Rebecca Bassichis, the Bassichis Family & Stella Bella Arabians
IN THE ELEMENT | An Editorial Feature by The Arabian Element
There are certain passions in life that become something far greater than the interests that first inspired them. They find their way into our relationships, shape the experiences we share, and quietly become part of the stories we tell about ourselves. For some families, that connection is found in a place, a tradition, or a pursuit passed from one generation to the next. For the Bassichis family, the Arabian horse has become part of that shared story.
At Stella Bella Arabians, the beauty of the Arabian horse is celebrated not simply through the pursuit of excellence, but through the extraordinary experiences that accompany it. There is the anticipation of a 
new foal, the fulfillment of seeing a carefully considered breeding come to fruition, the excitement of the show ring, and the relationships that develop along the way. Each represents a different expression of a passion that reaches well beyond the horses themselves.
And among the most beautiful expressions of that shared passion is the remarkable journey of Rebecca Bassichis.
A young equestrian whose accomplishments have already established her among the Arabian horse industry’s most successful youth exhibitors, Rebecca represents a new generation whose dedication, competitive spirit, and appreciation for the Arabian horse continue to distinguish themselves on the national stage. Her achievements are impressive by any measure, yet they become even more meaningful when viewed within the extraordinary world of Stella Bella Arabians and the family whose passion has helped shape her journey.
A Remarkable Young Equestrian
For Rebecca Bassichis, the 2026 Arabian Horse Youth National Championships offered another extraordinary chapter in an already impressive competitive career.
Competing in both Arabian and Half-Arabian divisions, Rebecca distinguished herself with a collection of national titles that reflected her versatility, preparation, and exceptional understanding of the horses she presented. Her accomplishments culminated in the distinction of being named the 2026 Youth Nationals leading exhibitor in both Halter and Performance Halter, topping the Arabian Horse Times exhibitor rankings with 35 points in Halter and 22 points in Performance Halter.
Among her celebrated victories was the 2026 Youth National Championship in Arabian Performance Halter Geldings 3 & Over JTH with Thor SBA, a son of Inception and SF Marwhambra. The accomplishment represented another important moment for both Rebecca and Stella Bella Arabians, bringing recognition to a horse whose presentation and performance reflected the preparation behind their success.
Rebecca’s achievements extended into the Half-Arabian division, where she earned the 2026 Youth National Championship in Half-Arabian Gelding In-Hand 3 & Over JTH with Perseus SBA, a son of Artemas GA and the extraordinary Ebony By Valentino +//.
For the Bassichis family, the victory carried a particularly beautiful connection. Six years earlier, Rebecca’s sister, Sara Bassichis, had exhibited Ebony By Valentino +// to the 2020 Youth National Championship in Half-Arabian Mare Breeding 3 & Over JTH. Now, another generation of that exceptional mare’s influence was being celebrated on the national stage, with Rebecca presenting her son.
It is a wonderful illustration of how the Arabian horse can connect generations—not simply through pedigrees, but through the experiences shared within a family, where one sister’s celebrated accomplishment becomes part of the foundation for another’s.
Rebecca also earned the 2026 Youth Reserve National Championship in Arabian Gelding In-Hand JTH with Elvis SBA, a Stella Bella Arabians-bred son of Hariry Al Shaqab and Epiphany DDA, by Eden C.
There is a particularly meaningful connection woven into Elvis’ pedigree. His dam, Epiphany DDA, was bred by the beloved late Carol Steppe of Day Dream Arabians, whose contributions to the Arabian horse community remain part of its enduring legacy. Through Elvis SBA, that legacy continues into another generation, finding a beautiful expression in Rebecca’s success on the national stage.
Together, these achievements represent far more than an impressive collection of championship titles. They reflect years of preparation, commitment, and the confidence required to enter the show ring with the understanding that excellence is earned through dedication.
And for Rebecca, they are part of a journey that began long before the successes of 2026.
A Partnership Worth Remembering
Among the horses that have played a particularly meaningful role in Rebecca’s competitive journey is Exxstatic SBA, a son of Exxalt and the late Goddess of Da Vinci, a mare treasured by the Bassichis family and affectionately regarded as one of Stella Bella Arabians’ pride and joy.
Exxstatic SBA had established an impressive national record well before his celebrated partnership with Rebecca. Exhibited by Andrew Sellman, he earned the 2022 U.S. Reserve National Championship as a Yearling Gelding, the 2023 U.S. Reserve National Championship as a Two-Year-Old Gelding, and the 2024 U.S. Reserve National Championship as a Futurity Gelding.
It was a remarkable progression for a horse bred by Stella Bella Arabians, demonstrating the quality and consistency that have become important expressions of the family’s breeding ambitions.
Rebecca added her own accomplishments to Exxstatic’s extraordinary record. Their successful 2024 Youth Nationals campaign included championship and reserve championship honors in Arabian Gelding In-Hand competition, followed by the 2025 Youth Reserve National Championship in Arabian Gelding In-Hand JTH.
Their partnership represented another beautiful chapter in a horse’s journey from the promise of youth to national recognition, and an especially meaningful connection between Rebecca’s individual accomplishments and the breeding program that had produced him.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 show season, Exxstatic SBA was sold to Hagale Family Arabians, beginning a new chapter in a journey that had already brought considerable pride and accomplishment to Stella Bella Arabians.
Yet the story of Exxstatic SBA also leads us to something much larger: the remarkable influence of the mare whose legacy continues to shape generations of horses carrying the Stella Bella name.
A Legacy Beyond a Lifetime
Within the story of Stella Bella Arabians, there are certain horses whose influence extends far beyond their own accomplishments. For the Bassichis family, few have held a more cherished place than the late Goddess of Da Vinci, a mare whose presence helped shape the breeding program and whose legacy continues to find expression through generations of exceptional Arabian horses.
