FEATURED IN ARABIAN HORSE TIMES VOL. 53, NO. 2
When and where were you introduced to the Arabian horse?
My mother loved Arabian horses, and when I was just a boy of about 9 in 1978, she took me to an Arabian horse show at Tom Chancey’s old place on Bell Road in Scottsdale. Sadly, my mother never had the opportunity to own a horse before she passed, but because of her love for Arabians, I began to pay more and more attention over the years. She was the one that planted the seed.
Was there a particular event that catapulted you into the business of Arabian horses?
I just decided to jump right in. My plan was to buy unwanted horses, train them/tune them up and resell them for more. The first horse I purchased was an off the racetrack Thoroughbred in 1995 named Ginger. After doing some groundwork on her and retraining, and reselling her for a profit, I was hooked! The farm I boarded her at happened to be owned by a breeder of Arabian horses and was next door to Bill Finley, the manager of the syndicate for Aladdinn Echo. It was also just down the street from Iris Gallett, the breeder and birthplace of Aladdinn Echo and sire of the great Echo Magnifficoo. Bill’s passion for Arabians was a big influence on me. I spoke with him daily and helped him care for his Arabians, and in exchange he taught me the basics of how to evaluate and train Arabian horses. I began to see the specifics of their beauty; now understanding why my mother had such a love for them. I decided! I want to create the perfect Arabian horse as I see it in my mind’s eye. I became a breeder.
What was it about the Arabian horse? Why not airplanes, boats, or another breed?
The foundation of my dedication to Arabian horses has multiple factors. First, it’s really my love of art, my need for perfection, my extreme love of animals, my creative nature, and my desperate need to express myself, much like an architect or a builder. I love and appreciate other breeds of horses, but for me, as it relates to this, Arabian horses are my everything.
When did you begin PCF Arabians and where does the name come from?
My first Arabian foal was born in 1996, but the name PCF didn’t come about until a little bit later. It stands for Peacemaker’s Choice Farms. I wanted a name that was as simple as my brand. My thought was that whenever PCF would be seen in a pedigree, the farm or breeder of that animal would be unmistakable as it is the actual name of my farm, not just initials.
Once you were in, what were your dreams and goals for PCF Arabians?
To consistently create foals with timeless Arabian type/beauty with a focus on correct conformation, athleticism, and of course, charisma, as I love the thrill and beauty of a horse’s individual desire for expression. My dream is to set the bar for what is possible. To create individuals with no attribute overlooked but rather created in the extremes—horses that have an origin and brand that is unmistakable.
Are you the main horse lover in your family or are there other family members? Is this a solo venture or a family goal?
It’s my passion, and many of my children have a strong love and appreciation for the horses and they support me and my goals with PCF. Karina built a career around painting them, Elise and Zach enjoy showing amateur, and the younger ones enjoy being around them.
Sam and Sandy Peacemaker
Carlinhos Soouza
Travis Rice
How do you choose your matings? What is your approach?
I approach each potential pairing with a careful study of the look and pedigree of the stallion and the mare and focus more on creating matches of similar phenotypes with horses in the recent side of their pedigrees that have the same look or similar attributes. This lends to a higher likelihood of a predictable outcome. I like this approach rather than matching individuals that would potentially fix each other’s faults. A broadbase of quality mares, largely unfaulty, is key.
Let’s talk about PCF Vision. How did he come about and what does he bring to his daughters to make them such amazing producers? What will he bring to the international table?
My hope in breeding PCF Vision’s sire Marwan Al Shaqab to his dam Veronica GA was to produce a horse that had the neck and shoulder, type and charisma that runs strong through a few generations of his pedigree. I hoped to create a horse that not only exhibited these traits, but who had them condensed in his genotype, making him a strong producer of those attributes. Vision was actually the second attempt I made at this pairing. The first was a nice colt but didn’t quite meet my expectations. I believed in the match and Patti Scheier, then owner of the renowned National Champion mare Veronica GA, and I made an agreement for another try. The second foal born was PCF Vision. I named him PCF Vision because I believed he would be the foundation of my vision for PCF. He and his get have helped shape my program. His daughters exhibit balance and produce his scopey throat and good shoulder. They also have his and his dam’s charisma and movement and tend to produce it. I am very excited to say that with PCF Vision’s help, I am seeing a significant uptick in Arabian type/(pretty) in the program so far with this year’s foal crop that is currently on the ground. I think this will now give me the opportunity to competitively compete Internationally. Thank you, Vision!
It is very hard to look at the 2023 Scottsdale results and not see a tremendous layer of success by PCF horses, both bred by you and others. What do you believe is your “recipe” and appeal by others to want to add your type to their breeding programs?
I think we are all trying to achieve the same thing: beauty, Arabian type, the way they carry themselves, laid back shoulder, scopey neck, charisma, etc. I think in the end what we call timeless beauty, really is as it says, what we are all hoping to achieve today and forever. We take turns achieving close to this ideal. This year, in some classes in the show, it was simply my turn. I do try to stay away from the “flavor of the day” and try to focus on getting all those attributes we all love, all into one horse. This, in my opinion, has nothing necessarily to do with who just won. Still, one must put in the work to find the right match. I am humbled that some have chosen to use PCF horses in their programs.
How does it feel to not only be breeding successful halter but performance winners as well? What do you feel are the choices and decisions you’ve made along the way to produce such a broad spectrum of champions?
It is a great feeling because I’m not necessarily breeding for strictly the halter arena but for the ultimate Arabian horse. I believe that the principles for breeding a good halter and good performance horse are fundamentally the same. The goal is to have the resulting foal be highly competitive in both arenas; the full potential of ownership enjoyment that I believe the Arabian horse is capable of providing. A pretty face and halter stand up alone, can’t do this. Adding athleticism and trainability is a must for me.
