04/28/2025
When we think of legendary stallions, and the families that loved them with all their hearts, Khemosabi++++// and the Husband family comes to mind, as does *Aramus and Wayne Newton and *Bask++ and the LaCroix family, Fame VF+ and Dick Adams and more currently Kristi Waters and KM Bugatti+++/. Front and center with this illustrious group is Patti Bailey and Re*****on Steele++ (Gaffizon++ x Jordjina by *Karadjordje+++), shown here in a great Jerry Sparagowski photo exemplifying all that an Arabian stallion should be.
Bred by Perisian Park Arabians and owned as a youngster by Barbara and Dick Blumenthal, Re*****on Steele++ was purchased by Patti Bailey as a 2 year and owned, loved and treasured by her for the rest of his life. He was a combination of two of the mightiest breeding programs in the country, as his sire Gaffizon++ (Ferzon x Gaffi by Raffi) was bred by Dan Gainey Sr. of Gainey Fountainhead Arabians, and his dam Jordjina (*Karadjordje+++ x Chlosina by *Serafix) was bred by John Rogers of Rogers Arabians. Re*****on Steele++’s breeding was impeccable and his conformation as a GBE “3 circle” horse was damn near perfect. I’m familiar with his long-time owner, Patti Bailey, by reputation and shows over the years and have gleaned that she always put her stallion’s wellbeing above herself at her Phase II Arabians. Fun Fact: 16 years after his passing in 2007, Patti (with the help of fellow breeders Anne Brown and Larry Cohen) had a new Re*****on Steele++ filly foaled in 2023, out of a granddaughter of his, to carry on the breeding of this amazing stallion.
As a show horse, Re*****on Steele++ had all of his bases covered with wins in Halter, Performance and Endurance riding. He was shown by Mike Neal to 1988 US and Canadian Top Ten Stallion honors and less then a year later, in July of 1989, finished and “buckled” in the Tevis Cup Ride. In performance classes he won in Dressage, Jumping, Western, Pleasure Driving, Liberty and Native Costume classes and few will forget the beautiful picture that Chris Mcdonald made with Re*****on Steele++ in their stunning blue costume. With all of these accolades to his credit, it was only fitting that Re*****on Steele++ was the first recipient of the WAHO trophy to be awarded in the US in 2005. Whether he was being ridden as a child’s mount, protecting his owner from a mountain lion attack, siring consistent foals to carry on his legacy or just being a best friend to Patti Bailey, “Rem” gave it all and will always be remembered as an Arabian horse we should strive to breed towards today.
Jim Robbins for We LOVE Arabian Horses
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