was sad because I really wanted to show.

After about 8 weeks, I started riding again. I am lucky that I

have such a wonderful horse that I can just hop on her after not

being ridden for 8 weeks. She never took a misstep; she just took

care of me. I just walked and sat on Allie at first, then added the

trot. On the day I cantered again on her, I almost cried. It felt

great and so free.

When I went back to work (I am a pharmaceutical sales rep.)

only seven weeks after surgery, one of the doctors I call on said,

“Why are you back at work so soon, couldn’t you have taken more

time off?” I responded, “Yes, I could have, but I wanted to ride my

horse and I felt guilty being out on leave and riding my horse. I

didn’t want 20/20 or Dateline showing up at my house video tap-

ing me riding while out on leave from work.” It was funny, but I

am grateful for my wonderful job and didn’t want to be gone too

long.

After two more weeks of riding, I felt strong and good! I

thought, “I can do this, I can make it to Sport Horse Nationals.”

So, I sent in my entries. I will be showing 14 weeks after mas-

sive abdominal surgery. My first class will be a hunter class jump-

ing 3’ fences. With all of my abdominal muscles still recovering

from being cut open, let’s hope Allie is good enough for both of

us! I am going with low expectations and just looking forward to

having fun. Really, I think I am more nervous and excited to see

Bailey and her horse, Sunny, show!

Editor’s Note: at Sport Horse Nationals, Susie and her mare, Illumi-

nada (Lasodo x Imbrie (SWB}), earned not one but 5 National Top

Tens: HA/AA Working Hunter AAOTR, Working Hunter ATR, Open

Hunter Hack, Equitation Not To Jump and Equitation Over Obsta-

cles. Bailey and her pony, Hearts Adrift (Lasodo x Al Thameena),

had a great ride in a huge Hunter Hack ATR class, but didn’t pin. She

was, at age 9, one of the youngest competitors.


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“Worth My Wait Ingold” An orphaned horse that beat the odds

When Chrystal Coffelt-Wood decided back in 2009 that she

wanted a warmblood mare to breed to her Arabian stallion, True

Blue Goldmine+++//, she never dreamed of the odyssey she had

started.

Chrystal had owned her stallion since he was 3, showing him

in dressage very successfully, including a 2009 National Champi-

onship in Training Level. She teaches riding at Grey Goose Farm.

Chrystal found a beautiful 17.2 hand Oldenburg mare named

Lorraine in a nearby Pennsylvania town. Lorraine was sired by

the famous 4* Oldenburg stallion Contucci, who was known for

dressage talent. Chrystal bred Goldmine to Lorraine and settled

in to wait 11 months for the result. The pregnancy appeared to

be going very well, but near the end, Chrystal felt something was

wrong. Lorraine’s due date had passed, but their vet was not con-

cerned. When Lorraine did go into labor, the foal got stuck and

died.

So, Lorraine was bred back to Goldmine. They kept a close

watch on her, and again all seemed normal. About a week before

Lorraine’s due date, Chrystal noticed she was rubbing her tail and

sweating. The vet again said it was nothing to worry about. The

next day, Lorraine’s abdomen looked distended, and when Chrys-

tal took her pulse, it was 72. The vet came and assured Chrystal

that Lorraine was not in labor, but experiencing a mild colic. They

treated her as such, yet the next morning the mare’s heart rate

was even higher.

Chrystal immediately took Lorraine to the vet hospital where

they found abdominal wall tearing. After a few days of trying to

manage the mare, the vets suggested she go to New Bolton Cent-

er. The neonatal specialist, Dr. Jonathan Palmer, gave Lorraine IV

pain medication and closely monitored her.

At the same time, Chrystal was scheduled to take some stu-

dents to a horse show out of town and did so only because she

knew Lorraine was in good hands. While there, Dr. Palmer in-

formed Chrystal that Lorraine’s abdomen was tearing more and

her intestines were starting to bulge through. He told her if he


Lorraine

True Blue Goldmine+++//. Photo by Suzanne.


induced labor, the foal would

die but the mare would prob-

ably live. If they waited until the

mare foaled on her own, the foal

would probably live but the mare

would die.

Chrystal told the vet to in-

duce labor; she wanted to save

Lorraine’s life. After anxiously

awaiting news, Dr. Palmer called

to tell her that Lorraine had a colt

and they were both alive! He told

her that if the colt lived through

the first 72 hours, he would

survive. They had taken drastic

measures to get him out, break-

ing six ribs in the process. Lorraine was expected to make a full,

albeit lengthy, recovery.

The next day, Dr. Palmer called Chrystal with the bad news

that Lorraine had developed a high fever and her heart rate had

soared to over 100. Because she was in pain with no end in sight,

Chrystal made the difficult decision to put Lorraine to sleep.

Next came the task of finding a nurse mare for the colt, which

they had named Gram. Despite the expense, Chrystal felt a nurse

mare would give Gram the best chance at a normal and healthy

life.

The first mare they leased would not bond with Gram at all.

They resumed the search and found another possibility. The sec-

ond mare was thin and suffering from an infection, but antibiotics

helped clear that up, thankfully, for she and Gram bonded. Even

while nursing him, she gained weight on the lush grass and he

grew up healthy and strong.

Chrystal’s friends and students generously held fundraisers

to help cover the exorbitant expenses incurred during Gram’s

first few months of life. But the story doesn’t end there.

Last month at Sport Horse Nationals, Gram, who’s registered

name is Worth My Wait Ingold, showed in the Half-Arabian/An-

glo Arabian Yearling Sport Horse In Hand Colts and Geldings class

and earned himself a Reserve National Championship.



SPORT HORSENationals All photos are by The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Piaffs Pride, winner of 3 National Championships. EB Charlamagne, National Champion HA/AA Sport Horse Show Hack and Third Level ATR with Caitlin Zech.

Caitlyn Saranchak rode her Arabian mare Angelica Bay to Championships in both Hunter Seat Equitation classes.

Curzon, Reserve Champion HA/AA Sport Horse Show Hack.




SPORT HORSENationalsAll photos are by The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

CA Backdraft, National Champion Carriage Driving Scurry Obstacle.

6-year-old Arabian Luxemere Patrician+/, National Champion Hunter Hack AAOTR, Reserve Champion Hunter Hack ATR,

Working Hunter AAOTR, and Green Working Hunter.

SWA Barberry Bey, National Champion Arabian Sport Horse Show Hack.

Al Marah Swift, winner of 3 National Championships.




“You can ride that Arabian standing out there in that field with

the cows,” said the older country guy wearing overalls. “Nobody

ever messes with him.” I stared out into a massive field and saw a

small dark gelding under a lone tree gently swishing flies. He was

near a herd of cows, and in the distance there were some paints

and quarter horses. I had recently moved to a Midwest town and

missed my horse on my parents’ farm back home in Georgia. After

asking around, someone mentioned visiting this ranch to see if

anyone needed a horse exercised. I didn’t have much money but

thought someone might need help, while giving me my horse fix.

Horses had been a part of my life ever since I could remem-

ber, and I was looking for a horse to give a little attention to

and maybe trail ride and just have fun with. Coincidentally, my

mother had an Arabian gelding for nearly 30 years, so I was very

familiar with the breed and had an immense love and apprecia-

tion for them. I remembered looking at her Arabian magazines

when I was 8 years old wondering what it must feel like to have

someone place a garland of roses on your horse’s neck at a show.

I loved those magazines.

I agreed to take a peek at this gelding in the cow field and

went out to meet him. His name was Zalezhar Halima, or “Zhar.”

He had big pretty eyes, was calm and SMALL. However, there was

something about him that was also just plain sad. His coat was

dull and filthy and his mane was knotted. After inquiring about

his story, it turned out his owner had purchased him as a young-

ster for fun because he had a lot of money and thought it would

be of great notoriety to “own an Arabian.” He said that, shortly

after his owner bought him, he had a cowboy break him. He had

“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” -Emily Bronte

Zhar Not your typical show horse story.BY MISSY SNYDER

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/emily_bronte.html


given up on training him when the cowboy informed him that

“this horse is just too stupid and too lazy to cut cows.” So, he

became a pasture ornament.

His owner also had Clydesdales and was increasingly more

interested in parades with them, so there sat Zhar. I didn’t have a

thing to lose, so I started spending time with him. He was sweet

and simply loved the attention. He whinnied at me every time I

drove up. Because his pasture was 2,500 acres, I had to drive my

Honda Accord out to find him each time and then pony him be-

side the car back to the barn. He never thought a thing about it.

