Excalibur EA

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J e f f r e y

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W i n t e r s t e e n

ometimes a little girl’s dream is so strong it is kept aglow and nurtured long into adulthood. And sometimes, such dreams have a way of playing out on the biggest canvas imaginable. The story of Excalibur EA began with such a dream. When Princess Laetitia d’Arenberg of Estancia Las Rosas was 15, she journeyed to Morocco to visit her friend, the daughter of the King of Morocco. As Princess Laetitia remembers, “the first time I saw an Arabian horse was at the Royal Stud of the King of Morocco.

Since that day it became my lifelong dream to be able to breed these beautiful creatures someday.” Her father found this idea crazy — after all, they were not “farm people,” as he reminded her. But Princess Laetitia clung to her dream.

Finally, when she had the freedom and means, she purchased her first farm in Uruguay from Count Federico Zichy-Thyssen. Shortly after, Princess Laetitia bought the first group of mares to start a serious breeding program. The long-term goal was always to breed world-class Arabian horses.

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Excalibur EA (Shanghai EA x Essence Of Marwan EA by Marwan Al Shaqab), facing page and this page.

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Right: Excalibur EA won 2014 World Champion Junior Colt, making him a European Triple Crown winner, shown by Tom Schoukens.

Below left: Princess Laetitia shares the moment in Paris her son Guntram Von Habsburg.

Bottom: More than 70 family members and friends of Princess Laetitia’s gathered in Paris to cheer him on.

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Left: Excalibur EA was Gold Champion at the All Nations Cup at Aachen in September, shown by Tom Schoukens.

Middle and bottom: Excalibur at the 2014 European Championships where he was crowned Gold Champion Junior Stallion in October.

With the foundation for Princess Laetitia’s dream now in place, it became apparent that there was a significant problem inherent in the geographic location: access to world-class sires. It was clear that they needed to find a suitable herd sire for Las Rosas. After a four-year search, a photograph from the 2012 U.S. Nationals would set the farm on a new course.

As farm manager Olivia Strauch remembers, “I saw a picture of a grey colt in a newsletter from Ted Carson’s. I was most impressed with the combination of head and neck. Las Rosas Arabians was looking for a special type of horse, a complete Arabian. It is not just about a pretty face,” Olivia says. “They need to have shoulder, neck, structure, and good legs. We never wanted to give away all of that for a pretty face like some may be willing to do.” The yearling colt they found and subsequently purchased was Excalibur EA (Shanghai EA x Essence Of Marwan EA

by Marwan Al Shaqab), bred by Albert Sorroca of Equus Arabians in Spain.

After a successful early show career in the U.S. that included U.S. National Champion Yearling Colt and Arabian Breeders World Cup Silver Champion Colt in Las Vegas, Excalibur EA came to his new home to grow up under the broad blue sky in the lush pastures of Uruguay. Furthering Excalibur EA’s show career was not in Princess Laetitia’s plans, and most certainly not the dazzling lights of Paris.

Olivia explains, “Maybe for some people it is about having a World Champion title, and having that picture. But the goal for Princess Laetitia has always been about breeding world-class Arabians. It was the reason we bought Excalibur. We never thought he would be a World Champion, we just wanted the best sire for the farm.”

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Left: LR Epic (Excalibur EA x IA Miss Pima by Magic Dream CAHR), 2014 colt.

Middle right: LR Máximo (Excalibur EA x Milenaa NA by Sir Fames HBV), 2014 colt.

Bottom left: Right: LR Ellinore (Excalibur EA x Fhemyna Serondella by Alessandro El Jamaal), 2014 filly.

This notion began to change soon after Excalibur EA arrived in Uruguay and began to settle into his new home.

Olivia called former employer Christine Jamar of Jadem Arabians in Belgium. “I have known Christine a long time and trusted her advice. I told her ‘I think this horse is amazing and he is growing up so beautiful,’” explains Olivia. “I really thought we had something special on our hands, but maybe it was only my imagination.”

Christine and her husband Guy have a farm in Uruguay that they check on several times a year. Olivia invited them to stop by the next time they were in the country. Christine

remembers, “In came Excalibur EA full of energy. I watched the horse for several minutes, dancing around Olivia and suddenly he looked at me, captivating me with those dark eyes. I couldn’t stop looking at him. I felt that it was the right time to bring him to Europe. He is a very correct horse and his face is pretty when he is excited, especially with his dark charming eyes.” General Farm Manager Roberto Serventi and Princess Laetitia were initially a bit more cautious of this idea, but in the end everyone agreed to the challenge. In June Excalibur EA was on a flight to Europe.

The first show in Europe for Excalibur EA was Menton, where he was shown only once ten days after his arrival and after a long breeding season in Uruguay. Excalibur EA placed third, all things considered, not a bad start. He then went on to win Ströhen and West Coast Cup, and started to garner some attention in Europe.

After three shows in Europe and training with the Schoukens, Excalibur EA was set for Aachen, but no one could have predicted the fireworks his performance would set off. Not only did Excalibur notch the highest score of the show, outdoing

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Left: Alexxanderr (Excalibur EA x AR Most Irresistible by ML Mostly Padron), 2014 colt, to be shown at the 2015 Abu Dhabi Arabian Show.

Below: LR Lady Marion (Excalibur EA x NAG Nihrah Victory by RSD Dark Victory), 2014 filly.

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Top left: LR Brittania (Excalibur EA x LR Alegria by Laman HVP), 2014 filly.

Top right: LR Experto (Excalibur EA x LR Expected Beauty by Shael Dream Desert), 2014 colt.

Bottom: LR Arturo (Excalibur EA x Giwa Morab by Balih El Jamaal), 2014 colt.

