80 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Continued on page 82
But if you ask him please, he will.”
The foals he produces also appear to have these traits and have
had remarkable success in their own careers. For example, Doctor
Wendell, a 2008 Hanoverian Stallion, has a long list of accolades,
which includes winning the 2011 colt/gelding championship and
reserve champion in the young horse class at Dressage at Devon.
He was also the USDF Horse of the Year for the two-year-old
colts/gelding division.
Maryanna hopes her foals’ successes prove horses bred in the
U.S. can be just as successful as those bred abroad. “There is
an ongoing problem that riders, trainers and owners don’t look at
U.S. bred horses,” she said. “So how do we get their attention?
How do we recognize that horses bred in the U.S. are just as good
as those bred in Europe?”
To solve that problem a group of breeders, including Maryanna,
engineered the Born in the U.S.A. High Score Award for breed
shows, starting with Dressage at Devon. The award presented
at Devon has evolved and now includes a rider award, perpetual
trophy and cash award. The breeder gets 20 percent of the cash
award and the owner receives 80 percent.
Since commencing the award at Devon, Maryanna has
expanded the award to shows across the country. She now gives
awards at local shows with embroidered halters or saddle pads
and has created an award and perpetual trophy for the Kentucky
Dressage Association and The Palm Beach Dressage Derby.
She named The Palm Beach Dressage Derby award after
Patsy Albers, a well-loved dressage figure who passed away
last year. “Patsy was known for her support of young riders, but
very few people realize that she also supported a lot of breeders
with encouragement,” Maryanna said. “She was the person to
greet them at the gate and when we were pulling in. She always
clapped for us and she recognized the fact that without breeders
there are no horses.”
By Dani Moritz
When 11-year-old Maryanna Haymon saved $100 to buy a
horse, hand walked him to her family’s potato farm in Central New
Jersey and tied him to a dog chain until she could build a fence, it
was clear that, if nothing else, this little girl was at least one thing
– determined.
That little girl’s determination would follow her in life and
eventually lead her to become one of America’s top Warmblood
breeders – famed for quality horses and her dedication to gaining
recognition for fellow American breeders.
But Maryanna’s career didn’t start with a glamorous beginning.
In fact, she never intended to become the breeder she is today.
“I did the normal naïve first-time breeding thing,” she said. “I
bought a competition gelding that I couldn’t afford taking up the
levels, so I bought my mare and I figured I’ll breed this mare …
for approximately $10,000 every year and that will finance the
gelding’s competition career. Well, that first foal stayed with me
until she died at age 21.”
Of course, over time Maryanna fell in love with breeding horses.
Ultimately, due to medical issues that kept her from riding and her
newfound love of breeding, Maryanna took up breeding as her
passion and career in replacement of riding.
Soon, Maryanna’s breeding operation got to a point where stud
fees were out of control – so she decided to purchase a stallion,
Don Principe, or Prince for short. “When we brought that horse
into our lives, it changed our whole breeding program,” she said.
“It changed our goals; it changed everything. We spent every
penny on that horse’s career.”
Although Prince himself is imported from Germany, the foals he
produces are all American-born. Maryanna describes him as very
friendly with three goods gaits – with his walk being the highlight.
She also explained, “He’s a very sensitive, forward-thinking horse
– but he’s also very conservative. If he doesn’t have to, he doesn’t.
e
Breeder – A Tribute To America
Maryanna with her husband, Dr. Wendell
Haymon, and Doctor Wendell MF – who
was named after her husband.
Photo by Erin McCardell
Born in the U.S.A.