He certainly didn’t fit the stereotype of a high-strung Arab.

I eventually backed him and realized he didn’t know a thing

about my leg and hated being in the arena. So, we went out for

a trail ride. He immediately blossomed and seemed to love eve-

ry second of our time out there. I rode nearly every day, and he

quickly became a different horse. He wasn’t depressed anymore

and appeared to be thriving. His coat was shiny, and he was toned

and fit. He was lightning fast across the fields, and I eventually

taught him how to jump logs in the woods, which he loved. His

confidence was growing, and we were really happy together.

After a few months, his owner came to me and stated he

wanted to get rid of him. I was honest with him and told him I

couldn’t afford to buy him. He then called me that Friday and told

me he had booked him on a trailer to be taken to auction the

following morning. I panicked because I soon found out it was

a slaughter auction, and I simply could not believe it. I was even

told by someone who knew a kill buyer that he would “get a good

price since his muscle to bone ratio was good.” I was horrified!

I frantically scrambled, literally collecting coins in my car and

couch cushions. I had just started waiting tables at a restaurant

and put everything I could in an envelope and drove it to this

man’s house at 9 pm that night. I gave him the money and begged

him to accept it, as I was terrified of Zhar’s fate if this didn’t work.

He finally agreed, and I had never felt so relieved in my life. He

wrote me a bill of sale and handed me his registration papers.

Wait, what? He was registered? I hadn’t even thought of that. It

Competing at Sport Horse Nationals, Spetember 2013, age 21


really didn’t matter to me at the time, though. He was now safe,

and that was all that was important.

Then, I began to worry. I now owned this little Arab, and I had

no plans to do anything like this. Plus, my dream horse was 16

hands and trained, not 14 hands and all over the place. I decided

to make the most of it and do my best. When I received a job offer

back in Georgia six months later, I accepted it. It meant leaving

Zhar behind while I searched for a place for him. My friend looked

after him for 3 months until I could finally have him shipped to

me. When he got off that trailer, I burst into tears and grabbed his

neck tightly and just smelled him. I had forgotten how yummy he

smelled and didn’t realize how much I missed him.

For the next 12 years or so, we didn’t do much of anything

other than trail rides, camping, and just having fun together. He

became best friends with my older horse, which made me very

happy. We kept up with the jumping since he loved it, and one

day a fellow boarder said, “Dang girl, that horse can jump!” She

asked me if I would like to go to a local show with her. I told her

I had never thought about showing Zhar but decided it might be

fun.

I hadn’t participated in a horse show since I was a kid and

tried to remember everything I was supposed to do. We ended up

coming home with an armful of 2nd place ribbons, and to say I was

surprised was an understatement. I then thought how exciting it

would be if Zhar and I could win a blue ribbon someday. We kept

at it and eventually got that blue and later a few championship

ribbons. We had fun participating in endurance, hunter pleasure,

dressage, cross-country, jumpers and combined training events.

Sometimes, I think there is nothing he cannot do. Actually, to be

honest, there is nothing he won’t try for me.

At that time, I figured we would stop there, but I decided to

take him to some Arabian shows. He did well, so I decided that

the following year we would try to go to Regionals, which was

just before Zhar’s 20th birthday. I thought how amazing it would

feel to receive a pretty Top 5 ribbon but never dreamed it would

happen. We not only received several top 5 ribbons, but a gar-

land of championship roses, as well. Through happy tears as the

woman placed his roses on his neck, I now knew what that feeling

was that I pondered as a child, and it was unforgettable.

When we got home, I suddenly realized it was me who had

been holding us back. It wasn’t so long ago that I said to myself, “I

can’t show Zhar, we cannot win a blue, we cannot win a champi-

onship ribbon, we can’t go to Regionals and come home with any-

thing… this horse has only been trained by me.” Well, I refused to

hold us back anymore.

He did a beautiful job at Regionals the following year, and

others encouraged us to consider Sport Horse Nationals. Keep in

mind, if this little gelding were from a professional training barn,

had many showing miles under his belt, was younger, and if I had

been working with a professional trainer most of my life, I would

have felt more confident. I had many reservations about SHN, a

lot had to do with our lack of experience, but mostly due to trave-

ling to Virginia with my horse that is now 21 years old and the

stress on him.

Then, there were a few who asked if I was planning to pull

his mane or put shoes on him (which I have never done), to both

I politely said, “No way.” I love his long mane, and all the farriers

I have used have advised against shoeing him. So, after talking

with my vet and friends, I decided to give the show a try. I had

no expectations, other than experiencing the show, being there

among the greats, and taking it all in with my best friend—and

trying not to make a complete fool of myself in the process.

Arriving in Virginia was incredibly intimidating for me. As an

elementary school teacher, money is very tight, and after look-

ing around, part of me thought, “What in the world are you do-

ing here?” We don’t have anything fancy—Zhar wasn’t purchased

from a well-known trainer/breeder—and pretty much everything

we have is pre-owned. It was tricky, but in the end, I forced myself

to ignore my feelings and focus on my horse. I met some wonder-

ful, supportive people, who along with my family helped me to

feel more at home, which was great.

I had the most amazing time watching new friends show their

Dec 1998, Age 6, The day after I rescued him, with his kitty friend who loved to keep warm on his back.


pretty horses and win with them. I cheered and hugged them… I

was just so happy for them and overjoyed to be there to see it.

We began to show, and Zhar was eager and seemed ready to

go, but I was nervous to say the least. Before I knew it, the results

came in and I heard our number called for our first National Top

Ten. I sat there stunned until someone finally said, “That’s you!”

Two seconds after our photo was taken, I literally burst into tears

and buried my face in his mane and told him how proud I was of

him. Around me I heard, “Aww she’s crying.” They just didn’t un-

derstand what this meant to me. I could not believe it. I will never

be able to fully describe how that felt.

By the end of the

week, we had earned

four National Top Tens

in Working Hunter

AAO, Hunter Hack

AAO, Intro Jumpers

and Equitation Over

Obstacles. Zhar, my

little 14-hand bare-

foot gelding, and me,

a girl who can pretty

much count the num-

ber of riding lessons I

have had the last few

years on two hands. I

am still in disbelief. It

was certainly a dream

come true on many

levels.

As we made our

way home from Virginia, my boy had his pretty mane blowing in

the sunshine, and I looked out at the mountains and felt like the

luckiest girl to have him—to experience this with him. I am so

glad this SHN experience was with him and not another horse.

I guess the moral of my story is to believe in the impossible,

never judge and never put limits on yourself. Great things really

do come from true love.

I can only imagine the things we would have done if I had the

courage to show Zhar years ago. But would I have done anything

differently if I could have? Probably not. This is the way our story

was supposed to go. He has been with me through many ups and

downs in my life and remained rock solid and steady. He is my

companion and my child. He consoled me when I lost my older

horse. He patiently waits for me when I need space to breathe or

takes me away when I need to escape. He is an old soul, the love

of my life, and he trusts me to try anything new.

Leave it to one little rescued Arabian gelding to teach me the

true meaning of having the cojones to go for a childhood dream.

Truth be told, in the end, Zhar is the one who rescued me.

“Saving just one horse won’t change the world, but it will

surely change the world of that one horse.” - unknown

After Regionals, May 2013, age 21


I do not come from a wealthy family that can afford

made horses, ready to go and win at the upper levels.

They taught me if I wanted something I needed to work

for it, so in 2003 I bought my Arabian mare, Black Moons Molly

(Nahr Raban x Mistanny El Aswad), knowing she was older and

had only been a broodmare with little under saddle experience.

I cleaned stalls at $1.00 a stall to work her off with her owner. In

2004, she had her last foal, a leggy copy of his sire with the same

face, gorgeous golden bay with a small sabino spot.

Silk Roads Legacy was born on April Fools Day, befitting his

personality. He is a Half Arabian by Kopeli (Akhal-teke) and out

of Black Moons Molly. As was typical with Molly, she foaled in the

early evening. Legacy was the third and final cross between the

two. As luck would have it, my sister, Cara, fell in love with Legacy

and bought him, and he became a part of the family.

While Legacy was a foal, we learned about his funny quirks

and his goofy personality. I was able to ride Molly, and while

learning to ride, she took me to my D3 in the United States Pony

Club. Cara was able to finish out her youth years on her Quarter

Horse before she graduated. When Legacy was a few months old,

he chewed on a gate latch enough that he got it stuck and caught

on his mouth leaving him with his lip permanently stuck out on

his right side. He went to live in Manhattan, Kansas while Cara

was attending college at Kansas State University. There, he got to

grow up and be a horse while she worked on training him. Legacy

came home during Cara’s final years of college, and I rode him

off and on.

