Omar Pascha: Arabian stallion who galloped 149 km in a single day. His rider died of exhaustion, but the horse arrived in perfect physical condition. He carried the message of the Russian defeat during the Crimean War.

BT Sargento: Criollo, a key stallion of the breed and winner of the 1986 Freio de Ouro. He scored 9 out of 10 in morphology. In other tests, he received 14 out of 15, achieving a total of 23.07 out of 25 possible points.

Morafic: Arabian, a legendary horse imported from Egypt to the United States in 1956. He lived for 18 years, siring some of the most beautiful and important offspring in all of North America. He was buried in a marble tomb in front of the stable where he lived, as befits a great leader of the breed.

Rembrandt: Westphalian bay, a great legend of dressage. European, World, and Olympic Champion in Seoul and Barcelona. Ridden by German rider Nicole Uphoff. His importance in dressage was not only in terms of results but also in his charisma and historical relevance in equestrian sport. He died at the age of 24.

Barbaro: Thoroughbred, winner of six major consecutive races in American turf, a feat not achieved for 60 years. In 2006, this racing machine was estimated to be worth 20 million dollars. After being injured, he was sent to stud, with a covering fee of 80,000 dollars.

Dora: Italian military mare who, at the age of two, took part in the Italian expedition to Libya and later fought in World War I. At 20, she participated in the Italian campaign in Abyssinia. She was retired after World War II. Her owner, Colonel Tedeschi, kept her on private property until her death at the remarkable age of 52.

Calei Joter: Brazilian show jumping horse, with multiple participations in Pan-American Games, World Championships, and Olympics. Bred at the Joter Stud Farm in Rio Grande do Sul, he was ridden by André Johannpeter. Upon retirement, he received a plaque reading: “To the brilliant and unforgettable Calei Joter, a tribute from the Brazilian Equestrian Confederation.”

Aladdin: Arabian, founder of an incomparable dynasty within the breed. Perhaps the most valuable Arabian horse of all time, syndicated for approximately 15 million dollars. Many of his offspring became great “AAA” class champions.

Huasó: Record-breaking horse who jumped 2.47 m on February 5, 1949, in Chile, with Captain Alberto Morales. This record remains unbeaten to this day.

Man o’ War: Chestnut Thoroughbred nicknamed “Big Red,” with a phenomenal career. At two years old, he ran 10 races, winning 9, losing one due to his jockey’s error—something the rider regretted for the rest of his life. At three, he ran 11 races, winning all of them. He died at 30, leaving behind excellent descendants.

Comanche: Horse of the 7th Cavalry Regiment who survived the Battle of Little Bighorn, where all others perished. He remains preserved and displayed at the Smithsonian Institution in the United States.

Dash For Cash: Quarter Horse chestnut, an exceptional runner. His ashes rest at the American Quarter Horse Heritage Center and Museum, along with a life-size bronze statue.

The greatest racehorse of recent times, Barbaro, suffered a terrible injury. Normally, to prevent suffering, he would have been euthanized. But efforts were made to save him, driven by the multi-million-dollar industry around him. It is remembered as a story of American heroes.

Article written by Deolir Dall’Onder for Revista AconteceSul, Year XII, Issue 141.