Haras de Cardenas

Throughout this story you will find quotes from the Ranch’s biggest fans — the de Cárdenas grandchildren, among others.

riginally conceived as a pristine setting in which to host family

gatherings, it did not take long for 110 spectacular acres in one of

the most desirable areas of the Santa Ynez Valley to become a haven

for not only the de Cárdenas family, but also a newfound love —

the Arabian horse. An impressive number of purebred Arabians now

find room to roam on the beautiful sprawling pastures of Haras

de Cárdenas®, including a stellar lineup of stallions,

leading broodmares, and foals by many of the

breed’s outstanding sires.

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oto

“The Ranch is a

beautiful, peaceful

place to enjoy all

the blessings that

God has given us.”

— Peter, age 19

* E c a h o(*Pepton x Etruria)

O

“I love Kalilah and

I love *Ecaho.”

— Carolina, age 5

2 b haras de cárdenas b WOrLd

“Our dear friend and family member, Joaquin Bin, reintroduced us to

Arabians five years ago when he brought ten of them to our family retreat

in the Santa Ynez Valley. Since then we have fallen in love with and shared

his passion for these beautiful animals,” say Gilbert and Jennie de Cárdenas.

“Although we are relatively new to the Arabian world, we have spent a great deal

of time learning about the Arabian breed and making our contributions to this

magnificent breed. In the past five years, the three of us have created one of the

largest and most advanced private purebred Polish Arabian breeding facilities in

the world.”

Above and facing page: *Ecaho (*Pepton x Etruria), Haras de Cárdenas’s® most prized stallion, with Gerard Paty.

vesty photo

“My hope for the

future is for it to

stay the way it is, a

place where we as a

family can all enjoy

each other and these

beautiful animals

which we are lucky

enough to enjoy.”

— Katerina, age 9


important,” Joaquin says. “This, together with Gilbert’s business

vision, led him to bring outside stallions into our breeding

program. For example, I had always liked Monogramm, having

bred to him many years ago, but it was Gilbert who pushed to

bring Monogramm into the program. And, it was Jennie who

pushed to bring the great Pilarka into our breeding program

through *Piaff. Together, Gilbert, and Jennie made many

such decisions, and my job was dipping into our broodmare

Joaquin, who manages the Ranch’s breeding operations,

credits Gilbert and Jennie, who are Cuban immigrants, for the

direction of the program and the success of Haras de Cárdenas®

thus far. “Bear in mind that Gilbert saw many purebred Arabian

stallions imported from Spain at the army remount in Cuba,

where they were used to improve the farmers’ stock. So even

though he was not into breeding many years ago, he had an

eye for the Arabian breed, and let me tell you the eye is most

hdc ibn gazal al shaqab

“The Ranch is the place without

worries, you can have fun and enjoy

the people and things you love most.”

— Sofie, age 12(*Gazal Al Shaqab x *Emiria)


band to select the mares that

were appropriate for each

particular stallion.”

Ranch manager Codi

Strand was born and raised

around Arabian horses and has

been breeding them most of her

life. Her family owns Strand

Arabian Stables in Toddville, Iowa.

Today, Haras de Cárdenas® cites Polish National legend *Ecaho

(*Pepton x Etruria) as its most prized stallion, noting his influence

as a focal point for visitors from around the globe.

“Of course, *Ecaho is our signature stallion and the pride

of HDC,” say Jennie and Gilbert. “His list of progeny speaks for

Above and facing page: HDC Ibn Gazal Al Shaqab (*Gazal Al Shaqab x *Emiria).

“I love the beautiful days

and crisp clear nights, and

the wholesome lifestyle this

area offers — the local

markets, the fresh produce,

the friendly people, the family

get-togethers. The Ranch is

peaceful and beautiful. Our

own little piece of paradise.”

— Maria de Cárdenas


itself, but during his years with us, he has sired some

incredible colts and fillies. We have two exceptional

colts by him, HDC El Cacique (x Om El Tahari), four

years old, and HDC Jakar (x MHR Java), two years

old. Both will be showing at Scottsdale this February.

We have integrated them into our breeding program

and believe that they will someday be as legendary in their own right as

*Ecaho has been.”

*Ecaho is joined in the Haras de Cárdenas® stallion barn by several

other notable sires. *Esperanto, a *Eukaliptus son out of Esperanca, had

already achieved a prestigious title as Polish National Reserve Junior

Champion Colt prior to his arrival at Haras de Cárdenas®.

In 2009, the exotic black stallion Dreamcatcher SMF (BB Thee

Renegade x Shaia) was added to the HDC breeding program, and the

H D C E l C ac i q u e(*Ecaho x Om El Tahari)

“Carolina loves putting on her pink

cowboy boots and spending all day

outdoors. She’ll feed the chickens,

bring back fresh eggs. After breakfast,

we’ll go see the all the horses, chickens

again, the goats and the sheep. We’ll

look for kittens and rabbits. If we’re

lucky, she rides Uncle Buck, our pony.