PCF Vision Pilatus PCF RD Natoria PCFCongratulations on all the horses with your suffix in the pedigrees of winners, not only in Scottsdale, but around the world. You have made a great contribution to the breed. Bravo!
- Michael ByattWe just wanted to take a moment to share that we have the highest respect for you as a breeder and would love to get to know you both. We are students of all this and, therefore, have travelled the globe and had the opportunity to stay and hear many breeders’ different theories and objectives. PCF has the best mare collection we have ever seen. We both feel that PCF Arabians was the #1 farm tour highlight during our Scottsdale trip.
Tell us about the successful family of Maria PCF, now owned by Stacy Sachen. Tell us about her family line, progeny and the records they have amassed. Do you still retain her presence in your own breeding program, and if yes, with whom?
Maria PCF is maintained in our breeding program directly through Aliyah Vision PCF (by PCF Vision) and has been a cornerstone to our program. She has proven to be a “blue hen” when it comes to producing foals with a consistent look and style that has done very well in the show ring. In addition to Aliyah, we have several of her get. One of our main sires at the moment is an Aliyah Vision son, Martino PCF, sired by Polidoro FC, who is producing extremely well for us. He is a full brother to Giana Leah PCF. The main benefit to this mare line is the consistency of the look and style they produce. Very hooky necks, lots of scope, good shoulders, big kind eyes, tight shapely ears, and the trot and charisma really stand out. Aliyah’s daughter, Shanelle PCF, was first place this year in the Scottsdale International Yearling Filly class and Bronze Champion in the final. I plan on keeping her to breed in the future.
It must be really thrilling to see three different PCF related fillies out of PCF mares chosen by three different judges in the 2-year-old class. What are you doing for that to occur? What do you think each of them saw in these fillies to make three different choices?
It’s always great to see those who have chosen to use PCF horses in their programs be successful. Of course, with judging it should begin with quality and end with preference. I am thrilled that each judge saw quality and preferred each filly for the front line. Consistency of quality among other things should be a fundamental goal of any breeding program, and show ring success should be a good indicator of this. As breeders, this is what we look for.
What other stallions have you incorporated into your program or want to? How about mares?
Any good breeding program manager should consider every available quality stallion for use with their mares; keeping with my willingness to see and to accept greatness from whence it comes—mares included.
When you add PCF to all the names of horses you breed, that takes quite a bit of confidence and adds a level of responsibility to all of your creations. Are you proud of all that you put forth?
Of some, yes. Of all, no. I have not created anything yet that is perfect, so I give my name to the imperfect. My responsibility is to do just that, step by step continuing to improve one horse and one generation at a time. Breeding for me is a building blocks endeavor, each horse being a single block and believing always, that better is yet to come.
As a publication, we often ask questions regarding breeders, and your name has come up as one fellow breeder most respect today; how does that make you feel?
It’s always an honor to be thought of with respect.
You have made some big changes in the last year or so, adding Travis Rice, who is widely known in the industry for his marketing abilities, and top halter trainer Carlinhos Souza. Tell us what goals lie beneath these moves?
Congratulations on an amazing Scottsdale! PCF, PCF, PCF as far as the ear could hear. Amazing success, amazing breeders. People are building a dynasty from your program.
-Braden Davidson
I was very fortunate to be able to bring Travis Rice and Carlinhos Souza to PCF. Both are extremely talented in what they do. Travis is exceptional at marketing and sales, which is crucial to PCF Arabians’ enterprise success. Carlinhos’ talents as a trainer and attention to detail as an equine manager and his ability to bring out the very best in my horses, as well as his staff, are what I believe will give my horses the best chance of success in the show ring.
And finally, do you love the Arabian horse?
I can’t say that I’d be doing any of this if I didn’t love and enjoy Arabian horses. Who can muster the patience and endure failure for as many years as I have, without Love?
2023 Dam of Distinction...
40 Entrants … 34 Placed
16 Champions
10 Reserve or Silver Champions
2 Bronze Champions
46 Top Tens
In Halter, Hunter and Western Pleasure
1st Place Sr Yearling Colt
Reserve Champion Jr Colt
Scottsdale Bronze Champion International Filly
DA Valentino x MCA Afire Beylee
Bred by Sam Peacemaker and Patti Scheier | Owned by Anivia Equine
2023 SCOTTSDALE WINNING PROGENY
Sons & Daughters
Bergen AN Champion Jr. Colt
Audrey AN 1st Place Sr. 2-Year-Old Filly
Bertikala AN Top Five SSS 3-Year-Old Mare
Natalia PCF 1st Place 5 Yrs. & Older Mare AAOTH 2nd Place Sr. Mare 8 & Over
Grandsons & Granddaughters
Alesia ENB Champion Sr. Mare
RD Alidoro 2nd Place Jr. 2-Year-Old Colt
Redemption AN 2nd Place Yearling & Yearling
Gelding AAOTH
Shanelle PCF Bronze CH Intl. Yearling Filly
RD Sovonya Top Five Yearling Filly ATH
RD Latinna Top Ten SSS Auction Filly
Delilah AN Top Ten SSS Yearling Filly
Great Grandsons & Great Granddaughters
RD Rhavier Champion SSS Yearling Colt
Reyliyah PCF 1st Place H/A Yearling Filly
Tainted Love PCF 5th Place Sr. Yearling Filly
Bella Tina PCF 3rd Place Jr. Yearling Filly