Cover Story ~ JR Francois ~ Fall 2021

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“ There is a wonderful bond between us and our horses .

And the horses love to be with those who love them . ”

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THE 2017 STALLION JR FRANCOIS (*KAVALLE MI X JR FRANCESCA BY *MARWAN AL SHAQAB).

by Denise Hearst

P

erhaps it’s an old story, this affinity between

People around me were raving about her. She went

man and horse. But the story never gets old.

top five and third place. Over the years she won

For Gary Kehl and his family, the purchase of a

many class A and Regional titles, and National Top

pair of Half-Arabian Paint geldings in 1985, who happened to be siblings, altered the course of their

Tens at Canadian and Youth Nationals.

“We got the show bug, even the grandkids have it, so it’s definitely a family effort and we all love it.

lives in the nicest possible way.

Gary rented a pasture in the foothills southeast of

There is a wonderful bond between us and our

Salt Lake City, Utah, at the mouth of Little

horses. And the horses love to be with those who love

Cottonwood Canyon near the ski resorts. “The owner

them. If you’re thinking of buying an Arabian horse,

of the pasture gave us her permission to build a small

don’t hesitate. Come join us – you will love the ride!”

barn,” says Gary. “And my sons, then ages 18, 16, 14,

Today, Gary Kehl and family enjoy both the halter

and eight, and I had a blast building our first four-

and performance realms of the Arabian horse world

stall barn together. It was home built with a lot of

and run dual programs out of their Salt Lake City,

love, and we thought it was great.

Utah, farm and their Scottsdale showplace. Both

“The boys took turns getting up early before school

facilities are gearing up for the U.S. Nationals in

to feed Duke and Rowdy and clean the barn,”

October with a heightened sense of excitement,

continues Gary. “Whenever they had a few moments,

much of it to do with the young bay stallion, JR

they’d saddle up the horses and ride up into the

Francois (*Kavalle MI x JR Francesca), who Gary

mountains. Duke and Rowdy were always ready to

purchased from his breeders, Joanne and Ram

pack the boys on their adventures. When the boys

Gunabalan in 2020.

started to go off to college, the younger ones continued to take care of the horses. Soon grandkids came along. The horses were just members of the family and were the source of so much joy, happiness, and fun for the entire family. Duke passed away at 21 years of age. That was a hard day, and not just for family members; poor Rowdy cried for his brother for

“WE SHARE THE FEELING THAT OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR

ARABIAN HORSES

HAVE TRULY BLESSED OUR LIVES .”

“I saw Francois at the 2018 Breeders World Cup in

weeks. But Rowdy stayed around to take care of all

Vegas,” says Gary, “and told our halter trainer, Lucho

the kids and grandkids, until just last Fall, at 38 years

Guimarães, how much I loved his size, shape of his

old, he laid down in his stall and went to meet Duke

neck, head, overall body, and the way he carried

and a lot of other farm pals that left too early.”

himself – full of confidence and charisma. I also asked

Gary purchased his first purebreds in an auction in

if he was for sale. The answer was, ‘Not at this point!’

1992 – Abas Ramar (Dakmar x Ramohna by

Soon after, I was blessed to meet Joanne and Ram

Mohssen), in foal, and a two-year-old grey filly, GK So

Gunabalan. We quickly became great friends and

Fancie (Madero x Terneza by *Al Cobre). “That’s when

share the feeling that our relationships with our

we joined an Arabian horse club and started to learn

Arabian horses have truly blessed our lives. Joanne

about showing Arabian horses,” says Gary. “I bred

and Ram are wonderful people and their

Abas Ramar to a black and white Paint stallion, Chief

accomplishments with their JRs Dream Arabians

Dakota Bar, and she foaled a beautiful bay and white

breeding program and success in the showring has

Paint filly with absolutely stunning markings. We

been second to none.

named her GK A-Lexus, and she won every local

“When the Gunabalans brought JR Francois back

show in Half-Arabian western pleasure. When she

to the National Breeders Finals in Scottsdale last

was four, we decided to make our first trip to the

year, I was sitting next to Joanne when Francois

Scottsdale horse show. Everyone warned us that it’s

came into the ring. I was again blown away by his

too political there…but I said, ‘If you don’t go and try,

presence and beauty! I couldn’t help but speak up.

you can’t win.’ Well, we went, and I will never forget

I told Joanne how stunningly beautiful he was and

the moment when GK A-Lexus came into the arena.

that, ‘It’s a tough class but I think he’ll win. And to

On the cover: JR Francois and Lucho Guimarães.

think I tried to buy him two years ago!’ Joanne turned GRK FARMS > 3 < WORLD

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to me and said, ‘I would sell him to you, because you love him as much as I do! Let’s talk about it after the show!’ When Francois won, I could hardly breathe – I was in shock! The next day we worked out the details and the deal was done.”

Later at the 2020 U.S. Nationals, JR Francois was shown by Lucho Guimarães, who trains for both GRK Farms and JRs Dream Arabians. There, Francois was crowned Canadian National Champion Futurity Colt.

As Gary notes, “His destiny was created from a magical breeding of National Champion Stallion *Kavalle MI (*Gazal Al Shaqab x Karess) to National Champion Mare JR Francesca (*Marwan Al Shaqab x Valori TRF), both owned by the Gunabalans.”

