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More of a Great Arab Mare Many thanks to Karen Kravcov Malcolm, Kate McLachlan and Moira Walker for continuing to flesh out the story of one of our Foundation Horses: *Naomi. These photos and newspaper articles are among those received by these researchers. See Khamsat Vol 30 No. 4, page 7. We have more articles just on the subject of *Naomi and the Huntington program and just from 1888 and 1889, and will include them here in future issues.
*Nazli (Maidan x *Naomi) with a filly (1899 or 1900) by Khaled by *Nimr (*Kismet x *Naomi) out of *Naomi. Photo courtesy of Michael Bowling.
field seemed at home in the country, for the most part taking their fences boldly and some of the latter undoubtedly call for a stout heart and a good horse. It looked to me as iff a mistake would require ropes and windlass to extricate horse and rider from the crevasse. I had all I could well do to take care of myself, and keep near house, without paying much attention to my neighbors; but I did particularly notice a few. Two ladies, who looked like sisters, on small brown, blood-like ponies, not more than 13.2 or 13.3 I should think — I was told they were half-Arabs, and have quite a reputation — were always in front. The ponies seemed to care nothing for deeep dirt, pace, or big fences, and the riders rode with a courage and judgment not always to be found in the fair sex. … I was surprised, too, at the performance of a chestnut Arab mare with a long tail. She was a lenghty [sic] rakinglooking animal, but so tucked up and poor that had I seen her in a saleyard I should have said she was worth nothing; but she seemed able to race away from everything in the heaviest ground, and fenced as well as any. She was not carrying a boy, either, for I should think her rider must have ridden thirteen or fourteen stone [182–196 lbs.] I have heard it said, and believed it, that Arabs cannot cross a country; but after seeing that mare go through a severe thing, I can only say I hope I may never have a worse mount.”
The “chesnut” mare, *Naomi, offered for sale by her breeder. It is a pity we do not have more information on the bay Arab gelding. Zuleika was of the same family as Haidee and in the same importation to England, but no produce was registered.
Arabs as Hunters: Remarkable Performance of an Arab Mare. by Hon. Ethelred Dillon in London Stock Journal, reprinted in the Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester, NY, January 6, 1888.
As last year several of your readers received with increduality [sic] my assertion that an Arab could hold his own (to say the least) with English hunters in a severe run, will you kindly allow me to quote from a letter published in the Field of November 19th, gividg [sic] a description of a very severe run in Suffolk, in which an Arab mare took a prominent part? The mare in question, it is true, is perhaps the biggest Arab at present known, and was foald [sic] in England of imported parents belonging to the Managhi Hedruj breed. [Yataghan was actually by a Kuhaylan Khallawi out of a Kuhaylah Juraybah.] She has been at the stud [as a broodmare] for the last three years, and was only taken up from grass about six weeks ago, expects another foal in April, and has done a long day’s hunting with Harriers the day before the run with the fox hounds. I speak from personal knowledge, as I have had her here, till I sent her to her owner six weeks ago, from May, 1886.
Now your readers will say “One swallow does not make a summer;” that was an exceptional Arab. It, however, happens that last year I lent my little horse, Eldorado, to the mare’s owner during my absence abround, and he rode him as well and as straight as he rode Naomi; and he, also, I was told, created a great impression in those parts. However, considering the mare’s total want of condition and expectations, it was certainly a remarkable performance, but only what I should expect from her, knowing her as I do, and having ridden her. I have had some communication with Mr. Randolph Huntington. I have no doubt that he will produce a very fine breed of horses. The illustrations show very handsome animals, with a great deal of the Arab character. But if he wishes to breed pure Arabs, he should procure Arab mares and mate them with Linden, so as to keep a reserve of pure blood in case of the Clay mares reverting to
“Casual” writes: “We had a really fine bursting run, pace good throughout, and at times very fast. The country we rode over was very deep and holding plough for the most part, and the fences appallingly big and ugly to a man unacquainted with the country. They ran him [the fox] for an hour and a half. … I noticed that the 4
