Oak Haven South Arabians 2014

Cover Story:

OH Dancing On Heir & Oak Haven South Arabians

by ANNE STRATTON

Her name is OH Dancing On Heir, and she is more than just a promising 3-year-old English horse. She is the face of Oak Haven Arabians and Oak Haven South today, a special blend of the past and the future that shows what careful breeding, skillful training and a lifetime of commitment to Arabians can produce.

“This mare is so smart and so gifted that you want to train her,” says Jason Krohn, Oak Haven’s head trainer. “She makes your life easy.” Although she did not begin her formal education (with Lauren Grabski) until late February, he notes, she reflects the kind of talent that makes her a serious contender in this year’s U.S. National English Pleasure Futurity.

Even so, it is what OH Dancing On Heir represents that is most important now.

The breeding and training program at Oak Haven Arabians, in Lindale, Tex., and its partner, Oak Haven South, in Bullard, is not new; only the size and the scope of their services are, and now more than ever, they are poised to become major contributors to the Arabian breed.

The Oak Haven story is, quintessentially, one of families. Twenty years ago, Jason’s parents, Blake and Genna Krohn, purchased the operation which is their

OH Dancing On Heir

headquarters now. They each offered a heritage of experience in Arabians (among other things, they had managed the farm for 10 years previously), and while their children grew up, they bred a limited number of horses to supplement their 40-stall training barn.

Volume 45, No. 4 | 33AA

What changed was the addition of Oak Haven South, owned by Dr. Martha McCollough and her husband, Bill Grabski, and the emergence of a second generation of horsemen in both families. First, McCollough and Grabski, who share the Krohns’ passion for breeding horses, came aboard with their broodmare band, purchased over the years in consultation with Blake Krohn, and their 500-acre nursery for mares and foals. It was Krohn’s vision that inspired them, McCollough says, and now they have some of the most proven bloodlines in the breed.

28 foals were welcomed this year.

Jason Krohn says the quality, already highly-respected, has been fine-tuned as well.

34AA | A R A BI A N HOR SE T I MES

With that kind of resource at hand, she and Krohn stepped up breeding activities and within a few years, a steady stream of young horses with potential was headed for the training complex at Oak Haven.

In the meantime, the Krohns’ son Jason—and lately the Grabskis’ daughter, Lauren—grew up to take on the responsibilities of training. Their talent, nurtured through championship youth campaigns, already is recognized; Krohn received the Arabian Horse Times and the APAHA’s Rising Star Awards in 2009, and Grabski won a Canadian national reserve championship in her first year as a professional. This year, Matt Krohn leaves a national-titled youth career to join his brother, and accomplished horsewoman Cassie Banks has signed on.

Oak Haven Trainers: Lauren Grabski, Jason Krohn, Matt Krohn and Cassie Banks.

The net result? With Blake free to focus more on pedigrees, Genna to manage the stallion barn and breeding operation, Martha and Bill to raise the foals, and the younger generation to put horses in the ring, the Oak Haven organization has doubled in size. Their training operation now numbers more than 80, including an array of clients in a variety of disciplines. And with the added numbers to choose from (28 foals were welcomed this year), Jason Krohn says the quality, already highly-respected, has been fine-tuned as well. In addition, the farm’s reputation, which was founded first on English horses, has expanded; the staff in place now is better set up to excel in other divisions as well, and they have the ribbons and trophies to prove it.

When Jason returns from a show or a buying trip, he can pick right up where he left off with his horses. “Or maybe they are further down the road,” he grins.

“That’s how great our staff is.”

Volume 45, No. 4 | 35AA

Their mission is designed with a common goal in mind. “We gear it all to what we can manage,” he observes, “but as we’re growing, building the barns and filling the stalls, the more horses we have, the more opportunity we have to find those top notch ones.”

OH Dancing On Heir is their vision of a saddle seat horse, he says. “She is a homegrown horse. She was bred from our stock, and raised and trained here.”

In fact, Dancing On Heir’s life has been typical of Oak Haven. The story for each horse begins before it is born, in the mind and expertise of Blake Krohn, a veteran in the English disciplines who has won national championships in nearly every division of the show ring. He also knows his way around pedigrees and how to develop a top saddle seat horse.

“We’re specialty breeders,” he says. “In our program,

36AA | A R A BI A N HOR SE T I MES

you’ll see a lot of *Bask horses crossed back on Varian stock. It’s such a great style of horse.” And it’s not just the *Bask line, he points out; the Oak Haven program features the influence of the *Bask/Toi cross, the legendary stallion’s most successful nick in producing national champions.

