we are glad
to meet you
«WHEN YOU ARE COMING TO THE ENTRY OF WOODY ARABIAN, YOU FEEL LIKE IN PARADISE!»
Located in Emilia Romagna, just one hour from the famous city of Bologna, in a very small village that goes by the name Galeata, you will find a little slice of heaven nestled away on earth – you will find Woody Arabians.
the farm
For among the flowing waters and rich forests is Woody Arabians, founded by Giampaolo ‘Woody’ Gubbioti and run with his partner, Noëmie Zeller.
The first purebred mare to arrive at Woody Arabians was Matiola, a beautiful grey who danced on to the farm in 1990. This was the beginning of a remarkable life with Arabian horses and since that day, Woody has established himself as a successful breeder of world-class Arabian horses, as well as that of a marketer and respected horseman. All of the horses bred by Woody hold the El Aziz prefix that was chosen by his father Fernando and they are truly some of the finest specimens in the world.
Alongside Woody since 2012, and integral to both Woody’s happiness and the success of Woody Arabians, is Noëmie Zeller. Editor of Arabian Horse Magazine, Noëmie shares Woody’s deep love for the Arabian horse, having owned and bred them for many years. While her foundations were Crabbet Arabians, she has a love for all bloodlines and with Woody, they have bred some incredible Arabian horses. “Noëmie is my friend, my lover, my confidant and ultimately, my better half,” smiles Woody. Of their relationship, Noëmie says: “Our connection is everything; we are lovers and friends. We give each other a home and help during bad moments. The relationship we have makes the world we live a better place for both of us and it all starts with the deep passion and love for the Arabian horse.”
At Woody Arabians one can relive the magic atmosphere of the past, it really feels like time has stood still. The wall at the main entrance to WoodyArabians was built in historic style, while for the welcome lobby they used hand-made stones as per tradition. The stud is located near the River Bidente. The horses enjoy the peacefulness of the area grazing freely outside, mostly in groups of a few mares in one pasture. In this place, everything was put in place and organized with fanatical attention to detail in order to offer maximum comfort to their four-legged friends. Every stone, every piece of wood, every tree or flower is prepared carefully by hand to give to every place a kind of special touch and feeling.
The court is designed by Woody in the style of his area and in a mix of Arabic attitudes. Also the little biotope which he did create, is giving a quiet place for every kind of animals, like frogs, little golden fishes and many others. Woody started also to breed pure Persian Salukis, which are very similar to the Arabian horse in elegance; attitude and they are also children from the wind.
“I especially loved horses and dogs and I began breeding them. From the very beginning, I was fascinated by the arrival of a foal into the world and watching them grow into the vision I had in mind when I bred them. That feeling has never left me, and each breeding season is truly magical.”
The bloodlines at Woody Arabians are predominantly Russian with sprinklings of Spanish and Polish blood, as well as a few modern day lines. I love to blend the old and the new and create a contemporary Arabian horse that is a perfect combination of classic and modern, one that can perform in any sphere.
the horses
In the court there are living more or less 30 pure bred Arabian horses, expecting the foals. We would like to give you a little insight into our breeding program to show you the amazing quality and pedigree which all are coming together in one place.
At the heart of Woody Arabians and holding pride of place as the Queen of the farm was the mare M EOS (WH Justice x Elgiria). She was truly her father’s daughter. She radiated that famous ‘Justice-type’ and her Polish damline has gifted her with a compact body and powerful movement.
M Eos has blessed Woody Arabians with six fillies –Princess El Aziz, Emilia El Aziz, Esmerelda El Aziz, Eos Rose El Aziz, Eos May El Aziz and Evita El Aziz.
Princess El Aziz (by Royal Colors) is a beautiful bay mare who has done her mother proud. She produced two fillies so far – one by Van Gogh AM and her most recent by FS Eternal Flame. Emilia El Aziz (by QR Marc) was sold to Iran and named Silver Champion Filly at the Iran Nationals.
Even though M Eos was the queen of Woody Arabians, there is another mare that holds quite a special place
in both Woody’s and Noëmie’s hearts; Iman By Ajman (Ajman Moniscione x Nagiba AB). Her sire is one of the most extreme and successful WH Justice sons in the industry. Ajman Moniscione is renowned around the world for his extreme type and success as a sire, and Iman by Ajman certainly underlines the quality that he produces. What makes her such a treasure for Woody Arabians is the fact that her dam, Nagiba AB, formed part of the Woody Arabians breeding program many years ago. Nagiba AB brings with her crosses to El Shaklan as well as influences from Poland, Egypt and Russia.
