Breeding to Our Andalusians

AERIAL

Born 1986, Aerial was bred by the Garrison Ranch and has been with Checkerboard Farms since she was three years old. Her sire is the National Champion, Castiblanco III. Her dam is a Spanish/Portuguese mare, herself sired by the Spanish foundation stallion, Legionario III, thus also demonstrating the best that both countries have to offer. She is also a winner in the Andalusian classes, both Hunt Seat and Dressage Suitability and has placed above many a flashy stallion. She has produced nine offspring, five by Conquistador III, two by Inmortal , one by Animoso, and the ninth foal by Tristan EC. She is in foal to our new stallion, Astuto for 2003. All her offspring are lovely moving, spirited, good-natured horses. Her first daughter, Salarosa, sired by Animoso and owned by Dottie Robertson, produced the Reserve Futurity Filly at the West Coast Regional Andalusian Horse Show several years ago. This filly, Mi Lolita (renamed Solataire), as a two year old, also won Reserve National Champion Junior Filly in Texas. Salarosa’s second daughter, Sarafina, was Reserve National Champion the following year. Salarosa’s third daughter produced the West Coast Regional Champion Filly in 2001. In 2002, Sarafina became National Champion Senior Mare in Texas. Aerial’s first colt, Gitano Internacional, is the 1998 Reserve National Champion in Dressage Suitability and performed a high-school exhibition at the Nationals in Texas in 1998. Gitano was sold to Belinda and Steve Haney in Norco in Dec, 1998, was in training with Tammy Delight for the next two years and has performed in several local exhibitions with our Friesian gelding, Mirage. Aerial’s other sons, Bolero, Galante and Commandante (all carrying the second name, “Internacional”), have exceptional dressage talent and have moved on to other homes. You will hear more about Aerial’s daughters as we continue. Aerial left us in February, 2005 due to complications from a stomach ulcer. We miss her greatly, but will enjoy seeing her live on in her offspring

ANIMOSO

Animoso was the star of our barn from 1988 through 1993, when he died in an unfortunate barn accident at the stable of our former trainer. He was silver white, fully high-school trained and one of the most dramatic Andalusian stallions I have had the privilege of knowing. He consistently placed first or second in Dressage Suitability and Hunt Seat, even in Western, on occasion. He loved to perform and was extremely athletic. He did have a “hot” temperament, which, I am sure, contributed to the accident that killed him. He was sired by Bizarro X, a National Champion Halter and Performance horse, and producer of many national champions. His dam was Capitana, sired by Capitan XIII, one of the most famous and respected foundation sires in this country. Because most of the time we had Animoso, we were not in a position to use him as a breeding stallion, either for ourselves or standing him to others, there are very few offspring to carry on his name. However, we are most fortunate to have Inmortal, his son, who was born in 1994.

ASTUTO

Fifteen three hands tall. Born in 1990, Astuto was discovered in a cow pasture in Holland! He is the newest addition to Checkerboard Farms’ breeding program. He is silver white, pure Spanish, approved by the Spanish studbook and a fairy-tale magical horse. He is from Terry lines and has the sweetest of temperaments. His movement is very correct and beautiful and he has “the look.” Astuto produced two lovely purebred Andalusian fillies and a half Andalusian colt (Arab) in 2003. He produced a lovely Arab/Andalusian colt and a beautiful Andalusian filly in 2004.

ASTUTO WILL BE STANDING AT CHECKERBOARD FARMS DURING BREEDING SEASONS TO PURE AND PART-BRED MARES. PLEASE NOTE THAT HALF-ANDALUSIANS DO HAVE A PLACE IN OUR REGISTRY AS WELL AS COMPETITIVE CLASSES AT SANCTIONED ANDALUSIAN SHOWS.

BOLERO 65

Born in 2000, Bolero also was imported from Holland, although his ancestors go back to Spain. He is a pure-Spanish, copper bay colt with exciting movement and a lovely look. We are excited to see him grow and develop and he will be standing at Checkerboard Farms in 2004. He is for sale to an approved home. Sold June 1, 2006

CLASICA

Clasica, born 1995, is a pure Spanish daughter of Bizarro X out of Azucena (by Zafiro). Both sires are no longer living, so she is the last of two very special, successful bloodlines. Remember that Bizarro X, also the sire of Animoso, was a National Champion and sired many National Champion offspring in both halter and performance. Clasica has big movement, lots of athleticism and tons of sprit. She has a very sweet nature, lots of hair (mane and tail) and a beautiful eye. Her first colt, Halconero (falconer) was born in April, 2000, sired by Tristan EC. In August, 2001, Clasica was approved by the Cria Caballar for inclusion in the Spanish studbook, as was her dam, Azucena. Clasica is currently in foal to Astuto for 2006.

