Arabians Of The South Central States, published in Arabian Horse Times

The Heart Of SPECIAL

TEXAS

MONTICETO

F E AT U R E

LN

(Justify x JD Alllove Story)

ARABIAN WESTERN PLEASURE WITH GORDON POTTS

C.

JA RV I S

INSURANCE AGENCY INC.

Trained by: Gordon Potts | Burleson, Texas | 817-312-4017 WWW.THEBRASSRINGINC.COM Owned by: Talia Lydick | Fort Worth, Texas | 817-692-4821

He’s the Driving Force ...

SF SPECS SHOCWAVE X SF SWEET ELEGANCE

Owned by LA Flynn • Alpharetta, Georgia

Having a successful English breeding stallion takes dedication, support and the patience of a great owner.

DAVINCI REFLECTION WA

MAC SHOC WA

SF AFTERSHOC x The Davinci Code

SF AFTERSHOC x Mac Baske

DESPICABLE ME SF AFTERSHOC x Veghaz Showgirl

Owned by LA Flynn

CAPTIVATING SHOC WA

SHOC BROKER

SF AFTERSHOC x Captivating Style

SF AFTERSHOC x Only Girl In Town

Inquiries invited on young stock available.

AEPA Enrolled Sire • sfafterschoc@gmail.com Standing at Chase Harvill Training Centre 27109 South Creek Drive, Magnolia, Texas 77354 • 281-252-6228 • chtrncntr@aol.com Chase Harvill cell: 480-338-0865 • Breeding Manager, Mandy Harvill cell: 480-338-0863 WWW. C H A S E H A RV I L L .COM

Monticeto LN, Gordon Potts & Talia Lydick …

A REAL TRIED AND TRUE ALLEGIANCE

by Catherine Cole Ferandelli

Monticeto LN

Talia Lydick smiles, looking back over the years she has spent in the Arabian horse industry, “As a young girl growing up in Texas, I dreamed of having Arabian horses, but I didn’t have one until I was married and raising my children. The passion grew far beyond the furthest reaches I could ever imagine!”

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A long-time client of the inimitable and ever versatile trainer, Gordon Potts, Talia has experienced just about all the disciplines the Arabian show pens offer. And now Talia is taking on all things western in a big way.

Talia laughs, “My big horse crush is my chestnut gelding Monticeto LN (Justify x JD Allove Story). He’s got that steady, flowing gait everyone loves in a great western pleasure horse. I actually bought him for myself, but turns out, he’s an Open horse for now! This year alone, Gordon has been reserve in his Open classes in Regions 9, 12 and 14.”

Talia’s horse shopping has been self-described as “stalking.” She chuckles when describing her relentless approach of searching for the right horses, “My method really pays off. I recently acquired the flashy black Half-Arabian mare HF Moon Dancing, by Lucky Sol Moon. She and Gordon took Region 9 Reserve Champion Western Pleasure Junior Horse and Region 12 Champion. She is only 4, so we’ve two years to take on the U.S. Nationals Futurity competition. It’s very exciting!”

Boosted by Gordon’s children’s words of ‘you have the coolest horses!’, Talia set out on another buying quest to find an “Amateur reliable and horse crush worthy” working western horse. JD Savannah Dawn (Gangster Chic x BSF Delta Dawn), a bay Half-Arabian mare proved to be just the ticket. Facing steep competition at their first two shows (Region 9 and Region 14), Talia and ‘Savannah’ took on the ranching riding, coming home with top five prizes at both Regionals. Next stop for this pair is Canadian Nationals Ranch Riding, and Reining Open and ATR at the U.S. Nationals. In addition to Savannah, Talia has Hollywood Snapchat; a young Half-Arabian reiner Gordon has already shown to success, winning Region 9 Reserve Champion HalfArabian Open Reining Horse and Champion Half-Arabian Junior Reining Horse roses, and Khara Royalle, a western mare she purchased in March and who has already earned Region 12 Champion Arabian Western Pleasure Jr. Horse honors.

Talia explains, “I love taking on new challenges, with my horses and my businesses.

“Same as many of us, I started out with one Arabian mare. My show beginnings had me putting her in dressage training way back when.

We did well, winning prizes at local shows. Later, when I met Alan Morgan, I was introduced to the Spanish bloodlines, immediately falling in love with the great imported stallion *Nilo. One Arabian mare led to a breeding program showcasing *Nilo, in fact for a time, I leased him myself. Among others, I bred a great colt, Caramelo del Nilo, who later on became a national champion hunter and western pleasure horse.

Seeing my horses succeed in these different disciplines made me want to do more!” By then Alan (retired from showing) had referred Talia to the then up-and-coming Gordon Potts. Talia remembers, “Over the years I showed in about every discipline: dressage, show hack, hunter, western pleasure, you name it. I embraced the versatility of the Arabian horse and lived it through the horses I bred and bought over that time.

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HF Moon Dancing

Khara Royalle Getting to know so many wonderful friends in the industry evolved into my marketing and selling for individuals and farms.”

Talia calls out two legendary operations, “My dear friend, Mary Trowbridge, called me one day and said you need to come out to Connecticut and help sell Mike’s horses. Mike was the impeccable breeder/film director, Mike Nichols. The experience made up two of the greatest years of my life. Double Diamond Ranch was another opportunity to market and sell top bloodstock when they disbursed.

There are many more, too many to name; all great people and horses.”

Around 2003, Talia took her horse business in another direction— marketing and selling equine farm and ranch properties in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area. Talia elaborates, “I already had my insurance license with C. Jarvis Insurance, and experience selling among the best Arabian bloodstock. What could be a better addition than helping people acquire the perfect property to enjoy their dream of owning Arabian horses?”

