BREEDERS
If you are a Desert Norman breeder and wish to list your name and contact info on this page, e-mail your info (with your logo, photos and copy if you wish) to desertnorman@cogeco.ca. There is no charge for this service.
If you are interested in becoming a breeder, read the following paragraph before selecting your stallion and mare.
BREEDING YOUR OWN
In breeding the Desert Norman horse, the preference of the Registry is to breed Arab stallions to Percheron mares to produce offspring with as much height as possible. Those wanting a more cob-sized horse may want to breed the other way around. However, it’s possible that a draft sire covering an Arab mare could produce a foal large enough to cause the mare difficulty during delivery.
Breeders are advised to choose Arab stallions with excellent conformation and disposition. Taller stallions (15.2 hands or more) with good bone are preferred. Polish Arabians for example, are known for their size and substance. When choosing a stallion, remember that temperament is as important as conformation. Look for a stallion who is gentle and willing, with a curiosity and alertness that speaks to his intelligence. No amount of good looks and athleticism can overcome a difficult personality, and the Desert Norman is known for its calm and gentle nature. Ideally, if you can find a stallion who has been shown successfully in performance classes, you’re getting proven athletic ability and temperament.
Breeders should choose Percheron mares who are lighter in bone for the breed, and avoid the very heavy work type. Her conformation should be very good, and in proportion to her height. A nice, refined head is highly encouraged, and a kind, gentle temperament essential. She should move freely and rhythmically from a well laid back, sloping shoulder. Hind legs should be as straight as possible, avoiding the sickle-hocked tendencies of the breed.
Best of luck, and send us your baby pictures!
BREEDER PROFILE
Bob Claymier, Hume, Virginia
CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOPasted Graphic 2
Bob Claymier, rider Dana Gardner and guest Kathy Barberite with DRR Salib Degas (Reflection Saehr x Maggie Degas 14 April 2003), a Desert Norman mare bred at his Desert Rose Farm, after winning the 2007 East Coast Championship Sport Horse Mare Under Saddle at the Pennsylvania championship event.
Bob Claymier is an Arabian breeder and accredited natural horse trainer who has produced some exceptional Desert Normans.
He went looking for a breed with size, bone and athleticism to cross with Arabians, and decided on the Percheron, because of its Arabian roots.
His first attempt at the cross, using his registered Percheron broodmare, Maggie Degas, produced 4 July 2001 the exceptional gelding, Thee Patriot, a 17-hand gentle giant who has had a stellar career in a variety of disciplines. In his very first show as a yearling, he won the Sport Horse in Hand championship against adult competition. Bob was approached after the show by the Judge who indicated that Pat was one of the most impressive young horses he had ever evaluated. Those comments suggested to Bob that he was on the right track in crossing Arabs with Percherons.
Have a look at ‘Pat’ under the site’s video link.
Pat’s full sister is the winning mare DRR Salib Degas, shown above.
“I really have gotten what I wanted out of this cross which was size, bone and athleticism plus all of my offspring are the nicest, sweetest most people-friendly horses one could ask
for,” he says.
Two DNs for sale
Bob currently has for sale two half siblings to these show winners – 2007 gelding DRR Jamil Degas, and 2008 filly DRR 44 Degas. Both are registered half-Arabian and sweepstakes nominated, and in the process of being registered Desert Norman.
Look for updated photos in the classifieds section once they shed out their winter coats.
A Fascinating Horsey Life
Bob’s equine credentials are long and fascinating. Raised on a large cattle ranch in the high desert country of Eastern Oregon, he grew up riding horses and even rode them to school.
Trained in electrical engineering and computer science, Bob undertook a 30-year career with the federal government which brought many oversea postings and unique equestrian opportunities, including tours of large Arabian stud farms in Britain, Africa and the Middle East, riding Arabs in the desert with Bedouins, “riding half-broke horses on the Russian-Iranian border”, even riding in the shadow of a smoldering Mt. Pinatubo volcano in the Philippines.
