Located in Emilia Romagna, just one hour from the famous city of Bologna, in a very small village that goes by the name Galeata, you will find a small piece of heaven nestled away on earth – you will find Woody Arabians. Giampaolo Gubbioti, more commonly known as Woody was intrigued by the wonders of breeding and so he started with dogs and Anglo-Arabs, but he was most fascinated by the Arabian horse. He loved observing the young and watching them grow into what he envisioned when he bred them. And so Woody Arabians began in 1990 when Woody bought his very first Arabian mare; she was a beautiful grey named Matiola. Over the years Woody has established himself as a successful breeder, marketer and honourable horseman. All of the horses bred by Woody hold the El Aziz prefix that was chosen by his father Fernando and they are truly some of the finest specimens in the world. Everyone has that one person they can call friend, lover, confidant and ultimately, their better half; for Woody that is Noëmie Zeller. Noëmie is the editor of Arabian Horse Magazine and she too shares a deep love for the Arabian horse. Woody and Noëmie have been together since 2012, “Our relationship is everything; we are lovers and friends. We give each other a home and help during bad moments. The relationship we have makes the world we live a better place for both of us and it all starts with the deep passion and love for the Arabian horse”, says Noëmie. The bloodstock at Woody Arabian is predominantly Russian with sprinklings of Spanish, Polish and a few modern day lines. The broodmare band is quite impressive; they are not your common ‘everyday’ mares but rare gems that radiate high end quality, sublime beauty and a solidity that is so scarce in the industry today. The Vision HG, Estopa and Karmaa are and always will be the queens of Ariela Arabians, Om El Arab and Mulawa Stud respectively; they are the matriarchs and foundations on which their studs are built. So who occupies the throne at Woody Arabians? The Marina di Pietrasanta Gold Champion Mare, M Eos (WH Justice x Elgiria) does. She is one of two WH Justice daughters at the farm and is truly her father’s daughter. She oozes that famous ‘Justice-type’ and her Polish damline has gifted her with a compact body and powerful movement. M Eos has blessed Woody Arabians with four fillies – Princess El Aziz, Emilia El Aziz, Esmerelda El Aziz and Eos Rose El Aziz. Princess El Aziz (by Royal Colors) was retained by Woody Arabians to continue her mother’s legacy. She is a beautiful bay mare who has done her mother proud. She produced two fillies so far – one by Van Gogh AM and her most recent by FS Eternal Flame. Emilia El Aziz (by QR Marc) was sold to Iran and named Silver Champion Filly at the Iran Nationals. Esmerelda El Aziz (by FS Eternal Flame) was named Silver Champion Futurity Filly at Int. B Show Salerno and is currently in foal to E.S. Harir for 2018. M Eos’ 2017 filly, Eos Rose El Aziz (by FA El Rasheem) is a pretty bay princess who will definitely be one to look out for in the near future and it is because of her that M Eos was bred back to FA El Rasheem for 2018. The second WH Justice daughter at the farm, DA Alima, was bred by Darius Arabians. And where there is Darius breeding, the best Russian blood is bound to be found. DA Alima’s straight Russian damline traces back to the legendary U.S. Reserve National Champion, Monogramma. Monogramma produced many Russian National Champions but it is her World Champion and International Champion producing son, Monogramm that made her an aristocrat. DA Alima is in foal to twice World Champion and Scottsdale Champion Stallion Kahil Al Shaqab for 2018. Another Darius bred mare calls Woody Arabian home; she is DA Najah Bint Massai (Massai Ibn Marenga x DA Nigeria). With a staggering total of eight crosses to the aristocrat Mammona also known as the ‘Queen of Tersk’, this flea-bitten beauty is the pinnacle of Russian breeding. Between these two Darius divas, we find an unprecedented 11 crosses to the Russian broodmatron Mammona. Another WH Justice descendant on the farm is Iman By Ajman (Ajman Moniscione x Nagiba AB). Her sire is one of the most extreme and successful WH Justice sons in the industry; she is a reflection of the type he produces. What makes her such a treasure for Woody Arabians is the fact that her dam, Nagiba AB, formed part of the Woody Arabians breeding program many years ago. Nagiba AB brings with her crosses to El Shaklan as well as influences from Poland, Egypt and Russia. In 2016 Iman By Ajman produced the amazing filly India El Aziz by FS Eternal Flame that is now owned by Zamora Arabians in Switzerland. And this year Iman By Ajman gave Woody and Noëmie a spectacular