....Let History here, make Justice to their Story....
History of Los Acres...by Jackie Tone Polk
I love horses, history, my family, farming and my religion. Always have, and always will. It was no surprise when me and my sisters were very young to beg our parents for a pony or horse. My mother, Marge Tone, managed to sneak in a pony and two young Arabian fillies before my father, Jack Tone "Buddy", ever knew. As a young boy, Buddy was a good rider, but always associated horses with work, and drove many of them while working in the fields of his family farm.
Paul and I met when we were 14, during our first year in High School.
I had never cared much for boys, but he was so nice and polite, carried my books and always had a big smile. He also had a Texas accent, black wavey hair and blueish eyes! He was a star in sports, and I loved watching all of his games.
Paul and I married November 30, 1951 at ages 19, and went to Southern California on our honeymoon. My mother had met Frank and Helen McCoy, and they invited us to visit them in Bell, California to see their Arab horses. We did! It was there that we saw the beautiful FERSARA, FERZON, BINT SAHARA and her bay weanling, FADJUR! The rest is History...
Paul and I married November 30, 1951 at ages 19, and went to Southern California on our honeymoon. My mother had met Frank and Helen McCoy, and they invited us to visit them in Bell, California to see their Arab horses. We did! It was there that we saw the beautiful FERSARA, FERZON, BINT SAHARA and her bay weanling, FADJUR! The rest is History...
Buddy bought FADJUR in February 1953 for Marge's 38th Birthday - and life was wonderful !
FADJUR was a happy "show off'" and we would clap and clap for him. When he was a 4 year old Stallion, Paul asked Marge if he could show him. {Paul had never been to a show, as he helped Buddy with the farming} Marge and FADJUR and Paul had a few lessons in FADJUR's paddock, and Paul could not stop laughing. FADJUR loved it !
They went to their first show, and won the Stallion Class! Then they went to the big show at the Cow Palace in San Francisco - and again, the Rest is History ... FADJUR'S winning streak spanned 24 years in the Show Arena. During that time, Paul and I had five children: John, Nancy, Terry, Peter and Michael. All of our family had ponies and horses while growing up. Our daughter, Terry, stayed the most involved with our Horses, winning Regional, National and European awards. Paul and I started out with FADJUR daughters and granddaughters. I still have many of their beautiful descendants .
They went to their first show, and won the Stallion Class! Then they went to the big show at the Cow Palace in San Francisco - and again, the Rest is History ... FADJUR'S winning streak spanned 24 years in the Show Arena. During that time, Paul and I had five children: John, Nancy, Terry, Peter and Michael. All of our family had ponies and horses while growing up. Our daughter, Terry, stayed the most involved with our Horses, winning Regional, National and European awards. Paul and I started out with FADJUR daughters and granddaughters. I still have many of their beautiful descendants .
In 1976, the World Arabian Horse Organization { W.A.H.O. } chose to visit the U.S.A., and
planned for a day at my parents Jack Tone Ranch, to see the Fabulous FADJUR and his horsey family. What fun we had in preparing for that memorable day. Arabian horse breeders from 36 countries were coming, so to make them feel welcome, I made each of their foreign flags! Marge made them wild blackberry jam, and Buddy made them his own Zinfandel wine ! All of Marge and Buddy's five girls and all of their grandchildren joined in the presentation of horses! After the showing, there was a steak barbeque, and then wonderful dancing in the big indoor arena barn, to the live western music of Randy Sparks ! During that day, a FADJUR son and daughter sold to Wales and Morrocco. Marge and her family received invitations to visit each of the attending countries!
In 1977 Marge and Jack { Buddy } Tone, their daughter Joanne Gyr and granddaughters Terry Polk and GiGi Hammer flew to Spain, and then on to Ireland ! While in Spain they visited
several of the top Arabian breeders, including Pedro Domecq, who became very entertained by Buddy's wine humor! Maria Paz and Helga Woodward were of great help, as they showed the way. They were taken to the Spanish State Stud, the Yeguada Militar, in Jerez where they saw the legendary stallions JACIO and GARBO...and even seeing the beautiful classic UZACUR. The memories of those and unforgettable Stallions linger on ... Helga and Maria Paz told them about a 3 Year old Colt owned by Don Diego Mendez Moreno of Seville, and that they MUST see him, a dark grey son of the beautiful JACIO. After winding through the narrow streets of Seville, they came to some big wooden gates, that entered into a large courtyard. There, tied to a white wall, was the young *SIDI-BRAHIM !!! Marge and Buddy liked him and he was for sale! Soon he would be flown to New York for quarantine, and then on to San Francisco!
