Marieta Salas has been present at the birth of 800 foals in her life.
Majorca (Mallorca in spanish), the eldest sister
of the Balearic Islands, is especially known for its golden
beaches, its festive atmosphere which delights a mainly European
tourist clientelle. Few people know that only several kilometers
away from the famous Cathedral of Palma, in a valley, completely
surrounded by hills, which is well away from our concrete
civilisation, is situated one of the most reputed and prized
stud farms in the world, as far as the Arabian thoroughbred
horse is concerned.
Inheriting them from Don Pedro Salas, the great
entrepreneur and industrialist, his daughter Marieta Salas is
today the owner of the domains of « Ses Planes » and of « Ses
Rotes », where graze the mothers and sisters of horses whose
beauty has been admired in the whole world, and who have often
been the object of millionaire offers. These horses almost all
with the prefix « Abha » (translation of « Salas » in arabic
language) have been multi-champions in shows amongst the most
prestigious in the ECAHO calender (organisation which unites the
different nations having a recognised stud-book of pure -bred
Arabian horses) as is the case of Abha Qatar of Abha Palma, to
quote but two of the most famous horses recently born or bred by
Marieta Salas.
View of the stables and the landscape from Marieta’s Palace.
In a roman Empire style palace, a
magnificent construction built only a few years ago on the
heights of the property, perfectly in harmony with nature, with
rocks and earth coloured ocre, the Mistress of the place
receives her guests with the natural generosity of great people.
At « Ses Planes », Heads of State, Princes, millionaires and
people amongst the most humble have been received with the same
generosity of heart. For Marieta Salas is a real ray of sunshine
for all those who are lucky to know her personally. This great
Lady, still young due to her overflowing activity and constant
enthousiasm to finish everything she undertakes, wishes to
convey to us her passion for the Arabian horse. And so she has
accorded us this interview on her land, taking advantage of the
winter break between the different stages of international
competition.
Horses of the
World : Marieta, you give
the impression of directing everything and taking care of the
smallest detail…giving from yourself without fail, letting
nothing escape your control… that’s how you direct your stud
farm. But… is there any time left for anything else ?
Marieta
Salas : I only want to be
able to take care of my horses and my garden !!... but
unfortunately I have many other things which take up my time. I
have to manage my father’s fortune, take care of my concerns,
and also find time for my son. I got divorced in 2004, and I
have no regrets, but that imposed on me the necessity to take on
a supplementary load of work.
« We were champions of the United
States right from the start…without even realising what it
meant. Just by chance !! » Marieta Salas
Horses of the
World : Today you are
among the arabian horse breeders having won most prizes in the
World. How did you find so much success ?
Marieta
Salas : We began with
Spanish pure-bred (P.R.E.). For my eighteenth birthday, my
father bought a group of Spanish mares on the Peninsula. We took
them to Palma. Then a friend asked my father to help her
negociate the sale of her horses to a Dutch doctor. This man
bought the horses, except for two which my father got for us.
One of these two mares was by chance the mother of Abha Hamir.
So we were champions of the United States right at the start
without knowing , just by luck !! Our first big success was thus
in 1973. And that was after breeding Arabian horses for only
four or five years. But we were real novices.
Horses of the
World : By their vocation
for horse breeding, the domains of « Ses Planes » and « Ses
Rotes » could not be desinterested in breeding the local bred «
Caballo Mallorquín »… !?
Marieta
Salas : When my father
and I recovered the race we went over hill and vale to see what
a « Majorcan horse » was like. Nobody really knew and besides
they were in a wild and quite careless state. Now it is no longer the case.
There are some very beautiful ones, both stallions and mares. I
have had Majorcan mares of 1.60 metres high. But I bred them at
my domain. My father also had up to three or four stallions and
a dozen Majorcan mares. And I had two mares which I gave to my
father’s stallions. You should know that at that time there were
only three or four stallions which were « probably » Majorcan. I
repeat : « probably » !! We created the breed and now its a
beautiful horse.
