Valley Oak Arabians — A Place in the Sun

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It’s springtime in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Among their dams, a dozen or so new foals test their engines — gunning it, stopping, and matching their mothers’ gaits stride for stride. Long shadows from long legs stretch across the big, broad pasture and tangle with the early morning light. The sight of the expanse stops the little ones in their tracks, tiny ears pricked. Only after flaring their nostrils to fill their lungs with cool, clean air, do they dare step forth again, to choose their own pace and begin to define their young lives.

“Seeing the mares and foals turned out like that is great,” says their owner Manny Vierra.

“To me that is what it’s all about.”

This morning scene that breeders Manny and Diana Vierra now share, is one they had imagined and planned years before.

These special foals of the Vierras’ Valley Oak Arabians run and play beside some of the world’s most outstanding broodmares, handpicked only after years of careful research, travel, and discussion, by Manny and his longtime colleague and trusted friend Raymond Mazzei of Furioso Farm. The pair has traveled the world to search

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Previous page, above, and facing page: The 1999 *Emigrant daughter *Euscera (x Elcantara by Pamir), who was purchased at the Polish Prestige Sale last year. She is photographed here just six days after weaning her 2010 filly by Ekstern. *Euscera is heading to the 2010 U.S. Nationals with Andy Sellman.

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out and assemble Valley Oak’s superlative string of broodmares.

The elite group includes mares such as Manny’s beloved bay Canadian National Champion and U.S. National Reserve Champion SFA Wind Chime (Fame VF x Winterset); U.S. and Canadian Top Ten Mare Oksanadik (*Sanadik El Shaklan x Kaprycious); and Israeli import and Israeli National Champion Mare *Dumka (*Laheeb IASB x Dabrowa). In 2009 the stunning grey blessed the Vierras with a foal by their imported stallion Honorrs (Affirrmed x Padrons Contessa), who Manny says has “one of the most extraordinary faces I’ve ever seen.”

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Facing page and above: The 1991 stallion *Emigrant PASB (Ararat x Emigrantka by *Eukaliptus).

Right: A 2010 colt by *Emigrant and out of *Workuta PASB by Monogramm.

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Manny has a deep love of *Laheeb IASB (Imperial Imdal x AK Latifa) daughters and is proud that he has been able to own so many of them. “I have gathered all these bloodlines for the last 15 years,” he says. “And I believe I have the largest collection of *Laheeb daughters around.”

It doesn’t stop with *Laheeb daughters. Valley Oak’s mares are sired

by National and International Champions such as *Emigrant, Honorrs, *Laheeb, *Al Maraam, *Eukaliptus, *Ecaho, Enzo, and Ekstern. Manny, with the help of Raymond and sometimes other partners, has also been successful in negotiating the lease of mares and stallions most breeders can only dream of procuring — mares such as royally bred, multiple European Champion and U.S. National Champion mare *El Dorada PASB (*Sanadik El Shaklan x Emigrantka). Valley Oak leased this international celebrity from Michalow Stud from 2005 to 2006.

Continued on page 10

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2010 *Emigrant foals: Facing page, top: The grey filly out of Moonlit Chances VO by CWP Chances Are. Facing page, bottom: The chestnut filly Emelea Aldebaran, out of TRJ Copper Monet, is owned and bred by Aldebaran Arabians, San Francisco, California.

Above and right: The 2010 grey colt out of *Epima by Ekstern.

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Top left: The 2007 mare *You Tou F (Honorrs x Yarra AVS by Abakan).

Top right: The 2009 grey colt Damorr VO (Honorrs x *Dumka by *Laheeb IASB).

Below: The 2010 filly by Honorrs out of Sanalena VO by *Sanadik El Shaklan.

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Facing page: The 2003 stallion Honorrs (Affirmmed x Padrons Contessa by *Padron), who was only shown four times, garnering Las Vegas World Cup Champion Stallion 4-6 Years, Region 1 Champion Stallion, Scottsdale Top Ten Stallion, and U.S. National Top Ten Junior Stallion. “Honorrs’ place is now in the breeding barn, where he is siring incredibly elegant, typey, correct foals with gorgeous, dishy faces,” says Manny Vierra.

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“I would say that Manny has a broodmare band that is unique to this country,” declares Raymond.

“It has the most contemporary combinations of bloodlines in the world. You have antique old Polish blood blended with the most contemporary horses, such as Enzo, *Laheeb, and many crosses through Honorrs to *Padron.”

