Trainer premieres as sculptor at Scottsdale horse show

Well-known in Arabian horse circles as a trainer, competitor, owner, breeder and judge, Staheli recently added something new to his list of accolades.

Sculpting.

"He amazed everyone with this talent that we didn't even know he had," said Joe's wife, De Ann Staheli. "He just came out of nowhere at 60, with absolutely no training, and started working with a lump of clay. And now he's a well-known western artist."

About three years ago, the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona commissioned Staheli to design a perpetual trophy, to be presented each year to the winner of a western pleasure class at its annual horse show. And in 2007, the association commissioned a second perpetual trophy, this time to honor winners of a reining competition.

The 53rd annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, which is currently under way, will be presenting Staheli's first sculpture at its show. The second trophy, which is newly completed and still awaiting approval, will include the name of this year's top reining horse and rider once it receives approval.

Hailed as one of the world's largest and most prestigious horse shows, this year's event drew entries from 11 countries, with more than 2,600 Arabians and half-Arabians vying for the coveted "Scottsdale Champion" title.

When the Arabian Horse Association approached Staheli about designing the trophies, he recalls being "very honored to be asked to do this."

"Both of the sculptures are perpetual trophies that commemorate top trainers, both were very good friends of mine," Staheli said. "The winning horse and rider's names in the two classes will be engraved on the trophy each year, and then the trophies will be displayed at the Arizona Arabian Horse Association office for people to see. Every year the names of another winning horse and rider will be added to each of the two trophies."

Staheli's first commission, the Chuck Kibler perpetual trophy, is called "Making Memories." The sculpture features a young western pleasure horse being ridden by Kibler, a trophy that will be presented to the Scottsdale Champion Western Pleasure Junior Horse later this week. The Chuck Kibler trophy was first presented in 2005 when Midnight Magnum, ridden by Tommy Garland, won the top western pleasure honor.

The second commission, the Jack Teague trophy, is awaiting final approval before it's bronzed and presented. It commemorates Teague — well-known as an owner, breeder, competitor and judge — by portraying him in a stock horse competition. Teague is riding his favorite horse, a stallion named Authenticity, also known as Buddy. Teague died on Nov. 28, 2007. The perpetual trophy will be presented to the show's Arabian Reining Horse Champion every year, and will be displayed at the Arabian Horse Association office.

Staheli started showing at the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show in 1964, competing with clients' horses in western pleasure and stock horse classes. He continued to train and show for a series of clients, including Allison Arabians of Scottsdale, Al-Marah Arabians of Tucson and Cedardell Arabian Farms out of Goodman, Mo. He worked for Cedardell for more than 15 years.

This year's show started last week, with the final day Sunday.

The largest event of its kind in the world, the show attracts thousands of spectators. It features more than 300 vendors offering a vast selection of jewelry, art work, clothing, saddles and gifts. Guests are invited to stroll through the stable areas and enjoy the decorated stalls where the horses are housed. People come from around the world to compete in the event, which offers more than 640 colorful classes and $1 million in prize money.

Now a Scottsdale tradition, the show is a fundraiser, providing millions of dollars to charities.

Staheli has sculptures on display at Integrity Art International, a gallery located in Pinetop. He also has sculptures on display at his studio in Elgin.

The perpetual trophies mean that Staheli's name, like those who win the trophies, will live on with the show, forever embedded in its colorful history.