Desert Heritage n.64 by Alim editrice

D E S E RT H E R I TA G E

Magazine

WE, WOMEN The women of today for the women of tomorrow

We find the best transport solution for highest and most individual requirements! Take advantage of our passion for horses, our experience and our highly qualified team and a reliable, world-wide network of selected partners. p road transport in Germany and Europe p import and export clearance p pre export quarantine in our own quarantine stables p completion of all export documents and customs formalities p global horse transportation by airfreight p flight attendance by professional grooms

Agricon-Logistic GmbH & Co. KG | International Horse Transports Bargloy 17 | 27793 Wildeshausen (Germany) Fon: +49 (0) 44 31 - 73 84 -80 | Fax: +49 (0) 44 31 - 73 84 -81 Mail: info@agricon-logistic.com

www.agricon-horsetransports.de

Abbonamenti

SUBSCRIPTIONS Abbonamento per l’Italia - email: info@tuttoarabi.it costo annuale (9 uscite) €287: costo spedizione standard tramite Posta incluso €356: costo spedizione tramite corriere espresso DHL incluso Cognome........................................................................................ Nome.............................................................................................. Indirizzo.......................................................................................... Città.................................................................. Cap....................... Tel. ................................................................................................. E-mail............................................................................................. Firma.............................................................................................. q

Versamento su c/c postale n. 20843256 o a mezzo vaglia postale intestato a: Alim Editrice s.n.c. - via Ressi, 22 - 20125 Milano - Italy

A mezzo Carta di Credito VISA....................................................................................................................... Master Card.......................................................................................................... Scadenza................................................. Codice di Sicurezza.............................

Subscription Worldwide - email: info@tuttoarabi.it (9 magazines per year) Europe €342 - Arabia/America/Asia/Africa €377 - Australia €397 Delivery by Post included in the price

Europe €425 - Arabia/America/Asia/Africa €469 - Australia €494 Delivery by DHL courier included in the price

Surname......................................................................................... Name.............................................................................................. Address.......................................................................................... City ......................................................Country Code..................... Country .......................................................................................... Tel. ................................................................................................. E-mail............................................................................................. Signature........................................................................................ q

I pay by Credit Card VISA...................................................................................................................... Master Card.......................................................................................................... Expiration................................................. Security code.......................................

Firma.....................................................................................................................

Signature...............................................................................................................

Non accettiamo pagamenti con assegno

We don’t accept payments by cheque

26 years with you THE MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED MAGAZINE IN THE WORLD ARABIAN HORSES IN EUROPE AND WORLDWIDE +39 02 36762850 info@tuttoarabi.it @tuttoarabi_magazine

www.tuttoarabi.com

Abbonamenti

SUBSCRIPTIONS Abbonamento per l’Italia - email: info@tuttoarabi.it costo annuale

Subscription Worldwide - email: info@tuttoarabi.it yearly price

€145: costo spedizione standard tramite Posta incluso €180: costo spedizione tramite corriere espresso DHL incluso

Europe €268 - Arabia/America/Asia/Africa €286 - Australia €299

Cognome........................................................................................ Nome.............................................................................................. Indirizzo.......................................................................................... Città.................................................................. Cap....................... Tel. ................................................................................................. E-mail.............................................................................................

Surname......................................................................................... Name.............................................................................................. Address.......................................................................................... City ......................................................Country Code..................... Country........................................................................................... Tel. ................................................................................................. E-mail.............................................................................................

Firma.............................................................................................. q

Versamento su c/c postale n. 20843256 o a mezzo vaglia postale intestato a: Alim Editrice s.n.c. - via Ressi, 22 - 20125 Milano - Italy

Delivery by DHL courier included in the price

Signature........................................................................................ q

Firma.....................................................................................................................

Signature...............................................................................................................

Non accettiamo pagamenti con assegno

We don’t accept payments by cheque

+39 02 36762850

info@tuttoarabi.it

@desertheritagemagazine

www.desertheritagemagazine.com

Arabian maReS AROUND THE WORLD

VOL.III

In the cover: Eralda (Emerald J | Enezja) www.alshiraaarabians.com Photo by Glenn Jacobs

Book your copy! info@tuttoarabi.it ● Italy K 60 ● Europe K 67 ● Arabia/America/Asia/Africa K 75 ● Australia K 73

Arabian Stallions of the World Vol. XX

In the cover:

(Dominic M x Makala NA) Owned by TP Arabians Photo by Alessio Azzali

Book your copy! info@tuttoarabi.it ● Italy K 60 ● Europe K 67 ● Arabia/America/Asia/Africa K 75 ● Australia K 73

Desert Heritage Magazine n.64 iscr. trib. di Milano n. 466 del 20/09/02 Expedition in A.P. 70% Milano

Alim Editrice s.n.c. via Ressi, 22 - 20125 Milano (Italy) e-mail: info@tuttoarabi.it www.desertheritagemagazine.com instagram: @desertheritagemagazine Publisher Simone Leo mobile: +39 348 5640190 leo.simon@tiscali.it

Pag. 12

Al Qusar Arabians

Editor Alim Editrice snc

Pag. 26

News from Egypt

Pag. 62

The Straight Egyptian Mares of La Diva Stud

Pag. 72

Sulifah’s Grandchildren

Pag. 84

The Desert Inspired art of Edwin Bogucki

Pag. 96

Peninsula Horses World Championship Festival

Pag. 122

George Bahgoury

Customer Manager Fabio Brianzoni fabiobrianzoni56@gmail.com Account Office/Subscription Office Barbara Belloni amministrazione@alimeditrice.it Writers Fabio Brianzoni Tarek Hamza Monika Savier Judith Wenning Digital Artwork Viviana Castiglioni Printed by AGF Spa San Giuliano Milanese Milano (Italy) Advertising Alim Editrice s.n.c. via Ressi, 22 - 20125 Milano (Italy) tel. +39 02 36762850 e-mail: info@tuttoarabi.it © www.desertheritagemagazine.com

photo by Gregor Aymar

LA FRASERA

Straight Egyptian Horses

in the cover

frasera mashar MAJD AL RAYYAN | FRASERA MASHARA - 13.05.2006 DAHAMAH SHAWAN

La Frasera - Serenella e Francesco Santoro Via Borneo 25 00144 Roma (IT) All. Via Castellaccio 2547 Monterosi - Nepi (VT) - +393495906607 - +39065913526

www.lafrasera.it

natiFa al Qusar (teymur B x nafisaa al Qusar) naFisaa al Qusar (KP nameed x Hayat ii)

Al Qusar Arabians A Traditional Stud of Straight Egyptians in Germany with Successful Offspring all Over the World. by Monika Savier

photos: Joanna Jonientz

Al QusAr ArAbiAns is a stud of the classical horse breeding tradition. Straight Egyptian Arabians have been bred there for almost 30 years. Some of the offspring have found a home in the largest stud farms in Europe and the Middle East and have had a positive influence on international breeding. Al Qusar Stud is located not far from Bremen, embedded in the green world of horse breeding in Lower Saxony, in the northwest of Germany. The ancient German word “Gestüt” comes from “Stuten”, which means Mares, a stud is traditionally the place of horse breeding where the mares live. Good mares are the basis of a successful stud.

Badr al rayyan (Fares al rayyan x darine al rayyan) Desert Heritage Magazine • 13

The Bedouin tribes in the areas of origin of the Arabian horses loved their mares first and foremost. They saw in them the result of the successful breeding of their ancestors, which had to be preserved. They also knew that their mares were the cornerstone of their success in the future. But without excellent stallions, this proof could not be given. “The mare is to maintain, and the stallion is to improve the breed” is an old breeder’s wisdom, but it only comes true if the foundation mares of a stud are of the best quality. To be able to maintain the quality of the mares over generations, the critical breeder must keep adding excellent stallions to his broodmare herd. In this respect, the same applies here as everywhere else in nature: everything relates to everything else.

Robert Schlereth and Volker Wettengl, the founders of Al Qusar Arabians, worked for many years as successful trainers and show handlers before they consciously turned their backs on this world and concentrated on horse breeding. They kept the selection of their foundation mares in the foreground. With the mare KP Bint Mohssen (Mohssen x KP Mofida) and her noble daughter Maida Bint Bint Mohssen, they founded their Dahman Shahwan line at the stud in the 90s. Maida Bint Bint Mohssen pleased Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Thani from Qatar so much that he brought her to his home, and she became one of the famous foundation mares of the Al Rayyan Stud in Qatar. Her line still plays an important role there today.

masHaHana al Qusar (teymur B x maida Bint Bint mohssen) 14 • Desert Heritage Magazine

TEyMuR B SEnIoR SIRE AT AL QuSAR ARABIAnS The success of the stallion TEyMuR B started with Maida’s daughter Mashahana Al Qusar (Teymur B x Maida Bint Bint Mohssen), as she stayed at Al Qusar Stud and started her own mare family. Robert Schlereth said at the time: “I had discovered Teymur B when he was 2 years old at the State Stud Babolna in Hungary and fell in love with him. He is a son of Assad, thus an Ansata Halim Shah grandson and has not only continued producing many successful show horses and

champions, he also consistently passes on his great character. His offspring, like himself, are easy to ride, intelligent and willing to perform. He himself was champion stallion at the stallion licensing and has also had much success at shows in his younger years.” Teymur B, a stallion from the Dahman Shahwan line, went back to the famous Tamria (Tuhotmos x Kamar), who had been imported from the Egyptian State Stud El Zahraa and established one of the most successful mare lines in the Hungarian State Stud.

teymur B (assad x 214 ibn Galal i) Desert Heritage Magazine • 15

Pamina al Qusar

(teymur B x ansata Princessa)

Fa neFilim

(Fa medu neter x nadirah el shah) started another ds mare line in the stud through aK nawal

nK Housain el dine (nK nabhan x nK Habiba) nK lunaa

(majd al Qusar x nK lilly)

autHentic nadiraH

(majd al Qusar x Fa nefilim)

roBert scHleretH

with majd al Qusar

Desert Heritage Magazine • 17

jasila al Qusar (nK lofty x jadwa al Qusar)

mayla al Qusar (nK lofty x mufidah al Qusar) 18 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Robert Schlereth: “our best offspring comes from the Tamria line. our stallion Teymur B

foundation mares from the Ansata breed

were added, such as Ansata Queen nefr

keeps the first place. He fits very well with and the Ansata Ibn Halima granddaughters

all the Babolna lines, but also in-breeding to Bagdady and the black G Ashalima. not only Tamria has been a complete success so far. In the Dahman Shahwan line of Tamria, also the our stud, the horses bred by us have at least Saklawi Jedran Ibn Sudan line became part

once Tamria blood in their pedigree. This is of the breeding concept through the mares El also ensured by our foundation mares.

Thay Bint Maheera and Naafisa.

had great success in breeding thanks to

4th generation offspring can be seen at the stud

Both had

In the 1990s and beyond, Al Qusar Arabians their origin in the Ansata breeding and their Teymur B and the mares from Babolna. new today.

masaraH al Qusar (nedschd mansour x mashhana al Qusar) Desert Heritage Magazine • 19

BADR AL RAyyAn, THE BEAuTIfuL ExoTIc fRoM QATAR Badr Al Rayyan came to Al Qusar Stud 2 years ago. Volker Wettengl discovered him in Qatar and after many problems had to be solved, this beautiful stallion moved into his box at Al Qusar Stud. If one follows the breeding strategy of Al Rayyan farm, Badr undoubtedly belongs to the old lines of extremely selective quality breeding as initiated by Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Thani until his retirement from the stud. Recently it has been said that the future of Al Rayyan farm lies in looking back to these lines. Through expertise and care their breeding will return to its former greatness. Badr Al Rayyan was born in 2013 at Al Rayyan farm in Qatar, he belongs to the obayan branch, tracing to Hanan. Badr is the perfect combination

of the best of Judith forbis’ and Hans nagel’s Egyptian breeding. He has an excellent type and charisma with a very good body. His young offspring in the farm have clearly shown his noble roots. His dam, Darine Al Rayyan, is one of the finest root mares in the Al Rayyan stud. Her sire Ashhal Al Rayyan, the “powerhouse sire” is a son of Nagel’s stallion Safir (Salaa El Dine x Aisha), Darine’s dam is a daughter of Aisha from nagel’s breeding out of the unique combination of Ansata Halim Shah and Ghazala (Ghazal x Hanan). Badr Al Rayyan’s sire is fares Al Rayyan, who is one of the leading sires at Al Waab Stud today. His sire Ansata Hejazi was among the world’s best Ansata Halim Shah sons. Ansata Sharifa is a daughter of Ansata Samantha, Sharifa’s most famous daughter is G Shafaria, the dam of fares Al Rayyan.

