with PJ Altshuler and Kim Davis

Al Khamsa, Inc.

would like to express our deep appreciation to the directors of The Institute for the Desert Arabian Horse for their generous donation of funds and books, all of which are being put to good use.

Thank you! Chef Al Khamsa and the Roster

Chef Al wants you to know that the long awaited new Roster is here. Would you consider the Roster Al Khamsa’s greatest gift to the world? Would you consider making a donation to help pay for updating this priceless research tool? The cost to revamp the website was in excess of $20,000. Various fundraisers are being and have been held to meet this larger than expected expense. Please donate today online

OR If you want to donate the old fashioned way, you can designate your donation specifically for the general fund, the endowment, the AERC Fund or give to the Preservation Task Force by mailing your check to the

Business Office 470 Folsom-Jonesville Road Jonesville, KY 41052

This blog is maintained by Edouard Al Dahdah, a breeder and lover of Desert Arabian Horses, and otherwise an economist at the World Bank. It seeks to share a passion, of course, but also to raise awareness about desert Arabian horses, their homeland and their heritage. Keep reading and I will keep posting.

Daughter of the Wind...

From eyelashes to ancient skyscrapers in Yemen, from study of the Arabic copy of the Abbas Pasha manuscript to the asil horses of Tunisia, from ancient Arabian history to new foals, from early 19th century European Arabian breeders to Arabian oryx and wolves: this blog is always fascinating and welcomes your input.

http://daughterofthewind.org/

2021 Al Khamsa Annual Meeting & Convention Report

with PJ Altshuler & Kim Davis

Convention Report

The 2021 Al Khamsa Convention was held virtually and welcomed participants from around the world. The Board of Directors met on Thursday and on Friday. President Monica Respet opened the convention Friday evening, October 15, 2021, by welcoming our guests. Her welcome was warm and inclusive.

A total of 87 registrants attended, plus we had some Manifesto guests during that presentation. People from every continent except Antarctica were with us, which made for a great gathering of like minds.

Throughout the convention, both a raffle of a Schneider’s horse blanket, and a silent auction held on Auctions32 online were held.

115th Anniversary of the Davenport Importation

Michael Bowling began our speaker presentations with a slide show celebrating the 115th year since Homer Davenport's original imports of 1906. Overcoming some audio/visual issues, he took us through Davenport’s Arabian horse journey from Oregon to California to the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. He followed the Arabians from the Fair to Hingham Stock Farm outside Boston. He set up his own stud in New Jersey before making his groundbreaking trip to Syria and importing 27 head of Arabians directly from the bedouin tribes there. Milestones included the movement of Davenport and Hamidie horses to the West Coast in the 1910s, 20s and 30s, culminating at the W.R. Kellogg Ranch, the short revival of Davenport breeding in the 1940s, and finally the Second Foundation of Davenport breeding at Craver Farms, starting 1955.

The Gilded Age Revisited

R.J. Cadranell presented an enthralling account of F.E. Lewis. He was such an interesting man that his life almost overshadows his foundation effect on the Arabian Horse breed in the U.S. How many viewers resolved to go back and read The Great Gatsby with Lewis in mind? Back to Arabians: we learned how he acquired his Davenport horses and brought them to the Diamond Bar Ranch outside Los Angeles, how Lewis acquired his horses from the Davenport importation from Peter Bradley, and then how he bred them and sold his production as a major part of the foundation stock for W.K. Kellogg and other breeders.

Logistics meant that the presentation of the Arabian Horse Manifesto group would be switched with Edouard’s presentation, which closed out the evening. The Voices Behind Our Horses

Edouard Al-Dahdah, who had just gotten off a plane from Africa, and must have been seriously jet-lagged, delighted us with voice recordings from the families of the Bedouin Breeders of three Al Khamsa Foundation Mares, accompanied by a slide presentation. We heard from: • Muhammad Ibn Hbaygan, of the Shumaylat tribe of the Fada’an

Anazah, which bred *Reshan.

A screenshot of one of the multiple screens of participants in the 2021 Al Khamsa programs.

• Hashim al-Jarba, of the Northern Shammar, which bred *Hadba. • Badr ibn Dirri, of the Masaribah tribe of the Gamassah of

Saba’ah Anazah, which bred Azrek (BLT), Basilisk (BLT),

Meshura (BLT) and Pharaoh (BLT).

