Princeton Mariner

"If I had a boat
I'd go out on the ocean
And if I had a pony
I'd ride him on my boat
And we could all together
Go out on the ocean
Me upon my pony on my boat"-Lyle Lovett, from his song, If I Had a Boat

A young Princeton Mariner in New Jersey

The chestnut horse pictured above is a very young Princeton Mariner, bred by Gail Hoff-Carmona. He is pictured at Los Alamos Dressage Center in Freehold, New Jersey before being sold overseas and eventually found a home at the Vlacq Stud, in Flintshire, England. Princeton Mariner is a son of Serr Maariner out of Black Satin (Black Sambo x Diroufa). I knew Princeton Mariner personally and what I loved most was his overall balance and harmony. He was a generously curved horse and very well put together. He was a celebration of curves and circles, gracefully flowing from one into another. He was not a tall horse, I remember him standing somewhere around 14.2 hands; maybe a little more. Gail let me lead him out of the stall and as he stood next to me, in the barn aisle, I just could not take my eyes off of him. I kept thinking about Serr Maariner and having met Princeton Maarena earlier in the afternoon, plus looking at pictures of Mariner's full sister, Princeton Maaroufa, I could not believe the quality horses that two mature horses like Serr Maariner and Black Satin were consistently producing, so late in their lives. Princeton Mariner was a very strong representative of Kuhaylan phenotype, while Pri Serr Sudan was reminiscent of the type we associate with the Saqlawi. While Pri Serr Sudan was a bit more spirited, a little hotter in his disposition; Princeton Mariner has the fabulous Babson disposition I love. I remember him as a very friendly and easy going horse. His willing nature, his tractability allowed him to be trained under saddle and he was ridden regularly in lessons, as well as in the Los Alamos Dressage Center's Open House as part of a Pas de Deux.

A mature Princeton Mariner in England

Princeton Mariner is now in his 20's, having been foaled in 1986. The Vlacq Stud has frozen his semen and will make him available at stud. I am grateful for having known this wonderful horse and although I will probably never see him again, in a small way I am comforted by the knowledge that I was blessed with his half sister. I urge straight Egyptian breeders in the United Kingdom to visit him. You will be happy that you made the effort.

"If I were Roy Rogers
I'd sure enough be single
I couldn't bring myself to marrying old Dale
It'd just be me and Trigger
We'd go riding through them movies
Then we'd buy a boat and on the sea we'd sail"-Lyle Lovett, from his song, If I had a Boat

EnJoy,
Ralph