CASA DE VIDA'S STORY AS TOLD BY LINDA WALDEN

The founders of Casa de Vida were my parents, husband and wife team Charles R. and Lois Moseley. Dad was fondly known as "Bob" by Peruvians, Americans and Canadians alike. In late 1970, he took mom to a Peruvian show at Pomona, Ca. That was the beginning of the end for their other breeds.

Dad rode a palomino Fox Trotter, mom a Tennessee Walker and I had a quarter horse who had a great single-foot gait. As aficionados of the gaited horse, we were prime candidates for Peruvian Horse ownership.

Let me digress with the note that I personally have been since childhood a long time admirer of the Andalusian horse. I tried to get dad to invest in an Andalusian back in 1971, but mom just had to have more than one Peruvian.  In 12/04, I purchased my P.R.E. Andalusian stallion, ESCLAVO XXV, to finally realize my main dream.  AND, in March, 06, I became the proud owner of  P.R.E. Andalusian mare, QUITASUENA KDW, who is deivered a filly in '07 and another in '08 from Esclavo XXV.

Onward with the Casa De Vida story:

Entranced by the beauty, smoothness and character of the horses, we put in a bid for a lovely bay filly. Alas it wasn't to be; we were outbid and went home a bit sad.

Dad found out about an upcoming auction to be held in Santa Barbara in February, 1971. Inviting mom and me, he set out early so we could see the horses up close.

Mom quickly fell in love with a black 2 year old filly. She was extremely nervous  and would not come up to anyone. But mom persevered and the filly finally touched her hand through the fence. But she bolted away when another woman came up loudly exclaiming, "Oh, you got her to come over." After that scare, the filly wouldn't come back over to her, but mom was nevertheless determined to take Tana F, the black one, home. 

The bidding started very slowly. Dad couldn't help but bid on several horses, but in the process he unwittingly became the "shill"; others saw his interest and outbid him on a few horses.

I had seen a mare that I really liked and nudged my father excitedly. This is one we should buy. A grey mare, obviously in foal, was gaited into the arena. Her name was *Dona Sol. The presence, gait and style of the mare was eye-catching. Little did we know what a real jewel this one was. Dad won the bid and the 'Lady of the Sun' became one of the foundation stock of Casa de Vida Peruvian Horses.

Much later, as the crowd was thinning, the little black filly was somehow caught and brought into the arena. She was terrified and trembled from head to hoof. Mom was frantic; she must have this filly. Of course, we romantics know that Bob would have paid anything to get the filly for his wife. He didn't have to; everyone was leery of her and the very low bid went to us. The black filly was Tana F, a daughter of Fanfarron. She was line bred Chalpon. The picture (above right) of  Tana and me was often used in publications of the AAOBPPH.

Both mares arrived safely at the rancho in the San Fernando valley near Hansen Dam. We soon realized that the bloodlines we had brought home were very distinguished. At twelve, *Dona Sol was one of the few living daughters of the great CARNAVAL.  Born in Peru, she was out of  Malaguena and from the rancho Pucala. 

*Dona Sol's gait was exemplary; the timing, smoothness and extension were perfection. I have ridden many Peruvian Horses here and in Peru",  I've often stated, "She was simply the smoothest ride in the world. No part of my body would move. Sometimes on a long ride, I actually would get down to walk to stretch my muscles. She was like sitting on a cloud and floating along. I adored her." 

For the next three years, I rode *Dona Sol and mom rode Tana. This was during the early times in the breed. Most people had no idea of what breed these exotic, strange moving horses were. Dad, always a joker, told people that the horses had had their legs broken and that's how they healed. Of course, that broke the ice and questions and answers about this wonderful breed were the result. The two mares quickly became known throughout the area.

Tana's first foal was Cuestion; he had a question mark on his forehead and was featured in the local press as a "sign of the times" - economic, that is. He was a great horse, full of energy and boldness. Hilario trained him in the enfrenadura (a Peruvian reining discipline). I showed him in an enfrenadura class and took second place to Hilario.  'Q' was later gelded and sold to a lady who rode him in hills 'n dales and often rounded up cattle comfortably astride.

Serica Dona de Oro 'Seri' was another of *Dona Sol's fillies. She had the most beautiful conformation possible. She had her mother's smoothness, but a bit too much temperament. She was definitely dad's horse. She loved him and would do anything for him.

I and my son both showed *Dona Sol. She was always a hit and usually won. Roger was a junior rider and she would always test him. Once, in a bareback class, she was in season and it was all he could do to restrain her, but she maintained a strong, smooth fast gait and placed well. She often competed against her renowned brother Intrepido in open classes and came second to him over many others: stallions, mares and geldings.