We will go out there over and over

again, spending all day outdoors.”

— Maria de Cárdenas


Ranch currently owns several of his sons and

daughters, some of which have inherited their sire’s

highly desirable coat color.

Another acquisition for the stallion barn was the

grey HDC Ibn Gazal Al Shaqab (*Gazal Al Shaqab x

*Emiria), bred by Michalow Stud and imported from

Poland. Emiria is a daughter of the famous Polish stallion *Emigrant

PASB (Ararat x Emigrantka by *Eukaliptus), while *Gazal Al Shaqab

is known worldwide as the sire of numerous international champions.

The Haras de Cárdenas® stallions are turned out every day next

to other stallions or colts, as Joaquin believes that each horse’s mental

health is extremely important. “Also, attention is given to the well-

being of all foals, who usually live in the pasture until they are two or

three years old, with colts and fillies kept in groups divided by sex and

“Achilles is by far my

favorite horse. He is

a gentle giant and

is the most majestic

and powerful creature

I have ever seen.”

— Peter, age 19

H D C Ja k a r(*Ecaho x x MHR Java)

“I love feeding the horses, riding

them and and petting them.”

— Carolina, age 5


age,” says Joaquin. They get trimmed every

six to eight weeks, handled, wormed, and

vaccinated. We bring them into the feeding

paddock at night and after morning feeding they go out into

their pasture seven days a week. We let horses be horses.”

The mares at Haras de Cárdenas® are lovely representatives

of leading breeding programs from around the world. The herd

includes daughters of sires of hundreds of champions. Notable

stallions such as *Aladdinn, *Elimar, *Eukaliptus, Gdansk, Le

Fire, Monogramm, and Port Bask all known for siring great

H D C A l e s s a

H D C c a m e l i a

(*Ecaho x Om El Amara Estopa)

(*Ecaho x BA Candela)

“The Ranch is where

everyone in the family

can be together and

interact with nature ...

it’s my favorite place in

the whole wide world.”

— Katerina, age 9

“I love playing

at the Ranch. It’s

so much fun!”

— Olivia, age 7

“I love feeding the

horses. They’re so pretty!”

— Victoria, age 9


“I would like to see the Ranch continue to be the

place of peace and happiness that it has been for

many generations to come. I hope that one day when

I am long gone, our children’s children will still be

enjoying the Ranch as a place for family and God.”

— Peter, age 19

broodmares, feature prominently in the pedigrees of

the Haras de Cárdenas® mares.

Delighting in each new foal born at the Ranch,

Jennie de Cárdenas comments, “I always find it so

amusing and fascinating when a new foal is born

and the other mares all gather as close as they can,

reaching their heads over their stalls, trying to look

and gossip with each other! I don’t know what they

are saying, but they are definitely commenting on

the new baby.”

Due to their careful planning and study of

pedigrees, the de Cárdenases believe they have

already achieved many of their original goals, and

H D C e l a l a m e i n

H D C ta r a z k a

(*Al Maraam x Rubiatt Rose)

(*Ecaho x Om El Tahari)

“I have no

view for the

future because

the Ranch is

perfect the

way it is.”

— Sofie,

age 12


they are looking forward to their next ventures, as they plunge into the show

arena. “Each breeding at HDC is carefully planned and considered beforehand,”

they say. “Each foal that is born at HDC is the product of our selective breeding

program, and the horses that come out of HDC are a match to any worldwide.

We only breed with select, well-established bloodlines. As breeders, during

our first phase, we primarily focused on the pedigrees and bloodlines, but now

as HDC enters our new phase of also showing the products of our breeding

“My two favorite horses

are Piaffs Dream and

Princess K. I love them

because they are both

beautiful mothers and

they are very loving. My

favorite goat is Borracho.”

— Katerina, age 9

(*Ecaho x BA Kool Melody)

H D C p r i n c e s s k

“Mami, can the next

girl horse born be called

Princess C, like Princess K?”

— Carolina, age 5


d r e a m c atc h e r s m f

(BB Thee Renegade x Shaia)

*esperanto pasb

(*Eukaliptus x Esperanca)“I love the Ranch

… I like the eggs!”

— Camila, age 3 ½

“Shirocco is my

favorite horse because

he is the most gentle

and kind horse I

know. He loves to

play and he is the best

soccer player I know.”

— Sofie, age 12

“I love all of our animals at the Ranch,

and I love looking at all of the wildlife

there with Abu (grandfather Gilbert)

and Papa (grandfather Joaquin).”

