by Diane Wilson

World Traveler

by Diane Wilson

Was I looking to purchase a female for my program? Not really. I’d decided, “No, we’ll do as we are,” just my four homebred Straight Egyptian/Al Khamsa horses — my senior mare and her three daughters. A friend, via social media, highlighted a young filly’s pedigree, and the rest they say is history. Checking the pedigree, I could see two links rather than one my friend had mentioned. “Why did I overlook this filly?” I asked myself after I’d delved into her illustrious pedigree. Because she was young and her photo suggested she had lots of growing to do, and that she has; I didn’t need to look at mares or in particular, fillies, and she was in the USA! But … you see, there was the filly’s pedigree, and, for me, it was tantalisingly beautiful, a joy to investigate — an outcross for us and Australia. Tentatively, I made the initial enquiry and the reply came through. It was at this point my conscientious decisionmaking process cut in — “if you continue, you have to commit!” Commit I did, and it felt so good, so right and still does.

Tory Kilmon of Sunset Ridge drew up a contract, and again, I checked myself — am I prepared to do this. I dutifully engaged a local Kentucky equine vet, B. DeAnn Hughes (BVSc) of Southern Equine Veterinary Services to check “Khami”. Part of DeAnn’s remit for me was ‘to be my eyes and ears on the ground’ regarding Khami’s assessment as I was domiciled in Australia and international travel was not an option due to Covid restrictions. In combination with Khami’s official report, my request was for assessment of, and feedback on, nominated conformation attributes, and if plausible, photos and videos as well, please. DeAnn’s initial response was rather brief, ‘a good horse’. Her photos and video I’d requested followed. DeAnn’s full report came later and subsequently was the basis for Khami’s insurance Policy.

Meanwhile, I enquired with International Racehorse Transport (IRT) regarding an available flight — the only company with a direct flight to Australia from the USA. The next available flight was four months away. A Letter of Intent to Export would be required – another commitment! As part of the purchase commitment, hair samples were submitted to EtalonDx for both DNA Analysis, Ancestry Evaluation and eventually a Kinship Report, as per my request. Khami’s contract was finalised. Part of the DNA Analysis result showed a ‘greater than normal susceptibility’ to West Nile Virus (WNV). As a precautionary measure, I requested that Khami be inoculated as soon as possible with Vetera Gold XP, (which, while protecting against multiple diseases including WNV, was the preferred vaccination for Australian Quarantine requirements), and to be boosted after 21 days. A short wait for stock to be obtained and Khami was vaccinated, microchipped and boosted accordingly. Simple, one may suggest as an equine person, but, there’s always that ‘but’… Australia’s requirements are strict and a Vet must administer and certify the inoculations. The certification is then submitted to Australia’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWE) as part of the Quarantine processing. It is well known here. Dot your ‘i’s and cross your ‘t’s where DAWE is concerned, as Johnny Depp and his then-wife found out to their peril in 2015!

IRT also have a subsidiary insurance provider (IRTI). I had dealt with them before, so felt comfortable engaging them again. Talking the Policy through with the Director, the details were highlighted, always good to hear about them! Also, the Letter of Intent to Export was used to validate the insured value.

During this time, I made enquiries to the Arabian Horse Society of Australia (AHSA) about registration requirements once Khami was in Australia. An emphasis was placed on having the relevant U.S. Arabian Horse Association (AHA) export document lodged with the AHA prior to export. With this came the arduous task of co-ordinating paper work, inoculations, blood tests and registrations. Of course, to submit the AHA export document, Khami was to be in my name. This required me to be a ‘base’ AHA member. Factoring time zones, appropriately timed phone calls highlighted that the fees were as stated on the Export Form plus, for Australia, there was an additional charge! The latter is not mentioned as a fee — anywhere! So glad I phoned. Right-oh, I’ll pay now with Tory to submit Khami’s original registration for transfer, as it didn’t need my signature (thank goodness). Eventually, and all in good

Khe Amiin Tabou SSR (Khami) as a yearling. She is a 2020 grey mare by Al Reyhan Marou x Anisa Gamal.

time, the financial transaction and registration transfer were matched, change of ownership made and export document lodged pending AHSA request.

