 HAR Rhiannon Thank you "Na Na" for the laughter
HAR Rhiannon was a very consistent sire, passing on gorgeous type, upright necks, strong legs,
trot, wonderful dispositions, and quality. He sired color on half arabs and tons of chrome on his
purebred foals.
Rhiannon's dam, Cassa Tonda, was a 2 time halter winner and then unshown. Her dam, Tondelayo ++ was
a Legion of Merit recipient having national top tens in Park, English Pleasure, Western Pleasure,
and she was a multiple winner in halter as well. Tondelayo's dam, was a full sister to the great
mare La Bahia. Cassa Tonda's sire, Rhiannon's maternal grandsire, is the great Al-Marah Cassanova ++.
He was also a Legion of Merit recipient with championships in halter, performance and was a US
national top ten stallion. Cassanova was also the sire of Cass Ole, who is best known for his
starring role as The Black Stallion! HAR Rhiannon's maternal great grandsire, Rapture, was named
sire of significance at the 1983 US Nationals, and the 1984 US and Canadian Nationals. The reason
for the long dam line explanation is because the dam line is so important yet many times over looked,
however, we will not leave out Rhiannon's greatly known sire the immortal *Bask ++. He really needs
no introduction, but a brief overview of his career includes many race, park, halter, driving and
informal combination championships. He is also known as the greatest arabian sire ever.
Rhiannon stood at Prarie Arabians for the 2003 breeding season. A huge thank you to Bob & Nikki
for all of their help in managing him and taking such wonderful care of him while he was there.
Rhiannon returned "home" to the rebuilt Blue Thunder Stables after it suffered a devastating barn
fire. Although he was well cared for at his other home I truly believe he waited to leave us until
he had returned to Renee and the place where he found comfort that day in 2002 when he stepped off
that trailer.
The morning of Dec. 12, 2003 Renee found him in his stall. He had nickered to her just hours before,
and then it seems he simply went to sleep. At 27, we knew he wouldn't be around forever, but that
doesn't take away the loss we have suffered yet we feel the gain we have to have had him in our lives.
I was quite sad to know that he died alone, but then I remembered how proud he was. I was able say
my final goodbye to the wonderful old boy before he was buried. It was very hard to tell Victoria
that Na Na had been taken to heaven. She would like him to return to us but is understanding that
he can't. She still continues to draw him pictures which I am sure will happen for a long time.
She does know that he is with a very special angel, that I believe in my heart takes care of all
of my lost horses. Tori told me that angel was riding Na Na now and I had to smile through the
tears.
Rhiannon came to us for a reason. He has been so much of the backbone of Tori's road to winning
her battle against cancer. She is still fighting, but I know he played his role where needed. The
laughter that was heard was the most priceless gift he gave to us. Na Na has given us so much more
in the just shy of 2 years he was with us and I know he will live on in many other hearts he has
touched.
We are truly touched by the friendship the Novotny family has shown us. Thank you a million times
to them, ecspecially Renee. She is a very special person that has treated each of these animals as
her own. This is a major loss for her as well, my heart goes out to her.
Thank you to everyone who have touched Rhiannon's life and ours.
And once again, thank you "Na Na" for the laughter, may you rest in peace old friend........................
 (1997 Works of Mart photo)
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On May 23rd, 2002, HAR Rhiannon stepped off of a tiny trailer and filled
a huge place in many hearts.
Rhiannon was reimported from Canada in the spring of 2002,
Victoria Hagedorn's 2nd birthday gift, from her mother Caryn Henry. Caryn opted not to
put Victoria's name on the papers since at her age she really couldn't sign a breeding
contract, BUT, Victoria claimed this grand ole horse as "my orsie" the day she met him.
Although Rhiannon was a highly trained and talented individual, he was not shown but rather
used as a breeding, pleasure, and parade horse in his younger years representing the kindness,
versatility, and talent of his breed and pedigree. Rhiannon has wonderful purebred and 1/2 arabian
get that have succeeded in all divisions of showing as well as being best friends and pleasure mounts
to their owners.
Reading Rhiannon's pedigree is like reading a chapter in a history book of arabian greats.
He wass an awesome representative of his bloodlines and passed it on to his get. 
Some thought I was crazy to have purchased such an old horse, a stallion at that, for such a young
girl. I believe I would have been crazy not to after getting to know this fine creature. I made
a promise to him that he would live his life with respect and honor and I am greatful I never broke
that promise to him. He was one special horse that gave our small family some much needed happiness
in such a hard time. Victoria was diagnosed with cancer (A.L.L) on July 31, 2002. She carried photos
of Rhiannon to the hospital with her and told each of her caregivers all about "Na Na". It was the
one thing they all knew would get her to talk... just ask about Na Na. He was definitely her horse
and on her healthy days, she loved to sit on him while he grazed and she loved to feed him apples.
These were some of the few times in the beginning of Tori's treatment that you could hear her
laughter and know she was truly happy.