Desert Heritage n.67 by Alim editrice

DESERT HERITAGEMagazine

(Al Ayal AA x Bahiya AA) AA

Bby

photos

Bar Hajaj

(Kenz Al Baydaa x Balqis AA/Laheeb)

2020 Straight Egyptian, Saqlawi Jidran Mare AA

ahiya

Hadir

Breeder: Tre Balzane Stud

Owner: Dr. Jith Usama - Al Ghait Stud - Italy For breeding information: ph.: +39 3245377741 - algaith888@gmail.com

Standing at Costa Arabians Training Center Davide Costa: ph.: + 39 3807754102 costaarabians@gmail.com

(Naseem Al Rashediah x TB Helwa) by Ibn El Nil

Hilal Al Waab was born in 2015 at the legendary Al Waab Stud in Qatar. He is one of the stunning stars from the collection of straight Egyptian horses bred there by Sheikh Abdulla Bin Khalid Al Thani.

His career as a show stallion has been equally successful. Two World Champion titles, several Gold Champion titles in Europe and the Middle East and he is also the sire of Gold Champion foals.

This has resulted in Hilal Al Waab entering the Hall of Fame of Straight Egyptians as a top sire. His outstanding pedigree is a testament to his success.

Thanks to his owner, Mr Abed S Burqan, we are pleased to announce that Hilal Al Waab is also in 2025 available to breeders in Europe with fresh and frozen quality semen.

photos by Jennifer Ogden

CA, SCID, LFS clear

Hilal AL WAAB

PRINCE FA MONIET

ANSATA NEFARA

SAFIR

ANSATA SHARIFA

MAYDAN-MADHEEN

SHAHNEEKHA

MAYSOUN

MESOUDAH M

ANAZA BAY SHAHH

ANAZA DINEEKHA

HILAL AL WAAB

SINAN AL RAYYAN

SHARUBY HP

ANSATA SINAN

AL WAJBA AL RAYYAN

AYAL EL ASILL | BAYDAH

Khaleesi

GOLD MEDAL SENIOR MARES

Straight Egyptian Royal World Cup 2024

photo by Simone Bergamaschi

Khaleesi congratulates her daughter

KHARAFI AL DANAT | KHALEESI

GOLD MEDAL FUTURITY

Italian National Championship 2024

Straight Egyptian Royal World Cup 2024

photo by Simone Bergamaschi

Desert Heritage Magazine n.67

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Urszula Łęczycka

Giorgia Mauri Monika Savier

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Pag. 24 A Great Weekend in the North of Germany Dedicated to Egyptian Arabian Horse Breeding

Pag. 48 40th All Nations Cup Straight Egyptian Event

Pag. 60 50th Anniversary of the Asil Club

Pag. 83 Egyptian Event Europe

Pag. 95 Rothenberg Stud

Pag. 114 Atelier - Fine Arts & Antiques

Pag. 124 Straight Egyptian Royal World Cup Arabian Horse Show

HASHEEKA

Naseem Al Rashediah x Rhahila

MIAD AL SHAQAB | DF MAHA

photo by Joanna Jonientz

photo

Jennifer Ogden

A Gre At Weekend in the n d edicAted to eG ypti A n Ar

By Monika Savier

Photos: Joanna Jonientz, Monika Savier

Grossenkneten

NK Nazli

n orth of Germ A ny

Ar A bi A n h orse b reedin G .

KATHARINENHof STUD

AL QUSAR ARABIAN STUD

EL THAYEBA ARABIAN STUD

oPEN HoUSE 2024 IN GRoSSENKNETEN, GERmANY

This August, the three stud farms of straight Egyptian Arabians, once again invited guests to their open house in Grossenkneten, a small but important village for Arabian horse lovers in the north of Germany. Cornelia Tauschke and Klaus Beste made the start at well-known El Thay Stud. The next day, the caravan of visitors from many countries arrived at Al Qusar stud founded and belonging to Robert Schlereth and Volker Wettengl. The last stud farm reached by the visitors was the famous Katharinenhof of Dr Hans Nagel, his wife Nawal and his family. Dr Nagel has been a worldwide influencer for more than 50 years and his horses have left their

hoofprints in many stud farms around the world. El Thayeba is another stud with an impressive history. They are internationally known for their Arabian horse breeding. Al Qusar Stud, on the other hand, was originally a successful training stable for Arabian horses. Today they have dedicated themselves exclusively to horse breeding, with big success. Despite the proximity in the same village, visitors could see that the studs presented very different horses. Each stud had its own group of selected foundation mares that have been bred for generations. Only the influence of some famous stallions from Katharinenhof runs as a

common thread through the three studs. The overall appearance of the young horses on the farms was of impressive quality, but differed in the variety of types, gaits and size of the horses.

