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	Dedicated to Quality Since 1970
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A Brief History of the Farm

So that everyone has a better idea of how the breeding program began, we must rewind a few years to 1965. In the fall of that year, Bill helped Al Steiert import the Hanoverian weanling colt Abundance from Germany. His sire Absatz occupied the largest box stall at the Celle State Stud in Hannover, and Al luckily found a promising son in Abundance at Johann Dittmer’s small stud farm.

Abundance & Al Steiert	William and Anne Rawle purchased the one hundred plus acres that comprise Watermark Farm in 1970. As the historic ruins of a yellow paper producing mill borders the south-eastern corner of the property, the name “Watermark” and the production of fine paper seemed appropriate. Ambitious plans were laid and the selection of high quality mares and exemplary performance stallions began in earnest. Both Anne and Bill had competed at a high level with geat success over the years with various types of horses and wanted to produce high quality riding horses for themselves and their aquaintences.
Abundance & Al Steiert
Thoroughbred mares were readily available at that time, so Abundance began breeding in the spring of 1967. In the mid 1970’s Abundance moved to Watermark Farm to stand at stud for several seasons. Anne and Bill selected the finest available Thoroughbred mares and the first generation of offspring was produced. A few of the stars of that venture are (below):

Able and Ready	Able Spirit	Aurora	Again and Again
		In the spring of 1973, Emily arrived to brighten the days here on the farm. She was joined in 1976 by Ellie and the two girls blossomed first into the ranks of FEI Young Riders, then Silver and Gold Medalist, under Anne’s tutelage.
Adamant	Apparition

In the 1981 the triple licensed Westphalian stallion *Dekor joined the cast of stallions here at Watermark Farm.

Dekor

ellie

Ellie

Emily

bounce He produced several high quality offspring during his tenure here at Watermark Farm with Dynamite (left), Double Bounce (right), Détente, Diamond Ben, Dekorum, Dark Crystal and Dynasty to name just a few.

The Abundance sons and daughters required the infusion of Thoroughbred blood in order to produce competitive sporthorses with a higher aptitude for piaffe and passage in the modern competition arenas. Again and Again proved over time to produce outstanding athletes with a variety of mares. Several of his sons had excellent sports careers with Alacazam being a highlight with an international medal winning test at the 1994 NAYRC. Artesian WF is currently competing in FEI arena and should emerge onto the Grand Prix circuit in 2010. While those achievements are outstanding for a US bred stallion, Again and Again has truly left his mark with his daughters ability to produce outstanding offspring. A daughter was bred to VIP in the mid-80s and that foal went on to win the International Jumping Futurity. Abracadabra WF (Alacazam’s full sister) had good success in the dressage arena and has gone on to be an outstanding producer with son Wizard WF being named Top Foal in North America in 2006 and then being licensed for breeding in 2008.

Alacazam

Wizard WF & Abracadabra WF

From the outset of his breeding career in 1979, Adamant produced excellent adult amateur mounts. Many of his sons and daughters have excelled in the eventing world. Daughter Ariadne won the North Georgia Three Day with a 13 year old in the irons in the 80’s. Several other daughters had successful careers over fences in both the hunter and jumper arenas. Currently Adelaide WF is cleaning up and earning high praise where ever her hooves travel. Beltane is one of the rising stars in Sally Cousins’ stable. And our own As You Wish WF is enjoying a very successful first season with Sally with multiple wins to her credit already.

artesian

Artesian WF

Beltane
	Atreo WF	Adelaide WF
	His son Avebury WF was licensed in 2004 and is the full brother to FEI competitor Atreo WF, who has had a very successful undersaddle career from the beginning.
As You Wish WF

bobbyheadshot South American Way, a Thoroughbred stallion, was brought to the farm in 1988 to improve our Abundance daughters. With his lovely canter and excellent bascule he produced excellent daughters who in turn have proven to be outstanding producers and sons that are excellent sports horses. His innate gift for piaffe and passage has also been transmitted down through his daughters – Southern Leigh WF, Sabrina WF and Savannah WF. His son Showtime WF was licensed for breeding in 2004 before going on to a very successful show career in the A Hunters.

Left and Right, South American Way xx


Sabrina WF	Savannah WF	Showtime WF

Waldaire 2004

Waldaire began producing foals here at Watermark Farm after having compiled one of the most successful show records of any US bred stallion. To date he has won 44 USDF HOY Awards and that number continues to grow as his offspring are enjoying similar successes. His son Wizard WF was licensed for breeding in 2008. Waldaire’s concentrated damline allows immediate access to the proven Hanoverian D line with the modernizing influence of Absatz and Marcio. With the addition of Gotthard, Lugano II and Waidmannsdank – his foals out of our breeding program are very much multi-talented and suitable for both amateur and professional alike.

Advances in modern technology have allowed US Breeders access to some of the finest bloodlines of stallions worldwide. Our stallions Adamant, Again and Again, Avebury WF, Showtime WF and Waldaire have all had semen frozen for domestic use. Avebury WF and Waldaire are available for export to the EU via the Select Breeders Network. Select European sires and their descendants such as Donnerhall, Weltmeyer, Absatz, and Rubinstein have been incorporated into the breeding program with outstanding results. The offspring have been evaluated and judged according to their quality by international experts and found to be of the highest quality. These young horses have bright futures standing before them both in the competition arena and breeding shed. The future generations combining the good nature and high rideability of Waldaire, Dressage Royal, Avebury WF and Wizard WF hold promise for competitors at every level of sport. From time to time, additional infusions of outside blood will be added into the breeding program with the same consideration as has proven to be so successful in the past.

The fabulous stallion Dressage Royal joined our roster of World Class stallions in 2007, providing top class foals. In 2008, Dressage Royal’s son Desperado was crowned World Champion Five Year Old. Watermark Farm is now acting as the sole North American representative for Dorit and Hermann Kothe’s Dressage Royal.

As proud members and supporters of the American Warmblood Registry the Rawle Family strives to produce exceptional equine partners here in the United States. By aligning with a US based registry, we are making a bold statement much like our colonial ancestors did in shrugging free of European dominance. As horses that are born in Oxford, PA are not in the Hanoverian or Oldenburg Breeding District, it would be strange to call them anything but American!

Our horses are suitable for both the international competitor and adult amateur rider as the breeding program emphasizes long term soundness, excellent movement, high rideability coupled with an exemplary good nature. Watermark Farm’s foals have been receiving the coveted Premier Award with increasing frequency – a sign that the quality of our stock is improving with each generation – the future is limitless for these youngsters. A Premier Award is given to the top 2% of equines, so these young horses have been bred specifically to a higher standard of excellence.

Desperado OLD

dressageroyal Dressage Royal

wizardheadshot

Wizard WF

A few of the highlights from the breeding program:

Able and Ready – Successful A/O Jumper, Eventer and Dressage horse
Able Spirit (WF) – Multiple HOY awards and a NAYRC participant 1991-1995 prior to retiring to the breeding program
Again and Again – Grand Prix competitor and winner at Dressage At Devon
Adamant – Proven FEI horse and sire of multiple Eventing Stars
Alacazam – 1994 NAYRC Silver Medalist and Grand Prix competitor
Alexis Carrington WF – Site Reserve Champion
Aloysius WF – Site Reserve Champion, Premier Award Winner
Aurora – Preliminary Event horse
As You Wish WF – Rising star Event Horse
Daylily WF – Site Champion, Premier Award Winner
Dreamcatcher WF – Site Champion, Premier Award Winner
Drummond WF – Premier Award Winner
Wakanda WF – Site Champion
Westerleigh WF – Site Reserve Champion
Wichita Rose WF – Site Reserve Champion
Wilson WF – Premier Award Winner
Wizard WF – Site Champion, Premier Award Winner, Top Foal in North American 2006, Licensed for Breeding in 2008
Wyatt WF – Site Champion, Premier Award Winner

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