From
our Arieana Notebook: We value Farana's influence as one of
the most celebrated Stockhorses of his time with an ability to
pass his athleticism on to his foals. A featured star at the Kellogg
Sunday Shows, we are partial to this description
of him as written by H.H. Reese in his book The Kellogg
Arabians, and we quote:
"Never up to that time
had an Arab shown such speed and precision, such dizzying spins
or electrifying response to the rein. A spectacular worker, Farana
was especially good at spinning, a type of showmanship demanded
of Stockhorses in those days to indicate their reining ability,
and he could whirl so fast that he occasionally 'spun' right out
from under his rider. Farana slid to the straight 'figure
eleven' stops as well as any low-headed Quarter Horse, with
instant take-off into a run when so indicated. Stockhorses in
those days also had to work with the rope and he held the 'calf'
with a taut rope at all times. Although he was too stylish to
please the average cowboy, carrying his neck arched and tail
high, Farana could out-perform all exhibition Stockhorses
of his day. He also could back faster than the average horse can
trot, and would back uphill out of the arena at Kellogg's at a
fast clip as finale to his performance. Although shown for over
ten years, twice each Sunday, occasionally worked during the
week, and often on exhibitions at fairs and other shows, Farana
remained sound and clean-legged until he was an aged horse. Nor
did he ever go sour, anticipating stops, as so many horses
eventually do." (pp. 126-127)
In his later years Farana
served as a Remount stallion and was stationed at the University
of Idaho where he died of a brain hemorrhage on April 10, 1949.
Mary Jane Parkinson, in her book on The
Kellogg Ranch, The First Sixty Years, mentions this letter
received from T.B. Keith, Professor Emeritus, University of
Idaho College of Agriculture: "Farana is buried near
the horse barn among some trees. There is no marker although
suggestions have been made to have an identification of some
type placed on the spot." (p. 505)
As might be expected
from his pedigree, heavily influenced
with Crabbet-bred horses, Farana bred on well, and today
at Arieana Arabians we see in his descendants that same cat-like
agility as well as his best points of conformation: high
withers, great depth of chest, long, sloping shoulder, very
short back, and powerful quarters.
Recommended reading for further study on Farana
and his days at The Kellogg Ranch:
Parkinson, Mary Jane. The
Kellogg Ranch, The First Sixty Years. Cal Poly Kellogg United
Foundation, Inc. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona,
CA. Third edition 1984.
Reese, Herbert H. in
collaboration with Gladys Brown Edwards. The Kellogg Arabians ~
Their Background and Influence. Borden Publishing
Company, Alhambra, CA. 1958.
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