Our Horses

Our stables house 14 superb examples of pure breeds and mixed blood-lines, large horses, small horses and youngsters in training, all excellent for cross-country and mountain expeditions.

Several are trained for light carriage work. None of the horses have bad habits and all are person-friendly; none without exception, have any anatomical dysfunction or unnatural movements.

They are beautiful and what’s more, they are ours…
The figures in brackets state their age in 2006.

Horses - "Pure Arab"

Princess (8)

Is a splendid example of Arab thoroughbred, the oldest and purest of breeds. Born into the Siglavy-Baghdady line, it has a beautiful head with large bright eyes, wide nostrils and a short muzzle.

Princess has an elegant floating trot and eager to canter at the slightest hint, extremely hardy on long, fast trips. Princess is an intelligent horse with quick reactions, a reliable companion in difficult terrain. Princess came with this name from Mangalia, the state stud specialised in Arab bloodlines from the shores of the Black Sea.

She bears her name with dignity and seems to remember Mohammed’s command to carry the rider who loves her faithfully and to lose in the dust the bad guy. She has a light brown colouring, her noble bearing is total, her movement is a whisper, her speed is in an instant and her tight fast turning circle an amusing problem for those who lack concentration… Her genetic power of procreation is equal to her status; she has a 3 year old filly named Soraya who formally inherits all her mother’s qualities.

Soraya (3)

Is Princess’s daughter and will “come out” in training in the spring of 2006. She is a true hot-blooded Arab, very friendly and promises to win all future races in the Alba county. Amateur riders?

Brown with grey specks on her tail and sides. When you see her canter you take fright at the thought that you could be on the back of this cheetah-horse. At first sight she looks like the embodiment of all qualities without any vices, for the time being.

Her sensitive nature and longing for adventure must be rewarded and be allowed to develop without hesitation, interest or hindrance. The beauty of her body is still developing, showing an athletic dry but firm anatomy with slender joints.

Her fine head and honest, direct look seems to pose the rhetorical question directed at the rider: if she posses certain human qualities, the rider must necessarily have some horse blood in his veins if they are to form an authentic centaur together.

Steluta (8)

A fine example of Shagya-Arab, of Koheilan blood line. She has a fine anatomy with a very mobile bearing, sharp ears and silky coat. The Arab has a special unique conformation with 17 ribs, 5 lumbar bones and 16 tail vertebrae (18-6-18 in other horses) giving a flat butt toward the tail that extends straight from the spine and is held high in the floating trot.

Her foundation is strong with a big heart, capable of prolonged effort in an alert state. She is docile and friendly and riding her is a pleasure.

Her desire to go far is seen after a while: when you expect her to tire, you are compelled to rein her in as she seems to have enormous hidden energy reserves. Her colouring is brown with a star on her head and has one white sock. She is the proud mother of 2 heirs, both male: Vifor and Zorro.

Vifor (3)

Pure Arab of the Siglavy-Baghdady line, started in training in 2005. Coloured grey, he is typical of the Arab thoroughbred, small but spirited with a floating trot and an energetic canter.

He deserves his name (“Tempest” in Romanian) as he can burst into fast gallop from standing still and can do incredibly quick turns. I remember him as a young foal when he was running such fast circles and turns round his mother that I was fearing for his safety.

Vifor was precocious as a young stallion: nobody could understand how at the age of 2 he managed to get Tessa pregnant, a strong Nonius mare, twice his size! He is now the proud father of Cica, 1 in September 2006. Vifor is obedient, willing and friendly and has a splendid career ahead of him in the Carpathian adventures of the Riding Club.

Zorro (2)

Pure Arab of the Siglavy-Baghdady line, will start his training in the spring of 2006. He is noble by anatomy, movement and affection. to touch his muzzle is like a first kiss: it bewilders but is not forgotten. His colouring is dark brown with black mane and tail.

He seems to be too distinguished to be a pleasure horse, he looks like destined for some royal stud, a unique horse for just one rider. He is affectionate and somewhat dependant on Jar, his half-brother of the same age, his favourite playmate. Obedient but spirited, he will be capable to compete well in long distance, speed events.

Jar (2)

Is a ½ Arab by his father, a healthy, strong and friendly horse adaptable to any climate. He has an athletic conformation and has the energy of fire (Jar=fire in Romanian) without its violence. At birth he was dark brown, now he is charcoal with grey specks, soon he will be grey, only to turn white in his later years.

