July 27, 2018 was the day that every horse owner dreads. The VRA family lost one of its most loved members - Schale. Just the day before, I couldn’t believe when he trotted by with a beginner looking the picture of health despite his 26 years - sound, fit, strong, and with such good bloom.

He carried the weight of my family’s breeding legacy that began when my father imported 2 Lipizzaner mares from the breeding farm for the Spanish Riding School in Piber, Austria; and a stallion, Maestoso Conversano, from Yugoslavia in 1964. The result of that breeding was a majestic son - Tulipan Neopol - better known to most as Tünnes who was a fine example of the elegant and dynamic side of the breed.

No longer having any Lipizzaner mares to breed, and wanting to continue to carry the Lipizzaner bloodlines and my parents’ dream, Bill and I decided to breed Tünnes to a thoroughbred mare - Star!

The result of that pairing was the horse of a lifetime - Schale! A clown from beginning, also embodying that unique spark from Tünnes, when he climbed on his mom, to forever making me smile and be proud of him when he was out working and competing, to humbling and teaching so many riders through his cheeky antics.

That Friday morning dawned like so many others with the horses grazing quietly in the pasture. The girls enjoyed the sunrise as they went to catch Schale who was standing contentedly with his pasture mates, but noted that he had endured a terrible tragedy. At some time in the early morning, his hoof had been severed. Thankfully, he experienced no pain since the nerves had also been cut. There is no explanation for this injury as there is not any wire in the pasture, nor hair on any of the board fence, and no evidence of a struggle. Paige has reviewed all of the video surveillance - which is clearer than most evenings with the encroaching full moon - of the driveway, the parking lot, and important portions of the pasture - and we have no explanation.

I have never cremated a horse before, but I wasn’t ready to let him go. He will forever be a part of VRA in body and clearly in spirit as he traverses so many of your memories and lives on in your hearts. Until I read all of your FB posts, I didn’t realize the impact that he had on so many that went so far beyond riding lessons.

Rest In Peace dear Schale. You were one in a million whose life was the novel that few horses can ever author - you taught kids from the beginning when they started their basic riding skills with vaulting, to their first lunge-line lessons, and onwards as they grow into the beginner lessons through the jumping classes. You took so many around their first over fences courses at the VRA shows and down their first centerlines in recognized competitions. The passion you ignited in so many burns on in the heart fire of innumerable students who will never forget you!

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With love from Anneliese and your whole Vogt family, both past and present...

Schale,  you were a one in a million  horse and so beloved