Sharmel Arabians began as a notion of the kind of life that a mother could share with her daughter, and along the way, it turned into much more.

Sharon Redman graduated from vet school in 1985 and worked as a small animal veterinarian for a few years. In 1997, after a divorce, Sharon decided that that she wanted to be a mother, so she adopted her daughter, Audrey, when she was one day old. That was the impetus for Sharon to transition into the pharmaceutical and regulatory aspect of veterinary medicine. “I took a job with Novartis in North Carolina, and then later, we moved to Indiana for some years with Eli Lily,” says Sharon. “It was a phenomenal opportunity, one that made the life that I have with Arabians today, possible.”

Sharon and her husband, Craig Parks, live on a ranch in Weatherford, Texas, where she cares for her 10 Arabians, including the young Egyptian stallion Sentebale SA (Bellagio RCA x Kareena RCA by Thee Desperado), a multi-champion at the Egyptian Event who is now in performance training.

What was your introduction to Arabian horses?

I honestly don’t remember the first time I saw an Arabian in person. I looked at a lot of pictures of them as a child and thought they were so beautiful. In veterinary school we’d see the occasional Arabian in the clinic. My first real interaction with them was through my daughter, Audrey. When at our family ranch in Oklahoma, she always wanted to touch the horses, and as early as three years old she was trying to get out of my arms and onto a horse. I firmly believe that horses and little girls are good for each other, and I was happy to encourage her in that direction. I told her she could start taking lessons when she was five. We lived in North Carolina at the time, and I was able to find a young woman who taught lessons on Arabian horses. So Audrey started lessons, and after watching her ride for a few months, I wondered why I was just watching! I grew up riding the ranch horses but had never had a formal lesson. So I started too, with my first real lesson at 43 years young! I loved it, and the adventure began.

How did you know that the Arabian horse belonged in your life?

In my professional life I got an offer I couldn’t refuse from the animal health division of Eli Lilly, so Audrey and I relocated to Indiana. That transition gave me the opportunity to get a property where we could have horses. It was only a couple of years before a sweet grey gelding, Tu Kavalier (Kasee x Bay-Tu), came into our lives. Audrey and I both learned to show on “Kavi.” He took care of her and at the same time made her an honest rider. Their relationship and trust grew to the point where she could ride him without a saddle or bridle, and her skills developed as she became a very good rider. And an added benefit was that the Arabian horse community helped me raise my daughter.

Why did you decide to focus on the Egyptian Arabian?

As Audrey and I graduated from the “fun shows” to class A shows, I needed my own horse. I purchased Baloo Elegans, an MFA Hullabaloo daughter out of an Egyptian-related mare that was an Ansata El Sherif daughter. Plus she was in foal at the time, and the sire also had significant Egyptian blood. I was curious about the Egyptian influence and started researching the Egyptian Arabian. I was hooked by the history of these amazing horses! Next thing I knew I had rescued an Egyptian Arabian mare, and I was thinking about expanding from just showing performance horses to breeding. I had previously bred and shown Shetland Sheepdogs, so it wasn’t a huge leap. Fast forward a few years and Audrey and I moved to north Texas and things took off. While I did not want to focus solely on the Egyptian Arabian, I did remain deeply interested. I visited Arabians Ltd. in Waco, Texas, and it wasn’t long before I was the proud owner of a weanling Thee Desperado daughter named Kareena RCA. She became the foundation mare for my Egyptian program and a mare that is very close to my heart.

Describe the one horse you’ve bred or own who has come closest to your ideal of the Arabian horse.

In 2018 I was blessed with two colts. The non-straight colt was by Kanz Albidayer out of my homebred Audacious PS daughter, Nadia SA. He was beautiful, and it was apparent that he would be a very nice horse, and has lived up to that expectation.