A daughter of Da Vinci FM and Goddess of Marwan, Goddess of Da Vinci was more than a treasured member of the Stella Bella family. She became a foundation upon which some of the farm’s most celebrated breeding achievements would be built, leaving behind a legacy that continues to distinguish itself on the national and international stage.
Among her daughters is Aphrodite SBA, sired by the legendary Ever After NA. A 2018 Scottsdale Reserve Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, Aphrodite would ultimately make an even greater contribution 
through her offspring, establishing herself as an exceptional producer whose sons have carried the Stella Bella name into some of the most prestigious arenas in the Arabian horse world.
Her son Rhaphael SBA, by Rhan Al Shahania, has emerged as one of the program’s most accomplished young stallions. From his unanimous Scottsdale Junior Colt Championship and Arabian Breeders World Cup Supreme Gold Junior Championship in 2024 to his U.S. National Breeding Pays Two-Year-Old Colt Championship that same year, Rhaphael’s achievements have been remarkable. His success continued through the 2025 Global Champions Arabians Tour, earning Gold Junior Colt Championships in Scottsdale and Denver, along with Bronze in Miami Beach, before adding the prestigious 2025 U.S. National Champion Futurity Colt title to his growing collection of honors.
Equally meaningful is the success of Aphrodite’s younger son, Rishon SBA, by AJ Radman. At the 2025 Global Champions Arabians Tour in Denver, Rishon earned the Bronze Junior Colt Championship, sharing the championship presentation with his maternal brother Rhaphael, who claimed Gold.
Two sons of Aphrodite SBA, both bred by Stella Bella Arabians, celebrated together on an international stage—a beautiful testament to the consistency and promise of a breeding family whose origins trace back to the beloved Goddess of Da Vinci.
Yet Goddess’s influence is perhaps most personal in the story of Exxstatic SBA, her son by Exxalt, whose impressive succession of U.S. Reserve National Championships ultimately became part of Rebecca Bassichis’ own competitive journey. Their achievements together, culminating in a 2025 Youth Reserve National Championship, brought the story of this extraordinary mare full circle within the family that cherished her.
Although Goddess of Da Vinci is no longer with them, her contributions remain very much alive. In the horses she produced, the generations that followed, and the moments of pride and celebration they continue to inspire, her influence reaches beyond a single lifetime.
And perhaps that is one of the most beautiful gifts of breeding Arabian horses. The horses we treasure may leave us, but the extraordinary things they give us have a way of remaining.
A Family’s Shared Passion
The accomplishments of Stella Bella Arabians are an expression of a family whose involvement with the Arabian horse extends beyond the pursuit of individual championships.
For the Bassichis family, breeding and exhibiting Arabian horses has created opportunities to share in the anticipation of new generations, the excitement of competition, and the fulfillment that accompanies seeing carefully considered breeding decisions rewarded on the national and international stage.
The achievements of sisters Sara and Rebecca offer an especially meaningful reflection of that shared experience. From Sara’s National Championship with Ebony By Valentino +// to Rebecca’s celebrated victory with the mare’s son Perseus SBA, their accomplishments illustrate the connections that can develop when a passion for Arabian horses becomes part of family life.
And behind those individual moments stands a breeding program whose success has been shaped by years of commitment, thoughtful decisions, and an enduring appreciation for exceptional horses.
The legacy of Goddess of Da Vinci, the producing accomplishments of Aphrodite SBA, and the remarkable international success of Rhaphael SBA and Rishon SBA reflect a philosophy in which the achievements of one generation become the foundation for the next.
There is something particularly beautiful about that continuity. A treasured mare becomes the dam of an exceptional daughter. That daughter produces horses whose accomplishments reach across continents. And within the same family, a young exhibitor steps into the show ring with a horse whose pedigree carries the history, ambitions, and dedication of those who came before.
It is a story of individual excellence, certainly, but also of the remarkable things that become possible when a passion is shared.
Beyond the Show Ring
For all that Rebecca Bassichis has accomplished in the Arabian horse world, her interests and ambitions extend beyond the extraordinary horses and national championships that have become such a meaningful part of her life. A student at Alcuin School in Dallas, Texas, Rebecca is also a member of the varsity tennis team, pursuing another competitive discipline that calls upon the determination, preparation, and commitment so evident in her equestrian achievements.
There is much to admire in what Rebecca has already accomplished. National Championship titles, distinction among the leading youth exhibitors in the country, and the privilege of presenting exceptional horses bred by her family’s Stella Bella Arabians represent an impressive collection of achievements. Each is a testament to the dedication required to excel, and together they offer a remarkable foundation of experience as she approaches the next chapter of her education.
Yet perhaps what makes Rebecca’s story especially beautiful is the way her individual accomplishments are intertwined with those of her family. From the celebrated breeding legacy of Goddess of Da Vinci to the remarkable achievements of Aphrodite SBA and her offspring, from Sara Bassichis’ own National Championship success to Rebecca’s continued distinction in the show ring, Stella Bella Arabians represents a shared passion expressed through generations of extraordinary horses and memorable accomplishments.
For the Bassichis family, these successes are worth celebrating. The championships matter. The horses matter. The years of dedication, careful breeding decisions, and commitment that have made those achievements possible matter. And so, too, do the relationships, experiences, and memories created along the way.
As Rebecca looks toward the future, she carries with her not only an exceptional record of competitive success, but the experiences of a young woman whose accomplishments have already become a meaningful part of her family’s story.
And while there will undoubtedly be new ambitions to pursue, new challenges to embrace, and new chapters yet to be written, there is something especially beautiful about all that has already been achieved.
The beautiful things we share are not simply the moments we remember, but the accomplishments, experiences, and connections that give those moments meaning.