VolKer WettenGl

BasHir al Qusar

with Badr al rayyan

(Badr al rayyan x miriya al Qusar)

nK HouSAIn EL DInE, born in 2019 at Dr. nagel’s Katharinenhof, joined Al Qusar stud this spring to complete the group of noble stallions in the farm. His sire, the bay nK nabhan is one of the top straight Egyptian sires today. on both his father’s and mother’s side his grandfather is the beautiful NK Nadeer, a son of NK Hafid Jamil. The dam of nK Housain El Dine, nK Habiba, is a daughter of Ansata Ken Ranya. This line goes directly back to the legendary Ansata Bint Bukra. Therefore nK Housain El Dine traces back to the Dahman Shahwan family. His outstanding type and his very special pedigree makes him a stallion to follow for the future. He has successfully covered several straight Egyptian mares because he has already inspired many breeders and soon his foals can be admired.

nayla al Qusar

(Badr al rayyan x nadia al Qusar)

The three Stallions TEyMuR B, BADR AL RAyyAn and HouSAIn EL DInE are a perfect match for both mare lines of Al Qusar Arabians. The pedigrees of all the horses there meet the breeding strategies of the three most important studs of straight Egyptians in the last century, namely Ansata Stud, Katharinenhof and Al Rayyan Stud. Al Qusar belongs to the next generation of breeders and was able to successfully build on the gene pool of the “Big Three”. It looks like Al Qusar Stud has set the right course for the future with its clear breeding concept and horse-friendly stud. A visit to the stud opens the door to a new world of horse breeding for many visitors.

mayaH al Qusar

(Badr al rayyan x mirah al Qusar)

list oF stocK

Al Qusar Arabians

MARES and FILLIES DAHMAN SHAHWAN Strain

SIGLAWY JEDRAN IBN SUDAN Strain

MASHAHANA AL QUSAR *2003, (TEYMUR B x MAIDA BINT BINT MOHSSEN)

NATIFA AL QUSAR *2005, (TEYMUR B x NAAFISA AL QUSAR)

MASARAH AL QUSAR *2012, (NEDSCHD MANSOUR x MASHAHANA AL QUSAR) MASUDA AL QUSAR *2018, (NK NIZAM x MASARAH AL QUSAR MURJANAH AL QUSAR *2017, (NK NABHAN x MASHAHANA AL QUSAR) MAJDA AL QUSAR *2018, (NK NIZAM x MASHAHANA AL QUSAR) MOUNIA AL QUSAR *2020, (NK LOTFY x MASHAHANA AL QUSAR) MIRIJA AL QUSAR *2016, (FA MEDU NETER x EL MASRIA AL QUSAR) MERYEM AL QUSAR *2020, (NK LOTFY x MIRIJA AL QUSAR)

NADIA AL QUSAR *2018, (TEYMUR B x NAAFISA AL QUSAR) NK LUNAA *2022 (MAJD AL QUSAR X MAHA AL QUSAR) MUNEERA AL QUSAR *2007, (TEYMUR B x EL THAY BINT MAHEERA) MUFIDA AL QUSAR *2014, (NK NADEER x MUNEERA AL QUSAR) MAYLA AL QUSAR *2020, (NK LOTFY x MUFIDAH AL QUSAR) MAHA AL QUSAR *2016, (FA MEDU NETER x MAHARA AL QUSAR) MAHDIYAA AL QUSAR * 2023 (MAJD AL QUSAR X MAHA AL QUSAR)

MERIEM AL QUSAR *2020, (NK LOTFY x FA MERIT AMUN)

JASINA AL QUSAR *2020, (NK LOTFY x JADWA AL QUSAR)

PAMIRA AL QUSAR *2014, (NK HAFID JAMIL x PAMINAA AL QUSAR)

STALLIONS and COLTS

PANDORA AL QUSAR *2021 (NK NABHAN X PAMIRA AL QUSAR) FA NEFILIM *2010 (FA MEDU NETER X NADIRAH EL SHAH) AUTHENTIC NADIRAH 2022 (MAJD AL QUSAR X FA NEFILIM)

DAHMAN SHAWAN Strain BADR AL RAYYAN *2013 (FARES AL RAYYAN X DARINE AL RAYYAN) BASHIR AL QUSAR *2022 (BADR AL RAYYAN X MIRIYA AL QUSAR) MOUNEER AL QUSAR *2023 (NK NIZAM X MURIANAH AL QUSAR MUNIR AL QUSAR *2023 (NK NIZAM X MASARAH AL QUSAR)

22 • Desert Heritage Magazine

nK Housain el dine (nK nabhan x nK Habiba)

Badr al rayyan (Fares al rayyan x darine al rayyan)

alqusar@aol.com - v.wettengl@web.de Robert +49 1712175741 - Volker +49 1606356674

AL QUSAR

eif S

SAKR

S eif

SAKR

ANSATA HALIM SHAH*

ANSATA IBN HALIMA* ANSATA ROSETTA*

gr 15.0 1992

ANSATA SUDARRA*

ANSATA ABU SUDAN* ANSATA DELILAH*

ANSATA SAMIHA*

PRINCE FA MONIET* ANSATA SAMANTHA*

THEEGYPTIANPRINCE* FA MONIET*

IMPERIAL MADHEEN* BINT ATALLAH*

MESSAOUD* MADINAH*

ANSATA HEJAZI*

ANSATA MARENGO gr 2008

gr 1992

TALLAHSMAN*

SARA SAKR*

gr 1996

gr 2004

AMEERA SAKR* gr 2000

EL HABIEL* ALIDARRA*

ANSATA IBN HALIMA* ANSATA DELILAH*

RUMINAJA ALI* AK ATALLAH* EL HADIYYAH* BINT BINT HAMAMAA* ALIDAAR* GLORIETA SERIMA

BY SEIF SAKR

H DORRA assib

dorra stud

Owner: Eng. Omar Hassan Dorra mobile: +2 0100 3479999 omar.dorra@dorra.com

BY SEIF SAKR

www.desertheritagemagazine.com

alika MDORRA

“He who loves doesn't get tired."

News from egypt

Ahmed Pasha Hamza

A glimpse of the Breeding scenery of straight egyptian Arabian Horses IntervIews wIth selected Breeders of straIght egyptIan araBIan horses. is one of the leading Arab countries in the world of Arabian horse E gypt breeding. There are around 2000 registered farms and the registered foal production is also one of the highest. Despite the Ukraine-Russia war, the pandemic coronavirus, and the devaluation of the Egyptian pound, the Egyptian horse industry is still persisting and evolving. A lot of Egyptian breeders are very keen and proud to preserve and maintain their ancestral heritage of Arabian horses. In addition, a lot of shows are taking place and even some new ones have been added to our national agenda. Text and Interviews by Tarek Hamza

Omar Dorra

26 • Desert Heritage Magazine

CAIRO

Egypt has been recognized as one of the first countries to have introduced horse racing. Historically, horses were used in battle as early as the 17th Dynasty and following the invasion of Hyksos during the period known as the Middle Kingdom in Ancient Egypt. Beside the wars with horses and chariots, hunting was a common occupation. Hence, a retrospective look emphasizes a profound interest in preserving this noble creature in ancient times. The ancient Egyptians knew horses since the Stone Age, and rock drawings recorded pictures of horses. These majestic creatures were so much loved and prized possession for the Egyptian elite, particularly the Pharaoh. Although Pharaoh rarely shared the credit for a victory with people, Ramses II mentions his horses in the Poem of Kadesh, acknowledging them for their part in the famous Kadesh battle. Hence, due to their value in royal culture, in battle and hunting purposes, some historians pointed out

El ZAhRAA, thE hIstORICAl stAtE stuD

that breeding horses was a common practice in Ancient Egypt. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, another chapter has begun in horse breeding with Muhammad Ali Pasha, the founder of Modern Egypt and the Dynasty which ruled Egypt from the beginning of the 19th century until the middle of the 20th century. Muhammad Ali Pasha, knowing well the strength and power of Arabian horses as an important war instrument, decided to build the finest Arabian horse breeding program Egypt had ever experienced. He imported around 1100 Arabians from the best horses of the Arabian Peninsula and stabled them at Shoubra stables. Abbas Pasha, grandson of Muhammad Ali Pasha, followed the same concept of his grandfather and succeeded to make his own collection of finest Arabian horses from the desert of Arabia. His horses were very well kept in palaces and became legendary horses to the

thE nEw stAtE stuD Desert Heritage Magazine • 27

extent that some people said to rival those of King Solomon! This passion and love for Arabian horses were transmitted to their descendants. Apart Aly Pasha Chérif and Lady Anne-Blunt, most of the influential Egyptian horse breeders were from the royal family such as the Khedive Abbas Helmy II, Prince Ahmed Kamal, Prince Muhammad Ali Tawfiq as well as Prince Kamal Al Din- Hussein. In 1908, the Animal Breeding Department of the Royal Agricultural Society was assigned to start breeding purebred Arabian horses at Bahtim farm, and in 1928 the Society purchased around 60 acres in Kafr Farouk in the Ain Shams desert, east of Cairo in order to create a farm with similar conditions to the natural environment of Arab horses. The Horses had to move to the new farm known as El Zahraa farm affiliated to the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) later on, renamed the Egyptian Agricultural Organization (EAO). After the collapse of the Egyptian Kingdom in 1952, the Royal stud of King Farouk “Inshass Stud” was dissolved and a very small and carefully selected group of horses were introduced into the existing herd of El Zahraa horses. Since that time, the legendary Zahraa farm is considered as the only existing state stud farm in Egypt and no further horses were allowed to enter the breeding program. Few years later, the quality of horses bred out of this closed breeding program received world acclaim and many modern breeders from the Unites States and Europe decided to acquire such bloodlines. This being said, one has noticed in the last few years a rising interest from public authorities concerning the well-being and preservation of Straight Egyptian Arabian horses. In this respect, the government has built recently a new state stud facility for El Zahraa horses based on modern international standards in the new Administrative Capital of Egypt located East of Cairo. The project is surrounded by a new race track and many land parcels offered for sale to private breeders. As a matter of fact, the

28 • Desert Heritage Magazine

project seems to be a priority on the government agenda according to the Egyptian local press. The relocation expected date has not yet been announced to the public. On another level, the show scene looks quite interesting with a lot of shows taking place at their scheduled dates where one can still meet old and new generation breeders. One of the remarkable facts dominating the halter shows in Egypt, is that a lot of the newcomers of the show business are among younger generation breeders. In this respect, one has to mention that most of the private farms are located in greater Cairo either at Giza, close to the pyramids, or in the north east of Cairo in Oraby city and surroundings. Visiting farms in Egypt needs several days to be able to go from one side of the city to the other. Therefore, we decided to shorten the trip to our readers and conduct interviews with a group of new and old breeders to learn more about the breeding context in Egypt. Some of these breeders have been very successful in the show ring and have achieved very good results. Others don’t participate anymore and prefer more to focus on the preservation of their breeding program. More interviews are to be conducted with other Egyptian breeders in the following issues of the magazine to provide a more comprehensive overview of the breeding scenery in Egypt.

El ZAhRAA

DORRA STUD

Mr. Omar Dorra is one of those successful breeders who achieved very good results in the show ring in Egypt. He is an Egyptian Businessman working in the real estate business. Omar has his own breeding farm located in New Sheikh Zayed city in front of Sphinx International Airport. The farm is a state of the art property built on a space of 6 acres and includes 70 boxes with a marvelous landscape area and lots of paddocks for horses.

e Eng. Omar Dorra, you have been very successful in the last couple of years as a horse exhibitor in various halter shows in Egypt. Can you tell us when did you start breeding SE horses? And what are your breeding goals? First, I would like to thank you and your highly regarded publication for the opportunity to share with your readers my

breeding vision which started back in 2009, almost 15 years ago. Generally, I have a lot of passion for animals and especially horses, which I really love. I admire the qualities of these noble creatures, I consider the straight Egyptian Arabian horse, as one of the most beautiful and finest horse breeds, which is displayed through my breeding goals and vision - in trying to

Omar Dorra with sEIf sAkR

Desert Heritage Magazine • 29

hAssIb DORRA (seif sakr x nadrah Al Rayyan Misr)

hAssIb DORRA, crowned Gold Champion colt at the breeders' cup 2023

constantly breed balanced and correct horses. I usually try to breed horses with good proportions including exotic heads, well set long necks, solid bodies, and top lines. Moreover, I also focus on having equal height of legs, strong movement and type. In short, I am trying to breed a horse that is close to the ideal of the breed itself.

sEIf sAkR

30 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Do you have any particular preference towards breeding certain Straight Egyptian dam lines? I am breeding several dam lines. However, I found my ideal horse coming out through a bloodline grouping of the renowned Alidara, Helala, MB Daleeya, Hodhoda and Wasfia dam lines. I was very lucky with one of my foundation mares Nadrah Al Rayyan Misr which gave me several high-quality offspring. Her filly Zolfah DORRA by Seif Sakr was crowned Gold Medal Champion in 2021 here in Egypt at Al Marasem show at Rabab stud. In addition, I have a very special colt out of this same combination named Hassib

