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Cognac
de Lusitania
A Very
Special Horse from Despair to Champion
by
Denise K. Sypesteyn
Cognac de Lusitania is the
son of the greatest reproducing stallion Capitan de la Vitrina and the dam
Sombra de Lusitania, the full sister of Retorno del Lusitania.
Zarela Olsen first saw
Cognac when he was only six months old at the Criadero Lusitania in
Medellin, Colombia, home of the famous reproducing stallion Dairo Chica,
who has passed down his bloodlines in such notable stallions as Castellano,
Nevado, Retorno, Dulce Sueno, Aleli, La Rima and Berso, to name a few.
There was an immediate infatuation for this magnificent stallion that
captured her heart from that moment, until she finally brought him to her
farm in the U.S., in 1993. This handsome chestnut stallion with flaxen
mane was the very essence of beauty and power, with the perfect Fino gait.
She was totally smitten!
Upon his arrival to the
U.S., however, tragedy struck. Cognac became ill and was diagnosed with
severe laminitis, which subsequently caused him to totally lose his gait
and, therefore, his career. After extensive care with the finest
veterinarians, they could not repair the damage that had been done, and
the most devastating news had become a reality.
Soon after, Juan David
Ochoa contacted Zarela to request that she bring Cognac to Colombia where
he could use him as his top-breeding stallion, in order to pass on his
prestigious bloodlines, at Criadero La Loma. She agreed, and he spent the
next few years there, until his return once again to the U.S. at South
Wind Farms, owned by Patti and Bob Campbell. Now nine years old, Cognac
spent the next two years on this farm, which Zarela called “Club Madison,
a special place where babies are born and horses can relax from stress and
injuries. He played with barrels, raced with the tractors and watched over
the mares, while he healed. This is where his complete healing process
took place.”
In 2005, he was fully
recuperated, and returned to the farm of Jose Rodriquez, Hacienda la
Esperanza. Although Jose knew of Cognac’s genetics, he was totally
impressed upon seeing him. “His style, personality, brio, the power and
rhythm of his gait in his hind legs, as well as his descendants were very
impressive,” says Rodriquez.
His trainer Gregory (Cirilo),
with his huge heart, spent countless hours working patiently with Cognac,
and was able to bring back his magnificent gait. “The love and hard work
of both Jose and Cirilo produced a miracle, for which I offer my heartfelt
gratitude,” Zarela says, affectionately.
The results of this
passion and hard work have been rewarded with a multitude of championship
titles including:
2001 Grand Champion
Amateur Owner Stallion – Ocala
2001 Grand Champion
Amateur Owner Stallion – Mississippi
2005 Third Place
National Champion Bella Forma Stallion – Perry, Georgia
2006 Reserve Champion
Bella Forma Stallion -- Spectrum
2006 Grand Champion
Bella Forma Stallion – Spectrum
2006 Grand Champion
Bella Forma Stallion – Piedmont Classic
2006 First Place
Mundial Equitation (12-14 year olds) – Youth Mundial, Orlando
2006 Grand Champion
Bella Forma Stallion --
Gold Cup, Las Vegas
2006 Grand Champion
Fino Youth
Stallion – Gold Cup,
Las Vegas
and, just to mention a few of his children:
La Divertida del Tapial
- 3-time first place winner at Juvel Mundial
Genesis de Cognac -high
expectations at only 30 months old
La
Egepcia de Cognac - owned by the Perez family, a very important breeding
mare
Macareno – proof of Cognac’s prepotency as a breeding stallion
El
Verso de Lusitania - actually is the top reproducing horse at Criadero de
Lusitania, owned by Dairo Chica
Two of his important
descendents are:
El
Arrierode Lusitania- proof of Cognac’s reproductive qualities
La
Esfige de Lusitania- the very best example at only 29 months of age is
already a champion
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