*SIDI-BRAHIM's huge dark eyes, smooth strong body and quiet dispositon was evident. He was bred to a few FADJUR daughters, and the foals were magical! Terry trained
*SIDI-BRAHIM under saddle, and he loved to be ridden, even by the very young riders.
FADJUR died in early 1983, at the age of 31. His death was very hard on all of the family, and everything changed. All of Marge's dreams had come true, but FADJUR was like a member of her family, and things would never be the same.
In 1985, Marge gave *SIDI-BRAHIM to me and Paul. We began anew, and soon built our arena barn with stalls and paddocks on part of the old original farm from the early 1850's. As time went on, we needed a name, and my special aunt, Alice Tone Gibbons, suggested " Los Acres ", as it had it's history in part of the old ranch days. I liked it ! Gradually, over the years, pastures, outdoor arena and Terry's barn became additions here. Paul planned and did the lay out for everything here along the old Mosher Creek and Jack Tone Road. It's the home of our beautiful SPANISH/FADJUR line of horses.
In 2000, a tall slender dark haired, handsome man visited Los Acres to meet *SIDI-BRAHIM and JULIO BRAHIM - sires of horses he had been training for Bloodless Bullfighting at a farm south of Stockton. " Joao " instantly fell in love with the Stallions, and at the same time my daughter Terry fell in love with Joao ! He had been flown to America from his homeland of Portugal, where he was a "Cavaleiro" training and riding horses in Bloodless Bullfights. I never heard of such a thing, but HE COULD RIDE like no one I had ever seen. Paul liked Joao a lot, and enjoyed laughing and talking with him. Once, when Paul saw Joao running with a Horse, he asked Terry if Joao ever played baseball, thinking he could be his runner... { Paul was the pitcher on our families softball team } .
Joao enjoyed teaching our young family members to ride and vault with our horses. It was amazing to watch as he trained the young horses, and to see their proud carriage under saddle. In Portugal, Joao's Master influenced him to always, no matter what, seek the True Horsemanship, this Great Man was Master Sidonio Moura..
In 2003 we gave Joao the dark black bay Stallion, JAIR TAMAAL { Tamaal FA x Sidcerely Yours } carrying the Blood of both *SIDI-BRAHIM and FADJUR. They are a spectacular pair in the Bullfighting arenas! Others carrying our breeding and performing are: ONCE N ALIFETIME, PRESIDENTE POLK, AIRE MAGIC, SAINT SID, and *TIBERIO. In 2007 Terry married Joao, and no one was happier than her father Paul.
Paul had talked to Joao about teaching him to cut and bale the hay. When Paul died unexpectedly in 2007, our family changed drastically. Terry no longer drove our horses to shows, as Paul was no longer here to watch over the farm and horses while we were gone. We all miss Paul, his happy enthusiasm each and every day. He loved me and our children very much. I pray for Paul each day and remember his happy life with all of us...
Each year in May, we invite everyone, at no charge, to our HAPPY HORSE DAY. It takes a lot of work and "elbow grease" to get ready for it, but we do enjoy it! Our good close friends Sandy, Deb, Vivian, Cousin Kerry, sister Joanne "Jo" help us, along with my son Peter
with wife Lisa, Kassidy, Olivia { "Cupcake" } and baby brother Owen Paul. Every year we do something different, but mainly Terry and Joao show our horses to the men, women and children visiting Los Acres. Great music, snacks, T Shirt toss and Liberty Competition! Our Sunday starts at 1:00 at the flag pole Blessing by Father Michael Kelly, and the fun goes on until ? in the evening. Exciting exhibitions by our Arabians, Lusitanos, and Luso/Arabs, as they show off their beautiful and amazing skills.
We continue to send horses abroad with two females arriving at Australia in 2011 and 2012. The dark chestnut SIDCERELY OURS, in foal to *ABHA QATAR ... and the bay Pure Spanish OLIVIA DE BRAHIM, in foal to *JAIR TAMAAL. GREAT !
We continue to send horses abroad with two females arriving at Australia in 2011 and 2012. The dark chestnut SIDCERELY OURS, in foal to *ABHA QATAR ... and the bay Pure Spanish OLIVIA DE BRAHIM, in foal to *JAIR TAMAAL. GREAT !