— Gilly, age 9

program, we will focus on the

athletic and performance areas for

our horses as well, using a variety

of skilled trainers to show our horses at various shows

throughout the year. We will begin this February at the

Scottsdale Show and continue at the Arabian Breeders

Cup in Las Vegas in April.”

The HDC banner will be carried at Scottsdale

with Gerard Paty, who has now assumed

responsibilities as Haras de Cárdenas’s® head trainer,

showing in halter. At that show, Gerard will lead

H D C g a m i s k a

H D C s u n b u r s t

(HDC Ibn Gazal Al Shaqab x RV Keen)

(*Ecaho x Starburst MO)

“Mami, I want you and I

to live here, Daddy can go

live with Buby (grandma).”

— Carolina, age 5


HDC El Cacique (*Ecaho x Om El Tahari), HDC Camelia

(*Ecaho x BA Candela), HDC Alessa (*Ecaho x Om El

Amara Estopa), HDC Layka (*Laheeb IASB x Rubiatt

Rose), HDC El Alamein (*Al Maraam x Rubiatt Rose),

HDC Jakar (*Ecaho x MHR Java), HDC Princess K

(*Ecaho x BA Kool Melody), and HDC Tarazka (*Ecaho x

H D C l ay k a(*Laheeb IASB x Rubiatt Rose)

Top right:

Top left:

Bottom right:

pat h o s f e a

H D C s a e ta

(*Laheeb IASB x *Pustyanna Tarcza)

(*Ecaho x Starlet MO)

“Sometimes I

wish that we had

started Haras

de Cárdenas®

20 years ago.”

— Jennie de

Cárdenas

All of these horses are special, but I have a couple of favorites

— they represent how important my family roots are to me. I

strongly believe that HDC is a place to unite with family for lots

of laughter, smiles, and stories from Cuba. If we didn’t have HDC,

our family would not be as close or appreciative of each other.

Our family definitely expresses our love for each other through the

passion we have for breeding Arabians with affection and care.”

— Isabella, age 14

Om El Tahari). “Haras de Cárdenas® would like to

congratulate Gerard Paty on an outstanding show

season in Europe with the horses of Janów Podlaski

of Poland,” say Gilbert and Jennie. “We are excited

that Gerard will be taking over the show barn at

Haras de Cárdenas® and will be looking forward to

great success.

“At Scottsdale this year we will also have HDC

Pathos (*Laheeb IASB x *Pustynna Tarcza) showing

with Gary McDonald of McDonald Arabians,

and HDC Pegasus (*Ecaho x Sweet Flame) and

HDC Kanelo (Way Kool x JT Fire Passion) showing

with Kelly Elm of Arroyo Arabians.”

From left: Jennie and Gilbert de Cárdenas, and breeding director Joaquin Bin.

14 b haras de cárdenas b WOrLd14 b haras de cárdenas b WOrLd

With the Haras de Cárdenas® program now firmly established,

Gilbert, Jennie, and Joaquin find time to reflect on the journey. “At

the beginning we thought that it would be fun and an interesting

adventure to have the original ten Arabians on our family retreat in

Santa Ynez, that they would be something for our grandchildren to

enjoy,” they say. “What we did not anticipate was how much these

beautiful animals, and the ones that came after them, would become

part of our lives and how emotionally invested we would become in

them. Our Arabians have become an extraordinary part of our lives

and family. They are a passion and pleasure that we all share. They

bring us together at Haras de Cárdenas® for the best of family times.

Several of our grandchildren have taken up riding and have a special

horse of their own. We are building something for our children and

our grandchildren that we hope will last for generations. We worked

hard at building our breeding facility to be state-of-the-art and a

healthy and tranquil place for our Arabians to be.

“Now, we are entering into our next phase, where we will begin

to show some of the beautiful horses we have bred at HDC. We are

all very excited and looking forward to the pleasures

and experiences of the showring.

“It has always been our aim to carry on in the

tradition of the great Polish breeders and maintain

these famous bloodlines. We hope to succeed in this

goal and at the same time move forward and create

some new lines, originating at HDC, that will be part

of the future of the Arabian. We have the passion and

the will to work toward our goals and we are proud to

contribute to this amazing breed.”

Jennie and Gilbert de Cárdenas.

“The Ranch is my favorite

place in the world. I look

forward to it being a place

for our family to grow and

for our heritage to be kept

close for the many HDC

generations to come. And

I hope the passion for

family — and especially

horses — never dies.”

— Isabella, age 14


vesty photo

* E c a h o(*Pepton x Etruria)

HDC Ranch3720 Baseline Avenue

Santa Ynez, California 93460

Joaquin BinBreeding Program Director

Telephone: 800.315.4890Cell: 805.245.8907

E-mail: [email protected]: www.HarasdeCardenas.com

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Haras de Cardenas