"Breeding for type & temperament"

Andrea & Paul Taylor have long been involved with horses. Andrea grew up with her father's thoroughbred race horses and from an early age experienced the competitive world of Point-to-Point racing.

However, she longed for an Arabian and soon enough her parents gave into her plea's and bought her Teagan ( Prince Sadik x Dankels Silent Tear).

Teagan was purchased to race (as that was what Andrea was born into) however, being too young, Teagan was taken to some shows by Andrea in the meantime and soon enough Andrea got the bug for in-hand showing!

Bint Katarina, a mare by Kestrel, was purchased after Andrea met Paul, and the couple moved to Mersea Island so that they could keep their horses at home with them on their 2 acre property.

Soon after, Andrea decided she would like to breed from Bint Katarina and she chose World Champion, Camargue for the mating , the result of which was a typey grey filly named Jarmarni.

They considered purchasing another arab but decided it would have to be special... and then they saw Hakka, at the British Nationals and fell in love! So in 1997 they purchased this incredible moving stallion from the Jones family to become their first stud stallion.

By that time, the two acre property on Mersea Island was becoming a bit of a tight squeeze so they decided to buy a much larger property in Manningtree, Essex so that they could expand the stud.

The house was named Tucana House, by the couple (after a constellation of stars) and so the name for the stud farm was born - Tucana Arabians.

They worked hard to build up the property to what it is today (especially Paul who is deservedly proud of his achievements) which now boasts 17 loose boxes, a large sand menage and well fenced, lush, green paddocks.

After a few years, Hakka was sold to Jarva Stud but his daughter, Kizzarlia was retained and shown lightly but very successfully by Andrea, until very recently when she was purchased by Tracey Pollard.

Another addition to their broodmare band in 2004, was the Internationally qualified, HT Nafeica (Prince al Morafic x Nyara) who was bred to Aja Ben Rajah, a stallion they aquired around the same time who is by FS Bengaili. 'Ben'  was successful both in-hand and as a ridden stallion, and is now owned by Tracey Pollard who continues his ridden career with great success.

Paul & Andrea visited the USA in 2002 and to the well known Rojo Arabians Stud in Florida, home to the World famous, Versace. Andrea was smitten with an extreme, look-alike daughter of his, named La Dolce Vita who was already a Reserve Champion in Region 14. She came back to England with the Taylors and in 2003 Andrea introduced her to the UK show scene to much admiration and success, gaining a first at the International Arabian Horse Festival, a second at the UKIAHS in Towerlands and finally, 3rd that year at the World Championships in Paris.

Andrea & Paul returned to the US shortly after to purchase Vervaldee, another Versace offspring, out of Giavanna. This chesnut colt is another ultra-typey example of his sire's prepotency and is full brother to the successful mare Venetzia, recently purchased by Al Shaqab Stud, Qatar.

Vervaldee is now a statuesque and impressive stallion who has just returned from a successful breeding lease at the Fontanella Stud in Italy where he was also shown to great success, culminating in the title of Italian Reserve Champion stallion. He has proved himself without doubt in the breeding barn too - and at such a young age. In 2007, two of his sons have impressed the judges in showrings around the county; Aja Valentino (owned by Alf Hallworth) and Versymiaan, owned by Mrs C Kirkland, have both gained Championships.

Their love for Versace offspring resulted in the purchase of Donnatella (out of Sanegors Lady D by Simeon Sanagor) from the USA with their dear friend, Lisa Dunn last year. Since then Donatella has taken the eye of Sheikh Khaled Ahmed Bagedo of Al Khaled Farm, Eqypt who recently purchased her from the partnership.

Another mare bought in partnership with Lisa is the mega moving and beautiful, Legacys Sonata, a flaxen-maned daughter of Legacy of Fame. She is a very successful show horse and should make a wonderful addition to the broodmare bands at both Tucana and Elysium Arabians.

As for the future of Tucana Arabians....Andrea and Paul hope to continue their very successful showing and breeding careers, both striving for type, temperament and happy horses. Together with their daughter Reshea, they adore their Arabians and you can tell from speaking to them that they are proud of their achievements and that there's alot more to come!.....so watch this space!