In 2009, we made the decision to move barns so that the

horses would have a forty-acre pasture to run on, and they would

be just minutes from my house. The horses seemed to have set-

tled-in perfectly, and everything was great. My mom and I went

out there the day after moving, greeted by a horse owner’s worst

nightmare. Legacy was three-legged lame, barely able to give a

few steps. His head was down, and I could tell he was in signifi-

cant pain.

Immediately, we sprang into action. The vet, Cara and my dad

were called, and we started to bring Legacy in. The trek from the

pasture to the barn took several hours and eight people to assist

him. His right front leg was put in a manure bucket and filled with

ice until our vet arrived. Our vet could not believe the damage; he

felt around, found two severed tendons, and believed another to

be badly strained. X-rays were taken from his hoof to his shoul-

Silk Roads LegacyA Story of Determination BY CASSIE PHELPS


der, and that’s when we found the real damage. A piece of Lega-

cy’s radius had broken. The damage was so bad that we thought

we would have to put him down.

The decision was made to splint-wrap him and wait; if he

made it through any day it was a miracle. As Cara was away at col-

lege, I was given the task of splint-wrapping his legs, and he was

put on stall rest for a minimum of eight months. For those eight

months, his leg was splinted until the vet okayed him for hand

walking. For those four months, Legend was hand-walked until he

was cleared for turnout and light riding.

The road to complete recovery has been long but worth it. In

2011, Legacy was able to start into heavy work, including some

jumping. In 2012, I took him to the Longview Horse Trials where

he finished 9th after only schooling cross-country two weeks be-

forehand! He did have a slight flare-up and was put into correc-

tive shoes and did flat work to build up the muscle he had lost.

2013 has been Legacy’s year to shine and really become a

fantastic show horse. As Cara had decided to follow her dreams

to turn professional, it looked like he may have to sit out another

season. Wanting a change from showing the stock horses, I start-

ed riding him. We went to the St. Louis MAHA Show in March, and

despite his protests to being out in the cold (ask him how much

he loved the heated barns), we did extremely well with limited

jumping beforehand. In April, we found our rhythm, and Legacy

rocked it, winning half his classes!

Mid season, Cara and I noticed Legacy would swell through-

out his body after a heavy flat or jumping session. We went

through our options and called Rhonda Martin out to give him a

massage and help with his saddle fitting. She worked her fingers

and taught us several stretches to help him work through any

tension and soreness he might be feeling.

She helped us help him to lift the shoulder

he had broken so he could regain even more

muscle on that side. It is amazing how much

of a difference the Fleeceworks pad and

stretching has made on him. (Free walk is his

absolute favorite Dressage move!)

Cara and I only have two jumps at home,

and we both wanted Legacy to do his best

and continue the success he was having, so

we headed over to Julie Wolfert’s for some

well-rounded, dressage-based jumping les-

sons. Julie would put us through her scary

fences (Some scare me!), and we’d go home

and find out that ground poles are indeed

our friends, not our foe.

Legacy napping with his teddy bear at a horse show. Showing off in the snow.

Longview Horse Trials


The hard work paid off, and the Region XI Championships

went like a dream. Legacy packed me around to a Green Working

Hunter win, an Adult Amateur Equitation Over Fences win and a

Reserve in the Open Hunter Hack with three Top Fives, too! We

went to both the United States Pony Club Mega Rally and Mid-

west Championships, earning 8th in Dressage with 2nd in Show

Jumping at Mega and 6th in Dressage and 2nd in horse manage-

ment at the Midwest Champs.

Legacy has come a long way—from a gangly baby to a horse

fighting to live to a successful and spoiled show horse. Every

time I look back at how far we’ve come, it leaves me speechless.

This season, we’ve become a team learning together and work-

ing things out, with our support team behind us from Cara, our

wonderful vet, Dr. Hertzog, Rhonda and her miracle fingers, our

farrier Jesse, and Julie for putting up with our awkwardness. It’s

just amazing that this little horse with a big personality has made

it from the edge to being ranked Top Ten in the nation. Legacy

keeps getting better with age and I look forward to everything

our future holds.

Silk Roads Legacy and I attended our first Arabian & Half Ara-

bian Sport Horse Nationals this year. The quality of horses in all

of the classes was surreal. Legacy is small: coming from a pony

sized dam and a very large sire, he was stuck on the smaller side,

just barely over pony height. However, he makes up for it with

heart and stride.

Our first class of the show was the HA/AA Green Working

Hunter; Leg has not had a chance to jump truly hunter decorated

jumps, so this was a new experience, and he marched over every-

thing, packing me around to a Top Ten! Saturday, we got the won-

derful experience of showing in the rain, making me very happy

for a cross-trained horse that also events as the puddles didn’t

faze him one bit. He jumped beautifully, earning a fourth on one

of the judge’s cards and earning us another Top Ten in the HA/AA

Hunter Hack AAOTR.

Sunday, I thought our class would never come, and finally our

last class of the show came around full of multiple National and

Open Circuit champions. We had a train wreck of a warm up; both

of us were tired, grumpy and ready to get home. Legacy has this

thing of being naughty then pulling himself together and do-

ing really well in his classes, which thankfully he did! He flatted

beautifully, and I got to sit back and enjoy the ride. He jumped

great, earning another fourth on one of the judge’s cards and

took home our last Top Ten in the HA/AA Hunter Hack ATR.

I could not be more pleased with my horse, my sister Cara

who coached me, and our cheering section both at the show and

back home! The pasture horse that was fighting to survive a few

years ago is going to enjoy his vacation and get ready to play next

year. This little horse with a huge heart and the ability to over-

come anything has just started what we hope to be his continued

successful career.

Longview Horse Trials Sport Horse Nationals

© T

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http://thearabianlegends.com

http://phelpsequestrian.weebly.com


Dark PranksterMadeleine Hoshizaki: A Journey from Old MacDonald to

Since the age of three, while in

nursery school, Madeleine Ho-

shizaki had to have the chil-

dren’s book, Old MacDonald Had a Farm,

and guess what? A horse was on the cover.

So began her love of horses and, in her

own words, “And steady downhill from

there!” Boy was she hooked! It became a

lifelong obsession.

In San Pedro, California, Maddy be-

gan riding horses at the park and at dude

ranches during the summer. Whenever she

could, she rode an hour here and there, but

she just wanted to have her own horse and

take lessons. Some of

her friends had hors-

es and competed in

hunter/jumper class-

es. She even suggest-

ed to her parents that

they convert their

garage into a barn

so she could have a

horse. Their response

was “What would we

do with a horse in the

city and where would

we put our cars?” So,

she had to settle for a

cat. Later, she and her

family moved to Cin-

cinnati, Ohio where she met and married

her husband.

Maddy did not buy a horse until later,

once she and her husband had moved to

Michigan. She finally had the time and the

money, so she decided to take lessons. She

half-leased a horse, which did not work

out. Understandably, she really wanted

to have her own horse. A co-worker had a

friend who raised Arabians, and a meeting

was set. Maddy figured she could find out

from an expert what was involved in own-

ing a horse, both in time and money need-

ed. She spent a weekend at the breeder’s

farm near Kalamazoo and was fortunate

that the woman was very thorough, con-

scientious and objective when helping her

decide on a horse.

That Sunday night, Maddy came home

and told her husband, “Honey, I bought a

horse!” The horse was an Arabian/Tennes-

see Walker, and he was a sweetheart. He

looked like a National Show Horse, with

long legs and a long neck. Since the horse

by Maurine Webb

...by this time, Maddy was having second thoughts about ever owning another horse.


Dark Pranksterwas green-broke, they learned how to ride

together. When Maddy’s instructor asked

her what discipline she wanted to pursue,

she replied hunters. The instructor sug-

gested that she start with dressage, as it

teaches the rider to feel what the horse

is doing and helps develop a better seat

and leg. Although she learned a great deal

from this horse, he was not competitive.

So Maddy sold this horse and bought a

more show-worthy Thoroughbred. “But, I

was a terrible rider,” recalls Maddy. “It was

a frustrating time.”

About this time, her family moved to

California with the Thoroughbred in tow.

She could not find an instructor that she

liked, so she decided to trail-ride instead

of competing. He threw her several times

(one time she had to have thirteen stitch-

es) and then he stepped on and broke her

foot. Sadly, she eventually had to have him

put down due to his health.

