Miraval Andalusians - Don Marco's Progeny

Words can't describe how fortunate I feel to have a stallion like Don Marco. After my first mare died back in early 1997, I began a somewhat obsessive search for my next 'soulmate.' I looked at mares and stallions, fillies and colts, in the United States and abroad. There were some really nice individuals available, and a few that I thought might be 'the one,' but for one reason or another, it just didn't work out. I knew Bonnie Tanner (Dragonwood Farm - Lincoln, California) had Don Marco, and had requested a tape from her of some of his foals that were for sale. It's strange how things work...she sent me the tape, and it had footage on it of Don Marco. The footage of Don Marco was supposed to inspire me to buy the foals. Instead, it was the other way around...the footage of the foals convinced me that Don Marco was THE ONE. The fact that he was the brother of my recently deceased mare made it seem even more like a 'sign.'

Looking back, I'm amazed at how this has all worked out. I bought Don Marco without even vet checking him. I was a complete novice...had never owned a stallion before...had never had a riding lesson...and had always had my horses in the 'backyard.' Things could have gone so badly...but with the help of friends and the infinite patience from Don Marco, we made it through without any major mishaps. I've often felt a little guilty for taking a horse like him who had so much to offer the breed and turning him into my 'pet.' I originally had such big plans to do exhibitions on him and show him and take him everywhere, but I soon learned that my happiest moments with him are when I'm grooming him or cleaning his stall or watching him proudly overseeing "his" mares from his paddock or his stall window. We've done a few shows, but neither of us really likes them (especially me!).

Fortunately, as I mentioned earlier, Don Marco's best contribution to the Andalusian breed is the foals he sires. Exhibitions and ribbons gather dust and are forgotten, but the foals are a legacy that will carry his greatness far into future generations. Don Marco is UNDEFEATED in the "Get of Sire" division, a series of classes in which stallions are judged by the quality of their offspring, both pure and part-bred. Here Don Marco has competed against top name Warmblood and Andalusian stallions, both nationally and in the competitve California show circuit.

For example, in 1993, he took First Place - Get of Sire in the California Dressage Society's Sporthorse Classic, a show normally dominated by Warmblood types. In 1997, he was named National Champion - Get of Sire in a large class representing several famous National Champion Andalusian stallions at the IALHA National Show in Fort Worth, Texas. That same year, he won Get of Sire at the Region 1 Qualifying show over some of the same stallions who showed at Nationals, as well as a few others. All of the horses he beat came from the very large breeding programs of very influential breeders. At the time, he was owned by Bonnie Tanner, a VERY small breeder from Northern California.

Don Marco's purebred and partbred foals are consistently among the finest in the country. And the best part is, I no longer feel like I am withholding him from the breed. Even if we never show again, his contributions to the breed are significant. Below you will find a small sampling:

Notorio DW

Impressario DW

DW Preciosa

Luminosa DW

Future Champions

(click on photos to enlarge)