Being the avid pedigree enthusiast and a great supporter of Al Khamsa, I enquired about having their beautiful ornate pedigree printed for Khami. This was timed to coincide with the ownership transfer. My homebred Straight Egyptian/Al Khamsa horses, while eligible by pedigree, can’t have one of these beautiful pedigrees as they are not in the AHA database for verification!

Further discussions were held between DeAnn and myself, along with Tory. DeAnn was adamant that the Khami wasn’t going anywhere until Khami had a Coggins Test. I mentioned that this was one of a battery of tests required for Australian Quarantine entry, and yes, they would all be done. I gave DeAnn the details of all the tests along with US IRT office contact details. The next I knew, DeAnn in conjunction with US IRT had organised for all the tests to be done. On a cold Kentucky day in blizzard like conditions, DeAnn’s email to me was, “finger’s crossed, the samples make it” and they did. No sooner were the tests completed, with the correct results (negative), than the call came to arrange transport to KY Quarantine — Khami’s flight had been brought forward. U.S. IRT arranged for a recommended carrier with Quarantine access.

Whoosh! Khami was in Quarantine. Photos were restricted, most likely due to Quarantine security, but one photo with an ambiguous background, showing Khami relaxed and calm, yet alert, with the message - ready for export. Khami’s new, rather large, blue (IRT colour) halter displayed her name — Khe Amiin Tabou SSR, engraved on the ID plaque. Next, she was six hours away in Chicago, ready to board her late-night flight.

At this time, messages between myself and Tory, speculated what was happening and when. Then I received an email from IRT stating they (the consignment) were airborne after a delayed departure. She’d been in the air nearly 2hours at that time, of a nearly nine hour flight to Honolulu. On the ground in Honolulu for a few hours, IRT’s consignment continued on the second leg of the flight, a ten+ hour flight to Melbourne, Australia. Needless to say, I tracked the flight for most of the way, updating Tory as Khami’s journey unfolded. I was cleaning stables when checking for arrival, and the flight had landed. There was a sense of relief and jubilation — Khami was on the ground, safely, here in Australia. Welcome to the future, in more ways than one, Khe Amiin Tabou SSR! She was still 1800 kilometers (1200 miles) away from me, but she was on the same continent.

As I carried on with my routine, there was a call from IRT (Australia) a few hours later. Khami had handled the flight well; her temperature was normal, and she was tracking along nicely for her Australian Quarantine. I held a bubbly Tory to her commitment not to reveal the transaction, as Khami still had further travel ahead of her. Tory agreed; however, she toyed with her social media following regarding the event. We were both very excited and relieved. It was a huge undertaking for both myself as her purchaser and Tory as her breeder.

After a small concern on Day 2, the wait for Quarantine completion and the road trip home was frustrating (four months already, what was another two weeks?). Release day arrived. Khami was handed into the care of Sydney Horse Transport (SHT), also with permission to enter a Quarantine establishment. I was apprehensive when I couldn’t get confirmation from SHT! The planned route was via the coast highway to utilise their Sydney and Gold Coast depots for overnight respites. Khami’s final leg of the journey home, to Agecroft, was finally completed, 24 hours late, as SHT hadn’t left Melbourne as advised. It was a joy to hug this very special, well-travelled filly for the first time. Would I do it all again? … watch this space!

Above: Agecroft’s mares in the rainy season, L-R: Khe Amiin Tabou SSR, Agecroft Ghayl, Agecroft Layla, Agecroft Sidra, Talika Sirina bint Sirdahn. Left: Khami’s Journey, from Kentucky to Chicago, to Honolulu, to Melbourne, through Sydney and home at Agecroft, west of Brisbane.

Beautiful Mare in Summer Sunshine

A candid pasture shot of the 2008 SE/SOF mare Midbar Lady Anne by Razal Ibn Azalia (Ra’adin Inshalla x Ansata Azalia) and out of FA Star Jasmine (SAR Fadl Halim x Masada Marana). Bred by Lorriee Golanty, she is a wonderful example of Babson blood blended with *Ansata Ibn Halima and *Ansata Bint Zaafarana.

If you are interested in these bloodlines, give us a call or send an email. We love horse chat. and have special horses seeking their forever homes.

Saqlawiyat Arabians

Dedicated to Al Khamsa

Pam Studebaker • Deborah Switzer • Jill Erisman 9160 Post Town Road, Trotwood, Ohio 45426 937-837-2829 • stuzerpd@yahoo.com

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.