comments
BASKE AFIRE
Owned by Joe Betten
For the third year in a row, Baske Afire (Afire Bey V x Mac Baske, by Baskevich) leads the AHT Leading Juvenile Sires List. This remarkable young horse has made the “Leading Sires” List for the past five years. “He’s a superior individual with an outstanding pedigree,” explains his owner. “His sire’s record speaks for itself and his dam, Mac Baske, not only was the National Performance Champion, she has been a Multiple National Champion producer. People get a part of all that success each time they breed to Baske Afire. He has what it takes to be a great breeding stallion: beauty, size, type, extreme athletic ability, and a pedigree to stand behind all of that.”
Baske Afire is more than living up to all expectations. At age 8, his final year to qualify as a juvenile sire, he has Champion and National Champion offspring all over the world. His oldest foals are now 5-year-olds. “We feel Baske Afire’s greatest contributions to the breed will be made in the performance arena,” states trainer Jim Stachowski, who knows all about successful performance horses. He has developed dozens of them, with which he and Stachowski clients have won National honors. “We have chosen Arabian mares for him that has classic performance bloodlines: *Bask, Cognac, Barbary, Wisdom, Zodiac Matador, Hucklebey Berry, MHR Nobility, and others. I have selected Saddlebred mares with motion, beauty and pedigree. He is crossing wonderfully with daughters of Sultan’s Santana, Caramac, Courageous Admiral and Callaway’s Blue Norther, to name a few.” As a thrilling side note, Stachowski just drove his young Saddlebred fine harness mare, Callaway’s Local News, to her – and his – first World’s Grand Championship at the Kentucky State Fair.
“The Baske Afire son, Ali Fire (x Ali Cerise, by Cognac) was 2007 Buckeye Champion Junior English Pleasure, and 2007 Region 13 Champion Junior English Pleasure,” continues Jim. “Baske Afire’s get are also winning halter Championships at major shows. His daughter, She Be Adiva KBS (x She Be Jammin) was 2007 Buckeye HA/AA Breeding Mare Champion in both the open, with Rinaldo Longuini, and the AOTH, with her owner, Janey Morse. This stallion is making a major contribution to the Arabian breed – and industry – by creating a new level of Arabian horses. He is raising the bar.”
Linda White
I've got a Half-Arabian weanling colt by Baske Afire that's pretty awesome. He's named In The Line Afire and is out of the Saddlebred mare El Milagros California Capers by Sultans Santana. The Baske Afire foals are very good and so is their marketability; they're desired in the industry. One of their conformational strengths that I like is the exceptional length of the poll. -
Irwin Schimmel
I can tell you that the very first time I laid eyes on Baske Afire, I got goosebumps, and that was just standing in his stall. And then when they pulled him out - he's a horse that doesn't look real. He was so beautiful and so well put-together, so elegant and true to Arabian type and then when I saw him move, it kind of knocked my socks off. The horse is so extremely athletic and square in the way he moves. My thought is that he is the ideal look that we've been breeding for a long time. There hasn't been any Arabian type lost - it's been gained, and there's great athleticism that I'm seeing in a lot of his babies. I got on the bandwagon as soon as I saw him, and started rounding up people to breed to him. I think he's going to be the next great breeding stallion of the new millennium. He's very exciting - he's what we needed. And through his pedigree, there's great trainability there too. He's a breeder's horse as well as a trainer's horse, and I think that's a great thing. We're anxiously awaiting our babies, and everyone I know that has bred to him has been ecstatic over what they've received - and this is out of a host of differently-bred mares. -
Bridgette White
I was one of the first to breed to Baske Afire, and have a wonderful purebred yearling filly, Eksdraordinary, out of *Eksedra, our six-time National Top Ten mare," says Susan Johnson of Venture Farms. "We'd had success in breeding to Baske Afire's sire, Afire Bey V, and consider his dam one of the finest show mares of the era, so it wasn't a tough decision to breed to their son. We expected to get quality, and Baske Afire has exceeded our expectations. We had five Baske Afire foals in 2003 (one purebred), and expect the same in 2004. He adds refinement, good legs and conformation, great necks, and very pretty faces. This year we had a phenomenal purebred colt, I'd say the best foal we've had so far - he's very cool! "Baske Afire's owner, Joe Betten, is also a good friend, and we like the way he and Jim Stachowski handle and promote this young stallion. They've worked very well with our veterinarian when shipping semen. Joe also donated a breeding to our regional youth foundation and we appreciate it. -
Susan Johnson, Venture Farms.
