As an innately curious artist, I create media that explore relationships between the arts, nature and healing. The child of an Austrian immigrant, WWII’s impact sensitized me to those affected by chaos. Horse Diamonds speaks to survival, perseverance, and the mystical bond between women & horses.

See the extended trailer under MEDIA tab.

The horses were not only prized, comprised of the best bloodlines in all of Europe, they were also loved by the people who raised them. They were family. Then World War II came and the Nazis collected the best of all the breeds from all the countries they invaded. Those that also lost their horses, lost everything. At the end of the war, with Colonel Patton’s approval of Operation Cowboy, the United States saved what horses they could. When the Russians were advancing, those that were sent to rescue the horses did anything they could to keep them from being destroyed or lost forever. After the war ended, most of the allied countries had their beloved horses returned, except for Hungary.

When two war-weary Hungarian countesses finally made it to the United States they did all they could to bring their horses’ bloodlines back from near extinction. Working with American cattle ranchers who received their stock through the US Army remount program, together they started a breeding program, establishing the Hungarian Horse Association of America (HHAA) in 1966. Fast forward to now, these historical bloodlines are waning and there’s only a handful of people who know of their story, their value and are doing what they can try to keep this special line of horses alive.

If not for the efforts of the Hungarian horse owners and a few breeders who are determined to not let that happen, these historical lines could disappear forever. One of the ways being explored is to breed the Hungarian mares in the U.S. to Hungarian stallions that are in Hungary. Yet, the task is not as easy as it sounds; it's technical, costly and biologically complex. If the Hungarian horse breeders can help it, these matters will not get in the way, but can the maiden Hungarian mares conceive?

In 2019, Hungarian horse breeder Valerie Sivertson invited filmmaker Kimberley Williams on a trip to Hungary to document the mission of learning what it would take to re-infuse the Hungarian Kisber-Felver bloodlines found in the United States. Horse Diamonds, is about the outcome and continuation of that journey. The intention is that the story is told as accurately and passionately as possible, and that we go on this journey together. The hope is, you hold on for the ride!

Countess Judith Gyurky -b. 1901, Budapest, Hungary

Hungarian Countess Judith Gyurky was a successful show-jumping competitor throughout Europe, even winning the Olympic trials riding sidesaddle but was disqualified due to being a woman. Unfortunately, both world wars were disruptive to her family’s estate and equestrian endeavors. After barely evading the Russian army during WWII, the Countess escaped Hungary with her horses to Austria by foot. Once she departed Europe for good, Countess Gyurky ultimately settled on Virginia feeling the similarities to her homeland, and the potential it could offer her beloved horses. Of the 64 horses she rescued from Hungary, only 13 made it to the United States. Judith would establish Port-a-Ferry Farm as a riding mecca and breed her Hungarian horses. She authored the book Mark of Clover and was one of the four original founders of the Hungarian Horse Association of America (HHAA).

Countess Margit Bessenyey -b. 1910, Budapest, Hungary

Margit Bessenyey grew up in Hungary on her father’s aristocratic estate. During WWII, Margit and her mother were forced under house arrest for several years. In 1946, she left Hungary permanently and eventually inherited the Bitterroot Stock Farm through her grandfather, “copper king” magnet of Montana, Marcus Daly. Sadly, all of Bessenyey’s family horses in Hungary were lost during the war but once she reestablished in America, her foundation lines were started through 9 Hungarian horses acquired from the U.S. Army Remount. However, due to an illness, she was unable to attend the dispersal sale herself and so she trusted her compatriot, Hungarian equine specialist, Béla Mariassy to choose the highly prized horses for her. Countess Margit Bessenyey was one of four who established the Hungarian Horse Association of America (HHAA).