CONQUISTADOR III

“Quister,” as he is affectionately known, is a mature Andalusian stallion of both Spanish and Lusitano heritage. He is a proven performance horse, both English and Western, and has won numerous classes in the Andalusian show circuit in both Hunt Seat classes and Dressage Suitability. He has proven himself as a sire of both pure and part-bred offspring. He passes on presence, his bold, correct movement and, usually, lots of mane and tail. He is owned by Tammy Delight, who trains for Checkerboard Farms (our Friesians and Andalusians) and a number of other satisfied equine enthusiasts in the Riverside County area. Quister has been retired to Northern California pasture, but his offspring are carrying on his qualities in their presence and accomplishments.

INMORTAL

Inmortal, born 1994, is the son of our very special stallion, Animoso. Inmortal was born after his sire’s death. He is silver grey turning white, has a great deal of presence and takes after his sire in both good and troublesome ways -- he climbs the walls of his stall and has the perpetual energy of his dad as well as his talent and movement. Inmortal’s dam is Garbosa X, a Garrison bred mare with traditional Spanish bloodlines. She was revised by the Spanish judges several years ago, who called her a “noble old soul” and they didn’t even ask her to trot! Of course, she was about seventeen at the time. Inmortal is in training with Tammy Delight and is being prepared in the dressage disciplines. He was recently used in a barn scene for the movie, “Bedazzled,” starring Brendan Fraser, which was released in October, 2000. So far, Inmortal has produced a number of offspring, all beautiful movers, with excellent conformation and with their mothers’ temperaments, which means they will get into less trouble than their father and grandfather and will be a joy to be around. He is of pure Spanish bloodlines. His latest part-bred foal, Knox CK, (thoroughbred dam) is exceptionally nice. Inmortal was gelded in 2002 and no longer available for breeding. He has been sold to one of my trainer’s students and is enjoying work in dressage and trail.

SALSA INTERNACIONAL

Salsa, born 1994, is a daughter of Conquistador and Aerial. She has big, correct movement, a very sweet and playful disposition and lovely conformation. She enjoys the challenge of opening all gates on our property! No matter what sex or kind of horse prospective buyers may be searching for, they always stop at Salsa’s stall and comment on her beauty and “look.” She is an exceptionally lovely mare. So far, she has produced two offspring, both sired by Inmortal, son of Animoso. Both the 1999 filly and her 2000 colt have lots of beauty, presence and personality and would be an addition to any Andalusian lover’s barn, especially those with an interest in dressage. Salsa and her babies are of both the Spanish and Portuguese bloodlines, which seem to produce an excellent performance or sport horse. Salsa was sold in February, 2002, but her new owner has decided to sell her. As she says, “Nothing wrong with the horse, I just decided that I didn’t really enjoy riding around my home area and this lovely mare really needs and deserves daily attention.” Salsa was sold in 2001 and lives locally here in Norco.

TRISTAN EC

Fifteen two hands tall. Tristan, born in 1996, is an exceptionally nice young stallion. His sire is Bravizo, who was sired by the double National Champion stallion, Teodoro. Although he is a stunning rose gray with blackish points, both his sire and grandsire are dark bay. His dam is Cassandra, daughter of well-known dressage champion, Regalado II. With these bloodlines, it is no wonder that Tristan’s movement is correct and bold, making him an exciting prospect for dressage. So far, he has produced a daughter and a son who both move with lightness and grace. He was revised in the Cria Caballar (Spanish registry) as an approved breeding stallion in 2002. He is not huge in height and has strong, but not extra large bone. He probably stands fifteen-two and has a more refined body style. Anyone who sees him considers him a “standout” and one of the prettiest Andalusians they have seen. He has a very sweet temperament and can also be seen in the movie, Bedazzled. Tristan has been started under saddle and shows much promise as a performance horse.  Sold June 1, 2006