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Monticello V

Post author By admin
Post date December 25, 2020

...The Western Phenomenon

by EVIE TUBBS SWEENEY

Monticello V was the only sire to have two progeny in the AWPA $100,000 Western Pleasure Futurity in 2019. And he did it from a foal crop of just nine foals in 2015. One of these two progeny, the stunning Hendrixx WB, was crowned National Champion.

His story is one for the ages. And we have the privilege of bearing witness to its coming culmination.

Monticello V is a son of the late, great supersire, Jullyen El Jamaal, and out of one of Varian’s most prepotent broodmares, Mosquerade V, daughter of the incomparable Moska. It goes without saying, that greatness is layered into the DNA of Monticello V, as does his ability to pass it forward.

But filling the shoes of a sire such as Jullyen is difficult given even the finest parentage.

Enter Carolyn Lesley.

Carolyn grew up with horses, sharing the bond with her mother, longtime horsewoman Mary Lesley. A 17-year equine hiatus ensued as Carolyn’s involvement in her father’s thriving event company amplified. But in February 2015, through a twist of fate, she found herself walking through the Scottsdale Arabian Horse show, and the mother/daughter team shared their passion in horses once again. Not even Mary’s tragic diagnosis of terminal Sarcoma shortly thereafter decelerated their enthusiasm.

The day that Carolyn walked into Monticello’s stall and met him for the first time at Setting Sun Stables was a moment that redefined both of their futures.

“It was love at first sight, and I think Monticello sensed his role immediately when my mom walked into his stall,” Carolyn recalled.

Carolyn and Monticello were inseparable from that point forward. The final show Mary attended, she witnessed Carolyn and Monticello crowned Canadian National Champions. Mary passed away during U.S. Nationals just two months later.

“When my mom and I got back into horses, we had no idea she was sick – and then it all hit,” Carolyn said. “And I think, what a blessing we did it together and she was able to get to know Monticello. The timing was amazing. God had a plan.”

Carolyn and Monticello traveled the country, picking up title after title, before his official retirement to stud in 2017. Following his final show ring performance, Monticello boarded a trailer to the west coast, where he would return to his birthplace of Varian Arabians and fill the empty stall of his father, both literally and figuratively.

The 2019 U.S. Nationals turned out to be a defining moment in the breeding career of Monticello V; his progeny wins and statistics were simply profound:

Four out of six progeny by Monticello V that were shown in Tulsa garnered Top Ten Championships or better in their western divisions, and are as follows: four Top Tens, and one Reserve National Championship and three U.S. National Championships …

Hendrixx WB – Champion AWPA Arabian Horse World $100,000 Western Pleasure Futurity with Stanley White III (for trainer Joe Reser)

Hendrixx WB –Champion Arabian Western Pleasure AAOTR Maturity with Andrea Martoglio

Cello Shots SS –Champion H/A Western Pleasure AAOTR 36-54 with Carolyn Lesley

Honeys Rockin Cello – Reserve Champion H/A Western Pleasure Open with Joe Reser

Monticello progeny made up 20% of the Top Ten finalists in the most lucrative class of the show, the Arabian Horse World AWPA $100,000 Western Pleasure Futurity, with one of them, Hendrixx WB, winning it.

Monticello V was the only sire to claim more than one progeny in the Arabian Horse World AWPA $100,000 Western Pleasure Futurity Top Ten… and this against major western sires such as Zefyr, Sundance Kid V, and KM Bugatti. What’s more, Monticello achieved this feat from a foal crop of just nine foals.

Put simply, his consistent percentage of western pleasure winners at the highest levels of competition is utterly astonishing.

Combine that with the love-filled team that has supported him every step of the way, along with his massive social media fan base around the world (Facebook.com/ItsCelloTime), and his story becomes one for the ages.

