The Dynasty of Dion Arabians
By Samantha Mattocks 

In over 20 years of breeding, Dion Arabians has already achieved more than many can hope to in a lifetime: four World Championship titles; six European titles; six All Nations’ Cup titles; and over 100 national and international titles. Martine Despeghel-Van Hee puts this success down to one horse – Navarroné-P – a multiple prize-winner in her own right and recipient of the 2007 WAHO Trophy for Belgium.

The very first horse for this internationally acclaimed farm was Dion, a chestnut stallion bought as a foal and who still grazes peacefully in the paddocks around the new farm. That was 21 years ago and Martine, along with her husband Paul, has not looked back. The stud slowly expanded and, in 1992, the then five-year-old mare, Navarroné-P*** (El Khadir P x Navarra P) was purchased. “When she looks into my eyes, it is like she is looking into my soul,” says Martine. “Without a doubt, she is responsible for shaping Dion Arabians and turning the farm into the success that it is. We are now on the fourth generation of breeding and Navarroné’s grandchildren are proving to be just as successful in the show-ring and breeding barn as her own children were.”

Navarroné was chosen as the Belgian recipient of the prestigious WAHO Trophy for 2007 not just in recognition of her success in the breeding barn, but also in the show-ring: she has won titles at all the major shows, including the World Championships and All Nations’ Cup.

Navarroné’s legacy as a dam is very impressive and her early foals are champions in their own right, But it was in 1997 when a colt was born that would cement Dion Arabians’ place on the map, making headlines all over the world: Eternity Ibn Navarroné-D.

“We just knew within those very first minutes after the colt was born that he would be a huge star, which is why we called him Eternity,” smiles Martine. And he has more than lived up to our expectations.”

By Ansata Sinan (Prince FA Moniet x Ansata Nefara), Eternity is now 11 years old and is already a double World Champion, taking the title as a junior and a senior. He has won everything from National Champion Foal in Belgium to Senior Male Champion in Dubai. In 2007, he took the Reserve Senior Male title at the Elran Cup and Towerlands and he took the Senior Male title outright at the All Nation’s Cup to tremendous applause.

Not only has Eternity proved himself to be a good show horse, he has also shown that he is more than capable of producing quality horses in the breeding barn and has time after time, sired champion-winning stock to continue the Navarroné line in the show-ring. Two sons who have already made their name in the showing world are Fever Ibn Eternity-D and the highly-successful Hypnotic Ibn Eternity-D, the latter already siring his first babies and continuing the dynasty. Both out of WH Marissa Rose (Magnum Psyche x WH Takara Bey), they are joined by their brother Obsession Ibn Eternity-D and a full brother or sister is expected this year.

Another famed Navarroné son is Escape Ibn Navarroné-D (by AS Sinans Pascha x Navarroné-P), bred by Dion Arabians and now owned by Sheikh Ammar Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi of the Ajman Stud, UAE. Escape provided the Middle East with their first World Champion in 2005 and he has countless other titles to his name.

Navarrone’s daughters are equally important to Dion Arabians, in particular Farhannah Bint Navarroné-D (by Ansata Selman), a four year old mare who has just had a filly by Fever Ibn Eternity-D. “For me, Farhannah is better than either Eternity or Escape were at the same age,” says Martine. “She is so feminine and refined in the head and she is my next Navarroné.” A naturally showy mare, Farhannah and her siblings are the mirror images of their dam and with their fantastic pedigrees, one knows that they will help Martine and Paul continue the Navarroné line.

For a number of years, Martine and Paul have been developing a Straight Egyptian breeding programme and they are crossing Straight Egyptian mares with Eternity and his sons – to great effect. One example of this outcrossing is the breathtaking grey yearling filly Melodyah Bint Eternity-D (Eternity Ibn Navarrone-D x Malikah Al Rayyan QA by Al Adeed Al Shaqab). Other homebred Straight Egyptian mares include Classic Sharinah-D (Lohim x HMT Princess Karima) and Classic Junah-D (Authentic Dahman Lohim x HMT Princess Karima).

With such a magnificent legacy in place, Dion Arabians is looking to their future. All the horses are shown by resident trainer Gerald Kurtz, who has been with the farm since 2006 and the Despeghel’s have just moved to a new, purpose-built farm just north of Moorsele. Set in 14 hectares and with 24 pastures, the new farm has stabling for 88 horses. “We hope to fill them by running our own training centre for Gerald – the Dion Arabians International Training Center,” explains Martine. “We will only accept horses of friends and clients and I think it is important when undertaking such a venture that you do not show your own horses in with your clients’ horses. I think that is a good ethic for us to work to.”

The new farm also has four outdoor arenas as well as 22m x 48m indoor arena and the queen of Dion Arabians, Navarroné P, has her own stable situated right next to the house. The facility also boasts an official artificial insemination center which includes an official international embryo transfer winning team. A total of 400 recipient mares are available for the next breeding season and Martine and Gerard will work closely with the vet to ensure that the highest of standards are met.

After over 20 years of success, the future continues to look bright for Dion Arabians. With the new foals continuing the Navarroné legacy and the fourth generation being born on the farm, 2008 is set to be as exciting as ever. With the finishing touches being put to the new farm and a number of top Arabian horses booked in to be shown for clients this year, Dion Arabians looks certain to remain a household name for many years to come.