OH Dancing On Heir is by the top English stallion Afires Heir and out of DD My Dance, an integral broodmare in the Oak Haven band and a special one to Jason and Lauren. The mare owns nine national titles in country English pleasure, including two national championships and two reserves, and during her ring career delivered crucial early national titles for both the trainers. DD My Dance is also the dam of Rrapture, the 5-year-old son of SF Specs Shocwave who debuted in the ring this year with Jason and rapidly notched the Canadian

National Reserve Championship in English Pleasure Junior Horse. Rrapture also stands at stud at Oak Haven.

The process is that when the mares are confirmed in foal, they travel the 33 miles to Oak Haven South, where they will remain, carefully watched, until foaling time, when they return to the main Oak Haven facility to foal out. Then, once the youngsters are old enough to get on a van, they return to McCollough and Grabski’s care. “We tell everybody we have the maternity ward for the broodmares, and the nursery and preschool for the foals,” Martha smiles. They focus on fitting the foals for a career with people, she says. The youngsters are handled daily and given gentle schooling in all the skills a horse needs: leading, grooming, picking up feet for farriers, traveling on vans—everything, as well as long days in big pastures with their mothers. And then, when they are 2, they return to Lindale to enter training.

In OH Dancing On Heir’s case, training began with Lauren, who broke her to saddle and gave her a solid foundation before passing her on to Jason for the polish necessary to reach her potential in the show ring.

The expanded capacity of the program is what has made the world go around for them, Blake Krohn reflects. Every step of a young horse’s progression is planned out and has someone to guide it; when it comes time for one to move on, the change is seamless. “We are constantly evaluating these horses and managing them as a team,” he says.

There is no way they could handle the scope of the program, Jason notes, without the staff they have. “Our staff is unbelievable—I mean trainers, grooms, everybody. I’m very proud of the accomplishments they all have. That’s just

Volume 45, No. 4 | 37AA

the type of people they are and how hard they work.”

When he returns from a show or a buying trip, he can pick right up where he left off with his horses.

“Or maybe they are further down the road,” he grins.

“That’s how great our staff is.”

It is, he says, a part of their philosophy: Every horse, every day, moving forward.

At Oak Haven Arabians: Every horse, every day, moving forward.

38AA | A R A BI A N HOR SE T I MES

For Blake, the program is important as more than just a viable, well-considered business. “We try to be always mindful of what we’re going to do with the foal that we’re bringing into the world,” he says. “As I get older, I realize the importance of stewardship for the Arabian breed for future generations.

There are so many people out there that share that responsibility, I know, but that is vital to me at this stage of my life—to be as responsible as I can. As we talk about producing horses, it’s important to me to make sure that we’re breeding the best quality that we can, horses that will have a purpose, that will be here for generations to come.” ■

2 0 1 4 U . S . N AT I O N A L S CONTENDERS

Blake and Genna Krohn, Owners Jason Krohn, Lauren Grabski, Matt Krohn and Cassie Banks, Trainers Farm 903-882-5205 • genna@oakhavenarabians.com • Jason Krohn 903-539-3812 W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

Volume Volume 45, 45, No. No. 44 || 39AA 39AA

40AA 40AA || A AR RA A BI BI A AN N HOR HOR SE SE T T II MES MES

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(Afires Heir x DD My Dance)

Oak Haven South would like to

Congratulate

Lindsay O’Reilly French on the purchase of this amazing mare!

Arabian English Pleasure Futurity with Jason Krohn Owned by:

LINDSAY O’REILLY FRENCH W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

Volume 45, No. 4 | 41AA

(SF Specs Shocwave x DD My Dance)

RESERVE NATIONAL CHAMPION

Watch for Rrapture during the AHDF Stallion Gala Presentation At U.S. Nationals!

2014 CANADIAN RESERVE NATIONAL CHAMPION ARABIAN ENGLISH PLEASURE JUNIOR HORSE 2014 REGION 11 CHAMPION ARABIAN ENGLISH PLEASURE JUNIOR HORSE Owned by:

OAK HAVEN SOUTH ARABIANS LLC

F O R B R E E D I N G I N F O C O N TAC T: Jason Krohn 903-539-3812 • Linda le, TX • genna@oak havenarabians.com W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

42AA | A R A BI A N HOR SE T I MES

Volume 45, No. 4 | 43AA

44AA | A R A BI A N HOR SE T I MES

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(Pryme Thyme x Chance To Dazzle)

2X NATIONAL CHAMPION

2014 SCOTTSDALE RESERVE CHAMPION ARABIAN COUNTRY PLEASURE JUNIOR HORSE 2014 REGION 11 UNANIMOUS CHAMPION ARABIAN COUNTRY PLEASURE JUNIOR HORSE 2013-2014 UNANIMOUS CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPION ARABIAN COUNTRY PLEASURE JUNIOR HORSE

Arabian Countr y Pleasure Junior Horse with Jason Krohn

Owned by:

OAK HAVEN SOUTH ARABIANS LLC

F O R B R E E D I N G I N F O C O N TAC T: Jason Krohn 903-539-3812 • Linda le, TX • genna@oak havenarabians.com W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

Volume 45, No. 4 | 45AA

(Sundance Kid V x Bali Hai V)

Owned by:

OAK HAVEN SOUTH ARABIANS LLC

F O R B R E E D I N G I N F O C O N TAC T: Jason Krohn 903-539-3812 • Linda le, TX • genna@oak havenarabians.com W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

46AA | A R A BI A N HOR SE T I MES

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(KRA Afire Works x Dorian Vogue)

5X NATIONAL CHAMPION

2014 REGION 9 CHAMPION H/A COUNTRY PLEASURE A AOTR 40 & OVER

H/A Countr y Pleasure AAOTR 55 & O ver with Martha McCollough Owned by:

OAK HAVEN SOUTH ARABIANS LLC W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

Volume 45, No. 4 | 47AA

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(Baske Afire x Morgan Le Fay)

NATIONAL CHAMPION

2014 REGION 9 UNANIMOUS CHAMPION ARABIAN COUNTRY PLEASURE A AOTR 40 & OVER

Arabian Countr y Pleasure AAOTR 55 & O ver with Martha McCollough Owned by:

OAK HAVEN SOUTH ARABIANS LLC W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

48AA | A R A BI A N HOR SE T I MES

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(Pryme Thyme x Chance To Dazzle)

2014 SCOTTSDALE UNANIMOUS CHAMPION COUNTRY PLEASURE A AOTR 55 & OVER

Arabian Countr y Pleasure AAOTR Maturity with Martha McCollough Owned by:

OAK HAVEN SOUTH ARABIANS LLC W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

Volume 45, No. 4 | 49AA

50AA | A R A BI A N HOR SE T I MES

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(IXL Noble Express x Brassmis)

2014 REGION 9 UNANIMOUS CHAMPION ARABIAN ENGLISH PLEASURE JUNIOR HORSE 2014 REGION 9 UNANIMOUS CHAMPION ARABIAN ENGLISH PLEASURE A AOTR 40 & OVER

Arabian English Pleasure Junior Horse with Jason Krohn

Arabian English Pleasure AAOTR 40 & O ver with Lester Martin

Owned by:

L&B FARMS

W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

Volume 45, No. 4 | 51AA

52AA | A R A BI A N HOR SE T I MES

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(DS Mick Jagger x MHR Martinna)

4X NATIONAL CHAMPION

2014 SCOTTSDALE UNANIMOUS CHAMPION ARABIAN COUNTRY PLEASURE OPEN 2014 SCOTTSDALE UNANIMOUS CHAMPION ARABIAN COUNTRY PLEASURE A AOTR 36-54 2013 U.S. NATIONAL UNANIMOUS CHAMPION ARABIAN COUNTRY ENGLISH PLEASURE SELECT A ATR

Arabian Countr y Pleasure Open with Jason Krohn Arabian Countr y Pleasure AAOTR 36-54 with Brian Galbraith Owned by:

L&B FARMS

W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

Volume 45, No. 4 | 53AA

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(IXL Aroundofaploz x Undulata’s Lady Delight)

2014 SCOTTSDALE UNANIMOUS CHAMPION H/A PARK OPEN 2014 SCOTTSDALE UNANIMOUS CHAMPION H/A PARK ATR 2014 REGION 9 UNANIMOUS CHAMPION H/A PARK ATR

H/A Park Open with Jason Krohn H/A Park AAOTR with Brian Galbraith Owned by:

L&B FARMS W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

54AA | A R A BI A N HOR SE T I MES

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(Vegaz x Merlot CSP)

2014 REGION 9 CHAMPION ARABIAN ENGLISH PLEASURE A ATR 40 & OVER

Arabian English Pleasure AAOTR Maturity with Lester Martin Owned by:

L&B FARMS W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

Volume 45, No. 4 | 55AA

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(Baske Afire x Cara Me Away)

2014 REGION 9 RESERVE CHAMPION H/A COUNTRY PLEASURE OPEN

H/A Countr y Pleasure Open with Jason Krohn Owned by:

L&B FARMS W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

56AA | A R A BI A N HOR SE T I MES

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(Undulata’s Nutcracker x Made You Look)

H/A Countr y Pleasure Futurity with Jason Krohn Owned by:

SCOTT AND SIDNEY DOLQUIST W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

Volume 45, No. 4 | 57AA

58AA | A R A BI A N HOR SE T I MES

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(Mamage x Watch My Success)

