Falabella Breeders and Owners Society

The Chianti Legend
1964 – 1982

The story of Chianti began back in the early 60’s when the Regina Winery of Southern California imported a small herd of miniature horses from Julio Falabella, Argentina.  At that time, the word “miniature” was not a common equine term.

 These little horses were referred to as “Lilliputians” or even referred to as dwarf horses, although they were not dwarf by any definition.  They were just perfectly conformed little horses that were a real novelty of the time and attracted much attention.

 Among this herd of imported little horses, was one very unusual spotted stallion.  The Winery named him Chianti after one of their prize wines.  It is not known what his original name was in Argentina.  Chianti became part of the famous six horse hitch used by the Regina Winery, to pull a scaled down to size stagecoach to promote the Winery which participated in many Southern California parades.

 It is unknown how old Chianti was when he arrived in the US; however photos suggest he was young, perhaps a weanling or yearling.  Early photographs also indicate that his leopard spots became more prominent as he matured.

 Chianti was the sire of the first American born Falabella foal, a black filly named Burgendy born in 1967.  His gentle nature allowed him to live freely with the mares and foals and his offspring inherited his exceptional disposition.

 In the early 70’s, the Regina Winery closed its doors and the horses were up for sale.  There were many potential buyers for the solid color and pinto colored Falabellas, but the only person who saw a future for this unusual spotted horse called Chianti was a lady named Dixie Blasingame of Vista, California.

Dixie introduced Chianti to the Show Ring and his show career began.  Over years of Dixie’s careful management and training, Chianti won many halter and performance championships.  He was known as the “driving machine”.  This spotted little horse was not only a magnificent beauty and champion, but could also reproduce foals with his fine qualities.

 Chianti quickly became a celebrity.  His photo was featured on the AMHR (American Miniature Horse Registry) Journal cover in November 1978.  The caption read “the flawless conformation, outstanding disposition and color all adds up to make Chianti the finest Miniature Leopard Appaloosa Stallion in the country”  Again in 1982, the Journal recognized Chianti as “he has proven to be a Superior Halter and Performance Champion, as well as an outstanding stallion”.  The AMHA (American Miniature Horse Association) has credited Chianti to be a Historical Stallion to the breed.

 Chianti continued to live the good life at Shadow Oaks with Dixie until he suddenly died in 1982 from colic complications caused from a rich diet of alfalfa hay.  During his lifetime he sired 61 registered foals.  Offspring from his heritage are still sought after today and many American Miniatures can trace their pedigrees back to this gorgeous spotted stallion.

 The last foal sired by Chianti was a cremello filly born on October 7^th, 1983, named Shadow Oaks Lemmon Drop. 

 The Falabella Breeders and Owners Society have proudly chosen Chianti for our Logo.

 See Chianti’s Offspring Data listed below.  He certainly was a high producer of fillies.  Interesting, that 17 foals were registered as Solid Black; I wonder how many of these developed appaloosa characteristics with maturity. 

Chianti’s Get - 61
Reg’d AMHA I00014B, 33”
Reg’d AMHR 1015A, 32”
Fillies - 40
Colts – 21
Appaloosa - 27
Solid Black - 17
Solid Chestnut – 7
Cremello – 4
Palomino – 2
Buckskin – 2
Grey – 1
Brown & White - 1
Foals registered at various sizes from 29” to 37”