He inherits his friendliness from his mother, Zica, a Hutsul mare, with a full figure, healthy conformation, strong neck and a beautiful head. His look is expressive and warm, he has a smooth walk and even an inverted hair circle on his left side under his mane. From his father, Vasile he inherits a short back, good withers to fit a saddle, the colour and the erect bearing of his tail. He seems to be a horse good for any work as long as his instructor is calm and sensitive to his needs.

Coca (10)

A grey Koheilan Arab mare, friendly with a fine coat and tail, a wide strong chest and flat back. It is a picture of the ideal Arab character, descending from one of the 5 mares chosen by Mohammed to define this race: she has an elegant walk, floating trot, nostrils high in the air, large eyes widely set wanting to take in the immensity of the horizon, the tail whipping the wind as she goes and her legs charged like springs, she is a true spectacle! Historical evidence shows that this race existed in the Arabian Peninsula some 2.500 years ago. It was brought to Europe by the invading Muslim armies in the VIII-IXth centuries and has since influenced all local breeds.

Carina (4)

Dark grey, ½ Arab, daughter of Coca and a Trotter Stallion, she will start her training in the spring of 2006. She is a fine example of a larger, stronger horse than the Arab.

She is somewhat shy because she was not handled in her youth. Her curiosity makes her approach and muzzle your palm with a light playful bite. With her athletic build she will perform well on the long-distance Carpathian trails starting soon.

Horses - "Hafflinger"

Honey (6)

A beautiful Haflinger mare good for carriage work as well as riding. Her name depicts not just the colour but also her character, she is docile and friendly towards horses and humans.

She is not capable to do any harm. She has only one slight problem. She frets when you want to mount her, she backs away, understandably when she sees that humans also have legs but in their cheeky greed it looks as though their legs are no sufficient and must use 4 more!

Intelligent, kind and willing with sure feet, Honey is ideal for mountain trekking and children work. Originally from the Hafling village in North Italy, this horse is one of the most hardy, remaining in active service up to the age of 40.

Horses - "Hutsul"

Zica (14)

Of Hutsul breed, dark brown with circles in the summer. If Zica cannot boast with such noble origins as the other horses, she has behind her own history. She is the last chance of the last fertile ovule of an old Hutsul mare. As a one week old foal, she had another chance or rather narrow escape when she fought like a devil to escape the furious attack of a recently castrated gelding who was trying to quell her mother’s possible opposition.

She was bitten and felled three times and three times she recovered and rose to run again. It all happened on the stretch of a mile where her mother Stela ( who in the meantime broke her tether )and I ran to protect her. She was only 7 days old and probably took an oath that when old and strong enough she will not only not tolerate any other attack but chose to attack herself any horse except her immediate family. This is how the smallest horse in the pack, she has become the lead mare at La Mesteceni.

Kind to man but has the modest demand that whoever rides her must be superior or else she will find non-violent ways to demoralise and persuade you to dismount and look for a donkey.

Known as the Carpathian Pony, the Hutsul is a descendent of the Tarpan and the wild Asian horse. Originally from the Hutsul mountains in the Ukraine, it has a strong and wide chest, valuable in mountainous terrain and for transporting heavy loads.

Horses - "Nonius"

Montzi (7)

Tessa (6)

An impressive healthy Nonius with short, strong legs. Her fine head with large eyes set wide apart, has a determined, willing expression and her shoulders signifypower. The Nonius race varies in size, the smaller examples having more Arab blood and more impulse. Tessa is a good worker and can be used for riding or carriage work. She is competitive and will attempt to keep up with the Arab thoroughbreds who are the classical speed horses with a lot less weight to carry.

Horses - "Metis"

Rocky (2)

Is Montzi’s son, ½ Arab and has all the characteristics of the Nonius breed improved by Arab blood. He will start training in the spring on 2006. Chestnut brown colour with 3 white socks and a star on his forehead, Rocky has his mother’s conformation with a greater impulse and flexibility. A good character, obedient, easy to train. His long-line tall body will evolve to become an accomplished Nonius.

Cica (1)

Is Tessa’s daughter with the same conformation but Arab temperament (Vifor is her father),. Brown with a white sock she should have been named Surprise as nobody expected her to be born. She is the baby of the stud but the future belongs to her.