The next horse she bought was the

horse from hell! He looked like a small

Oldenburg. She bought him from a friend

of a friend and was railroaded into the

transaction. When the vet came to do the

soundness check, he said, “He is the lazi-

est horse that I have ever seen. If I were

you, I would not buy this horse; I can dis-

qualify him for you.” She replied, “I kind

of feel that I have to buy this horse!” Well,

the horse did not like dressage, he did not

like trail riding, and he did not like people.

He bit and bucked and was the nastiest

horse she had ever met. He was stubborn

to the point of hurting himself.

Maddy knew it was time to get rid of

him when one day, he bucked her off. As

she lay on the ground, a little voice in her

head whispered, “Do not move your head!”

Suddenly, the horse reared up, came down

and tried to put his hoof on her head. Time

to sell this one!

As you can imagine, by this time, Mad-

dy was having second thoughts about ever

owning another horse. She went for about

a year without one but still just wanted a

nice horse that she could trail-ride. While

surfing the Internet, she found an Arabian/

Quarter Horse in Oregon. Beau turned out

to be a sweetheart, her “rock,” and she still

owns him today, although he is now 28

years old and retired. Beau did everything:

dressage, hunting and trail-riding. Beau

also led her to meeting her current trainer,

Patience Prine-Carr.

Maddy and her friend were looking

for a trainer, and someone recommended

Patience. Patience did dressage, hunters,

equitation and eventing, and she worked

particularly with Arabians. Maddy was

happily taking hunter lessons, until one

day Patience left her sweatshirt on the rail

Dark Prankster and Maddy

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of the ring fence. Beau went flappy, she

forced him to jump and he dumped her.

Maddy landed on the arena fence, was dig-

ging dirt out of her ear for three days, and

had a concussion to match the dent in her

helmet. Perhaps it was time to do some-

thing less dangerous… dressage!! Patience

suggested that she come to a show with

her, and although Maddy had said that she

was through with competition, she had

a great time. It was then she decided to

compete on the Arabian show circuit.

In the meantime, her husband was rid-

ing Beau in small hunter classes, on trail

rides and even in a 30-mile endurance

race. Since he was teaching Beau bad hab-

its, Maddy told him, “I think it’s time that

you get your own horse.” He replied that

he was not ready to buy his own horse, and

instead suggested she get a new horse on

which to compete. They discussed it at

length—the time required for training and

travel and the expense to buy and keep a

horse of that caliber. In the end, her hus-

band said to go for it!

Maddy decided to keep working rather

than retire in order to use her income for

“The Horse.” Her search took six months.

She was working at home one day, surfing

the Internet, and there on the screen was

an Arabian/Friesian gelding (she already

loved Arabians and had fallen in love with

Friesians after seeing the movie, “Lady-

hawke”). The horse was stabled just north

of Sacramento, so she called the owner

to find out if she could come and see the

horse that day.

She liked the look of the horse, but he

wasn’t sure if he liked her and was very

cautious. He had beautiful movement but

had been under saddle just a short time.

When she rode him, she had difficulty in

getting him to canter, but eventually he

figured it out. Next, Maddy called Patience

and asked her to come and look at the

horse. Patience’s response was, “He will

be a nice horse for training,” so she bought

him. So began, ten years ago, Maddy’s

journey with Dark Prankster, age 3.

In the beginning, he was so clumsy he

would fall down in the pasture and on the

lunge line, always getting his legs tangled

up. The poor horse could not tell where

his body parts were. and Maddy even

thought to herself “What have I bought?”

He was like a goofy kid. They took him to

the Scottsdale Horse Show and although

he did very well, he still needed to solidify

his work ethic. Sometimes, it was a sheer

battle of wills between Maddy and “Peet.”

She would almost be in tears with the

frustration. One day, Peet even turned his

head around and glared at her. On more

than one occasion, Maddy had put him up

for sale.

Then, suddenly, he began to improve.

He began to place well at the shows, and

Patience said to Maddy, “I thought you had

a nice competition horse, but now I think

you have your diamond in the rough.” It

was then that they decided to take him as

far as he could go.

When I met Peet for the first time, I

was immediately struck by his bright eyes,

perky ears and wonderful disposition. He

really likes people. I just wanted to reach

out and hug him, so I did. The dark bay

gelding, standing at sixteen hands, is a

fabulous mix of Arabian energy and Frie-

sian sweet temperament.

At the same time, he has become a

great show horse. Maddy states that if you

do not work him and leave him in the pas-

ture, he becomes restless and starts bang-

Dark Prankster and Maddy

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Dark Prankster’s Recent Titles

2013

National Champion Intermediate I

National Top Ten Sport Horse Show Hack Open

National Top Ten Sport Horse Show Hack ATR

Region III Champion Intermediate I

Region II Champion Prix St. Georges Open

Region II Champion Prix St. Georges ATR

Region II Champion 4th Level ATR

Region II Champion Show Hack

Region II Champion Show Hack ATR

2012

National Champion Prix St. Georges

(FEI High Score)

National Champion Fourth Level Dressage 70%

National Champion Prix St. Georges ATR

Reserve National Champion Show Hack ATR

Top Ten 4th Level ATR

ing on his stall door when brought in, as

if to say, “When are we going to practice

for the next show? I’m waiting! Let’s go!”

Performing in the ring, he is all business,

especially under the guidance of his train-

er, Patience Prine-Carr. Patience says that

he can be a bit lazy and you must always

be in charge. Peet can be a real character

and may pull some stunts if your attention

strays, thus living up to his name.

He is also very intelligent and beauti-

ful, and he knows it. He has difficulty with

lateral work, due to a lack of flexibility (a

Friesian trait), therefore, he has some prob-

lems with half-passes. In his early years, he

had a hard time distinguishing between a

full gallop and a canter; this he grew out

of as he became more aware of his body.

Every year, he has gotten better and

better. Maddy has even jumped him and

taken him on trail-rides. When he retires,

after he has become proficient in Grand

Prix Level Dressage, Peet will be her trail-

horse.

Dark Prankster with Patience Prine-Carr during their victory lap as

National Champions in Intermediate I at the 2013 Arabian/Half-

Arabian Sport Horse National Championships in Lexington, VA.

© T

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Hor

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How did you become interested in dres-

sage?

My mother shares the same passion I

have for horses. From before I can remem-

ber, I was on the back of a horse. I started

riding in lessons at the age of four, and

I participated in small schooling shows

with cross-rails and equitation classes.

My mother imported horses over from

Germany (where she is from) when I was

about 6 or 7 years old, and that began my

pursuit of dressage! Despite growing up

in a more hunter/equitation atmosphere,

when my parents bought a farm and our

own horses, I became more focused on

my position and flatwork, which started

the basis of my dressage career. It wasn’t

until I turned 12 that I decided I really

wanted to move forward in this sport and

begin competing. I started at local school-

ing shows on one of the Friesians that my

mom owned, and a few years later we pur-

chased my 2002 Quarter Horse-Arabian

palomino mare, My Blew Angel (Angel).

At that time, I began recognized competi-

tions.

What Arabian-breds do you compete cur-

rently?

I competed Angel last year, and this

year I have spent more time focusing on

her training so we haven’t been in the

show ring. She has a heart of gold and is

incredibly willing. In 2012, I competed

her at the Lendon Gray Youth Dressage

Festival at first level, where we won the

class with a 73+% and ended up winning

our whole division. In addition, we won

Reserve Champion of the whole show

with over 200 horses. Each year that I’ve

Jannike Gray Growing into Arabs

Jannike Gray is a 19-year-old student at the University of Connecticut who trains with David Collins at Centerline Stables in Ossining, NY.


brought her to that show, we have won

Champion or Reserve Champion in our di-

vision! Angel and I have also won Region

8 (New England) Reserve Champion at

Training Level a few years ago.

What is your history with Arabians?

Up until we purchased Angel, I had

not had any experience with Arabians. My

parents bought her when she was young,

which gave us time to learn together. I

started riding and working with her us-

ing Natural Horsemanship. I rode without

a saddle and bridle, playing games and

learning about our body language and

communication together. I believe this is

what made our bond so strong. After get-

ting to know each other, I began to focus

more and more on the dressage work.

Why do you like Arabians?

Although I haven’t worked with many

Arabians, my horse has shown me how

wonderful this breed is to work with. She

is incredibly smart, willing to please, and

gentle. Whether it is an 8-year-old on her

back, someone who is asking her to work

a bit harder, or an older rider looking to

learn, she takes it in stride and takes care

of whoever is on her back.

