MP Shivani++/
At 2007 Canadian Nationals, MP Shivani++/ brought home a rose blanket for owners Gaile and Jon Skiles, and her life long trainer, Jesse Saldana. This was a sentimental win as this beautiful mare’s unique personality has made her a barn favorite.
Shivani is known for her self confidence, so for her the highest recognition possible was not a surprise, but merely overdue.
Gaile says Shivani++ thinks she is Jesse’s horse, as he has handled her since the day he picked her out of a pasture at Mt. Pleasant Stallion Station. She has been Jesse’s best friend ever since and not only thinks she is Jesse’s horse, she thinks she is his ONLY horse.
MP Shivani++/ was selected by Jesse for her owners who participate in amateur halter and western pleasure. The Skiles are experienced breeders and demand more than looks of their Arabians – Shivani fit the bill. Years later, Jon and Jesse would make the haul to Canada, and MP Shivani++ would see both of them with tears in their eyes, putting this strange blanket on her.
Jesse would lope his victory pass and point to Jon – both of them with tears of joy streaming down their cheeks.
The Jon and Gaile Skiles Story
“Cindy Morgan and Geri Dill Marlowe bred Shivani. Cindy raised her until she was a two-year old. Cindy asked Jesse to come over, look at her horses and give his opinion on who she should take to Rancho Murieta for the AHANC show. Jesse picked Shivani from the field and Cindy took her to the show. Cindy and her daughter, Allison, showed her in the mare breeding classes, winning both of them. Jesse asked Gaile to find me because he had a horse he wanted us to see. The horse was Shivani. Fifteen minutes later she was ours….a decision that we never once regretted.
I’m sure Shivani is not the easiest horse that Jesse has ever trained but the two of them have developed a strong bond.
The rest is history, Jesse and I would both show her in halter classes. Then she started her Junior Horse career which culminated with a US National Western Pleasure, Junior Horse Top Ten.
Following that, she came home for a year to have her first foal, Lil Red Khorvette. I showed her locally the following year and accumulated enough points for her Legion of Merit award.
Then, we did a reproduction lease with Jim Shippers. Jim bred her to Ames Charisma and got Mi Vaquero, an absolutely beautiful chestnut colt. We liked the colt so much we rebred her to Ames Charisma for an early April 2008 foal.
Shivani loves being in foal. This year Jesse would ride her in the Open classes and let me ride her in the Amateur classes leading up to very successful Region III and IV shows and then on to the Canadian Nationals which turned out to be the thrill of a lifetime for me, earning a Top Ten Western Pleasure Amateur Owner to Ride 40 and Over and then of course Jesse winning the Open Western Pleasure Championship.
Also, at Canada, Shivani accumulated points to earn her next achievement level, the Legion of Supreme Honor/Merit and now displays the symbol ++/ following her name.
Along the way, Shivani++/ has compiled a wonderful 3 page resume of Blues and Tricolors in halter and performance, second to none.
While reveling in the memories of Canada, we are preparing for the US Nationals next month.”
— Jon & Gaile Skiles
Reference Horses
MP Shivani++ is by Cindy’s stallion, Mark of Fame, Canadian Reserve National Halter Champion. Mark is a producer of both halter and performance champions, and notably horses with temperaments suitable for youth. The Morgan girls have shown a whole slew of them to youth titles, and Mt. Pleasant amateurs have won regional top tens and championships in halter, wp, hunter and sport horse. Her dam was the late WN Sharazada, Arabian Horse World Aristocrat mare and dam of 7 champions, owned by Wayne Newton, then purchased by Gari Dill Marlowe. WN Sharazada was out of WN Samira, a GG Samir daughter, a line known for exquisite beauty and kindess. See the Sept. 2007 issue of the Arabian Horse World for an article on WN SHarazada by her owner, Gari Dill Marlowe.
Shivani++/’s breeding by all rights can produce a horse who is competitive in halter, and can graduate into a performance division. MP Shivani++ has done just that, culminating in her 2007 Canadian National Championship win. She has also produced a very impressive colt by Ames Charisma named Mi Vaquero, owned by Jim Shippers of Mi Lucero Ranch in Idaho. Mi Vaquero will compete at 2007 US Nationals (see photo below.) MP Shivani++/ has been bred back to Ames Charisma for a foal expected in 2008.
WN Sharazada
(WN Samira x Bluesprucetanseer)
Mark of Fame
(Fame VF x Raffoleta Rose) sire of MP Shivani++
Mi Vaquero
(Ames Charisma x MP Shivani++)
Mi Vaquero is a contender at US Nationals.
As MP Shivani++/ continues her performance career, embryo transfer options may be considered.
The Canadian Championship in the Western Pleasure Open is a tremendous honor, and there are many people to thank, starting with Jon and Gaile Skiles whose faith in Jesse and MP Shivani++ is unfaltering and whose friendship is cherished. Jon and Gaile have pitched in helping us with our work, and believed in us when we were beginners. We also thank Cindy Morgan and Gari Dill Marlowe for producing this fine mare and their continued interest and support in our showing.
We thank our staff and our clients for their support and hard work. Our clients have stayed with us through wins and loses and MP Shivani++’s win is shared by all. We are a small ranch and our clients pitch in with the work, and have generously given of themselves to help us succeed. We would like to thank the other trainers who have helped Jesse along the way, giving coaching from the rail, sharing tips, and encouraging our program.
There are many kindnesses that have helped us along the way, and we express our heartfelt gratitude all those who have contributed.
As we head to US Nationals we have only gratitude and amazement at the exciting journey the Arabian industry has provided for us.