Nowadays as a Realtor with Williams Trew Realty, a prominent Fort Worth firm, Talia enjoys “this wonderful way of doing all this together.” ■ south central arabians

Arabian Horses Of The South Central States PA S T & P R E S E N T

by Beth Ellen Hunziker

Americans are a unique mix of people. Although they come from many different backgrounds and cultures, they seem to share common traits, which can be influenced by where they live. Aspects of the region, such as climate and the land itself, shape the character of its people.

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*Bint Maisa El Saghira

*Sakr+++ with Tom McNair

Katie Harvey with parents David and Marion Gardner and Thee Desperado.

TEXAS ____________________________________________

Much of the land in Texas is arid, hard, and desolate; it does not give up its resources easily. Yet, as unyielding and inhospitable as the terrain might be, you can still feel the deep love and pride Texans feel for their land. Perhaps the harsh conditions inspire the fierce, independent nature and maverick attitudes of Arabian horse breeders in Texas.

Two of the most influential early Texas breeders were Douglas and Margaret Marshall of Gleannloch Farms in Spring and later in Barksdale. The Marshalls acquired their first purebred Arabian *Moftakhar in 1951. Between 1962 and 1964, they imported 10 horses from the EAO, including the legendary *Bint Maisa El Saghira. As the first imported Egyptian mare to win at the U.S. Nationals, she still holds the record as the only mare to be named a top ten winner in halter, English pleasure and park. She was also the dam of the legendary stallions Shaikh Al Badi and Amaal, both sired by *Morafic. Also among that first importation was *Bint Nefisaa, the dam of the important sire, El Hilal, by *Ansata Ibn Halima. Then, in 1965, they imported 13 additional horses including the legendary *Morafic. Another important stallion, *Sakr, was imported in 1968, a multiple halter champion and

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Ruminaja Ali

Judy Sirbasku with The Infidel.

three-time national champion in park and native costume; shown to many of his championships by trainer, Tom McNair. Very active members of the Arabian horse community, the Marshalls joined several other breeders of Egyptian Arabians and established The Pyramid Society in 1969. The Gleannloch Farms dynasty came to a close with their passing (Margaret in 1993 and Douglas in 2007), however, their contributions live on through every horse that traces back to their brilliant breeding program.

Arabian historian Jeff Wallace once worked for Jarrell McCracken of Bentwood Farm in Waco, home of the largest herd of Egyptian Arabians in the country in the mid-70s, including the prolific sire *Ibn Moniet El Nefous, along with David Gardner, Shawn Crews, Stanley White Jr. and Sarah Strobe. David went on to establish Gardner Bloodstock in China Springs, where he bred The Minstril and syndicated the great stallion Ruminaja Ali. Judy Sirbasku and Shawn Crews of Arabians Ltd. and Rock Creek Arabians in Waco, are two well known names in the world of straight Egyptian Arabians.

Judy’s late husband, Jim, introduced her to Arabians over 30 years ago. They owned the world famous Egyptian stallion Thee Desperado.

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Donoghue Arabians, owned by Gerald Donoghue in Goliad, was an important farm in the early days of Texas breeders. Donoghue was the breeder of Cass Ole, the star of the blockbuster film, “The Black Stallion,” Dr. Leo Cuello acquired Cass Ole in 1972 when he was just a 3-year-old colt. In addition to starring in a movie that inspired thousands of people to own an Arabian horse, Cass Ole has one of the longest and most prolific show careers of any Arabian horse with titles in halter and many performance divisions.

One of the most famous Arabian race horses of all time, Kontiki, once made his home in Texas. Purchased in 1971 by Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Kubela of Seguin, he was a racing legend. Named U.S. National Champion Racehorse and inducted into the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame, Kontiki established an unmatched dynasty in American racing bloodlines. Beaten only once, Kontiki was honored as the 59th entry in the prestigious list of “100 All Time Greatest Racehorses of the World Regardless of Breed,” by the Thoroughbred Jockey Club, along the likes of Man O’War, Native Dancer, Kelso, Secretariat and John Henry.

In the 1970s and ’80s, Texas was a paradise for Russian Arabian horses. Ford Arabians, owned by Kenneth Ford of Nacagdoches, imported the mares *Pristan,*Pikhta and *Pagon, as well as the stallion *Statistic and others.

In 1980, Ford became partners with Howard Kale, Jr. on the popular stallion *Ptersk. Joe Ogden of Circle

Pristan

O Arabians, in Georgetown, was another devotee of Russian Arabian horses. Many of us will remember his lovely mares Muscavaya and Musknitsa, a Canadian National Reserve Champion.

Dr. Phil and Dr. Dee Whittlesey of Zodiac Farm in Cedar Hill had horses as early as 1971. In the ’80s, the Whittleseys also became enamored with Russian horses. Over the years, Dr. Dee became an expert, even writing a book entitled, The Damlines of Tersk. With Howard Kale Jr., the Whittleseys became syndicate members of the imported stallions *Napitok and *Namet. Perhaps the most famous horse they bred was the superstar park horse and sire, Zodiac Matador.

In the late ’70s and throughout the ’80s, many farms in Texas were devoted to breeding Polish Arabians.

Snell Arabians in Horseshoe Bay, owned by Art and Joy Snell, featured the black *Bask son and multiple English pleasure champion Ariztotle. Weatherford Arabians of Richmond, had domestic and imported Polish Arabians, including *Piechur, later purchased

by Halsdon Stud and exported to England where he became a lead sire In the early 1980s, Paul and Dody Wood owned Colonial Wood in Arlington. They also owned, bred, and showed primarily Polish Arabians. In 1982, Paul Wood purchased the mare My Mudira for $410,000 at auction. She joined full-sisters Bask Melody and

Musknitsa

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Fire Melody

THE SOUTH CENTRAL STATES

Showkayce

Signifikaynce

Parys El Jamaal

Fire Melody. In 1992, Josh Quintus joined the Woods.