As we heard them speak, Edouard translated their words from Arabic to English for us. It was an amazing experience, made more special because it was obvious that the Arab speakers felt such pride at being asked about the heritage of their families. An audio version of the Abbas Pasha Manuscript, so to speak. As on the video that Jenny Lees provided, with the Arabic voices included, it gives one more of a sense of the authenticity of the people and their horses. There was energetic audience participation following all of these presentations.

Saturday began with another welcome from Monica Respet, with another outstanding audience. Racing In Bahrain

Jenny Lees exhibited a video of the history of the Arabian Horse Racing in Bahrain from the desert sands of impromptu racing to the turf track of Bahrain's Rashid Equestrian Horseracing Club of today. The video was packed full of vintage footage and photos to artfully beautiful clips of Bahraini horses at full run. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed this. PJ’s excitement was contagious when she realized that the chestnut running such a fabulous race was her Kuheilaan Al Adiyat Hashal, wonderful footage that Jenny had snuck into the video without saying anything.

Jenny also entertained us with her memories of riding in races in Bahrain several decades ago. Her description of racing on a seven-

Among our guests at the 2021 Al Khamsa Convention were two that had a connection to our Foundation Stallion, *Mirage, see pp 68–69. Moira Walker introduced us. “As long as we are talking about Early American Arabians and their history, I just wanted to take a quick moment to introduce my friend Kate and her mom, Katharine Layton. Kate and Katharine are, respectively, the great great granddaughter and the great granddaughter of General Haddad, who many of you may recognize as the man that originally acquired the Al Khamsa stallion *Mirage for King Faisal. I think this is their first Al Khamsa convention.” Attendees were delighted to welcome the Laytons to our convention.

furlong sand track with deep footing and very tight corners was great fun from this distance. As time passed, the racing has become more sophisticated, but still really thrilling. The films gave us a very good look at the horses up close, and everyone was cheering and excited. Blood pressures were probably up all across the Zoom meeting!

Fantastic, invigorating, incredible, thrilling, exciting, fabulous, enthralling, were some of the words posted on the chat board after Jenny’s presentation.

From the exhilarating to the business-like, at this point in the convention, the supporters of Al Khamsa held the Advisory Council Business Meeting, see page 36.

During the Advisory Council, everyone was updated on the status of the Website and Roster. Committees reported and Al Khamsa’s financial status was discussed. Votes were held on Roster

Yasser Ghanim introduces the Founders of the Arabian Horse Manifesto. [Several more (Kate McLachlan and ) have been added to the Founding Group since then.

Proposals, and a Board of Delegates was voted on for the coming year. Kate Rhodes, for the Preservation Task Force, offered an update of the new coding for rare/endangered bloodlines. Al Khamsa Roster Proposals

Two Roster proposal votes were held, and Advisory Council members cast votes through an online application. Joe Ferriss presented the background of the stallion Gamal El Din, a c1935 Kuhaylan Khallawi bred by Shaikh Abdul Hamid Rageh al-Tahawi, and used as a sire in 1944 by the RAS in Egypt.

Gamal El Din had received a first year approval in 2020, but it takes two years of 75% votes of both the Board of Directors and the Advisory Council for a horse to be added to the Roster of Al Khamsa Arabians. The process is meant to be difficult.

Edouard Al-Dahdah presented the background on the living Bahraini stallion, Kuheilaan Al Adiyat Hashal, now in the U.S. There were only two mares in Hashal’s pedigree that had not already been approved by Al Khamsa in the Bahraini proposal of several years ago, so Edouard spent his time on these two: a Sa’ud mare named Sitah, owned by Danah Al Khalifa, and Hashal’s tail female mare, Kuhailat Aladiyat 576.

Kuhailat Aladiyat 576 (her strain and registration number in Bahrain) was a gift from a sheikh of the ‘Ajman to Shaikh Hamed bin Isa, then Crown Prince of Bahrain, in the period between 1923 and 1932.

Advisory Council Votes

The Advisory Council held nominations and votes for the Board of Delegates, and on both Roster Proposals. Gamal El Din (TAH) passed the second vote, and is now officially an Al Khamsa Foundation Horse. Kuheilaan Al Adiyat Hashal passed his first vote. His second vote will be held during the 2022 Al Khamsa Annual Meeting. The Genetics of Arabian Horse Phenotypes

One of our favorite speakers, Dr. Samantha Brooks of the University of Florida, returned to educate us on the topic of Arabian horse phenotypes. She talked to us about spook behavior, conformation, facial shapes and gait analysis. The markers that have been located to indicate these attributes. It gave us an insight into what to look for and what to avoid in future breedings. She discussed the unexpected results that can happen when breeding for design only takes place over generations. She was assisted again by Beth Minnich, who moderated and helped relay questions to Dr. Brooks.

