White Oak Arabians

Galileeo IS Leeonardo. Galileeo is incredible playful and demands human attention. He is spoiled rotten just as he should be. He, like his sire, has to have his brain busy, if not they will find a way to self entertain. I have been the source of entertainment for both of these two clowns for two generations now!

Leeonardo unlike Galileeo was started as a young horse in professional halter training and was hit way too much within his first three years. At three he went into professional training for Western Pleasure. Leeonardo came back from there extremely head shy and in a panic under saddle. He had been horribly abused period. He had a lot of anger & anxiety to vent. I was the one who spent the next three years reassuring Leeo that lines of respect need to be and will be kept.

for example- One time we were taking X-mas pictures and I asked Leeo to stand up properly. He wouldn't quit trying to lean on me and give me his undivided attention. I showed him the whip and asked again, no response, he didn't believe me. I popped him a little one on the top of his back and barked "Hey, pay attention". Before I could shut my mouth Leeonardo had ripped the scarf off my neck with his teeth and was running the opposite direction as if he was the one who had just been attacked! If he truly wanted to hurt me, I would have been a pile of goo under his feet & teeth. I just stood there with my mouth open and my scarf at my feet! I never hit him again and he never bit at me again.

- Leeo would also have anxiety attacks under saddle but only in Western Pleasure. He would throw his head in the air, flip the bit up on top of the bridge of his nose and run like hell!!!! When the bit is like that, the rider has no brakes! I found the only way to stop him was to strike him on the point of the shoulder with my foot and I had to do it hard enough that he would drop his head to reflect the bump. Because of this lovely situation I had to ride him with a spur on my right heal. I have this on tape from the Region 11 Championship class.

Leeonardo was sold to Mosica and they had him under contract to be sold again after exportation to Italy. We have/ had 20 breedings retained on Leeonardo but he was never collected and stored before they exported him. He was shown under saddle and halter & Championed in both while in Italy. They had plans for him to go to the Salon Du Cheval that year (1995). As Eric Moreau-Sipiere explained it to me "Leeonardo started to act at times as if he had coliced, but his gut sounds were normal each time. " Eric was on the phone with the vet in Italy when Leeonardo reared up in the cross ties and dropped dead October of 95, just 5 weeks from being exported. Leeonardo had past 3 vet inspections with flying colors and was not insured.

The Italian government of Agriculture demanded a full autopsy and investigation regarding the death of Leeonardo. They suspected foul play and were very hard on Mosica. After a 15 page autopsy report and a complete dissection of Leeonardo's body, they came to the conclusion- This was the most healthy horse this vet had ever completed an autopsy on. Noted that Leeo had not only no signs of parasites but no evidence that he had ever had one in his body. They looked for drugs, implants, surgery marks & scars, dyes anything that could have contributed to his death and found nothing. Leeonardo died from a benign tumor that had developed in his chest resulting in the cutting of his aorta. Leeo was not having colic but chest pain. Leeonardo had a very good life with Mosica, they had no way of knowing.

My mother and I became aware of Leeonardo's death 5 months later when we called Mosica to make arrangement for shipping of breedings the next Spring. Mom and I just sat and cried for the rest of the day. We had already sent Carivagio (black pure polish son) back to his owner, who then had him gelded! We had gelded the two non pure Polish sons at the farm thinking a better one would be born later. BOOM.... no son

Galileeo was purchased by my husband and I to replace Leeonardo. Eric had two of the only four in the world! He gave us the choice of a black colt born in 96 out of a Traditio daughter or Galileeo who was coming a yearling and most resembled his dad. We paid site unseen for "a" colt and we chose Galileeo.

Galileeo is a treasure and a little bit of comfort for the loss of his sire. He has been with me is entire life and has never been abused in any way. Galileeo is Leeonardo with out the scary skeletons hiding. He has been handled and groomed to be a show horse as well as a family stallion all his life. Galileeo was started under saddle by myself, starting with line driving at the age of three and Western Pleasure at the age of four. He has always looked forward to his workouts and the challenges of learning new things.

Galileeo was put in professional training with Heath Herndon also of Rogersville, MO for Jr Horse Western Pleasure. He thrived! Heath was pleasantly surprised how much natural athletic ability Galileeo displayed and asked if we would consider training him for Reining. Galileeo completed 6 months of training with Heath Herndon for Reining. He showed soreness in his pelvis from the hard stopping of Reining. At the age of five (Spring 2001), Galileeo was examined & x-rayed by Dr Roger Cole DVM of Marshfield, MO. Galileeo was found to have the need for rest with clean x-rays. With heavy heart we pulled him and brought him home for rest not wanting to cause him harm.

After two months rest Galileeo was placed in training with Liz Bentley form Oronogo, Mo and redirected towards Western Pleasure. Galileeo was responding very well with Liz until his Pelvis became sore yet again. So, after six months with Liz and the show season over, we brought him home for the winter.

The next part of this story moves so fast straight to the top it is unbelievable!

January 2002, Galileeo was out in his two-acre pasture as he had been for the complete winter and I was in the hospital with spinal meningitis! February 2002, I was back in the hospital again! Finally in March, I could work with Galileeo and brought him up into a stall to start over yet again.

As, I grew stronger I realized Galileeo had completely healed and was in fact very strong and sound again. It seems that he needed more than 2 months rest to heal his pelvis, and that my inability to work him due to my own illness actually gave him the time he needed to become sound. Now it was my turn to get with it!

April 2002, Galileeo was moved to High Prairie Arabians barn for boarding. Hunt seat was the basic of choice for us to get back in shape. Galileeo again thrived! However, I became horribly ill with pneumonia. Galileeo had to come back home May 30, 2002.

June 28, 2002, I made the decision Galileeo and I had waited long enough to show! Sunburned and trained Halter and Hunt seat by myself, Galileeo attended his first show. He was immediately in the ribbons under saddle and defeated many veteran horses ridden by trainers! Galileeo was Southwest Missouri's Arabian Horse Club, Res Champion Stallion AOTH at his first show in his life!

July 5, 2002, Galileeo won Region XI Res Champion Stallion AOTH at his second show in his life!

August 20, 2002, Galileeo was 8th at Canadian National Championships while sporting a picked up cold and fever of 101!

Galileeo took everyone by very pleasant surprise at US Nationals! He made the Top 20 of 2002 Stallions AOTH! Galileeo was very elegant, mannerly and attentive. For only his forth show in his life he looked and acted as though he had always had a few thousand people watching! He was gorgeous! I have his class on tape if you would like to see how he did and the other Top 20.