However, only five months later, they closed the farm.

In 2007, Josh and his wife, Jennifer, moved the business to Pilot Point, and kept the name Colonial Wood.

In the world of Arabian horses, the family of the late Stanley White, Sr. is held in very high esteem.

This legendary trainer and breeder inspired his son, Stanley White, Jr. to the life of a horseman. Stanley White, Jr. and his wife, Kathy, have owned and operated White Rock Farms, in Argyle since 1985.

They have campaigned countless national champions, including Mi-Tiffany and Baskabella. Stan Jr.’s talented son, Stanley White III, has taken up the reins of the family’s traditions and brought them into the new millennium. He also calls the Lone Star State home in Conroe.

Carol Steppe recently moved to Austin. Her 30 year program extends at least four generations through her stallions Showkayce, Its Sshow Time, Signifikaynce and Emphasis DDA. The world famous breeder of Day Dream Arabians’ latest foals surely will produce the next generation of champions and champion producers.

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*Besson Carol

WC Ali Gazal

A list of current residents showcase a ‘Whos Who’ of the Arabian industry; farms in existence for the last three decades to recent newcomers, include: Chase Harvill Training Centre, Magnolia; Debut Arabians, Combine; Freewill Farm, Mansfield; J.T. Keller Performance Horses, Grandview; Kim Morgan Arabians, Pilot Point; Michael Byatt Arabians, New Ulm; Oak Haven Arabians, Lindale; Sage Performance Horses, Collinsville; Stella Bella Arabians, Aubrey; Tamar Arabians, Weatherford; The Brass Ring, Burleson, and Western Cross Arabians and Pintos, Fort Worth.

OKLAHOMA

____________________________________________

Breeders in Oklahoma have played a very important role in the development of the Arabian horse. The Oklahoma Arabian Horse Club, established in 1956, held the first club-sponsored show in 1960.

They hosted the U.S. National Arabian Horse Championships in Oklahoma City in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1972, and in Tulsa since 2008. Oklahoma City also shares the distinction of holding Youth Nationals from 1993-2000 and since 2016.

south central arabians

One of the earliest Arabian horse breeders in Oklahoma was Katharyn Simpson of Vallejo Ranch, mother of Kathie Hart and today’s Vallejo III Ranch LLC, a fourth generation owner, breeder, and national championship winner. The family’s history goes back even further, with Kathie’s great grandfather, Herman Cornell, who had a cattle ranch in Kent, Tex., that also raised Arabian horses and included Bazy Tankersley as a customer. Katharyn in turn purchased a number of Arabians from Bazy, including AM Silversparrow, who she rode to the honor of being the first woman to win a U.S. National Championship in Open Western Pleasure in 1967.

In the mid 1970s and ’80s, there were many small, grassroots breeders in Oklahoma with great horses, including Ivan Rowe and his stallion Rabol. Rabol sired some amazing offspring, many with the “RO” prefix, which became synonymous with very high quality horses. Ernie Blanton and his daughter, Pam, were wonderful breeders and operated Blanton Arabians.

Pam bred the stallion Kamim, a beautiful and excellent sire. He produced Ibn Kamim and the beautiful mare Kamims Batik, who was Egyptian Event Supreme

Champion Mare. Gene and Mary Shirley had wonderful mares and bred them to Ansata’s Egyptian stallions. The Shirleys bred the stallion Shah El Shahir, who was exported to Brazil.

Today’s programs include Shaman Arabians, in Cromwell, breeder of multi-national champion Halter Stallion Pyro Thyme SA; two of Oklahoma’s finest, Clair and Margaret Larson, current owners of Pyro Thyme SA and one-time owners of the mares RD Fabreanna and Valori TRF among others; and Bob Hart, Jr. of Vallejo III, in Afton, who grew up with horses under the guidance of his father, Bob Hart, Sr. and his mother, “Mama Hart.”

MISSOURI

____________________________________________

Leslie Connor’s family owned Connor Arabians, in Joplin. Her father Jerry’s first registered Arabian, Bayawi, was purchased in 1952. One of Leslie’s first horses was the stallion Ibn Esperanzo, bred by Raymond Davis of Esperanzo Ranch in Reeds Spring.

Another important horse for Leslie was her mare Que Hama. Along with their small breeding operation, Leslie became an AHA judge in 1975, becoming one of the youngest people to ever receive their judge’s card, and has judged internationally.

Dr. and Mrs. Tom Atkinson of Anchor Hill Ranch, in Rogersville, were prominent breeders, using the straight Egyptian stallion Al Metrabbi. The earliest registered Arabian owned by the Atkinsons was the mare Laida, purchased in 1948. Over the course of 40 years and more, the Atkinsons bred or owned over 290 Arabian horses of extreme quality that became the cornerstones for breeding programs across the country.

The McCrea family has had a profound inf luence in the Arabian horse breed for more than 60 years, with Lois McCrea purchasing her first Arabian in 1955.

The McCrea children, James, Bob, Janice, and Bruce, and now their children, are mainstays in the Arabian industry as owners, breeders, exhibitors, judges and board members. Janice, who married Jerry Wight, fondly remembers when she and her mother hauled their mare Tanbina in 1974 to be bred to *Bask. The result was the stallion Bold Fire, who was syndicated in 1981. Later, Janice and Jerry moved to Republic, where they opened Mid-America Farms. Though most

Valori TRF

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Mamage

*Ansata Ibn Halima

of the family currently resides in Arizona now, Janice’s brother, Bruce, travelled the world for a time to manage Al Mohamadia Arabian Stud in Saudi Arabia, and has since returned to Oklahoma with his family.

