Unstoppable Arabians by C. Moussa

Front cover

Unstoppable Arabians

This is a magazine for the breeders and owner of the Arabian Horse that are not always in the spot light This is their chance to be known or understood. It is the small breeder that is the backbone to the Arabian Community that many times do not get to be heard or the Stallion that has never been seen but of great quality The Arabian horse is a Family horse and meant for everyone not just the select, The Arabian a gift from God and we are the caretakers. Not all Arabians get that chance in the show ring sometimes just due to the cost of training to showing , not a fault of the Arabian but they are versatile and trained in many ways. Come Learn about those that own them. You will be amazed. Each Article in this magazine is the opinion of the one who is being interviewed. .

Learn from the Breeders and owners of Smaller Farms that makeup The Arabian Community

Interviews with: RonDA SERVOSS-HIGGINBOTHAM– PAGE 3-6 Kelley Bitter. PAGE 7-9 Mary MacKinnon– PAGE 10-13

Remember there are many ways to do things right.

April/May 2021

Unstoppable Arabians. February issue 2021

1 Feature Title

May your life always be blessed with Arabians.

2 3

Unstoppable Arabians

First Love . INTERVIEW WITH RonDA SERVOSS-HIGGINBOTHAM

Interview with Kelley Bitter . There is nothing like an Arabian

Love of the Arabian. Interview with Mary MacKinnon

First Love INTERVIEW WITH RonDA SERVOSS-HIGGINBOTHAM Good afternoon Ronda! First, I would like to say thank you very much for agreeing to be interviewed So Let’s get started. Where does this passion for horses, in particular, the Arabian horses arise from? Why not other breeds I fell in love with the Arabian breed age15 when I bought my 1st 1/2 Arabian gelding Fa-Bayrabi. He was a Bay Abi grandson. I competed with him in WA state in the 70’s & 80’s in halter, western, hunter & reining.

1/2 Arabian gelding Fa-Bayrabi.

Unstoppable Arabians

How long have you been breeding this breed for? I’ve only been breeding since 2016. Why are you so fascinated by the world of the Arabian horse? They’re unbeatable willingness to please. They’re untouchable beauty & movement When was Loradah Arabians HRR founded? What’s your daily routine as a breeder/horse owner? Loradah Arabians HRR was founded in 2015 after purchasing Orashans Legacy RAF++/. However, we didn’t start our breeding program until 2016. Daily routine is feeding, exercising horses & regular poop shoveling! What is your relationship with your horses? Each horse has it own unique personality here at Loradah. They’re all characters! I love each and every one as an individual. What are, in your opinion, the most important qualities to become a good breeder or owner of the Arabian? Conformation, Movement & disposition! What advice would you offer a young person eager to undertake activities as a proper owner breeder? Start with a great foundation mare.

Unstoppable Arabians

Do you breed Purebreds for show contests? If so, how did this passion for morphology contests come about? Yes! Right now, we are about to put the 1st get, Orashans Insignia by Orashans legacy RAF+ +/ in the ring sometime in 2021. I absolutely LOVE to compete & the challenge it brings. Could you please tell us about a horse who has particularly distinguished himself morphologically? ORASHANS LEGACY RAF ORASHANS LEGACY RAF++/ is the 2020 U.S. Midsummer Nationals National Champion Sport Horse Stallion ATH, Reserve National Champion Sport Horse Stallion and a Top Ten Training Level Dressage winner. He also has won five regional championships as a sport horse stallion, a regional stallion AOTH championship, a regional reserve championship in stallion performance halter, and three regional championships or reserves in sport horse under saddle & Classical Dressage. ORASHANS LEGACY RAF is by*ORASHAN. U.S. and Canadian Top Ten Stallion, Canadian Top Ten Country Pleasure and Egyptian Event Supreme Champion Stallion *ORASHAN get include U.S. Egyptian Event Reserve Supreme Champion Mare BB ORA KALILAH, Saudi Arabian National Champion Mare IMPERIAL ORAHILLAH, Jordanian Champion Mare MBKERSHANA and World Reserve Junior Champion Filly and Egyptian Event Supreme Champion Mare SES KHEBRIA. *ORASHAN produced Egyptian Event Supreme Champion Mare DORIAN OREANA, champion sport horse mare and sport horse under saddle WH CAROLINA BLU (dam of multiple Top Ten Sport Horse Mare WH BINTBINT PHATEEHAH+), twice World Reserve Champion Stallion and National Champion sire IMPERIAL BAAREZ and IMPERIAL MADORI (sire of World Champion Mare GELGELAHALBADEIA). *ORASHAN also has descendants who are successful on the track, including race winning grand get. The Darley Champion Three-Year-Old Colt and multi-stakes winner OUR MACHINE is out of an *ORASHAN granddaughter. ORASHANS LEGACY RAF is out of the double RUMINAJA ALI granddaughter MYSTIFY HG. U.S. Reserve National Champion Stallion RUMINAJA ALI sired National Champions in halter and performance and is the grandsire of two World Champion Stallions. MYSTIFY HG is the dam of 2U.S. Egyptian Event halter winners. MYSTIFY HG is a 3/4 sister to LOTUSWANISA, dam of U.S. Egyptian Event Reserve Supreme Champion Mare THE LOTUS MAZIN. MYSTIFY HG is by multiple Top Ten Stallion THEMINSTRIL, sire of National winners in halter, dressage and jumper. MYSTIFYHG is a paternal sister to U.S. Reserve National Champion Stallion THEEDESPERADO+, the all-time leading Egyptian sire of champions. MYSTIFYHG's dam ALISA SG is a full sister to ALISAA, dam of 6 U.S. Egyptian Event halter winners. In dam line, she traces to Australian National Champion Mare*OMAYMA. ORASHANS LEGACY RAF has an exceptional heritage!