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TC Exxalt (Excalibur EA x Vespera by SF Veraz), 2014 colt, to be shown by Ted Carson at Scottsdale 2015 in International Colts.

even World Champion Kwestura and well known Eden C, but his 95.33 was the highest score ever recorded at an Ecaho show.

Tom, who was on the end of the lead at Aachen, best sums up how it all came together. “I think the whole process — from Menton to Ströhen to West Coast Cup, was equally important for his experience, trust in us, and his reputation as a show horse. All of this contributed to his historic win in Aachen. But Aachen,” Tom continues, “was incredible, really! This showground is perfect for him, as it is not an easy arena for most horses. So I knew a horse like Excalibur would stand out there … and it happened! The score was high, but it was a magical show!”

Despite the euphoria, there were suggestions from some that Excalibur EA’s success had run its course. “After Aachen,” Olivia explains, “many people came up to us and said you’ve gone far enough, you shouldn’t risk anymore. Take him home with his title.”

Despite the naysayers, the Schoukens team still had faith in Excalibur. By their calculations, before Aachen he was a competitive horse, but after Aachen he was suddenly a contender to be World Champion. “After the European Championships, where he was again Gold Champion,” Tom says, “we were all of a sudden in the top spot and we believed we could make this happen.”

That said, being a contender for World Champion and being a World Champion are sometimes light years apart. “We were thinking that maybe we would be Silver Champion in Paris,” remembers Olivia. “Maybe in my wildest

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dreams I thought we could win, but in my mind I thought it impossible. We would be happy with Silver.”

After he won his qualifying class, hopes grew for Championship day. The large cheering section for Excalibur EA exploded with support when the young grey colt entered the ring. “When he first came into the ring he looked naturally wild, free,” the Princess remembers with a smile, “happily floating seemingly without effort, showing all his attitude and personality as 70 people of my family screamed his name at the same time. Excalibur is a horse who feels sure of himself! There was so much commotion, I could not really see and I can barely remember what was going on. When they announced the winner, John, my husband, was the first one to make me realize that it was Excalibur. We had just won the first Arabian World Championship in history for South America! Somehow I found myself in front of the saddle in the middle of the ring and Excalibur was standing there, gazing all around. For a moment I was back in the desert of Morocco 45 years ago. It was so emotional, like being inside a movie.

I realized that my longtime dream had come true.”

For his handler and the rest of the Schoukens crew, it was a special celebration.

“It was an entire team effort that made this happen: Las Rosas, Princess Laetitia and her family, Olivia, Christine Jamar, the whole team at Schoukens, his personal groom Jan Lemmens, we all worked together to achieve this incredible result,” Tom says.

“To achieve a triple crown in today’s show circuit is nearly impossible, so for me it was a great win. Olivia and the Princess were so nice and grateful. I thank them again for choosing us to show this great horse!”

Olivia echoes her appreciation, “Every one of the team members performed his or her tasks to perfection. It was so

expecting. The foals have incredible movement, tail carriage, and charisma to die for. We are excited about his future,” Ted says.

Olivia sees this same extraordinary promise of Excalibur in the foals he has sired on the farm in Uruguay. “It is amazing how consistent he is. All the foals are very tall, with correct bodies, are very strong, and have amazing shoulders and necks. They are just very complete horses. Of course they are all full of his charisma and movement. We go to see them every afternoon. I know it is not the best way to evaluate them,” says Olivia with a laugh, “we should wait and see them once in awhile to better see their development. But it is just so much fun to see them playing around in the pasture.”

Princess Laetitia is not shy about her feelings for Excalibur EA. “I have big expectations for the new foals, to see how he will be as a sire, and the new challenge of seeing him grow as one of the ‘big ones’ in the history of the breed. The story of Excalibur is like a dream that I’m blessed with every day, cherishing every moment and every memory. And the most wonderful thing about breeding horses is that dreams continue through the offspring and the coming generations. Two months have passed since the World Championships in Paris and what I feel is still immense. Thanks to Excalibur I am reunited with my family that was split for 35 years. What more can I say?”

Princess Laetitia shares a special moment with Excalibur in Paris.

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MCKENNA PHOTO

smooth. Cat McKenna was fantastic with all the marketing; she almost knew what we wanted before I asked. Of course Christine was right by our side the entire time and the Schoukens were amazing. I also appreciated that Ted Carson, even though he was not training the horse anymore, was a loyal part of the team. Albert Sorroca was a proud ‘daddy’ who was as thrilled as we were with all that was happening.”

After Paris, Excalibur EA left for Jadem Arabians where he will be standing for the immediate future. “All the members of our team are crazy about him and treat him like a king,” says Christine Jamar. “It is an honor to have him here. Excalibur really loves his daily portion of hugs and attention. All our visitors love him and come to our farm especially to see him. By realizing Princess Laetitia’s dream, the dream of many breeders also came true, as Princess Laetitia and Olivia made it possible for them to breed their mares to Excalibur EA. We are very happy to be a part of Excalibur EA’s amazing journey.

He has a great future as a breeding and show stallion — one to keep an eye on!”

Although Excalibur is an exciting new stallion for Europe, he already had foals on the ground in the U.S. with Ted Carson. Ted is quick to dismiss the notion of his being a “potential sire.” “He is so far beyond that,” Ted says. “The first three foals by Excalibur were all a great success for us. I am really excited about what I know he can do. We just sold a colt by him to the Middle East — I think he is going to do really big things there. I will probably be kicking myself soon for letting him go.”

It was Ted, of course, who showed him during his very successful U.S. career and still represents him in the U.S. “I ended up with Excalibur because I tried to get his sire Shanghai.

I loved that tight muzzle of Shanghai and the bone through the face along with the big jowl.

In the end, what Excalibur gave us is not only the tight muzzle, but also the neck and shoulder of Marwan and charisma beyond what we were