But after saving this breed, I told myself
that I coukldn’t go on with so many breeds : Majorcan, Spanish
pure bred, Arabian pure bred, … so I decided to keep only my
Arabians, those with whom I feel best.
Horses of the
World : Spain has always
been the cradle of several breeds of prestige… and if we
consider the Arabian pure bred, what is it today from the
quality point of view ?
Marieta
Salas : If people
listened to me, knowing that I have given more than 20 courses,
(about 2 courses a year for ten years) and if people had
listened to me there would be a lot of horses of better quality
in Spain. But people nowaday look like if they had no time to learn.
Even with internet, even with magazines, even
if today there are many more channels of information than
before, people still don’t take the time to learn.
« For me to see my horses being born is
like an artist who finally contemplates his finished work : it
is the final expression of my work » Marieta Salas
Horses of the
World : It is said that
your enthusiasm goes so far as to attend all births of your
foals…. Is it true ?
Marieta
Salas : I have seen more
than 800 foals born in my life, even myself asisting in the
births. In fact, take a real pleasure seeing my horses born.
Seeing them born is like an artist who can finally see his
finished work. Whether it’s a sculpture or a painting… it is the
moment when you see the final result. Sometimes there are better
surprises than what you expected and sometimes, on the other
hand, there are very bad surprises.
It is so true for me that to see my foals
born is the most important moment, that I normally arrange my
journeys as a function of my foals being born. In fact, I am
only away during periods when no birth is expected. In the rare
cases when I cannot be present, there is in any case one of my
collaborators who will be there. It has been like this for forty
years. Well before you spoke of « imprinting » and all these
things, it was already clear to me : the horse who is born with
somebody by his side is different from others.
Horses of the
World : During the birth,
do you see immediately this « little something » which one day
will make the foal a champion ?
Marieta
Salas : Yes, or rather,
not the very evening of his birth, but the next morning, yes !
There are many things which can be observed. But it is logical
that at the birth of a foal you cannot judge his legs or even
the rump as if it is a rather big foal, very often he will have
a very low rump. But I see that I recognise the insertion of the
neck, the way of walking in the yard, the eyes, the head which
must already be attractive. Later, it can improve with age but
it must already be attractive at birth. I also recognise an «
attitude », yes that can be seen at the birth !!
Horses of the
World : Have you a secret
to guess the crossings to make to produce a champion ?
Marieta
Salas : It’s not easy to
breed well. It is even very difficult !! Moreover, you need
knowledge and luck. Especially knowledge, but also luck. Because
you cannot obtain the same horses with the same crossings… and
yet : the are the same mares and the same stallions !! They do
not give me the same qualities. So they are not photocopies.
Today you say : Oh, how marvellous ! I must repeat this. Then
next year, it gives nothing. On the other hand, what you cannot
have for good breeding is bad horses. That is impossible :
bad…never ! Some are good, others exceptional.
« Money, Intuition and Patience…that’s
what are needed for good breeding ! » Marieta Salas
Horses of the
World : It’s already
quite a few years that the Arab countries have been investing a
lot of money in the Arabian pure bred. Has this had an influence
on improving the breed ?
Marieta
Salas : Since the Arab
countries entered the market things have changed. It is
indeniable that horses have more quality. Because people have
made more effort and simply because more has been paid for the
horses. It’s as simple as that. This has made the horses much
more beautiful.
The Emirate of Qatar has invested a lot, but
the Emirate of Ajman has also spent a lot of money. Another big
spender is the Emirate of Dubai which has probably invested more
than ten or fifteen millions euros in the last three years. This
is a lot when you consider that Dubai can’t really afford to
throw money away these days. However the results haven’t really
been up to scratch. Ajman has had better results than Dubai.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is very very up
and coming. Not only in « straight- Egyptians », which attract a
lot of buyers and which are very expensive. Good «
straight-Egyptians » horses are very very dear. Saudi Arabia is
perhaps the country where there are most new breeders who
appreciate the « straight-Egyptian » as much as the
non-«straight-Egyptian ».
