Cover Story: Hagale Family Arabians—The Show Of A Lifetime by Colleen Scott

SF Aftershoc+ and Chris Wilson A sk any of the Hagales what the highlight was of U.S. Nationals and they are hard pressed to come up with one singular moment. Their first national show flying under their own barn colors was an extraordinary success in the performance arena, where they’ve had a strong presence since returning to the industry some five years ago. And for the first time, they also made a foray into the halter arena on a national level, finding success there as well. “Overall, we were very pleased and grateful for the results of this show,” says Jim Hagale. “Hagale Family Arabians had great success and we were honored and excited to hear the names of many champions and reserve champions sired by stallions we own. It was a terrific show in every way.”

THE END OF A CAREER

At 16 years old, CSP Hot Dam (Mamage x The Vintage Rose) has had a long and successful career in the Half-Arabian English and Park divisions, amassing multiple national and regional titles for youth, amateur and open riders.

“We had talked about retiring him at Mid-Summer,” recalls Jennifer. “Even at 16, he still really wants to go, so, we decided to show him at U.S. Before I went in the ring for the Half-Arabian Park Horse Championship, Dad and I decided that if he was champion or reserve, we were going to retire him right on the spot, which would also mean I wouldn’t be able to show him the following day in costume.

We were Reserve Champions, and he retired right then and there, going out as a highly decorated, well-known and loved park horse by many.”

Jennifer says CSP Hot Dam was special to her for many reasons—his sire is Mamage (who she owned and rode as a youth rider) and the gelding helped her earn her first national title when the family got back into showing.

“He deserves to be retired and enjoy the rest of his years just being a horse,” she says.

A NEW PARTNERSHIP

When Jamie Hagale unexpectedly lost her Half-Arabian Double or Nuttin (Undulata’s Nutcracker x Ingennue) last year, the family was devastated. “Losing him really put a damper on my excitement about showing,” she says.

Little did she know that her next horse would come to her as the result of a trip she wasn’t even on this past summer. “I got a call while I was at the gym. And I ignored it. Then I got a second call. And I ignored it. And by the third call,

One last championship ride for Jennifer Hagale and CSP Hot Dam.

when Jen Wilson, my sister and my mom (Mary Martha) had all called, I thought I better answer the phone.”

The trio happened to be at Stachowski Farms and found Jamie’s next horse, G Eazy (HA Toskcan Sun x Up In The Heir). The flashy chestnut gelding was big and bold, just the way Jamie liked her Half-Arabians. Mary Martha was sold when she first saw him, and told Jen and Jennifer, “That’s him. That’s Jamie’s next horse.” When Jennifer got on for a test ride, she agreed. “There was just something about him and I knew he was the one.”

Above: G Eazy and Jamie Hagale; and Jennifer, Mary Martha and Jamie (right).

Jamie showed Archie (the barn name he was given by Mary Martha) for the first time at the Youth & Mid-Summer National Championships, where the new pair earned a bronze and top ten. Their next outing was U.S. Nationals where they were named Champion in the Half-Arabian Country English Pleasure AAOTR 40-59 class and Reserve Champion in the Half-Arabian Country English Pleasure Maturity.

For both Jamie and Jennifer, this was one of the show’s highlights. “It’s funny, I get more nervous watching my sister show than when I’m showing,” says Jennifer. “I was so excited for Jamie and Archie that I was just shaking.”

ROL Divine Style+/ and Jennifer Hagale.

Trainer Chris Wilson was equally excited about the horse’s performance. “They won both of their sections and then topped that off with a championship and reserve. He was just about perfect for every class,” Chris says.

For Jamie, G Eazy has opened the performance gate back up. “He kind of ignited my excitement about showing performance again after losing Double or Nuttin,” she says.