Other small Arabian horse breeders have made big impacts. Throughout the 1980s and ’90s, Loy and Linda Davidson, of Focus Farms, in Union, bred some of the most beautiful Arabian horses in the country, including direct offspring of Ruminaja Ali, such as the stallion Focus Khemali. In 1990, the Davidsons were among the first to breed to Padrons Psyche, using their mare Focus Alianna to produce Focus Seneca. Purchased as a yearling by Halsdon Stud, she was later named British National Champion. This same pairing would later produce the extraordinary colt Focus Highlander for the Davidsons, and the filly Alia Psyche IA when Richard DeWalt purchased Focus Alianna. Alia Psyche went on to produce the multi-champion colt Harjeet MA by World Champion Stallion *Hariry Al Shaqab.

Today, Missouri continues to be a leader in breeding and training for the domestic and global Arabian markets, including ChriShan Park, Springfield; Clanton Performance Horses, Peculiar, and IIB Farms in Oronogo.

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ARKANSAS

____________________________________________

One of the most historically important breeding farms in the world is Ansata Arabian Stud, owned by Judith and Donald Forbis of Mena. Judi and Don first established their business in Chickasha, Okla., in 1958.

They spent 15 years in Chickasha, and then moved to Lufkin, Tex., where they continued to flourish.

Several years later, Don and Judi were driving through Arkansas and were enchanted with the natural beauty of the land where they planted roots in 1979. Over the course of the next 20 years and more, Ansata Arabian Stud reigned supreme in the world of Egyptian Arabian horses. After Don passed in 2008, Judi closed the Mena farm and sold most of the horses or placed them in the care of other breeders. She once again became an international traveler, writing, consulting, and living abroad. She eventually returned to her peaceful sanctuary in Mena, where she continues her work with The Pyramid Society and her writing, sharing knowledge, expertise, and most of all, a profound love for the Arabian horse.

Other breeders were drawn to the beauty of Mena as well, such as Walter Schimanski of Masada Arabians.

Walter and Judith Forbis were great friends who collaborated on the book The Royal Arabians of Egypt

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Barbara Lewis, of Baraka Arabians, lives in Cove.

Barbara is a fine artist who paints and sculpts, and has been a breeder of Egyptian Arabian horses since the 1980s. Joan Skeels and Sue Burnham, of Hope Farm, also in Cove, were breeders of Egyptian Arabians as well. They purchased the mare *Maymouna in 1990, who was imported from Egypt in 1978. She produced two fillies for them, both by their stallion Ansata Shah Zahir.

LOUISIANA

Millennium LOA

and the Stud of Henry B. Babson in 1976. By all accounts, it is one of the most important books written about the Arabian horse. Walter was such an influential man that The Institute for the Desert Arabian Horse offers a perpetual trophy in his name called The Drinkers of the Wind Award.

____________________________________________ Ken and Pat Guilbeaux of Keg Arabians in Broussard, first started acquiring horses in the very early 1970s.

In 1977, they bred their Tornado daughter, MDM Evangeline, to the newly imported Russian stallion, *Marsianin, owned in partnership with Howard Kale, Jr. They later imported the Russian colt, *Pattrone, acquiring and breeding a magnificent herd throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.

Today, Louisiana is home to Boisvert Farms LLC and Live Oak Arabians, both in Baton Rouge.

FA R M S O F T H E C E N T R A L S O U T H

Chase Harvill

CHASE HARVILL TRAINING CENTRE MAGNOLIA, TEXAS

What year did you get your first Arabian or HalfArabian? 1988.

What horse or event within the Southern states has influenced or had the most impact on your program?

SF Aftershoc in recent years has obviously had the biggest impact on my recent career. Not only is he amazing to be around, but his babies are too. They are beautifully conformed and a joy to train. I honestly have not had a difficult SF Aftershoc baby to train yet!

How would you articulate the unique influence (past and/or present) of the Southern states to the global Arabian horse industry? The southern states have always been a big influence on our industry.

There are many great breeders, trainers and amateurs that dominate on the national level in the show ring.

It’s nice to show and train in the south because the competition all year long is at such a high level.

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How has your program evolved since its inception?

My program has been very similar through the 19 years it has been around the Houston area, with the exception of better quality horses. We have always had a great mix of young horses, open horses, kids and amateurs in our barn. I do feel so lucky that over the years, people have trusted me with such good quality Arabians. Why would you want to be involved with any other breed?!

_____________________ Talia Lydick LYDICK ARABIANS FORT WORTH, TX

What year did you get your first Arabian or HalfArabian? 1976.

How would you articulate the unique influence (past and/or present) of the Southern states to the global Arabian horse industry? I am a Texan! I was born in Ft. Worth and have lived here for most of my life. I love the Arabian horse and all of my friends that I have

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THE SOUTH CENTRAL STATES

met through the years in the United States and all over the world. I have had great unique experiences–too many to name one. The Arabian horse is a connector for lasting friendships, athletic achievement and, of course, they are the most intelligent breed by far.

________________________ Stephanie Sage SAGE PERFORMANCE HORSES COLLINSVILLE, TX

What year did you get your first Arabian or Half-Arabian?

1998.

What horse or event within the Southern states has inf luenced or had the most impact on your program? The Youth Nationals show in OKC has probably had the most impact on my program. I originally did not have any youth that were riding at the National level. After acquiring a few and taking them to this show, they were hooked. The kids have so much fun and definitely work hard. They strive to be better so they can set their goals on Youth Nationals each year.