In 1975, the AAOBPPH - Peruvian Registry - asked us if we would start up a horse show in California. From those first few meetings, the Western Regional Championships were born. I acted as Show Secretary, manager and general all-around gal; dad was the diplomat, organizer of people. We had a wonderful nine shows with many, many special events and people attending. One of our shows had 200 horses attending; a landmark for the breed.

It was a great time for all of us, but alas it was to come to a sad end. Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer after our return from his first trip out of the country...to Peru.

We had three wonderful weeks in Peru. We knew many of the Peruvian owners, judges and trainers. We were treated like royalty and escorted and invited to many ranches and saw many incredible horses. We visited Nazca, Machu Pichu and Sacaswauman.

Dad was with us until September of '81, just before the Nationals. Two years before Tana had presented us with Palla. She was a daughter of our beloved stallion Pisa Flores. Hilario Carrera and I found him gaiting up a hill at a client's ranch. Liver chestnut and 14.3 hands, he was a horse of great beauty. I actually have wooden statues that were given as awards at the Regionals from patterns of this delightful horse. In his only show, he took second to the great reigning champion Secretario. 

Palla PF, pic lost, was as close to perfect as is possible. Also liver chestnut, she had the conformation and gait that many a breeder yearns for. She had been sold in utero, but we kept strong contact with her new owners. I helped show their son how to train and present her in a halter class. He did an excellent job; she won U.S. National Reserve Champion Junior Mare. Peruvian Judge Jose Musante L. later stated that her "roof" (rough) coat was the only reason he had put her Reserve. He had forgotten that we get winter coats in September and the new owners hadn't thought to blanket her! Ahhh, darn. No matter; we were all thrilled with her accomplishments. Dad, we knew, was watching and had to be delighted, too.

Casa de Vida has had many foals through the years. Amigita was the first daughter of  Tana and passed at 24 years old, but was still ridden by my son when she was 20!  Tana and Amigita were mom's personal horses. Mom joined Dad on the 'ranch in the sky' in December of '05, but I will always remember them for their devotion to the Peruvian Horse.

Once just as we were beginning a ride, Tana's girth broke. She stood absolutely still when mom hit the ground. She calmly waited while mom sat the saddle back on and walked up the drive to replace the cinch.  Another time, a gentleman friend wanted to ride her. As he settled into the saddle, she did a quick '180'. She was so sensitive that his touch of a leg as he sat down caused her immediate reaction. Tana died at age twelve from intestinal complications. She left a two month old colt who was immediately adopted by her two year old daughter, Amigita, as her own. She showed him where hay and water was and watched over him. His new owner (sold in utero) took him home a few weeks later.

At least two of our youngsters were shipped to Hawaii to become only the second and third Peruvian Horses on the islands. One outstanding buckskin son of *Dona Sol was sold to Texas, one of the first of the breed there.

My personal mount is Espirtu Bravo, Spirit, my 19 yr old Peruvian gelding with the strong bloodlines of *Palomo, El Cid, *AEV Mantequilla and Sol de Oro(v). He's related to Marengo through Mantequilla. German gave me this wonderful horse when he noted that "Payaso" (his birth name) finally had 'connected' with a human.

Spirit has been with me since 1995 and he is a most trusty mount. We often ride alone among the eucalyptus forests of the Nipomo mesa. He takes great care of me as I do of him. His story of pain, fear and courage is the subject of 'Spirit, a Mystical Horse', a story I plan to write when I'm not spending so much time just enjoying my horses.

:HSR MARENGO: German introduced me to this marvelous young stallion in 1999. Foaled on August 31, 1996, he is a truly incredible example of the fineness of the Peruvian Horse. He has temperament, brio, and arrogance; yet he is gentle and sweet. In his only class at a show he has a 2nd in zootecnico due to his superb conformation.

Marengo has an incredible presence and the rare GATEADO gait that will certainly catch the eye of any experienced owner or breeder. German as his trainer states that he is more like his great grandsire Regional than any horse he has ever seen.  He enjoys riding this great horse whenever he has the time.

He is a lovely horse and would make any Peruvian enthusiast feel good to watch him move. Perhaps you will see him someday as German's enfrenadura mount.

This is my Pura Raza Espanola imported black Andalusian stallion  ESCLAVO XXV.  A delightful gentleman, a powerful mover, an easy breeder, I am delighted to have so many showing an interest in him. Join those who are calling for P.R.E., Andalusian, Azteca, Iberian Warmblood and other crosses. He has produced 9 fillies and 4 colts in his limited career. Add your own to this list for 2010 foals.

One of the Paint  / AZTECA fillies is for sale, email for details...she is 3 in '09. She may be just the right horse for you.