Tags NO. 6, VOL. 50

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*El Tino

Post author By admin
Post date December 1, 2020

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*Perfinka

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Post date November 1, 2020

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Life Inthe Fazt Lane

Post author By admin
Post date October 1, 2020

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Fire & Goldd

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Post date September 1, 2020

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GSF Rizing Son

Post author By admin
Post date August 1, 2020

Leader of the Times: Cedar Ridge Arabians

Cedar Ridge Arabians in Jordan, Minnesota, breeds and promotes English and Western Pleasure, Halter and Reining horses of the highest quality.

This year’s focus is to have horses in top shape for U.S. Nationals, showcasing talent in the futurity, junior horse and AEPA classes. Farm Manager, Stephanie Davisson, shares,” We have some of the best we have ever had coming up this year, and we can’t wait for them to be able to shine at U.S. Nationals.”

In the breeding barn, Cedar Ridge is always looking to breed new crosses, and are looking forward to an AWPA Auction baby for next year, as well as Perfinka babies. Some very exciting English embryos are also in the works, including one out of their sensational English Pleasure Mare, Ames Divine.

It’s already been an exciting year for Ames Divine with her first foals hitting the ground—and they are incredible. Both sired by SF Aftershoc, one filly has already been purchased by Joel and Ashton Kiesner, and the other filly Cedar Ridge is excited to share. Until then, their mother continues to rise to the occasion, having captured a unanimous Championship in the Amateur English class with Lara Ames and a unanimous Reserve Championship in the Junior English with Laura Rodel this year at the Scottsdale show. Their sights are now set on U.S. Nationals.

Beyond Cedar Ridge’s upcoming incredible and promising young talent making their debuts at U.S. Nationals, others are growing up in the pastures, and from Davisson’s viewpoint, “it’s sure looking like the years ahead will have a lot to celebrate with CRA’s young breeding stock!”

Having celebrated 50 years in the industry last year, what is Cedar Ridge’s next 50 years looking like? “We plan to continue moving forward by breeding the best of the best,” says Davisson. “We also are proud of the strong marketing program we have built, and being a place that people like to come shop for their next champion, we will continue to build upon that; providing top quality Open, Amateur and Junior exhibitor horses for the show ring at all levels.”

Khadraj had already achieved an excellent show record himself, winning the 1991 Brazilian National Champion Foal at Side title and Canadian National Championships in both Western Pleasure Open and AAOTR, with six additional top ten honors in halter and performance. He has also proven to be an even more successful as a sire, with eight national championships, six reserves, and 73 top ten titles earned by his progeny through 2006. Larry was looking for a stallion whose bloodlines would complement those of his beloved head stallion, MPA Giovanni (Da Vinci FM x Glitzy, by FS Ritz), the 2005 U.S. National Champion Futurity Colt whose Fame VF/Bey Shah sire line crosses with a Padron/Crabbet mare.

Khadraj NA (Ponomarev x Khatreena NA, by *Padron) offered a double-Salon sire line with a second helping of *Padron and a female tail line back to Lady Anne Blunt’s desert-bred Crabbet Park foundation mare, Rodania. In 2007, Larry was traveling, promoting Giovanni, when agent Brad Gallún contacted him with good news, Khadraj was available for purchase. Since Larry already had some Khadraj mares, believing in the cross, he jumped at the opportunity, and a deal was negotiated.

It didn’t take long for Khadraj to fit in at Jerland. “We put him in the stall right next to Giovanni,” Larry recalls. “They both reached up and touched noses over the top of the stall and nickered to each other. That was it. They never screamed and hollered at each other; they never kicked the stall walls.” Larry was thrilled with that development and became even fonder of Khadraj. A deep respect was amplified by the end of the 2007 show season; Khadraj offspring won three more national championships and three reserves, with a host of top ten winners. It was a prelude to an eventual tide of champions that have made Khadraj the all-time Leading Sire of national winners in the Western Pleasure division.

Larry’s dreams for Giovanni to win a national senior stallion championship were shattered when he suffered a broken leg shortly after winning the 2008 Scottsdale Champion Stallion title, necessitating seven years of rehabilitation in California. Broken-hearted, Larry credits Giovanni with telling him “to stop feeling sorry for himself and get back in the game.” With Khadraj continuing to produce champion after champion for Jerland, many from Giovanni mares, it was easy for the excitement to build anew. According to Larry, when Giovanni finally returned to the farm, he and Khadraj recognized each other immediately. “Their relationship started all over again,” Larry recalls. “They had an unspoken love.”

