Royal Shahara Arabians
By Leslie Schunemann Nord

Michael & Leslie Nord

Royal Shahara Arabians began in memory of our son Weston in 1991. He was tragically killed at the tender age of only three in a car accident in which our babysitter was driving. It was the saddest day of my life but I knew that I must be strong for my family because they hurt too. Fortunately my older son Grant's life was spared as well as the babysitter. We lived on our 8 acre estate in Rancho Santa Fe California at the time of our son's death with our other three children Nicole, Grant, and Clint. Weston loved horses and hoped one day that he could have his sister's little half-Arabian pony. Unfortunately he never lived long enough to see that day. Thus in the Fall of 1991 my dream began. I would make it my lifelong goal to perpetuate the Arabian horse in my son's memory by producing beautiful, conformationally correct horses that could compete successfully in the halter show ring and later do well in the performance arena.

Some 22 years earlier I would recall the fond memories I had of riding through the hills of Douglas Fairbanks Jr's former ranch in Rancho Santa Fe where our estate was. The Ranch was owned by my father Lloyd Schunemann and his partners back in the mid 60's through the early 70's. My father and his business partners also owned the well known franchise-Jack in the Box restaurant chain throughout the U.S. Later my father along with former Fed Mart owner Sol Price, started and owned The Price Club now known as Costco. My husband at that time and myself owned a beautiful 8 acre estate in which we kept our personal riding horses for our family to enjoy in the lovely horse community of Rancho Santa Fe California.

Shortly after Weston's death in the Fall of 1991 I asked accomplished trainer Mike Neal to help me find a special colt in memory of my son. I told Mike Neal that I was looking for an exceptional colt that was beautiful headed with a long fine upright neck with an incredible smooth body. I wanted a colt that could go on to be a top show horse and then become a great breeding stallion. I knew that I was asking for a lot but I felt confident that we would find him. Finally after a few months of searching Mike called me and told me he thought he had found the one. He was a Fame VF+ son quite amply named Mark of Fame. He was only four months old at that time but I could see his quality even at that young age. One look at those big beautiful eyes and that "look at me attitude" and I knew he was meant to be mine. Call it destiny or divine intervention fate brought him to me.

In the six years that we owned Mark of Fame he garnished many championships for us including Canadian Reserve Futurity Colt the year when Gai Monarch won the championship and also US Top Ten Stallion. In addition to owning such a great stallion we blessed to have owned several well known and treasured mares such as Galizja, of Rohan champion producer, now owned by Lucy Whittier of Las Colinas, WCA Mon Cherie multi-champion and champion producer now owned by Brumarba Stud, AJ Amber Rose multi-champion and champion producer out of AHW Aristocrat mare Gay-Rose Gal and Pepper Rose multi-champion and champion producer, dam of Markessa Rose a champion in her own right owned by photographer Javan Schaller. Markessa Rose was the first horse that I ever bred after being in the horse business for only 3 years. Markessa Rose has won such prestigious titles as US National Top Ten Mare as well as Scottsdale Top Ten and many other championships too numerous to name.

While promoting champion stallion Mark of Fame we were given a wonderful opportunity to feature him in Robert Vavra's book "Horses of the Sun". Denise Hearst of The Arabian Horse World magazine told photographer Robert Vavra about our stallion Mark of Fame back in 1994 when he had just won the title of Canadian Reserve Futurity Colt. Robert Vavra was so moved by our story and so captivated by his beauty that he asked me if I'd like to be a part of his beautiful book. I gladly accepted and Mark of Fame as a 3 year old was featured in Robert Vavra's picturesque book "Horses of the Sun" photographed in the beautiful fields of the Santa Ynez valley.

After five successful years of owning and promoting the magnificent stallion Mark Of Fame as fate would have it my life would take but another disappointing turn. I was forced to get out of the horse business and sell my wonderful horses due to a bitter divorce. It was devastating knowing that everything that I had worked so hard for and the love and passion of my life could be taken from my life so quickly. More importantly the very reason that I had begun the horse business was in memory of my son. We decided to sell our lovely estate in Rancho Santa Fe California because the painful memories were too much to bare. We chose the beautiful Pacific Northwest because of its beauty and serenity. We ended up moving to the beautiful lake resort town of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho where we built our ranch on 175 acres overlooking Coeur d' Alene Lake. But no longer being in the horse business became increasingly hard on me for that was my passion.

Fortunately in 1996 I met a wonderful man and his three wonderful children, Lindsay, Stephen and Kristen. Michael and I were married in May 1997 and then moved with my three children to Spokane Washington to be closer to Michael's work and his children. Between us we have seven children, Nicole 22, Lindsay 19, Stephen 17, Grant 17, Kristen 16, Clint 13 and our guardian Angel Weston. Michael owns a very successful investment firm in Spokane along with his two partners. Despite a troubled economy his business is thriving due in part to his expertise and his 22 years of experience. In 2000 Michael realized how much the horses meant to me and encouraged me to get back to the business so that I could fulfill my dream in memory of my son, Weston. Through his love and support we once again became involved in the horse business much to my delight.

In 2001 Michael expressed an interest in owning a black colt. To find a colt of the same quality that of which Mark of Fame possessed would not be easy. After several months of searching I had finally found that special colt with all of the qualities that I was looking for. My search led me to Wunderbar Arabians owned by Ed and Laura Friesen in Canada. Wunderbar Arabians has been successfully breeding and showing champions for over 25 years. Ed and Laura graciously agreed to sell us this beautiful black weanling colt sired by the Leading Juvenile Halter and Performance Champion Sire - NV Beau Bey, the black stallion sired by the infamous and great Bey Shah. Obviously a lot of thought and studying went into this careful mating to produce this exceptional weanling Black colt we named Bey Shahar. It had been exactly ten years since I had purchased Mark of Fame. Once again fate had entered my life when I found our new colt. Bey Shahar is NV Beau Bey's most look alike son according to photographers Jeff and Mary Little who shot photos of NV Beau Bey at the same age as recently shooting Bey Shahar. We are very excited about our young Black Homozygous colt who has a lovely head, lots of stretch, a long fine upright neck, a smooth body and level top-line with straight legs and good feet. In addition he has been tested SCID clear. We expect Bey Shahar to be a great show horse and a great producer in that his dam is an exotic Gainey bred mare who is very correct and who has the same dam line as the champion Kubinec son Koronec. Several trainers have expressed an interest in him and we plan to show him this coming year as a 2 year old. For the time being we are just letting him grow up and be a horse as to not stress him at such an early age. As a two year old in 2003 we will stand him to a few outside approved mares in addition to our mares. Bey Shahar will be standing at Mt. Pleasant Stallion Station which is a state of the art breeding facility. Mt. Pleasant Stallion Station is owned by Robert and Cindy Morgan of Lincoln, California. Robert and Cindy Morgan own Loomis Veterinary Clinic and Cindy Morgan has over 20 years of experience with horses and has bred many regional and National champions.

In June of 2005 after selling our beautiful black NV Beau Bey son Bey Shahar to France we decided to concentrate our breeding program on a small group of high quality exotic straight Egyptians.

In this business there are many highs and lows, however you must believe in yourself and stick to your strong convictions. We are committed to breeding and producing quality, exotic, conformationally correct horses that can successfully compete in both the halter and performance arena. Dreams do come true and what more of a befitting way in which to honor my dear son Weston. I know my dear Angel Weston is looking down from Heaven with tears of joy knowing that my love and dedication to the Arabian horse is for him and in his memory. We have truly been blessed to own such beautiful creatures and for this I shall truly be grateful to God. So my dear son until we meet again you shall forever be in my heart.