This makes it all the more beautiful, and one could say unusual, that these three stud farms are still connected today through horse breeding and beyond, also in a neighbourly and friendly way.

The tradition of visiting the studs and the exchange about the common breeding, gives much information and is also identity-forming for the participants. Visitors will be able to find a common answer to the risks which Arabian horse

breeding is exposed today. An individual will not be able to influence it. Stud presentations are also popular because the spectators are not separated by expensive VIP areas. At an open house event, everyone can communicate with everyone and everywhere, and be inspired to continue their breeding dreams and to improve their own concept.

In this respect, the show world has worked for the good, it has produced a creative parallel culture through its deterrent reality, or at least promoted it.

This makes it possible for breeding and horse watching to be fun again.

EL THAYEBA ARABIAN STUD

Klaus Beste

El Thay Komeira Al Sabah

El Thay Kais Al Sabah and Robert Schlereth

Cornelia Tauschke with her mare

El Thay Konouz

El Thay Kholoud Al Sabah

EL THAYEBA ARABIAN STUD

El Thay Manaya

Mares of El Thayeba with their foals by NK Laziz

El Thay Kateefa Al Sabah

Desert Heritage M

AL QUSAR ARABIAN STUD

Majd Al Qusar

Badr Al Rayyan and Majd Al Qusar

Majd Al Qusar and Robert Schlereth

Badr Al Rayyan with Volker Wettengl

Maha Al Qusar and Munisah Al Qusar with Robert Schlereth

Nadira Al Qusar

AL QUSAR ARABIAN STUD

Muneera Al Qusar and Robert Schlereth

Badr Al Rayyan

Munisah Al Qusar

• Desert Heritage

Muneera Al Qusar

Murjanah Al Qusar

Volker Wetteng

oPEN HoUSE AT KATHARINENHof WITH DR HANS NAGEL, HIS WIfE NAWAL, HIS fAmILY AND HIS 40 STRAIGHT EGYPTIAN ARABIAN HoRSES.

By Monika Savier

“Every stallion I use needs to have outstanding potential for improving my breeding. You can't always know that, sometimes you just have to give it a try.”

With this quote from the now 94-year-old Dr Nagel, which dates from 2003, he could have opened his open house this August. once again, it is his stallions with which he successfully experiments. Some of which have become

I have the intention and the belief that every generation should be better than the previous one, so, it is not needed to keep frozen semen from the past.

Dr Hans nagel

world renowned in the pedigrees of many famous horses. His address to the audience this time began: “I welcome all dear friends from the Middle East who have a long journey behind them. The Middle East has a very

strong influence on Egyptian breeding nowadays and most of the activities of Egyptian breeding happens in this area. I hope that these nice people will handle their heritage in a proper way so that the

NK Nazl

horses will be available for a long time for all of us.

I am also pleased that there are still many enthusiastic supporters of these horses here in our latitudes, but I miss the fact that young people in particular are not actively involved in breeding today. So, it remains in the hands of us older breeders, despite and all the same, to bravely continue.”

After a short introduction, in German and English, Dr Nagel explains to the guests the breeding programme he has been practising at Katharinenhof, for more than 50 years. He imported his three foundation mares from Egypt. on the basis of these mares, he built up his successful breeding programme. After fifteen years of breeding with these mares and using various stallions, he decided to use the three dam lines from his foundation mares as the cornerstone of a closed breeding programme. from that day on, he never

again integrated an outside horse into the breeding programme.

Katharinenhof currently keeps three stallions and a group of over 20 mares and their foals.

The bay stallion NK Nabhan by NK Nerham came into the ring first. He is currently the chief Sire, following in the footsteps of his sire NK Nadeer in this role. His type and charisma are outstanding. Nagel describes his favourite stallion:

“What I particularly like about him is his beautiful, curved neck and good shoulder. This is not so common in Egyptian breeding, especially not in combination with a very typey face”.

He is co-owned by mr. mahmoud Al Zubaid from Kuwait, so consequently he breeds alternately one year in Kuwait and one year in Germany. NK Nabhan demonstrably passes on his big points and again this year has very beautiful offspring, especially in Kuwait and Germany.

KATHARINENHof STUD

His half-brother, NK Nizam, of the same age, out of NK Nadirah, was dark brown, strong, athletic, agile and showed enormous joy of moving in his free running in the arena of Katharinenhof. His sire is none other than NK Hafid Jamil. Accordingly, his hereditary potential is also interesting and recognised. The third stallion presented was his four-year-old son, NK Amal El Dine, out of NK Abla. He has very dark pigment but will be a fleabitten grey like his grandfather, NK Hafid Jamil. He has a lot of type and beautiful gaits. Nagel commented: “I accept all colours but I think the grey horse and the chestnut show the beauty of the Arabian best.”