Béla Máriássy -b. 1910, Eperjes, Hungary

In 1947, Béla was sent to America by the Hungarian government as a delegate to retrieve the royal Hungarian horses retained by the U.S. as spoils of war. However, due to political changes in Hungary during that time, Béla was advised not to return to his homeland as he was liable to be arrested. Forced to defect, Mr. Máriássy survived somehow for two years in his newly adopted country, before his wife Kata, and their two children escaped from Hungary through Austria, under the cloak of darkness, to join Béla in America. Béla eventually settled in Phoenix, Arizona where he established McDowell Animal Hospital, a well known veterinary practice which, at one point, was the largest small animal hospital between Los Angeles and St. Louis. There is little documentation about Béla helping select the horses for the countess. But with his son (Béla Jr.) sleuthing how his father survived those first few years as a Hungarian refugee, interesting and relevant details are being uncovered.

Cooksley Ranch, Nebraska

Steve and Wanda Cooksley operated a cattle ranch where they also bred and raised Hungarian horses. Originally, the couple were standing Remount thoroughbred (TB) stallions before it disbanded and they started using Quarter horse studs after the TB stallions were no longer available. Liking how the Hungarians fit their operational outfit, they bought a number of mares that were offered during the Remount dispersion sales. Three of these were bred to two Hungarian stallions that had been brought to this country by the Remount after WWII. All three mares had fillies and that was the beginning of the Cooksley's herd. Steve Cooksley had close ties to the Remount, as his brother was an Army colonel, so he was able to help him find additional Hungarians at the Remount dispersal sales. The Cooksleys were co-founders of the HHAA. Their son, George Cooksley, eventually took over the cattle ranch operation and currently sits on the Hungarian Horse Association Breeder’s Board and Board of Directors. His equine experience and knowledge of the history of the Hungarian horse in America is invaluable.

Ohop Valley Hungarian Horse Farm

In 1969, Valerie Sivertson was first introduced to Hungarian Horses as a student at Pacific Coast Equestrian Research Farm (PCERF) & School of Horsemanship. After graduation, Valerie remained at PCERF as an instructor and assistant trainer where she was fortunate to ride, school, exercise and show many outstanding Hungarian Horses. In 1970, Valerie completed the Tevis Cup with Linda Tellington and Margit Bessenyey as well as competed in many Hunter, Jumper & Dressage competitions. Val purchased her first Hungarian horse in 1978 and started breeding them in 1989. With the help of her husband, Mark Sivertson, they established the Ohop Valley Hungarian Horse Farm, proudly producing quality Hungarian horses including the stallions HS Kivalo and H Randevu. Devoted to the Hungarian Horse and its rich history here in America, Val serves on the HHAA Board, and believes it’s imperative to strengthen the Felver lines in order to preserve the history and the continuance of this important breed.

Filmmaker Kimberley R. Williams
Kimberley grew up on a wheat and barley farm in Eastern Washington state where she started on horseback at a very young age. Learning horsemanship on horses she had throughout her childhood, in 1987, at the age of 14, Kimberley arrived at Valerie Sivertson's horse farm ready and willing to do anything to ride and learn. Kimberley lived at Val and Mark’s horse farm during the summers and in addition to riding the horses in training, Kimberley also rode their Hungarian horses. Then at 17, Kimberley left the rural life to pursue her higher education, eventually earning her MFA in Film and Media Arts. Now, 30+ years later, Kimberley teams up again with Val to tell the story of the Hungarian horses. Through her Austrian mother's family history, Kimberley's European roots connect her deeply to the horse's remarkable story. As they attempt to bring this complex story to light, Val and Kimberley work together to breed Val's Hungarian mares that come from the Gyurky, Bessenyey and Cooksley lines, with the attempt to keep the bloodlines alive.

Horse Diamonds Production Timeline:

2019-2022: pre-production & production

2022 October/November - filming in Hungary

Fall 2022 - assistant editing the film & recording music 

Spring 2023 - breeding mares, document journey, finalize music 

Spring 2024 - birth of the new Hungarian foal born in the US

Fall 2024 - post-production

Spring 2025 - film premiere!

If there is something about this project that makes you want to follow along (because these horses and people truly are special and deserve their story to be told) then your support is greatly appreciated! I look forward to sharing HORSE DIAMONDS with you. HorseDiamondsFilm.com