VA Ardiendio

2017 Carthusian PRE Andalusian Stallion

Escamillo x VA Manoletes Ysabela

Revised & approved for breeding by the ANCCE Spanish Stud Book

VA Ardiendo is a 2017 Carthusian PRE stallion whose physical presence reflects the exceptional Spanish blood behind him. He is a remarkably complete representation of the modern Carthusian PRE: beautiful without sacrificing athleticism, powerful without losing refinement, and expressive while remaining balanced and willing. His exceptional movement, correct and athletic conformation, trainability and gentle temperament make him a particularly exciting stallion for a breeding program focused on producing the elegance, functionality and classical character of the Spanish horse. His rare Carthusian heritage provides the foundation; his physical qualities and temperament are what allow that heritage to live forward in his offspring. 

Ardiendo combines a strongly developed, athletic frame with the unmistakable elegance and refinement of the PRE; a beautiful head, expressive eyes, an elegant baroque neck, substantial shoulders and a balanced topline that flows naturally through the back and hindquarters. His conformation gives him an exceptional sense of balance and connection, with the length and angles through his shoulder, back and hindquarter creating an athletic framework well suited to both collection and extension.

His movement is where Ardiendo truly distinguishes himself. He has a deep, relaxed and exceptionally fluid walk, carrying himself with natural freedom through the body. At the trot, he demonstrates expressive knee action, elasticity and an impressive ability to elevate while remaining balanced and connected. His canter is particularly striking; naturally uphill, collected and powerful, yet remarkably agile and balanced. He readily offers collection and self carriage, demonstrating the natural athleticism and body control for which the Spanish horse is so prized. His pedigree and genetic evaluation are supported by a physical structure that favors length through the shoulder and topline, balanced proportions and athletic hindquarter mechanics.

VA Ardiendo is thoughtful, highly intelligent and exceptionally willing to learn, with an unusual sensitivity to the lightest aids and body language. Years of positive reinforcement training have developed advanced work in hand and at liberty, where he can offer collected movement, transitions and self carriage with remarkable lightness. Ardiendo is an absolute delight to ride; and to this day he has only ever been ridden bitless or bridleless. He combines his effortless power and expressiveness, with a willing and playful disposition. This results in the ability to carry a rider through high levels of self carriage and collection; with both expressive flair and relaxation.

Beyond his appearance and performance however; there's something Ardiendo brings as a stallion that is particularly rare and unique. He lives full time with his mares and foals; and has not only proven to be a gentleman with mares, and he is remarkably good with his foals. He treats his foals with patience and forbearance, while helping to raise them as good herd citizens with leadership and gentle discipline. He loves to play with his foals, and he is the mares favorite babysitter. Despite his gentle nature; he is diligent and protective, and provides his herd with a sense of peace and safety.  

Sire - Escamillo (Ocioso VIII x Habama VIII)

Escamillo is a 1999 PRE stallion bred by Luis Arenas García of Rancho Esmeralda and later owned and shown by Mario’s Andalusians. A son of Ocioso VIII and Habana VIII, his pedigree brings together some of the most important Spanish blood in American PRE breeding history. His sire line reaches through Leviton and Agente, while his dam line includes Valido and Bilbaino III, a validated Carthusian stallion. Together, these lines give Escamillo a strong connection to the old Spanish and Carthusian heritage that has been so carefully preserved in this branch of the PRE.  

Escamillo was exceptional in his own right, earning U.S. National Champion Senior Stallion and U.S. National Champion Best Movement, as well as the 2006 IALHA National Champion Best Movement title. More importantly, he proved remarkably consistent as a sire. His offspring include Brioso MA, the only stallion in U.S. history to win the Grand Slam of National Champion Colt, Junior Stallion, Senior Stallion and Best Movement, as well as Norteño Rey MA and Amici BB, all carrying major national championship records.  

What makes Escamillo particularly valuable is therefore the combination of historic Spanish blood and proven transmission. His pedigree preserves old Carthusian associated families while his own career, and that of his offspring, demonstrates an extraordinary ability to pass on correct conformation, powerful and expressive movement, presence, athleticism and the distinctive elegance of the Spanish horse. His influence has become particularly significant in North American PRE breeding, where his descendants continue to distinguish themselves at the highest levels of competition.  

That legacy now continues through VA Ardiendo, Escamillo’s son and the foundation stallion of Ardiendo Stud. For us, Escamillo represents more than a distinguished show record; he is a proven link between the old Spanish and Carthusian heritage of the PRE and a modern record of exceptional performance and transmission. It is this combination of history, rarity and proven genetic quality that VA Ardiendo carries forward.

Dam - VA Manoletes Ysabela (Mystics Manolete x VMF Valencia)

VA Manoletes Ysabela is a 2010 PRE mare bred by Valhalla Andalusians, by the celebrated Mystique’s Manolete and out of the multi-national champion VMF Valencia. Her pedigree brings together two highly successful families developed in the North American PRE breeding program, with a particularly meaningful connection to the old Carthusian blood preserved within them. Ysabela herself became a National Champion and Gold Medal Movement winner, including National Champion Best Movement in 2016, and was repeatedly recognized for her exceptional walk, trot and canter.  

Her sire, Mystique’s Manolete, was one of Valhalla Andalusians’ foundation stallions and an exceptionally accomplished horse, earning national championships in halter as well as more than a dozen national performance titles. His sire was Sandokan IV, himself a four time IALHA National winner, including two National Champion and two Reserve National Champion titles. Sandokan’s importance extends beyond his own record: he became a significant sire within this branch of the American PRE, transmitting the combination of strength, exceptional movement, presence and competitive ability that characterized his own career.  

Most remarkably, Habana VIII appears on both sides of VA Ardiendo’s pedigree. On his sire’s side, Escamillo is by Ocioso VIII, out of Habana VIII. On his dam’s side, Ysabela’s sire Manolete is by Sandokan IV, whose sire is Molinete IV, out of Habana VIII. Thus the same mare, Habana VIII, appears through two separate branches of Ardiendo’s pedigree connecting his paternal Escamillo family with the maternal Sandokan/Manolete family and reinforcing this particular Spanish genetic foundation from both directions.  

Ysabela’s maternal side adds another accomplished Valhalla family through VMF Valencia, whose dam was OA Sienna, one of Valhalla’s foundation mares, while her sire was Quimerico KF. Valencia became a champion in her own right, particularly renowned for movement, and went on to produce multiple nationally successful offspring.   Together, these families give VA Manoletes Ysabela a remarkable combination of old Spanish and Carthusian rooted blood, proven championship movement, strength, athleticism and exceptional maternal quality. Through Ysabela, VA Ardiendo inherits not only the distinguished Sandokan/Manolete sire line, but a highly proven female family and, most intriguingly, a shared connection to Habana VIII that links both halves of his pedigree.

The Bloodline

All the horses listed below are influential horses that appear on Ardiendo’s pedigree