Arabian Horses Target of Senseless Attack

I'd hope to get the series on my US National All Arabian Horse Show trip wrapped up but it will just have to wait. I can't ignore the senseless attack on two aged Arabian mares (one twenty-three and the other twenty-five) at Varian Arabians last Wednesday night.

My understanding from the multiple press releases I've read on this subject, including this one, Horses shot at Varian Arabian horse ranch in rural Arroyo Grande is that one mare, Sweet Sanadika V, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and had to be euthanized. The second mare, Mosquerade V, had one gunshot wound and is in serious but stable condition and is expected to survive.

Both mares have achieved the status of Dams of Distinction in the Arabian breed having each produced a number of national champions. While aged they may be, valuable was still a viable word when describing either of these mares. Given the fact the gene pool of the Arabian horse is the most limited of all equines, the loss of such a mare is not only a loss to the breeder but a loss to the breed as well.

While the mares were shot around 8:30 Wednesday, the crime was not discovered until the staff arrived for work Thursday morning. Those on the facility when the shots had been fired believed the noise to be early fireworks celebrating the new year.

Understandably, this attack on Arabian horses has caused outrage in both the Arabian horse community and the community at large. A reward fund has been established to aid in the capture of the perpetrators. I have contacted Varian Arabians farm manager, Angela Alvarez for information on how to donate. I heard from her this evening and she still needs the specifics from Crime Prevention. As soon as I have the specifics I will post here.

For those not familiar with Arabian breeders, Shelia Varian is one of the best know in the Arabian Industry. The champions to her credit as a breeder are beyond the scope of my comprehension and those numbers rise each and every year. The Varian horses are known and respected world wide.

I heard Sheila Varian speak at an AHA Convention many years ago. I still follow the advice I got that day. Sheila said, "Don't listen to what others tell you is good. Breed what you like! If you do that, you will get where you are going!" It was good advice then.....and it is good advice today.

One of Sheila's early herd sires, Huckleberry Bey, became a Breyer horse model. "Huck" wasn't just a talented horse and a great sire. He was something of a ham and had many, many fans. It was no surprise when, after the horse's death, Huck was honored by Breyer.

I'll bet those of you who know nothing about Arabians probably remember the fancy Breyer model trotting chest level with only two feet on the ground........pretty tricky accomplishment for a model horse. I'm told Sheila had approval over the final mold for this horse and she didn't let them go into production until the horse passed her inspection. Her tough criteria resulted in a model that really depicts the great horse Huck was.

The picture on this post is Huckleberry Bey. I am fortunate enough to also have a video of the great horse but I don't have the technology to get it uploaded.


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