Pelishek IberAm Horse Farm - Darien, WI.

For the individual wanting a life time friend, affordable and not intimidating, that carries the natural ability to compete successfully – the IberAm horse is frequently kept forever. Ask those who own one. Utilizing the most recent genetic knowledge in the breeding schedule, genetic disorders are virtually eliminated. The 15 to 16 hand IberAm is extremely hardy and sound of mind, reflecting well, the centuries of prior Iberian selection from which today’s dressage originated. All the special intelligence, suppleness, lightness and gentleness of the famed Iberian bloodlines are preserved and possessed in the Iberian American Horse. A new blossom on an old tree.

How we got started and where we are!

The year 1982, Beth and Gerry Pelishek became re-involved with horses when they bought a farm in southern Wisconsin. The farm bordered Turtle Creek and had a fine gravel deposit on it which Gerry needed for his construction business. Beth thought the farm would be great for raising horses and Gerry purchased “Walkers Curly Lad” and “Starlight” from the late Al Seigrist of Willow Springs Missouri, the vice president of the then newly formed Bashkir Curly horse association. Lad was a 2 ½ year old stallion and Star was a 3 year old mare – both possessing curly genetics. Beth’s prior involvement with horses was as a “fun” rider on her father’s farm in central Wisconsin and Gerry cultivated corn and did other chores with draft horses before WW II.

Because of a leg injury, Gerry had to wear a prosthesis and was not able to ride, so his interest was in breeding and raising the fascinating new curly breed. In order to know what direction to proceed, he recognized that it would be necessary to know what the history of the horse was. Early evidence of the curly horse origins was controversial. While participating as a director of the Curly Horse Foundation Inc. with the C.S. Fund Conservancy which conducted a research project during 1988 to examine the historical origin and genetics of America’s horses with curly hair, Gerry became convinced that the horses were of Iberian origin and there after went off in his own direction in his breeding program.

One must realize – there were no horses of any kind what so ever in both North and South America prior to Columbus’s 2 nd voyage to America. It is true – the native American Indians did not have any horses of any kind until after the conquistadors of Spain and Portugal brought their horses with them to explore and develop the America’s.

Some of these horses escaped and the great wild horse herds of the Americas were formed, with a great preponderance of Iberian genetics.

With the Iberian origins firmly established in his mind – Gerry’s breeding program became more directional, I.E. to utilize Iberian blood lines to the utmost. The curly hair aspects became a lesser factor.

For Gerry – two Iberian horse worlds began to unfold, one was the centuries old purebred registries and organizations of what man had put together for his needs, the Andalusian, the Lusitano, the Kladruber, the Lipizzaner to name just a few of many Iberian blood breeds. The other world was the wild Iberian horse of the Americas, that nature had created using her fundamentals, “form follows function” and “survival of the fittest”.

The Iberian – American horse, IberAms as they are called, came into being.

The basic formula is to take the best that man has raised with the many purebred Iberian registries available and cross them with the selected best that Mother Nature has created. The genetic diversity is tremendous while the pure and extraordinary Iberian blood line is retained.

The advantage of combining the two Iberian worlds is “genetic diversity”.

No matter what kind of animal, - when the gene pool is locked in, the good features are magnified and emphasized, and equally so are the bad features locked in. This scenario is evident thru out all of the animal kingdom – including human beings. For example, with the blue bloods (royalty) of the old world – hemophilia became a bad feature.

With dogs, German Shepherds and Great Danes developed hip dysphasia, with dairy cattle, over use of popular breeding bulls created calving and other problems. The list of genetic disorders, (bad features) goes on and on in the entire animal world.

Gerry feels like he has only scratched the surface – even after studying and pursuing the breeding of the horses of Iberia for some 25 years – but he is convinced that a solid foundation has been laid. Genetic disorders can be eliminated in one generation using the modern technology of genetics and D.N.A. testing. The practical usage of that knowledge is the long range goal of the IberAm Foundation / Registry.

Influential to his thinking were Lady Sylvia Lock’s book “The Royal Horse of Europe”, also the book “Conquerors” by Dr. Deb Bennett and “The Curly Horse in America, Myth and Mystery” by Shan Thomas with special assistance from David Gaier and Dr. Ann Bowling. Countless other publications and opinions were studied and absorbed.

Others whose guidance and words are huge factors in Gerry’s thinking began with Gregor Mendel, the great pioneer of genetics and the science of heredity. The late Dr. Ann Bowling’s many fine works were most informative and gave direction and reassurance to clear practical thinking.

In the more recent world of horsemanship, special recognition and appreciation for their input and equestrian skills belong to Ms. J.J. Tate, Mr. Frank Grello and Mr. J.P. Giacomini and an entire world of very fine devoted veterinarians, scientists and equestrian participants of many levels.

The IberAm Horse Foundation/ Registry headquarters is located at 42 South Walworth Street (US Highway 14) in Darien, Wisconsin.

Gerry and Beth Pelishek are still raising horses on their farm with additional IberAm foals expected in the spring of 2007. The historical relationship of the Iberian horse to dressage has made it Pelishek’s favored equestrian sport. With the assistance and skill of trainer Linda Lulaka of Latvia, IberAms have performed very well in dressage competition. The fundamental versatility of all IberAms in the Iberian tradition makes for a good horse in most any equestrian sport.

The projected statement for the IberAm Foundation is as follows:

Our mission is to join the leaders of the genetic studies in performing practical applications of advancement in genetic knowledge.

We will:

• Appreciate and respect historical events of the past.
• Focus primarily on the original post Columbian equines of the Americas.
• Share and advance knowledge achieved relative to the genetic elements to the entire animal world.
• Be humble in earning the esteem of the colleagues and associates at all levels thru unbiased research and practices.
• Strive to improve upon all that we do. Be aware of the world around us.