When Everything Changed Again

1989 arrived, and the clock was ticking ever so fast; never had I felt time move so quickly. The Scottsdale show came and went. Gucci bought a farm in New York; he had new management, and they had other ideas about trainers. A trailer showed up to take all his horses. It was breathtaking at the speed at which things were moving. Ann and I tried to take stock of it all and assess where we were.

Scottsdale, 1989, was depressed. Every major farm that had been there for generations was gone or leaving. Economically, things were sad. There was no reason to stay. But where to go? We decided, both having brothers in Atlanta, why not? I placed a call to Cindi Murch, who was then managing Talaria Farms outside Atlanta, and inquired about the possibility of moving my horses and operation to that facility. It happened. We were off to Atlanta.

Upon arrival, there was little time to settle in; show season was around the corner. Ann set up our home while Cindi and I looked at horses everywhere. Cindi thought it very important, since Talaria was an Egyptian farm where I participated in the Event, a show I had never attended. We started rounding up horses. One visit to Ocala, Florida, would have long-lasting effects. Les and Lois St Clair were anxious for me to see their horses; they had a colt named Anaza Bey Shah that they wanted to be shown. (Marion Richmond of Simeon Stud later purchased him) Arriving at their farm, in a paddock alongside the front driveway, was a colt who was very special, but he was not who we were to see. Anaza Bey Shah was exceptional, and I agreed to show him. But I wanted to know more about the colt in the paddock. Les and Lois said he would wait until later, but I could have him; his name was Anaza El Farid.

The Event was great; we were busy with the shows, the Nationals were a success, a highlight being Parada, US Reserve National Champion Futurity Filly for owner Nicki Lins, and many other awards were claimed. 

Of particular note, that year, I met Lynda Entratter, who owned Jabar Arabians. I had seen a gelding of hers in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I told her trainer that he could be the National Champion halter gelding. He relayed that to her, and later in Montgomery, Alabama, she asked me if I had indeed said that. I told her yes. She asked me to take him in training along with another "cute little gelding," she owned, who was a performance horse; his name was JA Rave Review. The halter gelding was JA Momentum, 1990 Scottsdale, and US National Champion Gelding. JA Rave Review is another story altogether.

1990 and 1991 flew by with breakneck speed. Shows all over the world were keeping me busy. Of interest, in 1990, I showed a mare in Louisville to the Top Ten. An agent from Brazil was at the Nationals looking for a mare for a new client, one that had never owned Arabian horses. NV Gyspy Wind was the horse, a beautiful grey daughter of Bey Shah, and the client was a man named Murilo Kammer; our sport had a newcomer, and one that in the future would be an influencer. But at the time, he was a new horse owner. NV Gypsy Wind was in foal to Emperator, and the following year foaled a filly named Sweet Gypsy Rose, who, in turn, gave birth to the future World Champion Mare, Robin K. (Yes, named after that Robin)

The best of 1990 was Ann and me welcoming our first child into the world; Griffin McGregor Byatt was born in March.

The year 1992 arrived, and our optimism was powerful. We showed beautiful horses in many championships all year, but one man's tragedy was a gift to another; 1992 was unexpectedly going to get a surprise twist. Mike Neal, known for his superb horsemanship and success with Bey Shah daughters, notably Shahteyna, the 1987 US National Champion Mare, had a horrific accident, leaving him unable to show for the remainder of the year. Unable to compete, Mike called on me and asked if I would be willing to show a couple of his horses, one being Bey Teyna, a full sister to Shahtyena.  Although devastated for Mike, I was appreciative that he chose me to show this mare. With owners Ralph and Cory on board, it was done. Later that year, Bey Teyna was named Canadian and US National Champion Mare with me leading her.

Yann Calvet from France called me after the US Nationals to introduce himself and congratulate me on winning the mare championship at the US Nationals. He asked if I would be interested in showing his mare in Paris. Yes, I would. Although the story of Shamilah Arabians, along with Yann and his parents, would end sadly, the taste, style, and panache they brought to our sport have had a lasting effect. 

We ended the year in Paris, where I showed Emperator and Musknitsa at the World Championships in the stallion and mare division.