The Story of Rumina Afire++ begins back East in St. Clair, Michigan as a four-year old. A phone call one Spring afternoon from horseman Ray LaCroix saying that he’d found something special was all it took, a phone call that started the journey with Rumina.
Bred by the Maroon Fire Arabians, Rumina Afire is sired by the great Afire Bey V, a stallion who needs no introduction and who has sired more National winners in
both English and in Halter than any other Arabian stallion to date. Rumina’s dam, the stretchy and athletic The Chief Justice ++/ daughter HL Raisa is out of a Traditio daughter — a pedigree to raise the eyebrows on any English Pleasure aficionado and a pedigree befitting only but one of the most talented show mares of our time.
Steve and Diana Lazzarini own the BL Ranch Arabians in Indio, California — nestled just outside of Palm Springs, 90 minutes East of Los Angeles. The quaint desert landscaped farm sits on 5 acre desert acres and houses some of the most exciting Arabian and Half-Arabian English horses in the country and of course being home to the queen herself, Rumina Afire. Rumina’s incredible show career was orchestrated by the talents of Joel Kiesner back East in Louisville, Tennessee. Joel and his wife Ashton own and operate Kiesner Training and house an incredible group of English show and breeding horses. Joel’s meticulous horsemanship and eye for detail was a match made perfect for Rumina. Together, the pair amassed an undefeated show record in 2003 winning the “Triple Crown” in Arabian Country English Pleasure; United States National Champion, Canadian National Champion, Scottsdale Champion, and of course not to leave out her being crowned champion at the very competitive and prestigious Ohio Buckeye Sweepstakes Championships. Rumina’s last showering appearance was in 2005 when she was Unanimous Champion at Scottsdale
“Making the mare movement” has been a phrase coined by Steve and is clearly understood by the Arabian horse industry who have come to assimilate it with Rumina Afire+, especially the breeders of English horses and those with a penchant for breeding extreme English Pleasure predictability. Rumina Afire has had foals sired by VJ Royal Heir, IXL Noble Express, HF Mister Chips, Sir William Robert, Majesteit, A Temptation, Undulatas Nutcracker, H Mobility H, and the reigning World Champion Nutcracker’s Nirvana.
Aside from the importance of Rumina Afire as a broodmare in the BL Ranch breeding program, the Lazzarini’s are also lucky to incorporate several other breeding mares in their program; BL Torrid Affair by IXL Noble Express and out of Rumina Afire+, BL Sweet Memory who is sired by Remington Afire+// (the full brother to Rumina) and out of Hargaza (by *El Ghazi), and lastly BL Crystal Clear, a stunning Half-Arabian mare sired by Majesteit and out of Rumina.