For Lucho, winning the first National Championship for GRK with Francois was special. “A horse bred by special clients and friends, Joanne and Ram Gunabalan, and now owned by Gary… it all came together!” he says. “In May of 2019, Gary and I decided to join forces and I was hired as GRK’s in-house halter trainer, with the opportunity to keep my training center with some outside horses. I feel very blessed. It has been a great ride with Gary and GRK. Everything is so recent, but it feels like we’ve

Among the many mares in foal to Francois for 2022 are the GRK mares, clockwise from top left: HAFATIANNA GRK (*Kanz Albidayer × OFW Rihanna), EXXALTED EMPRESS GRK (Exxalt × Izzabella Dona), and FH JEMINA (Eminence PS × FH Jadore).

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WHEN CONSIDERING SOME OF THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL QUALITIES HE PRIZES IN A HALTER HORSE, LUCHO EXPLAINS, “AS TRAINERS, BREEDERS, OWNERS AND JUDGES WE ARE ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT OUR HORSES LOOK LIKE…THEIR CHARACTERISTICS, BODY TYPE, LENGTH AND SHAPE OF NECK, STRUCTURE OF THE LEGS, AND HOW THEY COMPARE TO THE BREED STANDARD. BUT, SOMETIMES IN THE SHOW RING, A HORSE THAT HAS A GREAT ATTITUDE AND PERSONALITY CAN CAPTURE THE ATTENTION AND PUT THEMSELVES IN A BETTER SPOT. MUCH OF WHAT WE CONSIDER ARABIAN TYPE IS NOT ONLY IN THEIR CONFORMATION BUT IN THEIR MOVEMENT, MIND, AND ATTITUDE. IN A STAND UP, I’M A FAN OF BEAUTY AND DETAILS LIKE TIGHT CURVY EARS, BIG BLACK BRIGHT EYES, AND BIG FLARING NOSTRILS. A GREAT SHOULDER AND TAIL CARRIAGE REALLY HELP A LOT, TOO. IN SO MANY WAYS, FRANCOIS EMBODIES THESE ATTRIBUTES.” A HG WR K > F70 A R M< S S >P R6I N< GW2O0R2L1D

siblings of Francois to National Championships,” Lucho adds. “I know how consistent that pedigree is, and I have no doubt in my mind that Francois will be siring some superstars for us. His first foals will arrive in 2022. He bred most of GRK’s mares, as well as quite a few outside mares – a big variety of phenotypes and pedigrees – so it will be very interesting to see what works best. We are hoping he will contribute his beauty, size, and a great neck and shoulder. I now have the pleasure to work with Francois’s sire *Kavalle MI, who is a very solid and correct horse with amazing movement and charisma.

Francois’s dam JR Francesca is a beautiful, feminine mare with incredible Arabian type.

“Francois has the beauty, conformation, movement, and charisma. In 20 years traveling the world looking at Arabian horses, I have not seen many horses that are so complete as Francois. Not many horses have the size but also keep the balance and beauty as he

done so much. I can’t wait to see what is still

does. He is definitely a horse that is appealing to any

to come!”

market in the world. And if he were to have a

Lucho was born in Brazil where his parents bred

performance career, I’d love to see Francois in a dark

Mangalarga horses for pleasure riding. “My father

saddle, full of chrome, in a

was an Arabian horse lover, and in 1996, we

beautiful western bridle!”

bought the stallion JM Baskhar (AF Bask Majesty

Gary believes that

x JM Pharisa) at the riding and jumping club

Francois looks the best he

where I took lessons,” he says. “When I was

has ever looked, even after a

growing up, I had the opportunity to work with

busy breeding season. “They

many of the top trainers in the world. I think that I

say, ‘There’s nothing like love

have taken the best, and whatever seemed to

to bring out your best.’ I feel

work for me, from everyone that I’ve worked with.

that he has the potential to

“I believe that in order for horses to truly learn,

become known as a world

they need to understand what they are doing and

class international breeding

why. And most importantly, enjoy what they are

stallion...we will know soon

doing. If you can accomplish that, you will have a

enough with next year’s

horse that will show for you forever.

foal crop.

“Another important lesson: horses need to be

“But there is something else about him that I value

horses and, in a show barn, sometimes it is easy

even more,” adds Gary. “The minute I walk into the

to forget that. Also, every horse is different, and

barn and he hears my voice, he lets me know that, ‘I

you might have to adapt your program so that

am over here!’ He puts his head on my shoulder as I

satisfying the horse’s needs becomes the key to

stroke his head and neck. We have a connection that

success. With that in mind, one of my favorite

owner and stallion rarely find thanks to Joanne and

moments at home is walking into the barn and

Ram and the love and nurturing he received in the

seeing Francois’s face out the window, ready to

first three years of his life.

greet and be greeted… everyday and all day! It

“Francois is the perfect name for him. He will show

warms my heart just to see him looking around

again soon, and who knows, maybe he will make it to

while I’m working. He is not only gorgeous, but he

Paris! The French mares would line up to meet a true

is the kindest stallion you’ll ever meet.

French gentleman!

“I have been blessed to show two other full

“Have you met Francois yet? What are you waiting for?

GRK FARMS > 7 < WORLD

SCHATZBURG PHOTO

2020 Canadian National Champion Futurity Colt JR FRANCOIS, with Gary Kehl and Lucho Guimarães.

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Owned by GARY R. KEHL

Managed by LUCHO GUIMARÃES ARABIANS

+1.801.560.9688 garyraykehl@gmail.com

Lucho and Ashley Guimarães +1.480.758.8708 luchoguimaraesarabians@gmail.com www.luchoguimaraesarabians.com

G R K FA R M S L LC · S COT TS D A L E , A R I ZO N A A N D H E R R I M A N , U TA H W W W. G R K F A R M S . C O M