Diane Wilson, attending from Australia, said: “Dr. Samantha Brooks — three hip hip hoorahs for Dr Samantha, a fountain of knowledge with the special gift to bring that knowledge to the layperson (thank you). [I am] happy to submit measurement data for Dr Samantha’s latest research project. Please check your email, Dr Samantha. And I’m tempted to have a go at the educational short course in equine genetics (UFEquineGenetics.org).” Board of Delegates

During a break in the Brooks presentation, the new Board of Delegates appointed the 2021–2022 President, PJ Altshuler, and board members: Edouard Al-Dahdah, Kathy Busch, Jeanne Craver, Kim Davis, Elizabeth Dawsari, Rosemary Byrnes Doyle, Jill Erisman, Karin Floyd, Mary Gills, Nichole Grodski, Megan King, Jennifer Krieg, Patricia Lawrence, Debbie Mackie and Monica Respet.

Introducing the Arabian Horse Manifesto

Yasser Ghanim and Edouard Al-Dahdah introduced the concept of the Arabian Horse Manifesto. Almost half of the founding members from across the globe joined the convention to be present for the event. (See at left.) Edouard and Yasser gave us reasons why they believe the manifesto is an urgent necessity, to define and protect the Arabian horse to the world. In a world where a horse with a genotype of 62% that is other than Arab is accepted in studbook as an Arabian horse, they feel it is time to return to the Bedouin Roots and define what an Arabian horse is versus a designer Arabian horse.

Edouard said, “Ambiguous definitions of what an Arabian horse have proven very harmful to the breed in its homeland.”

This was an interesting and fact-filled, thought-provoking presentation by both men, and it was followed by a long question and answer period that kept people up around the world. You can read more about this by reading the Manifesto itself in this issue, pages 60–63.

Thank you!

“We had a wonderful group of speakers, and would like to express our deepest appreciation to them all for donating their time and sharing their knowledge and experience with Al Khamsa.

“Congratulations to our raffle winner, Margaret Laverty, who won the horse blanket.

“Also, a huge Thank You to all that attended our annual meeting and convention, and participated in the great success of the online auction.

“Your support of Al Khamsa, Inc. is vital to our future together. Your participation in the 2021 Annual Meeting and Convention is an integral part of our community. The Board of Directors and Volunteers work hard to keep this organization moving forward and staying current. Education and research don’t always seem relevant in today’s world, but these extraordinary Al Khamsa Arabian horses bring the past to our everyday lives. As you know, partnering with these royal horses, preserving their lines going into the future is so important. Joining with us in this meeting takes us all one step further together. “We would love for you to take another step forward and actively join in our mission. You can do this by subscribing to the Khamsat, writing, or telling stories, engaging in competition, volunteering on a committee or project: all engagement matters. We invite you to join our tribe and work on this future together.

“Again, thank you for joining this gathering. We appreciate your ideas and input. Thank you for your donations of time, funds, auction items, or purchases at the auction. Thank you for supporting the Roster Project and Website update. You can see your gift at work online!

“Warmest Regards,

“Monica Respet (outgoing president), PJ Altshuler (incoming president) and the old and new Board of Directors.”

Subscription Resources on alkhamsa.org

Videos of the speakers are on the Al Khamsa website and viewable to all who attended the convention at no cost. Those that were unable to attend the convention may subscribe to view them, as follows: • 115th Davenport Celebration - Michael Bowling • The Voices Behind Our Horses - Edouard Al Dahdah • F.E. Lewis Ranch - R. J. Cadranell • Arabian Racing - Jenny Lees • Phenotypes - Dr. Samantha Brooks • Introducing the Arabian Manifesto - Yasser Ghanim & Edouard Al Dahdah & Friends

In addition to the presentations during the convention, more videos and documents have also been made available on the website for your education and enjoyment: • Introduction to the Arabian Horse Archives - Joe Ferriss • Ten-Year History of Al Khamsa and the Tahawi Horses -

Yasser Ghanim • 2021 Convention Fantasia Videos - narrated by Joe Ferriss • Videos of Al Khamsa Foals

