Preserving the Abbas Pasha Heritage, Part One by Bev Davison
The SpiritWind Horses SpiritWind Desert Arabians, LLC 1991-2021 Update
It began with a road trip, or two. There is nothing like seeing and feeling horses in the flesh, experiencing them in their glory — especially at liberty. Better yet, to touch them and look into their eyes. So special! Thirty-plus years ago, the internet, email, and even cell phones were yet to be the tools they have become today. Photos and video were often distorted — if you could successfully download them. Being near the horse in person was imperative, particularly if you were looking with the intent to breed. Seeing Sierra Sandarac, “Sandman,” as he was fondly called, for the first time and watching him move was something I hope I never forget. I am naturally drawn to the deep, rich-coated types, and it was equally appealing that 3he had a very calm, approachable presence, as well. He was an extraordinarily strong, masculine creature, yet his eye was soft. Those nostrils flared like big jet air intakes. His chest was wide and powerful. He was full-bodied with wellsprung ribs and a hind-end motor that exuded power! His legs were chiseled, with short cannons and dense with noticeable bone of durability. His feet, sure as the sun, devoured the ground, yet he moved with the grace and athleticism of a much more lightly built animal. I was transfixed! Watching Sierra Sandarac running across the Colorado landscape at the Maloof ranch is where the SpiritWind chapter truly began. Sierra Sandarac be- Sierra Sandarac AHR #115265, 1974 bay stallion, Sierra came the foundation sire of the SpiritWind effort in 1991. He was to continue Sand x Sierra Sable, 50% Babson – 50% Doyle, Saqlawi-Jithe Babson/Doyle blend with their high percentages of Abbas Pasha blood. He dran, Third Generation Pure in the Strain, B. Maloof photo, came to Minnesota in early winter at the age of 18. I remember him coming 65.7% Abbas Pasha. off the trailer in the dark, under a yard light. He calmly assessed the new surroundings, and then turned to the hauler and nudged him hard in a rather obvious way as if to say, “You can go now, I’m good here.” We all looked at each other in astonishment and chuckled. He was ever the sage and clown. Thus began our whimsical relationship. He was bred by Jerry Smith, of Caballos Sierras/Sierra Arabian Horses, Inc., also from Colorado, and was born in 1974. He was 50% Babson — influenced by Mahrouss (Fay-El-Dine x Khedena) on the top and Negem (Fa-Serr x Fay-Negma) on the bottom. He was also 50% Doyle — influenced by Gulnara (Ghadaf x Gulida) on the top and Jadera (Jadib x Im Gulnar) on the bottom. In addition, he was of the now very rare Fay-El-Dine sire line,1 third generation pure in the strain Saqlawi Jidran of Ibn Sudan, and he carried 65.7% blood from the heritage of Abbas Pasha I (AP)!2 (Note: The use of AP% in this article includes the combination of Abbas Pasha and Ali Pasha Sharif heritage into one source percentage number. This practice is supported by research provided by Edouard al-Dahdah, to be published in a forthcoming book this year.) Sandarac came from excellent stock. His sire, Sierra Sand, also boasting 66.26% of AP blood, is listed as bred by Ellen Doyle. Jerry Smith acquired him and used him many times on his mares and considered him “by far the best stallion that I raised.”3 He described him in his Latigo Ranch Reference Sires listing as “an extremely classic stallion with a lot of substance, standing 15-2 hands, copper chestnut with white markings.”4 Jerry lived on a working cattle ranch. He used his Arabians in everyday ranch work, and his family enjoyed showing in local cutting, reining, trail and western pleasure classes. When frustrated by the lack of Arabian shows, and even fewer Arabian horses participating in the working western classes, Jerry and his family started a Western Fun Day at their ranch and invited Arabian competitors. He felt he could showcase his unique Arabians and that more working events would attract people into owning and showing Arabians, making it more fun for all. A feature in the February 1974 Western Horseman, described the day as follows: “And fun they had. Sedate, winning western pleasure horses spun booger-eyed in terror when faced by yearling Angus calves. Well-broke show ring veterans bucked. The crowd relaxed, laughed, and tried their luck at new and fast-moving events. To some owners’ surprise, their inexperienced horses handled the critters fairly well, considering. 14