Omar Dorra with tarek hamza

DORRA who was crowned Gold Medal Champion recently at the breeders’ cup here in Egypt in December 2023. Another root mare in my program is Asrar El Adeyyat who is a daughter of Ansata Hegazi and out of NK Ahlam. Asrar gave me very nice offspring so far and I am really very proud of her progeny at my stud. In short, these are two very important foundation mares in my program apart from other broodmares I am using now in my program. What are the stallions you are using in your breeding program? My main Stallion used at DORRA Stud is ‘Seif Sakr’ who is the son of Ansata Marengo (Ansata Marengo is fathered by Ansata Hegazy and mothered by Sara Sakr), whilst ‘Shaheen Al Habiel’, is a sire line in my program. I used him often to cover a lot of my mares and the results were really outstanding. Mainly that’s my program (breeding formula) so far, but I like from time to time, to change it up a little bit and add some ‘zest’

nAwAf sAkR (shaheen sakr x nariman sakr)

to my breeding program by using some ‘NK’ established stallions and their generation (Mares and Stallions) but that is done in a way that its concentration is around 20% of my program just to diverse the channels. It is extremely challenging, but I am very happy with the results obtained so far. Moreover, I would like to emphasize that I am intending to introduce a new young stallion recently acquired from Sakr stud who is, Nawaf Sakr from the renowned family of Ansata Nefisa and by El Habiel son Shaheen Sakr. Are you satisfied with what you have Desert Heritage Magazine • 31

sEIf sAkR (Ansata Marengo x sara sakr)

sARA DORRA (seif sakr x sarah El Gabry)

DORRA farm

achieved in the show ring so far? Are you planning to show your horses on an international level in any major show? For the time being, I am incredibly satisfied with what I achieved at the show ring in Egypt. My horses (mashallah) get most of the golden medals in the Egyptian shows and I’m looking forward to competing on an international level by 2025 - God Willing. It is just a matter of choosing the right time to compete on an international level in certain major shows. What does El Zahraa bloodlines represent to you nowadays? El Zahraa bloodlines are the main source of all our Straight Egyptian Arabian horses. It is still an important component of my breeding program. As I mentioned earlier, I have some Zahraa bloodlines in my herd of mares such as the Wasfia family bloodline and the Hodhoda family bloodline both from the Obeyyan families. I really admire the outcome when out crossing these bloodlines with my main stallion Seif Sakr. Therefore, I can assert that El Zahraa bloodlines represent to me a part of my breeding

ZOlfAh DORRA

formula. In my opinion, these bloodlines are very important to refresh the bloodlines from time to time and to introduce new elements in my breeding program. Nowadays, a lot of breeders use embryo transfer in their breeding program. Please tell us your opinion on using such a breeding tool? Would that help you get a better chance of winning in the show ring? What is the outcome of embryo transfer in terms of the quality of offspring given the high cost of the procedure? Embryo transfer is considered for me a breeding method only used in a limited number of cases such as when mares are either too old or too sick, so they cannot conceive easily and the delivery may comprise risk or harm for the mare and/or the foal. I try as much as possible to avoid using this breeding method and avoid any mistreatment that may happen to my horses. Many thanks dear Omar for interviewing with us and wishing you all the best in your show career. Desert Heritage Magazine • 33

HAMDAN STABLES of Fatma Hamza Mrs. Fatma Hamza is a famous breeder of Straight Egyptians horses in Egypt. She possesses one of the oldest and traditional breeding programs in Egypt, in the country side of Cairo at the village of Tahanoub, located 28 Kilometers north of Cairo. She inherited the stables of her late father Ahmed Pasha Hamza and decided to continue his legacy.

e Mrs. Fatma Hamza, everybody knows that Hamdan stables which is one of the oldest Arabian horse breeding farms in Egypt cares about preserving Straight Egyptian Arabians and maintaining the identity of mare families. Thank you very much for this introduction. The Hamza family's passion for Straight

Egyptian Arabians is the pillar for our endless dedication to preserving this noble breed following the footsteps of my late beloved father Ahmed Pasha Hamza. Since 1897, hence when my father was six years old his long-life journey of loving the Straight Egyptian Arabians started when his uncle gifted him with a breathtaking grey stallion with a silver saddle.

Ahmed Pasha hamza with MAhAsIn

fatma Mostafa hamza

34 • Desert Heritage Magazine

fatma hamza with AMAl hAMDAn

Can you tell us how many mares’ families do you breed at Hamdan Stables? And what are those mares’ families? I must start with one of my father's favorite mares, Bint Yosreia (Nazeer X Yosreia), a true representative of the Hadban Enzahi strain going back to Bint Rustem out of Hadba El Saghira. He bought her from the EAO and since then she has graced our stable with her progeny who continue till today via her granddaughter Safa Hamdan (Ibn El Bashwat Hamdan X Om El Fetouh Hamdan) and her daughters. Another representative of the Hadban Enzahi strain in Hamdan Stables is the dark bay enchantanting Saferah. I acquired Saferah (Ikhnatoon X Solafa) from the EAO, she traces back to Samiha out of Hadba Al Saghira. Her progeny continues to bless Hamdan Stables out of her daughters the bay refined mare Al Rahmaniyah Hamdan (Sorour X Saferah) and the chestnut correct mare Al Shamaa Hamdan (Fateh X Saferah). Ward Shah (Adeeb X Wasfia) was acquired by us from the EAO. WardShah traces back to Maysa the daughter of Mahfouza of the Ubbayn Um Jurrays (Grees) strain. Her progeny continues in Hamdan Stables via her Champion daughter Al Shahaa Hamdan (Fateh X WardShah) via Al Ghalia Hamdan (Sorour Hamdan X Al Shahaa Hamdan) who is a true representation of how a chestnut Ubbayan mare should look like. Hosna (Amir X Gihan), our beloved one. Hosna was acquired from the EAO. She goes back to Bint Farida out of Farida of the Dahma Shahwania strain. Hosna was a chestnut mare with a golden mane, tail and heart actually. She was very consistent; she always passed type, kindness and correctness to her progeny. She continues

Desert Heritage Magazine • 35

Ismail hamza with AMAl hAMDAn and nOuR hAyAty hAMDAn

OM El fEtOuh hAMDAn (fateh EAO x yosr hamdan)

to live through the progeny of her two breathtaking chestnut daughters: Nawaretna Al Asal Hamdan (Sorour Hamdan X Hosna) and Farah Al Koloob Hamdan (Sorour Hamdan X Hosna). Hamhama (Hafid Antar X Wahida) was acquired from the EAO. Hamhama goes back to Om Dalal tracing back to Ali Pasha Sherif's mare Roga El Beda of the Saklawiah Jidraniyah strain. The Supreme Champion Hamahama is represented today by her daughters' progeny. They are full sisters: Al Yasoub Hamdan (Fateh X Hamhama) and Reem Hamdan (Fateh X Hamhama). Al Yasoub Hamdan was a superb bay mare like her mother and Reem Hamdan was grey like her father and was true to her name which means 'gazelle' in Arabic.In the same show where Hamama was granted Supreme Champion title, her daughter Reem Hamdan was in the same champion class and she was crowned Reserve Champion after her dam.

breeding stallions and it is a recurrent question that is often raised by many breeders at the beginning of each breeding season. Hence, can you tell us how do you usually select your stallions? In other words, what are the traits that you look for when you are selecting a new stallion? Yes, it’s always a very challenging task, but let me tell you this among other things is what makes breeding pleasurable. You do your homework by trying to find the best suitable stallion and then you wait for eleven months to see the result. I believe you must first be objective in judging your mare. You must know what she has and what she lacks, then you start to find which stallion she needs accordingly. You start with your mare and then search for the suitable stallion, not the other way round. Traits you have to take in consideration when searching for the stallion is to vigorously study the stallion's dam and her tail female, and to make sure what lines his sire did a good job with.

It is always very challenging to find good

36 • Desert Heritage Magazine

MOEMEn hAMDAn (Gad Allah EAO x Al shahaa hamdan)

I personally like to breed stallions with would like to share from the perspective of correct bodies, remember it's easiest to an experienced breeder for new breeders correct a head, but having correct legs and who are starting their breeding programs? bodies is a great asset and if lost it is very I was a first-hand witness of the impeccable difficult to find. dedication my father had for preserving Black eyes is another essential this noble breed. Whether "Truth be told, it was saving Hamdan (Ibn trait for me, the bigger the better of course. I also aim to breeding is not Rabdan X Bint Radia) after find big fine round nostrils, King Farouk's abdication due an easy task" clear cheek bones and refined to the coup d’état or when he necks. For me the ears of a stallion are a had to re-buy all his own auctioned horses pillar when choosing him. again because they were confiscated for his A typy and fiery stallion is also a core. affiliation with the King's regime as he was We all try to find the perfect stallion, don't we! three times Minister. I feel that preserving the straight Egyptian Arabian is a duty What would be a recommendation that you bestowed upon every sincere breeder

Desert Heritage Magazine • 37

Mohamed hamza with sAhAAb Al shARG (Ansata Al Murtajiz x Mouna Al Rayyan)

including myself. My humble advice to new breeders is most importantly and foremost love and know your horses, their temperament and their traits. You must always judge your horse objectively to be able to advance as a breeder. You must also read and learn the pedigrees of your horses, know their tail female lines, their strains, look at old photos of their grandparents and converse with other breeders. Truth be told, breeding is not an easy task, it includes trials and errors, ups and downs, happy moments and more difficult ones at times; hence, I always remind myself with my father's words: “He who loves doesn't get tired". 38 • Desert Heritage Magazine

With the development of the show business, what do you see as a major difference or challenge in today’s breeding world in comparison to 20 or 30 years ago? Do you know breeders in Egypt or in other Arab countries who share with you the same breeding concepts or vision in trying to preserve Hamdan Stables' bloodlines? Everything in the universe is dynamic, nothing is static; hence, change in the horse show business is inevitable. I have witnessed many changes over our years of breeding Straight Egyptian Arabians. I have seen many breeders in and out of the straight Egyptian Arabians' world.

AMAl hAMDAn (Omayr EAO x Alyassoub hamdan)

A group of mares at hamdan stables Desert Heritage Magazine • 39

Alyaa Al hammoudy with AMAl and nOuR hAyAty hAMDAn (serag El dine EAO x khyrate hamdan)

Those who continue are the ones who have perseverance and will to preserve their Straight Egyptian Arabians. For me like my father, I choose to preserve our Hamdan Stables' straight Egyptian bloodlines which we have been very selective in choosing; keeping in mind that we always refresh our bloodlines by choosing stallions from Egypt and all over the world who add to our breeding program and are in harmony with our bloodlines. Many breeders in Egypt, the Arab countries and all of over the world share with us our passion for preserving Hamdan Stables’ bloodlines. 40 • Desert Heritage Magazine

We are not only very selective in our bloodlines, but we are also very meticulous in deciding which new homes we agree that our Hamdan Stables’ Straight Egyptians go to. We feel it’s our duty to make sure that the breeders provide them loving homes; this the least we can do for them, they are truly our family. We are very blessed by our fellow breeders who share our vision and passion for preserving Hamdan Stables’ bloodlines and legacy. Many thanks dear Fatma for interviewing with us

AL HAMD STUD Madam Hanan Serag El Dine is the owner of Al Hamd stud. She worked for more than ten years as a researcher at the Arab Council for Childhood and Development before deciding to dedicate most of her time to her passion and love of horses. She established her own breeding farm, which she named Al Hamd stud. It is located 20 kilometers north of Cairo at a village called Sandyon, amidst of wonderful palm trees and blossomy orange trees accommodating around 35-40 horses.

e Dear Madam Hanan Serag El Dine. You are one of the few traditional Arabian horse farms in Egypt that often participate in shows. Can you tell us when did you start your breeding program? And what are your breeding goals? I started breeding horses in 1996 but honestly being new in the field at that time - and with no experience back than - my breeding

program was humble and vague. But gradually growing and developing love and admiration and learning more about Arabians especially straight Egyptians, I noticed that a breeding program never ends it simply keeps developing and evolving. My goal is to preserve and maintain the natural beauty, type consistency and the overwhelming quality of Straight Egyptian Arabian horses. In any breeding decision,

fAyROuZ Al hAMD (Anubis Ra Al Qusar x belkis Al hamd), crowned Reserve national Champion at the EAO show 2010

sAfERAt Al hAMD (sultan badrawi x hf Emeera Isis)

sAfERAt Al hAMD winning at the show

ZEInA Al hAMD (nasr Al sharbatly x negma El Gabry) Gold Champion 2012 and Gold Champion at Rabab show 2015

shAhRAyARAl hAMD (An Mayrak x hf Emeera Isis)

I always try to balance between beauty and conformation as well as I pay a lot of attention to the overall refinement of the horse in order to emphasize the charisma and grace of our Straight Egyptian Arabian horses.