In 2016 Iman By Ajman produced the amazing filly India El Aziz by FS Eternal Flame. And since then she has given Woody Arabian more beautiful fillies: Isharaa El Aziz (by FA El Rasheem), Ilyah El Aziz (by Excalibur EA), Iyairah El Aziz (by SQ Ageeb) and last bot not least Imani El Aziz (by D Seraj). She passes on her quality continuously which makes her one of Woody Arabian's most important mares.
Away from these beautiful grey mares are four bay bombshells that are part of the core broodmare band at Woody Arabians. The first of these is Psyntia (Psytadel x Taiga by Kubinec), bred by Karl-Heinz Stöckle of Osterhof Stud in Germany.
Woody says it was love at first sight with Psyntia; her undeniably beautiful exterior and kind soul captured his heart. He also, without hesitation says that she has the most beautiful ears on the farm. Psyntia has had foals by Marajj, MPA Giovanni, Monther Al Nasser, FA El Rasheem, ES Harir and SQ Ageeb.
“The new generation of the breeding program is very well selected.”
The next bay beauty is Esmeralda El Aziz. She is the last daughter of her beloved sire, FS Eternal Flame (Kubinec x Temptress MSC by Traditio). Esmeralda El Aziz herself is a gorgeous young mare with a gentle expression, and she will be retained at Woody Arabians to continue her sire’s legacy. At the International B-Show in Salerno, she was Silver Champion Futurity Filly, and she is now firmly a part of the breeding program.
Diamantha, who is three-quarter Russian – again with the Mammona influence – as well as a tail-female Polish line. She is one of the top producers at Woody Arabians, blessing the stud with two fillies and three colts. As well as Danka El Aziz, Diamantha also produced the double Iranian National Gold Champion Filly Dakota El Aziz (by Aja Angelo by WH Justice out of Aja Aaisha) and Dilhan El Aziz by the Dubai Stud owned stallion, SG Labib (WH Justice x DF Halifa by Al Lahab).
The passion, dedication and utter love for Arabian horse shared between Woody and Noëmie is what keeps Woody Arabians going and makes the stud so successful. Noëmie adds: “For us it is important and a necessity to ride our horses as well as have a deep connection with them. This is what we currently strive for and is probably the reason why we have horses; they are our family and our farm is a place of peace for them. I guess for the future we will continue with what we are doing now: we will continue to breed Arabian horses that are usable for riding and showing and to find them owners that love them as much as we do.”
Ca’ di Gianni, the Arabian Trainings Center is a part of the life from Woody. Ca’ di Gianni has become one of the key studs on the international scene.
Ca’ Di Gianni
The Arabian Training Center, which he shares with his business partner and friend Paolo Capecci, has become one of the most renowned centers in the world for training, show preparation and marketing of the Arabian horse. The center has the opportunity to manage the horses of the most important studs in the world.
Well known is the success of Royal Colours at the 2006 World Championship, which saw Woody in the double role of owner with Paolo Capecci and Mr. Tripodi and manager for marketing and training of the Arabian Training Center. Royal Colours, as everyone knows, is now owned by the Dubai Arabian Stud (UAE).
behind
To survive in this daily business is difficult, you need watch many factors and you need be very flexible in your life and on the view of situations. You need a big support, protection and understanding from your family, especially when you are always traveling and not at home.
everything
With his father Fernando, he has shared moments of great emotion and thank to him, Woody has been able to appreciate the Arabian horse even more over the years. Woody tells also that all this is a life experience that is filled with rewarding moments and great happiness: breeding whichever species of animals generates many emotions in you if it is done with passion.
“Woody Arabians is a peaceful farm, and the horses have an amazing life here”
The Arabian horse has become a lifestyle, a gathering element which breaks down barriers between countries and people. As he told to me already little bit longer ago; in the life you need 20% knowledge and 80% luck! Seeing different cultures coming together, thanks to the Arabian horse, is perhaps the most fulfilling aspect, privilege that Woody lives in a daily basis.
It is clear that Woody and Noëmie have not only a deep passion and dedication to the Arabian horse, but also for each other, and it is this love that ensures that Woody Arabians continues to thrive and makes it so successful. And of course, one of the couple’s biggest success was the arrival of their son, born in 2019.
It is only fitting that the final word goes to Woody, whocbegan his dream over 30 years ago: “The bloodlines that are the foundation of Woody Arabians still remain strong and we have carefully evolved the stud to where it is now. That is a wonderful thing, to see the evolution of each generation. As we look to the future, we can reflect on the beautiful horses that we have bred, as well as anticipate the future. With each new foal crop comes new dreams fulfilled. But there is always something more to dream of – and hopefully, the best is yet to come.”