What is lacking in my opinion, and what is
lacking today more thane ver are real connoisseurs. Let me
explain : 25 years ago, perhaps the horse was less beautiful
comparatively, even if there were already horses who seemed very
beautiful to us. Today there is more quality but in my opinion
this improvement is just luck. Because the great breeders have
gone. I am speaking about breeders in general. In Europe there
remain very few breeders of more than 3 mares. In America there
were perhaps 50 or 100 without more than 20 mares when I was
living in the United States. Now there must be about ten with
more than 20 mares each in North America.
In South America…for example in Mexico there
remain very few Arabian horses. In Argentina there are more and
Argentina has also more breeders than in Europe. Of course if
you consider the way of breeding, the extent of the land is much
greater and it is a better climate. The economy also is more
favourable. It’s the same in Bresil. Europe imports a lot of
pure Arabian horses from Bresil, less from North America. The
Arab countries also buy greatly from Bresil.
But from the ten breeders in North America
who have more than 20 mares, there are two or three which are
really competitive in Europe. The others as they have bred a
very different type of horse which is more favoured in their
country, do not wish to go back to a more Arabian type of horse,
with a less long back, more harmonious and with more movement.
If you have bred to obtain something, selecting to obtain a
special type for 20 years, you don’t want to take the risk of
adding something which destroy these years of selection… It is
difficult to integrate a change in the second generation after
years.
« Beauty is Harmony » Marieta Salas
Horses of the
World : You give great
importance to harmony in selecting horses for shows…
Marieta
Salas : Why do I say
«Beauty is Harmony » ? Because according to the defined type, it
doesn’t matter whether the Arabian horse is a little bigger or
smaller. It’s the same : it must be beautiful. It must be
harmonious. Harmony in relation to its size, its legs, etc…
Without harmony, there is no beauty.
It is not just because a horse has won a show
that it is necessarily better. It may have won because the
competition was not strong on that day, or simply because it was
on a good day. To breed, you cannot trust one show. Everyone
must be their own judge. Don’t let yourself be influenced
because a horse has won five shows. It’s clear that if a horse
has won five shows, the judges are not idiots, and you are in
the presence of a good horse. But from there this good horse
could pass on its qualities to its sons is another question.
It’s there that pedigree comes into play.
There are people who breed just by looking at
pedigree. That seems absurd to me !! Because all stallions…-and
the case of El Perfecto is there to illustrate it, he who had
also ordinary colts- can have bad colts. It is not enough to be
a son of El Perfecto to necessarily be a good stallion, and it’s
the same for all horses. In my opinion, the first thing to do is
see the horse and only then lean on the pedigree.
In 2002, as a recent World Champion, Marwan Al Shaqab covered mares at Ses Planes, as an agreement between the Emir of Qatar and Marieta Salas. The resemblance between Marwan Al Shaqab and his son Abha Mahdi (of whom we can see a painting from the artist Carine Meunier) ist extraordinary.
« With Marwan Al Shaqab, I think I am
the person who has had the luck to have the best colts» Marieta
Salas
Horses of the
World : If you had to
give the name of an important stallion at the beginning of this
century….
Marieta
Salas : Without
hesitation : Marwan Al Shaqab !! Yes. Then I would place WH
Justice. After there are horses which have reproduced well, like
Ghazal Al Shaqab. Then, on a different level, stallions who
remain very good even if they haven’t reproduced phonomena :
Besson Carol and some others both in the United States and
Europe.
The stallion must be judged for what he
reproduces and not just for his beauty and results in shows.
It’s very good for a stallion to be beautiful, and that he has
the greatest number of characteristics’ of the Arabian horse :
fine eyes, harmonious neck, an excellent trunk, good legs,
charisma, yes : charisma. That’s what he must at least give to
his descendants !..just like he must transmit holding high the
tail. If he doesn’t transmit these qualities, it is not a valid
stallion.