filly by FA El Rasheem that is bound to turn heads in the future. Even though M Eos is the queen of Woody Arabians, there is another mare that holds quite a special place in both Woody’s and Noëmie’s hearts; her name is M.M. Etienne (Lorenzo El Bri x Esfera), bred by Mario Matt Arabians in Australia. Her dam is a direct daughter of U.S. National Champion Fame VF with a tail female line to aristocrat producer China Moon. Her daughter by Ajman Moniscione, M.M. Eliana was named unanimous Gold Champion Futurity Filly in Aachen in 2012. Noëmie sums up how she feels about M.M. Etienne: “She is the most loving mare you can ever imagine, so easy and so gentle. She has a big heart and I guess she would adopt any foal from our farm. I loved her from the moment I first saw her four years ago and now that she is mine, I will never let her go. She has those big black eyes that stare right into your soul. She is part of me now and owns a piece of my heart, especially since she let me ride her after two weeks as if we’ve been doing it forever. I have nothing but love for her.” There are four bay bombshells that form part of the core broodmare band at Woody Arabians. The first is the Travagliato Reserve Champion and Biennio Overall Champion, Sahmira (Najim x Al Batalah). Just like her show career, her broodmare career is one she can proudly boast – her 2016 filly Savana El Aziz by FS Eternal Flame is a glorious creature that will definitely follow in her dam’s footsteps. The second bay is the 2016 Kauber Platte Gold Champion Mare RRA Engelica (Enzo x ATA Crystal Bey). Her pedigree is typically American with a few hints of Russian and Polish blood. It is the four crosses to the immortal Bask in her pedigree that make her so special; it is an influence that will definitely give her a leg up in the breeding barn. The third bay was bred by Heinz Stöckle of Osterhof Stud. Her name is Psyntia (Psytadel x Taiga) and she is yet another mare on the farm that traces back to Mammona. Woody says it was love at first sight with Psyntia OS; her undeniably beautiful exterior and kind soul captured his heart. He also, without hesitation says that she has the most beautiful ears on the farm. Psyntia has had fillies by Marajj, MPA Giovanni and Monther Al Nasser and she is now in foal to E.S. Harir for 2018. It is the elegant VD Royal Extreema (Royal Colors x Abaja) that finishes off this collection of bays. She is definitely one of the most accomplished show horses at the farm. In 2011, she was shown to the following titles: Gold Champion Filly at the Porto Sant Elpidio, Citta di Castello and Montefalco shows as well as the Silver Champion Filly at the Salerno show. This year she blessed the stud with Escada El Aziz - a beautiful filly by Mountassar Al Zobair and she is in foal to Kahil Al Shaqab for 2018. The crimson goddesses at Woody Arabians are definitely the minority but their impact at the stud is quite important. The dazzling Diamantha (Nagadir x Dalia II) is three-quarter Russian and one quarter Polish. The Mammona influence is once again present, only this time it is through her sire. With her record standing at two fillies and three colts, Diamantha is one of the stud’s top producers. Diamantha blessed the stud with a magnificent bay daughter by World Champion Royal Colors – Danka El Aziz. Having been named unanimous Champion Filly at the Italian Nationals, Travagliato and Citta di Catsello shows in 2008, Danka El Aziz is the farm’s most successful homebred filly to date. Danka El Aziz has transitioned from show horse to broodmare smoothly and has been breeding foals of consistent quality. Her filly by HDB Shir Ibn Massai was sold to Italy and her filly by Libano MPE, named Deauville El Aziz is quite attractive. Danka El Aziz currently has a very promising colt by Mountasser Al Zobair at her side. Diamantha also produced the twice Iranian National Gold Champion Filly Dakota El Aziz (by Aja Angelo) and Dilhan El Aziz by the Dubai Stud owned stallion, SG Labib. Fha Faye Y Medina (Marjan Albidayer x Fhamina) rounds off the crimson beauties in the broodmare barn at Woody Arabians. She is one of the youngest mares at the farm and is the only horse with a direct sire line to Mawan Al Shaqab. AP Indirah (Nevan x Imdella), Shavina (Sandirahn x Esta-Shaghira), NA Liluna (AGA Khan x Lyra) and Harmattan Pachmina (AS Sinans Pacha x Hany De Gargassan) are the older girls at the farm. They are all flea bitten angels with huge dark eyes, thin black skin, a feminine refinement and expressions to die for. AP Indirah’s sire is Russian while her dam is straight Egyptian. As a younger mare she was named Gold Champion at the Swiss Mountain Cup and then later she placed third at the prestigious