Unstoppable Arabians

What are the objectives you would like your farm to reach? To breed the best dispositions, conformations & movement Which of your mares you think is the most important? All my mares are special! Who is your most important breeding stallion and in what ways has he met your reproduction expectations? Orashan Legacy RAF++/ of course! He throws that beautiful dishy head, excellent conformation & disposition to all his get. What are your plans for the future? To continue to breed, compete & go after the brass ring! Could you tell us a story you are particularly fond of? When we took Orshans legacy RAF++/ to the first training barn, we were told he wouldn't be anything more than a “local "competitor…He is Now a multi-National Champion! Please leave a thought of your own for all the breeders/owner of the Arabian or for those that don’t own Arabians. The Arabian breed is the most forgiving breed. Kind & beautiful, the Arabian horse will give its entire heart to you, if you just ask

Unstoppable Arabians

There is nothing like an Arabian. Interview with Kelley Bitter

How long have you been breeding this breed for? I am fairly new to breeding. I bred my first mare 5 years ago Why are you so fascinated by the world of the Arabian horse? I love their personality. No other breed has what an Arabian has. I love the expressiveness, the temperaments, their dedication to us. They are very intelligent and intuitive. When was Buckeye Performance Horse Center founded? What’s your daily routine as a breeder/horse owner? Kelley, I would like to say Thank you for taking out your time to have an interview with me. So lets get started.

Buckeye Performance Horse Center became official in 2019.

Where does this passion for horses, in particular, the Arabian horses arise from? Why not other breeds.

What’s your daily routine as a breeder/horse owner?

I fell in love with the Arabian horse at age 14 when my mother bought me a half Arab mare. I never looked back. Since then I have owned several Arabians and I absolutely love the breed. I still ride other breeds. I own a Paint and 2 Quarter horses that I show. But there is nothing like an Arabian

We are up at 7am feeding and setting up for the day. We discuss who gets ridden and lunged. We have goals for each horse and we follow those daily. We get them out to play for a few hours daily while some are worked and stalls are done. They get lunch when we do. Then we go back to work. While feeding dinner we recap who did what and how they did. We have boards set up so we can write down what we need to do daily for each horse and if goals are met or not.

Unstoppable Arabians

What is your relationship with your horses? I am very close with all the horses. I give them all attention, love and I check them daily to make sure they are all doing well. I watch water, feed and hay intake.

What is, in your opinion, the most important qualities to become a good breeder or owner of the Arabian? Patience!!!! Patience!!! and more Patience!! What advice would you offer a young person eager to undertake activities as a proper owner breeder? Intern with a farm and a trainer/breeder. Learn as much as you can. Do you breed Purebreds for show contests? If so, how did this passion for morphology contests come about? For show. We love to show. I personally love the competition and we show in many disciplines. It s the best feeling in the world when one of our horses wins or does well.

