March 24, 2006

Pet of the Month

Aaron Gallardo stands with Hibernia, his 24-year-old Arabian stallion outside his stalls in the hills of Evergreen.

Arabian horses Gallant and Hibernia: two of a kind

By Jeff Frazee
Times Photographer

Even as San Jose left behind its roots as the “Valley of Heart’s Delight” and became “Silicon Valley” Evergreen remained the rural edges of this booming metropolis.

With urban sprawl and cutting edge technology at our front door, our back door opens onto a relatively unchanged landscape of rolling green hills and peaceful wildlife. It is on this boundary between city and country where you can find Aaron Gallardo caring for his two Arabian horses: Gallant and Hibernia.

While Gallardo was growing up in Milpitas his grandparents owned land in Evergreen. So naturally, he has been riding horses in San Jose’s east hills since he was a boy.

In those days there was a stable called Antigua Arabians, which raised pure breed Arabian horses. Two particular horses were born in those stalls: Gallant and Hibernia.

Arabians are known as warm-blooded horses, meaning they are intelligent, friendly, and willing with a tendency toward being spooked or anxious in unfamiliar situations. Hibernia has all the flare and style that people love to see in Arabian horses. Being a stallion, he is more dramatic and expressive than Gallant, his gelding companion.

Gallant, a 26-year-old Arabian, stands outside his stalls in the hills of Evergreen. Photos by Jeff Frazee

As the grandson of High Hopes, a seven-time national champion in the English Pleasure and Park competition, Hibernia walks with a natural gate. Only Gallardo rides Hibernia.

Gallant is a 26-year-old pure Arabian gelding. He was purchased and taken out of Evergreen for a while, but Gallardo tracked him down and brought him back to his stalls, just across the street from where Antigua Arabians’ stalls used to be. They have been together for that last 20 years.

Gallant is a sure-footed horse with a pleasing disposition, and at 15-and-a-half hands and 1,200 pounds, he was well suited for endurance races.

When he was younger, Gallant competed in the 25-mile open course races in areas like Grant Ranch. Now, with graying temples, Gallant is an old companion for Gallardo. Arabians often live to see 30 to 35 years of age. So, Gallardo is looking forward to another decade with his steady friend.