Featured in Arabian Horse Times
DeCarol Williamson says with lots of confidence that his faith led him to approach Dale Brown at Region 12 almost a decade ago. Dr. DeCarol and his wife Jan Williamson of 46 years are the owners and founders of Dolorosa Arabians. Brown recounted the memory with a chuckle as he said, “DeCarol just walked right into my lunging circle. I did not even think he knew who I was at the time.”
The culmination of that conversation was that a few horses were being sent to Brown shortly after the show was finished. Multiple trailers loads full of Dolorosa Arabians’ horses, a few national titles, lots of laughs, and many shared prayers later, these two families – the Williamsons and the Browns – have become one in many ways. Williamson is also proud to include Wilson Training Center and Siemon Stables in their “family of farms.”
“They are just good people,” Brown shared about Dr. Williamson and his wife Jan, along with the rest of their family, including daughter Jordan Cline. “It is wonderful to be surrounded by them. They trust my judgement and are always a proponent of doing what’s best for their horses.”
The tie that binds: DA Maxin
One of Brown’s first times asking Williamson to trust him was shortly after the second load of DA horses arrived at his farm. DA Maxin (“Max”) – a three-year-old at the time – was on that trailer. Williamson relies on Brown, and the other trainers where he has his horses in training, to give him sound business advice. Brown told him they needed to keep the special chestnut colt with the impressive mane and white stockings. A few months later, Brown and Max were named Reserve National Champions in the Purebred Western Pleasure Futurity. This duo has put on multiple national performances since that day in 2015 and will jog into the Ford Truck Arena this upcoming October, competing in the Purebred Western Pleasure Open.
Nothing, except talking about his wife and children, made this Georgia-based trainer light up like he did when annotating his bond with Max.
“I just love that horse,” Brown said about his equine best friend. “I’ve been blessed to be around a lot of nice horses, but Max is just different. I cherish him. He is not just a horse; he is my buddy.”
When asked about how this team will prepare to impress the judges and spectators come October, Brown did not talk about trying a new bit, or practicing their downward transition from the hand-gallop to the lope. Instead, he laughingly admitted that he wanted to up his own cardio regime by taking some jogs through the trails on his 70-acre property. Maintaining the “buddy system” meant that Max must join him. “The first few times I used a halter and lead rope,” Brown nonchalantly mentioned. “Now he just jogs beside me.”
Max and Brown clearly have a one-of-a-kind bond. Among many things he is grateful for in his relationship with the Dolorosa Arabians family, Brown makes a special point to note how much he appreciates their willingness to let him experience this connection with Max.
In addition to Max’s puppy dog behavior, Brown says the other thing that makes Max stand out from any other horse is his kind heart. His kind heart comes up again when talking about the qualities that DA Maxin passes on as a breeding stallion. The second most notable thing to Brown that his progeny share with their sire is their soft, quiet movement. Maxin will be joined by his offspring DA Maxing, a five-year-old chestnut gelding at U.S. Nationals. Cline will show Maxing in the PB Western Pleasure Maturity, after earning a reserve championship in the Region 12 Spotlight Western Maturity, along with a reserve championship and top ten at Mid Summer Nationals. She will also show DA Princessa (DA Prodigy x DA Lady Victoria) under Brown’s guidance at the upcoming nationals. Millionheiress CA , After Afire BF, and Inspector DGL add to the Dolorosa Arabians U.S. Nationals lineup under the direction of Matt Siemon.
Maxin’s oldest foals are beginning to see success in the show ring. Some worth mentioning, in addition to the ones attending U.S. Nationals are DA Jaxson, DA Maxton, and DA Magnific. DA Jaxson is owned by Dolorosa Barn Manager Melissa Bradshaw; the duo finds a lot of success in the sport horse divisions, including a 2023 Reserve National Championship in the Sport Horse Under Saddle Maturity. DA Maxton competed at Region 12 in the Spotlight Western Maturity and in walk/jog with Hope Brown. DA Magnific and granddaughter Lillian Williamson just completed their first show season, earning a reserve champion at Region 12 and 14.
Families rooted in Faith
The Brown and Williamson/Cline families share a lot of the same values that Brown spoke of earlier. They prioritize time with each other and with the Lord. Both families speak highly of each other and are appreciative of the time they get to spend together.
“DeCarol and I are both happiest at home on our farms with our wife and kids,” Brown said. “All of them feel like family. It’s a lot of fun to get to share this with each other, the kids, and grandkids, in this phase of life.”
Brown also grew up around horses like Cline; making a career out of his talents is in his blood. His great grandfather trained racehorses; his grandfather (who Brown talks about with a lot of love) trained Hackney ponies, and his parents trained Arabians. Both Brown and Cline also have children who enjoy showing. In talking about Maxin’s positive attributes as a breeding stallion, Brown even mentioned that his daughter showed one of his offspring at the horse’s first show.
As the Brown, Cline, and Williamson families raise the next generation of horsemen and horsewomen, they all talk about how important their faith and families are. They try to keep those things at the forefront when working with their horses as well.
“My dad stands by the fact that the Lord told him to put horses with Dale,” Cline reaffirmed the opening sentence. When Dolorosa Arabians resurfaced, right about the time Williamson entered Brown’s lunging circle, they were determined to make it as great in some ways, and better in others, than it had been for decades prior.
Brown also mentioned his faith many times as it relates to his business and relationship with the Dolorosa families. “I have got a truck load of faith that doesn’t seem to leave me often,” he said. “Like this year for U.S. Nationals, I feel super blessed to be taking some great horses. Max, of course, stands out because of our bond. But I also feel confident about a lot of the others my amateurs and I are showing.”
The Williamson families are excited about the Dolorosa horses who will show up to Tulsa. However, all members of these intertwined families work hard to stay centered in each other and their faith, no matter the outcome. They all agree that times under the bright lights are fun, but that life is about moments like the ones Dale and Max share on the Georgia trails.
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