“It’s interesting to see how many traits from the past come to light that you must work with as a breeder.”

foundation mare Hanan, with the dark colour gene that became more and more dominate after four or five generations. Even in the past, grey horses with pigment loss were never seen at Katharinenhof, which unfortunately often happens with dominant grey horses. Nagel's horses are all single-coloured dominant, mostly grey or bay and some chestnuts. And they all have the beautiful big black eyes.

Nagel defined his clear breeding goal already many years ago:

During the 50-year history of Katharinenhof, there were always brown and black offspring, thanks to the

"To breed an original Arabian type, as a light, fine, noble horse, fully pigmented, and with specific features, being a slightly concave broad head with small, well-shaped ears, wide open flexible nostrils, a fine, small muzzle, impressive dark round eyes, high tail

KATHARINENHof STUD

NK Nabhan

NK Nizam

carriage, a good, happy temperament and a reliable disposition. In all, an appealing and exotic animal which might be formed by a harsh environmental influence, and which would again fit into the Arabian culture and environment. In addition, to improve its conformation to correspond with a correct, healthy horse, and to increase the homozygosity of all these traits. Therefore, the typical look of each of the four female families on which this programme is based, will be respected, and, a healthy variety will remain." Dr Nagel loves his mares, they are unsaleable pillars of his strategic long-term experiment, the ‘closed studbook’ at Katharinenhof, from which foals are sold but into which no foreign horses have been accepted for over 35 years. “Some people might get the idea that the breeding here is now a little too narrow,” says Dr Nagel, and continues: “The term inbreeding is used too quickly and generally. But the definition of inbreeding is parent-child or sibling mating. That has

never happened here, and I wouldn't let it. The second thing is, are there inbreeding defects? Of course there are, but whether such inbreeding defects were already present in the parents is the big question. I spent three years observing the parents of my foundation mares in Egypt to rule out hereditary damage as far as possible. If you don't take this precaution at the start of breeding, you are taking a big risk."

This relatively close breeding makes it possible to consolidate the horses' big points, with the risk of also consolidating negative aspects. However, the 2024 foal crop was absolutely convincing, even if it is not so easy to judge a straight Egyptian foal early on. Dr Nagel explains: "Most Egyptian families produce foals that mature very late. Maturity refers to both external characteristics and fertility. In my experience, they need at least three to four years to be at a stage of life where you definitely know what they will look like later.

NK Amal El Dine

KATHARINENHof STUD

NK Naba

NK Lateefa

NK Nawaal

NK Lamya

NK Bint Nazli

NK Houda

NK Lamya

The older they get, the more beautiful they tend to be”. After the presentation of the first four foals by NK Amal El Dine, the handlers show us six beautiful NK Nabhan fillies. Dr Nagel’s daughters and grandchildren, indeed his whole family is there today to help in the ring. They all love the horses, know every single one, no matter what age they are. They know how to handle the horses. It's easy to see that the horses also have complete confidence in the handlers, some of whom are very young. Breeders from the neighbourhood also show horses or help in other ways. Again and again, the animals are presented in groups to make it easier for the guests to judge the breeding results of the individual families. Nagel's mares from the Siglawy family are the first to enter the arena. They trace to the foundation mare of EAo mahiba (Alaa El Din x mouna out of moniet El Nefous). NK Lateefa, NK Layla, NK Lamya and NK Layal float past in front of the spectators.

“All of my mares are easy to handle. They open up to people, not just the people they know.

This natural trust is something that is inherent to the Arabian horse and I want to preserve it and I also select for it.”

mare family, the dams not only have to be fertile, but you also have to be lucky enough to have lots of fillies. In my Obayan family, I recently had a wave of colts, so the group is currently quite small. But I hope that after this year's fillies it will be over now”. Then come the mares of the Hadban Enzahi family. They are divided into 2 groups. All the mares are tracing to the EAo foundation mare Lutfia (Alaa El Din x Bint Kamla). In the first group, the offspring refer to NK Nadirah. They are the mares

Dr Nagel says: “my Siglawy family, which opens at Moniet El Nefous, is the healthiest of my three mare families. Over the years, I can say that where other horses have had coughs or other problems, the Siglawy family has remained unaffected and has presented itself as the healthiest and toughest group.”