When I visited Stachowski Farm and first saw Baske Afire, I was awestruck. I somehow knew at that moment that he was going to be one of the great sires of this new era in breeding Arabian horses. I immediately purchased dozens of breedings for Midwest mares and for our clients and breeders from around the world. The cross I had hoped for - of Baske Afire with Magnum Psyche - has exceeded our strong expectations. This is the stallion that merges the halter and performance breeders and trainers throughout the industry. My hat is off to Joe Betten and Jim Stachowski on their great breeding program for Baske Afire and for sharing him with all of us. -
David Boggs
Baske Afire is one of the most beautiful Arabian horses I've ever seen. He's a blend of beauty, athleticism and correctness that is really hard to f ind. And it looks like his babies are like that as well. I've seen a number of his babies and they're beautiful. They all seem to be an improvement on the mothers. I'm a strong supporter of him and I think he's going to help the breed. -
Joel Kiesner
Baske Afire is one of the future great stallions of the Arabian breed. His ability to sire incredible foals, combined with the marketing abilities of Stachowski Farm, makes this a successful program for breeders everywhere. My national champion mare Maggdalina produced the Baske Afire son JJ Mecca this year, and the results are a true testimony to the greatness of his sire. -
Walter Mishek
We've had three absolutely stunning foals by Baske Afire, one of which was Beautiful WF, who is now owned by Mr. Les VanDyke. The support that Stachowski Farm has given us in marketing the Baske Afire babies has been great. We've had trainers come by and look at babies before, but the Stachowskis are the only ones that have come and looked at them and sold them. The advertising campaigns for Baske Afire and his babies have been wonderful. Jim has arranged for photographers to shoot our babies, and has sent staff to help get them ready for the shoots. I can't say enough nice things about how they've helped us. We've sold our Baske Afire babies better than anything else we've produced. -
Kristin Harkin
I have seen a lot of Baske Afire's babies and the majority of them are as nice as he is. It's hard to get a stud that even hits on 10% of the babies, so when you see a majority of the foals that you really like, I think that's a good testimonial. Baske Afire, himself, is, I think, as nice an Arabian horse as I have ever seen. If you were just going to draw one up, I don't think you could make one look any better than him. The only thing I would change about him is that I would put him in my barn. He's a horse that everyone hopes to encounter in their lifetime. -
Gordon Potts
We're very taken with Baske Afire - we have three foals by him already and we bred back to him, so we're expecting more in the spring. When I first went out to see Baske Afire, I booked three breedings to him. I saw a charismatic, beautiful horse with lots of athletic ability. There's just something about him that drew me to him … it's a hard thing to define. I just fell in love with him and I had to breed to him. There's just something about him that captivates me, and I feel the same way about the babies. His babies have a magnetism; they're very good-natured, athletic babies that we're just happy to be around. -
Mary Ann Rafferty
Before I had ever seen Baske Afire, Mark Jameison and Jim Stachowski highly recommended him to me. I was a little hesitant to breed to a horse I had never seen and who had no foals on the ground when I bought the breeding in 2001. I am so glad that they recommended him to me because I absolutely love my filly. Her dam has had four foals - two of them National Champions - and this filly I think surpasses all of them. I think Baske Afire added shape and a better set to the neck, and this filly's going to trot. Baske Afire's not only throwing the neck and the athleticism, but he's prettying them up as well. I didn't see my filly until she was 5 weeks old, and I couldn't believe her, she's just phenomenal. She's got a neck that's incredible and all the attitude in the world. I really did take a chance, but boy am I glad I did. I would love to breed back in the future. -
Cindy Beall
I think he's one of the most exciting stallions to come along in the Arabian business for a long time. As far as producing beautiful horses, and horses that can trot, I haven't seen anything like him so far. That's why we're breeding to him. We have one colt on the ground this year and I have two coming next year. They seem to have an attitude, a show horse attitude. They like to get out there and put on a show, trotting around with their tails flagged. They've got long, skinny, upright necks, beautiful, tippy, little ears, and very attractive heads. -