Horses of the
World : I was very
impressed to see El Perfecto in his paddock. This stallion has a
very impressive morphology and bone structure which, I am sure,
are the indispensable basis for a stallion trace out valid
descendants in his reproductive life and produce very correct
horses.
Marieta
Salas : Just « correct
horses » are worth nothing for a show. They are good for
breeding but not for competition where you nead exceptional
horses or at least quite exceptional. Just « corretc » are not
enough. On the other hand for good breeding « correct » horses
can be enough.
What has El Perfecto given me exactly ? A
good base so as to be able to , thanks also to the cross with
Marwan Al Shaqab, produce exceptional subjects !! El Perfecto
has not only good bone structure but other good qualities.
Charisma, eyes….a special « touch of class ». It’s clear that if
you have an Arabian horse of 1,60 m with very small legs, this
is not beautiful. Even if, all the same, he will be resistant
due to his steel tendons. But if it’s not good to see, if it is
not harmonious, it is not the horse we are looking for.
El Perfecto, coming out of prestigious spanish lines of pure Arabian, is the King of Ses Planes. He appears here with Pedro Soto, the private trainer of Marieta Salas.
Horses of the
World : The United States
and Europe… two very different visions of appreciation of show
horses…
Marieta
Salas : Now, the United
States have changed a lot their way of noting horses. Until
recently they did not give notes for movement in the United
States. Now movement is given a note by judges. They would now
like to select a bit for movement. But they still have as
selection criterian the stationary posing of the horse for
several minutes in front of the judges. To do this, it is
necessary to take all impulsiveness from the horse but also all
the personality. The ai mis thus to find a « happy medium » :
you can’t breed horses which only have movement. Isn’t this
because movement is something very subjective to judge. I myself
have a very precise idea about movement, for I was a rider for
many years. Those who haven’t been riders don’t have the such a
precise idea about what movement should be. There are horses for
example who trick the eye with the anterior while not engaging
sufficiently with the posterior.
If you have experience with the sporting use
of the horse, either in a harness or in the saddle, you can
appreciate afterwards the movement of a horse, even a colt only
two weeks old : even if he does not yet lift his tail to the
vertical, he already engages his posterior. The way of walking
says a lot about movement. It is in walking that you see the
impulsion and it is not even necessary to trot the horse.
In Europe it is indispensable for a horse to
have beautiful movement to go to a show. Let him be beautiful
and let him have movement but especailly he must have movement
!! He can even have a rather short neck, which will disturb less
than having no personality, no movement or correct assurance for
with these faults he has no chance in a show. If the horse lacks
alertness, he will not get any show results, even if he is very
beautiful. Also the type is very important.
Abha Salina, as a worthy grand-daughter of El Perfecto, is showing the movement which is requested today in the best international shows.
What is the » type » exactly ? It is not just
a beautiful head. The type is the fact that the horse really
looks like an Arabian horse. It must emit from its being a
special « presence ». It can happen that a horse has a head
noted 20 and y type noted only 18 because he comes on the track
like a sheep. This is not what you want. One of the
characteristics of a pure arabian horse is precisely that he
must have remarkable allure and movement.
In the United States, until recently, they
did not give importance to movement. Now things have changed due
to the market, as everybody prepares according to the market… !!
So you give importance to movement. But it still remains very
difficult to give the new characteristic of movement to
descendants of horses which lack it. You can try to select by
chosing a type of head, or a complete group of qualities as I
myself try to do. Some people don’t reason like that : it’s
enough for them to have a beautiful head, the rest doesn’t count
for them. But in my opinion, that is not a good way of breeding.
I repeat that this is my personal opinion… !!
A horse should look like an Arabian horse and
have as few faults as possible which means that if the horse has
no movement then it already has a rather important fault, and
just because it is one of the principal characteristics of an
Arabian pure bred to have movement and charisma…. If it has a
beautiful head but no movement it lacks fifty per cent.