NATIONAL CHAMPION

2014 SCOTTSDALE UNANIMOUS CHAMPION H/A PLEASURE A AOTR 19-39 2014 REGION 11 UNANIMOUS CHAMPION H/A COUNTRY PLEASURE A AOTR 19-39 2014 REGION 11 UNANIMOUS CHAMPION H/A COUNTRY PLEASURE OPEN

H/A Countr y Pleasure Driving Open with Jason Krohn H/A Countr y Pleasure AAOTR 19-35 with Lindsay O’Reilly French Owned by:

LINDSAY O’REILLY FRENCH W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

Volume 45, No. 4 | 59AA

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(Mamage x Callaway’s Second Date)

NATIONAL CHAMPION

2014 CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPION H/A ENGLISH PLEASURE JUNIOR HORSE

H/A English Pleasure Junior Horse with Jason Krohn H/A English Pleasure AAOTR Maturity with Lindsay O’Reilly Owned by:

LINDSAY O’REILLY FRENCH W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

60AA | A R A BI A N HOR SE T I MES

French

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(CSP James Bond x Mats Fancy)

RESERVE NATIONAL CHAMPION

2014 REGION 11 CHAMPION H/A COUNTRY PLEASURE A AOTR 40 & OVER

H/A Countr y Pleasure Driving AAOTD H/A Countr y Pleasure AAOTR 36-54 with Valerie Kline Owned by:

VALERIE KLINE W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

Volume 45, No. 4 | 61AA

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(Afires Heir x Pilane)

H/A Hunter Pleasure Junior Horse with Lauren Grabski

H/A Hunter Pleasure AAOTR Maturity with Valerie Kline Owned by:

VALERIE KLINE W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

62AA | A R A BI A N HOR SE T I MES

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(Mamage x Chills N Thrills)

H/A English Pleasure AAOTR Maturity H/A English Pleasure AAOTR 19-39 with Taylor Kraft Owned by:

TAYLOR KRAFT W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

Volume 45, No. 4 | 63AA

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(Baskghazi x Tasheena Bask)

Arabian Countr y Pleasure AAOTR Maturity Arabian Countr y Pleasure Select AATR with Jessica Everitt Owned by:

JESSICA EVERITT W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

64AA | A R A BI A N HOR SE T I MES

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(DA Tripolli x Santana’s Charming Lady)

NATIONAL CHAMPION

2014 CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPION H/A COUNTRY PLEASURE JUNIOR HORSE 2014 REGION 11 CHAMPION H/A COUNTRY PLEASURE JUNIOR HORSE

H/A Countr y Pleasure Junior Horse with Jason Krohn Owned by:

OAK HAVEN ARABIANS W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

Volume 45, No. 4 | 65AA

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(Baske Afire x Drive Me Crazy)

NATIONAL CHAMPION

2014 CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPION H/A COUNTRY PLEASURE SELECT A ATR 2014 CANADIAN RESERVE NATIONAL CHAMPION H/A COUNTRY PLEASURE OPEN

H/A Countr y Pleasure Select with Jennifer Schwing Owned by:

JENNIFER SCHWING W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

66AA | A R A BI A N HOR SE T I MES

U . S .

N a t i o n a l s

C o n t e n d e r

(Baske Afire x Sweet Day Dream)

2X NATIONAL CHAMPION

2014 CANADIAN NATIONAL UNANIMOUS CHAMPION H/A HUNTER PLEASURE A AOTR 2014 CANADIAN NATIONAL UNANIMOUS CHAMPION H/A HUNTER PLEASURE A ATR 2014 CANADIAN RESERVE NATIONAL CHAMPION H/A HUNTER PLEASURE OPEN 2013 U.S. NATIONAL RESERVE CHAMPION H/A HUNTER PLEASURE JUNIOR HORSE 2013 U.S. NATIONAL RESERVE CHAMPION HUNTER PLEASURE SELECT

H/A Hunter Pleasure Open

with Lauren Grabski

Owned by:

JENNIFER SCHWING W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

Volume 45, No. 4 | 67AA

High Five

to Jason Krohn, Lauren Grabski, and the entire Oak Haven family, for winning 5 National Championships in all 5 classes! Thank you for your unbelievable dedication, support, and direction in making my lifelong dream come true!

Looking forward to many successful years ahead with this phenomenal team.

—Jennifer Schwing

CF

Badras Symphony

2014 CANADIAN NATIONALS Unanimous Champion H/A Hunter Pleasure AATR & AAOTR 40 & Over Reserve Champion H/A Hunter Pleasure Owned by:

JSN

Manhattan

2014 CANADIAN NATIONALS Champion H/A Country English Pleasure Select AATR Reserve Champion H/A Country English Pleasure

JENNIFER SCHWING

W W W.OA K H AV E NA R A BI A N S .C OM

68AA | A R A BI A N HOR SE T I MES