This farm was founded in 1881. At that time, Yeguada Hermanos Vara Muñoz-Casillas worked on raising Retinto (dark brown) breed livestock for meat production and bullfighting, Merino sheep and Acorn fed Iberian pork for producing hams and cured meats, typical from the region of Extremadura. Later on, the farm joined to its activity the farming of Purebred Spanish Horses, with the aim of contributing to its development.

The brand of the livestock, with the shape of a heart, was registered in the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office in 1927 for farming use as well as for any kind of livestock use.

Its facilities are located inside the farms of Oriana and Peña del Gato, pastures that belong to the municipality of Olivenza, in the province of Badajoz. These pastures are in the left margin of the river Guadiana, natural border between Spain and Portugal. Raising horses in wide spaces to roam with holm and cork oaks in the meadows of river Guadiana result in very positive consequences in the development, upbringing and consolidation of the farm.

Foals from the time they wean off from the mother until they reach 30-month age are raised again in our facilities of Boqueron de Jaramediana, in the heart of the Sierra de San Pedro, in the province of Caceres, where they are roaming freely.

In 1934, Mr. Deogracias Blasco Balbuena bought a lot of 24 mares to Domínguez Brothers and other 9 mares to Mr. Francisco de la Chica Navarro, who had previously bought them to Domínguez Brothers. These two lots belonged to the Mrs. Josefa Guarro Bariño, widow of Mr. Vicente Romero García. All of them are Purebred Spanish Horses and Zapata lineage in the first segregations.

(Attached document: Stud book of Mr. Juan José Zapata cattle, made by the reputable vet of Extremadura Mr. Guillermo Peral Molina).

In 1936, Mr. Deogracias Blasco buys other 26 mares to Mr. Manuel Romero Benítez. From that date on, and after some years of selections, all the mares that have not Zapata lineage are sold. Then, the farm carries on with studs “Ingenioso IV” and “Volador”. Both came from Hierro del Bocado (Bocado brand).

In the years of Spanish Civil War, many horses went to Portugal, giving rise to some of the best Portuguese farms. In 1952, Mr. Fernando Vera, nephew and partner of Mr. Deogracias Blasco Balbuena, became director of the Yeguada Hermanos Vara Muñoz Casillas. He added to the original facilities the pasture of Viña de los Matos, which is adjacent to the other ones. This new pasture came from family inheritance. Mr. Deogracias Blasco died in 1965 without direct descendants. Mr. Vara Mira, his nephew, continued the farm.

From 1930 to 1974, Yeguada Vara Muñoz Casillas have 70 mother mares. From that date on, they started the irrigation of the facilities in Oriana and Viña de los Matos, and the number of qualified stud reduced to 30-35 until present time.

In 1988, Mr. Fernando Vara Mira died and the farm became managed by his sons, Vara Muñoz-Casillas Brothers.

This cattle has contributed to the upbringing of many farms in Spain as well as in other countries. Well-known studs like Invasor II, Digital (2002 Spanish Champion), Nero II (2006 and 2008 Spanish Champion), or Calzado (founder of the Royal School of Equestrian Art of Jerez de la Frontera) come from this farm.

Stud horses

Apart from the above mentioned horses, other important stud come from the farm: “Capitán III”, “Capitán VII”, “Zurrón”, “Destinado X”, “Descarado V”, “Brioso VII”, “Gachón III”, “Querido IV”, “Regidor XIV”, “Príncipe XLI”, Qualified stud horses and, nowadays, Usurero, Guapito VI y Galopero, other qualified studs.

Colours

The predominant colour of our horses is white and dappled-grey. Time ago there were also chestnuts (44% of the horses) and it was not strange to find black litters.

Awards

These days, the farm has 18 horses registered in the Qualified Breeding Stock Register.

Stud book