RIVA, Chestnut Mare, *1993 (Narew / Rawayeh).
Breeder: Cornelia Kolnberger. Owner: Claudia Kolnberger.
Strain: Kehaileh Rodanieh (Rodania, 1869).
The VVÖ (Austrian Arabian Horse Society) is pleased to announce that the coveted WAHO Trophy for 2009 was awarded to the 16-year-old chestnut mare RIVA by Narew out of Rawayeh, bred by Cornelia Kolnberger and owned at the time of the award by Claudia Kolnberger. The Trophy was presented to Riva and her owner in a well received public ceremony at the International Show at Wels.
Cornelia Kolnberger founded her stud in 1993 with the purchase of Rawayeh, by Kais I out of Maleika, a graceful bay mare foaled in England in 1979. Rawayeh proved an exceptionally lucky find and became the foundation mare of a successful breeding programme. From 1993 to 1997, Rawayeh gave birth to four fillies and one colt. Her 8-year-old granddaughter DA Riviera continues this trend today with four foals since 2005, along with five foals out of Riva’s 1994 half sister, the brown Ravenna by Vympel. To this day, 40 foals have been born at the stud. There are now 14 horses at the farm, all descended in tail female line from the foundation mare Rawayeh, some in the fourth generation.
Riva herself is not only a treasure as a broodmare and winner of several championships in her younger years, she was also performance tested at Stadl Paura in 2003, where she was second among warmblood competitors. Riva has had ten foals since 1997, most of which have been very successful at shows and in sports. Because of her incredibly gentle disposition, she has also been used as a nurse-mare for orphaned foals.
Riva is a credit to Arabian breeding in Austria – the horses with the “DA” prefix, representing Cornelia Kolnberger’s Diamond Arabians, are known far beyond the borders of Austria and have found new homes in many countries including Ajman.
The VVÖ extends its sincere congratulations and best wishes to Riva and her owner for the future and many more successful years together.
Anne Heiloo, VVÖ President, presents the WAHO Trophy to Claudia Kolnberger and Riva at the International Arabian Championship Show in Wels, May 2009.