Next up are the three obayan mares NK Ninnifee, NK Amsha and NK Allisya. They go back to the EAo mare Hanan (Alaa El Din x mona) on her dam's side. Nagel comments: “It wasn't that easy to find the right stallion for my Obayan mares. He actually had to be born first. I was able to solve the problem with NK Nabhan and NK Nizam. To have a healthy

NK Naala, NK Nay, NK Naba, NK Nakibya, NK Nahla. The second group refers to NK Nasrin. They are NK Bint Bint Nashua, NK Nina, NK Nazli, NK Nawaal. "NK Nadirah and NK Nasrin are full sisters, but I have divided them into two groups because the offspring of NK Nadirah were more strongly influenced by the stallion Salaa El Dine. The offspring are taller with strong gaits. NK Nasrin, on the other hand, is influenced by her sire Adnan, who in turn bears a strong resemblance to the old stallion Ghazal. We are not only looking at 3-4 generations here, but we are going back even further. It's interesting to see how many traits from the past come to light that you must work with as a breeder. For example, these mare families have brought the chestnut and black gene into my breeding programme through the mare NK Nashwa (Salaa El Dine x Lutfia)."

Dr Nagel comments on the impressively beautiful mares: ‘For me it's another important point, that the horse has a nice tail carriage. This is as important for the harmony of the horse as the dish on the head. I wouldn't use a horse as a breeding animal if it didn't trot with its tail raised.

NK Hawa

NK Nawaal

NK Amscha

NK Lamya

“I am not an advertiser of frozen semen. My expectation is that each generation should be a bit better than the previous one, so this would not require frozen semen at all for my own breeding. I have the intention and the belief that every generation should be better than the previous one, so it is not needed to keep frozen semen from the past.”

“The Arabian horse was and is an exotic horse and you should think of it in its original environment when you breed it. The new environment has a great say and a great influence on the development of the horse.”

There is another point that I would like to emphasise in my breeding: all horses learn as foals that they can trust people. This is only possible if they receive people-friendliness training. As a result, all of my mares are easy to handle. They open up to people, not just the people they know. This natural trust is something that is inherent to the Arabian horse and I want to preserve it and I also select for it and observe my horses very closely. Nowadays you can read everywhere that genetics only determine 25% of behaviour, while 75 are recruited. In this respect, the misbehaviour of horses is largely man-made.

I am also of the opinion that an Arabian horse should not be too big or too heavy. It would probably no longer fit into the desert environment from which they came.

The Arabian horse was and is an exotic horse and you should think of it in its original environment when you breed it. The new environment has a great say and a great influence on the development of the horse.”

The fascinating thing about Dr Nagel's breeding strategy is his ability to always see and classify horses as a cultural part of a larger whole. He pays tribute to the history of Bedouin breeding and draws his experience from the historical Arabian breeding of the orient. He is equally focussed on the reality of horses on the farm, their quality of life and their wellness. Science and genetics are also present and

included in all considerations. Commercial aspects have only had a latent influence, if any, on his breeding strategies. The Arabian horses are his great love and he would have liked to keep them all. But he is also a rationalist and says: "You don't need a hundred horses to breed successfully. A herd of a maximum of 20 mares is a wonderful size that allows us to know all the horses well and breed them in a targeted manner. Arabians of origin were kept in small groups mainly because there was not enough food. Those that were kept had to add to the breeding and herd improvement, and maintain the Arabian horse quality. Small herds do very well, and we should hold on to this tradition. Big farms and large herds are not the way to go for the future of the Arabian horse”.

Nagel thinks in terms of generations and wants to breed individuals successfully. He has succeeded in this for 50 years, as many of his horses have made history. His ‘small is beautiful’ concept has opened up. ‘Speed breeding’ with embryo transfer, which practically places breeding in the hands of veterinarians and pharmaceutical giants, assigns the mares the role of a production machine. That is alien to him and he concludes his presentation with advice to Arabian breeders.

"We don't need embryo transfers. We don't need further artificial handlings and I'm convinced, a small well selected group of mares gives all satisfaction to the small breeder. My intention is not to breed many horses but to show that a small group of horses can do better. I think we should keep this tradition of the Bedouins in mind and in our stables"

NK Nazli

NK Houda

ANC STRAIGHT EGYPTIAN AACHEN 2024

text by Talitha Bakker

photos by: Ewa Imielska-Hebda, Simone Bergamaschi

50th AnniversA ry

of the Asil Club

By Monika Savier - Photos: asil Club archive

“To continue to preserve the precious lineage of Asil Arabians, vigilance is required. Just as the Bedouins of yore were the guardians of the bloodlines of these astonishing animals, so too are we, today, their guardians. The Asil Club is a key aspect in this.”

