India’s interest with Polish Breeding lines of Arabian Horses as well as the intricate connection to Classical Music and European History became a relentless pursuit. Part of India’s family is from Eastern Europe. Her father was in International Trade doing business with the Eastern Block Countries as they were once called for more than 40 years. His concern was the import/export of plate glass and machinery for tempering glass as American Tempering Inc. and M.L. Burke Co.  David’s father was an executive for Pacific Telephone but had a life long passion for farming.  He owned cattle and ran them on what is now the Sharon Heights area across from the Stanford Linear Accelerator.  He also bought and managed an apricot ranch in Hollister giving David many memories of ranch life working the harvest during the summer.  Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s in the south peninsula, horses were an integral part of the rural life there.  Before the suburban sidewalks came to be, there were horse paths alongside many of the roads with riders having the right of way.

India and David’s Sierra Dorada Story

Although living within only a few miles of each other, and even having friends in common from long ago, we would not meet until relatively late in life.  Soon after we came together, we took an impromptu Sunday drive and happened to pass by Los Acres Arabian Ranch which lead to the introduction to Terry Polk and her family and their Spanish stallion Sidi-Brahim, a truely emotional moment with a magnificent horse.  This inspiring moment lead to the search for two mares and soon a letter to Om el Arab.  We received a friendly, warm response and a generous invitation from Jay and Sigi Constanti to visit their ranch in Santa Ynez, California. 

A deep friendship was born that weekend and we came home owning two beautiful young bay mares of unique and exceptional breeding.  For the next several months we were driving south to see Jay, Sigi, and Janina and our mares Om el Nadzea and Om el Romina. With David on Guitar and India on violin, we performed for Om el Arab’s Open House that June. That June we decided that we wanted to find a ranch where we could focus on our Music and raise Arabians. During one of our visits to Om El Arab, fate would have us meet, for the first time, Gerry Alexander of BruMarBa Arabians.  He told us that, after retiring, his ranch was on the market and we should go north and visit it.  And so, several months later, we followed him there from Region III, meeting Bruce Clark for the first time.  The property was that last portion of the original BruMarBa ranch which was used for pasture.  On the highest hill with a splendid view of the sierra foothills, is buried Spanish Arabian blood, Barich de Washoe and the beautiful Makora as well as others. 

At the corner of the adjoining ranch now owned by Lacey’s Arabians, is buried the famous Comar Bay Beau.  The view and the sense of timelessness caused us to go forward and purchase those 60 acres.  By the next year we would purchase an additional 20 acres which adjoins the property and includes gold mines and the original Gold Rush boarding house and smoke house built in the 1860’s and still standing.  With the purchase of the land, Gerry and Bruce included a native daughter, our BruMarBa Briana who happens to be in foal at this time to Jullyen El Jamaal.

In the search for breeding Om El Nadzea, we found that the great Monogramm was located very close to us.  This meant that we could visit our mares while they were being bred.  With Shilo Bishop and Caitlyn we shared our stories and fun, long telephone calls and sisterly concern.  Shilo was the mid-wife for Om El Nadzea assisting the birth of SD Primavera. We are expecting another foal this spring by Monogramm and will breed our mare Major Makette GA to Consensus.

 In August 2005 we took a drive south where we dropped in on the Varian Arabians’ August Fling and saw Firefly V for sale.  We felt a strong connection to her, but for some reason did not notice that the sales list indicated that she was infoal.  So when we lined up behind several others on a list of willing purchasers and drove back to the Bay Area, we assumed Firefly V would go home with someone else.  As we opened the door to our house, the phone rang and we found Angela Alvarez on the other end saying we could have her.  We accepted and, as Angela said “Her due date is…”, we couldn’t believe that not only did we have the opportunity to acquire this gorgeous young daughter of Sanadik El Shaklan out of Fantos, but she was in foal to Bravado Bey V.  This year she gave us a big trotting boy, SD Fortunate Son.  David will be presenting him this spring at local and Regional events. 
India’s passion for Arabians drives her to many ranches around the world via the internet.  She came across the site of Twin Creek Farms and through many conversations we came to know Theresa Rorabaugh.  From Theresa, we would purchase Shahmaans Sarita and MS Temtation.  This was because of the confidence that we felt due to her honesty, professionalism, her sensitivity to the horse, their owner and towards us. Since our purchases, Theresa has shared with us many valuable pearls of her astute knowledge of Arabian horse breeding in all it’s facets.
Next, we came to know Margit Bentley of Geneva Arabians.   Her kindness and sincere approach to us led to our most recent additions to our farm, Major Makette GA and her half- brother HJ Lite My Afire.  When we received the video of Makette and HJ Lite My Afire, the decision to purchase the two was instantaneous.  The impression of their movement and classic beauty was without question. 

At our ranch, we share the lane (shown on our splash page) with our neighbors Dean and Sheri Lacey.  They own the original barns and pastures of BruMarBa next door to us. All our horses go to training with the Lacey’s as they arrive. Their effect on our horses is that they all come up to say hello and they never run away. The Laceys  are excellent horsemen, drivers and teachers. They have stayed up through the night foaling out Firefly V for us and are generous in sharing their vast experience with Arabian horses.