Although Manny has a love and appreciation for any outstanding Arabian — whether straight Egyptian, Russian, Polish, or contemporary — he has a weakness for mares whose blood flows heavily with the Polish “E line,” especially those sired by Polish National Champion *Emigrant PASB (Ararat x Emigrantka), El Dorada’s maternal brother.

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Top and inset: The 2007 stallion Roncano VO (*Laheeb IASB x SW Cipher by Monogramm).

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Manny and Raymond have traveled to Poland and every corner of Europe dozens of times in search of *Emigrant daughters to purchase and import. Most of the time they returned emptyhanded. “We tried to buy *Emigrant daughters even as far away as Israel,” recalls Raymond, “and we just couldn’t buy any. We looked at good ones at private breeders’ but the only ones that were being offered were much older.” Manny remembers one trip when a private Polish breeder seemed interested enough in selling his *Emigrant daughter, and invited them to his farm, but had second thoughts and withdrew the offer after Manny had made a trip many hours out of the way. “People just don’t want to part with these mares,” he says.

Left and below: The 2008 straight Egyptian colt Mustafa VO (*Laheeb IASB x Alidaria by Thee Outlaw).

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But by a twist of fate, perfect timing, or sheer luck, a solution in the form of an opportunity of a lifetime suddenly surfaced — a chance to purchase *Emigrant himself. This was a seed Raymond had planted years earlier. “I watched him from the time he was a foal,” he says. Raymond had been patient yet persistent for years, waiting for a time when the directors at Michalow might get to the point at which *Emigrant had served them well enough to move on.

They thought if they could import *Emigrant, they could produce their own *Emigrant daughters. But at the time it seemed hopeless. *Emigrant was just too important to the Poles. *Emigrant was European Champion in 2001, Polish National Champion the following year, and an All Nations Cup Reserve

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Bottom and inset: The 2007 mare Ensanada VO (*Laheeb IASB x Emiria by *Emigrant).

Above: The 2008 straight Egyptian filly Peatra VO (*Laheeb IASB x Bint Scarlet Veil by PH Promiscuous).

Right: The main entrance to the reception area of the Valley Oak Arabians main barn.

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Champion in 1999. He sired two stallions that earned European championships, Emrod (x Empressa), Polish and Swedish National Champion; and Gaspar (x Gaskonia). *Emigrant was Michalow’s chief progenitor of the Saglawi I sire line through his sire Ararat (Palas x Arra), and the best example of what is known as the “diamond cross” of Palas and Negatiw.

Top right: The 2007 mare La Estopia VO (*Laheeb IASB x Skucina by *Probat).

Left and below: The 2006 mare Amore De Laheeb (*Laheeb IASB x Moonlight Lady SF by *Menes).

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The 2007 mare Luna De Laheeb (*Laheeb IASB x Moonlight Lady SF by *Menes).

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Somehow, after more than a year of negotiations, one of Poland’s legendary sires landed in the United States and in their hands by late spring 2009.

“One of the reasons I wanted Manny to bring *Emigrant to this country,” explains Raymond, “was to cover the domestic mares he has, as well as making him available to outside mares. *Emigrant will bring blood that hasn’t been here before, blood that can keep motion without losing type. His sire line has all the type in Poland.” Now all the work is paying off with the first crop of *Emigrant foals arriving — and paying off in a big way.

Gaurav Walia, owner of Aldebaran Arabians in San Francisco, is the happy owner of the first *Emigrant daughter born in the U.S., out of his multi-champion mare TRJ Copper Monet (Odyssey SC x TR Copper Classique). Gaurav says there was little decision-making involved when selecting a stallion to breed to his mare. “The allure of integrating *Emigrant lay chiefly in his unparalleled desert Arabian type,” he says. “His daughters are distinctively feminine; lean-necked and light

Above: The 2009 filly Yastina VO (*Al Maraam x Yakchina F by Almonito).

Right: The 2009 filly Zelmara VO (*Al Maraam x Zeeata Bey by Bey Shah).

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on their feet with an elegant build outlining the finest desert qualities — never heavyset, nor thick-necked. The resulting chestnut filly, Emelea Aldebaran, demonstrates these exact qualities. Emelea Aldebaran is a real eye-catcher with definitive lines of classic elegance and supreme beauty; large dark eyes, a swan-like neck and the airy movement of her sire.�

Continued on page 20

Above: The 2010 filly by *Al Maraam out of SFA Windchime by Fame VF. Left: The 2009 colt Al Marik VO (*Al Maraam x Oksandik by *Sanadik El Shaklan).