(HH Mansour Bin Zayed al nahyan, Minister for Presidential affairs & Deputy Prime Minister, United arab emirates)

“The Asil Arabians heritage has been meticulously sustained and perpetuated by the people of Arabia since time immemorial. Today this “pure, genuine and noble” breed continues to thrive through the work of the Asil Club and the support and interest of breeders and friends throughout the world.”

HrH Sultan Bin Salman Bin abdulaziz al Saud, President & Chairman of the Board Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

of all the horse breeds that have been domesticated and selected by humans around the world for thousands of years, it is the asil arabian horse that trace the course of history in a fascinating way and tell the story of the flow of time. The riders and cavalry of the old world trusted the people-friendly Arabian horses from the Orient, with their lives. Today, it is people for whom history, art, culture and nature are important, who also seek closeness to Arabian horses. It is their beauty, harmony and charisma that make these horses irresistible. After the Second World War, many small private stud farms were established in Europe, they flourished and became the backbone of Asil and Straight Egyptian horse breeding until the 1990s. This success story had its origins over 200 years ago, when the aristocracies in europe, Poland, italy, Germany, Spain, russia and the Balkans imported arabian horses from the orient to improve their own horse breeds, from which many successful breeding programmes emerged. These horses, their endurance and robustness, were the genetic basis for a successful cavalry. Their intelligence and connection with the sensitive rider were important aspects in the common struggle for survival in the battles of that time.

Two cruel world wars in the first half of the 20th century reduced the horse population in the state studs and royal houses. The car had long since been invented and had also become a status symbol in the Orient. The Bedouins had largely stopped breeding in the post-colonial period. There were no longer any buying missions from europe and for the shepherds' children, the future lay in the cities. The Arabian horse had not been forgotten. Most of the descendants of the desert nobility lived on, but far away from the steppes and deserts of their origin, in nejd in Saudi arabia, Yemen, Palestine, Syria, iraq or the arab villages in the Khuzestan province in western Iran. Only egypt had been able to maintain and protect its proud breeding despite many crises and wars.

Most of the noble arabian horses from the orient, however, lived in the diaspora, they had exchanged the barren steppes of the east for the lush pastures of the Western world. Their world was now mainly the USA and Western Europe. as a result, new target groups and new markets emerged. The Arabian horse was no longer a war horse, but had become a sport and leisure horse, and its triumphal march around the world was unstoppable. In the USA alone, in the 1980s, over 200,000 Purebred Arabians were registered after a short time. However, most of them were not registered as Asil Arabians, but with the WAHO (World Arabian Horse Organisation), which was founded in 1970 and is based in England. This organisation united the Arabian breeding associations of the world under one roof.

it issued passports with a 5-generation pedigree and claimed the term ‘purebred arabian’ for itself:

‘‘A purebred Arabian is one which appears in any purebred Arabian Stud Book or Register listed by WAHO as acceptable’’. But the actual and original definition of a purebred arabian horse clearly referred to its origin, bred by the Bedouins in the deserts and steppes of the Orient.

How could the origin and originality of these horses be better protected? The moment had come to found the ASIL CLUB.

The Asil Club wAs founded To proTeCT The AuThenTiC Asil ArAbiAn horse, An endAngered ArAbiAn CulTurAl heriTAge. in 1974, the aSiL CLUB was founded in Germany

by Dr Georg olms, a breeder of asil arabian horses himself, and other dedicated breeders, equestrians and scientists. The aim was to preserve and breed arabian horses “whose pedigree is based exclusively on horses bred by Bedouins. Without any evidence of admixture of non-Arab blood at any time. The word ‘asil’ is derived from the Arabic and means straight, noble and genuine”. (Asil Arabians Volume 1).

The Asil Club quickly managed to forge social groups from different nationalities. This is still its strength today.

This goal should be achieved together with the international members, to bridge the horse breeding cultures of orient and occident, to celebrate the asil Arabian horse as a World Cultural Heritage, these were the tasks the asil Club has put down as theirs from their founding. Maintaining the pure

Bedouin tradition, never introducing foreign blood, has been a religious dogma in the arabia Desert area for centuries. This original line breeding resulted in a valuable arabian horse the asil Club strives to preserve world-wide.

The concept of purity, the selection and preservation of the asil horses, was one of the most important aspects of every discussion between the breeders and supporters of the club. These horses were hard to beat in terms of beauty anyway. A few years earlier, the Pyramid Society had already been founded in the USA. They had also declared their goal of preserving the purity of the ‘Straight egyptians’, which also refers to the original Bedouin breeding, but whose horses had been imported to Egypt.