Who has been your biggest influence?

My trainer, David Collins, has been my

biggest influence. Over the past year and

a half, David has transformed my riding to

a whole new level. His emphasis on a cor-

rect seat has taught me how to positively

influence whatever horse I am riding. With

Angel, this meant learning to sit steady

and quiet in order for her to lift her back

and swing forward. My mother is another

huge influence in my life, as she gave me

the opportunity to ride Angel. She is my

biggest supporter and we are so lucky to

share this wonderful passion!

What do you consider your greatest ac-

complishment so far?

My biggest accomplishment so far

is qualifying and competing at the 2011

North American Junior Championships in

Lexington, Kentucky and winning a team

bronze medal. Although this was not on

an Arabian, riding my Arabian gave me

many skills to prepare me for this compe-

tition.

What are your future plans?

I am currently enrolled at the Univer-

sity of Connecticut in the school of busi-

ness. I will continue to ride and learn as

much as I can. I would like to continue

competing in dressage and look at this as

a lifelong journey of mine.


Grumpy mare, energizer bunny,

Appytude, lifelong horse.

FX Chantilli Lace can be

described in many different ways, but to

longtime owner Rebecca Nelson, she is

part of the family, grumpy mare attitude

and all.

“Tilli” is a 27 year old grey Half-Arabi-

an out of Falkher el Sherif x April Serpriz

(App.). Neither her age nor her smaller

14.1-hand stature has stopped her from

competing with the “big boys” of the

jumping industry.

Tilli and her pilot, Rebecca Nelson,

started their journey when Nelson was 14

years old. Tilli herself was a mere 3 years

old. The pair started their days roaming

through the trails at Bucks County Horse

Park, a park close to Nelson’s hometown

in Pennsylvania.

Their first show together was two

years later, when Tilli was 5. Given Tilli’s

build and slight ewe neck, she did not do

well as a hunter pleasure horse.

“I had no clue what I was doing,” said

Nelson. “I had one lesson to canter. I was

literally riding by the seat of my pants.”

Prior to owning Tilli, Nelson had

started riding lessons at age 9. She con-

tinued with lessons until her parents gave

her two options: continue with lessons,

or own her own horse. Naturally, Nelson

chose to own her own horse and stopped

taking lessons.

In the fall of 1993, Nelson left Tilli at

her parents’ farm and made the trek to

Fulton, MO to attend college at William

Woods University. There, she studied

Equine Science and minored in Business

Administration.

During Nelson’s senior semester, in

the fall of 1996, Tilli joined her in Missouri.

During the semester, Nelson showed Tilli

and dabbled in jumping her. With the help

of a friend, Nelson also helped break Tilli

to drive. At William Woods, Tilli continued

to prove her versatility as an Arabian. Dur-

ing the same semester, the pair won a Mis-

souri Arabian Western Pleasure class held

on campus.

Despite Tilli’s versatility, Nelson had

her sights set on Nationals. “I’ve always

wanted to do jumpers there,” she said.

The only prior jumping experiences for

Tilli were over natural obstacles in the

Sports Park or poles set across cinder

blocks.

After graduation, Nelson went to work

for Kendrick Show Stable, a show stable

that competed on the A-rated hunter/

jumper circuit in Hornell, NY. Tilli went

with her, and as Nelson says, “That’s when

we really started our jumping career.”

With guidance, Nelson started Tilli free

jumping and then moved up to 18” hunt-

ers.

As they gained more mileage and

moved up divisions, they competed at

multiple local shows and continued to

compete at the indoor winter shows. The

biggest show the pair went to was the Au-

tumn Classic in Port Jervis, NY. There, the

dynamic duo competed in the 3’3” Green

Jumpers.

“We competed against Olympic green

horses,” reflected Nelson. “I remember

FX Chantilli Lace A Lifelong Horse by rebekah savage


seeing Beezie Madden, Margie Goldstein,

Nona Garson, Mark and Peter Leone and

McClain Ward showing in the Open Green

Jumper class.”

Despite Tilli’s size and the noteworthy

competition, the pair ended up fifth place

with double-clear rounds. “There were

45-50 horses in a class,” said Nelson. “We

seemed to catch everyone’s eye. People

commented on my ‘cute pony.’”

In 1998, Tilli and Nelson competed

in the Region 16 Half-Arabian Jumpers.

“There was only one other horse,” said

Nelson. “We got nothing because only

the top 50% receive a Top 5 ribbon.” In

1999, Nelson moved to Maine. There, she

kept her horses boarded and didn’t do

much with Tilli until 2001, when the pair

competed in the Region 16 Half-Arabian

Jumpers again. “It was little,” said Nelson.

“It was just her in the class.”

In 2002, the duo made the trek from

Maine to compete at the U. S. Arabian/

Half-Arabian National Championships in

Louisville, KY. “I loaded her up and off we

went,” said Nelson. “I was never nervous

or scared for a show, until there. There

was money everywhere.”

At that time, the Half-Arabian Open

Jumpers consisted of three rounds. Dur-

ing the first round, the pair had a clear

round and the fastest time. Their second

round was also clear and the second-

fastest time, and in their third round, they

were second-to-last.

“I rode aggressively,” Nelson reflect-

ed. “At the turn to the last fence, I took the

longest distance ever. [Tilli] handled her-

self and we hit the back rail. I was proud

she went because it was nearly impos-

sible. I kicked myself for years; I cost her

that.”

Overall, they finished third place with

four faults. The winner had a double-clear

round.

After their trip to Nationals, Nelson

decided to breed Tilli. In 2003, Tilli was

bred to Infidel’s Design from Mountain

View Arabians in Madison, ME. Tilli was

breed via Artificial Insemination (AI), but

she did not take the first time. After the

second time using AI, she took.

About a month out from foaling, Tilli

started to bag up. Since she was a maid-

en mare and her amniotic fluid seemed

cloudy, Nelson decided to bring her to a

nearby vet clinic for foaling. Nelson, her-

self, was about five months pregnant and

decided a trained staff was a safer option

for Tilli’s first time giving birth.

On May 9, 2004, Nelson received

a heart wrenching phone call from the

clinic. Tilli

had foaled,

but her colt

had to be put

down imme-

diately. Til-

li’s colt had a

birth defect

in his intes-

tine, which

was a one-

in-a-million

chance and

happens al-

most at con-

ception.

Nelson will never forget that fateful

day when her phone rang to tell her the

best, but most awful news. “Going from

the most excited feeling in the world,

then getting kicked in the gut,” she said.

“This was my next show jumper.”

After Tilli recovered, Nelson tried to

re-breed her to continue Tilli’s legacy.

“After a lot of money and an emotional

roller coaster, I decided it was not meant

to be,” she said.

Shortly after her decision, Nelson

found her next horse, a purebred Arabian

suckling from Texas. Echo, her new horse,

happened to also foal the same year

Tilli’s colt did, leaving a fitting match for

Nelson.

As time passed, Tilli continued to be

an all-around horse. She has taught les-

sons to countless students at Sunnybrook

Equestrian Center in Scarborough, ME,

which Nelson founded and continues to

run.

In 2010, at age 24, Tilli was brought

out of semi-retirement to compete in a

$1,000 Hunter Derby. Nelson and Tilli

placed fourth against much younger

horses, and horses much more suited for

hunter classes. During the same show,

Nelson’s daughter Emilie Doane showed

Tilli in Walk/Trot poles.

In 2013, Jenna Moore, a student from



Mike Morris had always liked horses, but never had

the opportunity to ride growing up. The chance fi-

nally came when he moved to the Temecula Valley

and, at age 47, met some endurance riders who invited him to

join them. He did a couple of rides on one of their extra horses,

and that was it; he was hooked! Within six months, he’d bought

his first horse, Sienna, a 6-year-old Arabian mare off the track.

Registered as In Single, Sienna is a 15.2-H Wiking daughter

(Wiking x Justonetime x Brusally Orlen). Bred in Kentucky, she

raced for Darley Stables and had a short career of just six starts

with one win to her credit. She was picked up as a claimer by lo-

cal endurance rider Suzanne Malden who specialized in convert-

ing ex-racehorses. Suzanne had too many horses at the time and

resold Sienna before she knew what she had. Mike remembers

the day he first saw her, “I’d been shopping for a horse for a cou-

ple of months with no success, until I went to see this ex-race-

horse at the agent’s barn. I thought she looked pretty good from

the ground, but when she put her in the round pen and asked her

to trot, the whole world disappeared. I couldn’t even hear what

this woman was saying. I was in love.”