Tina Pembroke
Baske Afire when he was a 2- year-old. We had gone over to Jim's to look at another horse and Jim had commented that he wanted us to come out and look at this young stud. We went to the breeding farm, and the lady who takes care of it all said, 'Well, he's been out in pasture all day, so I don't know what he'll be like, but I'd be more than happy to bring him out for you.' They brought him out of his stall in just a leather halter and a lead rope, nothing fancy. Jim brought him out, said, 'Whoa,' to him and jerked him one time to make him stop and stand. As a 2-year-old colt, he struck a pose that just brought goosebumps. He didn't have to do a thing - he was so majestic and regal and unbelievably correct. He possesses everything we're looking for in the Arabian breed. And then they took him outside to move him. Within two steps he was trotting level up and down the paddock. No shaker bags, no insanity - that was just the way he moved. I came home and I told Jody he was the best 2-year-old Arabian I'd ever seen, and I still hold to that. I've never seen anything like him. We bred a Galimar daughter to him, and the filly she had is the best horse we've ever produced on the farm. This filly is phenomenal - correct with attitude and motion. Baske Afire himself comes very close the standard we all set for a horse. And now having seen what the first foals hitting the ground are like, he comes very close the epitome of what we all hope for in a breeding horse. I have no doubt in my mind at some point in time he will out-produce himself. -
Larry Hoffman
I am thrilled! I don’t usually breed for purebreds, but I decided to breed to him because I wanted a horse who could trot. The mare I bred is a fantastic mare, but the baby’s unbelievable. In fact, I sold two-thirds of her before she left her mother’s side. She’ll be in halter at Scottsdale this February and I’ve never seen a purebred that I was surer was going to be a long-necked, trotty horse. I wouldn’t change a thing about her — I couldn’t have gotten any better foal. Stachowski Farm has been incredible about marketing — it’s been the best help I’ve ever had after breeding to a stallion, as far as getting the news out there, and Jim’s personal interest in coming to see her and letting me know how she looked compared to other babies. The filly could stand on her own, but it’s certainly nice to have that extra help. It’s been very unusual and I’ve really enjoyed it. —
Nancy Kaplan
We have one Baske Afire baby on the ground now - our yearling colt Ca-Ching. When we bred to Baske Afire, it was the first time that Sugar Legacy Arabians had ever bred to an outside stallion, since we were fortunate enough to have Baskin Robbins as our sire for the past 15 years. When Baskin Robbins passed away, we realized that we had to put a new program together. So I took a Baskin Robbins daughter to Baske Afire, and we got our wonderful colt. In all the years that we were breeding, we were trying to produce a junior stallion to follow Baskin Robbins. The same year that he died, we got a grandson of his that we think has every bit of potential to be our next breeding stallion. Ca Ching is a very exciting colt with a phenomenal personality. Our praises are 10-plus for Baske Afire, and we've bred three more mares to him for next year. We hope to continue breeding Baskin mares to him for a long time to come. We're very pleased with Stachowski Farm's involvement with the stallion. It makes it more exciting and more beneficial as a breeder, because you feel that you're going to be getting the high dollar for your foals, with them behind you, promoting the sale. We're really excited and happy to be a part of the program with Baske Afire, and we will continue to be a part of it. -
Dana Montana
I've owned Ring of Fire BM for sixteen years, and she's produced seven National Champion Half-Arabians for me," says John Rannenberg. "But I believe the Baske Afire colt she had this spring is the best thing this mare has put on the ground. He added set and shape and style to this foal's neck - very hingey - and gave it length. Plus, this colt is a beautiful mover. Very pretty, a chestnut with flaxen mane and tail, and four white socks; he is definitely a halter horse, and I know he'll have a performance career in an English division as well. One of the most impressive things about Baske Afire is that he has the capability to sire horses that will excel in both halter and performance. My only problem with this colt is deciding what to name him! -
John Rannenberg.