“In the early 19th century, the ruling families of Egypt gathered the finest horses from the deserts of Arabia and

brought them to the land of the pyramids. This extraordinary collection, unrivalled since the time of King Solomon, became the foundation for the modern-day Egyptian Arabian...”. (Pyramid Society Foundation, USA).

in 1974 the majority of the founding members of the asil Club were breeders of straight Egyptian horses. Especially in the USA, various definitions and subgroups of the imports from the desert emerged, which differentiated the asil and straight egyptians into ‘not so pure’, ‘pure’ and ‘even purer’, true to the motto “rare things have added value” (K. Marx). But the Asil Club remained relaxed. From the very beginning, it saw itself as an umbrella organisation, where all breeds of the Desert arabian felt at home and should be promoted. As a result, the Asil Club did not participate in commercial line bashing, which in the years to come had an enormously negative

impact on the preservation of some bloodlines in the already limited gene pool of the asil breed. While the so-called “Straight Egyptians” are also ASIL by definition of origin, not all Asil are also “Straight Egyptians”. The Asil Club recognised from the outset that the original arabians could only be based on the way of life of the nomads. “The largest herds and most beautiful desert horses were found in ‘Desert Arabia’, which includes the deserts of Syria, Iraq, Jezira and the landscapes of Nedjd and Hajjar”. (Ammon, 1834). “Many of the large tribes of the Anazeh Bedouins had already been displaced by the Wahabis and had left Inner Arabia with their horses for Mesopotamia, Aleppo and Iraq.” (Tweedie, 1894) in this respect, it was only right and proper for the aSiL CLUB to consider a broader geographical background as the recognised country of origin of the horses.

The Arabian horse was a product of the slowness of time and the vastness of the steppes and deserts. It had genetically consolidated itself over many years as a people-friendly working animal due to the harsh living conditions, and it found itself amid much political and commercial turmoil in the 1980s.

The

reTurn of

The ArAbiAn horse To The ArAbiAn peninsulA

– A big ChAllenge for The Asil Club

The Gulf States had largely shaken off their colonial ties and, due to their fossil wealth, were developing new aspirations. Arabian horses fitted perfectly into this desire; they helped to shape the identity of a young nation of islamic culture, for no horse in the world has had such a decisive influence on the history of mankind as the orientals did on the jihad, the spread of Islam. During the last century, the Arabian horse had lost its importance even for the Bedouins themselves, with a major part of the gene pool being exported to Europe and the US. Today, it has re-gained an important role for the social life and identity of many groups of the arabian

population in most of the Arabian countries. Consequently, purchasing missions of a new kind have been flourishing, this time moving from East to West and at the beginning re-importing the asil arabians and pure egyptian offspring to Egypt and the Middle East. Even there, the world has changed for horses. Later, apart from the Syrian Badia, Bedouin horse breeding has switched locations from the black Bedouin tents of the barren half desert to sometimes luxurious stables on the outskirts of the big cities at the Gulf.

In Western Europe and the United States, a lively breeding world developed. The market for asil and especially for straight egyptian arabians flourished. The large stud farms in the Gulf and in egypt came and brought many horses of old noble lines back to their original homeland. They

were often very successful with them, both in the show world and on the racetrack or in endurance sports. The grandchildren of the Bedouins paid careful attention and invested a lot of money.

The show world conquered the Gulf States. The horse imports from europe were quickly the grandparents of the new show champions. For many, winning at any price was the motto. But even in the Gulf States, there were many breeders of straight egyptians and asil horses who preferred to show their horses to their breeder friends from around the world at home rather than send them to shows.

“I want to get back to the authentic Arabian horse. I see it in the pictures of Adam, Vernet and other painters of this era. It is a horse with a gentle and noble charisma, who moves elegantly but also has power and endurance in the way they cope with life. When I have succeeded in breeding such a horse, I don't have to take it to the world championships in Paris. I am just as proud and content to have it at home.” (Mohammed al-Marzouk, kuwait)

“Many members of the Asil Club have a reserved

relationship to shows, because the commercial selection, focused on type and beauty, and contradicts the principles of the authentic preservation breeding of the Asil Arabians.

“The Club insists that its members observe the principles of pure breeding. It refuses to give in to sudden fashions and to worship grace and beauty alone, thereby making the horse a mere object for the show ring.” (Dr Georg Wenzler, co-founder of the Asil Club).

Philippe Paraskevas, from egypt, writes: “The Asil Club is well known for being an organisation that still seeks to uphold the full range of the characteristics of the Arabian:

The Arabian Phenotype, the Arabian Genotype, and, most importantly, the unique inner disposition of the Arabian, the defining mental characteristics of our Desert Arabian (...) We all know that the historical Arabian is under threat of extinction, mainly because of the ill effects of the beauty contest-like shows that so often drive the market.

The market usually defines what the majority of breeders do, and the markets are not interested in the perpetuation of the Historical Arabian. They are interested in promoting whatever sells at any one point in time.”

Not only the exaggerated fixation on beauty through

selection was a big issue for the members of the Asil Club. The invention of frozen stallion semen and the dominance of reproduction technologies also posed a major challenge. This led the world of breeding further and further away from the original requirements of the club for its members, namely, to preserve and save the breed of origin. After the beginning of the new millennium, the globalisation of frozen semen and embryo transfers had been perfected to such an extent that the shipping of semen from champions had long since penetrated the geographically defined breeding areas and the original breeding goal had been dissolved in favour of international show Arabians. The definition Straight egyptians, is still referred to pure breeding from a single country of origin in their name. The Asil horses from the other countries of origin were hardly relevant in terms of numbers. They were bred, if at all, by competent enthusiasts, as exotic breeds.

For several years, the import of arabian horses from europe to the Gulf States and egypt has

practically ceased. The Arabian horse is definitely back in its homeland on the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi arabia alone has registered 6,000 foals in one year, with many colts not even being registered. Today, usually only show winners are shipped globally.

In the West, the Asil horses are popular as leisure animals and Straight egyptians are rarely shown anymore. In Europe today, trainers dominate the breeding and showing scene with there internationally bred show horses. They present many horses from the Gulf States at the european shows, where they are mostly among themselves. The few breeding enthusiasts of the old straight bloodlines who have survived the collapse of the markets and are still breeding are looking for other ways of communicating, advertising and working together in

today's digitalised world. Winning isn't everything. The Arabian horse still unites breeders and the asil Club, with its diverse programme, culture, sport and education.

The ACTiviTies of The Asil Club

“Omnis Nobilitas Ab Equo – All nobility comes from the horse”

“In the Asil Club members from 40 countries are united in friendship to preserve one of the first pure breeds in the world, one of the most precious cultural treasures. They believe in the tradition of the Bedouins, the creators of Asil Arabians. Through careful attention to Asil bloodlines, members intend to preserve the performance and honesty of their horses and stress their marvellous traits.”

(Asil Club 2024)

The Asil Club was active early on as an influencer,

opinion maker and informant on the origin and breeding of the asil arabians, including the straight Egyptian Arabians. “Dr Olms is not only a horse breeder, he is the head of an international publishing house based both in Germany and in New York, which gave him the means to go about it professionally. Olms Press already published an equestrian line, the Documenta Hippologica, including facsimiles and reprints of important old books on breeding and equitation”. (Betty Finke, The Swift Runner, 2024)

He also repeatedly encouraged the other founding members, geneticists and cavalry captains, to write articles, studies and reports on the origin and breeding results of the Arabs from the desert.

“He has been the president of the Asil Club since its founding and has juggled the club through thick and thin since”. (Gudrun Waiditschka, In the Focus, 2024).

His professional contacts with arab countries, where he successfully conveyed his concerns to the royal houses, were one of the reasons why the asil Club now has more than 400 members in 40 countries. even the royal stud farms of many arab countries, as well as state stud farms such as those of Saudi arabia, kuwait, egypt and Syria, Marbach and Babolna in europe, became members and participated in the Asil Club's publications and events.

The first comprehensive documentation of Asil Arabians was published as early as 1977.

“It included a selection of quotes on the authentic Arabian horse by experts past and present in German and in English, classic art depicting Arabian horses, many photographs of Asil Arabians with their details and pedigrees, a record of performance achievements by Asil Arabians, and a catalogue of the members’ stud farms and their horses”. (Betty Finke 2024)

in addition to the books aSiL araBianS, of which 7 have been published to date, which have also been published in Arabic for 20 years, the second mainstay of the aSiL CLUB was an arabian horse show, of course only for straight Egyptians and asil Arabs. It originally took place every two years. The show classes are rather relaxed performances, panda eyes are not allowed,

and sharp stand-ups and chasing the horses is discouraged. To counterbalance and compensate for the beauty event, there are ridden classes and endurance races. The events were usually attended by thousands of enthusiastic visitors. Today's Arabian horse shows can only dream of such popularity.

The legal structure of the Asil Club is a registered non-profit organisation that must hold a general meeting every year. The club carries out this task as a wonderfully organised communicative, continuing education programme. Each meeting takes place at a different stud. There are specialist presentations on important topics and current issues, as well as presentations of the stud’s own Asil Arabian horses.

a current project under the auspices of the asil Club is the application to the Ministry of Science and Culture to include the asil arabian horses in the register of the ‘intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO’. This application was granted in Lower Saxony. The next step is now to have the application recognised by the UNESCO Commission in Berlin.

