SEASONS GREETINGS!

It’s the day after Thanksgiving again. A beautiful, sunny, California fall afternoon, and my day to write our holiday letter. It’s a challenge to wrap my head around the unbelievable year of 2011 — to put into words, in a few paragraphs, a meaningful rendition of our year. This year was a year of triumph and success but we didn’t do it on our own we had lots of help from family, friends and our marvelous horses.

I read a quote recently in a calendar that sums up how Sigi and I feel about the people that are part of our lives. The quote said: “May we see those around us for who they truly are: Angels without wings, blessing our lives with the most wondrous things.” I want to dedicate this year’s holiday letter to the angels in our lives.

Our angels live all over the world. They live in far away places like Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Canada, Germany and Poland. And they live nearby on Cerrito Street, HWY 246, Baseline, Brinkerhoff and Sandalwood. Some of our angels live in Arizona, South Dakota, Texas, Florida and Wisconsin and others live in Santa Barbara, Morgan Hill, San Francisco and Los Angeles. This is not the place to mention each by name but you know who you are and what you mean to us! Thank you.

There are angels living right here at Om El Arab as well — our horses. We only showed at three horse shows this year but with great success.

Om El Sanadeed was shown at Scottsdale where he was crowned not only the Scottsdale International Arabian Breeders Classic Junior Champion Colt but also the Scottsdale Signature Auction Champion Colt. The same colt was a star at the World Cup in Las Vegas too. He was crowned the Arabian Breeder’s Cup Futurity Gold Champion Colt. His stablemate Om El Sophine won the Arabian Breeder’s Cup Futurity Gold Champion fillies. Our U.S. National Reserve Champion breeding stallion, Om El Al Azeem, won at the Thanksgiving Show in Hunter Pleasure — his first time in the performance ring. We are also incredibly proud of Om El Jeania who was crowned Gold Junior Champion Female last month at the Salon du Cheval Jeddidah in Morocco and Om El Marzouk for winning the title of National Junior Champion Stallion of Iran.

In April, after the Vegas show, we hosted our annual Open House. It was a particularly wonderful event this year. We first showed our breeding program outdoors and then moved inside for an elegant dinner and a discussion on the history of the breeding program coupled with a slideshow of our horses. Scott Benjamin did a wonderful job facilitating stories and discussion between Sigi, myself and many breeder’s in the room, who breed our bloodlines.

We had twenty-two foals born at Om El Arab this year. Dare I say it was the best foal crop ever? We were blessed with one gorgeous foal after another — fillies of such extraordinary quality that we sometimes shrieked with delight when we first saw them, and several exquisite colts. We have nearly 30 foals growing in bellies right now and are delighted every time we look at our broodmares with the anticipation of their next foal.

Om El Bellissimo is due to arrive home in a few days from his two-year stay at the world famous Janow Podlaski Polish State Stud. His foals in Janow surpassed the Poles expectations and reinforced our strong conviction of his magnificent genetic potential. Bellissimo’s filly and colt born at our farm this year are exceptional. We can’t wait to breed him to many mares next year.

Our breeding program had a challenge this year that was beyond anything we’ve had to face in the past. Many of you know what I am referring to and I’m so happy to put you at ease. We are done with it! When it all came down to it, our horses took care of us and with the help of our angels we’ve succeeded.

The important lesson that I have learned this year and will leave you with, is that angels come to us in many forms. Be open to receive them. — Janina Merz

Happy Holidays from all of us at Om El Arab