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MY LIFE WITH
THE ARABIAN HORSE: MANNY VIERRA b y Denise Hearst
Manny Vierra is entering his forty-second year of Arabian horse ownership, and if there was a bigger cheerleader for the breed, we haven’t met him. Go to any big show and you’ll find him smiling and laughing with friends and cheering on the winners, whoever they might be. Or perhaps he’ll be at home in Brentwood, California, strolling the barn aisles and visiting with his horses. As Manny says, “The Arabian horse is a huge passion for me – a passion that became an addiction.” We spoke with Manny recently about his “addiction.” WHAT WAS YOUR
My first big win was the 1990 Cal Bred Three-YearOld Colt with DBA Extravagance (Huckleberry Bey x Serinette) shown by Mike Neal. And that horse was my first Arabian Horse World cover! Things just took off from there.
INTRODUCTION TO ARABIAN HORSES?
I’ve always loved horses, but it wasn’t until 1979, in Los Gatos, California, that I was introduced to Arabians. I thought, gosh they are beautiful. I really got attached to them. So I bought one, a chestnut filly with a flaxen mane WHAT IS THE MOST and tail, from Trinity MEANINGFUL MOMENT Arabians in Cupertino. YOU’VE HAD IN THE Her name was SHOWRING WITH AN Kharess (Beaulieu ARABIAN HORSE? Montage x That Girl). Manny Vierra with *PRELUDIO OSB (Dominic M x Partyssima OSB), When I was just Before I knew it I had a unanimous champion In Uruguay, Brazil, and now, the U.S. getting my feet wet, six Arabians. bringing multi-international champion mare *El I was boarding these horses in Los Gatos and Dorada (*Sanadik El Shaklan x Emigrantka) over looking at how much I was spending on board, and I from Poland and leasing her for two years was an thought, jeez, I could make a house payment with incredible experience. I got three foals out of her, but that. I found a little ranchette on two acres in San I don’t own any of them anymore. I could not pass up Martin. I built a six-stall barn and put the money into the offers if I wanted to stay in this business. I took the property instead of board.
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// *EMIGRANT (Ararat x Emigrantka) was European and Polish National Champion Stallion, as well as race winner in Poland, before joining Valley Oak Arabians, where he was one of Manny’s favorites until his death last year.
the offers, and I developed the Valley Oak Arabians Facility. But last year in Scottsdale when I saw this filly, AJS Emara Meia Lua (S.M.A. Magic One x Ellara El Ludjin), come up in the Marquise auction, I knew she was coming home with me. Her grandam was the filly I bred out of *El Dorada, Elle Dorada. I wanted that blood back in my program because those three *El Dorada foals helped build my barn. We showed Emara Meia Lua at the 2020 Midsummer Nationals in a very good class and she was unanimous National Champion Two-Year-Old Filly. Other special moments were Aria Qatars Angel (Abha Qatar x BHF Dark Angel) winning U.S. National Reserve Champion Senior Mare for the second year in a row and CW Soleil (Soul of Gazal SF x MA Sonata) winning National Reserve Champion Futurity Filly. And one of the biggest thrills came in 2020 when the stallion *Preludio OSB (Dominic M x Partyssima OSB), whom I imported from Brazil, was unanimous Midsummer National Champion and unanimous U.S. National Champion Junior Colt in his second show in the U.S. He impressed me when I first laid eyes on him. Feels pretty good. It’s been a long time coming. WHAT IS THE ARABIAN’S ROLE IN YOUR DAILY LIFE TODAY?
After those early years in San Martin, I moved to Brentwood, California. I bought the five-acre property on Valley Oak Road where my residence is now, and built a 14-stall barn. I keep 10 to 12 horses there. The main Valley Oak facility is on a 20-acre property right down the street from my home. I built the big barn there, and I had over 100 horses at one time. The horses are therapeutic for me. I had 600 employees for a long time, and I needed the kind of sanity that having horses in the backyard can bring. When I get wound up tight, I walk out in the back and
visit with the horses. They are the only thing that takes me away from business. I leave my phone behind when I’m around the horses. All I’ve got on me is a glass of wine and some carrots. WITH WHICH HORSES HAVE YOU HAD THE CLOSEST CONNECTION?
“Well, one was *Emigrant (Ararat x Emigrantka) a European and Polish National Stallion. And SFA Wind Chime (Fame VF x Winterset) – she was very aloof, very independent, but if she liked you she’d let you love on her. Another one is Aria Qatars Angel. She is an absolute sweetheart. Another sweetheart is *Dumka (Laheeb x Dabrowa) from Ariela. And when *El Dorada was here, I could open her paddock door and she’d follow me around the ranch...just walking along. Looking for treats. My horses are pampered and that’s how I want it. No one is allowed to put a whip on any of my horses. We don’t compromise safety - if a horse is crowding you, get your space, but I don’t want anyone banging on any of the horses. If there’s a problem, I’ll bring somebody in to fix it. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHO IS CONTEMPLATING ADDING AN ARABIAN HORSE TO THEIR LIFE?
“When people get into the Arabian horse business, they need to have the passion for the horse first, and
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FOR THE NEW ENTHUSIAST
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*EL DORADA (*Sanadik El Shaklan x Emigrantka) was Polish National Champion, All Nations Cup Champion, European Champion and World Reserve Champion Senior Mare. After she arrived in America on lease to Manny, she was Scottsdale Reserve Champion Senior Mare and U.S. National Champion Senior Mare.
AJS EMARA MEIA LUA (S.M.A.Magic One x Ellara El Ludjin) traces to *El Dorada in her tail female line. She was crowned unanimous National Champion Two-Year-Old filly with Sandro Pinha.
then let the competitiveness roll in after the fact. You need to ease into competition so that you know what you’re looking at and what you’re looking for. It’s not about the horse you can win with, it’s about the horse that you like looking at and caring for…one whose personality you like, and one that you enjoy being with. Once you get going, then go spend some money and go be competitive. Sure, it’s sweeter when you win, but when it’s all said and done, if my horse doesn’t win, I still enjoy the show and the people. And my horse.
around the world that I probably would never have visited were it not for Arabian horses...like the State Studs of Poland, and breeding farms and shows in Israel, Germany, Holland, and Belgium. Thanks to the Arabian horse I have friends all around the world. Arabians have been a huge part of my life. Between my family and my Arabian horses and some wonderful friends, it has consumed me. I always say, you can make your money and you can blow it on cars or you can blow it on vacations, on property, or horses…wherever you enjoy spending your money is where you should spend your money. You can’t take it with you. You have to drink good vodka and good wine, enjoy good food, and keep your horses close.
IN WHAT WAYS HAVE ARABIAN HORSES ENHANCED YOUR LIFE?
The Arabian horse has introduced me to some incredible people and taken me to some places
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