Lipizzan Legacy PLUTO BONA II

PLUTO BONA II (“Beau”) was destined to be one of the most important breeding Lipizzans in America. He was born at Raflyn Farm, WA, sired by PLUTO CALCEDONA (the FIRST Austrian-bred Lipizzan to be born in North America), and out of the mare BONA, (imported from Piber). The Dreitzler family imported and bred many Lipizzans, and promoted the breed through exhibitions, when suddenly one night, disaster struck. A dam broke at the head of their beautiful, fertile valley, sending a wall of water 10’ deep, through the valley, killing almost all of the Raflyn Farm Lipizzans. PLUTO BONA II survived only because he had been sold and transported to Yvonne Fabian in Michigan prior to the flood. Because of this, PLUTO BONA’S bloodline would be rare in the United States and would cross well with the Lipizzan mares that had been imported and raised at Tempel Farm in Wadsworth, Illinois.

PLUTO BONA II first sired GAETANA for his owner, Yvonne Fabian. This mare was sold to Susie Newcomb in Calif., and went on to become one of the most important broodmares in this country. She also had a flair for jumping!

Jim & Sharon Rowe, Okemos, Mich., bought Beau and trained him to the upper levels, including Piaffe, Levade and Capriole. They also bred him to an Appaloosa mare, that produced the magnificently athletic Half-Lipizzan, CRESCENDO. With Jim’s eye on the ground, and Sharon’s training and riding ability, CRESCENDO won in USDF recognized shows, and in 1989 was crowned USDF “HORSE OF THE YEAR” at GRAND PRIX (over all breeds of horses). CRESCENDO was the very first Lipizzan to win this award in this country. Sharon used to say that CRESCENDO was the most athletic horse she had ever ridden, and famous FEI judge Col. Thackery stated that CRESCENDO had the best Piaffe in the USA the year he won “HORSE OF THE YEAR“.

Rowe’s partners, the Fosters, raised the beautiful filly, VIVACE by PLUTO BONA II. A few years later, VIVACE, trained by Jim Rowe, and ridden by Lynda Weese, qualified for Grand Prix in only 3 shows.

Carole Gauger bought PLUTO BONA II in 1977, and built an entire breeding program around him, buying some of the very best of Tempel Farm’s mares over the next few years. From those breedings came many of the most successful breeding and performance Lipizzans in this country. Many of PLUTO BONA II foals have gone on to work & compete up to Grand Prix, and do exhibitions with Airs Above the Ground, such as PLUTO II DELPHINA I & II, PLUTO II DIXANA I & II, PLUTO II BALMORA I, II, III, IV, & V, and PLUTO II JUSTINA. Also, Half-Lipizzans sired by PLUTO BONA II such as BONADIRA, PLUTO LELA, and VALAZAN have become serious competitors in Dressage, winning awards in many shows . Some of “BEAU’s” Get have also become extraordinary driving horses.

In Halter competition, his sons and daughters have been named Champion many times in their respective classes, and have received the highest scores of all Lipizzans across this country. PLUTO BONA II received all 9’s and a 10 on his evaluation score by Dr. J. Oulehla, Director of the Spanish Riding School and Piber Stud Farm. At that time, Dr. Oulehla said, “He is perfect, there is not one thing about him I would change!”

PLUTO BONA’S son, PLUTO II DIXANA, and grandson, PLUTO GLORIA, were also the highest scoring Lipizzans the year that they were evaluated, and they continue to create the athletic Lipizzans with the blessed temperament to excel.

PLUTO BONA’S daughters, out of the TEMPEL FARM mares, ALMERINA, BALMORA, DIXANA, DELPHINA, ILKA and JUSTINA, will long be remembered as the backbone of good Austrian-type-Lipizzans in this country for generations to come. Mares sired by PLUTO BONA II, such as AMERIKA, AMERICANA, AUSTINA, BONAMORA, DATANA, DELANA, DEAJA, IMPERIA, JUWELA, MARINA, and PRIMABONA, have proven themselves through evaluations, competitions, and in their production of top-quality Lipizzan foals.

PLUTO BONA II died in his 25th year, but his Legacy will live on eternally in this country through his sons and daughters who continue to produce Lipizzans with outstanding performance, conformation and the blessed temperament.

Carole Gauger

Oct. 15, 2007