Maestoso XLIV-17; A Romanian Adventure
The path to follow my dreams led me to Romania. For well over fifteen years I have had a dream to import a top quality Lipizzan stallion to the USA. My goal was to broaden the genetic diversity, improve the bloodlines, and promote this special breed. Lipizzans, Dressage and travel are a few of my favorite passions. The three coalesced in my adventure to Romania to purchase Maestoso XLIV-17, the majestic stallion affectionately known as “Stoso”. I found Stoso in an internet advertisement. I needed a new horse like a hole in my head (or my wallet!), but intrigue set in and the wheels were set in motion for my great adventure.
Stoso was particularly interesting to me
because of his bloodlines, there appeared to be no purebred registered Romanian
Lipizzans in America. Stoso, born
in 1997 is a purebred Lipizzan with a Lipizzan International Federation (LIF)
approved pedigree, born at Dalnic Stud in Transylvania.
His sire, Maestoso XLIV was the main stud at Dalnic and was pictured in
the most famous German book on Lipizzans, “Auf Den Spuren Der Lipizzaners,”
by Heinz Nurnberg. According to Atjan Hop, the General Secretary of the LIF and
foremost pedigree expert, “Maestoso XLIV-17’s maternal family goes back
to” 49 Hidas.” 49 Hidas was an original Lipizzan mare born 1909 at the Stud
of Count Andrassy in Hungary. Dr.
Laszlo Kadar veterinarian and breeder at Dalnic Stud Farm reported that
Stoso’s Dam, 20 Conversano XXV-25 was the most successful broodmare in the
country. He added that the sire Maestoso XLIV had a lot of bone and breathtaking
offspring.
I have imported many horses from Europe
for clients over the years, so I was familiar with the process.
However, the logistics of purchasing a horse from Romania were quite
different. Luckily my friend,
Henrietta Josseck, DVM of Switzerland agreed to join me. Henrietta did her PhD
thesis at the Spanish Riding School (SRS). Her Mother was one of the first women
to be educated at the SRS. Henrietta
also trained with Ernst Hoyas. Her
assistance was valuable in my eventual decision to purchase and import Stoso.
On July 20, 2004 I arrived at Bucharest
Otopeni Airport in the capital of Romania.
Stoso’s owner, Cristina Verona, picked me up.
The process of trying the horse and making the decision to purchase him
was like any other. The differences
lay in the surroundings and surreal old world quality of the country.
With some creative techniques and extensive help from Christina and Henrietta,
I was able to determine that the deal would go through. Stoso would be coming to America.
During the down time we were able to get
a first hand tour of Romania. Of
course our focus was mostly equine, but the food was a highlight as well. Most of the horses in the main riding stables around
Bucharest were Romanian sport horses and quite a few were Lipizzans.
We took a day trip to Transylvania and
Sambata de Jos, the state stud of Romania.
It is devoted to Lipizzaners, which are considered part of the national
heritage of Romania. The four hour
trip from Bucharest to Transylvania was geographically diverse and breathtaking.
We went through small rural villages and steep mountain passes. The
weather in Bucharest had been in the 90’s and humid, so the cool mountain air
was a welcome change. I was most
impressed by the charming architecture; my eyes got tired just trying to take it
all in.
When we finally arrived at Sambata de
Jos I could hardly contain myself. I
remember having a similar feeling at Piber, but this was different, it was not
commercial. Although they were
hidden off a small side street in a quiet neighborhood, the entry to the stables
was lovely. There were two massive
columns supporting wrought iron gates. The
administrative offices were housed in an old castle, the former Palace of
Governors of Transylvania, built at the time of Maria Theresa who reportedly
spent several days there.
The stables housed about sixty
stallions. There were eight large box stalls for what appeared to be their main
breeding stallions, one of each stallion line including the Incitato and the
Tulipan. The rest of the horses were kept in tie stalls.
To my surprise almost all the main breeding stallions appeared to be a
minimum of 16 hands. It was also different to see so many colored Lipizzans,
there were blacks, bays and several chestnuts!
After the stable tour we were given a
carriage ride with a gentleman who was practicing for his next competition in
dressage driving. He drove a pair
of four year old Tulipans, one mare and one stallion!
As we did the patterns all the movements were of course explained in
Romanian.
Close to Sambata is a Monastery that was
exquisite, here we spent an hour and I was grateful to feel the quietude of such
a spiritual environment.
Next on the agenda was a small private breeding stable at the top of a mountain. These breeders were interested in Dressage and driving. The horses and the stable were immaculate. It was a six horse stable very upscale, connected to a hotel and restaurant. They had Tulipans, two Incitato’s and a gorgeous Conversano that was 17 hands. After seeing the horses, we had Romanian schnapps and met with a rider of Sambata De Jos and the gentleman who started the private Lipizzaner breeder’s registry in Romania.
By the time we got back to the hotel it
was three o’clock in the morning and in two hours I was due at the airport to
fly home.
Stoso arrived to Across the Diagonal Farm in Carmel, California in October 2004. My four day visit to Romania was too short, but I have no regrets. I made several friends, and found the horse of my dreams.