Photos of Nobleza D

Nobleza's parents - sire Granadino (left) and dam Atenea (right)

Nobleza's name is truly fitting as she is the most noble mare on our property. Nobleza is kind, sweet, engaging, and a wonderful soul. Nobleza was the last pure Spanish offspring of her mother Aentea IX. I became aware of just how special these Atenea babies were while working at Denham Ranch and was determined to own one. That possibility became reality when my mother and I together purchased Nobleza in 2000. I clearly remember the moment we signed the sales agreement with Ms. Beverly Denham. Beverly looked at the horse's name she was selling and said "that's a good horse!". I smiled and inside, thought, yes she is, just sign the papers over to me!

When Nobleza was just a yearling we took her to Nationals and showed her in the Spanish two-and-under filly class. She tied for first with an older "cousin" and after further judging, was awarded Reserve Champion Spanish Jr. Filly. She was the only yearling in the class up against more mature two-year olds but her beauty prevailed.

Nobleza was trained as a young mare and I rode her several times on the trails. She was shown at Susar Farm in Denton, Texas as a coming three year old and won nearly every class.  When I took her for her first official dressage lesson as a five-year old mare, the dressage trainer was stricken and wanted to buy her. Of course I said, no, but suggested she could buy one of her foals.

This 15.2 hand silver grey mare is a smaller version of her big sister Keberes. Nobleza is a sweet heart that anyone can ride; however she still carries herself with "brio" and is beautiful beyond words. She has produced some of our sweetest and prettiest foals.

Nobleza, just like her half-sister, is very pre-potent and consistently passes on her best traits to her offspring.

Nobleza Facts

Nobleza's IALHA Registration Number: 4715 (S)

Spanish Codigo: 1901010022EU060

Approved by Spain (LG) for Breeding as VALORADO

Microchip: 40611F0C1E

DOB: March 25, 1999

Breeder: Richard & Beverly Denham, Denham Ranch

Owner: Donna and Carol DeYoung

Nobleza Genetics

Color: Nobleza is a Silver Grey. She is heterozygous grey and can produce non-grey foals that are chestnut, bay, or black. Her genotype per UC Davis is Ee Aa. Nobleza has a dark muzzle and dark skin around her face and eyes. She was born a bay color and had dark points as a yearling and almost looked buckskin. She dappled out as a buckskin/grey young mare and eventually turned silver white with an iridescent sheen. She has a few small brown freckles in her coat indicative of "good breeding" She is incorrectly listed in LG as "bay". Nobleza's sire was grey and her dam was bay with a history of producing black.

Recent Photos of Nobleza

Historical Photos of Nobleza

Nobleza as a weanling and yearling. That's me in the stall with her. Nobleza inherited all the "beauty" genes from her family tree.

Nobleza as a three-year-old when presented at Spanish revision.

Nobleza being ridden under saddle. She was about four years old and pregnant with her first foal. With limited training you can see how easily she collects and extends with a beautiful head carriage and presence.

Computer artwork of Nobleza by Julie Tupper

Click here to see pictures of Nobleza's full sister Karina D

Nobleza's OffspringNobleza's offspring have inherited the beauty of Nobleza as well as the finer qualities of their sires. Her foals are sought after by PRE breeding aficionados seeking the classical style Spanish horse as well as by dressage riders looking for trainability, movement, and expression in a PRE.