Many of the Jerland clients and friends have remarked about the depths of Larry’s emotions where his horses are concerned. They saw Khadraj and Larry as extensions of each other and recognized the bond that grew between them. Khadraj was just the fuel that Larry had needed to rocket Jerland Farms into the upper echelon of Arabian breeding operations. In turn, Larry used his sound insights and steadfast belief in Khadraj to promote him, propelling the stallion into the stratosphere as a sire of great Arabian halter and performance horses. It was a perfect example of the sum being much greater than the already significant parts. Larry’s inexhaustible passion and enthusiasm fanned the flames, and the two became inseparable in the hearts and minds of the Arabian community.

“Khadraj was a spectacular horse,” says Aljassimya Farm manager Bart Van Buggenhout. “He was well put together, beautifully bred, and above all, Larry’s great love and pride.” Trainer Justin Cowden agrees, “Larry truly wants what’s best for the Arabian horse and the people that love them. I don’t think there was a better place for Khadraj to land for the latter part of his life, and it was clear to see he was the King of the farm and adored by Larry.”

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Ames Divine

Post author By admin
Post date July 24, 2020

Leader of the Times: Cedar Ridge Arabians

Cedar Ridge Arabians in Jordan, Minnesota, breeds and promotes English and Western Pleasure, Halter and Reining horses of the highest quality.

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ASA Scandalous Affair

Post author By admin
Post date June 23, 2020

LEADER OF THE TIMES: ASA Scandalous affair

Kim Butler Blevins has always been attracted to the Varian bloodlines. Having already bred a mare to the legendary Desperado V son, Sundance Kid V, she was thrilled when his full sister, the Varian-bred Sweet Saphire V, became available. Out of Sweet Shalimar V, by Ali Jamaal, it was a no brainer for Kim to then choose Always A Jullyen V, by Jullyen El Jamaal to breed Saphire to, for a beautiful, athletic western pleasure horse. And they didn’t disappoint.

With a long-time dream of owning a black stallion, it became a reality when ASA Scandalous Affair was born. Kim and her husband, James, never imagined they would get a homozygous black colt out of two bay parents; not only is he beautiful, but his commanding presence demands attention from anyone who sees him. Standing at and in training with Dale Brown Performance Horses, Scandal, a Breeders Sweepstakes, Scottsdale Signature, Spotlight Futurity and AWPA Stallion, is currently being shown in the western pleasure junior horse, and within the next year, Kim hopes to show him in the western pleasure amateur division.

ASA Scandalous Affair’s first two foals hit the ground this year and the Blevins are extremely pleased. Both fillies are quite beautiful, correct, friendly and charismatic. They look forward to breeding many more mares to him in the future and watching him excel in the show ring.

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Eleanor’s Arabian Farm

Post author By admin
Post date May 22, 2020

May Leaders Of The Times: Eleanor's Arabians

By CHRISTY EGAN

When Eleanor Hamilton brought home the outstanding Arabian reining stallion, Hesa Zee+/ to her farm in 1995, the national winner swiftly raised Eleanor’s Arabians to a new level. For the next 20 years, Eleanor built her broodmare band to complement Hesa Zee+/ and it paid off. Almost continuously since his passing in 2015, Hesa Zee+/ has been the leading Working Western Arabian sire in the breed. At the 2019 U.S. National Championship show, Hesa Zee+/ offspring came home with seven national championships and a reserve in cutting, reining, working cow horse and trail. Among his rose-blanketed offspring were Hesa Cassanova+, Zee Fire Storm, Zee Fire Ball+, EAF Hesa Artist+, EAF Tuff N Hesa, and Zee Mighty Mouse, along with numerous top ten national winners as well. At the 2020 Scottsdale Show in February, Hesa Artfull Zee, the 2018 Canadian National Champion in Open Reining, was Scottsdale ARHA Arabian Open Maturity winner and reserve champion in the Arabian Reining Horse Championship with Gary Ferguson. E Zee Slider and Nathan Kent won both the ARHA Reining Futurity Classic and the Arabian Reining Jr Horse Championship.

