Henry Metz Wins National Champion Mare Gallery - Click to Enlarge
2005 U.S. Nationals
Ribbons and Roses Launch The
2005 U.S. National Championships For Silver Maple Farm
Henry and Christie Metz with U.S National Champion
Mare AAOTH Om El Shadream, shown by Henry Metz.
The exquisitely beautiful mare, Om El Shadream, and handler Henry Metz earned the first place - in the first class - of the first day - of the 2005 U.S. National Championships. With arms heaped full of ribbons, roses and a big silver trophy, it was an exciting and joyful way to begin the most important Arabian horse show in the country for the Metzs and for spectators too. Comments from some of those who saw the class included the happy thought that the show got off to a great start when the judges picked “the prettiest mare in the class!”
Om El Shadream is in fact a dream come true for those who have been a part of her charmed life. Her very existence is a fulfillment of the dreams of her breeders and her owners, a group of people who’s lives are as closely entwined as family and who have the unexplainable connection of a shared passion, love and respect for the Arabian horse.
The story of Om El Shadream began before she was born. Part of the magic of the Arabian horse is their history and like others, her origins go back to her desert ancestors. But we won’t go back quite that far. Fast forward to the straight Egyptian stallion and breed record holder, *Simeon Shai+, bred by Marion Richmond of Australia. He is the only horse in the Arabian breed, stallion or mare, to ever win the titles of Scottsdale Champion, Canadian National Champion, U.S. National Champion and World Champion at the Salon du Cheval in Paris, France - all in the same year. *Simeon Shai+ plays an important role in the
story of Om El Shadream because he is also the sire of Reserve National Champion Mare, Shaia +.
Arabian horse breeders Christie and Henry Metz are the current owners and guardians of *Simeon Shai+ and his daughter, Shaia+. They are also the owners of the handsome straight Egyptian stallion and multiple champion show horse BB Thee Renegade. The Metzs made the fortuitous decision to breed BB Thee Renegade to Shaia+. The result was an unimaginable - an exquisite black colt who they named Dreamcatcher SMF.
As fate would have it, Arabian horse breeders Sigi and Jay Constanti of Om El Arab International saw the young black colt and felt he had what they were looking for to add to their program. Within a short time they purchased Dreamcatcher SMF and took him to their farm in Santa Ynez, Ca. It was the beginning of a wonderful friendship between the Metzs and the
Constantis that has deepened over the years.
The breeding program at Om El Arab International is famous for its “Golden Cross” Arabian horses - horses who’s bloodlines are a combination of Egyptian and Spanish breeding. Dreamcatcher SMF is an exemplary representative of this cross, possessing all the best attributes of the breed; classic desert type, beautifully balanced structure, proud carriage and athletic ability, as well as a kind and charming temperament. He fit the Om El Arab program to a “T”, yet he stood out because of his jet black color.
Om El Arab is home to some of the breed’s most beautiful mares - most if not all trace to the aristocrat mare, *Estopa, the dam of the legendary *El Shaklan as well as other notable Arabian horses. One such mare was the lovely Om El Shadina, a mare who has also earned national honors. The Constantis chose Om
El Shadina for the dramatic Dreamcatcher SMF. When Christie and Henry Metz, the breeders of the stallion, learned of his pairing with Om El Shadina, they anxiously awaited the birth of the foal. From the moment she arrived, Om El Shadreams’s ears have heard nothing but comments describing her lovliness. It was love at first sight for Christie and Henry - they were immediately charmed by the filly’s beauty and sparkling personality and early in 2004 purchased her.
Christie and Henry Metz have a deep respect for all animals, particularly their Arabian horses and they do not tolerate any treatment that they feel is disrespectful or abusive. This is their belief and it is the cornerstone for the care provided at their farm and that they require of anyone who they entrust with the care of their horses outside of their farm in Santa Ynez, Ca. One Arabian horseman with whom they have a longtime relationship is Mike Neal, of Mike Neal Arabian Center in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Mike Neal showed Christie and Henry’s mare Shaia to her U.S. National Top Ten titles. So, when it was time to consider who would present Om El Shadream at the
Nationals the choice was Mike Neal.
However, Henry Metz was not about to let Mike Neal have all of the fun! He decided he wanted in on the game and announced he would show Om El Shadream too - in the Amateur division. In 2004 Om El Shadream was Scottsdale AAOTH Top Ten and Region XI Open Champion Mare - it was just the beginning. In 2005 she was Region X Open Champion Mare and U.S. National Top Ten Junior Mare with Mike Neal and unanimous Scottsdale Champion Mare AAOTH and U.S. National Champion Mare, AAOTH with Henry Metz at her lead.
When Om El Shadream was being presented by Henry Metz in that first class of the first day of the 2005 U.S. National Championships, her breeders Sigi and Jay Constanti and her sire’s breeder, Christie Metz - along with a host of friends and supporters from coast to coast - as well as Arabian horse enthusiasts cheered for the beautiful grey mare as she was shown so lovingly by her guardian and friend Henry Metz. Just like her name it was a dream come true when they were called out as Champions of the class! As they received their ribbons and roses, Om El Shadream and Henry were serenaded by the song “California Dreamin”. And, as friends and family rushed into the ring to congratulate Henry and Shadream, the smiles on the faces of those watching expressed the feelings in their hearts - it was the hope that they too could someday experience the pride and joy of having their dreams come true.
Henry Metz with 2005 National Champion
Mare AAOTH, Om El Shadream
Mare AAOTH, Om El Shadream