The years have passed since 2006, and during that time we have continued learning and, above all, understanding that in genetics one may know Mendel’s three laws (Gregor Mendel, 1822–1884)—the Law of Uniformity, the Law of Segregation, and the Law of Independent Assortment—but the reality is that genes are rather like dice in a cup, playing a game of Generala and trying to roll a perfect Generala on the first throw. The problem is that genes are not just five dice. There are more than 22 pairs contributed by each parent, combining randomly, with only the limited predictability provided by recessive and dominant traits. This often leaves us “guessing,” for certain characteristics, what percentage of offspring can be expected to express a particular trait. If we add to this the fact that the Arabian breed is evaluated according to five main characteristics, it becomes easy to understand that when we select a stallion with the aim of improving one or two particular traits, there is no genetic guarantee that the other three will remain unaffected. IS WHAT MAKES BREEDING SO FASCINATING. You never really know what will be born, and the result is always, and sometimes frustratingly, different from what you expected. There is an important warning I like to share with those who show horses: when a breeder produces a Grand Champion, he should not automatically assume that he has produced a HERD SIRE and use him as such. A Grand Champion is a Grand Champion on that particular day, against those particular stallions, and under that particular judge or panel of judges. On another day, competing against different horses and judged by different people, he would most likely receive a different evaluation. This leads us to conclude that choosing a stallion to become what we consider a true herd sire must be a highly analytical decision, based on an evaluation of that stallion’s performance throughout his breeding career. The fact that a stallion produces champions in other parts of the world and from different genetic backgrounds does not necessarily mean that he will produce the same results when crossed with our own maternal bloodlines. In my view, no matter how renowned a stallion may be, only about 1% or 2% of his offspring will represent a truly significant improvement. The greater the fame of a stallion—and the greater the number of winning offspring associated with his name—the more important it is to recognize that this may also simply reflect the fact that he has covered a very large number of mares each year. One must therefore look at the number of outstanding offspring in relation to the total number of breedings. Statistically, this tends to support my view that only around 1% to 2% of a stallion’s offspring will be truly exceptional.

Having achieved BOTH GRAND CHAMPIONS, Male and Female, at Palermo in July 2017 should not lead us to believe that we have already arrived. As I have said before, Grand Champions or Champions are champions ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY, WITH THOSE JUDGES, AND WITH THOSE HORSES IN THE RING. Achieving those titles, while at the same time once again securing both Breeders’ Cups, as well as the awards for Best Breeder and Best Exhibitor in both 2015 and 2016, gives us reason to believe that we are on the right track. After years of breeding, knowing whether we are on the right track comes from evaluating the statistics of what each mare and/or stallion has produced. That analysis helps us draw conclusions. Our production statistics tell us two things: first, that only 20% of the broodmares in our breeding program are the ones that consistently produce the best offspring; and second, that concentrating our breeding around a particular genetic line contributes to achieving better results. This genetic concentration gives us a certain degree of predictability. We have seen breeders abroad with considerable financial resources who try multiple stallions every year and retain the best offspring. However, at the same time, they gradually accumulate within their breeding programs a mixture of bloodlines that makes it increasingly difficult to predict results and to produce a type of horse that truly represents the phenotypic line one is trying to breed.

Returning to our own breeding program, we have been fortunate enough to breed several males whose phenotype and genetics, we believe, will enable them to make an important contribution. At the time, we introduced HCE MAGLEKTRO (AB Magnum x HCE Maglektra), who helped produce very good heads while remaining within the AB Magnum bloodline. Today, HCE GALIPOLI (AB Magnum x Forever Amore x Ever After) and HCE LUSHADRON (JFN Mameluke x HCE Magshadrona) are joining our breeding program for the 2017/2018 breeding season.

As we said many times, breeding is having patience. We have the patience, but we are helping that patience with actions. Also, as we explained before, we had our bad stallions choices. Those bad choices were not to be blamed to the choose stallions because many times, genetics don't match. A stallion can be a great producer in one farm, and not produce in other farm with different genetic bases.
The last 2 years we habe been looking for genetics with better heads than we have. We believe having obtained an improvement in the scale of better heads. Auteur (Arbiteur x Indira Rose) did a good job helping with its big eyes, very good hip, leggy and flat front between eyes and very good separation of eyes. Very dry head and lot of movement. After having used him in 3 seasons, now, we need to move forward.
Excalibur EA (Shaghai EA out of Essence of Marwan) and Dominc M (Da Vinci x Rosa la Valentina by Versace) are the new genetic in which we trust to accomplish a new step forward in our breeding program. Will see in next 2 or 3 years if we made the right choice
Anyhow, we are still looking for next year genetic.. PATIENCE and ODDS need to be helped.

It has been over three years of our last rudder correction on our breeding program. More and more, these latest times show the need of keeping alert and do not sleep on ''past years improvements'. The Arabian Industry is showing a constant and sustain growth. More and new genetics are successfully used. A stallion that 3 years ago, and even the great legends, have been overcome. A constant search of new combination is the only way to keep being competitive and updated. Thanks to the Estancia Las Rosasand Princess Laetitia D arembergs generosity, we have temporary imported for two breeding seasons their stallionAUTEUR(Arbiteur x Indian Rose). Breeding him to our AB magnum'sdoughters, we strongly believe that this stallion will make a contribution to our breeding program. Leggy, tall, flat forehead, big open black eyes and a strong hip, will improve our genetic and provide additional brood mares to AB magnum