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Rafalca
BreedOldenburg
SireArgentinus (Hanoverian)
GrandsireArgentan I (Hanoverian)
DamRatine (Oldenburg)
Maternal grandsireRubinstein I (Westphalian)
SexMare
Foaled1997
CountryGermany (birth)
United States (standing)
ColourBay
BreederErwin Risch
OwnerJan Ebeling
Ann Romney
TrainerJan Ebeling
Last updated on: 13 July 2023.

Rafalca (born 1997) is a former dressage horse, co-owned by Ann Romney,[1] that performed in the equestrian competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, with rider (and co-owner/trainer) Jan Ebeling.[2][3] She was retired from competitions in 2014, and is now a broodmare.[4]

Rafalca is a bay Oldenburg mare, born in Menslage in Germany in 1997, and bred by Erwin Risch.[5][6]

Ancestry

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Rafalca's sire was Argentinus (1980 – 2007), a Hanoverian show jumping stallion; her dam, Ratine (b. 1990), was an Oldenburg.[7] Her damsire was Rubinstein I (1986 – 2000), an accomplished Westphalian stallion who achieved 40 wins at the Grand Prix level in dressage, and was a member of the 1996 Olympic dressage team. Rubenstein's dam, Antine, was a full sister to three-time Olympic competitor Amon, and two-time Olympic champion Ahlerich, the latter under German rider Reiner Klimke.[5][8][9]

Rubenstein I's sire, the Westphalian stallion Rosenkavalier (b. 1980), was a male-line descendant of Ramzes (b. 1937), a Polish Anglo-Arabian stallion by the Belgian-bred Thoroughbred and successful racehorse Rittersporn (b. 1917) - a male-line descendant of the English Thoroughbred racing stallion Herod (b. 1758), of the Byerley Turk line - out of a Shagya Arabian mare, Jordi (b. 1928). Ramzes was an influential warmblood sire of show jumping and dressage horses who stood at various studs, including the Janów Podlaski Stud Farm in Poland, and would go on to have a strong influence on the Westphalian, Holsteiner, and other German warmblood horse breeds.[10]

Despite being an Anglo-Arabian, Ramzes is primarily seen as a carrier of Thoroughbred blood:[11]

"The marvellously positive results were doubtless due to the large percentage of Thoroughbred blood carried by Ramzes himself…Ramzes' influence in Holstein seems to have achieved its greatest importance with the whole list of first class approved broodmares which carry his blood. On his dam’s side, Ramzes carried a great deal of Amurath blood; however, his offspring did not show any Amurath characteristics. This is probably due to the large percentage of Thoroughbred blood. The hereditary Amurath tendency to produce pacing, which did not necessarily nullify jumping ability as seen in the Argram line of the Hanoverian breed, never occurred in Holstein."

Romedio Graf von Thun-Hohenstein, The Holsteiner horse: History, breeding, performance (1993)

Rubenstein I descended from Radetsky (b. 1951), a son of Ramzes out of Malta (b. 1942), a Westphalian mare who was by the German Trakehner stallion Oxyd (b. 1924) out of the native Westphalian mare Meerfahrt (b. 1937). Malta's bloodlines included English Thoroughbred descendants of the racing stallions King Fergus (b. 1775), a son of Eclipse (b. 1764), a male-line descendant of the Darley Arabian; Potoooooooo, or "Pot-8-Os" (b. 1773), a nephew of King Fergus, and a grandson of Eclipse; Herod (b. 1758), of the Byerley Turk line; and other famous racehorses. This is on account of German Trakehner, Westphalian, Oldenburg, Hanoverian, and other German warmblood horse breeders crossing native German mares to English Thoroughbred stallions throughout the 19th century, as well as the first half of the 20th century to produce a better cavalry mount.[12][13][14]

The founder of the "R line" of Hanoverians is also considered to be Ramzes, though Rubenstein I is the line's most well-known sire.[15]

Rubenstein I's dam, Antine, was sired by the English Thoroughbred stallion Angelo out of Dodona, a Westphalian mare. Dodona was a descendant of Robert the Devil (1877–1889), an English Thoroughbred racing stallion who famously competed against the Thoroughbred racing stallion Bend Or, but had little impact on the Thoroughbred breed in Great Britain. Through his son, Devil's Own (b. 1887), who stood at the Celle State Stud from 1894 to 1906, Robert the Devil would found the "D line" of Hanoverians, which excelled in dressage. This line is one of the most widespread dressage horse lines in the world today due to his influential male-line descendant, the Oldenburg stallion Donnerhall.[16]

Dodona's ancestor, the Hanoverian stallion Defilant (b. 1896), was by Devil's Own out of Lisawetha, by the German Thoroughbred stallion Landstreicher (b. 1879), also a male-line descendant of English Thoroughbred racing stallion Potoooooooo, or "Pot-8-Os" (b. 1773), a male-line descendant of Eclipse (b. 1764) and the Darley Arabian; Eclipse was by Marske (b. 1750) out of Spilletta (b. 1749), a daughter of Regulus (b. 1739), who was in turn sired by the Godolphin Arabian. Defilant was out of Stute von Tilly, a native Hanoverian mare. Stute von Tilly's line also had influence from other key English Thoroughbred racing stallions, including Regulus (b. 1739); Diomed (b. 1777), a descendant of the Byerley Turk; and Matchem (b. 1748), also a grandson of the Godolphin Arabian through Cade (b. 1734), the half-brother of Regulus.