Breeding horses for the show is among my purposes. When I select a stallion to breed, I usually focus on choosing a stallion who complements and fits my mare. In this respect, I study carefully the mare attributes as well as her negatives points and observe the stallion strengths and weaknesses to be able to make a proper breeding decision. In the case, where the stallion has already produced

Do you breed horses mainly for show purpose? How do you select your breeding stallions? 42 • Desert Heritage Magazine

fAyROuZ Al hAMD

before, it is very important for me to see his inbreeding because as it strengthens some offspring because this helps me in assessing traits it also weakens some. It sometimes and evaluating the common traits that he results in undesirable traits like smaller passes to the colts and fillies he produces. size or poor conformation and there is a Later on, I check and study high chance of carrying "I noticed that a well the pedigree of the genetic defects from stallion to make sure it is breeding program one generation to the compatible with the mare I other and while you never ends it simply choose for him. are concentrating good keeps developing and things in your horse What do you think you are potentially also evolving." of inbreeding or line concentrating bad things breeding to strengthen certain positive Most of the time I go for outcrossing as it traits in horses? Do you use these breeding promotes a high degree of genetic diversity methods in your program or do you prefer and variation. Generally speaking, breeding out cross breeding? is a risk that you have to take and so long In my program I usually don’t prefer that you see improvement in the outcome Desert Heritage Magazine • 43

ZOMORODA Al hAMD (Ibn El basha hamadan A x shahd Al hamd)

IshRAk Al hAMD (Murtajab Al nakeeb x belquis Al hamd)

then you are on the right track and you will be willing to take more risks.

fADEl Al hAMD out of fayrouz Al hamd

Do you use embryo transfer as a horse reproductive tool in your program? Would that help you achieve better results in breeding show quality horses? I don’t use embryo transfer. I feel it is partly the cause of the problem of the poor market today in Egypt. You have too much supply and very little demand. For example, if a stud with ten mares uses embryo transplants at the end of the year instead of having 10 new foals it will have twenty which is beyond the market needs and needless to mention the high financial costs and expenses. I believe that embryo transplant should be done only if you have a mare who has a medical problem that hinders her from carrying her own baby. Many thanks dear Madam Hanan for interviewing with us and wishing you all the success in the show ring.

sAlMAn Al hAMD, Reserve Champion at Rabab show 2014

AL HAWADY STUD Al Hawady Stud was founded by the engineer Mohsen Al-Hady and the architect Moataz Al-Hady near the city of Harms. There are currently 21 Straight Egyptians on the farm. The beautiful facility guarantees quality of life for the horses. In general, quality plays a major role for the brothers, which they also show in the selection and breeding strategy of their horses.

e Dear Mohsen Al-Hady, can you tell us when did you start your breeding farm? And what are your breeding goals? Firstly, let me introduce ourselves. We are the twin brothers Mohsen and Moataz AlHady. One of us is an architect, and the other is a construction engineer. We specialize in design and contracting, and, of course, we share a deep passion for Egyptian Arabian horses. Actually, my relationship with Arabian horses began in 2007 when I attended a show jumping championship. At that time, a distinctive horse caught

my attention—a horse with a small head, medium-sized body, wide eyes, a curved neck. Inquiring about the horse, I was told it was an Arabian horse. That sparked my interest, leading me to read and learn more about Arabian horses, particularly the Egyptian Arabian horses. I felt proud and fortunate to be in a country that is home to such magnificent horses. Our breeding goals for Arabian horses are commendable. Firstly, preserving the purity of the Egyptian lineage and ensuring its continuity reflects a

tEE El GAMIl (yannah x tabark Elgabry) Desert Heritage Magazine • 45

tEE El GAMIl (yannah x tabark Elgabry)

commitment to the heritage of these horses. Secondly, aiming for high-quality Arabian horses with robust bodies and enhancing their aesthetic qualities to compete globally demonstrates a dedication to excellence in international shows.

we have the following strains descendants:

What are the dam lines and families you have selected for your farm? I believe that luck has favored us after significant efforts to acquire many distinctive and prestigious horse pedigrees over the past five years. Among the most important ones

• Al-Kuhilan Kurush family, specifically Rowida family.

46 • Desert Heritage Magazine

• Al-Obayan, Um Jurees, Majidah family, most notably Bint Majidah. • Al-Dahman, including Bint Naihah Al-Saghira, Bint Al-Bahrain family, Bint Sabah family, and Tamriah family.

• Al-Kahilani Jilabi. • Al-Saklawiyat, including Maar- ree family and Thuraya 1 family from the EAO.

Al hAwADy farm

What does El Zahraa horses mean to you? Do you use this bloodstock in your breeding program? El Zahraa horses hold great significance for us. We consider them valuable and integral to our breeding program. In fact, that made us already own two key mares, both indirectly produced from a sire and dam originating from El Zahraa. Additionally, having a pure bloodline mare directly from El Zahraa adds a valuable dimension to our breeding program. This demonstrates a strategic approach to integrating the esteemed bloodlines of El Zahraa into our own collection. The bloodstock from El Zahraa contributes to the diversity and excellence we aim for in producing high-quality Arabian horses. Their lineage and traits are carefully integrated into our breeding strategy to enhance and maintain the quality of our horse breeding program. I learned from you that you are trying to create a very appealing and comfortable

environment for horses at your farm. Can you tell us more about this music story and how it affects your horses? Certainly, creating an appealing and comfortable environment for horses is a top priority. At our farm, we focus on providing spacious and well-designed stables, ensuring proper ventilation, and maintaining clean surroundings. Additionally, we incorporate soothing music into the stable environment. Studies suggest that calming music can reduce stress and anxiety in horses, creating a more relaxed atmosphere. This approach aims to enhance the overall well-being of our horses, promoting a positive and stressfree experience for them. What are your goals in the breeding process, and to what extent do modern methods influence those goals? I believe that a successful breeder needs a clear vision at its core, and must define the goals of that vision. We see that it is preferable to acquire horses of moderate size, with distinctive movement and wellDesert Heritage Magazine • 47

wAAD Al-hAwADy (Ashiek Zeina x warda Rabab)

proportioned bodies. Consequently, our plan relies on selecting mares that possess these key traits through research and observing their offspring with various stallions, paying attention to the most inherited characteristics. When we find the suitable mare, we purchase her and choose the appropriate stallion to achieve the vision’s goals. Of course, there are moments of joy and others of frustration, but this is part of the enjoyment of horse breeding. We learn more from moments of failure, guiding us towards better choices in selecting stallions. Additionally, we engage in a somewhat modern process involving embryo transfer from donor mares, with diversity in selecting stallions, helping us refine our choices more effectively and saving time. How do you see the future of the SE breeding? Predicting the future of Straight Egyptian (SE) horse breeding involves considering various factors such as evolving breeding MAOussOf Al-hAwDy (Malak Eltarzy x Mahsoub Al Amin) 48 • Desert Heritage Magazine

GhAZAl Al-hAwADy (Deffaf EAO x Gharam Alhaday)

practices, emerging technologies, and the ongoing efforts to preserve the purity and qualities of the SE Arabian breed. Advancements in genetic research and reproductive technologies may play a role in shaping the future by allowing breeders to make more informed decisions and maintain the authenticity of SE bloodlines. Additionally, the dedication of breeders and organizations to uphold the standards of SE breeding will likely continue to influence the breed's future positively. For the most accurate insights, consulting experts in SE Arabian horse breeding and staying updated on industry developments is recommended. What does the shows mean to you? Competitions in the field of Arabian horse beauty hold significant importance for

breeders. Here are some key points: 1. Quality Assessment: Competitions help evaluate the quality of horses and their adherence to the specific standards of the Arabian breed. This allows breeders to assess the success of their efforts in improving and developing the breed. 2.Marketing and Reputation: Winning competitions provides breeders with an opportunity to market themselves and increase the visibility of their reputation. Winning horses gain fame, attracting the attention of potential enthusiasts and customers. 3. Community Building: Competitions encourage interaction and knowledge exchange among breeders. These events can foster a community based on collaboration and the sharing of expertise. Desert Heritage Magazine • 49

MAOussOf Al-hAwADy

4. Motivation and Continuity: Competitions can serve as a motivator for breeders to continually improve the quality of their horses. Seeing their horses succeed in competitions encourages more effort and innovation. 5. Preserving Heritage: Competitions contribute to preserving the distinctive genetic traits of the Arabian breed, crucial for maintaining its genetic diversity and continuity. In general, competitions are an integral part of the breeder's experience, reflecting their efforts and contributing to the development and enhancement of this unique aspect of the Arabian horse breeding world. Many thanks dear Mohsen for interviewing with us and wishing you a lot of success. tEE El GAMIl

HAMDAN STABLES of Ahmed Hamza Mr. Ahmed Hamza former president of the EAO from 2007 until 2011, an international ECAHO judge as well as a breeder and owner of Hamdan Stables in Egypt. Apart from carrying the same name of his grandfather Ahmed Pasha Hamza the founder of Hamdan Stables, he has been able to prove himself as a successful breeder in the show ring in Egypt for quite some time.

e Dear Ahmed Hamza, you have been involved through many decades in breeding Straight Egyptian Arabians and you succeeded in breeding many champions that won in the show ring in Egypt. Also, as a former President of the

EAO, can you explain for us the importance of the EAO bloodstock in preserving the Straight Egyptian breed? What are in your opinion the strong points of EAO horses? The EAO has a very long history in preserving the Arabian horse bloodlines. The

Dr. hans nagel, Judith forbis and Ahmed hamza Desert Heritage Magazine • 51

EAO bloodlines is considered an important dry legs, good and light movement, a good genotype pool for all Arabian horses. As a tail carriage, their overall conformation etc... contribution in the past and I believe also In addition, the personality of the Arabian still in the future. In fact, it is essential to horse is another very important element that highlight that a major importance of the EAO counts since the Arabian horse has a lot of bloodlines remains in presence and is full The challenging part in its authenticity. These of vigor and power. horses are the result preserving these horses One must say that of selection breeding what really helped a nowadays is to try to breed by Bedouins and Arab lot to preserve these them as close as possible tribes since hundreds bloodlines until now of years. Hence, the to the original Arab horse is the fact that these purity of the blood horses were kept of the past. is historical but in with knowledgeable addition, these horses have certain specific and enthusiastic breeders starting from characteristics which make them unique and Mohammed Aly Pasha, the Viceroy of highlight the identity of the breed such as Egypt, and his descendants, and afterwards the good-looking heads, the big black dark the RAS and Inshass stud who had major eyes, the fine skin, light strong dense bones, roles and for sure one can never forget the

nAwADER (hafeed Anter x Dhimaara) 52 • Desert Heritage Magazine

MAGDA ( Ibn Rashid x Manshouda)

Ahmed hamza with MAGDA

an outcross alternative for all other Arabians including show horses. Therefore, it is our duty to try to maintain these horses and bloodlines in a good health and shape. In light of your long experience as an International ECAHO judge and an SE Breeder, do you think that Straight Egyptian horses have still a chance to compete in international major shows? Yes, for sure high quality Straight Egyptian Arabians can compete in the show ring even though their numbers in terms of quantity of horses bred are relatively less than the numbers of the non-straight Egyptian Arabians bred worldwide. I remember a coincidence for example when I was judging the world Arabian horse Championship in Paris in 2016 when Royal Colours entered the arena and the horse was really fascinating and impressive for all the judges and the crowd and he won the platinum award. Also, we have seen previously some years ago many Straight Egyptians who succeeded to win in the show ring like F Shamaal and Al Lahab. So, I believe it is still possible with selective breeding and knowledgeable breeders especially that high quality Straight Egyptian Arabian horses have always a unique type. great contribution of Lady Anne Blunt to the breed. The challenging part in preserving these horses nowadays is to try to breed them as close as possible to the original Arab horse of the past. These horses have to remain sound and in good health and condition in order to be able to maintain these genotype and characteristics. I am a strong believer that these horses and bloodlines can serve one day and help to be

A lot of breeders in our Straight Egyptian world affirm to adopt breeding programs that focuses more on preserving the Straight Egyptian horses? What’s your opinion about that? First of all, let me say that the term “Preservation” is truly employed extensively in our Straight Egyptian glossary. Effectively, the term has a multiform meaning. It can connate for example to maintain and protect a group of horses from any loss, danger or Desert Heritage Magazine • 53

lAhlOubA ( Dorian shah El shams x lolowah)

care for horses is indeed a prerequisite for preservation of Straight Egyptian Arabians as for any other breed. Breeding in terms of horse reproduction is for sure as well one of the other essential elements for Straight Egyptian Arabian horse preservation but it does not cover the whole concept. Thus, in my opinion the mere horse reproduction process by adding to the horse population new offspring cannot be considered as horse preservation. bInDJI ( Messaoud x bukra bint salam)

illness. It can also mean to breed them away from another group of horses as well as it can mean to make some improvements in the bloodlines. Hence, the term preservation can still have a variety of significance but in all cases it implies for sure the necessity to adopt breeding techniques allowing to reassure that the intended herd of horses continue to exist in a healthy and sound manner. Good

54 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Regrettably, a lot of breeders use this term of preservation out of context. Some others use the term solely for promotion reasons and they don’t even mind to discriminate against certain bloodlines. In order to be able to truly preserve the Straight Egyptian Arabian horses, it is very important to build our breeding decisions on evidence based facts. Physical characteristics and phenotype of Arabians can certainly be an element of consideration in preserving

the mares paddocks at El Zahraa stable where Mr. hamza was director EAO

this breed but it cannot be sufficient. In addition, it has to be mentioned that our breeding decisions have to be supported by science to make sure that we do not replicate certain hereditary and genetic diseases in our Straight Egyptian Arabian horses such as the well-known CA disease for example. Otherwise, I believe that the term is misemployed. In your opinion, what would have to change to make breeding Arabian horses more exciting again? This is an interesting question. Well one has to admit that breeding Arabians is still exciting though one can notice that

the purpose of breeding has changed overtime. In this respect, I would like to raise the attention to the importance of breeding not solely to the purpose of winning in the show ring. For sure, this can be a goal but the Arabian horse is more an athletic horse who is supposed to be bred for other purposes. Bearing this in mind, this will affect our selection and vision how horses are being bred. Actually, one has to highlight that for each particular purpose or function of horses, there is a particular form of breeding and selection that will enhance that function. In this respect, the overall horse conformation plays an important role in the ability of

Desert Heritage Magazine • 55

A bath in the crowd. Ahmed hamza among the enthusiastic breeders at the EAO show

Ahmed hamza with the late Dr. Ibrahim Zaghloul 56 • Desert Heritage Magazine

a horse to perform as well as to remain sound. Usually, when choosing a breeding horse for instance, one should be able to distinguish between standard conformation and conformation faults in order to try to match the selected horses to fulfil a certain task or purpose. Arabians can fit in many disciplines. One can notice that, in many countries, Arabians have been used as an endurance horse that has proven itself in that field. I believe it is very important to try to revive the race industry again in Egypt as this was the original

domain of breeding sound athletic horses long time ago which contributed to the promotion of the SE horses worldwide. A lot of our famous Arabian horses used at the state stud of Egypt have existing race records. Unfortunately, this is not the case anymore in Egypt but we hope with the new establishment allocated in the new administrative Capital of Egypt to see again the revival of this important discipline for SE horses. Many thanks dear Ahmed for sharing your opinion and interviewing with us.

