Arabian
Wins 2002 Purina Mills Super Senior Horse Search
The
10-day-old Arabian colt that was Carla Connor's wedding present
is now her 35-year-old dearly beloved companion and the winner of
Equine Senior's 2002 Super Senior Horse Search. Purina Mills chose
Daurief (Daufin x Aarief) over more than 2,000 horses nationwide
based on Connor's essay and a photo showing him in excellent body
condition as he cantered effortlessly across her pasture. Purina
awarded the pair 40 bags of Equine Senior, a $2,000 gift certificate
and is featuring them in an Equine Senior ad campaign.
Connor
was a 20-year-old bride when her husband generously offered to buy
her an Arabian horse with their wedding money. When Connor saw the
little *Raffles-bred colt at the Mekeel Ranch, a renowned breeder
of fine Arabian horses, "He grabbed my heart," says Connor.
"He was a little imp and just kept nibbling at my shirt, and
he had these big doe-like brown eyes that were so caring."
Shortly
after Daurief arrived at her place, Connor found out she was pregnant
but she continued ground schooling him. "He was such a good,
sensible colt and except for getting into mischief occasionally,
he always took care of me," says Connor who recalls how his
common sense averted a potentially dangerous situation. "He
was 6 months old when I found him hung up on a nylon hay bag. He
never panicked but waited patiently while I removed his leg."
She
also remembers Daurief playing "Houdini" at a boarding
stable. "There had been incidents of someone breaking into
the stalls and letting the horses out. One night, the barn manager
decided to sleep in the hayloft to catch the intruder. Upon hearing
noises, he peered down to see Daurief opening his own stall door
and freeing four of his buddies."
Connor
loved showing Daurief and today has a room full of championship
trophies and ribbons. "His animated, floating trot and lovely
conformation stole many a judge's heart. He even won High Point
Arabian at a Class A show due to his brilliance in English pleasure,
western pleasure, halter and sidesaddle. I always showed him as
an amateur owner and was proud to say I trained him every step of
the way."
After
a tendon injury, he became her trail horse, parade horse and constant
companion. In the early 80s he starred in a Jordache commercial,
running along a Florida beach with a young girl in Jordache jeans.
Today
Daurief lives on a five-acre farm in Loxahatchee, Florida. "Age
has gotten the best of his teeth so he's been on Equine Senior for
the last 10 years, which keeps him fat and sleek," says Connor.
"His back may have dropped a little bit, but he still has his
old fire and mischievous look in his eye that I saw 35 years ago."
AHA
is a 40,000 member equine association that registers and maintains
a database of more then one million Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian
horses. It administers more than $4 million in annual prize money,
produces national events, maintains official event records, recognizes
more than 400 Arabian horse shows and distance rides and provides
activities and programs that promote breeding and ownership. For
information about Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses,
call 303-696-4500, e-mail info@ArabianHorses.org
or visit www.ArabianHorses.org.
.
|