AHT - 2024 Royal Arabians

It was a ROYAL Scottsdale Show

The Last Dance - Perfinka

by Colleen Scott

When you ask the Royal Arabians team to name a highlight from the Scottsdale show, it isn’t the multiple championships, unforgettable ring performances or the fact that they were the number one halter breeder of the show (by points, a system which assigns a number of points to each championship). While that distinction is important, (more on that later in the story), it’s their role in bringing Arabian enthusiasts from all over the world together that resonated.

“We had people from Brazil, Romania, Belgium, Saudi Arabia and of course the U.S.,” says Rodolfo Guzzo, longtime cornerstone of the Royal training and breeding program team.

This global support for the breed, and the Royal program in particular, was especially apparent when Rodolfo led P erfinka (Esparto x Perfirka) to her First Place Arabian Mare 8 Years & Over win and ultimately, the Scottsdale Senior Mare Championship title. In what was her last appearance in the U.S., the stunning grey mare did not disappoint.

Perfinka came to the U.S. in 2019 and since that time, now with owner by Abdulaziz Bin Saleh Bin Abdulaziz

Al-Rajhi, has captured the hearts and imaginations of Arabian horse enthusiasts. Of her farewell dance with Rodolfo, he says, “It was such an honor to present this mare at her last show in the U.S. She was happy and it showed. It was a very emotional class for everyone and the support we had from the international and U.S. communities was very touching.”

The power of an amazing mare like Perfinka to bring a diverse, global community of supporters together, as a family, cannot be underestimated.

And that family dynamic aligns with the Royal way of thinking. Whether it’s a U.S. family or a global family, the Royal Arabians program is about one family’s adoration for a horse and the journey that brings them together. “ It is our wish that all families can experience an anchor that unites them, regardless of what is happening in their lives, as the Arabian horse has done for this family.”

Perfinka was the embodiment of that global anchor at the Scottsdale show.

Leading Breeder Of Halter Horses

While Perfinka’s victory was certainly a highlight that everyone celebrated, there were 28 others for a total of 36 title wins.

Amongst the five title winners in the international arena, the Royal-owned Royal Asad was sire of two:

Royal Atticus (x Sweet Satisfaction), who claimed the International Arabian Breeders Senior Stallion Gold title for owner Calibur LLC, achieving the highest score of the entire show, and Royal Black Moon (x Seduction HBV), Champion in the International Arabian Breeder 3-Year-Old Mare class.

Other notable wins by Royal-bred or owned horses in the halter arena included Royal Pandoraa (AJ Radman x Pretoria AS NA), Breeders Club Champion Yearling Filly ATH and Royal Reign (AJ Radman x Rhadashah Arabco), Breeders Club Champion Yearling/Colt Gelding ATH; both handled by Amanda Pagan, who also presented She Be Glorious (PA Kid Khan x She Be Royal) in the Half-Arabian Mare Championship AATH to a Reserve title. She Be Glorious was led to a Reserve title in the Half-Arabian Junior Filly Championship as well, with Austin Boggs.

The Royal Arabians program was also fully represented in the Scottsdale Signature Stallion halter classes, earning top ten wins with: Royal Aries (Royal Asad x HK Sweet Festiva) and the aforementioned Royal Reign in the SSS Championship Yearling Colts/Geldings ATH, Royal Luka (HDF Lugano x Royal Hadara) in the SSS Auction Championship Yearling Colts/Geldings AOTH, and Royal Sofia RSB (Royal Asad x RFI Sophie Almaktub) in the SSS Championship Two Year Old Fillies ATH.

Royal Pandoraa

AJ Radman x Pretoria AS NA

Royal Reign

AJ Radman x Rhadashah Arabco

Royal Atticus Royal Asad x Sweet Satisfaction

Royal Black Moon Royal Asad x Seduction HBV

Rodolfo is quick to point out that while the wins and the leading halter breeder designation are meaningful, the horses are what is really important. “Every win is exciting, and of course, we like to set out to show each horse to its best, but even if we don’t win, as long as the horse is beautiful and happy, then we’ve accomplished a lot already. Every single horse is important to us at Royal Arabians.”

The success of the Royal-bred horses is no accident, but the result of a carefully thought-out breeding program that has been in development since its inception. Now standing approximately 25 stallions, Royal Arabians’ mission is to breed the best examples of the Arabian horse, and to provide a home for them to flourish and grow to their maximum potential. Their program focuses on beauty and athleticism, producing not only outstanding halter horses, but also performance horses.

At this year’s show, Royal Arabians’ Royal Asad was a top five sire in number of halter winners, and AJ Radman (AJ Mardan x AJ Rahifa)—who in collaboration with Ajman Stud, Frank Sponle and Elisa Grassi, produced four champions for Royal Arabians—was the leading sire of halter winners by both points and number of winners.