Mike, a completely green rider who was on crutches recover-

ing from knee surgery to boot, bought this young, off-the-track

Arabian mare with the intent of doing endurance riding. He was

completely unprepared for what was to follow. “Maybe not the

smartest thing for a green rider to do. She was even a bit afraid

of my crutches, so I had to put them down before I went into the

paddock. But the bond developed almost instantly. It’s as if we

were both just waiting for the other to come along. It wasn’t long

before she knew the sound of my truck and would whinny, run

over and plant her head in my chest. It was a match made in

heaven,” recalled Mike.

The barn where they ended up was KingsWay Farm, the

EVENTING STAR Purebred Arabian “Sienna”

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home base of two-time Olympic eventer Hawley Bennett. Mike

thought it seemed like a good idea to get some dressage lessons

to help his endurance riding. With him being as green as he was,

and Sienna knowing nothing but racing, Hawley agreed to get

her started. After just a few rides though, Hawley commented

that Sienna was a pretty talented horse and asked Mike if he’d

thought about eventing her. He had only recently seen his first

3-Day Event and was in awe of the sport. “I can’t do that,” he said,

to which Hawley replied that she would ride Sienna and until he

was ready to try it himself. “I remember asking her if she could

do both endurance and eventing. Hawley said ‘sure’ but I think

all along she knew what Sienna was meant to be, and that was an

event horse,” said Mike.

What followed was another revelation, and that was seeing

just how good she looked doing dressage and jumping, especial-

ly with Hawley in the tack. Seeing her compete and do well was

an unexpected joy. “Not only had I not considered showing, but

I had never considered being an owner and watching someone

else compete my horse. But I was like a proud father watching

his little girl excel in sports or dance. I imagine I seemed a little

silly to all the seasoned owners and competitors, but I was brim-

ming over watching her go!” recalled Mike.

She proved to be not just a pretty face; she had real talent.

Hawley took first place the first time she showed her, beating 11

horses in beginner novice at Woodside Horse Park, which seemed

to set the stage. Within nine months she had

her going training level, rarely finishing out of

the top five. By this time, Hawley was really in

love with her. Mike said, “The joke around the

barn was that I wasn’t getting my horse back!”

When asked about Sienna, Hawley said, “I

just adore this horse, she is the perfect pack-

age. I love, love riding her! Every single picture

I have of me on her, I am smiling. She floats

around, just a gorgeous mover and I feel like I

can just gallop down to any jump on her.“

The following year, Mike felt he was ready

to start eventing himself. But jumping into a

sport like that with so little experience proved

tougher than he imagined. After about a year

of struggling with stops and run outs, trying to

cope with show nerves and generally not hav-

ing a lot of fun, he decided to pull out of eventing, and just do

dressage for a year or two. This time was spent working on learn-

ing to ride and developing his seat. Things started going quite

well, with Mike consistently scoring in the mid to high 60’s and

ready to move up to first level. Then, in the spring of 2012, some

health problems arose for Mike.

He had entries in at several shows when he developed a her-

nia. The first show on the schedule was a Arabian show at Galway

Downs, so he asked well-known Arab trainer and dressage rider

Katherine Rich-Elzig if she’d take the ride. She did and took first

place with a score of 70, even with having never ridden Sienna

Sienna’s win photo

Mike and Sienna

Amy

Mye

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hoto


before. “She really made an impression with Katherine and the

spectators that day. She’s such a head turner. With her big, floaty

movement, people assumed she must be a Half or Anglo-Arab.

Katherine told me she’s one in a million and made me promise to

show her more in the Arabian Sport Horse world,” said Mike. He

did manage, with much physical discomfort, to show her in hand

that day, where she scored 9 and 9.5 on her movement for a total

score of 82.

Unfortunately, Mike’s health issues didn’t stop with the

hernia. The same week he had his hernia repaired, he was di-

agnosed with prostate cancer. So in July, he underwent robotic

surgery to successfully remove the tumor, but the rehab was to

prove difficult. “I tried riding a couple of weeks after abdominal

surgery, but my body said no,” he recalled. Mike had also been

training with dressage rider, trainer and judge Donna Weinberg

who took over the rest of the show schedule for the local chapter

of the California Dressage Society. Together the pair received the

high point award at First Level with scores in the high 60’s and

low 70’s.

After that, Mike gave Sienna back to Hawley to enter the

Training Three Day at Galway Downs in November. She had com-

peted at this level the year before, taking 3rd place out of 16 en-

tries. “The T3D is always one of the most popular divisions,” said

Mike, “especially for up-and-coming horses, and the competition

is tough. It’s one of the few remaining long-format events. So, in

addition to the usual dressage and show jumping, cross-country

day includes roads and tracks plus steeplechase before the horse

goes out onto the cross-country course. That makes it a bit more

of an endurance test than a normal 3-day event or horse trial.

Sienna’s Arabian blood makes her supremely suited for that.”

This time around, Hawley and Sienna finished 2nd out of a field

of 38 horses, missing 1st by less than half a point. “This was a real

feather in her cap,” said Mike, “to finish so strong in open com-

petition against warmbloods and Thoroughbreds. I don’t wear it

on my sleeve that she’s an Arabian, but I love that she breaks the

stereotypes. In a sport where you don’t expect to see Arabians

at all, let alone being competitive, she’s a wonderful ambassa-

dor for the breed. I’ve heard all the prejudicial statements, like

Arabs can’t jump, or dressage is difficult for Arabs, etc. But she’s

changed a lot of people’s minds and shown how tough, intelli-

gent and versatile her breed can be.”

Fast-forward to this year. Mike, after two more elective

surgeries to fix his carpal tunnel syndrome, was finally ready to

ride. He picked up where he left off and things were going well

again, but after only a month in the saddle, it was Sienna’s turn: a

fractured splint bone that required surgery. “It was there during

the training 3-day, and she never complained. But by January, it

hadn’t healed and was starting to grow behind to her suspensory,

so I decided to have it removed. The surgeon couldn’t believe

she hadn’t been lame. Arabians are such tough horses, but it

would have eventually caused damage,

so I gave up my season with her to have

it fixed,” said Mike.

At the same time, Mike wasn’t about

to sit around when he was now ready

to ride again. So he decided to lease

some horses or pick up rides where he

could. The first horse he leased was a

17.1-H Irish draft jumper. After two of

months of riding “Lucas” in the jump

arena, Mike asked Hawley if she knew

of anything else he could lease or ride,

and she graciously offered him her re-

tired Olympic mount Livingstone, aka

“Hank,” a 16.3-H OTTB. Mike said, “This

was the silver lining to having Sienna

off for a while. In that timeframe I rode Mike and Sienna competing at Copper Meadows Horse Trials in September

Phot

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about 10 different horses, finishing up with 4 months on Hank.

I’d never ridden a school-master before, let alone a 4-star horse.

He’s a legend, and it was an honor to ride him. He also brought

my confidence to a new level, capping off all the work I’d done

over the previous two years.”

Mike made his return to eventing by showing Hank in June at

Copper Meadows at novice level, finishing in 5th place out of 18

on a dressage score of 30.4. This set the stage for returning to

eventing on Sienna. “I used to get jealous of Hawley, in a way.

She’d come off the

cross-country course

with Sienna grin-

ning, and say ‘She’s

so much fun!’ or ‘She

was perfect!’ I so

very much wanted to

enjoy my own horse

in that way,” said

Mike. So with about

3 months to get her

legged up, Mike en-

tered Copper Mead-

ows again in Sep-

tember. They scored

a respectable 33.5 in

dressage, and with

double-clean cross-

country and show

jumping rounds, fin-

ished in 3rd place out of 24 in the senior novice division. “That

was so much fun and so gratifying. She’s a very talented horse,

but not an easy horse for a beginner. Now, after a lot of strug-

gling, a lot of frustration and a lot of hard work, I feel like I can

finally take advantage of what she has to give,” Mike beamed.

Looking back, Mike has had some mixed feelings about the

road he’s taken with Sienna, feeling guilty at times when he’s

held her back. “She’s so talented, and Hawley has done amaz-

ingly well with her. I’ve been torn at times, about whether and

when to have Hawley ride her and when to take her back for my-

self. She’d be much farther along, obviously, if it were just Haw-

ley riding her. The T3D was easy for her and she’s been ready to

take her prelim for quite a long time now. But at the end of the

day, she’s my horse, and I’ve developed such a passion for this

sport. I need to learn to do it myself. So we continue to trade

off,” he said.