In order to access the video content from the Convention, that has been uploaded on the website, you will need two things: 1. You must have a free user account and password on the Al Khamsa website. Registering for the Convention did not create an alkhamsa.org user account and password. • Scroll down the home page to the Subscriptions link, with the mare and foal drinking, and click on the photo. • On the Subscriptions Page, click on Website Login on the left side menu and enter the username and password you created. No “Secret Key” is needed. • If you do not have an account, or have forgotten your user name or password go to this link, scroll down below the login form and click on the link that describes your problem. • After successful login, click on View Content in the right side menu. You will see links to all of the content that you have in your dashboard. 2. You must have registered for the Convention or have purchased separate access to that subscription content. When you click on View Content and you are not subscribed, you will be asked if you wish to purchase a subscription. You will be asked even if you attended, if you are not logged in. These are PayPal rules. • Choose the event, and click read more for the 2021 Convention content. • Each video has a name above it so you will know what you are going to view.

Business Meeting Report

Al Khamsa Board Meeting – 10.14.21

Monica called the meeting to order at 2:05 pm CT.

Present: PJ Altshuler, Kim Davis, Karin Floyd, Mary Gills, Jenny Krieg, Patricia Lawrence, Debbie Mackie, Nichole Grodski, Monica Respet.

Committee Reports

Database

Publications

Finance

Promotions

Preservation Task Force

Social Media (All above reports had been shared on email before meeting.)

Finance – Mary presented. **Kathy Busch joined at 12:10 pm **Pam Studebaker joined at 12:15 pm

Discussion of what details to provide to the Advisory Council — show details of how Khamsat changes were performing, and how we need donations to keep Al Khamsa as an organization in the black. Donation links in discussions and auction. Remind people to put Al Khamsa on their Amazon Smile accounts. **Rosemary Byrnes Doyle joined by phone at 12:30 pm

Nominations/Successions

Carryover from the current Board – PJ, Monica, Mary, Debbie, Kim, Edouard, Kathy, Jeanne, Rosemary, Karin, Jenny, Patricia, Megan, Nichole.

Leaving – Kate Rhodes and Pam Studebaker.

Nominations to add – Jill Erisman and Elizabeth Dawsari.

MOTION: PJ moves to accept all committee reports. Mary second. Vote — all in favor

New Business: • Ways to communicate – PJ

We currently use email, Zoom, and telephone calls.

PJ would like us to start using Slack, which is a messaging app. There will be different channels for the Board, committees, etc. We can link Zoom to it to have meetings that way as well. All communications are archived. It can be gotten through TechSoup and as a non-profit we will receive free service of a pro account with unlimited archives and apps. We will start trying it out this week. **Jeanne Craver joined at 12:40 pm **Pam left at 12:40 pm • Discussion on mentors for new board members • Brain storming for the Khamsat • Discussion on donations and how subscriptions are being tracked and updated. • Discussion on official responses to donations. • Discussion on donor/supporter levels. **Patricia left at 1:45 pm **Pam joined at 2 pm • Discussion of Khamsat renewal notices. **Patricia joined at 2:15 pm • Need suggestions on increasing Khamsat subscriptions — through social media, convention registrants, Advisory Council. **Edouard Al-Dahdah joined at 2:25 pm **Megan King joined at 2:25 pm

Roster Proposal #2

Roster Proposal to include Kuhailaan Al Adiyat Hashal presented by Edouard. First Year Vote. Presentation and question period. MOTION: Edouard proposed and Jeanne second. Vote: Edouard and PJ abstained. All others present in favor — Pam, Monica, Kim, Jenny, Mary, Rosemary, Kathy, Karin, Jeanne, Patricia, Nichole, Debbie, Megan.

Recessed at 3:05 pm CT.

Al Khamsa Board Meeting – 10.15.21

Monica called the meeting to order at 11:15 am CT.

Present: PJ, Jeanne, Kim, Karin, Mary, Nichole, Megan, Jenny, Debbie, Monica.

Guest: Paul Huzevka.

Recommendations for President, PJ Altshuler, plus nominations for Board of Delegates: Edie Booth, Lisa Craig, Bev Davison, Jill Erisman, Margie Johnson, Holly Reuter. **Joe Ferriss joined at 11:30 am

Roster Proposal #1

Roster Proposal to include Gamal El Din presented by Joe. Presentation and question period. Second Year Vote. ** Rosemary joined at 11:35 am **Kathy joined at 11:50 am **Patricia joined at 12:00 pm

MOTION: Joe proposed and Jenny second. All present in favor — Monica, Kim, Mary, Jenny, Rosemary, Karin, Kathy, PJ, Nichole, Jeanne, Megan, Debbie, Patricia. **Pam joined at 12:05 pm **Guest Margie Johnson joined at 12:10 pm

