United States Eventing Association

Eventing Advent Calendar: Day 6

In Issue 5 of Eventing USA, we got the chance to meet the Ortelli family, whose equestrian background stretches through generations. In this second part, we take a peek inside Haras Segunda Ayre, the Ortelli’s fabulous farm near Buenos Aires. Writer Pam Forrester was blessed with the opportunity to visit this interesting facility last summer—here she provides us with a first-hand glimpse into an Argentine breeding farm.

This is just one unique international breeding program—what are some of the other interesting eventing breeding farms in the U.S.? Feel free to leave your suggestions in the Comment section.

Argentina is world renowned for huge estancias where you measure the size and distances not in acres, but how many days it takes a gaucho to cross the pampas. But there is also a Spanish word for a smaller, more specialized farm. A Haras is a horse breeding farm. The Ortelli family began Haras Segundo Ayre , Second Wind Farm, a little over ten years ago. Located about an hour west of Buenos Aires, Argentina, it seems an unlikely place to launch an international horse breeding business. But that is exactly what the family has done, now boasting clients in South and Central America, the United States, France, and Canada.

Even in the leafless dead of winter after days of heavy rain, there is a unique beauty to the clearly Spanish flavored farm. The hundred year old farm house is adobe colored and glows in the sunlight. The antique-looking red brick barn housing a dozen stalls is well tended to. At first glance it looks like any ranch but look more closely and you realize this could only be Argentina. Besides the Argentinean flag that is proudly displayed around the compound and the blankets and saddle pads emblazoned with the blue and white flag, there are several subtle signs you are in South America. Augustin Eyman one of the grooms rides his criollo horse to work. A gaucho horse, Catucho moves at only two speeds, walk or gallop, to carry his rider on long journeys. His saddle is lamb skin and the stirrups are carved wood. And there is no stopping the sneers and chuckles from the other ranch hands comparing this work horse to the elegant mares and stallions in competition and the breeding pool. As evening sets in, Augustin warms himself with a traditional black and white woven poncho and adds a red beret on his head. In the farm house, a traditional parilla often acts as the family cooking grill on the long patio where meals are taken even in brisk weather. Traditions are preserved on the Haras but they blend with modern times. Rather than branding their horses, microchips are used to identify their new breeding line.

At 70 horses, the Haras is a small operation with a family signature, JOSA. Josa are the initials for Jose Ostelli Segundo Ayre. Each horse is named Jos to distinguish the blood line. Everything on the Haras carries the Ortelli signature; saddles and blankets for the horses and dishes in the house. Jose Ortelli Sr. is convinced his horses are special. “I compare them to Napoleon. He was short, fat, ugly, and sickly, but he had brains and that is what separates my horses from others. They have brains. I mix the beauty and quality of an Argentine Toroughbred with the brains and best lines of the European stallions. ”

International eventer, Jonathan Holling has another adjective to describe his recently purchased Jos horse. “Jos Baco is honestly a very kind, generous animal. He has a big heart which is the most important ingredient an event horse needs to have.” Jose Sr. is not surprised with that comment, he adds “my horses are fast, safe and resistant with good movements and nice.”

Eventer Michael Pollard who recently bought Jos Calfun from the Ortelli believes he has found a great eventing horse. “Jos Calfun caught my eye because he was beautiful--had all the raw talent necessary to be a star and seemed to love running and jumping. He has not disappointed. Though somewhat head strong (often an asset in our sport), he has moved to Intermediate very well and I expect great things from him in the future.”

Like the family that breeds these horse, Holling is proud of the line so plans on keeping the Jos signature . “I am proud to have a horse come from a line as nice as the Josa horses. Besides it is fun to hear the announcers say ‘Jonathan Holling on Joe’s Baco’. It makes me laugh every time.”

Even to an untrained eye, Jos horses are far from ugly, short ,or fat. Covered in dried mud out in the pasture, admittedly a half dozen foals were a far cry from the gorgeous three-year-old chestnut, Fapillon in the barn. But wading through the mud into the newborn group, Ortelli’s descerning eye spotted which one was going to be an eventer. It was the fuzzy black one with a six-month coat and a beautiful white spot on his nose which was definitely the cutest in the group. Ortelli could see the son of Parco, a famous European show jumping stallion, would be another top show jumper or eventer because of the perfect balance between the sire and dam that the horse shows in his movements and attitude even at just six months.

Jonathan Holling thinks he has spotted a winning eventer. His Jos horse is currently competing at the Intermediate level but he hopes to be riding Advanced by the end of 2010. “I think Jos Baco has the potential to jump around the highest level of our sport. I would not have bought him otherwise.”

There is a seasonal rhythm and routine to this Haras. At six to seven months, the foals are separated from the mares. A slow journey to familiarization with people begins. At three-years-old they are moved once again, this time into stalls, cleaned up and groomed, and begin free jumping. On lunges lines, but no saddle or rider, they begin working with a special trainer under Jose Sr.’s supervision. They start with poles on the ground and then move to different gymnastics to develop their jumping skills.

Between four and six-years-old, many are sold as eventers and show jumpers. Haras Segundo Ayre sells about ten to fifteen horses a year. Jose Jr. may be one of the most effective yet reluctant horse traders in the business. “I’m not really a salesman. I want a rider to find the right fit with the horse for himself. I don’t want to just sell him something.” He may not be a slick talking salesman but as Jose Jr. shows his skill in the saddle, future clients have bought horses right out from under him. Michael Pollard bought his horse, Jos Calfun after seeing Jose Jr. ride him. Jos Calfun just recently won the Red Hills Horse Trials CIC **. U.S. eventers Sharon White and Denise Rath both recently bought horses after traveling to Argentina to see the horses first hand.

At The Fork Horse Trials in North Carolina in spring 2010, nine riders were scheduled to compete with Jos horses. Jose Jr. even rode Jos Aladar as part of his training for Rolex and the World Games. Additionally, Pollard thinks the international eventing scene will see a lot more Jos horses; “because they are the correct type for the modern sport and more accessible than some European horses.”

There is well deserved pride as the Ortelli family talks about where they have sold horses, who has bought one, and what those horses have accomplished. The family is content with the current size of the herd and the Haras. The quiet backbone of the family and business is Jose Sr.’s wife, Amelia Ortelli. She summed up where the Haras was heading like this, “We don’t want to breed horses just for our son or even clients but we want the best horses for the sport.”