I bought a Saddlebred mare based on the fact she was in foal to Baske Afire. I’m thrilled to death with the resulting colt; really, really happy. He’s beautiful, just screams show horse, and I love his mind. I’ve got three breedings for next year because I can’t wait to make more like him. —
Julie Behrends
We had three Baske Afire foals this year, and are very excited about the four we’re expecting in 2004. Out of *Bask, Barbary, and Reign On mares, they’re high quality, quite beautiful youngsters. Without exception, they have long, upright necks and beautiful faces — the cream of the crop. We also appreciate all the support we’ve had from Jim Stachowski. —
Mark Stinson, Kellogg Horse Center at Cal Poly.
We've bred quite a few mares, and we're very happy with what Baske Afire is producing. We're extremely pleased with how he's crossed on the mares we bred to him and the foals are very exciting. The babies are getting more poll from him than other stallions, which we're very happy with, and their dispositions are great. We just sold a 6-monthold Half-Arabian by Baske Afire that will go to Scottsdale - an extremely nice horse. We bred to a number of stallions this year, and Jim Stachowski is the only representative of a stallion that has come to see the get. He helps you market, and helps you find the things you need. It's a good deal, and I'm very happy to be a part of it. We plan to continue to utilize Baske Afire in the future. -
Irwin Schimmel
Express Yourself’s embryo transfer colt by Baske Afire was born this year and he’s amazing. His name is Expressionist and everyone who sees him thinks he’s awesome. He’s beautiful, with a ton of motion, incredibly long neck and legs — a halter and performance horse. He’s the whole package. —
Christena Ferran
We’ve had four Half- Arabian foals by Baske Afire, and are expecting three in 2004. Baske Afire is siring absolutely stunning offspring. I love the length and set of their necks. In addition to being very pretty, they’re athletic, too. They are just what we’re striving to breed — and we’re having lots of fun with them. —
Scott Brumfield, Birches Gardens.
Baske Afire foals are in high demand, although many of their breeders are unwilling to part with them. The thing about the Baske Afire foals is that there are so many really nice ones, they’ve elevated the standard for what you think of as a good horse. To me they’re an advancement of the breed and in a couple of years that’s going to show up in the showring. Jimmy and I both feel Baske Afire is an incredible horse, we believe in him, and we have tremendous confidence in what he’s going to be able to do. —
Shawn Stachowski
We actually bred to Baske Afire the first year he stood at stud. We'd bred to Afire Bey V before, and we really liked MacBaske, so we thought he was the way for us to go. We were very happy with the foal, and this year, we had five more. The foals are out of a purebred *El Ghazi daughter, and two Saddlebred mares, including The Small Town Blues. We just love the foals - in fact, Joe Betten and Jim Stachowski came out to look at them and they're as blown away as we are. Stachowski Farm has been wonderful to work with, and very supportive. Baske Afire's foals are refined and pretty, but also strong and good-legged. Our ultimate goal in breeding is to produce performance horses, but they have to be pretty. If we get a horse that can do halter and performance, it's a bonus. All of the foals that we've had by Baske Afire this year are going to do both! -
Susan Johnson