RILEY'S REASON
2008 Dark Bay OLDNA-eligible Colt

SIRE: ROYAL APPEARANCE is one of Virginia Tech's current breeding stallions. At his ISR/Oldenburg NA licensing, Royal Appearance received a score of 153.5 points (at that time, second only to his sire!) with a 9 for jumping. At his performance test, he was named a Class I stallion, earning a dressage index of 120.29 and a jumping index of 118.44 and finishing fourth overall. As a 6-year-old, he was the Reserve Champion Young Horse Jumper for the East Coast, under the guidance of Margie Goldstein-Engle. From his first crop of just two foals, he sired Royal Raconteur, ISR/Oldenburg NA East Coast Reserve Champion Colt and now competing at the Advanced level in eventing as an 8-year-old in 2008. He has also sired Premium foals Rivendell (8.5), BW Royal Princess (8.4), BW Regal Reception (8.3), etc. Daughter BW Royal Princess was named Champion Oldenburg and Best US-Bred Filly at Fair Hill and daughter Royal Robin was named the USDF #2 Oldenburg NA Yearling Filly in 2003.

DAM: BELLA MIA is an exceptionally-well bred mare by Bugatti Hilltop. Bugatti won the dressage phase of his 70-d test with a dressage index of more than 140 points. He received 9's and 10's for character, temperament, rideability and all three gaits. He is currently winning on the small tour in the US with Chris Hickey and is already making a tremendous impact as a young sire. He has sired numerous Premium foals and inspection site Champions, and his offspring are winning in the breed shows and Materiale and Young Horse classes. Broodmare sire Contucci needs no introduction as his is one of the leading sires of Breed Show and Young Horse Champions in this country. As a yearling, Bella Mia won her Yearling Fillies class at Dressage at Lexington with a score of 81.5% and was 6th at Dressage at Devon. In 2007 she was named Champion Mare and Reserve Champion Mature Horse at Dressage at Lexington. Her mother, Carabella, also earned many Championship titles in-hand.

RILEY'S REASON is a very special colt with a very special story. After the tragic events of April 16th, 2007, his breeders, the Guinti family of Williamsburg VA, wanted to do something to help memorialize two equestrian students we lost that day, Nicole White and Emily Hilscher. They decided to breed their beautiful Champion mare Bella Mia to our stallion Royal Appearance, and will be donating the resulting foal to our equine program. At the Hokie Harvest Sale on Friday October 31, 2008, Riley will be offered for sale with all proceeds being split equally between the memorial funds established in honor of the two young ladies.

We are deeply touched and truly honored by this gesture and are very excited about the opportunity to offer such an extraordinary sport horse prospect at our fall sale. Riley's Reason combines an absolutely impeccible pedigree with excellent conformation, elastic gaits and a superb temperament. Riley placed very well at the Dressage at Lexington breed show in July, and we are confident this colt will continue to make his mark in sport with his new owners. Due to an injury to his mother this summer, Riley was not presented for inspection, but is fully eligible for inspection and branding with ISR/Oldenburg NA.