The other colt was a straight Egyptian by Bellagio RCA out of Kareena RCA. I think I heard the Hallelujah Chorus when he was born! I knew that he would be special, and he has certainly proven that both in and out of the show ring. I named him Sentebale SA, a name that I had been saving for just the right baby. It means Forget Me Not, and is also the name of a children’s charity. I knew this colt would be “unforgettable,” as he is beautiful, balanced, athletic and intelligent. He has received compliments from both halter and performance individuals. Sentebale has been very successful in the halter ring, and is now in training under saddle with Wendye Gardiner and doing well. He is the happiest boy ever, and loves to work. They have to be able to do something. They have to have a job. The horses that don’t often end up in terrible spots in life.

What is the Arabian’s role in your daily life today?

In the daily time/work sense, I am personally caring for 10 horses at my home ranch, so that occupies a significant part of my day. I raise my own babies, and handle them as much as possible to ensure that they will be good citizens when they head to the trainer or their new home. I currently have two horses in training. I stay involved in the training aspect as much as possible with visits to the facilities. As a breeder I feel a huge responsibility for the horses that I have brought into this world. Since we can’t keep them all, that means a lot of thought, time, and money goes into getting each horse into a situation where they can thrive.

I am in the process of downsizing my numbers so I can become involved in other aspects of promoting the Arabian horse. For instance I am promoting Sentebale as a breeding stallion, not only domestically, but also internationally, having met all the requirements to do so, and with a good supply of frozen semen available. I envision Sentebale becoming an ambassador of the breed and I will be working towards maximizing his potential. I don’t need to keep making foals. I can stay involved in the Arabian horse world in so many different ways.

In what ways have Arabian horses enhanced your life?

The Arabian horse is the ballet dancer of the horse world. The epitome of grace and athleticism, telling a story with their every move. They have always captivated me, and have brought a special beauty into my life. I still stop and watch when they are playing in the pasture, amazed at such beauty, power, and personality! In addition, the Arabian horse has taken me places I might never have been, introduced me to so many interesting people, and brought some very good friends into my life.

What would you say to someone who is contemplating purchasing an Arabian?

First, I would tell them they are the best horses ever! If the person is not a horse owner or someone with experience with horses, I advise them to start slowly, find a way to spend time around them and learn about the extent of the responsibly and commitment. Then the advice is tailored to what kind of situation the potential owner is looking to achieve. For example, if it is a horse that will not live with them, they need to get helpful information about working with a trainer. And they must know their financial limitations. You’ve got to be sensible about it. Too many people have invested beyond their means for the horses.

What is the most meaningful moment or experience you have had with an Arabian horse?

When Sentebale was a yearling and I wanted to have him shown at the 2019 Egyptian Event, I had to make a lot of decisions about how best to achieve that goal. Since one of the major factors in a young horse’s show experience is the stress of travel, I prioritized having him in a good situation as close to Lexington, Kentucky, as possible. That was easy, as my good friends Quentin Naylor and the late Mark Wharton of Peregrine Arabians were in Lexington, and thankfully, they agreed to condition him for the show. Next, we needed to find a GREAT handler, as I had high hopes for my young boy.

Mark recommended Lucho Guimaraes, and thankfully, he agreed to come. I will never forget the moment Lucho and Sentebale first met. I picked Lucho up at the airport and we went to the farm. Mark was waiting under a big beautiful tree with Sentebale, and handed the lead to Lucho. They seemed to bond instantly, with Sentebale moving in a slow suspended trot around Lucho. They were a great team, with a Championship in the Straight Egyptian Yearling Futurity, and winning unanimous Champion Straight Egyptian Junior Colt and Junior Colt Most Classic Head. I am forever grateful to Lucho, Quentin and Mark for that amazing experience.

I also owe a debt of gratitude to the horse community itself. As a single mom with a demanding career and no family near me, my friends in the horse community were important participants in raising my daughter. The things she learned, the examples she saw, both good and some not so good, and the friends she made, taught her far more than just how to ride a horse. We need to continue to do our best to bring the kids into the Arabian horse community. My sincere thanks to three special horsewomen who influenced Audrey over the years: Amy Shilkett, Kat Stevens, and Carolyn McDonald. Thank you all so much.