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The 2009 colt Tiempo VO (*Al Maraam x Galia Bis by Pamir).

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Top left: Manny and Diana Vierra.

Top right: Manny and his longtime colleague and trusted friend Raymond Mazzei of Furioso Farm.

Bottom left: Diana Vierra with *You Tou F (Honorrs x Yarra AVS by Abakan). “While we have many horses with wonderful personalities, *You Tou F is perhaps one of my favorites,” says Diana. “A beautiful mare sired by our stallion Honorrs, she is such a gentle mare and such a pleasure to be around! I am so grateful Manny has this fabulous Arabian passion he so willingly shares with us, as it is truly wonderful for the soul.”

Manny and the Polish import *Euscera (*Emigrant x Elcantara by Pamir).

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Manny spotted Honorrs (Affirrmed x Padrons Contessa) on a trip to Europe, and was struck by the handsome chestnut’s type and presence and how it translated into an international look. Since his first American foal crop arrived a couple of years ago, Honorrs has displayed his ability as a sire to pass on his best traits. Says Manny, “Pedigrees are one thing, but Honorrs is producing what people want in their foals. He is giving them extreme faces and extreme type. That is what he has been producing and what he is capable of siring.”

Above and facing page: The 2004 stallion Silverado VO (Enzo x Eskalona by *Salon).

Left and below: The main barn at Valley Oak Arabians which includes a large reception area, 35 stalls, and a covered arena.

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*Emigrant has been standing at Furioso Farm with Honorrs and the beautiful bay Israeli National Reserve Champion and All Nation’s Cup Reserve Champion *Al Maraam (Imperial Imdal x *The Vision HG), who was there on lease to service Valley Oak mares, but recently returned to Israel’s Ariela Arabians. Manny bred ten mares to *Al Maraam this spring in anticipation of his departure.

So now between the three stallions, and the depth of his broodmare band, Manny and other American breeders have a formidable set of top-drawer international bloodlines to work with — right here in the United States.

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visel photo

Above and facing page: The 1990 mare SW Cipher (Monogramm x *AA-Cisily by Partner).

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Above: The 2005 mare Oso Antika (*Ecaho x Oso Axotica by Monogramm).

Right: The 2006 mare El Euphoria VO (*Ecaho x *El Dorada PASB by *Sanadik El Shaklan).

Facing page, top right: The 2006 mare Rosa De Ecaho (*Ecaho x TR Silk Rose by *Nariadni).

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“I am pretty well set,” Manny observes. “I have imported a lot of mares. I have a great group of foundation horses now.”

And a carefully planned outcross program. “A good breeder should go outside their own program, but now I can cross on the stallions that I own.”

Count in that group a trio of exciting broodmare beauties the Vierras purchased at the most recent Pride of Poland sale. The Ekstern daughter *Halima PASB (x Heroldia by *Eukaliptus), the beautiful Monogramm daughter *Granada PASB (x Grenlandia by *Eukaliptus), and the *Emigrant daughter *Euscera (x Elcantara by Pamir), all arrived this spring. “*Euscera was bred by the Michalow Stud and foaled a beautiful Ekstern filly,” says Manny. “A beautiful ‘E line’ grey filly. She is typey, has wonderful movement, and is very showy.” *Halima was bred by the Bialka Stud and is in foal to the *Emigrant son Gaspar for 2010.

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But why buy an *Emigrant daughter, if you are

is really a pretty, pretty mare. She is showy and has an extreme

soon to have more of your own? “*Euscera is a perfect

neck and lots of motion — everything you want to represent

example of the mare I want to breed,” explains

a stallion. She had a great foal by Ekstern. Although used as a

Manny. “I also wanted to have something to show

broodmare in Poland, Michalow-bred *Euscera, now 11 years

right now,” Manny explains. “My *Emigrant foals

old, was bred to some of the best, including Eldon, Piber, Piruet,

won’t be ready for a couple of years. I was two years

Galba, and QR Marc. *Euscera shows how her sire passes on his

away from presenting anything. So I wanted people

long, shapely neck and big black eyes.”

to see now, how my horses will look when they are ready to show.”

