Shawn Crews
SHAWN CREWS INTERNATIONAL, WACO, TEXAS
“The first Arabian horse that I saw was the straight Egyptian stallion *Ibn Moniet El Nefous. My father and Jarrell McCracken, then owner of Bentwood Farms, were close friends so I got to visit the McCrackens’ horses several times in my teens. Anyone who ever saw that stallion knows he was unforgettable.
“As a child I felt drawn to horses. Not sure where it came from, I am not from a horse family. I wore out the pages on horses in the Encyclopedia Britannica and would beg my parents to stop the car if we drove by a horse in a pasture on the side of the road.
“When I graduated from high school, I was not particularly interested in “continuing my education” – as in college – so my father pulled some strings and I was on my way from southern California to Waco, Texas. Shortly after I found myself sitting in the office of Bentwood Farms trainer and General Manager David Gardner. He was none too happy about being asked by the boss to hire a friend’s kid who did not know a thing about a horse. And he verbalized as much to me. I don’t know how I made it through those early years without getting fired, but it was there at Bentwood Farms that I came to love Egyptian horses. I had no idea what a priceless education that time there under David Gardner, and working with some of the finest Egyptian horses, would be. There is no question I would not be doing what I do today had if it had not been for David and his wife Marion. The first and foremost important thing I learned from David is how to dig down deep within yourself, inspire your team to do the same, to bring forth efforts and results that we have not before achieved. The second is this: None of it works without the absolute highest quality horses, and people. Arabian horses have played a role in my life every day since.
“As a child I felt drawn to horses. Not sure where it came from, I am not from a horse family. I wore out the pages on horses in the Encyclopedia Britannica and would beg my parents to stop the car if we drove by a horse in a pasture on the side of the road.”
_ SHAWN CREWS
“Some of my most interesting conversations about Arabian horses have been with Jeff Wallace. If there is a horse that I have not seen in the flesh that I need to know about it, chances are Jeff can fill me in. Jeff Wintersteen is another one that I totally enjoy talking horses with. Jeff Wintersteen taught me the history of the Polish invasion. And I always love talking horses with Mark Burke. We both grew up with Egyptian Arabians. Mark has a wicked sense of humor and we have been through some funny stuff together. And, Frank Sponle. I don’t think anyone has ever had a long talk with Frank, but my short conversations with him over the years have been instrumental in some pretty important decisions I have had to make during my career.
“There have been so many unbelievable moments with these horses. Seems like it went from my first day at work at Bentwood to finding myself on a 747 cargo plane flying over an ocean taking care of horses that were my best friends and about to meet their new owners in a faraway place. How many people do you know who could barely graduate from high school get to do what we do?
“For me, a more recent highlight since I have made my own farm homebase, is the day that Bint Al Riyahh and LV Gamblers Joy unloaded here. Living with them day in and day out is like nothing I have done. Looking at two of the most exceptional mares I have ever known in my own pastures (which back up to the old Bentwood farm) is indescribable.
“Still, I have to admit there is a toll for some of us ladies who have dedicated our lives to these amazing animals. That is many missed precious times with our