Rubenstein I's sire, Rosenkavalier (b. 1980), was also out of a "D line" mare, Diva (b. 1973), also descended in the male line from Defilant (b. 1896).

In Rafalca's maternal line, her great-granddam, Falaise (b. 1975), was sired by the Selle Français stallion Furioso II (b. 1965) out of Peggi (b. 1964), a Westphalian mare (Papayer, a Thoroughbred x Fiesta v. Kirchhellen, a Westphalian). Furioso II was by Furioso (b. 1939), a Thoroughbred stallion, out of Dame de Ranville (b. 1947), a Selle Français mare. Furioso (b. 1939), was a male-line descendant of Matchem (b. 1748), grandson of the Godolphin Arabian through Cade (b. 1734), though he also shares the same ancestors of Diomed (b. 1777); Highflyer (b. 1774); King Fergus (b. 1775); et al.

Both of Rafalca's parents, Argentinus (b. 1980) and Ratine (b. 1990), had German Trakehner, Hanoverian, Oldenburg, Westphalian, Mecklenburger, and English Thoroughbred ancestors. Argentinus was also descended in the male line from English Thoroughbred racing stallion Whalebone (b. 1807), grandson of Potoooooooo, or "Pot-8-Os" (b. 1773), a male-line descendant of Eclipse (b. 1764) and the Darley Arabian. As such, Rafalca shares the same bloodline with 95% of modern male English Thoroughbred horses.[17]

Career

[edit]

Rafalca was purchased by Ann Romney, Amy Ebeling, and Beth Meyer in 2006 at the age of 9; imported from Germany to the United States; and started competing with rider Jan Ebeling at the Grand Prix level, the highest competition level in dressage, the same year.[18][19] The mare was a representative for the United States in the Dressage World Cup Finals in 2009, 2011, and 2012.[20]

In June 2012, Ebeling and Rafalca won a spot on the U.S. Olympics dressage team.[21] At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, after participating over several days, Ebeling and Rafalca finished in 28th place with a score of 69.302 and did not qualify to move on to the final round for individual medals.[22][23] They were part of a 6th place overall finish for the U.S. team.[23] Romney said of her horse, "It was wonderful. She was elegant and consistent again. We just love her."[22]

Rafalca was officially retired from competitions in 2014 at the age of 17, and became a broodmare. Ebeling and Rafalca's team of owners - Amy Ebeling, Ann Romney, and Beth Meyer - first tried to breed the mare following her retirement ceremony at the Central Park Horse Show in New York City, New York in 2014; however, Rafalca failed to conceive. In 2015, the owner team made a second attempt to breed Rafalca - now 19 years old - using fresh semen from Connaisseur, a 2007 Dutch Warmblood stallion (Con Amore x Donna Clara, by Donnerhall) and Grand Prix dressage winner. The breeding was successful, and Rafalca became pregnant.[24]

On 30 April 2016, Rafalca gave birth to her first foal, a black or dark bay Oldenburg filly named Rafaela.[25][26]

In 2017, at age 20, Rafalca was successfully bred again to Gaspard de la Nuit DG (Ravel x Ceolieta, by Sir Donnerhall I, a grandson of Donnerhall), a 2011 Dutch Warmblood stallion.[27] Gaspard's sire, Ravel, had become an international sensation and long-time cornerstone of the U.S. Dressage Team under German rider Steffen Peters and Japanese owner Akiko Yamazaki.[28][29] In 2018, Rafalca gave birth to her second foal, a bay Oldenburg filly with an unusual white bald face marking named Rafi. Initially purchased by Allida Taylor, a United States Dressage Federation (USDF) gold medalist and CDI Grand Prix competitor, Rafi was resold for $57,000 USD to a private buyer in 2022.[30]

[edit]

Rafalca is referred to in the show 30 Rock, Saturday Night Live, as well as The Newsroom and Tooning Out the News. Rafalca is referred to in Jenny Rachel Weiner's play "Horse Girls" as part of a song about Ann Romney.