Manny plans on showing *Euscera all the way

“We’ve been selective about who *Emigrant will breed to,” says Manny. Even so, when they set out to offer *Emigrant to outside breeders, Manny and Raymond decided pedigree and

to Nationals this year. And the expectations are great for many reasons. *Euscera is an aristocrat in Poland, and considered by Jerzy Bialobok, director of the Michalow Stud, as “an elite broodmare.” So the former 2009 Pride of Poland broodmare, Lot 6, could be on her way to newfound fame in the U.S. “*Euscera is a premier broodmare,” observes Raymond. “She is a good representative of her breeding and possibly an excellent show mare. She

Above: The 2009 colt Elaboret VO (Ekstern x *Erotika PASB by Pesal).

Left: The 2004 mare *Halima PASB (Ekstern x Heroldia by *Eukaliptus), was purchased at the 2009 Pride of Poland Sale.

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The 2003 mare *Epima (Ekstern x Epimeria by Pesal).

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show success was less important in the proposed mares than their qualities as individuals. *Emigrant’s powers as a sire are so appealing that they influenced straight Egyptian breeders Gary and Wanda Kenworthy of Paradise Arabians to break from their program for the first time, and send three of their best mares to *Emigrant. Gary says his gentleman’s agreement with Manny happened when Raymond paid a visit to their northwest Georgia farm to see the young straight Egyptian stallion Scapa (*Mishaal HP x Erie Anna), a top five winner at the 2008 Breeders Cup in Las Vegas and two-time Reserve Champion Stallion at the Egyptian Event. That visit was followed by another. This time Manny came along. “And I brought out Scapa for Manny,” says Gary. “He called me back a week later, and as I sat here eating my lunch, Manny informed me that he knew where the prettiest straight Egyptian stallions he had ever laid eyes on lived — at my farm, and so the plan kind of evolved from there.”

The plan is that Manny will breed three of his best mares to Scapa, and in turn, Gary is pairing three of his best with *Emigrant.

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Inset and below: The 1994 mare SFA Wind Chime (Fame VF x Winterset by *Eter) with her 2010 filly by *Al Maraam.

Left: The 1996 mare *Granada PASB (Monogramm x Grenlandia by *Eukaliptus), also purchased at last years’ Pride of Poland sale, just foaled a filly by Galba (Plakat x Gza Gza by Negatraz).

Below: The 2002 mare Moonlit Chances VO (CWP Chances Are x Krystal Moonlight by Ali Jamaal).

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Being a dedicated straight Egyptian breeder, Gary was a little apprehensive. “At first I was hesitant,” he confesses, “but not so much anymore. So why not? Now it feels more like a natural thing to do.”

For *Emigrant, Gary has chosen Scapa’s dam Erie Anna; Alia Shaniah (x Alia Riyala), a beautiful grey daughter of Israeli-bred and imported straight Egyptian *Shahir IASB; and SA Emarkessa (Imperial Immarouf x Ramses Emore), who produced Scapa’s first foal, a handsome grey colt named Shams Al Jannat.

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Below: The 2006 mare Brianna VO (*Al Lahab GASB x MFA Springtime by Om El Shareikh).

“That is what Manny and I agreed to,” says Gary. “We are committing some of our very best mares.” For Scapa, Valley Oak’s SFA Wind Chime (Fame VF x Winterset) and *Epima (Ekstern x Epimeria) are being considered.

So this collaboration has all the makings of success for Valley Oak, their fellow breeders, and contemporary programs in North America.

on the idea that throughout the world, and not just in Poland, there are great breeding horses.”

The proof: Valley Oak-bred horses have moved on to become important assets to breeding programs in Brazil, the Middle East, and several other overseas locations that show and produce world-class Arabians.

Through it all, Manny has stayed true to his goals and

Raymond sums up the breeding philosophy behind Valley

vision for the farm. “Our intention at Valley Oak is to produce

Oak’s success, at the same time offering advice: “We are always

and develop horses that are recognized not only in this country,

trying to remain open-minded. We are always searching and are

but internationally — horses that will have appeal not just in

very international in our thinking. The program is predicated

the United States, but around the world.”

Left: The 2006 mare *Ernestyna VO (Poganin x Ernesta by *Emigrant).

Above: The 2002 mare Sanalena VO (*Sanadik El Shaklan x Eskalona by *Salon).

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Bloodlines and stock from around the world are available.

Stallions are multi-program nominated SCID clear Stallions standing at Furioso Farm Temecula, CA Raymond Mazzei 951.375.6349 FuriosoFarm@aol.com Proudly owned by Manny and Diana Vierra Brentwood, CA 510.325.3974 imannyv45@aol.com

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