TAREk HAMZA is a recognised international ECAHO judge and breeder of straight Egyptians in Cairo. His love for Arabian horses is already anchored in his genetic code. For generations, members of his family have successfully bred Arabian horses. Tarek studied at

the Sorbonne University in Paris and is a successful lawyer. Following the tradition of his

family, his great passion became horse breeding and he started his own breeding program in 2005, which is based on four root mares. Tarek has a very good knowledge and expertise in

El Zahraa bloodstock. Years ago, he managed to acquire two of the finest quality remaining Hadban Enzahi fillies at an auction at El Zahraa State Stud. He wanted to preserve the old

lines and at the same time breed straight Egyptians with a lot of type and good functionality.

He is a strong believer that successful results can happen when out crossing and infusing the closed EAO bloodlines with horses from modern breeding programs. Through his small

stud, this approach made himself internationally well known. Tarek wrote this article for Desert Heritage Magazine, interviewing a group of interesting breeders. Although they are very different, they reflect the diversity of Arabian horse breeding in Egypt.

Monika Savier

Desert Heritage Magazine • 57

Natural is the New beauty

Straight Egyptian Stallion *2010 KSA Dahman Shahwan Strain. CA/SCID clear

Ansata Halim Shah Maysoun Maysouna

F SHAMAAL Sarameena

Fa Ibn Sar Flabys Joffa

NABEEL AL KHALED

Ansata Halim Shah Ansata Hejazi ANSATA NILE PEARL Ansata White Nile

Ansata Sudarra Prince Fa Moniet Ansata Nile Gift

www.straightegyptians.it TB NIZAR

Nabeel Al Khaled x TB Hejaziya

TB MALALA

Lay-out: Mario Brunetti

Nabeel Al Khaled x TB Muneera

TRE BALZANE 06044 Castel Ritaldi, Umbria - ITALY e-mail: savier@arabi-egiziani.it STUD Monika Savier: +39 335 5235135 Stud manager: Elisabeth Auer +39 346 9818427

Natural is the New beauty

NABEEL AL KHALED

(F SHAMAAL x ANSATA NILE PEARL)

Straight Egyptian Stallion *2010 KSA Dahman Shahwan Strain. CA/SCID clear

www.straightegyptians.it NABEEL GOES TO PRAGUE. take this outstanding stallion (straight egyptian, al Khamza, blue list, asil ...) into your consideration when planning for the 2024 breeding season. Nabeel al Khaled will be standing to mares at al Qurquf arabians in 2024. Fresh semen shipping in europe is available. Frozen semen by Nabeel can be ordered from tre balzane stud in italy.

PRAGUE

TRE BALZANE

MARINA NOVOTNA Mnisek pod Brdy 226, 25210 Czech Republic phone: +420603119968 email: marina.novotna@gmail.com

The STrAIghT egypTIAN MAreS of

La Diva StuD IN BeLgIuM. by

monika savier

Photo Glenn Jacobs

62 • Desert Heritage Magazine

“After all, breeding is also a bet on luck. That's what makes it so exciting” S. Lens

he pastures by the small lake in Halen in the Flemish part of Belgium held a surprise for me when I visited the stud farm for the first time. A herd of noble mares were showing off all their charisma in front of Paul Lamers and Sabine Lens, when they saw them arriving. CD Anasta (Safeen x Qubla) and a few of her excellent daughters briefly showed floating gaits before enjoying the carrots that Paul and Sabine had brought with them. The beautiful Johara Al Naif and Nardene Al Naif, both guests at La Diva Stud for several years, were part of the outstanding mares, I saw.

Desert Heritage Magazine • 63

paul Lamers can be described as Belgium's veteran of the Arabian scene. even as a young rider, he proved his empathy for horses. Together with his partner Sabine Lens, paul founded o.o.X Training Stables back in the 1990s. She mainly presented Straight egyptians, which in turn had a special type and finer conformation than the russian and polish Arabians that were relatively common in Holland and Belgium at the time. paul: "I love these fine elegant Arabian horses, they are more intelligent in training and if you treat them like a partner without pressure, they are loyal and co-operative." Their training centre was successful and Sabine and Paul left the world of amateurs to dedicate themselves fully to professional show training and presentation. Their love was unreservedly for the Straight egyptians. "We accompanied the horses everywhere to the shows. Back then we slept in the service boxes next to the horses, for us it was not an option to retire comfortably to a hotel in the evening. It had something of a modern nomadic feel to it. The stables were open

R. v. Lent

Paul lamers

sabine lens and Paul lamers with ibn barrada (Gad Allah x Barrada) and his owner bernard van de Putte in 1998. 64 • Desert Heritage Magazine

sabine lens with la diva noor

MoSa

La Diva NiLe-La Ansata Nile Echo x CD Anasta)

to everyone during the shows and visitors came to have a coffee with us and discuss the horses. We were a community and although there were also conflicts, we had something in common that created a strong cohesion, namely working with the horses, which we all enjoyed," says Sabine Lens about the 90s show scene. The situation has changed since the 2000s. The breeding show became a beauty contest, a catwalk for horses with panda-eyes and pearl halters. The participants increasingly came from the gulf region, which provided the show business with new money and the european Conference of Arab horse organizations (eCAho) adjusted the selection criteria accordingly. The breeders of Straight egyptians mostly did not want to jump on this bandwagon and parallel to the new show world, an attempt was made to organise events where only Straight egyptians could be shown and judged according to criteria that were not subject to the eCAho. The "egyptian event europe" took place for many years in Lanaken, a place in the neighbourhood of la Diva farm. This meant that the Straight egyptian show was particularly focused on the tri-country region of Belgium, Netherlands and germany. Ten years later, the egyptian event europe was also dominated by international super studs from the ruling families in the gulf. After 20 years, paul and Sabine were tired of the show circus and no longer wanted to show horses themselves. In the meantime, they had founded La Diva Stud at home with the kind support of their foundation mare CD Anasta. Qubla, the dam of CD Anasta, embodies the Who's Who of American Straight egyptians. She was imported to Texas in the 1960s by Douglas B Marshall (gleannloch farms) from the eAo, el Zahraa in Cairo. Qubla's sire Soufian, a Moniet el Nefous son, was also imported by Douglas B Marshall, as was the later world-famous stallion Morafic, whose son Ibn Morafic was the sire of Qubla. Anasta's dam line goes back to the influential Desert Heritage Magazine • 65

serene isis (Ibn Nejdy x Serene Carima by Salaa El Dine) 66 • Desert Heritage Magazine

mare rodania and therefore belongs to the Kuhaylah rudaniyah line. She was born in 1869 to the ruala Bedouins and was one of the root Mares of Lady Blunt's Sheykh obeyd Stud in Cairo. CD Anasta's sire, Safeen, was the stallion who won the most shows in the 90s and also presented himself as a top show producer through his offspring. his sire Ibn Safinaz, who was imported from Cairo to the uSA by the eAo in 1982, was also an extremely successful show champion in the uSA, paul and Sabine covered Anasta several times with the stallion Ansata Nile echo, as this combination had proved to be particularly successful. La Diva Noor and La Diva Nile-La were born from this breeding and remained at the stud as root mares. A few years later, the impressive mare pashmina (Salaa el Dine x A Little passion) came to the stud and produced the beautiful filly La Diva Naseema with Naseem Al rashediah and the colt La Diva Jawhar with ezz Al rashediah. unfortunately, pashmina died last year but glenn Jacobs left her beautiful daughter gJ Amira Deenaa (Naseem Al rashediah x pashmina) to

them. She belongs to the Dahman Shahwaniya strain and goes back via farida to the famous el Dahma by Abbas pasha. gr Amira Deenaa is in foal to Majd Al Qusar for 2024. Two years ago, paul and Sabine added the typey NK Nizam daughter Al Qusar Madiba out of Masara Al Qusar, bred by robert Schlereth, to their mare line. Another Dahmah Shawaniyah mare thus moved in with La Diva. Last year, the broodmare Serene Isis (Ibn Nejdy x Serene Carima by Salaa el Dine) came to the stud. her pedigree comes largely from Dr Nagel's Katharinenhof. She has a beautiful type and represents at La Diva the mare line Siglawiya Jedraniya Ibn Sudan via Moniet el Nefous from el Zahraa in Cairo. Serene Isis is in foal to Al ghazi Al rashediah for 2024. La Diva's offspring are now in Saudi Arabia, Israel, China, Albania, Italy, pakistan, the Netherlands and Belgium. however, Sabine and paul agree that the next fillies should remain at the stud to be integrated into the breeding programme of La Diva stud farm.

GJ amira deenaa (Naseem Al Rashediah x Pashmina) Desert Heritage Magazine • 67

"An Arabian stud is not a pony farm." interview with Sabine Lens and Paul Lamers by Monika Savier You both used to be show professionals, but you have turned your backs on that world. is beauty no longer so important or are you looking for other forms of beauty and togetherness with arabian horses? Paul: Beauty is certainly important, but functionality, a correct conformation with good proportions is also important to us. We have trained horses for many years and trained them for showing. Showing horses was our great passion and our love for Arabian horses meant that we travelled a lot. But today it is a hobby. Sabine: The professional beauty industry no longer does the horses justice. The selection criteria have standardised the Arabian horse too much. Most show horses look the same. regional differences have disappeared. Why do you breed Straight Eg yptians? that is rather rare in Belgium. Sabine: We decided for ourselves to focus on Straight egyptians. With them, nothing is predetermined according to eCAho show standards. As a result, individuality is still

possible in breeding. It is more important to create a typey overall picture than to breed only extreme heads with long necks. In addition, the loving and

al Qusar madiba (NK Nizam x Masara Al Qusar)

la diva kalil (Al Ghazi Al Rashediah x El La Diva Nile-la)

68 • Desert Heritage Magazine

GJ amira deenaa (Naseem Al Rashediah x Pashmina)

co-operative character of most Straight egyptians plays a major role, which we want to preserve. overall, our Arabians should be beautiful but have the character of a Bedouin Arabian that you could take into your tent during a sandstorm without panicking. We are also both interested in the pedigrees of the horses. They bear witness to the history of this breed, which came to europe from the orient. Some of the ones we have bred have returned to the orient. But it is with regret that we see today's mass production of show horses, which we would like to counter with the individual class of our small farm. What is different in the international breeding world today compared to 20 years ago? Sabine: The small farm in the countryside with a herd of mares and one or two of our own stallions, which we showed to interested mare owners after work, is history. Today we hardly meet any breeders because many traditional stud farms have closed down and the younger generation of horse lovers watch the horses or shows on live stream or youTube.

serene isis (Ibn Nejdy x Serene Carima by Salaa El Dine) Desert Heritage Magazine • 69

La Diva NiLe-La Ansata Nile Echo x CD Anasta)

Paul: The invention of frozen semen catapulted Arabian horse breeding into the middle of the globalised world. Stallions could be used from anywhere. There was hardly any experimentation with own horses, because the superiority of the global show champions was too great. In principle, the whole reproduction process has changed. This also includes embryo transfer and in-vitro reproduction. Today it seems as if nothing is impossible any more. There is a technical or hormonal solution for every problem with mares or stallions. This is very expensive today, because nature has been largely replaced by veterinary medicine in breeding over the last 20 years. You no longer have any breeding stallions yourselves, what criteria do you use to select the stallions for your mares? Paul: I take a very close look at the stallion, type 70 • Desert Heritage Magazine

and conformation must suit the mare and improve her in weaker areas if possible. But the stallion's family is also important to me, because it is said that 80-90% of the foal's phenotype comes from the parents and grandparents. In addition, we usually never have more than 8 mares. We prefer to select the most suitable stallion for each mare individually and customised, instead of covering all the mares with one stallion. In this way, we also minimize inbreeding in the 2nd and 3rd generation. This is important to me as a preventative measure to avoid genetic defects. Sabine: It is also exciting to look at the stallions at the stud farms in spring, to talk to other breeders and to make new decisions. A stallion must also express his Arabian type through good movements, he must have charisma and a friendly character and of course big

black eyes... but I know you can't have everything. We know our mares well and we know the characteristics they normally pass on. If the stallion has a few big points that he passes on to the foals, then we have achieved our goal. After all, breeding is also a bet on luck. That's what makes it so exciting. At the top of the wish list is of course a healthy, beautiful foal, preferably a filly. What about the colts? Paul: Nowadays, Arabian horse breeding is like nature: only the best stallions prevail over hundreds of competitors. The only difference is that evolution is based on the concept of: who wins can cover. This relates to health, strength and intelligence. In the Arabian show world, it is mainly about beauty. however, selection for beauty harbours many dangers. Nowadays, the selection of stallions takes place mainly and effectively at shows, there are no longer selective breeding shows. practically, this excludes many good stallions from the breeding market. After all, here in europe at most 10% of breeders take their horses to shows. Something must change if we want to preserve the diversity of the breed around the world. Should there be any reason for you to carry out an embryo transfer? Sabine: for us, there is no reason for an embryo transfer. Mass production is out of the question and when a mare is old or sick, she no longer needs to be covered. her daughters will have long since taken over the role of broodmares. That's the way it is in nature. I don't believe that it benefits the breed to reproduce in an expanded way through recipient mares. We let nature take its course, a horse is made to give birth to 1 foal a year, manipulating that doesn't benefit the horses or us, not even economically if you look at the overall costs. Paul: I wouldn't buy a B foal from an embryo transfer myself and fortunately that's how most breeders see it. Many small stud farms no longer see any chance of surviving financially with Arabian horse breeding. is that true? are the golden years over? is arabian horse breeding just an expensive hobby? What needs to change?

Sabine: I don't know if the golden years are over, the financial side hasn't affected us much so far. for us, Arabian horse breeding is a hobby and a passion. We are one of the stud farms that want to continue. We enjoy working with them every day and discovering new things. every horse has a different character, it’s interesting to watch the interaction between mares and foals and their herd behaviour in the pastures. I enjoy all of that. one problem I see is that it's difficult to find qualified staff. These days, there are hardly any people who want to work seven days a week, even if it's only for a few hours. Most of them also lack qualifications and experience. An Arabian stud is not a pony farm. you have to know the horses and their social behaviour iin order to know how to handle stallions and mares to avoid problems and injuries. Paul: The whole reproduction process is also becoming increasingly complicated, bureaucratic and expensive. A lot needs to change, especially with regard to the possibilities of small private stud farms in europe. We also need new real and not just virtual forms of show events. The egyptian event europe in Lanaken, for example, was always a great meeting of enthusiasts and breeders from many countries. There was discussion, an exchange of knowledge and experience and buying and selling. It was a social marketplace that had its sustainability. We have long been wondering where and how such activities can be organised again. perhaps the Arabian horse associations in europe should also become active. Many thanks for sharing with us your experience. Desert Heritage Magazine • 71

"natural is the new beauty"

TB HeLWa IBN EL NIL x TB HASNA

sulifah's Grandchildren the mares of the obeyan Family at tre balzane stud a success story with light and shade and an open end by

monika savier Buying and owning beautiful Arabian horses is easy in today's globalised markets. Successfully breeding horses, on the other hand, is a challenge with many risks and simply takes time. After all, it takes years to learn from your own right or wrong breeding decisions. Horse breeding works best in its natural environment in rural areas. Plenty of pasture is important for the horses, to promote their physical development and make social communication in herd life possible. Also important, is that not only should we be happy with our horses, but they should also feel comfortable when they (have to) live with us. Traditionally they would have experienced the vastness of nature, the steppes, and deserts where for centuries the Arabian horse developed into what we love and want to preserve.

TB HeBa NK SHARAF EL DINE x TB HASNA

Desert Heritage Magazine • 73

The TRe BALZANe STud FARm, umBRiA — ceNTRAL iTALy) — wAS eSTABLiShed iN The mid-1980S. At the end of the 1980s, many Russian and Polish Arabians were imported to Italy, and a handful of purebred Arabian mares also moved into the stables at Tre Balzane Stud. They were mainly ridden. It wasn't until the early 1990s that I saw the original imports Hanan (Alaa El Din x Mona), Mahiba (Alaa El Din x Mouna) and Lotfeia (Alaa El Din x Bint Kamla) by Dr Nagel from the Egyptian state stud El Zahraa and their offspring, such as the young Salaa El Dine. This was an impressive moment and the idea of continuing to breed straight Egyptian Arabian horses from the countries of origin, was born. The ARRiviNg oF The oBAyAN mARe SuLiFAh In 1996, the filly SULIFAH entered the stud. She was bred by Siegfried Manz, out of Dr Nagel's breeding lines. Her grand

74 • Desert Heritage Magazine

dam Marah was one of the four root mares imported to Katharinenhof Stud from El Zahraa/Egypt. Marah was bred out of the Anter daughter Maysa, her sire was the Nazeer son Galal, a typey chestnut stallion who also passed on the black colour gene. Her sister Magidaa also descended from Maysa. She founded her own dynasty in the USA, from which the three famous full brothers Alidaar, Ruminaja Bahjat and Ruminaja Ali were later bred. Sulifah's dam was Matala Bint Marah (Jamil x Marah), her sire was the bay Alaa Al Din (Salaa El Dine x Ashraff). Sulifah was special. In many respects, she resembled her male grandsire Salaa El Dine and her female grandsire, Jamil. With her class and her charisma, it was quickly apparent that she was destined to found a family line of her own in the stud. Her mother instinct and fertility were impressive, and this was something she passed on to all her daughters.

"A good stud farm is also

an economic model based on solidarity. Profits from breeding should be shared fairly with the horses and have a positive impact on their

suLifaH ALAA AL DIN x MATALA BINT MARAH By jAMIL

TB Yasir SALAA EL DINE x SuLIFAH

quality of life.

Her good offspring made Sulifah and Tre Balzane internationally known very quickly. Sadly, Sulifah died at stud in 2016. Sulifah's first daughter, the bay TB Hasna, remained at stud and later took her place as a foundation mare. Her sire was KEN Mahbub, son of the European Champion KEN Asam and bred by Sylvie and Wolfgang Eberhardt. His dam Bint Bint Mahiba came from the mating of Ansata Halim Shah and Kis Mahiba. KEN Mahbub was also an excellent riding horse with a great character. He later went to northern Italy for endurance sport.

Desert Heritage Magazine • 75

Sulifah did not remain the only foundation mare at the stud, over the years I also acquired good fillies from other straight Egyptian bloodlines, such as the Dahman Shahwans and the Saqlawi Jedranis. But the example of Sulifah illustrates that if you stay true to your breeding goal and have confidence in your mares, you are sure to produce quality foals. But you must also have the courage to use interesting stallions that are better than the mares, at least in terms of phenotype. I have never bred stark contrasts, the result is a big risk, but when I thought honestly about my mares, I thought of a few aspects that I wanted to improve. In Cairo I found a noble stallion with a fine type, good body, and a lot of charisma. Ibn El Nil RHM from Gizeh. His dam, Nile Allure by Ansata Halim Shah, had been send in foal to Montasir in utero from Ansata Stud to Kuwait. His granddam, Ansata Nile Magic, was in turn a daughter of Dr Nagel's Jamil, as was Sulifah. Ibn El Nil was very successful on the racetrack

iBn eL niL MONTASIR x NILE ALLuRE 76 • Desert Heritage Magazine

TB Hasna KEN MAHBuB x SuLIFAH

and has also become a winner at Arabian shows. I liked this combination of nobility and functionality. The vendor showed me some very nice foals by him. The stallion was very difficult in character and still expensive, but somehow, I managed to transport him to Italy. Later, during a visit to the El Zahraa State Stud in Cairo, I asked the studbook manager how many foals Ibn El Nil had? "None so far, he seems to be sterile," was the answer. When the stallion arrived, he looked puffy, almost waxy, he ate and ate but he was getting thinner and thinner. After three

TB HeBa NK SHARAF EL DINE x TB HASNA

months, he was a skeleton. The vets put this down to long-term doping with testosterone. Eventually he got his act together and slowly put on weight again. He was now able to go on the Phantom twice a week and was also ridden again. He taught us a lot about the infertility of Arabian stallions. The widespread inbreeding among Arabian horses can also lead to this as a genetic defect. His beautiful foals consoled us for the greatly reduced fertility. After one year, Sulifah was in foal to him. TB Sabah El Nil was born. She later made her career in Cairo.

TB HeLWa IBN EL NIL x TB HASNA

The ThRee gRANddAughTeRS oF SuLiFAh The following year, TB Hasna was pregnant by Ibn El Nil. TB Helwa was born. She is like her sire, a combination of fire and gentleness. And she passes this on to her foals. Three years later, Ibn El Nil was back as a stallion. Unfortunately, I succumbed to the temptation to lease him out to Cairo for another two years. After six weeks, the first mare there was in foal, but Ibn El Nil had to be put down, he had broken his hind leg in the paddock. His son TB Hafid El Nil, out of Sulifah, was later imported to Cairo to continue his sire's story. Desert Heritage Magazine • 77

TB HeBa NK SHARAF EL DINE x TB HASNA

In addition to TB Helwa, I have also kept TB Hejaziya and TB Heba from the bay TB Hasna. She completes my Obayan family's herd of mares. TB Hejaziya, a chestnut mare, is the daughter of Ramses (Adnan x Ansata Rebecca). He came from Katharinenhof and was a friendly stallion with good offspring that we enjoyed riding. He is also stabled in Cairo today. TB Hejaziya has produced several impressive foals, including the black stallion TB Haytham by NK Mudeer (NK Nadeer x Ansata KEN Rania). TB Heba translates as "the gift". I named her that because her mother TB Hasna gave birth to her by caesarean section. Thanks to the excellent work of the university clinic at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine 78 • Desert Heritage Magazine

TB HeLWa IBN EL NIL x TB HASNA

TB faYza jAMIL AL RAyyAN x TB HELwA

MoSa

TB Jaidaa jAMIL AL RAyyAN x TB HEBA Desert Heritage Magazine • 79

in Perugia, both mother and daughter survived, which is apparently very rare. I was told that the foal usually suffocates from the mother's anaesthetic. TB Heba is perhaps also my favourite mare for this reason. She repays me with extraordinarily beautiful foals and great gentleness. Her sire is NK Sharaf El Dine. He is one of the best sons of Salaa El Dine. The ThiRd geNeRATioN oF SuLiFAh The most famous daughter of TB Helwa was for a long time TB Faysa. Her sire was Jamil Al Rayyan (Ansata Hejazi x Dana Al Rayyan). This mating was great. Fayza had everything, charm, type, gaits, she danced inhand and she won shows. I sold her at the age of three to a member of the royal family

TB HeJaziYa RAMSES x TB HASNA

in Doha, Qatar. But she never arrived. She died halfway through the journey with the transporter. Two years later TB Haya was born, the full sister of TB Faysa. Again, the mating with Jamil Al Rayyan had worked perfectly. She was sold to the Al Thani royal family in Doha stud farm, where she is a successful show horse.

TB HaYTHam NK MuDEER x TB HEjAzIyA 80 • Desert Heritage Magazine

MoSa

I had bred several mares to Al Adeed Al Shaqab, TB Heba produced the best foal of this mating, the beautiful TB Alia. In 2022, TB Jaidaa was born, a quasi-full sister to TB Fayza and TB Haya and of the same quality. Her sire is also the outstanding sire Jamil Al Rayyan. Perhaps she will represent the next generation at Tre Balzane Stud.

TB aLia AL ADEED AL SHAQAB x TB HEBA

TB HaYa jAMIL AL RAyyAN x TB HELwA

Desert Heritage Magazine • 81 MoSa

TB farOuK jAMIL AL RAyyAN x TB HELwA

MoSa

naBeeL aL KHaLed F SHAMAAL x ANSATA NILE PEARL 82 • Desert Heritage Magazine

whAT wiLL hAppeN NexT? We already have the right stallion. Nabeel Al Khaled, Dahman Shahwan stallion who resembles Ibn El Nil in some respects. Their mothers are sisters. His dam Ansata Nile Pearl comes from the same dam line as Ibn El Nil's dam Nile Allure. He has type, charm, and nobility and, unlike Ibn El Nil, he is exceptionally fertile. But times are difficult for horse breeding. Shows have become useless as a criterion for quality and selection. Not only because show sponsors are allowed to participate with their horses without this being considered a conflict of interest. The show ring is also counterproductive in the form in which the horses are presented. A stand-up is basically a poor piece of pedagogy on the horse, yet in most cases it is forced on the young horses with medieval-style whippings. The natural trust in humans that the breeders have built up with the foals from birth, through empathy, horse-appropriate rearing and training is destroyed for a long time in that way. There are many alternative ideas, but in the end the horse business always dominates, from which the breeders benefit the least. Perhaps the national Arabian horse organisations should work on positive alternatives to selection through ECAHO shows. These organisations should steer with a positive outcome for all breeders instead of making themselves servants of the beauty shows. The Arabian horse breed has been undergoing modification for years, in parallel with the shifting values and attitudes of today's global society. Today, the Arabian

horse should be first of all beautiful and famous. This goal characterises the selection. The emphasis on outward appearance according to modern beauty criteria (of the head) is now decisive for breeding all over the world. At Tre Balzane Stud, we in addition pay attention to health, performance, and a trustworthy character. This flows into our breeding planning, regardless of the pedigree of our horses.

www.tre balzane.it

monika.savier Desert Heritage Magazine • 83

THE DESERT INSPIRED ART OF

EDWIN BOGUCKI Edwin Bogucki could easily be thought of as one of the last of the great Animaliers. His work has a classic style and technique, reminiscent of the old masters. However, Bogucki used an insightful and bold approach to his subjects previously unseen in the genre. Imagining himself as the subject, rather than a mere observer, gave him an unprecedented understanding of motion and expression. Every piece is a reflection of the unique spirit of the artist that fearlessly followed his creative instincts toward the sublime.