« It’s when horses are happiest that
they give the best of themselves » Marieta Salas
I am convinced of this !! If you leave your
horse locked between four walls, he gets bored… That’s why when
you see horses kept in their trainers’ boxes and presented each
month in competitions they do not give their best performances.
Horses are intelligent. But Arabian horses are much more
intelligent than other horses. I can say that to go to the
Molino for example an Arabian horse learns all the subtleties of
the movements in one day. A pure spanish bred needs three or
four days.
Horses of the
World : Which are the two
or three best « straight- Egyptian » stallion on the market
today ?
Marieta
Salas : I haven’t the
least idea. Even Marwan Al Shaqab is not « staight- Egyptian ».
He is American, which means that he can be perhaps a bit
Egyptian and a bit Polish… That’s the « American bred ». with a
lot of mixing of blood. The grandfather of Marwan was «
straight-Egyptian » and his grandmother was « American bred »
but with more Polish blood.
What is « American bred » ? These are horses
which were exported to America 150 years ago. Some of them were
« straight-Egyptians », others were Polish and they mixed their
bloods. In America almost all studs are « American bred ». There
are studs which are based on « El Shaklan » who was a stallion
50 per cent Spanish-Arabian, and 50 per cent « staight-Egyptian
». It is this cross that is called « golden cross » !!
Horses of the
World : If I take from
you 10 mares (that I chose myself) and I let you chose 10 other
mares to replace them in the same country… where would you chose
them ?
Marieta
Salas : As I told you, my
mares would not win international championships, but they are
mares who produce horses that have won international
championships. Even if it is true that I no longer walk in
Spain, visiting studs as I used to do every year in the past
with my father, I must say that at that time there were some
very good horses. Today there are still descendants who are
worth using for breeding.
But having said that, I would not choose just
one country. I know breeding-lines whom I really like but there
are all kinds. There are horses who have reproduced well, but
also left bad subjects. In fact, I would go to the States on
certain stud farms, but not all. I could also go to Argentina or
Brazil on certain stud farms. Could go everywhere in certain
chosen places. I could go everywhere in the world. Even to the
Arab countries, because breeders invested 15 years ago sot hey
must really have something good now… !! But really, I could not
say to which country in particular I would go. Italy, who,
fifteen years ago had practically no good pure Arabian horses,
has invested a lot since.
« The Polish do not teach us anything.
But they are the real Masters » Marieta Salas
Marieta
Salas : I like Polish
horses. But I am afraid of using them for breeding. Why is that
? Because it’s true that the Polish, as I have said several
times, breed 10, 15, or 20 good horses every year. But they have
700 mares to select from. As this is not the case for me, or any
other breeder, to imitate them would be complicated. The people
who have bought Polish horses, in America for example, have
never had the same results as those obtained by the Polish. Far
from it !! In fact, the Polish have learnt by themselves and
they don’t want to teach anybody else. They are the true Masters
!!
I don’t believe so much in an « art of
breeding » because when you have 500 or 600 mares and you can
allow yourself to give 80 mares to one stallion, if you don’t
manage to produce 3 or 4 excellent horses every year, you really
haven’t got the gift !! Because you must know that in Europe
there is not one breeder of pure Arabians who is able to give 80
mares to one stallion. So it is an enormous advantage for the
Polish. Ghazal is a solid example of this. Whatever it is,
breeding with a well-defined programme is not easy. Just as it
is not easy to breed with only 20 mares. But I don’t want any
more. It’s enough. I have a magnificent domain, but don’t wish
any more staff or costs.
Horses of the
World : If you had to
give to the same renowned stallion a group of 10 mares, all with
important titles or another group of 80 mares who had never
competed and neither their mothers, but who would come from
exceptional blood-lines, which choice would you make ?
Marieta
Salas : Neither, I think
that with 10 mares of good pedigree you can create a fantastic
stud in ten years. And even perhaps in less time than that. But
you must take the time to study or else trust someone. Having
said that, with mares at 2000 euros I do not think that you can
do anything. It would be a miracle !!
