120 SIDELINES JANUARY 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
A Long
Way
From
Vienna
Tosi at The Spanish Riding School.
Photo courtesy of Deborah Inzerillo
e
By Dani Moritz
He was bred to be a star. He
performed for Her Majesty and for
the thousands of people who flocked
to Vienna to see him and other
stallions like him. He inspired people
who cherished the thought of seeing
four centuries of classical dressage
experience executed in the grandeur
arena of The Spanish Riding School.
A long way from Vienna, this Lipizzan stallion, named
Conversano Toscana III-65, has found his way to a private
dressage facility in Cypress, Texas – Shoofly Farm. In 2009,
Shoofly Farm’s owner Kimberly Rathmann purchased him from
Debra Inzerillo. Debra is known for her love of Lipizzans. Actually,
she is one of few American breeders who has been granted
permission by the riding school to purchase their stallions.
Although Tosi (the stallion’s nickname) did not have a competitive
track record, trainer and barn manager Caleb Rathmann said it
didn’t really matter to them. “He did the passage, piaffe and he
had all the tempi changes and all of that, but they never competed
him,” Caleb explained. “We just bought him for who he is.”
And who could argue with that logic? Tosi had all the high school
and grand prix movements. He had the looks. He was from one of
the most prestigious and historical riding schools the equestrian
world has to offer. And there’s just something special about the
Lipizzan breed.
Even beyond his amazing movements (who could resist a horse
that executes
cued
airs about the ground?) – Tosi is just a great
all around horse.
“He’s wonderful,” said Caleb. “He’s the best gentleman in the
world. He can be stalled next to stallions or mares or geldings.
It doesn’t matter. You
would also never
know his age. He
comes back to the
barn passaging. He
very much loves his
job and is quite certain
he should be doing it.”
According to Caleb,
Tosi showing
off his beautiful
attributes and calm
temperament.
Photo by Jill K Garrett
Tosi proving to the world that he still has it, despite his age.
Photo by Jill K Garrett
his offspring have similar characteristics. “All of his offspring
have a wonderful temperament and are very athletic horses,” he
explained. “None of them are super big. They are all under 15.3
hands. Tosi is only 15.2.”
Tosi also has offspring currently performing at the riding school
– just as he once did.
Despite still being full of energy, however, Kim and Caleb have
recently decided that 23-year-old Tosi has earned his right to
retire. However, his frozen semen is still available.
While Kim and Caleb may be sad that a chapter in his life
ends, they are also excited as a new chapter begins for Shoofly’s
breeding program. What began as a hobby farm for him has grown
into a successful breeding and training facility, complete with
Andalusian stallions and an array of mares, foals and impressive
sale horses.
Shoofly Farm is complete with a 25-stall barn, covered
dressage arena, six large grass paddocks, large tack room and
other amenities. It is also proud to be home to dressage trainer
Patti Pierucci.
Caleb now looks forward to expanding the breeding program.
“We just want good, friendly amateur horses of really good quality
that are good enough for the professionals,” he said.
For more information on Shoofly farm, visit
.
com.
