Farewell to the Iconic Arabian Ambassador | ALLEGIANT MI
04 September 2011 – 06 May 2024
The Arabian community lost one of its greatest ambassadors with the untimely passing of ALLEGIANT MI due to colic complications. The prize progeny of his beloved dam MI ANGEL (by TS Al Malik), ALLEGIANT was a marquee member of the venerated family of ‘Angels’ and uber-athletes that descend from the cornerstone dam family of Mulawa foundation mare M ANGELIQUE (Vision x Abanda by Banderol).
His arrival in the early Spring of 2011 almost thirteen years ago ushered in an unprecedented wave of change, acclaim and achievement for Mulawa and the Arabian breed in Australia. Aptly named, ALLEGIANT was the very first foal of the young, then unknown junior sire ALLEGIANCE MI (out of Audacia by Parkview Audacious), a promising son of Australia’s leading sire MAGNUM FORTY FOUR (Magnum Psyche x WH Nashahna by Bey Shah), who was used very sparingly as a two year old while recovering from a life-threatening injury. Superbly balanced and constructed with the exceptional quality and elegance of both his sire and grandsire, ALLEGIANT possessed a remarkable self-confidence and carriage and a natural athleticism, all of which would become his trademark attributes once he began to shatter records and raise the standard in the show ring.
Shown only once as Junior Colt, finishing third at the Australian National Championships in 2014 prior to the introduction of Gold, Silver and Bronze Championships two years later in alignment with the international standard, ALLEGIANT began to amass a more serious record as a junior gelding months later with Reserve Championships earned at both the National Stud Show and East Coast Championships. By the time ALLEGIANT emerged as senior gelding and commenced his first season under saddle, his trajectory as a show horse extraordinaire began to accelerate upwards exponentially, with 2016 now commemorated as the year in which he won his first championship in-hand as National Stud Show Senior Arabian Gelding, and his first Australian National Championship, most fittingly under saddle, as AANC Gold Champion Silver Snaffle.
ALLEGIANT returned to Aussies in 2017 to defend his Silver Snaffle National Gold Championship as a five year old and became the first horse in history to win the title twice in both years of eligibility. Most remarkably, this record-setting successive achievement was bested by another dual recognition as ALLEGIANT was not only triumphant as Australian National Gold Champion Ridden Arabian Gelding in the toughest competition of the event, but he was also named unanimous Australian National Champion Arabian Senior Gelding with overwhelming acclaim. This record of three Australian National Gold Championships in a single year, including the victory in both the open Ridden and Led Arabian Gelding divisions, remains intact as the gold standard of excellence for the breed, one that is unlikely to be bested anytime soon.
ALLEGIANT would go on to earn two more Australian National Gold Championships as a Senior Gelding, making him the only horse in history to earn an impressive six AANC Gold Champion titles – three each - as a ridden and led Arabian gelding. With his legacy secure as the most successfully versatile Arabian gelding in Australian show ring history in open competition, ALLEGIANT began to amass an equally impressive record with his adoring amateur owners, winning State & AA championships and supreme titles throughout New South Wales, Victoria & Queensland. Most astoundingly, ALLEGIANT earned a lifetime total of 24 Australian National Championships from 2014 through 2021, including eleven (11) National/Gold Championships, four (4) Silver/Reserves, one (1) Bronze and eight (8) Top Tens/Fives as a led gelding, ridden gelding, show hunter and bridle path hack. For the five year period of 2017-2021, ALLEGIANT was an AANC medal winner every single year as a Senior Arabian Gelding – Gold in both 2017 & 2018, Bronze in 2019, Silver in 2020, and Gold again in 2021 – as well as twice AANC Gold Champion Senior Gelding Non-Pro to Handle (NPTH) in 2019 & 2021, a three-time AANC Gold Champion under saddle as Ridden Arabian Gelding, Silver Snaffle and Show Hunter Non-Pro to Ride (NPTR), and a Silver Champion as both a Ridden Arabian Gelding and Bridle Path Hack Non-Pro to Ride (NPTR).
ALLEGIANT’s unrivalled and supreme versatility was also showcased at its best at the Victorian Classic, where he set another record as three-time successive Supreme Champion Arabian Gelding from 2017-2019. Not content to rule just the halter ring, ALLEGIANT was named Champion Ridden Arabian Gelding, both open and NPTR, as well as Champion Show Hunter and Bridle Path Hack on multiple occasions during this three-year reign of dominance, exceeding the accomplishments of all Arabian geldings before and since in a state known for legendary accomplished Arabian athletes.
Beloved throughout the equine community worldwide, ALLEGIANT has touched the lives of so many with such a profoundly positive impact. Blessed with a charmed existence, ALLEGIANT was masterfully cared for and adored by the Fallick Family, Ricky Carver & Carlie Beer, Hollie Webster, and Indee Smith, as well as Chantelle & Felicity Fogarty, with whom ALLEGIANT spent his final months of life. Each of these exceptional horsepersons and passionate supporters of the breed gave the best of themselves to ensure ALLEGIANT could lead his best life and leave his indelible mark of excellence upon our industry and the Arabian breed. ALLEGIANT will forever be cherished and remembered for his playful personality and keen intelligence, his extraordinary quality and presence, and those massive liquid eyes that seemed to peer directly into the depths of one’s soul.
Farewell ‘Louie’, dear friend and companion. Like so many of the brightest and most brilliant lights that enrich and illuminate our world, your flame was extinguished much too soon. Thank you for making our world a better place and for inspiring and reminding us all, each and every day, of the immense privilege with which we are blessed to share our lives with the Arabian horse.