Breeder Spotlight: MIA VITA HACIENDA
Breeder Spotlight: MIA VITA HACIENDA
Hello, lets meet Jorge & Lily Ghiglione, of Mia Vita Hacienda in Madison, GA.
What inspired you to become involved with the P.R.E. Pura Raza Española?
MV: I was introduced to the PRE Horse in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, after that first experience, the connection I felt with this majestic animal, its elegance and learning about the History behind them, inspired me to get fully involved with the Breed.
What were the biggest influences on your initial foray into the breed?
Were you attracted to the breed's history and heritage?
MV: The initial attraction was elegance, confidence combined with noble character, then I learned about their History, their disposition to perform and the ability to do a variety of disciplines, which not all breeds are capable of.
Above: Mia Vita Hacienda, Madison, GA
Tell us about your amazing facility... you have the indoor arena, several pastures, lots of tree cover....
Describe this beautiful layout and how your horses are kept...
MV: Mia Vita Hacienda is a peaceful 25-acre horse farm in Madison, Georgia. We have a large indoor arena with good footing and plenty of light, which makes training comfortable year-round. Adjacent to the arena, the barn offers 26 spacious stalls along with wash bays, temperature controlled tack rooms, office space, laundry room, and a full bath with tiled shower. Basically everything we need to care for the horses properly.
There are two apartments roughly 2,800 square feet offering flexible living with multiple bedrooms and baths, a remodeled kitchen, and updated systems-ideal for owners, staff, or guests.
Outdoor amenities include a 125' x 250' arena, round pen, six individual paddocks, five large turnout fields each equipped with a run-in shed, and a 10+ acre gallop field, all supported by four-board and electrical fencing
We are able to accommodate training clients with full board. We offer stalls as well as turn out in both individual paddocks or larger pastures where our broodmare herd spends most of their time. Each has run-in sheds for shelter, and we have a big gallop field for exercise.
The property has nice tree cover and rolling terrain, giving the horses plenty of space while keeping everything safe and well-organized. It’s a comfortable, practical setup that works well for both the horses and us.
We are situated very close to UGA, the Univ. of GA and they handle our veterinary needs. The facility is about one hour from the Atlanta airport, easy to get to. We enjoy hosting equestrian events at the property. Visitors are welcome by appointment.
What are your goals as a breeder? What qualities are you selecting for?
MV: My goal as a breeder is to preserve the bloodline, ensuring that each generation maintains its distinguished heritage, but also its intelligence.
I am committed to developing horses that embody both mental sharpness and a strong athletic aptitude, creating a balanced combination of character performance and lineage excellence.
What do you consider to be the most important characteristics in the breed and why?
MV: To sum it up - Intelligence, noble character and loyalty
How important is temperament as you evaluate/access your breeding stock?
MV: when evaluating our stock temperament is among the first qualities we look for.
How many foals do you typically produce every year?
MV: Four
Above: Imported 2021 PRE Stallion, ELEGIDO CXCII, at his debut in showing, at Fiesta Ocala,
ANCCE rated show, World Equestrian Center, Florida in Funcionality (ridden dressage) test
Do you breed for any specific disciplines?
MV: The more traditional disciplines: Classical Dressage, Working Equitation, Doma Vaquera, and Alta Escuela But our horses are versatile and quite capable of performing competitive dressage as well. Versatility is a hallmark of this breed, it has always been so. We prepare the young horses using classical methods, which enables their future owners to develop them in most any direction.
What advice would you give or first time buyers & newcomers to the breed ?
MV: To study, research, get very involved with the History, to read and watch educational materials, and if possible to travel to Spain to relate the History of the Horse and the Culture that has guarded and protected it.
Where do you hope to see the PRE breed in 10 yrs?
What are the biggest challenges have you witnessed in the breed?
MV: The popularity of the breed has grown so much in the past two decades, hopefully it will continue to flourish worldwide. It must be safeguarded and preserved, not changed, so it is important that it does not fall into a state of decline and through lack of knowledge, become something less than it was meant to be.
There are still a great many dedicated breeders in Spain who are committed to preserving the heritage of the horse, but also a substantial number who have diverted and began breeding out of type, for the dressage market, and we must be careful not to lose the traditional baroque qualities or we lose the horse. This goes for the USA as well.
MIA VITA HACIENDA LINKS
305.218.4956
website:
Instagram:
