A Celebration of Friendships, Family &
Arabian Horses from Around the World by Jim Robbins
Scottsdale. Even after three and a half decades of studying, living and breathing the Arabian horse it's the one place I want to be every February for the "greatest show on earth". And the horses are just the icing on the cake of this show. It's the weather (just ask anyone who lives in the Pacific Northwest how amazing it is to finally see sunshine!), the camaraderie of horseman (and women) presenting their best of the best, the restaurants, the presentations after the morning classes, the shopping and the breathtaking sunsets over Camelback Mountain.
It's also the life-long friendships we make because of these majestic animals, people who over the years become our 'horsey' family. A family I cannot imagine life without; which is how I feel about David and Terry Anne Boggs, and the extended "Team Midwest" family that I've had the privilege to become part of over the years. So with a carte-blanche to write about the horses and people that left an impression on and touched me, Welcome to the phenomenal world of the Midwest Invitational.
Thursday February 19th was a perfect day in Scottsdale for a party. Not just any party, but a party celebrating a collection of the finest Arabian mares, stallions and foals from all corners of the world. National and international champions from nearly every continent, legendary breeders from the US around the world, those new to the Arabian breed and those have made the Arabian horse the focus of their whole lives gathered at the Midwest facility on Cactus Road in Scottsdale. For those of you who have never attended one of "David's parties" there are two points that I feel need to be made. The first is that there are no details left un-attended to. The food and drink were both excellent and plentiful, the setting and facility were both inviting and gorgeous and the entertainment was first rate. Professional salsa dancers entertained while dinner was being served, the fire pits were surrounded by friends old and new, valets parked all the cars while waiters circulated attending to any need one might have.
The second point to me is the most important one and why this annual event draws the biggest and most devoted crowd of the show, no one is a stranger at Midwest. Whether you read about the party in the Scottsdale paper and brought the kids to see Arabian horses for the first time or you're a visiting dignitary from the Middle-East, every one of the several hundred guests who attended was made to feel like the most important person there. And that my friends, is the sign of a great party.
David Boggs’ emceed the event, which started off with Jim Stachowski riding the spectacular black Friesian stallion Webe, owned by Jim and Sally Bedeker, to a rousing ovation from the crowd to kick the party off!
Then to everyone’s surprise, Chris Wilson appeared riding the Unanimous English Pleasure National Champion Stallion Vegaz to the shooting of fireworks illuminating the night.
He was followed by elegant two year old colt, Vegas DPA, owned by Don and Janey Morse.
Rounding out the opening presentation was National Champion *Fausto being presented for the first time under saddle by Randy Anderson for his owner, Don Morse of Oak Ridge Arabians. Winston Churchill could have written his famous quote, "there's something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a man" from the look of pride on Don's face when *Fausto jogged across the stage that night.
Next in were the future of Midwest, the new foals. Daughters of Magnum Psyche, DA Valentino, *Fausto and Da Vinci FM captivated the hearts of the audience as they were lead across the stage and then down below where everyone could pet them and feed them carrots. How does one pick favorites from foals out of mares the caliber of *JJ La Estrella, She Be A Diva, Goddess of Marwan and Lady Magnum? It's tough, but if I had to take one of these babies home with me I know I could have made room for the exquisite newborn filly by Da Vinci and out of the recently crowned Scottsdale Champion DD Crown Jewel. If necessary, I could have carried her back to Portland.......:-)
Following the foals were their mothers, the queens of Midwest. It was staggering to look at the accomplishments of these mares as a collective group. National Champions of the US, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and of Scottsdale. The Magnum Psyche daughters alone were mind boggling; the ethereal *JJ Apherina, *JJ La Estrella, who only gets more beautiful with age, her mother's daughter, Lady Serenade (out of Bey Serenade), NBW Angels Kiss and DD Crown Jewel, who both trace in direct tail-female to the legendary multi National Champion Mare, *Dornaba+.
*JJ Apharina
*JJ La Estrella
Lady Serenade BHF
NBW Angels Kiss
DD Crown Jewel
Kharmel BR
Two of my favorite winners from the 2008 Las Vegas World Cup were also presented, *HP Martina, who only gets more beautiful as she gets older and Kharrea PGA who is owned by HRH Sheikh Ammar Humaid of Ajman Stud. Rounding out the mare group were the international winners: *LL Albufera, *ZT Macja, *JR Burmagny and the "Queen of Brazil", *Ynazia HCF.