Sienna truly is a great ambassador for the breed. Mike said,

“In a sport where one doesn’t expect to see many Arabians,

and where there’s even a bit of prejudice against them, she has

changed a lot of people’s minds. First of all, she’s a real head

turner. She’s absolutely beautiful, with stunning movement, so

Continued on the next page.

Photo in the Arabian Horse Galleries at the Kentucky Horse Park of Sienna and Hawley Bennett

Mike and Sienna at a dressage show in September


I’m always getting asked what breed she is. When she does well,

especially with a high-profile rider like Hawley in the tack, peo-

ple want to know about her. They’re generally stunned when I

tell them she’s a purebred Arabian.”

As an additional feather in her cap, there’s an image of Haw-

ley competing Sienna on permanent display in the Arabian Horse

Galleries at the Kentucky Horse Park. When they built the ad-

dition to the museum in 2010, they asked Mike for an image to

represent Arabians that event.

Finding this amazing horse has changed Mike’s life in many

ways. “For me, buying Sienna was the most life changing deci-

sion I’ve ever made. I love her… more every day. She’s sweet,

beautiful and talented and has opened up a whole new world

to me—a new sport, a new passion and a whole new lifestyle. I

didn’t grow up with horses; now I can’t imagine my life without

them,” he said.

Mike admits it is total serendipity that Sienna is where she is.

“The fact that I bought her and ended up at KingsWay with Haw-

ley is the reason that her talent was discovered. If anyone else

had bought her, she would have ended up as an endurance horse

or maybe just a trail horse. There’s nothing wrong with either of

those things—in fact, her full sibling is No Repeat, who qualified

with Becky Hart last year for the World Endurance Championships

in Great Britain. But it’s her talent and aptitude for eventing that

makes her such a special horse and that’s what I will continue to

focus on,” said Mike.

However, that’s going to have to wait a bit. When Mike real-

ized Sienna needed surgery and that the rehab would take up

much of the season, he decided to get her in foal. “I was pretty

set on an Anglo-Arabian. I want to take advantage of her move-

ment, her intelligence and her stamina but add a little power and

size,” said Mike about his decision. Sienna was bred in June to a

16.3-hand Thoroughbred named Sea Accounts, the resulting foal

is due next May.

About his plans after she foals, Mike says, “I plan to give her

more exposure and continue to have her break the stereotypes.

In a discipline that demands it all—dressage, jumping and stam-

ina—she more than holds her own against the other breeds. Oh,

and did I mention she’s beautiful?!”

Sunnybrook Equestrian Center, competed

on Tilli in the hunter and equitation di-

visions. The pair qualified for Region 16

Championships, where Tilli, at age 27,

continued to shine.

Moore and Tilli were

Region 16 Equitation

Over Fences Champi-

ons.

Now, Tilli contin-

ues to teach students

how to ride and jump

during lessons and

summer camp. “She

is truly an old scholar,

she is not easy, but

if you get it right,

she goes well,” said

Nelson. “She’s a ‘sit

down, shut up and hold on’ kind of jump-

er.”

Nelson plans on continuing to use Tilli

for lessons, despite her age. She believes

the horse will tell her when she’s ready to

be done. “She was in retirement, but she’s

not in any way, shape or form ready to re-

tire,” she said. “If she’s willing to keep go-

ing, she’ll keep going. She has chiroprac-

tic adjustments, supplements, and if she

stays sound, she’ll keep jumping.”

Despite Tilli’s often-grumpy mare at-

titude, she is part of the family for Nelson.

“She is one of those lifelong horses, she’s

truly a family member,” she said. “Not a

day goes by that I don’t wish she was 15

years younger.”

Tilli, despite not passing on her legacy

in an offspring, will continue her legacy

of teaching the students who ride her.

Those who climb off her back will come

away with the experience of riding a true

scholar.

Continued from page 77

FX Chantilli Lace - A Lifelong Horse



Going Gold

What is his personality like?

And what a personality! He is very loving, energetic, curious

and protective over me. He always has his ears perked forward

when he greets me and neighs across the barn when he hears my

voice. When there are horses next to him and I walk up, he runs

after them with his ears flat back and shows his teeth! I have

taught him many things including to urinate before I ride him!

What else do you do with him?

He loves to go on trail rides.

What characteristics do Arabians bring to the table in this sport?

Intelligence, athleticism, enthusiasm, loyalty and beauty.

What is your greatest accomplishment together?

Our greatest accomplishment together was achieving all

three USDF medals on the same horse for the past ten years.

Also, believing in one another.

What are your future plans?

I will be retiring him from the FEI show ring and continue

to ride him more on the trails. I would also like for him to be a

Schoolmaster for other riders to learn the correctness and light-

ness of what a dressage horse should feel like.

myself “Can we do it?” Again, I looked at

those three young horses so proud and

flashy in their racing saddles and bridles.

So confident. So trusting. If I could be like

them—even half as much—I could see

it through. It would take the kind of wis-

dom they don’t teach in school very much

these days. It would take friends who do

more than hide behind the fickle plastic

of Twitter and Facebook. It would take

real courage and heart to get where we

had to go.

I looked again at those young horses

under saddle. I thought about the brood-

mares grazing steadily in the pasture

and next year’s foals they were carrying

with such faith. I knew Arabian horse lov-

ers on other farms were doing the same

thing. Other horse lovers were holding on,

believing they could guide their horses

to better times. Throughout history—

through world wars and turmoil of every

kind—Arabian horses have always been

in a race to glory, and they’re good at it.

In a way, they symbolize the very basic

principles of a sport called horse racing:

setting a goal, giving it your all, and cross-

ing the finish line.

Taking a deep breath, I thought about

all this and said to myself “OK… Let’s get

on with the show!”

Mr. Hevener is the author of “Fate of the

Stallion!” a family novel set in the word of

Arabian horseracing. His novels are availa-

ble everywhere eBooks are sold and he is a

licensed racehorse trainer. For more infor-

mation, please visit www.RonHevener.com


Why Racing is My Sport of Choice

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http://www.RonHevener.com

http://www.yourhorses.ifp3.com/Kathleen


FROM THE GROUND

BY LAINE SKLAR

At the beginning of 2008, I set

out on a journey to find my

dream horse—one I could bring

up the levels and, hopefully, show Grand

Prix one day. I was only a couple years

out of law school, I did not have a whole

lot of money to spend, and I wanted to

get the nicest horse I could for the money.

Additionally, I had grown up riding prob-

lem horses and had firmly decided that I

wanted to start a horse myself, from the

ground up, so that I had no one to blame

but myself for any training issues and

bumps along the road. So the search for

a high quality young horse began, and so

did the emotional rollercoaster.

I was looking for a gelding foaled in

2006, so that I would have time to build

a relationship and a solid foundation of

groundwork before I climbed on for the

first time. I traveled all over the western

US looking at babies. I did vet checks on

two purebred Hanoverians, both of whom

had hoof problems. I had spent a good

portion of my budget traveling and vet

checking and was emotionally drained

from the experience. In the Fall of 2008, I

decided to throw in the towel for a while

and rebuild my horse fund. However, as

we all know, best-laid plans don’t always

play out.

In November of 2008, I headed up to

a horse show in Scottsdale, AZ with my

trainer, Jennifer Parker, of Agape Dres-

sage in Tucson, AZ. Since we were going

to be in the Phoenix area, I decided to

browse around and see if there were any

young horses we could look at while we

were there. I had looked at the website

for Heather Buttrum’s Sovereign Farm

in Buckeye, AZ when I started shopping,

but Heather didn’t have any 2006 ba-

bies for sale at that

time. However, at

that point I’d been

looking for almost

a year, so a 2007

baby seemed fea-

sible. Heather had

three nice-looking

2007 babies, so Jen

and I decided to

drive over when we

finished our first

day of showing.

H e a t h e r

brought out the

first couple of

youngsters, and we watched them move

around in the turnout, evaluating their

temperaments, gaits and conformation.

Neither of the first two were exactly what

I was looking for, but then she brought out

the third. Jennifer and I were immediate-

ly taken by the way he eagerly trotted up

to us, stopped a few feet short and evalu-

ated us with a kind, but skeptical, eye. He

was Paladin SF, a 2007 Trakehner gelding,

also registered Half-Arabian, by Aul Magic

/+ (ox) by Padua Go (Trak). Bright chest-

nut with three white socks and a blaze,

PJ in 2008 as a yearling.


he had the exact same markings as Jen-

nifer’s purebred Arabian who she trained

to Grand Prix and I had been riding while I

was horse shopping.

In case he hadn’t sold us on his sweet

expression, ideal breeding and none too

coincidental markings, Paladin took a few

laps around us with his floating trot and

made sure to show off some nice over-

stride at the walk too. Jen and I knew that

he was the one. We had a serious conver-

sation about the fact that he was barely

15 hands and may not end up tall enough

for me in the long run. However, we’d de-

cided he was nice enough and the price

was such that if I’d ended up starting him

and having to sell him because he was too

small, I’d be able to do that and recoup

much of what I had put in.

The vet-check went smoothly, and I

brought Paladin SF (known around the

barn as PJ or “Peej”) home November 10,

2008 at just 18 months old. I look back at

the pictures of the scraggly youngster and

wonder what the heck we were thinking.

Then I look at the amazing horse and part-

ner Peej has blossomed into, and I know

that we were thinking right; he was going

to be one heck of a horse. Not only that,

he is nearly 17 hands, so that very serious

conversation we had about him not being

big enough is a running joke around the

barn. Thank goodness for that, because I

couldn’t bring myself to sell him in a mil-

lion years.

I spent a year-and-a-half working with

Peej on the ground. First, I took him on

daily hand-walks around the barn, up the

dirt roads and through the nearby hills.

I taught him to yield to pressure from

my hand on different parts of his body

and respond to voice commands. I also

schooled him run-

ning the triangle so

that I could take him

to the AHA shows and

show him in-hand to

get him experience

in the show ring prior

to starting him under

saddle. Then, I added

in working him once

or twice a week in a

very large round pen,

teaching him to wear

a surcingle and even-

tually a bridle. Once

he was comfortable

wearing a bridle, I

started long-lining him. By the time he

was two-and-one-half, he could trot big

circles and serpentines in the long-lines,

leg yield at the walk and trot and obey

very subtle rein and voice commands, all

with me running along behind him.

When I finally

climbed on Peej in

the spring of 2010

there was no long-

line and no one hold-

ing his head; I just

got on and with a lit-

tle gentle urging he

walked away from

the mounting block,

did a couple laps

around the round pen

at the walk, reversed

nicely from my leg

aids, walked a couple

laps the other way

and halted easily. I

praised him gener-

ously and he looked

at me like “finally, I was wondering if you

were ever actually going to get on!”

That July I took Peej to his first un-

der saddle show, an AHA show where we

showed in Half-Arabian Sport Horse Under

Saddle. He handled it like a pro. We won

PJ’s first ride.


our Half-Arabian Sport Horse Under Sad-

dle Junior Horse class and were Reserve

Champion in the championship class. I

had shown him in-hand at one schooling

show and two AHA shows prior to that

show, trying to get him accustomed to the

show environment. It paid off dividends.

We went on to show in our first USDF

shows at Training Level in the fall of 2010.

PJ truly shines at the horse shows. He

is eager to please, but a bit high-strung.

Because of our relationship, I can usually

channel that tension into positive energy

in the ring. We have steadily moved up the

levels, showing Training Level the 2010-

11 show season, First Level in 2011-12

and Second Level in 2012-13. We have

received only one score under 60% and

more than 20 scores over 70% in the 50

classes in which we have competed so far.

PJ has received USDF All-Breeds cham-

pionships, many state and local champi-

onships and High Point ribbons, and we

won every USDF Second Level class in

which we competed in the 2012-2013

show season, including six Dover Medals

and open High Point at the Scottsdale Ara-

bian show, all

with me in the

irons. Peej

and I made

our USDF Third

Level debut

in August of

2013 and re-

ceived a 61%

and two 64%s

from three dif-

ferent judges,

placing sec-

ond in two

classes and

first in the third class, our first time show-

ing in California. I also earned my USDF

Bronze Medal at that show.

However, as much as the ribbons and

accolades are fun and bring me immense

pride, it is the relationship that PJ and I

have developed over the years that brings

me such amazing fulfillment in my riding.

The feeling of partnership with a horse

that will truly do, or at least try to do, any-

thing you ask of him is immensely hum-

bling and gratifying. I attribute this to

PJ’s wonderful

temperament

and the hours

we spend to-

gether each

day.

I am an am-

ateur rider; be-

fore I bought

PJ, I had shown

through Sec-

ond Level and

one show at

Third Level on

a borrowed

horse. I work full-time as a government

lawyer. I take one lesson per week. My

trainer gets on very infrequently. But,

I want to go up the levels with PJ more

than I want anything else in this world. I

make sacrifices every day so that we can

achieve that goal.

There is no such thing as being too

tired or too busy to get out to the barn.

If that means waking up at 4:00 a.m. eve-

ry day so that I can get my two hours in

with my horse before work, Town Council

meetings and coming home to make din-

ner, so be it. PJ “does dressage” four days

a week. We trail ride once or twice a week

and incorporate cavaletti and hill work for

strengthening. At least one day a week

Peej and I just hang out together. I groom

him, let him bomb around in the turn out,

or hand graze him and we just be. I be-

lieve this balance brings trust and builds

work ethic.

PJ knows he doesn’t have to work hard

every time he sees me coming. He whin-

nies at me every time I walk into the barn

and comes to his stall door and sticks his

head in his halter. When we are out on the

Scottsdale awards.


trail and we need to push our way through

a stand of trees to make our own path, I

gently touch his sides and say aloud, “It’s

okay Peej, you can do it” and you know

what? He believes me, and he does it.

That transfers into the show ring, too.

Peej isn’t the most confident horse,

but he takes my confidence and makes it

his own. That only comes with time, love,

respect and partnership. I am so blessed

to have PJ in my life and to have gotten

to travel this journey with him, from the

ground up. God-willing, you will see us

in the ring together doing my first Grand

Prix before this wonderful journey comes

to an end.

http://www.RozeArabians.com/

mailto:[email protected]

On The MarketPHOTO CLASSIFIED ADS - $10 per ad per issue

GURKHA - Lovely athletic 15.1 gray 5 yo Arab gelding for sale. Good French breed-ing Alto de Maligne, Tiking Away by Wiking. Gurkha has raced and now in profes-sional training. He has Baby Novice HT experience, dressage shows, trail riding, jumper shows! Ready for any discipline and has the movement, jump, and tempera-ment to excel with amateur adult/child. Please contact Jane Sleeper (PA),610-857-2514, [email protected] Other Arabs available.

KAZMIR (Admiral Harnly x Zena Jo)

9 yo, purebred gelding, 15.2, big bodied. 3 years dressage training with Sharon Bry-ant. Located in Maryland. Video: http://youtu.be/QJh9LGG-e14Email [email protected] or call 410-472-4178

STARR KNEELANN - (Imperial Shehaab x Shabha Latifa by Imperial Baarez) - a 4 year old bay stallion that would excel in sport horse. He is currently only 60 days under saddle but has a fabulous mind and is very willing to learn. He easily can be gelded and has never bred a mare so does not have that as a mind set. He has tremendous elastic movement, excellent ground manners and temperament. Kneelann has no bad vices. Asking $6500.00Please contact Jane Sleeper (PA),610-857-2514, [email protected] Other Arabs available.



http://youtu.be/QJh9LGG-e14

mailto:gus%40dordai.com?subject=


ServicesOur Services Directory is available for just an annual fee of $25 (6 issues). Subject Headers created as needed. Not for Stallions or Horses for Sale.

FARMSROZE ARABIANS • Angela White • Elizabethtown, PA • Breeders of Straight Egyptian Arabian Sport Horses

Horses for Sale • Clinics • www.RozeArabians.com • [email protected] • 717-585-0855

RIMROCK EQUESTRIAN CENTER, Ashley Wren, Billings, MT• Hunters, Jumpers, Equitation www.RimrockEquestrianCenter.com • [email protected]

MYSTIC RANCH ARABIANS, Karen Ernst, Herald, CA • Breeders of Arabian Sport Horseswww.MysticRanchArabians.com • [email protected]

BLUE MOON FARM & TRAINING CENTER • Sophie H. Pirie Clifton • Training, Clinics, Instruction thru the FEI levels • Tryon, NC • [email protected]


http://www.RozeArabians.com/


http://www.RimrockEquestrianCenter.com

mailto:sophie%40montana.net?subject=

http://www.RimrockEquestrianCenter.com



october/november 2013

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