If someone mentions the Shagya horse, most people assume it’s just another type of Arabian. It’s a stigma Katherine Voyer, Shagya enthusiast and owner of Oak Knoll Sporthorses, is working hard to do away with.
“They are a Hungarian breed of horse that was developed as a cavalry mount. They are well known throughout Europe, but there are very few of them in North America,” explains Katherine. “They were bred to be frugal, hardy and brave; and in Europe they have been using them to improve and refine the Warmblood breeds. They are also crossing them with Arabians because, like the Arab, they will go and go, but they have a much calmer, cooler disposition.”
Katherine’s own stallion, *KS Rubin, is also doing his part to promote the Shagya in the United States. One of only 26 purebred Shagya stallions in North America who are approved for Shagya breeding by the ISG member registry, he represented the breed at the 2006 Equine Affaire in Pomona.



Natural athletes, Shagya horses excel in many different disciplines, however they have proven themselves to be particularly strong as international level endurance competitors. The Endurance Gold Medal at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany was won by a purebred Shagya named Hungares. Hungares was bred at Babolna Stud in Hungary, and is related to *KS Rubin.
At only 6 years old *KS Rubin’s endurance career is just beginning; but at his second endurance competition, the 2007 Mariposa 25, with international endurance rider Carolyn Hock of White Horse Ranch in Riverside, Rubin received the Horse of Excellence Award. With Marina Stein in the saddle, Rubin was also recognized with a Top Five Best Conditioned Award at the Descanso 25, and placed third at the 2007 Californios NATRC.
“He is so happy to work,” says Katherine. “That’s just how the Shagya are. He has a tremendous temperament, incredible metabolics and he seems to have no ‘bottom.’ Carolyn Hock is really pleased with him and to have Rubin as part of her program. He is already doing great things, and she says they haven’t even tapped the true depth of his talent yet.”
But *KS Rubin is also the first purebred Shagya stallion who is recorded in the Rheinland Pfalz-Saar Stallion Book 2, and Katherine wants to prove to U.S. equestrians that Rubin and the Shagya horse can excel in disciplines other than endurance. To that end, *KS Rubin is pursuing a double-career in both endurance and dressage. At his first show, Dressage Among Friends in August 2006, he earned the title of Champion Stallion. He was judged by Major General Jonathan Burton with an 82.3 overall score, and Burton gave him a 9.5 for conformation.
*KS Rubin only had a year of dressage under his belt before Katherine moved him to White Horse Ranch to begin his endurance training. But Katherine is not surprised that Rubin is conquering every obstacle they throw at him, after all, his pedigree reads like a “who’s who” of European Shagya Champions. His first three generations, on the topside, are all Elite or Champion Shagya stallions and mares. Rubin’s sire is the Elite stallion, Paris, who was a popular and successful stallion in sport and at stud for Shagya and Warmblood breeding.
“His first foals hit the ground last spring and they were just brilliant,” says Katherine. “I have a weanling colt that is a dun clone of Rubin. He may be a different color, but his temperament is the same. We’ve collected Rubin again, but due to his training and competition schedule he is only available in 2008 via frozen semen. I also have more Rubin foals coming next spring!”
For more information on the Shagya horse and KS Rubin call 951-737-4857, email oknoll1@earthlink.net or visit www.ksrubin.com online.