by Nina Harf El Deree Sire Line

It Started With Moe!

by Nina Harf

I was around seven years old when my mom, sister and I met the current president of the Board of Directors of Al Khamsa, Inc., Monica Respet, at Golden Key Stables. Monica and my mom quickly became close friends, and she offered to let me ride Jasuur Ibn Kamar, one of her Al Khamsa Arabians. I became familiar with all of her horses, including her two stallions, and began working with them more regularly. Not long after I started working at her farm, she took me in as one of her own. I learned almost everything I know about owning, breeding, foaling, and caring for horses from her. The more time I spent at her farm, the more I got to understand this unique group of desert Arabians. I was intrigued by how much Al Khamsa horses want to please people.

I wanted to learn more, so a friend and I did our 4-H project on Arabians. We presented at a Hippology competition where we got many other 4-Hers interested in the different branches of Arabians. Monica trained me to work with her foals and I was impressed by how quickly they understood what I was asking, even at such a young age. I was caught off guard by the fact that twelve different horses could have such unique personalities yet all have a few similar traits.

Above, Nina braiding the Respet stallion, Faydin Sameer, 2005 black stallion (Faydin x MSF Noel), of the Code Red *Urfah tail female line.

Below, riding Jasuur Ibn Kamar, 2003 chestnut gelding (AEP Kamar x MSF Noel).

At left, teaching Riverton Mocha Starr (Moe) to lead when he was two weeks old. Moe is a 2020 bay Babson Egyptian colt by BW Fadl Tali x Ahmeds Char Serra.

Working with Moe

The summer of 2020 I had the opportunity of a lifetime. I got to help care for a broodmare until she foaled. I got to watch her grow through her pregnancy until July when she was ready to have her colt. In the middle of the night I got the call that the baby came. When I got there I got to see how handsome this little bay colt was. He took his time when it came to standing up, so we gave him the nickname Slowmoe. I got to do a lot of desensitizing with him, as well as halter training. Slowmoe, now known as Mosey, is a Straight Babson Egyptian colt, almost a year old. He has grown so much but his personality hasn’t changed a bit. He has such a level head and this big stud is not afraid of anything. This past summer was an incredible learning experience for me and ultimately made me fall in love with the Al Khamsa Arabians.

Chef Al Khamsa and Distance Riding

Have you visited our website?

Are you one of the many Al Khamsans who breed distance horses and compete in American Endurance Ride Conference sanctioned competitions? Chef Al wants you to know you have his admiration. There is something about the desert horse and long distances that go together, naturally and happily. To recognize this accomplishment, Al Khamsa has chosen to annually award the high milage Al Khamsa AERC horse. The presentation at the AERC Convention attracts national equine media attention. See this year’s results: https://www.alkhamsa.org/7-blog/187ak-endurance-mileage-awards Al Khamsa needs your help to finance this award, the Endurance Magazine ad and our booth presence at the AERC Convention, held annually the first weekend of March. As always, you can designate your donation specifically for the General Fund, the Endowment, the AERC Fund or give to the Preservation Task Force by pressing this button at https://alkhamsa.org/about-us/how-

you-can-help:

or by mailing your check to the Al Khamsa Business Office, 470 Folsom-Jonesville Road Jonesville, KY 41052

Only a few copies are still available of the essential reference book, HEIRLOOM EGYPTIAN ARABIAN HORSES, 1840-2000 by John W. Fippen. Hardcover, 592 pages, with over 400 archival black/white photographs. Please visit the website for excerpts and ordering information.

www.heirloomarabianstud.com