He started his own breeding/training/boarding operation about 20 years ago, and cares for 15-30 horses. He currently owns ten purebred and/or partbred Arabians and has introduced Friesians, Percherons and Pintos into his sport horse program. His sole Percheron broodmare recently retired, but we’re going to keep encouraging Bob to buy another one and breed some more beautiful Desert Normans! He certainly has the touch.
Breeding DVD
A few years ago, Bob decided to compile all his knowledge of horse breeding, and share it with others. After two years of filming, he produced a four-hour three-DVD set, covering everything from mare and stallion selection to imprinting and weaning foals.
“I have been humbled to have very favorable reviews of the product and world wide sales to places one might not expect such as Romania, Turkey, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the UK (and of course to Canada) to name but a few,” he said.
Recently, Bob very kindly sent me his loaner DVD set to watch, and I was greatly impressed by his thorough, knowledgeable, responsible and principled approach to horse breeding, foal care and weaning.
For example, he begins the series by encouraging viewers to make the big decision of breeding a foal with their eyes wide open, by reminding them of the years of time, money and patience required to raise a foal, and the complications that can sometimes arise. His thoughts are always with the horses, who need us to be the best caregivers we can be, in order for them to thrive and reach their full potential.
I personally enjoyed the series thoroughly and finished it feeling much more confident that I understood what would be expected of me as an informed and responsible breeder. It includes two live births, and coverage of imprinting a newborn which I found especially instructive. As an added bonus, and Bob may not realize this unless other viewers have told him, he is a natural host in front of the camera – very easy to listen to. His gentle nature, his loving bond with horses, comes across in his visual manner, and is it is pleasure to be in his company as a viewer.
If you’re considering breeding, you’d be well advised to consider this DVD set.
More information is available at Bob’s website - www.desert-rose-arabians.com.
INTERVIEW WITH A VISIONARY BREEDER
Linda Schoonhoven, Colorado rancher and innovative horse breeder, laughs to hear herself called the world’s largest breeder of Desert Normans.
“I just loved them,” she said. “The two breeds just meshed. They complemented each other so well.”
Over a period of 25 years, she bred about 20 arab-Percheron crosses, beginning simply as an admirer of both these seemingly disparate breeds, which nevertheless share a common ancestry.
She loved the warmblood look the cross produced. The arab side contributed self-carriage, refinement, and endurance, while the Percherons brought size, strength and a movement Linda admired for its grace and elegance.
The cross, like its two founding breeds, also had extremely tough feet and sound legs.
“And they had personality coming out their ears. They are real people horses. They like their people.”
But at first other horse folk thought her breeding program a little odd.
“There was some resistance. People just weren’t sure what I was up to…I guess I was just a little ahead of my time.”
Although she stopped breeding Desert Normans several years ago when ranch work got too busy, she has seen the interest in the new breed increase as some of her horses have made a name for themselves, including the magnificent Made in the Shade, featured on the DN website’s home page.
Linda advises people interested in breeding this cross to buy the best stock they can afford.
“And it’s all in the feet, the legs, and the disposition. Disposition first but feet and legs are right up there.”
“It’s hard to go wrong with a Percheron and a good working arab.”
Ms. Schoonhoven doesn’t agree however, with people who say the Percheron calms down the arab. Arabs are already steady, sensible horses, she says. Her stallion, Sakkara el Din, could work cows, carry fence-mending tools around the ranch, breed a mare, and do a dressage test all in the same day. Arabs are certainly hot blooded, she said.
“But you can be hot and still be manageable.”
Linda started by buying a registered Percheron mare over the phone after viewing a few photos.
“I had buyer’s remorse until she showed up in the driveway, and then I thought, ‘Wow’.
The mare, Hammon Candy, was the first of five Percheron mares acquired by Linda, who also bought mares of the Black Hollow and WR breeding lines.
At 16 hands, the elegant Hammon Candy produced horses under 15 hands, who nevertheless went on to become very successful mounts for junior riders. The other mares ranged between 16.1 and 16.3 hands, whose offspring were of similar size.
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schoonhoven