Our Story
Arabel is a 100 acres farm located in Lachute, Quebec, Canada.
Owned by a family of four — Ariane Gravel, Marc Amyot, Marion Gravel‑Amyot, and Jean Gravel‑Amyot — the farm was founded in 2022 when they discovered and purchased their little paradise. Yet Arabel’s story began long before that… nearly 38 years ago.
The name Arabel was born from a shared vision among friends who wanted to represent a team of passionate individuals united by a common love for the Arabian horse. It emerged more than twenty years ago during a dinner gathering of four close friends — Marc, Marie‑Hélène, Pénélope, and Ariane. That friendship remains, to this day, at the heart of Arabel’s identity and spirit.
Where It All Began
Ariane first fell in love with Arabian horses at her horse riding school in 1988, when she was 7 years old. This riding school, SRA Stables in Lachute, was actually also a small Arabian breeding program.
The school horses were, for the vast majority, Arabian horses. Arabian horses were all she could think of. Quite naturally, at 13, her first horse was a beautiful and spicy grey Arabian yearling filly named Trufflina (Shannazon by Adios +++ X Moshara by Moraftakhar) that she bought at Fernand Jacques’ Ferme J’Arabe.
Trufflina was and always will be her soul mate. She was hard and exclusive, Ariane was probably the only one whom she did accept and tolerate on her back. Trufflina and Ariane were trained by Shirley Klassen, a then well known arabian horse handler, rider, trainer AND breeder. They did class A shows and competed in halter, Hunter pleasure and dressage. But their relationship wasn’t defined by the shows they attented but more by the bond they had: they were best friends. A friendship that lasted 29 years.
“Trufflina was and always will be her soul mate.”
A First Foal, Then a Pause
Marc and Ariane bred Trufflina in 2007 to one of Ariane childhood’s favorite Arabian stallion, Eldis (by *Eld by *Aladdinn). In 2008, they had their first foal, a grey colt (now gelding) named TRU EZEKIEL. The colt went to the Eastern Canadian Breeders Championship and did Top 3 as a 2 years old.
From 2011 to 2021, there was a 10 years hiatus, apart from the arabian horse world.
Marc and Ariane both finished their Master’s degree, Marc in Biochemistry and Ariane in Biology. After her Master’s, Ariane went on to complete her Pharmacist degree… then came work and children… During that time horses came second but were always a part of their family life.
In 2021, the need to plunge back in the Arabian horse world was too intense to be ignored, so they looked at lands and barns to accommodate their dream of owning an Arabian horse farm. They bought their farm in May 2022.
HJ Beth Dutton
In 2022, they also chose a sexy chestnut yearling filly from Shelley Hjelm breeding program, HJ BETH DUTTON (Cadance PA X HJ Countess Magdaline).
Al Gruppen and GTC were suggested by Shelley to train Beth…. The rest is history….
Al and Beth were unstoppable. Beth went on to win in 2022, Region 18 Sweepstakes yearling filly championship, then in 2023 she won 3 X Arabian mare breeding championship titles at Region 18 (open, AOTH and ATH) and she won the Eastern Canadian Breeders Championship in Arabian mare breeding. She was the 2023 Eastern Canada Association halter horse of the year.
Al being an amazing amateur coach, Ariane and Beth went to the Minnesota Horse breeders Medallion Stallion futurity and they were Top 4 in the 2 years old filly ATH class. But that wasn’t enough… HJ Beth Dutton went to Scottsdale with GTC in 2024, and was top ten with Ariane in the Arabian mare breeding AOTH. That will be a memory that she will cherish forever!
Phoenix FC
In 2023, Marc and Ariane were offered, by Michael Byatt, a very special black bay gelding named PHOENIX FC (Polidoro FC X Kamila FC). This incredible opportunity was made possible by their dear friend Jonathan Lambert and his amazing relation in the Arabian horse world!
Phoenix FC was already a US National top ten as a 2 year old in 2022, but he went on to win in 2024 with Al Gruppen the Eastern Canadian Breeders (ECB) Arabian gelding Championship and with Ariane, the ECB Arabian Gelding Performance halter Championship. At the Region 18, Phoenix FC was shown by Marion, their 11 years old daughter, to a RESERVE Championship in Arabian gelding sport horse in hand Dressage Type ATH. Phoenix and Ariane also went Reserve champion in the gelding in hand AOTH and also Top 4 in a huge performance halter class. And as if all those performances weren’t enough… Marc and Jean (their 8 years old son) showed Phoenix in the Liberty class… and WON the class!!!
The Mares of Arabel
Marc and Ariane also own a amazingly beautiful 8 years old chestnut Hariry Al Shaqab daughter named ALEEMAH MA. Bred by Milestone Arabians and full sister to National Champion Harjeet MA, she is out of the ethereal white princess, Alia Psyche IA. Aleemah MA is carrying the 2026 Scottsdale Signature Stallion Auction Sharif Al Zobair’s baby.
They also acquired last fall a lovely bay 5 years old *IBN Farid daughter named ODESSA ELLE FARID MDI, bred by MD Isley out of a Magnum Chall HVP daughter. Odessa was bought in foal to PP Mandela. The resulting foal was born at Arabel in April 2025 and this colt is looking pretty special! His name is AG Othello.
Their last acquisition is a black, Om El Maximus yearling filly out of a Kanz Al Bidayer daughter. Her name is ARABIE EL JAMAAL and she is bred by a very thoughtful and insightful Quebec breeder named Gerald Leblanc.
Our Vision
To preserve the Arabian’s authentic beauty — its TYPE, balance, and correctness — by breeding horses that are not defined by trends, but by purpose, harmony, and the true spirit of the breed.
Our Goal
We aim to produce Arabian horses whose legacy endures — individuals who faithfully pass forward TYPE, balance, and correctness, carrying the spirit of the breed with strength and clarity through each generation.