WAR HORSE, 1975, 19 H x 12 L x 12 W

Desert Heritage Magazine • 85

ABOVE: EGYPTIAN STALLION PERPETUAL TROPHY, 1983, 24 H x 22.5 L x 10 W RIGHT: EGYPTIAN STALLION SMALL TROPHY, 1983, 8 H x 7 L x 3 W

86 • Desert Heritage Magazine

At the age of two, Bogucki’s lifelong fascination with horses was sparked by a chance encounter with a group of escaped circus horses that stopped to graze on his family’s lawn. The thrill he experienced that day stayed with him throughout his life and he devoted himself to capturing that feeling of wonder in his work so that others could also experience and enjoy it. Horses would continue to influence Bogucki’s life in ways he never could have predicted, including the day he saw the young woman that would eventually become his wife riding her horse. Their loving partnership would last for more than 68 years. Bogucki saw his first Arabian horse in 1954 while he and his wife were living in Baltimore, Maryland. One day, they attended a horse show being held across the street from their home. Ed would later recall that afternoon with fondness, “The most beautiful horse I had ever seen was standing, tied to a tree, and I thought, that's a lot of horse there.” It turned out to be the influential Arabian stallion, Indraff, from Bazy Tankersley’s nearby Al-Marah Farm. Eager to learn more, the couple went to visit soon after. Surrounded by so many beautiful horses, Bogucki found himself completely mesmerized. He was surprised when the farm’s trainer handed him the lead rope for a stallion, “That horse literally led me back to the barn. The artist in me had taken over. I was staring at that deep, dark, eye and I darn near got myself killed when we reached the stall door and there wasn’t enough room for both of us to go through!” For Bogucki, it was an epiphany, "The impact this animal had on me, was one I'll never forget… Who wouldn’t be captivated by a horse that was bred by the Pharaohs and Solomon himself? You can't deny beauty. When you take a horse that was carefully bred for centuries and put it beside another breed that has existed for only 300 years, or less,

there is no comparison. . . The Arabian horse is beautiful from his skin on the outside to his very soul on the inside." When Bogucki returned to Wisconsin, he began making a name for himself as an equine portrait artist. He spent the next several years creating commissioned pastel and oil paintings of Saddlebreds and Thoroughbreds. While those breeds appealed to him in their own unique ways, he never forgot the spark he felt from those first encounters with Arabians. He decided to research and produce Arabian themed art to be exhibited and sold through galleries that carried his work. Arabian horse owners and admirers took notice and Ed Bogucki suddenly found his work in high demand with an entirely new group of collectors. While his paintings were very popular, he had finally found patrons that would give him the opportunity to stretch his wings as a sculptor, a discipline that he truly loved. Until that point, Bogucki had only produced 4 works in bronze. He quickly found his niche as one of the most versatile artists of the time. Bogucki traded one of his prized paintings for his first Arabian horse. To finally have a quality Arabian, steps from his studio door was a dream come true. Eventually, the artist acquired more Arabians, including an Egyptian-bred mare, Binis Tara, who produced an exquisite colt by El Mareekh, they named Cairo Mareekh. This intelligent, complex, and expressive stallion became the artist’s favorite muse. Cairo and Ed shared an unusually strong bond, that lasted for all 32 years of the stallion’s life. This growing connection with Egyptian Arabians led Bogucki to an obsession that would consume more than a year of his life and culminated with the creation of his greatest master piece, Tutankhamen: Pharoah of Egypt.

Desert Heritage Magazine • 87

Bogucki debuted his newly completed sculpture in 1980 at the U.S. National Arabian Horse Championships. Breathtaking in both size and detail, the sculpture, depicting the young king, lion hunting from a chariot, was an instant sensation. Accurate to the smallest details, the ¼ scale bronze includes precise replicas of items from Tutankhamen’s tomb, hand carved and sculpted by Bogucki after tireless research and the help of several expert Egyptologists and museums. One of the many groundbreaking aspects of the piece is how the artist reassembled these miniaturized versions of the many artifacts exhumed from the dripping piles of gelatinized leather that had once been actual harnesses used with

88 • Desert Heritage Magazine

TUTANKHAMEN, PHARAOH OF EGYPT, 1980, 31 H x 60 L x 32 W

the royal chariots. The pieces came together elegantly, a combination of cast and hand-wrought metal transformed into functional three-dimensional harnesses for the team of fiery bronze stallions. Beneath the trappings of these meticulous recreations, Bogucki’s lifelike figures appear particularly rampant and wild. In 1981, the Tutankhamen bronze was exhibited during the Pyramid Society’s second annual Egyptian Event show and the long and happy relationship between Edwin Bogucki and the

Pyramid Society began. In 1983, Bogucki was commissioned to sculpt the Pyramid Society Perpetual Trophy. Intended to portray the ideal Egyptian horse, the ¼ scale bronze took shape with the artist’s own stallion as the inspiration. A smaller, trophy version, was also made and awarded annually to the Egyptian Event futurity class winners. For many years, Bogucki donated his artwork for Pyramid Society fundraising auctions and provided highly sought after trophies.

Desert Heritage Magazine • 89

MORAFIC, 1984, 29 H x 32 L x 11.75 W Limited edition available.

90 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Arabian owners were drawn to Bogucki’s unmatched ability to portray the unique qualities of their horses and commissioned him to sculpt some of the most important stallions and mares of the breed including the legendary Egyptian stallion Morafic.

As with his masterpiece, Tutankhamen: Pharoah of Egypt, Bogucki continued to create sculptures inspired by his beloved muse, the Egyptian stallion, Cairo Mareekh. Among some of his most compelling Egyptian and desert-themed works are Bedouin, War Horse, Egyptian Filly, and the Egyptian stallion Rameses Fayek. Over the course of his more than 60-year professional career, Bogucki established himself as not only a superior artist, but also as an unassuming and quietly intriguing personality. During any public exhibition of his work, he could be found standing near one of his beloved works, a hand resting lightly against a bronze tail or leg, surrounded by a group of people, leaning in close to hear his soft voice, mesmerized as he spoke about art and life. Anyone who ever met Ed Bogucki would likely have as much to say about the kind of man he was as they would about the monumental talent he possessed as an artist In Bogucki’s later years, a trust was established to protect and preserve his artistic legacy. This includes the curation of the extensive collection of his art in the Bogucki estate, as well as the concerted effort of his daughters, Sheri and Kathi, to complete as many of his existing limited editions as possible while the molds are still viable. Although Edwin Bogucki passed away in 2021, Bogucki Studio remains an active atelier through the skilled hands of his daughters who were instructed in his precise process by the artist himself. By faithfully honoring their father’s tradition of mold making, wax working, grinding, and patination being done in-house, they will ensure that the remaining body of work is produced to the same high standards Edwin Bogucki always demanded of himself.

EGYPTIAN FILLY, 1978, 5.75 H x 8.5 L x 9 W

92 • Desert Heritage Magazine

RAMSES FAYEK, 1980, 20 H x 27 L x 7.5 W

BEDOUIN, 1981, 31 H x 29.5. L x 16.5 W

Desert Heritage Magazine • 93

“Each piece of my work is a part of me. I am making a record of my life. These are the only things of me that I can leave behind . . . They will speak for me.” --- Edwin Bogucki

COMING SOON... A limited edition book depicting the life and work of Edwin A. Bogucki. Over 400 full-color pages filled with magnificent art and the incredible story of the man who created it. The launch date will be announced in 2024. For updates, follow us on Facebook: Bogucki Studios

PENINSULAHORSES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL 2023 MANIFA SAUDI ORIGIN CHAMPIONSHIP RIYADH - SAUDI ARABIA OCT 12 - 14, 2023

96 • Desert Heritage Magazine

text by Fabio Brianzoni pictures by Giulia Bontempi, Ali Almomin

Desert Heritage Magazine • 97

PENINSULAHORSES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL

98 • Desert Heritage Magazine

98 | TUTTO ARABI - www.tuttoarabi.com

PENINSULAHORSES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL

Desert Heritage Magazine • 99

GOLD

PENINSULAHORSES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL YEARLING FILLIES CHAMPIONSHIP

DIANA AL WADI NASEEM AL RASHEDIAH X DANAAL WADI BREEDER: HAMAD BIN AWAD BIN QURAYA/ALWADI STUD OWNER: HAMAD BIN AWAD BIN QURAYA/ALWADI STUD

SILVER

BRONZE

SALWA AL WADI NASEEM AL RASHEDIAH X SALMA AL WADI BREEDER: HAMAD BIN AWAD BIN QURAYA/ALWADI STUD OWNER: HAMAD BIN AWAD BIN QURAYA/ALWADI STUD 100 • Desert Heritage Magazine

SHAREEFA AL ZOBAIR KAYS AL BAIDAA X SHOBRA AL ZOBAIR BREEDER: SHEIKH ABDULLA BIN MOHAMMED ALI AL THANI OWNER: SHAHEEN ALI MAKKI ALMADEED/ALSHYAHEEN STUD

GOLD

PENINSULAHORSES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL YEARLING COLTS CHAMPIONSHIP

MEJRIN AL SALAM MOTAIR AL BAIDAAX LAYAN AL SALAM BREEDER: MOHAMMED HAMAD ALRKHAYES OWNER: MOHAMMED HAMAD ALRKHAYES/ALSLAM STUD

SILVER

BRONZE

AL HASSAN AL NAIF EBTIYAJ AL NAIF X ZYAAN AL NAIF\ BREEDER: AL NAIF STUD OWNER: SHEIKH NASSER ABDULLAH AL THANI/AL NAIF STUD

JAMIL AL AOURAN JAMIL AL RASHEDIA X LAILA AL AOURAN BREEDER: HUSSAIN ABDULRAHMAN ALQAHTANI/AL AOWRAN STUD OWNER: ABBAS ALI HUSSAIN AL-RAMADAN/AL-RAWAN STUD Desert Heritage Magazine • 101

GOLD

PENINSULAHORSES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL JUNIOR FILLIES CHAMPIONSHIP

ZENOBIA AL WAAB NASSER AL RAYYAN X ALFABIALNJ BREEDER: SHIEKH ABDULLAH KHALID H AAL THANI OWNER: SHIEKH ABDLAZIZ SAOUD AJ ALTHANI/ALHAMAMASTUD

SILVER

BRONZE

ORA NASAMAT NASEEM AL RASHEDIAH X BINT SADAF EL ASIL BREEDER: AL ORASIA STUD OWNER: AL ORASIA STUD - KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN 102 • Desert Heritage Magazine

JOURY AL-ZAIN NASEEM ALRASHEDIAH X ALANOOD AL-ZAIN BREEDER: DR BASHAR ALSAYED / AL ZAIN STUD OWNER: DR BASHAR ALSAYED / AL ZAIN STUD

GOLD

PENINSULAHORSES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL JUNIOR COLTS CHAMPIONSHIP

HATIM AL WAAB BARRAQ EL ALIYAX SHALFAAL RAYYAN BREEDER: SHIEKH ABDULLAH KHALID H AAL THANI OWNER: SHIEKH ABDLAZIZ SAOUD AJ ALTHANI/ALHAMAMASTUD

SILVER

BRONZE

SHEHAB AL FARRES NASEEM AL RASHEDIAH X DANA AL FARRES BREEDER: MANSOOR MASOUD MOHAMMED AL MARRI/AL FARRES STUD OWNER: MANSOOR MASOUD MOHAMMED AL MARRI/AL FARRES STUD

JARAH AL HILALIYA ASFOOR AL WAAB X M. JALILA BREEDER: BARRAK YAQOUB IBRAHIM ALHAJRI OWNER: FAWAZ FAIZ ZAYED AL MOTAIRI/ALATEEM STUD Desert Heritage Magazine • 103

PENINSULAHORSES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL SENIOR MARES CHAMPIONSHIP

ZAWAHER FILA MURTAJAB AL NAKEEB X ZAHRANA BREEDER: FILASTUD OWNER: H.E. SHEIK THANI BIN HAMMAD AL THANI/DOHASTUD

GOLD

104 • Desert Heritage Magazine

SILVER

PENINSULAHORSES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL SENIOR MARES CHAMPIONSHIP

SHEIKA AL FALA JAMIL AL RAYYAN X MAYSUNAGUASIMO BREEDER: AL FALASTUD SONS MOHAMMED BIN ABDUL RAHMAN AL TOBAISHI OWNER: AL FALASTUD SONS MOHAMMED BIN ABDUL RAHMAN AL TOBAISHI