World Championships. AP Indirah has produced stunning foals for the stud; her filly by Massai Ibn Marenga was sold to Iran and her colt, Idris El Aziz by Hanibal By Goia is a promising prospect to take on the role of sire. Shavina is a predominantly Spanish mare with El Shaklan and Estopa influencing the entirety of her pedigree. She too has produced beautiful foals but her 2017 foal by Mountassar Al Zobair seems to be a little star. NA Liluna is a regal Russian mare that looks every inch her pedigree. Mammona reigns supreme in this pedigree too, both in the sire and dam side. She has outdone herself in the breeding barn and is definitely going to continue down the path for success. Harmattan Pachmina’s wide set, large black eyes are visible from a mile away. She is sired by World Reserve Champion, AS SInans Pacha and her damline is influenced by Russian and straight Egyptian lines. She has been bred to Dubai Gold Champion Calypso OS for 2018. The oldest mare at the farm is Travagliato Champion Mare and Best In Show, Salam MV (Gahdames x Serenity Pacha MV). Her sire is pure Spanish and a Tabal grandson; Tabal was one of the greatest Spanish breeding stallions best known as the sire of Estopa. Salam MV’s dam is a straight Egyptian mare which makes Salam MV a Golden Cross individual. “Salam MV was born in 1992 in Brazil and then made her way to Austria before coming to Italy. In my opinion, she is one of the most beautiful horses at our farm. Given her age, her condition is no longer at its peak, she is no longer fast, and she has a few aches and pains, but these wonderful black eyes and this short small ears…she will always be a very important part of our farm,” adds Woody. The stallions hold pride of place at Woody Arabians – they are the progenitors; they are the kings. There is one very special stallion that will forever hold a special place in Woody’s heart, he is Woody’s ‘heart horse’ and his name is Royal Colours (True Colours x Xtreme Wonder). Royal Colours has had a profound impact in Woody’s life and breeding program. Woody was part of the Royal Colours partnership when Royal Colours was named World Champion in 2006 and he also played a huge part in the sale to Dubai Stud. And last year, Woody watched with pride as ‘his boy’ was named 2016 World Platinum Champion Stallion. Since M Eos is considered the queen of Woody Arabians then who is her king? Who is the stallion that watches over the farm and his harem, whose call resounds throughout the barns and captivates the attention of whoever lays eyes on him? His name is FS Eternal Flame (Kubinec x Temptress MSC) and Woody sums ups his feelings towards him perfectly: “FS Eternal Flame was bred by Frank Spönle and for me he is the most handsome stallion you can imagine. He was born in 1996 in Germany and has been successful in the show ring. He is a real moving machine with a very nice long neck, refined head and big black eyes, but in my opinion what stands out the most is his sweet character. He takes care of the babies when they get separated from their mother in the most gentle of ways. Even at the age of 21, Eternal Flame still impresses everyone when he comes out of his stable and calls out to his mares. For us the old horses are the heart of the farm and Eternal Flame will always be the one and only king of Woody Arabians.” Esmerelda El Aziz, Olympia El Aziz, Neiva El Aziz and Europa El Aziz are the four gorgeous FS Eternal Flame daughters that Woody Arabians have retained to carry forth their sire’s legacy. HDB Shir Ibn Massai (Massai Ibn Marenga x Mayana) is another outrageously beautiful stallion that calls Woody Arabians home. He is a multi-international champion and his greatest impact to date has been in South America, especially Brazil. His foals are extreme, correct and move like machines. Be it grey, chestnut or bay, young or old, there is a common thread woven throughout Woody Arabians – one of high end quality and beauty. And with more than 45 crosses to Tersk’s breeding queen Mammona found throughout the entire Woody herd, aristocracy runs deep within the herd’s veins. The passion, dedication and utter love for Arabian horse shared between Woody and Noëmie is what keeps Woody Arabians going and makes the stud so successful. Noëmie adds: “For us it is important and a necessity to ride our horses as well as have a deep connection with them. This is what we currently strive for and is probably the reason why we have 40 horses; they are our family and our farm is a place of peace for them. I guess for the future we will continue with what we are doing now: we will continue to breed Arabian horses that are usable for riding and showing and to find them owners that love them as much as we do.”