How would you articulate the unique inf luence (past and/ or present) of the Southern states to the global Arabian horse industry? The southern part of the country has an amazing group of Arabian trainers. Not only are there a large number of trainers in this area, it is a very talentconcentrated region. The breeding and sales from the southern states gives our industry some wonderful horses to be able to own, train, and show.

How has your program evolved since its inception? I have not been out on my own for very long, but since the inception of Sage Performance Horses in the fall of 2013, my program has grown tremendously. Not only in size, but in the quality of horses and clients. I have a lot of young horses which I am really enjoying, and my number of youth riders has grown. My youth program is something I love the most about SPH. My kids have fun and are able to learn a lot about all aspects of riding and showing. They really have helped me grow as a trainer/instructor, as much as I help them, I think.

________________________ Lane Wooten DEBUT ARABIANS COMBINE, TX

What year did you get your first Arabian or Half-Arabian?

1997.

What horse or event within the Southern states has influenced or had the most impact on your program? My first horse, Obey Shahdai, would have the most influence over my current program today, only because of where we purchased him from; Legacy Arabians. Legacy Arabians offered me a path to showing Arabian horses that I wouldn’t have otherwise had, and our current program is modeled after theirs. It’s all about letting people experience the Arabian horse for themselves; allowing them to fall in love without attaching a large price tag right off the bat.

How would you articulate the unique influence (past and/or present) of the Southern states to the global Arabian horse industry? We have an abundance of “big barn” trainers in the southern states, putting almost every division within reach to the average person. Our area is also rich with other avenues to enjoy the Arabian horse, from trail riding, endurance, racing, showing, or just a pleasure horse. There’s a heavy concentration of all sorts of activities here for everyone to enjoy and experience an Arabian for themselves.

How has your program evolved since its inception? We had always planned to give people the opportunity to show an Arabian without having to purchase one first. We underestimated just how quickly this program would take off, and how fast we would grow. After the first year, we had to hire an additional lesson instructor to take part of the load.

Our show team needed a place to consistently practice showing, so we created NTECShows, an open/training show featuring Arabian specific classes, and that has been a huge success. ■

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Not Just Another Lesson Program W O R K I N G TO G E T H ER TO AT T R AC T N E W C O M ER S

Show Team rider Abigail Skidmore and Harvard OH.

Lesson student Aaliyah Pulgarin with the two horses that are the staple of our beginner program, Thunder Bey (provided by Joanne Crockett) and Athena Alea (provided by Oak Haven).

Assistant Instructor, Heather Williams, and Head Instructor, Trainer, and Show Team Manager Jennifer Buenrostro.

Show Team rider Hannah McReynolds and Loves To Dance+.

Show Team rider Darya Bagheri and Sunshine Flyer CC.

Lane Wooten, owner of Debut Arabians in Combine, Tex., has created a “tier based” lesson program, supported by local big farms and accredited by their school district, helping to bring the Arabian horse to 30-40 families a year, while pumping money into their local Class A shows. Lane Wooten shares, “I’ve seen a lot of complaints online recently, about the state of our industry. Specifically, declining numbers at shows and not getting ‘new comers’ into our industry. I preach this method

on Facebook to anyone who will listen, as it’s not incredibly hard to set up and it quickly becomes profitable and rewarding.

“We advertise with emphasis on mothers with kids who just want to ride a horse. They know nothing about showing or different breeds; they just want to ride a horse. They start in basic riding lessons with our assistant instructor, all on repurposed “starter” Arabian horses, and fall in love.

“They graduate to the head instructor, where they then join our show team. This allows the rider to start showing Arabians without having to purchase a horse.

“Big show barns provide us with horses that aren't going to make big time show status—the saddle seat horse with no trot, the older broodmare that isn’t producing well, the halter born horse with a long back, etc.

turn people on to the Arabian horse, and many of them go on to purchase Arabians of their own and continue their journey in the show world.

“We recently partnered with our local school district and will be heavily involved with Sunnyvale ISD next school year. These kids have an option to get early release from school and earn their PE credits by riding a certain number of hours at our farm.

“And we have been supported by so many amazing barns! From horses, to show clothes, to old tack, or just volunteering to judge our shows: Oak Haven, Rae-Dawn, JT Keller, Ross Tarkington, Joanne Crockett, Chrishan Park, Brass Ring, Center Ring Show Horses and more, have played a roll in the success of this program, and have helped us bring the Arabian horse to many families who would've never been exposed otherwise.

“Our students are started at a training show we started called, North Texas Equestrian Community Shows (NTECShows.com). This show is a one-day event that happens six times a year. We get around 80 horses at each show, and 40% of those are Arabians and HalfArabians. The big barns send their trainers and assistant trainers to judge our shows, so the show is Arabian based, and we avoid the ‘only the stock horses win’ stigma.

“I know there’s been a ‘little guy against the big barn’ undercurrent in our industry, but I’m not seeing that at all from where I stand. We couldn’t do any of this without the donations and volunteers these big barns provide.

“After doing those shows for six months to a year, our riders graduate to bigger shows. They compete in Class A shows in a variety of disciplines on our repurposed horses. All of their show tack and clothes are provided as well, at no cost, having been donated to us from the large barns. We bring money into our local Class A shows,

“By bringing in people who ‘just want to ride’ and turning them into Arabian loving show people—without requiring a $25k horse purchase right off the bat to play the game—I’ve personally found that by coming together, this is the best way to get new blood involved with the Arabian horse.” ■

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Thank You

FOR SUPPORTING OUR LESSON PROGR A M

We couldn't do it without all your help!