BRONZE

SILVER

SAEDHA AL KHALED TALLAHSMAN X SADAH MADHEEN BREEDER: KHALID AHMED BAGEDO/ALKHALED FARM OWNER: KHALID AHMED BAGEDO/ALKHALED FARM Desert Heritage Magazine • 105

PENINSULAHORSES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL SENIOR STALLIONS CHAMPIONSHIP

HILAL AL FALA ANSATANILE ECHO X LF ALIAH BINT ADEED BREEDER: ALFALASTUD

GOLD

106 • Desert Heritage Magazine

SILVER

PENINSULAHORSES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL SENIOR STALLIONS CHAMPIONSHIP

YAZEED AL RAYYAN FARHOUD AL SHAQAB X MURJANAH ELALYA BREEDER: AL RAYYAN FARM OWNER: AL SRAIYASTUD

BRONZE

SILVER

GJ FAHEEM NASEEM AL RASHEDIAH X HADIYA AL SHAHANIA BREEDER: PUR-SANG ARABE ARABISCH VOLBLOED OWNER: GLENN JACOBS Desert Heritage Magazine • 107

GOLD

MANIFASAUDI ORIGIN CHAMPIONSHIP KSADESERT BRED – YEARLING FILLIES CHAMPIONSHIP

ZEENAH ATHBAH KHALEEL DIRAB X JOHARAH ATHBAH BREEDER: ATHBAH STUD OWNER: HRHP AHMAD BIN ABDULAZIZ BIN ABDURAHMAN AL SAUD

SILVER

BRONZE

EALYH ALBADR JAMEEL VI X ALEYA AL THANIYAH BREEDER / OWNER: PRINCE BADR BIN MOHAMMED BIN SAUD AL-KABEER/AL BADER STUD 108 • Desert Heritage Magazine

EABIAT ALBADR WAKRI X OBIA AL SENGER BREEDER / OWNER: PRINCE BADR BIN MOHAMMED BIN SAUD AL-KABEER/AL BADER STUD

GOLD

MANIFASAUDI ORIGIN CHAMPIONSHIP KSADESERT BRED – YEARLING COLTS CHAMPIONSHIP

ABAN ATHBAH KHALEEL DIRAB X MANAYER BREEDER: ATHBAH STUD OWNER: HRHP AHMAD BIN ABDULAZIZ BIN ABDURAHMAN AL SAUD

SILVER

BRONZE

MUTRAK ALMAZMUM FAHD AL ARIDH X AWTAS BREEDER: FAHAD NASEER A ALMENIA/AL-MAZMUM STUD OWNER: NASSER KHALED NASSER ALUDAIL/U.D STUD

SHAGMOM ALARED EZZ AL AARIDH X SHALFAH BREEDER / OWNER: MAJID BIN HASSAN BIN NASSER AL GHASHYAN/AL AREEDH STUD Desert Heritage Magazine • 109

GOLD

MANIFASAUDI ORIGIN CHAMPIONSHIP KSADESERT BRED – JUNIOR FILLIES CHAMPIONSHIP

ANOOD AL FALL BREEDER: HAMAD AHMED ABDULAZIZ ALNASSER/ALFAL STUD OWNER: PRINCE BADR BIN MOHAMMED BIN SAUD AL-KABEER/AL BADER STUD

SILVER

BRONZE

HASNA ALFAL FANAR AL JANADRIAH X SHAIKHAT AL FAL BREEDER: HAMAD AHMED ABDULAZIZ ALNASSER/AL FAL STUD OWNER: HAMAD AHMED ABDULAZIZ ALNASSER/AL FAL STUD 110 • Desert Heritage Magazine

MASHA SHAKEEB AL THANI X SABHAH BREEDER: PRINCE TURKI BIN FAHAD BIN MUHAMMED - NEJD STUD OWNER: ABDULAZIZ MOHAMMAD HASSAN ALZEER/ALRBBAEYAH STUD

GOLD

MANIFASAUDI ORIGIN CHAMPIONSHIP KSADESERT BRED – JUNIOR COLTS CHAMPIONSHIP

MUHAJER ATHBAH KHERAISAN ATHBAH X AFEESAH BREEDER: ATHBAH STUD OWNER: HRHP ABDULAZIZ BIN AHMAD BIN ABDULAZIZ AL SAUD/ATHBAH STUD

SILVER

BRONZE

FAKHR ALMAZMUM NAF MEQDAM X GHALA DIRAB BREEDER: FAHAD NASEER A ALMENIA/AL-MAZMUM STUD OWNER: FAHAD NASEER A ALMENIA/AL-MAZMUM STUD

DAMER ATHBAH NAMAR X SHAHRA ATHBAH BREEDER: ATHBAH STUD OWNER: EABDALLAH NASIR DAYF ALLAH ALBARQAWI/AL BURUQ STUD Desert Heritage Magazine • 111

MANIFASAUDI ORIGIN CHAMPIONSHIP KSADESERT BRED – SENIOR MARES CHAMPIONSHIP

MANARAH ATHBAH KHERAISAN ATHBAH X MANAYER BREEDER: ATHBAH STUD OWNER: HRHP AHMAD BIN ABDULAZIZ BIN ABDURAHMAN AL SAUD

GOLD

112 • Desert Heritage Magazine

SILVER

MANIFASAUDI ORIGIN CHAMPIONSHIP KSADESERT BRED – SENIOR MARES CHAMPIONSHIP

DOHAIMAH ATHBAH DREAII X ZAHRAT KHADEEJAH BREEDER: ATHBAH STUD OWNER: MOHAMED ZAID MOHAMED ALTAMIMI/AYAH STUD

BRONZE

SILVER

SARIAH AN KHALEEL DIRAB X SATIEAH BREEDER: MOHAMED ZAID MOHAMED ALTAMIMI/AYAH STUD OWNER: MOHAMED ZAID MOHAMED ALTAMIMI/AYAH STUD Desert Heritage Magazine • 113

MANIFASAUDI ORIGIN CHAMPIONSHIP KSADESERT BRED – SENIOR STALLIONS CHAMPIONSHIP

KHERAISAN ATHBAH DREAII X MANDOUBA BREEDER: ATHBAH STUD OWNER: HRHP AHMAD BIN ABDULAZIZ BIN ABDURAHMAN AL SAUD

GOLD

114 • Desert Heritage Magazine

SILVER

MANIFASAUDI ORIGIN CHAMPIONSHIP KSADESERT BRED – SENIOR STALLIONS CHAMPIONSHIP

KAREMAS AL SHARIEA MUNJIZ EL SHARIEAX AL YATEEMAH BREEDER: PRINCE SAUD BIN MUHAMMAD BIN SAUD AL KABEER/ALSHREASTUD OWNER: PRINCE SAUD BIN MUHAMMAD BIN SAUD AL KABEER/ALSHREASTUD

BRONZE KATTIB AL JANADRIYAH KHALEEL DIRAB X FALHAA II BREEDER: CUSTODIAN OF TWO HOLY MOSQUES KING ABDULLA BIN ABDUL AZIZ AL SAUD-JANADRIYA FARM OWNER: NAWAF TURKI MOHAMMAD AL SADYRI/ALMASSARA STUD Desert Heritage Magazine • 115

MANIFASAUDI ORIGIN CHAMPIONSHIP PEOPLE & ATMOSPHERE

116 • Desert Heritage Magazine

MANIFASAUDI ORIGIN CHAMPIONSHIP PEOPLE & ATMOSPHERE

Desert Heritage Magazine • 117

MANIFASAUDI ORIGIN CHAMPIONSHIP PEOPLE & ATMOSPHERE

118 • Desert Heritage Magazine

PENINSULAHORSES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL ARAB KNIGHT

Desert Heritage Magazine • 119

PENINSULAHORSES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL PEOPLE & ATMOSPHERE

120 • Desert Heritage Magazine

PENINSULAHORSES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL PEOPLE & ATMOSPHERE

Desert Heritage Magazine • 121

Bahgoury

www.desertheritagemagazine.com

George

A Giant of Egyptian Modern Art and Admirer of the Arabian Horse

n by Judith Wenning

Arabian horses fascinate one of the leading contemporary artists in Egypt. George Abdel Masih Al Bahgoury – or George Bahgoury – is called “the grandfather of caricature” or “the Egyptian Picasso” and his works are considered national treasures. Bahgoury was born in 1932 into a Coptic Christian family in Bahgora, a small village in Upper Egypt. This is also where his name “Bahgoury” meaning “coming from Bahgoura” derived from. George Bahgoury started drawing from a young age. His childhood was marked by tragedy. His mother passed away when he was just three years old. His father was an English teacher at private schools and a very quiet, introverted man. George Bahgoury found comfort and support by an aunt, a kind woman who cared for him, and took him out to visit people and places. These experiences later found their way into his artworks when he painted as an adult, living abroad. 122 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Horses in Luxor

Desert Heritage Magazine • 123

Dancing Horses

In the year 1953 he began his career as a political cartoonist

of Egypt&#39;s most prominent artists of the 20th century.

and was featured in the important weekly newspapers

A few years afterwards, in 1975 Bahgoury decided to stop

“Sabah Al Khair” and “Rose El Youssef ” from 1953 until

publishing as a cartoonist, despite of his established career in

1975. Focussing on political satire, George Bahgoury’s work

this field.

was stamped by a humorous spirit. This showed up also much later in his paintings. In 1955, he graduated at the

A far-reaching decision for George Bahgoury was to leave

Faculty of Fine Arts in Zamalek, Cairo where the very

his home country for Paris enrolling in the Ecole Nationale

influential Hussein Bikar had guided him. Bikar was one

Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. He says of himself that he was

124 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Dances with Horses

born twice - 1932 in Egypt and 1970 in Paris, France.

Arabian horses “, Bahgoury states with a smile. “I saw them

Living for the following three decades in Paris indeed

in Egypt, Morocco and all other Arab countries I have visited.

influenced Bahgoury’s art on a large scale. The time in Paris

They are one of the few animals I like to paint. I always

definitely refined his talent in drawing, engraving,

wished to ride a horse – like a bold knight. Unfortunately I

painting, sculpture, marionette art, writing novels, cinema

never had the chance.”

and criticism. George Bahgoury is unquestionably a very versatile person. When talking to him, he impresses with

George Bahgoury remarks that in his opinion nobody can be

his kind heart and charming charisma. “I always admired

a good artist without master drawing the horse. He admires

Desert Heritage Magazine • 125

Aseela Horse

The Horse, lithograph

these beautiful creatures, especially their appealing face and the fact that they are smart, very strong, fast, and learn quickly. Moreover, they can be hard workers and have dignity. This reminds the artist to humans. Bahgoury remembers that he used to love drawing Arabian horses in their stables and at races. Furthermore, he enjoys the dancing horses of Egypt. RegardingArabian horses, George Bahgoury is especially fascinated by the expression on their faces and in action. Bahgoury points out that in chess the horse is the strongest and most powerful of all and has the upper hand on the games as shown in his painting named “El Hossan Sayed el Leaaba”.

Feast Morning. People celebrating by Riding Horses Desert Heritage Magazine • 127

Beautiful Horse, lithograph

George Bahgoury has published six books so far; three of them

England and France.

were dedicated to art. He received numerous prestigious awards, and has been widely displayed in galleries and

He staged a multitude of exhibitions in Egypt and abroad and

museums as for example the Louvre Museum in Paris, the

had so far around one hundred exhibitions internationally.

Museum of Modern Art in Amman, Jordan, the Museum

His style can be described as expressionist and cubist, often

of Modern Art in Cairo etc. Besides of a number of art

featuring strong, bright colours. George Bahgoury’s works

works owned by state collections, his paintings grace many

are full of vibrancy and energy. His later works tend from

private collections as for example the Egyptian embassies in

cubism to a more expressionist style with bold lines and

128 • Desert Heritage Magazine

The Young Knight

strong, dynamic colours. He was certainly influenced by the

sense of nostalgia, with his painting he recalls an Egypt

French Pablo Picasso and the German Paul Klee as well as

he doesn’t want to disappear. Upon a special invitation

the Egyptian pioneer painters Youssef Kamel and Hussein

from the Society of Art Lovers in Paris, his artwork was

Bikar. George Bahgoury paints old-fashioned folklore

selected to represent the Egyptian Pavilion at the Louvre

and modern habits. His body of works depicts people and

Museum in 1999. Here his painting “A Face from Egypt”

street life and ranges from Islamic subjects, politicians,

was awarded a Silver Medal. q

motherhood, and musicians to many other motifs. The Arabian horse is a recurring theme. His paintings evoke a

Desert Heritage Magazine • 129

Le Soleil Arabians A Dream Come True...

Home Of Finest Arabian Horses

Le Soleil Arabians LE SOLEIL ARABIANS s.s.a. di Elvis Giughera Cascina Casotto 1 - 10060 Virle Piemonte (TO) ITALY 0039.339.36.80.656 - info@le-soleil.org

tolab Al Shaqab b

ph. Renato Sorvilo

FARHOUD AL SHAQAB | FAI AL SHAQAB

FAZENDA FLORESTA BRASIL | LUFASANO.COM