Reports to be given tonight at the Advisory Council were chosen:

Finance

Social Media

Roster

Khamsat

Website

Preservation Task Force ** Guest Beth Minnich joined at 12:15 pm **Kim, as secretary, gone from 12:20 – 12:35 pm **Kate Rhodes joined at 12:30 pm

Discussions • How do we promote Al Khamsa New Owner packets? • What are our goals going forward, our highest missions for Al Khamsa right now? How can we get basic educational content on the website? • How do we continue to serve the mission of Al Khamsa and promote Education, research and the future of the horses? What about a Gathering this winter or spring focused on Preservation? How do we reach more breeders and owners? • How does Al Khamsa best reach out Internationally? • What is the best use of our supply of donated books? • Will we accept ads in the Khamsat for other items or services than Al Khamsa horses? • Add 501(c)(3) to all advertising, Khamsat and website pages. • Can we consider Fantasia videos as a more ongoing project? • Isn’t it time to begin Al Khamsa Arabians IV? It has been over 14 years since our last reference book was published. • Discussion of our next convention, can it be in person? Leave until late winter to assess the state of the covid pandemic.

The final meeting of the 2020–2021 Al Khamsa Board of Directors was adjourned.

Al Khamsa Board Meeting – 10.17.21

President PJ Altshuler called the first meeting of the 2021–2022 Al Khamsa Board of Directors to order at 11:00pm CT. She welcomed new Board Members Jill Erisman and Elizabeth Dawsari. • Election of Officers

Vice President Jill Erisman

Secretary Kim Davis

Treasurers Mary Gills and Debbie Mackie • Selection of Committee Chairs

Awards: Monica Respet & Janet Maurer

Convention: PJ Altshuler & Pam Studebaker

Database: Jeanne Craver

External Relations: Rosemary Doyle AERC Liaison: Edie Booth Middle Eastern Liaison: Edouard Al-Dahdah

Finance: Mary Gills & Debbie Mackie

Promotions: PJ Altshuler

Nominations & Succession Planning: Rosemary Doyle

Preservation Task Force: Edouard Al-Dahdah & Kate Rhodes

Publications: Jeanne Craver Al Khamsa Arabians IV: Jeanne Craver Anthology Articles: Kathy Busch Website Content: Monica Respet

Social Media: Nichole Grodski & Jenny Krieg

Website: Jeannie Lieb New Business • Review of Convention • Polling Results • Role of Slack and Zoom • Pre-Budget Discussion.

The Charles Craver President’s Award is presented at the Board’s pleasure to honor unique achievement by a supporter or group of supporters in advancing the role and mission of Al Khamsa. It is awarded only when the Board finds a case, domestic or international, current or posthumous, of exceptional merit.

President Monica Respet presented the award. “This may be the biggest joy in being Al Khamsa President, it is my sincere honor to award Pam Studebaker and Deb Switzer The Charles Craver President’s Award for your many years of service to Al Khamsa, Inc. Pam and Deb are always willing to chip in anywhere they are needed, whether asking for donations, running a convention or sorting packets, or grocery shopping. This pair has done everything possible to help further the mission of Al Khamsa over the course of decades. They are always full of smiles, positive attitude, realism and a bit of humor, Pam and Deb have embodied the character of this organization. May we share decades more with them both. It is my honor to present the 2021 President’s Award to Pam Studebaker and Deb Switzer.”

Pam and Deb settled in as Saqlawiyat Arabians, together with Pam’s daughter Jill, near Dayton, Ohio. They have kept a fondness for the Ayerza bloodlines of *Aire, but have specialized in earlier Egyptian breeding.

Pam and Deb served as Directors, on committees, and Pam served as President for a number of years. Her ability to inspire makes her invaluable to Al Khamsa. Together, they put on Al Khamsa Conventions, last in 2017. They stored the Al Khamsa booth and supplies, set it up and manned it at the National Arabian Show and for many years during the Pyramid Society Egyptian Event. They were neverfailingly cheerful and helpful, known for their enthusiasm and their Bottomless Cookie Jar. The Al Khamsa booth became headquarters for people attending from around the globe.

Said Pam, “Thank you so much for this honor. Al Khamsa has been a life-changing experience for me, offering up lifelong friends and a cornucopia of spectacular horses!”

The Zoom Chat Room was full of congratulations from around the world, so telling of the dynamic duo’s influence and reach.

2021 Charles Craver President’s Award