Other News
Mario & Antonia Arroyo would like to congratulate Gilbert & Jennie de Cardenas of Haras de Cardenas on the purchase of their finest Khaffire+ daughter SHE’S SO KHOOL. She’s So Khool is set to take over the legacy of her Aristocrat dam Truly Kool, who also lives at Haras de Cardenas. We can’t wait to see her beautiful foals!
Video
Mario & Antonia with their new Clout colt, out of Aymber FFire - the dam of Manno’s Premier.
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Antonia named U.S. National Champion Western Pleasure AAOTR 55 & over.
My biggest thanks to Greg Harris, Kelly Elm, Rafael Perez, and my best admirer & biggest fan, Mario Arroyo for making my dreams come true.
And I thank God for putting this horse in my path. Love, Antonia. [view full advertisement]
Kelly was lucky enough to borrow Lightly Bey V, Sheila Varian’s best trail horse & companion, for a couple of days while riding in the hills with Sheila and friends. Now that's a trail horse! Our condolences to Sheila on the loss of Lightly Bey V in late 2008.
Congratulations to Manno’s Premier!!!
(Manno – DHH x Aymber FFire – by Khaffire+)
2006 Unanimous Champion ½ Arabian Pleasure Driving with Gene LaCroix for owner Nancy Shafer
Bred by Mario & Antonia Arroyo
Manno’s Premier & Gene LaCroix – 2007 US Nationals
Mario & Antonia were thrilled to have bred the horse that brought Gene LaCroix back to the show arena. It’s been many years since Gene LaCroix himself exhibited a horse. He has sent in several amateurs, and even had other trainers show the horses he’s trained, but Manno’s Premier was the horse that brought Gene back to Freedom Hall “One Last Time” with a unanimous victory that will be talked about for years to come. There is a reason he is referred to as “The Master”. Manno’s Premier & Gene went 
on to garner a Top Ten in Half-Arabian English Pleasure Jr. Horse the following year.
In 2001, Gene managed to get the North American breeding rights for 2 years to the Netherlands most prized Dutch Harness Stallion Manno. Offers had been made by others to purchase Manno from the Dutch, but to no avail. As soon as Arroyo’s saw the video of Manno, they immediately bred one of their Khaffire+ daughters. That year, they were 1 of only 5 people who had success with the frozen semen. In fact Gene was unable to get any of his mares in foal that first year. The following year the first Manno/Arabian cross was born, Manno’s Premier. Arroyo’s sold Manno’s Premier (MP) to Gene’s client Nancy Shafer as a yearling. Arroyo’s realized that no one had more invested in the colts’ success than Gene, and what a fine job they did! Mario & Antonia have more Arabian/Dutch Harness crosses out of Khaffire+ mares at their farm in Santa Ynez.
Congratulations to Manno's Premier and owner Nancy Shafer for their success at the 2004 Renai World Cup Championship Horse Show. Manno's Premier was driven to the win (as a two year old) by Brian Chappell.
