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ARTICLES & NEWS ITEMS

BREEDER SPOTLIGHT: Castle Farm Andalusians

Castle Farm has been an Andalusian breeding farm for 20 years, owned and managed by Catherine and Darren Casto.  They breed 2-3 exceptional quality Spanish Andalusian foals every year, seeking gentle temperament and trainability suitable for amateur riders, and athleticism for dressage. 


The current facility was built in 2012, and after brides persistently requested to use the farm for their weddings, Castle Farm became a wedding venue! CFA maintains a dressage training facility year-round and hosts gorgeous weddings and corporate events on weekends from Spring through Fall. 


CFA hosts dressage clinics from top international trainers and occasional schooling shows. Currently, it is the home to 11 Andalusians,  2 beer ponies who serve beer/seltzer at cocktail parties and 7 horses of various breeds that are boarded. They also own a gorgeous silver micro mini pure Scottish Highland bull and a total of 6 mini moos that they breed and sell. 

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Castle Farm Andalusians
Snow Hill, Maryland
www.CastleFarmAndalusians.com

Designated as a Century Farm

Castle Farm is historic, situated on 150 acres that are part of an original 1800-acre family farm that dates back over two centuries. It has been designated by the state as a Century Farm. Catherine's grandfather started the first automatic dairy milking parlor in Maryland but horses were an integral part of working the farm throughout its history. Her father bred Standardbred racehorses and taught her to ride and appreciate horses. Her dream was always to own an Iberian, the original dressage horse, and Horse of Kings.

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Barn, Indoor & Facilities

The expansive indoor arena is a 20 x 60 m dressage ring with GGT dust-free footing, mirrors, surround sound, chandeliers and cafe lighting throughout that transforms the space into the most amazing riding experience AND a magical wedding venue.  

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CFA's Andalusian breeding program

Catrina TSF (below) was CFA's first Andalusian and she was THAT special horse for Catherine. She was imported 20 years ago at the age of 3. She was the foundation broodmare, Catherine's  trail companion and amazing dressage partner.  Catrina's  bloodlines include  Granadino XI/Leviton and Ebano - favored for being athletic, powerful and gentle. She trained through third/fourth level dressage in between Catrina producing 6 truly amazing foals, all currently successful in the dressage ring!

 

Catherine kept her only filly, Adelante CFA who has since produced a stallion prospect, Viento CFA.  After weaning, Addy will begin her show career. Adelante CFA is sired by Donoso VII,  was gently started under saddle before being bred.

 

Elegancio CFA is a 6yo gelding by LC Galanton, who is currently training at first level dressage. They both remind Catherine everyday of their mamma. 

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Century Farm Woodworking

The facility and landscaping was mostly planned by Catherine's husband Darren, who is an artisan and owner of Century Farm Woodworking and is also managed by their son who is completing his Bachelor's degree at the University of Delaware in Animal Science. Upon graduation, he plans to expand the farm into an equine reproduction facility and he already holds AI certification. 

 

The barn is an immaculate 22,000 sqft 16-stall barn that features copper walls and timber framing throughout. The hardwood was all harvested from the century farm and was milled and prepped on-site. 

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Boarding for dressage or jumping  enthusiasts

The barn features a climate-controlled viewing lounge, with a full kitchen and bathroom, tack rooms with built-in lockers, and heated wash stalls. The facility offers miles of trails, outdoor jumping and dressage rings and premier care with individual 1-2 acre turnout fields with run-in sheds. 

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CFA Broodmares are proven under saddle

O'Isabella MC (below)  by Amoroso is a chestnut Andalusian mare who was trained through first level dressage and has produced 4 foals. Her son, Mateo CFA has been successfully shown in dressage and started piaffe/passage with Britta Johnston. Her filly Sophia CFA is successfully showing at first level and her filly by Olympian, Grandioso is being offered for sale. Aurora CFA was recently weaned will be joining their breeding program. Izzy will be started back under saddle and sold as a very lovely riding mare/broodmare soon. 

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ARTICLES & NEWS ITEMS

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The AZTECA Breed

Meet The AZTECA

About the American Azteca

 

The Azteca horse is known as the National Horse of Mexico.  The breed originated in Mexico in the 1970s, specifically in 1972. It was developed by Don Antonio Ariza, President of the Casa Pedro Domecq.  Together with the help of many other individuals, they worked with tenacity and patience to realize the dream that Mexico would have its own national breed.  

Don Antonio imported Spanish Andalusian horses and began to breed them at Rancho San Antonio near Texcoco in the state of Mexico. Selection for the Azteca breed began by the crossing of these Spanish Andalusian stallions with Quarter Horse mares or alternatively the crossing of Andalusians with mares of mixed Criollo blood. The Azteca may have a minimum of 3/8 to a maximum of 5/8 Andalusian or Quarter Horse blood, while the percentage of Criollo may not exceed 1/4. The breed aims at blending the qualities of the Andalusian and Quarter Horse. The result is an elegant animal, ideal for performance or pleasure riding.

 

Mexican cowboys, known as charros, who aimed to create a versatile and athletic horse breed for various purposes, including ranch work and competitive events. The breed was created by crossing Andalusian and Quarter Horse breeds with Mexican Criollo horses. This breeding program sought to combine the agility and speed of the Quarter Horse with the style and movement of the Andalusian and Lusitano breeds.

 

In 1982, the Mexican Department of Agriculture officially recognized the Azteca breed, and in 1992, the Association Mexicana de Criadores de Caballos de Raza Azteca was established to manage the breed’s registry. The Azteca has its own registry in the USA, and can also be registered with IALHA as a partbred Iberian, either crossed with the Andalusian or Lusitano.   

The American Azteca is based in the U.S., allows Paint and Quarter Horse breeds, and prohibits any horses with more than 25 percent Thoroughbred genetics. Visit their link below.  The Mexican-based association allows only solid colors and inspects the horses throughout their maturity before entering them in the books as breeding stock.

 

 

Visit the American Azteca website  |  View the Brochure 

 

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