FROM

First and foremost, we would like to thank: Oak Haven Arabians Our entire program is built upon your generosity. We appreciate everything you've done, and continue to do, and we would not be successful without you! You are an absolute gift to the Arabian horse community.

For horses, tack, show judging and helping us with a successful program and show, many thanks to:

Blake, Genna & Jason Krohn, Cassie Banks & Lauren Grabski

Anne & J.T. Keller

Shirley & Murray Popplewell

J.T. Keller Performance Horses Rae-Dawn Arabians Joanne Crockett

Ross Tarkington

Joanne Crockett

Chrishan Park

Jason Krohn & Ross Tarkington

The Brass Ring and

Center Ring Show Horses Debut Arabians | Lane Wooten 214-334-3614

Gordon Potts & Sara Strobe Ar abian Horse Times | 13 |

Chris & Shan Wilson

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Sterling & Melissa Barter-Bradley

escher photo

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A Perfect Pairing Rooted In Passion

by JEFF WALLACE The two men met on the grounds of WestWorld in 1992. Both all-around horsemen. Both lovers of all creatures. Both dreamers in their own respects. One could also say that these two men represent a bridge—a most precious of bridges—to the great horsemen and wisdom of our past … one in America, tutored by the likes of Gene LaCroix and Bruce Howard; the other other in the desert homeland of the Arabian horse, tutored by local and heroic horsemen in Qatar.

No one would believe the cataclysmic changes our breed would soon realize when these “The only way to do great work is to love two men were introduced that what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, day in the dusty barn aisle of keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all Scottsdale. Their vision— matters of the heart, you’ll know when cast by the experiences and education of their pasts— you find it.” —Steve Jobs would not only gift the Arabian horse with new standards of excellence grounded in functional, true type; it would also exchange life-giving relational gifts back and forth to each other that would define life chapters of their own.

Both men, grounded in true passion for the Arabian horse since a young age, found their epic journeys colliding that very day.

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Sprinkled in and amongst one of the world’s most legendary groups of horses, you’ll find kangaroos, llamas, exotic birds, a wallaby, ducks, chickens, dogs, cats and Friesian horses.

You’ll find this sanctuary at the end of an unpaved, dirt road in New Ulm, Texas. On first glance, the dusty road appears an antithesis to the showplace it leads to. Yet Michael Byatt, one of the giants in today’s Arabian horse industry, loves it. And when one begins peeling back the layers of the person behind the showplace, it becomes quickly apparent that his complexities run deep, his wisdom and wit

Do what you love and love what you do.

bottomless, and his goals profound in their simplicity and confident, laser focus.

Through a lifetime with Arabian horses, Michael has reached the upper echelons of the industry in nearly every category imaginable: as a trainer of halter and performance at the highest levels, as a thoughtful breeder, an international ambassador and judge, a savvy sales agent, a knowledgeable and trusted consultant, a bold visionary, loving husband and father, and a dear and caring friend.

His personal journey is an inspirational one. Even at a young, formidable age, fame was never the goal for Michael Byatt. “I didn’t have any expectation,” he told the Houston Chronicle in a 2011 interview. “It was a process and a journey and an accident.”

He thoughtfully lives by the cliché, ‘Do what you love and love what you do.’ And, boy, does he do it well.

Michael grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His family had no interest in horses, but they were neighbors to breeder/owner Ethel Ortenburger. She saw a talent in the young 11-year-old boy, and invited him into her “Arabian horse family” … which meant work, a lot of work. Eight hours of work was exchanged for one delicious hour in the saddle every summer.

As Michael got older, his skills were readily apparent. He apprenticed in California, North Carolina and Florida after high school. But it was a big win at Scottsdale for the young 23-year-old star that took his career to a new level. Within weeks, he was flooded with calls from people all around the United States inviting him—begging him—to come give seminars so they could learn from the gifted young horseman.

Also of note, Michael was one of the first American-based halter trainers to categorically invest in the international Arabian horse community, a foresight that likely resulted from his exploding career as an international judge as well.

But there was one pivotal moment in Michael’s life story that not only changed his life, but also the Arabian breed as we know it. To fully appreciate it, we must also tell another story first.

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Pictured top to bottom: Michael and Ann Byatt with their Friesian, Wopke.

Sabiell (Nabiel+/ x AK El Sanaa) at the 1993 Egyptian Event.

Marwan Al Shaqab at the 2008 World Championships, Paris.

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Sheikh Hamad felt the breed was ready—indeed poised—for a new ideal, though he did not yet know what that looked like.

In his search for inspiration, Sheikh Hamad foresightedly decided to attend the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show for the first time. It was 1992.

“My earliest thoughts in life were about horses,” he would tell you. He remembers his first experience riding was “about 7 years old” and it was “Bedouin style” (i.e. bareback). Even as a young person in Doha where he grew up, he was passionately driven for the Arabian horse, demonstrating an uncharacteristic maturity for his age when most are only beginning stages of their life’s work. But he knew. There was no question. It was with the Arabian horse.

Like many of us who worked our way up the ranks in horses, Sheikh Hamad bin Ali Al Thani did his share of hard work in the barn to earn the respect and permission of the stable owners, particularly if he wanted to ride one of the famous horses. In fact, he was such an astute rider, that he says he developed his eye for conformation from the back of a horse … the curvature of the neck, correctness and balance from the movement he felt in his seat. He loved riding so much that he studied at the Federation to be a professional jockey, as was a common thing to do.

In his brief time learning English while studying at Cambridge, he also purchased a handful of Arabian racehorses in England. But he quickly found that his choices were more beautiful than they were fast. This was a pivotal moment for the young Sheikh Hamad. He realized his eye was for beauty rather than speed … a functional beauty that could redefine the standards of the Arabian horse.