When you have well presented horses and, as
is my case, you have the possibility of having well organised
stable and enough money to sponsorise it, the results will come
one day. Even if I must admit that I have lost a lot of money
horses. I was losing money until four or five years ago.
Abha Qatar, the Triple Crown Champion 2009 when the World Championship in Paris the same year. Behind Marieta Salas who is stroking the horse she bred, Antonia Salom, precious assistant at Ses Planes. By the side of Philipp Looyens, handler and trainer, the owner ofAbha Qatar, H.R.H. Prince Abdullah bin Fahd Al Saud posing together with his team from Saudi Arabia.
« People come to me to buy horses
because they know that with me they have a real chance of
success in the best shows » Marieta Salas
Horses of the
World : At auctions or
directly, do breeders sell their best horses ?
Marieta
Salas : I have sold
fantastic horses and created a reputation. Of course it’s hard
to sell your best horses.
Horses of the
World : But you have
always kept horses of same family as those you sell.. !?
Marieta
Salas : Yes, I admit. But
I ‘m not saying they are as beautiful as the ones I sell. I
always hope they will produce others as beautiful. But it is
always necessary to sell as that’s how you get publicity. I have
made great sacrifices but got good publicity. And now people
come to me to buy horses because they know that with me they
have a real chance of success in the best shows.
If I sistematically kept the best it would
not please the clientelle. Having said that, you must keep a
balance. If you sell all your best products what will happen ? I
would have to start from scratch each time and if it’s taken 40
years to get there…now I would be able to get there more quickly
because before all the results came by luck. Pure luck !!
« Wanting to start breeding with horses
at 3000 Euro, without pedigree, is certain failure !! » Marieta
Salas
Horses of the
World : What advice could
you give to someone who would like to start breeding pure
Arabian horses and…be successful as soon as possible ?
Marieta
Salas : You must learn
about pedigrees so you know successful descendants. Of course at
the beginning you must know about horses as animals. The basics
as well as particularities : what is an pure Arabian horse ? If
you want to breed bull-dogs, you must know what it is. Also
particularities of the race, what are their essential and
dominant characteristics, where do they come from ?
Firstly you must learn, but some people can
never learn. To be a breeder you must have « little touch ».
With a computer you can learn, but not everything. Why learn
successful pedigrees ? We can see the example of Marwan Al
Shaqab : today it is easy to find a good son of Marwan Al Shaqab
on the internet. Before you had to go and see them on the farm.
You can spend five or six days at home reviewing the sons and
you can select based on resuts. Then you must look at the mares.
What have mares in common ? This can take a week.
It’s true that an unexceptional horse can win
a show. But if he starts with a Champion Title, and then at
second show, be Reserve-Champion, it is a good horse, because
judges are not idiots. Some give more importance to one thing
than another. But if the horse is always among the winners you
think it is a good horse. Afterwards you must do research to
find where it comes from. Then you must learn the « eye ». When
I was twenty for example I never looked at the legs. Then you
study them so much that if the fault is minimal you pay no
attention to it. It’s the same for humans : if you walk in a
very unbalanced way it can be seen and it is a clear fault. But
if it is not a terrible fault and the horse is harmonious, you
should not concentrate on each leg. It can have perfect legs,
but if it does not look like a pure Arabian, what use is it ?
The first thing is that it possesses the type of its breed.
After try to get the best possible.
And now, let us go and see the mares because
i twill soon be dark. I will put on a pullover because it will
soon be chilly. We’ll do a tour of the mares in the car… It’s
already twenty to five.
Jamil Boukarabila, who has held the interview with Marieta Salas, is very happy to standing in front of the statue of Abha Hamir, founder of the Stud and have his fotograph taken.
The winter days are short in Majorca and
the mistress of the domain does not want to miss checking that
the mares do not need anything, and also enjoying a peaceful
sunset. That is Marieta Salas, completely dedicated to horses
with her enthusiasm and expert knowledge. As long as she lives
at « Ses Planes », this little corner of paradise will exist for
pure Arabian horses.
THE END
