Galway Warrior
CHAPS registered Drum Horse stallion

NOW STANDING IN THE USA!!!

Galway Warrior gets his first good look at the US just after getting off the airplane in New York and getting checked in at the import center. 

Warrior's Journey: 

It all started back in 1996, when we saw Warrior's picture in a Heavy Horse magazine while in England for the Shire Show.  We thought the picture was amazing, and were really excited about him being sired by Edingale Mascot, one of the best shire stallions of our time.  Over the past few years, we have toyed with the idea of bringing this incredible horse to the US, but it wasn't practical for us at the time, combined with the fact that he wasn't really for sale.  We talked with his owners a few times about buying him, but things never progressed to the actual sale for one reason or another. 

After breeding one of our imported drum horse mares to Warrior this spring (see Pippin), we began face-to-face talks with the Templeman Stud in England about finally bringing Warrior to the US, where his blood is much in demand.  In June of 2002, the deal was finally struck, and Warrior was coming to the U.S.  The years of anticipation were finally coming to an end, and on July 7, 2002, Warrior stepped onto a plane headed for the U.S., and into the next chapter in his illustrious history book. 

The flight and quarantine:  Warrior was a huge hit on the flight.  As he stepped off his horse box to get loaded onto the plane, people from everywhere converged upon the loading ramp to see this magnificent horse.  Cameras came "out of the woodwork", and it looked like Oscar Night in L.A. with all the flashes going off.  He was a perfect gentleman getting on the plane (including a bit of shuffling around, as the flight was overbooked for horses!)  Everyone was just in awe of this magnificent horse, the likes of which none of them had ever seen.  Thru the flight, all the grooms paid special attention to our illustrious passenger, as he was obviously special, and had so much presence that not one person could ignore him.  I (Chris) was on the flight as well, but it goes without saying that I spent a good deal of time with Warrior thru the 7 1/2 hour flight.  He and the other 16 colored horses that we were importing that day were perfectly behaved thru every moment of the flight.  Even though Warrior's head had to be kept low for the flight, as he was nearly too big for the height of the plane, he still looked like the regal and magnificent beast that he is.  He got treats that were sent by his previous owners thru the flight, and came thru it all with flying colors.  When he stepped off the plane he was in as good of spirits as when he stepped on, and was the true gentleman that he is from start to finish. 

As he was being unloaded from the plane, I couldn't believe it when the pilots came from the cockpit with cameras to take pictures of this amazing horse. 

At the USDA quarantine center, the grooms and vets alike all came to see the horse that everyone was talking about.  When he was released from that quarantine two days after the flight, even the grooms brought their cameras to have their pictures taken with him.  This is pretty amazing coming from people who see hundreds of horses from all corners of the world every day.  On the release day, as all the horse-haulers were standing around waiting to pick up horses from the flight, Jeff and I were chatting with people when we suddenly saw somewhat of a commotion by the release door.  Not paying much attention to things, we went on with my chatting, until we heard several of them asking "what kind of horse is that?"  And, "WOW, who owns that?"  We peeked around the corner to see our big boy standing there with people all around him, actually only there to get checked out of the quarantine station, but having to pause to wait for everyone to get pictures with him.  He stood there stoically until everyone was done with him, and then went to get loaded onto the trailer for his trip to the second, longer, stallion quarantine.  He was a huge hit, and everyone commented on what a gentleman he was thru all of the jumble. 

Warrior steps off his horse box at the airport in England, heading for the plane. 

Just before loading on the plane.  When the grooms saw how big he was they had to rearrange things to get him to fit comfortably.  He's a BIG horse!  While he was standing around there waiting, everyone showed up with cameras to snap some shots. 

After the plane ride, the horses are put on trucks to take them to the far side of the runway where the import center is.  This is Warrior just coming off that truck. 

Warrior leaves the import center to start his new life in the USA. He's a BIG horse!

And...  A bit of information from Warrior's past life.

Warrior bred mostly thoroughbred mares for producing colored, heavy-hunters, in his career at Templeman stud.
His offspring are still competing regularly in the UK, and many are doing very well! 

Where it all began...  The sign on the right says "The Royal Paddocks".  This is where Galway Warrior lived and stood at stud from 1986 to 1992 in "HRM, The Queen's"  Drum Horse breeding program.  This program was later discontinued, due to budget cuts, which is when Warrior found a new home.  We would like to thank the staff of the Royal Paddocks at Hampton Court for their cooperation in obtaining the history on this magnificent horse!

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