By Kim Johnson
September 6 2025

WONDERFUL!! A word to describe the Arabian Horse Association National Championship Endurance Ride in Idaho City last weekend!  It takes so many talented people to put on a ride of this caliber that had people and horses come from all across the United States. So many thanks need to be given out for the local ride managers Debbie Johnston, Regina Rose and their crew and the AHA representatives - Paige Lockard, Art King, Eric Reuter and Jerry Cummings that came from Colorado, Quebec, Tennessee and Kansas. I apologize for missing some.

It takes several years of pre-planning to put on a ride with these logistics,  including location to park all the rigs, mark hundreds of trail miles, prepare meals, bring together veterinarians and support staff, etc.  It really is an incredible feat and we salute all involved.

It was great to meet up with old friends, veterinarians, clients and aficionados of the sport of endurance. and we were honored to be one of the sponsors for this great event. 

Belesemo Arabians was represented by 5 different horses and owner/riders and we are so grateful and proud of them. CONGRATULATIONS to all of you.

BELESEMO GOLD MONARCH (BR Gold Sovereign x Diva CLL) and Gordon Garewal ended up being the Champions of the Open 3 Day Limited Distance Challenge - a combined 3 day score. Gordon won this as a heavyweight - a great feat which included some Best Condition and High Vet Scores.

BELESEMA AMEELIA (Belesemo Ibn Trad x Meena) and Cherie Garewal placed 4th on the National 50 Mile Ride earning an AHA  National Top Ten 50 Mile Award in addition to placing 11th on the Open 50 Mile Ride. They also placed 5th on the Open ride portion on the 3rd day along with High Vet Score.

BELESEMO MOON CRESENT (Belesemo Ibn Trad x Belesema Moon Song) and Bentley French took 29th in only their second 50 mile Ride in the Open portion of the National Championship.  This is a pair to watch in the future.

BELESEMA SANS OMEGA (Sanskrit x Belesema Finalia) and Nance Worman took 30th place in the open 50 mile portion of the National Championship ride.  Omega's dam, Belesema Finalia,  won this National Championsihip back in 2014 so it is fun to watch her progress.

BELESEMA BINT SPICE (Belesemo Ibn Trad x Sans Spice) ridden by Debbie Ellis tied for 12th on the second day Limited Distance ride.

SANSTORMM (Sanskrit x Alta Snow) owned/ridden by Suzanne Hayes was the National Reserve Champion 50 Mile Half-Arabian.  Storm was bred by Dee Matlock the previous owner of Sanskrit but we are excited for Susie and Dee as well and want to include them.

It was a fantastic coming together of the best the sport has to offer.  CONGRATULATIONS to all of the crew that put it on, riders and horses!! What a great event!!

Photo above by Steve Bradley, of Belesema Sans Omega and Nance Worman

A True Gem: Belesema Sapphire Becomes Endurance Horse Breyer Model

Belesemo Arabians Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from Eastern Crabbet Arabian Horse Society

January 5 2021
by Endurance.net

In early 1997, the Eastern Crabbet Arabian Horse Society officers and directors approved the presentation of an annual Lifetime Achievement Award to individuals who best exemplify the ideals as stated in the ECAHS Philosophy through a lifetime of work for and with the Arabian horse.

2021 recipients of this Lifetime Achievement Award are Dirk and Kimberly Johnson of Belesemo Arabians in Caldwell, Idaho, for 40 years of breeding Crabbet Arabians.

"It is with great humbleness and appreciation that Belesemo Arabians received the Eastern Crabbet Arabian Horse Society’s (ECAHS) Lifetime Achievement Award for 2021," Kim Johnson said. "We are honored beyond belief that our breeding program was selected to receive the Award in recognition of almost 40 years of breeding Crabbet Arabians.

"Plans were to fly to the East Coast this summer for the presentation of the award in person at the Crabbet Celebration. However, with the current Covid situation this past year, the committee sent the award to us and we celebrated locally with long time friends/clients Cindy and Tom Lempp from Colorado and Bob and Sue Jerome from Middleton, Idaho.

"Thank you to the selection committee from ECAHS for this great honor. This is most definitely a shared award, as we thank all the wonderful people down through the years that have believed in our horses, and taken them to their national and regional show and endurance titles. Our breeding program would not be what it is today had it not been for you, the talented individuals who chose our horses as your companions, and we owe you a huge debt of gratitude. THANK YOU! You are the true recipients of this honor!"


L to R - Bob and Sue Jerome - Ohadii Arabians, Middleton, Idaho; Dirk and Kim Johnson; Cindy and Tom Lempp, - Sojourn Arabians, Pueblo, Colorado.

Top photo: Third generation 2021 filly, Belesema Omega (Belesemo Ibn Trad age 25 x Belesema Finalia age 25). The last two direct offspring of Belesemo Trad.

Belesemo Arabians Filly Heads to Australia

Daughter of BR Gold Sovereign will compete in Endurance for Oso Arabians then join the breeding program 


A 4-year-old daughter of Belesemo Arabians’ 3-time National Top Ten Sport Horse stallion, BR Gold Sovereign, and out of the Belesemo Magic mare Belesema Joyous, is headed to Oso Arabians in Australia. Belesema Golden Joy will compete in Endurance Down Under before becoming a broodmare for Oso Arabians, whose motto is, “Celebrating 25 years of breeding excellence in Australia.” 


Team Oso has had top successes with their horses in both Performance sports (Sport Horse, Reining, Dressage, and Showing), and Endurance; Oso’s Cap Brave Heart won the 2015 Tom Quilty. 


“It is pretty thrilling for us on an international level,” Belesemo Arabians’ Kim Johnson said, “and we are so excited that not only is she going to get to do Endurance but she is going to a breeding farm as well!”

Therefore, we usually have young stock for sale that are full siblings to already established endurance and competitive trail winners. Occasionally, we do have an older, ready for the trail or show ring animal available, usually through one of our clients.

Horses with Belesemo bloodlines account for 18 National AERC titles, 23 U.S. National Champion, Reserve Champion and Top Ten Sport Horses,and numerous Regional & Best Condition placings, in addition to numerous Class A and Open show ring wins. In the 2016 Tevis Ride - 3 horses sired by stallions in the Belesemo breeding program were in the Top 14.

Click here for a complete listing of Belesemo Arabians accomplishments.

Our horses have been ridden and shown by outstanding individuals. They have taken them to many prestigious titles which include the following:

Dirk & Kimberly Johnson