waiting to see how Beijing crosses on some of their best mares, including Mystic Rose BHF (Padrons Psyche x NV Ali Bey), Canadian National Futurity Champion and U.S. Futurity Reserve Champion. In the interim, Denali is sharing breeding duties with his sire Falcon at Battle Hill, and doing extremely well. In his own right, Denali has an impressive show record. In 2003, he earned a Top Ten at U.S. Nationals in the Sweepstakes, and two years later, was Top Ten in the Futurities at U.S. Nationals and Canadian Reserve Futurity Champion. “Denali only has 17 registered foals, and out of that group he has four National winners, including a National Champion,” says Dorris. “He is so wonderfully bred in terms of his gene pool. NV Ali Bey, his dam, is just a gorgeous Ali Jamaal daughter who was National Champion Mare of Brazil. He looks more like Ali Jamaal than Bey Shah.” By the numbers, Battle Hill Farm’s success is easily recognized. Of the 111 registered foals bred over the years, 14 have been named U.S. and or Canadian National Champions in addition to other National wins. Six more have been named National Reserve Champions. Horses bred by Battle Hill Farm have earned 39 National Championships and Reserve Champions, and 84 National Top Tens. For the Love of the Breed Dorris and Lynn love the recognition, but insist that first and foremost they are breeders. “We are happy just to be here on the farm breeding,” insists Dorris. “We love the breeding end of it. We love being with them day to day, and our greatest pleasure is seeing the new foals born and watching Falcon and the mares in the pasture. The showring is fun, but the deepest satisfaction is the pleasure of the horses’ company.” It is very gratifying for Dorris and Lynn to see how happy people are with their foals from the Battle Hill program. “That is what is at the heart of our program, and we are so excited to see other folks become successful with Battle Hill bred horses,” she says. Keith can’t say enough about where Battle Hill is positioned in terms of influencing the Arabian horse industry — halter in particular. “I will say this about this entire program: They are the leading breeders of halter horses in the country right now. For example, this year at Canadian Nationals, they bred the Canadian National Champion Futurity Filly and the Canadian National Two-Year-Old filly. And every year it is like that. And despite what some people think about linebreeding, I truly believe that it is working for them, because those horses are genetically so strong in type and they are great horses, not mediocre. So when they do linebreed, they really hit some home runs and they do it consistently. It is amazing what they have done. Their stallion 99 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ OCTOBER 2009
Top: Mystic Rose BHF (Padrons Psyche x NV Ali Bey), U.S. National Reserve Champion and Canadian National Champion Futurity Filly, now owned by Dan Whiteneck has been bred to Beijing for a 2010 foal. Bottom: Farm manager Dorothy Herndon and Falcon BHF.