FROM OPEN TO AMATEUR HORSE

When Chris Wilson and Jennifer Hagale were warming up ROL Divine Style (Afire Bey V x IXL Miss Firefly) for his Arabian Park AAOTR Championship class, they were a little apprehensive. “He really just kind of goes around quietly more like a country horse,” says Jennifer. “Joel Kiesner had told us that he was a different horse when he hits the ring, but we were definitely still anxious because he just wasn’t giving us a nice big trot in the warm-up,” recalls Jennifer. Although unsure about making their debut as an amateur pair, Chris and Jennifer decided to trust what they had been told about the horse’s tendency to become a completely different animal when the gate opened.

And ROL Divine Style, known as Duke to most, did not disappoint. “Once we got in there, he had the feel of a race car,” Jennifer shares. “He was moving forward, tight in the turns and just right up there always giving it everything. He was a blast to ride in that class.”

HA Toskcan Sun and Jennifer Hagale.

The two claimed the Reserve National Champion title, and everyone celebrated with champagne after the class.

ROL Divine Style was not the only beautiful ride by Jennifer of a significant stallion during the week; just a few days prior she also rode the influential sire and many time open National winner, HA Toskcan Sun (Baske Afire x Matoska), to the Reserve Champion title in the Arabian English Pleasure AAOTR 19-49 class.

“It was a thrill to watch Jennifer ride him,” says Jim. “We are so in love with this stallion; he’s absolutely beautiful and has been such a joy to have the last few months. Having him at the show and being able to hear so many of his winning get called out for roses in center ring has been really exciting.”

A NEW ADVENTURE

While taking their time searching for Jamie’s new performance horse, Jim came up with the idea to explore the in-hand discipline. Jamie was game as it would keep her in the show ring.

The family added Esperranzza (Emerald J x Vesperra) to their group of mares. The bay 5-year-old was already a winner, with prior U.S. National, Scottsdale, Breeder Finals and regional titles.

Having never shown halter, Jamie found her go into the in-hand division a bit foreign at first. “Riding a horse through the gate is less nerve-wracking than running one through the gate,” she says. “Andy Sellman has been amazing and has taught me so much in a short amount of time. He has been very supportive knowing this is all completely new for me.”

Top to bottom: National Champion OFW Alikai, OFW Vaquero & Jamie Hagale, and Esperranzza & Jamie Hagale.

The two hit their stride at the Arabian National Breeder Finals in September, winning all three of their classes, two of them unanimously.

At U.S. Nationals, they were named Reserve National Champion in the Arabian Mare Breeding AAOTH class.

Other halter wins included a championship title for OFW Alikai (EKS Alihandro x OFW Praise) in the ABS Yearling

Photos by Schatzberg

Gelding class with Andy Sellman at the lead. The yearling also captured the Reserve Champion title in the Arabian Yearling Gelding AAOTH with Jamie.

OKW Vaquero (Kanz Al Bidayer x RHR Lovely) was named Reserve Champion in both the Arabian Gelding AAOTH (with Jamie) and the Arabian Junior Gelding 3-5 Year Olds with Andy.

“The energy in the halter arena is really contagious,” says Jamie. “Everybody is so pumped up all of the time.”

Jim concurs. “We are really excited to be part of the halter community,” he says. “This was our first year to compete in that arena and we couldn’t be happier with the camaraderie and excitement. It’s a different kind of thrill to have success in that ring.”

A CHAMPION RETURNS

Always a crowd favorite with an enthusiastic following, the stallion SF Aftershoc (SF Specs Shocwave x SF Sweet Elegance) came out of retirement to carry the flag Wednesday in the halter arena and Friday and Saturday in the performance arena. With nearly 250 foals on the ground, the popular stallion stands at the Hagale’s farm in Rogersville, MO.

Chris Wilson said riding him and carrying the flag was an incredible experience. “I think that horse wanted to show again,” he said. “He hit that gate and was ready to go. On Saturday night, he was feeling especially good, so we went for another lap at the trot. It was amazing.”

“We’re just all really grateful and thankful that it was our first show under the Hagale Family Arabians flag, and we were able to experience tremendous success,” says Jim. “We have an incredible, hard-working team and we look forward to many years ahead.”

Rogersville, Missouri Contact Jen Wilson | 602.616.6672 www.HagaleFamilyArabians.com