*HP Martina
Terry Anne Boggs with Major Desire
*Ynazia HCF
Kharrea PGA
*LL Albufera
*ZT Macja
*JR Burmagny
The young show mares and fillies were brought out next with the Scottsdale sensation, Raherra, leading them off. I saw her for the first time with David in the ring a couple of days earlier and was blown away by her quality and the obvious fact that Janey Morse loves that filly.
Following was the lovely Scottsdale Champion mare, Dulcinea BHF
The full-sisters Goddess of Marwan and Duchess of Marwan. Unbridled Love, Heiress of Marc and were presented for Barbara Chur and Walter Mishek.
Goddess Of Marwan with Roger & Stephanie McMann & Jim & Sally Bedeker
Duchess of Marwan
Unbridled Love
Heiress of Marc
*Ynazia HCF Enjoys a treat
MS Magnolia was a superb example of *Marwan crossed on a Magnum Psyche daughter for Mystica Arabians. *JJ Evening Star, by Magnum out of a Magnum daughter, was presented for the Halbrook & Bauerline Family's. And last was the grand *Padron daughter, TC Padron Batiste, out of a daughter of *Bask for her new owners Peter and Trish Kessler of Don Manuel Farm.
MS Magnolia sold to Brazil
*JJ Evening Star and new buyers the Halbrook family
To the music of R. Kelly's "The Worlds Greatest" the Midwest stallions then took to the stage.
What can I really add to DA Valentino's biography? Triple Crown Winner, Six times National Champion and just beginning his breeding career with a string of high profile foals.........and all of this by the age of six! Valentino took to the stage looking every inch a national champion and the crowd went wild. Congratulations to two of my favorite people, Michelle Pfeifer and David Halsch, on giving this wonderful horse the opportunity to be all he can be in the breeding barn and in the show ring.
DA Valentino
Next on stage was the exquisite Da Vinci FM, arguably Versace's most look-alike son and the pride and joy of Sally and Jim Bedeker. Already proven as a show horse and sire of national winners, Da Vinci comes from one of the strongest mare lines in the world, Amurath Arabians *Sanacht.
DA Vinci FM
Manny Viera's Polish and European National Champion, *Emigrant, was next on stage. A perfect blending of two of Poland's most important stallions, Palas and Eukaliptus, *Emigrant is already a proven sire with a lot to add to breeding programs all across the US.
*Emigrant with Raymond Mazzei
Brazilian National Champion*Maddox Van Ryad was presented for Jim and Sally Bedeker and is expecting his first foals this year, followed by National Champion RHR Marcedes for Don Manuel Farm, Magnum Opus DC for Cheri and Gus Pagonis and the royally bred Prince Versace, by Versace out of twice US National Reserve Champion Mare, Maisa El Mars.
*Maddox Van Ryad
RHR Marcedes
Magnum Opus DC
Prince Versace
Making his American 're-debut' was the heir apparent to the Bey Shah+ dynasty, BF Renaissance (x BF Gaffi Siloette). Sold as a yearling to Lenita Peroy in Brazil to use on her *Ali Jamaal daughters, BF Renaissance was imported back to the US last fall by Dan and Maureen Grossman, one time owners of Bey Shah+.
BF Renaissance
And then there was one. And this was the moment the crowd had been waiting for. Ever since it had been announced that Magnum Psyche would be shown at Scottsdale to bid for his Triple Crown it was the talk of the horse show. I've personally had the privilege in my life of seeing the great ones that have changed the breed. Ferzon, Khemosabi, *Padron, Bey Shah, Ali Jamaal, Ansata Halim Shah, *Aladdinn and even *Bask. Like all of these legendary sires and show horses, Magnum transcends all bloodlines and all disciplines. To stand in the presence of Magnum is to stand in the presence of greatness. Owned by the Santabanes family of Argentina, Magnum took the stage with David and owned the night. The perfect ending to a perfect evening.
David Boggs & Scottsdale Supreme Halter Champion Magnum Psyche
Fernando De Santibanes spends a quiet moment nose to nose with his friend Magnum Psyche