Unstoppable Arabians

Could you please tell us about a horse who has particularly distinguished himself morphologically? My girl Rose. I bought Rose when she was 3. I broke her, or rather attempted to. Rose was and still is a queen. She taught me more in a few years than I had learned in many years working with others. She was a halter queen and I quickly learned what an Arab mare should look like and be like. She had an attitude as well back then. I really learned about patience and how to work with such a creature. But she is also the most loving and loyal horse I have ever owned. To me she is the perfect combination of beauty, function and attitude. I breed to her standard. Which of your mares you think is the most important? It was Rose. I am waiting to see who will emerge over the next few years. What are the objectives you would like your farm to reach I would like to be a premier site for Arabian sport horses. Who is your most important breeding stallion and in what ways has he met your reproduction expectations? By far, Desperado V. We have a few with his linage and they are just so athletic and magnificent. This line produces calmer, level headed Arabians that are so athletic it is amazing. I look for form to function in sport horse and i love what I see in this linage. What are your plans for the future? I am always amazed watching horses. This breed is so intuitive. When I lost my sister to Breast Cancer 3 years ago, I turned to my Arabs. I spent months morning her passing. I was so sad and crying almost every day in the barn with my Arabs. They had about 16 acres of pasture yet they stayed close to the barn and seemed to watch over me. After a few months, I was riding Rose and she stopped, dead stopped. She turned her head around to my foot and bit me. It was like she was saying. "Ok I get it but let's get back to work. She would want that" And Rose was right. I pulled myself together and went back to the show Please leave a thought of your own for all the breeders/owner of the Arabian or for those that don’t own Arabians. Learn and be patient. You have to love this breed. Really love them. They can be frustrating, hot, spooky, but you have to laugh and move on.

Unstoppable Arabians

Love of the Arabian. Interview with Mary MacKinnon

Good afternoon Mary MacKinnon ! First I would like to say thank you very much for agreeing to be interviewed So Lets get started.

Where does this passion for horses in particular the Arabian horse arise from? Why not other breeds: I come from generations of farmers, ranchers, outfitters and just horse people in general. My father instilled a great love and respect for horses is me my family has always had Arabians and reading crosses, and we also have a family friend that was and is still heavily into the Arabian breed. However, I have a passion for all breeds of horses. How long have you been breeding this breed for? As stated above, my family has had Arab blood in our horses my entire life. I actually purchased for the first time when I was 21. Why are you so fascinated by the world of the Arabian horse? I love the responsiveness and athleticism of the Arabian horse. When was your farm founded? What’s your daily routine as a breeder/horse owner? I do not have a named farm, I just have horses all my life. As to routine, I don’t know that I can break it down, my horses live on the property, so it is just part of daily living.

Unstoppable Arabian

What is your relationship with your horses? My horses are my companions, friends and release. What are, in your opinion, the most important qualities to become a good breeder or owner of the Arabian? Do not buy into the flavour of the month, or that a horse needs titles to be worth breeding on or existing in your life. Pay attention to conformation and temperament above anything else. And, listen to your horse, don’t impose the latest training trend or line of thinking on them, they are not robots, they all learn differently. What advice would you offer a young person eager to undertake activities as a proper owner breeder? Firstly, enjoy your horse. After that, get to really know your horse so that you can notice any changes in physique or attitude, and educate yourself about horsemanship in general

Unstoppable Arabians

Do you breed Purebreds for show contests? If so, how did this passion for morphology contests come about? No I do not. I breed for horses that can perform anywhere, whether it be in a competitive setting or pleasure. My favourite thing is seeing a good family horse above all else. If you don’t show, what has held you back from taking them? I used to show, and work shows as everything from whipper in to ring steward and announcer. I do not necessarily care for some of politics now, so I speak with my spending.

What are the objectives you would like your farm to reach? I am pretty happy with where I am at with friendly, usable, trainable horses. Which of your mares you think is the most important? I am only keeping my stallion for breeding now, my mares are retired. But Colleymount Pristina gave some very nice babies, and our APHA mare gave some nice cross babies. Who is your most important breeding stallion and in what ways has he met your reproduction expectations? FA Costano. He consistently has trainable well conformed. And he is fun.

Unstoppable Arabians

What are your plans for the future? Ride what I have and maybe get into endurance with the one big gelding. Could you tell us a story you are particularly fond of? Oh but I have so many. How about: We went out to feed one evening after work in the winter. The horses were not up at the fence waiting for us, as they usually are. We called them and could hear them answering. We called again and two of our young Arab geldings came running up, yelling at us, but not the rest. The boys then started to run back the way they came, looking over their shoulders and yelling at us. So joking said “What’s that Lassie? Timmy’s down the well?”. So we followed them. Once we got over the hill and through the trees we came up to the rest of the herd. The lead gelding, a big Appendix named Boots was standing at the fence. He saw us and called, but didn’t come over. As we got closer we saw that his blanket clip had somehow gotten clipped on the fence. Who knows how long he had been there. We unclipped him, then he and the rest of the herd escorted us back up to the yard so they could get dinner. How is that for a great example of inter-species communication?

Back cover

Unstoppable Arabians Developed to bring the Arabian back to basics coming together as a community to build the Arabians of our dreams. Together supporting each other to breed the best, ride with passion, and show off the Arabian created from a solid foundation riding into the future. The Arabian a Gift from GOD and we are the caretakers Editor : Carolyn Moussa

All photographs used with permission of the owner