Around that time in 1988, HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, was looking to expand his family-owned and operated Al Shaqab Stud into a higher-profile organization. In a profoundly demonstrative action in his own right, he recognized the zest, passion and giftedness of Sheikh Hamad and gave him the opportunity of a lifetime: manage His Highness’ stud farm. Sheikh Hamad responded to the call. Soon, they were buying horses from Egypt and Europe, and racing them as was the common thing to do. But Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani soon found himself experiencing a similar key moment as his young protégé had … he found himself drawn to Arabian horses bred for beauty and type over speed.

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Anaza El Farid

Ruminaja Ali x Bint Deenaa

Kajora

Kaborr+++ x Edjora

The young 27-year-old Sheikh Hamad was stepping foot on the famed showgrounds of Earl Warren for the first time. He was hired to bring the family-owned and operated Al Shaqab Stud into a higher-profile organization.

It was a task Sheikh Hamad took seriously. His quest initially began in Egypt and Europe. But what he saw in those WestWorld arenas was a stark contrast to what he knew back home, one that ultimately would alter the course of his future.

The day that Michael and Sheikh Hamad met was fortuitous to say the least. In Michael’s barn, Sheikh Hamad saw stallions that were calm enough for children to feed sugar cubes to.

Here were the first pieces of possibility in strategy and planning for a generational breeding program that honored tradition while celebrating innovation.

And most of all, in Michael he saw the powerful outcomes of marketing Arabian horses.

A powerful alliance between the two men was formed during that Scottsdale show, one that encapsulated a common vision backed by fearless courage and a deep personal friendship.

One of Michael’s first major chess moves for Al Shaqab was a group of auspicious mares he had hand-selected in 1994 as foundation mares for its new breeding program. In the group was the incomparable Polish mare, and 1982 U.S. National Champion Mare Kajora. .

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Gazal Al Shaqab Anaza El Farid x Kajora

Gazal Al Shaqab

Anaza El Farid x Kajora

Prior to Kajora, Al Shaqab’s self-proclaimed “family breeding program” bred only straight Egyptians, as did most of the Middle East.

At the time, it only made sense. It made for a striking sight: large herds of grey mares in their desert homeland, with shrieks of stallions, also grey, from within the stallion barns.

But Michael was designing something new in his mind, something greater than what the world currently knew either in America or the Middle East. Bringing a Polish mare bred in America into the straight Egyptian beauty programs of the Middle East was a pivotal moment.

As history would have it, Kajora was open at the time of purchase … cycling, as a matter of fact. She needed to be bred quickly. Was it fate in that moment that altered the course of history, or brilliance? In either case, Michael, along with noted horsewoman Eileen Verdieck, advised Sheikh Hamad that the beautiful straight Egyptian stallion he admired, Anaza El Farid, would be the perfect choice for Kajora (this landmark decision would later set in stone the now-famous breeding choice of crossing Polish and Egyptian bloodlines).

The mating worked, producing Gazal Al Shaqab, the first major foal/show horse/stallion produced at Al Shaqab (and one of the first Qatar-bred bay Arabians, in contrast to their usual greys and blacks).

His silhouette was distinctive, yet shockingly stunning. His length of leg, back and neck were harmoniously balanced, with a lean athletic hip and shoulder, and a lusciously beautiful face.

That advice likely came from Michael’s rooted belief that an Arabian horse—be it halter or performance—be both beautiful and balanced. The silhouette of Gazal Al Shaqab became the new standard.

In short order, he solitarily altered the phenotype for the modern Arabian horse. He and his progeny started defining their empire in both the show ring and the breeding shed beginning with the 2001 World Championships, where Gazal Al Shaqab was named World Champion Stallion and his son, Marwan Al Shaqab, was named World Champion Colt. It was hard to believe that that was just the

Marwan Al Shaqab

Gazal Al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame

beginning. A dynasty was in the throes of creation.

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Marwan Al Shaqab

Gazal Al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame

Gazal Al Shaqab was singularly responsible for the new silhouette. However, Marwan Al Shaqab took his legacy to heights unseen. Unbelievably, Marwan was named the leading sire at the World Championships for an unprecedented five consecutive years between 2007 and 2012. His prominent sons, Khalil Al Shaqab, Hariry Al Shaqab and Wadee Al Shaqab, have created their own significant legacies on the world stage in recent years as well.

What’s more, while on lease to Poland, Gazal Al Shaqab sired some of the most beautiful mares ever produced at Janów Podlaski or Michalów State Stud, as evidenced by World Champions Pianissima and Emandoria. This achievement cannot be overstated, as these two famous state studs are unarguably considered amongst some of the finest breeding programs in the history of the Arabian breed. In the end, suffice it to say, Gazal Al Shaqab modernized the breeding programs within the state studs of Poland.

Gazal Al Shaqab … and now his son Marwan Al Shaqab, can be found in an astounding high percentage of Arabian pedigrees around the world today, and rank among the great Arabian horses of all time alongside such names as Nazeer, *Bask, and others.

Michael and Sheikh Hamad with Marwan Al Shaqab at the 2008 All Nations Cup, Aachen

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Hariry Al Shaqab

Marwan Al Shaqab x White Silkk

Because of his deep connection to Gazal, one will find Michael regularly celebratory of the success Gazal progeny are enjoying in every world arena, regardless of if he is at the end of the lead or not.

This is evidenced by a recent statement given by renowned and beloved judge, Peter Cameron, who remarked, “I always appreciated that [Michael] never complained about my judging if he wasn’t the winner. I also like that he doesn’t overshow.”