“What we were able to do at this year’s Scottsdale show really proved why Royal Arabians is always striving for the top,” says Greg Knowles who heads up sales and marketing efforts at the farm. “We are absolutely humbled by the success we were able to accomplish with the great leadership of Rodolfo and Natalie, and the work of the team,” he says.

“I think we are inspired to continue to be the best we can possibly be and there isn’t a limit to the level we are going to be able to rise to,” he added.

Arabian Horse Times | 17 | Halter 2024

The Royal Team

While the team’s leadership around the grounds is apparent, including owners Cindy McGown and Mark Davis, breeding manager Amanda Fraser, Rodolfo, Natalia and Greg, as well as highly successful performance trainer Justin Cowden, it’s everyone working together, some on the forefront and some behind the scenes, that makes Royal Arabians so successful.

Greg shares, “Cindy and Mark constantly try to better their breeding program and are always concerned about how to make the Arabian horse world a better place. Guzzo is always 100% active in the care and well-being of every single horse we have under our care, and Natalia, well if you know her, I really don’t need to say more. She runs the office, and Guzzo and me as well. She is amazing and not only loves every horse here at Royal, but sincerely cares about every client we have.

“We are all so grateful for the countless hours the entire crew puts in behind the scenes, all day, and sometimes all night between getting the horses ready, showing horses to customers, and helping clients with their horses. It takes a big team to support an effort like the Scottsdale show, and we appreciate every single person and how hard they work almost around the clock for two weeks.”

One of those people is Ariel Marie Gordon, who manages the care of the broodmares and foals at the Royal breeding operation in Mesa. She helped prepare some of the babies presented at the show.

Everyone’s hard work has paid off, not only in showing and breeding successes, but also in recognition outside the ring. This year, Royal Arabians was nominated for 11 Readers’ Choice Awards, and won in the following categories: Halter Amateur of the Year (Amanda Pagan), Arabian Halter Horse of the Year (Aria Rakeem) and Marketer of the Year.

“Our team is very talented and committed to Royal Arabians’ success,” continues Greg. “Our successes at Scottsdale, the camaraderie of our global community, the AHT nominations, … these are all affirmations to how hard this team works for its Royal family to be the best they can be every single day.”

Office Manager: Natalia Nieves.

Cell Phone: 760-443-4853

Office Phone: 480-361-6926 info@royalarabians.com

Shown by Mr. Rodolfo Guzzo

Unanimous

Brazilian Nationals Gold Medal Champion Colt

Nationals Gold Medal Champion Stallion U.S. National Champion Senior Stallion

Jiuliusz De Wiec x Chili Pepper V

Shown by Mr. Rodolfo Guzzo

Esparto x Perfirka

U.S. National Unanimous Champion Senior Mare

Scottsdale Unanimous Champion Senior Mare Breeders World Cup Unanimous Gold Champion Senior Mare

Owned by Eric and Karen England

Royal Arabians - Scottsdale, AZ www.royalarabians.com • 480-361-6926

Top Ten SSS Yearling Colt/Gelding ATH with Eric England

RFI Unique x Sahara Dawarah

Shown by Mr. Rodolfo Guzzo

2020

SCID

Gold Champion International Senior Stallion with Mr. Rodolfo Guzzo Owned by Calibur LLC, Mc Kay Stirland and Ricardo Rivero

Royal Arabians - Scottsdale, AZ

Royal Asad x Sweet Satisfaction

Silver Champion

Royal Asad x Sweet

AJ Radman x Amal AJF

Gold Champion International Yearling Filly with Mr. Rodolfo Guzzo

Owned by Luciano Cury - Haras Boa Vista with Cindy McGown and Mark Davis

Bred by Baraa Alghazali

Gold Champion International Arabian Junior Filles with Rodolfo Guzzo

AJ Radman x Yara Yaser

Owned by Yaser Alharthi Royal

Gold Champion International Arabian Breeders Egyptian Heritage Senior Mares with Rodolfo Guzzo

Exxalt x Exquisite Lady

Owned by Sultan Hamed Mastor Alharthi

Royal Arabians - Scottsdale, AZ www.royalarabians.com

a Scottsdale Champions Club Sweep...

Champion Breeders Club

Yearling Filly ATH with Amanda Pagan

Owned by Cindy McGown and Mark Davis

Champion Breeders Club

Yearling Colt ATH with Daniel Pagan

Top Ten SSS Yearling Colts/Geldings ATH with Grayson Sellman

Owned by Cindy McGown and Mark Davis

AJ Radman x Pretoria AS NA

AJ Radman x Rhadashah Arabco