Pedigree

[edit]
Pedigree of Rafalca
Sire
Argentinus
b. 1980
Hanoverian 		Argentan I
b. 1967
Hanoverian 		Absatz
b. 1960
Hanoverian 		Abglanz
b. 1943
Trakehner
Landmoor
b. 1947
Hanoverian
Worms
b. 1960
Hanoverian 		Wohlan
b. 1955
Hanoverian
Landschaft
b. 1950
Hanoverian
Dorle
b. 1965
Hanoverian 		Duden II
b. 1960
Hanoverian 		Duellant
b. 1943
Hanoverian
Loewenart
b. 1954
Hanoverian
Winterrose
b. 1958
Hanoverian 		Wirbel II
b. 1953
Hanoverian
Freiheitsglueck
b. 1944
Hanoverian
Dam
Ratine
b. 1990
Oldenburg 		Rubinstein I
b. 1986
Westphalian 		Rosenkavalier
b. 1980
Westphalian 		Romadour II
b. 1969
Westphalian
Diva
b. 1973
Westphalian
Antine
b. 1972
Westphalian 		Angelo xx
b. 1962
Thoroughbred
Dodona
b. 1962
Westphalian
Falconia
b. 1981
Oldenburg 		Weltmeister
b. 1973
Hanoverian 		Wedekind
b. 1966
Hanoverian
Domdora
b. 1966
Hanoverian
Falaise
b. 1975
Oldenburg 		Furioso II
b. 1965
Selle Français
Peggi
b. 1964
Westphalian

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ Phelps, Mary (14 March 2012). "Jan Ebeling and Ann Romney's Rafalca Reach New Heights to Represent the USA at the Reem/Acra World Cup Final in April". Dressage Daily. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  2. ^ Pilon, Mary (August 3, 2012). "A High-Profile Cheering Section for a Horse's Olympic Debut". The New York Times. p. B17. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  3. ^ Abcarian, Robin (August 2, 2012). "Ann Romney 'thrilled' by horse's performance in Olympics". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 3, 2012. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  4. ^ "Rafalca Calls An End to An Amazing Career as Jetsetting Celebrity–A Retrospective". Dressage News. 13 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  5. ^ a b Pilon, Mary (26 July 2012). "Behind a Gifted Horse, a Powerful Part-Owner". The New York Times. p. B12. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  6. ^ Nelson, Colleen McCain (18 June 2012). "Ann Romney's Horse Wins an Olympics Berth". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Rafalca". SportHorse-Data. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  8. ^ Ebeling, Jan (3 April 2012). "Road To The Olympics: Jan Ebeling, Part 1". The Chronicle of the Horse. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Rubinstein I (Archived)". Superior Equine Sires, Inc. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Ramzes". The Horse Magazine. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  11. ^ Von Thun-Hohenstein, Romedio Graf (1 January 1993). The Holsteiner horse: History, breeding, performance. R. von Thun-Hohenstein.
  12. ^ Von Velsen, Eberhard. "The Trakehner Breed & The Thoroughbred". American Trakehner Association. Trakehner Hefte. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  13. ^ "The History of the Trakehner Horse". Trakehners International. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  14. ^ Nolte, W; Thaller, G; Kuehn, C (25 April 2019). "Selection signatures in four German warmblood horse breeds: Tracing breeding history in the modern sport horse". PLOS ONE. 14 (4): e0215913. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0215913. PMC 6483353. PMID 31022261.
  15. ^ "Hanoverian Breeding: Who's Your Daddy?". Hunky Hanoverian. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  16. ^ "Hannoveraner Stallion Lines". The Horse Magazine. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  17. ^ Radford, Tim (6 September 2005). "The stallion behind centuries of racing thoroughbreds". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  18. ^ Weinger, Mackenzie. "10 things to know about Rafalca". Politico. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  19. ^ Pilon, Mary (26 July 2012). "Behind a Gifted Horse, a Powerful Part-Owner". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  20. ^ Braddick, Kenneth J. (21 July 2012). "Jan Ebeling & Rafalca Training in "Bubble" Away from Distractions of Politics, Media". Dressage News. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  21. ^ Gabriel, Trip (June 17, 2012). "Romney Horse Wins Spot on Olympic Dressage Team". The New York Times. p. A19. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  22. ^ a b Freeman, Margaret; Winfield, Nicole (August 7, 2012). "Britain wins 1st Olympic team dressage medal: gold". San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  23. ^ a b Pilon, Mary (August 7, 2012). "Rafalca, Owned by Romney's Wife, Does Not Advance in Dressage". The New York Times. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  24. ^ Glavan, Ann. "First Foal On The Way For Rafalca". The Chronicle of the Horse. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  25. ^ "American Celebrity Mare Rafalca Gives Birth to Filly". Dressage News. May 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  26. ^ Brakenridge, Mary Adelaide. "Rafalca Gives Birth to Healthy Filly". PS Dressage. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  27. ^ Berreth, Lindsay. "Ringside Chat: Jan Ebeling On Name Changes, Rising Stars And The Sunshine State". The Chronicle of the Horse. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  28. ^ Phelps, Mary (11 June 2016). "HorsesDaily's Stallion Market Presents This Week's Stallion Highlight – Gaspard de la Nuit DG". Horses Daily. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  29. ^ "Who's Who: "Equine Enthusiast Akiko Yamazaki"". Sacramento Horse Tales. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  30. ^ "Rafi". WarmbloodSales.com. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
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