Eleanor’s Arabians’ team consists of: breeding manager Mark Coombs, on-site trainer Rod Matthiesen, and off-site trainers Gary Ferguson, Pam Rose and Lance Scheffel.

Eleanor’s Arabians owns and stands Justa Genuine Jack (Genuine Hombre by Genuine Doc x Pearly Red Jackie, by Joe Jack Honey Bar), a 2005 red dun Quarter Horse stallion. “Jack” is Superior Heeling and Heading, Halter and Performance ROM and a National Top Ten.

Located in Rogers, Minnesota, just a short drive north of Minneapolis/St. Paul and the airport, Eleanor’s has top purebred and Half-Arabian horses in training, young stock and exceptional Arabian and Quarter Horse bloodstock for sale. Shipped frozen semen is available for Hesa Zee+/, Crown Musc+, Little Sorrel Peppy and CG Colonel Jac.

Magazine Cover Stories

Sabina Berglund

Cover Story: Sabina Berglund...Putting it all into perspective

By ALLY EDWARDS

With the 2020 Spring show season being almost completely canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, every junior rider is looking forward to Youth Nationals. And Sabina Berglund is one of these youth riders eager to get back into the show ring this year with her horses.

Eight years ago, Sabina started riding lessons. Her parents thought she would go for a few lessons to try it out and that would be that, but Sabina was hooked and so began a life full of horses. With her riding career beginning on an Arabian horse, Sabina has a deep love for the breed that has encouraged her to dedicate her life to horses, with the goal to become an equine surgeon.

At Youth Nationals this year, Sabina is bringing her three saddle seat horses. First is EA Apollomalu, showing in Arabian Country English Pleasure. He reminds her of the high school jock that knows he is the coolest guy around. Her firecracker, Noble Bey CRF, shows in Arabian English Pleasure. Last year, Sabina and Noble Bey CRF were National Champions together. “No matter how the ride goes,” she says, “he is a thrill to ride. I’m always happy at the end in the line-up, that I’m lucky enough to show such an amazing horse as him.” Lastly is MJM Hit Man, her newest mount who will be her equitation teammate. Going through colic surgery last fall and with the pandemic stunting the show season, Sabina is excited to finally get to compete on Hit Man in Half-Arabian Saddle Seat Equitation and Half-Arabian Country English Pleasure.

The two weeks in Oklahoma City for Youth is something Sabina looks forward to every year. There’s nothing like the atmosphere and the energy that comes with trotting into the Jim Norrick arena on her geldings. “I’m looking forward to enjoying every ride,” says Sabina when looking forward to Youth 2020, “not overthinking it, living in the moment, and appreciating the fact that we get to do this; that we get to have these amazing horses and these bonds with them, and get to enjoy the time in the ring with them. Roses are always nice but having fun with my horses is most important.” To all her competitors that are nervous about competing at Youth, Sabina says, “Don’t stress it. Just do your best and enjoy it. With time will come the experience, so just sit back and take in the energy of the show and learn from it!”

This is Sabina’s first show season with trainer Josh Shino. Wanting to dial in her equitation more, Josh has been the perfect fit helping her grow in the discipline. The skills she’s learned from him for her equitation have helped step up her game with all her horses.

Showing horses comes with a lot of different aspects and challenges. Having a true connection with your horse before going into the show ring is something Sabina highly values. “By learning how to communicate with them,” she says, “the mutual trust that comes out of it is very special. Then as a team you can do anything.”

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, she has not been able to see her horses as much as usual. Sabina says it is sad not being able to spend as much time with them but when she can see them, it means so much more to her now. Her barn family and the horse show atmosphere that Sabina misses the most about going to shows, is something everyone is looking forward to!