Just as Dr. Eugene LaCroix will be forever intertwined with *Bask, Sheila Varian with Bay El Bey, and Judi Forbis to *Ansata Ibn Halima, Michael Byatt will be intrinsically linked to that of the world of Gazal Al Shaqab, as will Sheikh Hamad.

And what of the contribution of the long line of horses in Michael’s Arabian horse journey … horses like Silfaun, the gelding Michael rode to a national championship in western pleasure in 1980 as a 22-year-old; the black *Aladdinn daughter Ddinnerka, Michael’s first Scottsdale halter champion; the multi-national English and driving champion, JA Rave Review … they most certainly are a demonstrative part of the Gazal legacy as well, as they each influenced Michael’s vision for what a beautiful Arabian horse can—and should— be. What’s more, each of those integral, provocative horses uniquely express the degree to which Michael was pledged to this breed from day one. And they led him to Gazal.

It is a beautiful example of staying true to the journey of life, and the great results that can happen if you only have the courage to dream it, do it, and then enjoy the ride.

Pictured top to bottom: Ddinnerka (Aladdinn x Blue Bierka) at The Scottsdale Horse Show.

JA Rave Review (Box Office x Bint Jabar) at the 1994 U.S. National Championships.

Silfaun (Silver Drift x Farnina) at the 1980 U.S. National Championships.

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Al Adeed Al Shaqab

Ansata Halim Shah x Sundar Alisayyah

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In New Ulm, all the way across the world, sits an annex of Al Shaqab blood. While one living in New Ulm influences that in Doha, Qatar, one living in Doha, Qatar, influences that in New Ulm. The partnership of Michael Byatt and Sheikh Hamad led to the crowning of not one, but two World Champion stallions with Michael at the lead: Marwan Al Shaqab and Al Adeed Al Shaqab.

Sheikh Hamad is quick to share his feelings that America’s love for the world of Gazal has a tremendous amount to do with the success of the Gazal/Marwan legacy.

This personifies the global appeal of the Arabian horse, and just how universal it is today.

This worldly quality was poignantly evidenced at the 2017 Arabian Breeders World Cup, when H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, founder and owner of Al Shaqab, was deservedly honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the show. In a poignant moment, Sheikh Hamad stood to accept the award on His Highness’s behalf, Michael standing proudly next to him … two men who have both been recipients of His Highness’s great philanthropic efforts, especially Sheikh Hamad.

It was an unforgettable picture.

The team of Michael Byatt and Sheikh Hamad are now forming yet a new nucleus at Michael Byatt Arabians to carry this relationship forward.

The stallion barn heralds the likes of Hariry Al A quiet moment at home with Gazal Al Shaqab.

Shaqab, Kahil Al Shaqab and Fadi Al Shaqab, in addition to the three greats: Al Adeed Al Shaqab, Marwan Al Shaqab and Gazal Al

Shaqab. Three generations in the Gazal/Marwan Legacy stand in those stalls, representing historic proportions of some of the greatest semen available in the world.

Michael is such a true horseman, that the global blanketing from Marwan and Gazal has produced him a depth of eternal pride rooted not in ego, but in that which is found in the connection of a true and passionate horseman.

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Fadi Al Shaqab

Besson Carol x Abha Myra

Kahil Al Shaqab

Marwan Al Shaqab x OFW Mishaahl

The professional success born out of Michael’s brilliant plan and Sheikh Hamad’s unconventional vision for Al Shaqab is unprecedented. And yet their personal friendship is perhaps the most inspiring.

These are two men that always have each other’s backs. Whether in the show ring, as friends, or in business, their genuine affection for who the other stands for is indestructible and constant.

They have shared laughs, travels, times of success and times of loss together, forever intertwined on this momentous journey. They are like two soldiers who have experienced a chapter of life so deeply together, that their bond is cemented in loyalty … to each other and to the Arabian horse. Like all good friends, when things get hard, they are there for each other.

In every way, the team of Michael Byatt and Al Shaqab illustrates success; in the eyes of the Arabian horse world, they are a pair united in a heritage far greater than themselves. The Gazal/Marwan Legacy would not have been realized to its fullest degree without the mutual partnership of Michael and Sheikh Hamad. And yet, success is not simply what one accomplishes in life; moreover, it’s about what he/she inspires others to do.

This story of partnership and leadership transcends Arabian horses. It exemplifies that we are better when we are together, to never settle for less than our passion. And it shows what can happen when people remain committed to what they love, have the courage to see it through, and end up changing the world.

Thank you, Michael and Sheikh Hamad, for showing us the way. S Ar abian Horse Times | 31 |

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Wadee Al Shaqab

Marwan Al Shaqab x OFW Mishaahl Pictured 2010

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Al Adeed Al Shaqab

Ansata Halim Shah x Sundar Alisayyah

My relationship with Michael extends to more than 25 long years, which has witnessed friendship, trust and love for horses.

He is one of the people who stand for their opinion even if they lose everything defending the truth – I haven’t seen anyone else harming themselves and their success in order to protect the safety of the horses. He stands strongly for the well-being of the horses and not to cause any harm to it, nor to subject it to prohibited substances.

Michael is a person who believes in friendship and values it. This is what I experienced even during my illness. Many of my friends left me and didn’t even bother to ask, but Michael continued to ask and be truly concerned for me till today.

He loves horses and is sincere to his friends. We have met many times, and I experienced true friendship with him. I don’t consider our relationship as business – rather we are partners in horse love.

He is my friend and advisor, and I have achieved a lot of success with him, both in breeding and in shows.

I wish he and his family continued health and well-being. ~ Sheikh Hamad bin Ali Al Thani ~ Al Shaqab Stud

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