Over the weekend of April 29-May 1, 2006, at a dressage competition in Beaufort, Luxembourg, American breeder Susan Thomas had the joy of watching her homebred stallion Patriot win several S-level classes at his first international dressage competition. Patriot is by Thomas Farm's stallion Pharaoh (Parabol-Almeo-Zeus) and was produced by embryo transfer out of Thomas Farm's accomplished grand prix mare Safir (by Diamond). Thomas sent her young stallion to Oliver Luze at Gestut Tannenhof in the fall of 2003. Luze and Patriot were undefeated at Beaufort, their fourth competitive appearance and first time out at this level (tests equivalent to Prix St. George), and Patriot was the talk of the competition.

Thomas, an active dressage rider and breeder, became deeply invested in breeding quality Warmbloods when she imported two young stallion prospects, Pharaoh and Gallarius, in 1989. She raised the stallions at her farm in Wayzata, MN, and sent them to the 100-Day Performance Test at Rancho Marietta, CA, in the year 1992. Luze was the training director of the performance testing, and it was here that this lasting business relationship and friendship began. Pharaoh went on to have exceptional success up through grand prix dressage under top U.S. trainers, such as Jan Ebling, Dennis Callin and Michael Barisone. Gallarius went under U.S. Olympic show jumping rider Joe Fargis and garnered many wins in the open show jumper high preliminary divisions and later at Prix St. George dressage under Michael Barisone.

Meanwhile, Thomas acquired the exquisite Danish Warmblood mare Safir, who after a highly successful campaign at grand prix became an alternate for the 2000 Olympic Games under Michael Barisone. Safir's quality as a producer and an international performance mare warranted Thomas Farm's extensive efforts to produce foals out of her by embryo transfer. With interest to give her horses optimal exposure for breeding and sport, Thomas chose to export Pharaoh, Gallarius, Safir, Patriot and Pappillon (another Safir son) to Gestut Tannenhof in late 2003.

Patriot is one of four Safir offspring by Thomas Farm's Five-Star Oldenburg Stallion Pharaoh. Thomas, as he is affectionately called, developed beautifully under Luze, who believes this stallion has every quality needed to be a top international contender. Susan Thomas' endeavor to support her horses to the top levels of sport has already produced outstanding credentials for her as a breeder and horse owner, but Patriot's recent wins represent the ultimate American breeders' success story.

In the fall of 2005, Thomas elected to bring Pharaoh and Gallarius home to better serve American breeders. Both stallions are standing at Hilltop Farm in Colora, MD, as part of their Guest Stallion Program. While Patriot continues to gather exposure and success on the international dressage scene, he not only brings great credit to his sire and dam, but also to the vision of his breeder, Susan Thomas.

For any questions, contact Susan Thomas at [email protected] or by phone at (952) 473-1085 or 612-817-9472; Or Susanne Hassler at [email protected] by phone at (410) 659-9898, ext. 112.



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