Portuguese for “Violet”
29 April 2025 · Agolada, Portugal
by Jóia (RA) and Ziano (AR)
The living legacy of a stallion who left only two descendants.
Violeta was born at Agolada on April 29th, 2025, daughter of Jóia and Ziano — and her story is deeply tied to her father’s.
She is a light grullo filly, without a mask and apparently lightly striped, with a pale, slender look that makes her stand out immediately in the field.
Ziano was a horse from Coudelaria Nacional (the National Stud), who for many years served at the Agricultural School of Santarém, teaching children to ride. As he aged, his health began to fail: severe respiratory problems, several treatments without improvement and a prognosis that grew narrower with time. Until the veterinary school proposed an innovative treatment — and afterwards, a single requirement: the horse would have to spend the rest of his days outdoors.
His owners had nowhere to place him. They called me to ask if I had a paddock where he could live out his final days. I said yes. And because he was still fertile, I asked for permission to take a few foals from him. Permission was granted.
So, in 2024, we received Ziano at Agolada: a 20 years old horse, very thin, visibly weakened, always panting, breathing “from the belly.” He stayed in a paddock near the stables, constantly monitored by the Agolada staff. He breathed with effort, but as the days passed, his breathing became clearer and he began to gain weight.
When breeding season arrived, we attempted hand‑covering — Ziano had libido, but not enough strength in his hind legs to mount the mares. We called the veterinarian, who managed to collect semen and inseminate the mares manually. In the process, he analysed fertility: 60% — better than many Lusitanos and far above the average for Sorraias, whose fertility is usually low.
From that breeding came two foals in 2025:
Veludo‑Baio, out of Cereja, a beautiful bay colt;
and Violeta, out of Jóia, a light grullo filly, delicate and harmonious.
In 2025 we inseminated three more mares with Ziano’s semen, but none of the pregnancies held. At the end of that year, Ziano died. Only two descendants remain: Veludo‑Baio and Violeta — the only ones who carry his legacy.
Today, Violeta grows in the herd as a quiet promise: a young, calm filly with that pale colour that sets her apart. She carries in her body the memory of a horse who arrived at Agolada to spend his last days — and who, before leaving, left in her the continuation of his story.
Become Violeta’s Guardian
By becoming Violeta’s Guardian, you help us preserve the legacy of Ziano and the unique place his daughter holds in the future of the Agolada herd.
Every mare has a story. Violeta’s story is one of legacy, continuity and the quiet promise of a new generation.
Choose your membership and become a Guardian.
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