The Asil Club is A roCk in The Troubled wATer And is more imporTAnT TodAy ThAn ever.

For 50 years now, the asil Club has served as a platform for breeders of asil arabian horses, where people from all over the world with different interests, identities, world views, and values could come together to work towards the preservation and a better future for the arabian horse. Dr Olms, the founders of the Asil Club, and its team laid the substantive foundation for this. Over the years, critical members and the elite of arabian horse breeding from the occident and orient jointly formulated different strategies and proposed solutions.

“You will not see the irresponsible, downright abusive practices of modern showing at our ASIL CUP INTERNATIONAL shows, and we may also point out that the ASIL CLUB was the first in Europe to introduce endurance rides in the programme of its ASIL CUP INTERNATIONAL” (W.G. Olms, 2019).

The club never shied away from publicly debating and offering alternatives for better keeping and

breeding conditions for the horses. This agenda primarily reflects the fears and hopes of the members themselves of losing the arabian horse as a descendant of the desert nobility. The current situation of horses in show-arabian breeding in connection with reproduction technology is worrying. The expertise of the club, its power of discourse, but also the passion of its members is indispensable. There can be no compromise when it comes to saving the authentic Arabian horse. Only a broad alliance of supporters across all borders can stand up to the commercial show world and its selection methods,

which are based solely on phenotype. The Asil Club quickly succeeded in forging social groups from different nationalities. This is still its strength today. The asil Arabian horse and its preservation was the common denominator that bridged the diverse interests of its many enthusiasts and supporters. After 9/11, globalisation of breeding, the wars in the Middle east, Covid, the wild years of digital capitalism, the asil Club could still be a rock in the troubled water of today.

And it is more important than ever before.

in 1974 the majority of the founding members of the aSiL CLUB were famous pioneers of Egyptian horse breeding. Some have been scientists or stud manager. Here is the complete list:

Tibor von peTTko sZAndTner

elke behrens

heiner busChforT

gÜnTer w. & mArgriT seidliTZ

georg & uTe Thierer

dr. wAlTer georg olms

bArb-mAriA mÜller

esperAnZA rAswAn

CArl-heinZ & ConsTAnZe dÖmken

dr. georg wenZler

erikA sChiele

dr. hAnsJÖrg TAusChke

dobimAr von kAmeke

deTlev von ArenTsChildT

dr. oTTo sAenger

dr. wilhelm uppenborn

dr. foppe b. klynsTrA

prof. gerT preiser

obersT h. hAndler

dr. kurT kirsCh

dr. hAns J. nAgel

dr. roberT burgerT

Asil ArAbiAn horse festivAl

‘nobility of the desert’, At the MArbACh stAte stud, GerMAny

The asil Club celebrated its 50th anniversary on 13 July 2024 with its members, guests and many noble arabian horses, camels, salukis and falcons at Marbach State Stud. Endurance rides started early in the morning from the Marbach stud farm. The exciting and varied show programme in the large riding hall in front of hundreds of guests showed once again that Arabian horses are extremely versatile. They like to form a team with the people who ride or lead them, are intelligent, powerful and can of course show much more than just a stand-up in the show ring. A festive evening with lectures, live music and good food in the historic riding hall rounded off the day.

The co-operation between the Marbach State Stud and the asil Club has existed since the club was founded. Dr Georg Wenzler, the director

of the Marbach State Stud at the time, was one of the founding members. For him, the Arabian horse was first and foremost “an excellent riding horse for sport and leisure purposes and must be bred for performance, otherwise it degenerates”. (G. Wenzler, asil arabians, 1977)

in harmony with the breeding philosophy of king William I of Württemberg, the breeding goal in Marbach and at the asil Club is still the merits of this desert Arabian. With the original asil Arabian breed of the former royal stud in Weil, founded in 1817, the State Stud maintains the world’s oldest uninterrupted and documented purebred Arabian breed. “Marbach makes a special effort to preserve the asil lines of the founding horses Bairactar and Murana I, imported from the desert, supplemented by famous lines from the Egyptian State Stud El Zahraa in Cairo”. (Marbach State Stud, 2024) the hh sheikh MAnsour bin ZAyed Al nAhyAn

asil Club founder and president Dr. W. Georg Olms The historical Marbach State Stud

angela Dorschner-Filsinger and her straight egyptian mare

Sheikha Zafarana

The Goebel Family and Salukis

nasheed al amal, bred by Philippe Paraskevas in egypt and now chief sire at Marbach

Oliver Juskowiak and the stallion Moushah

• Desert Heritage Magazine

Stallions parade with kP noury, k auber Platte stud andanton Baumann

Stallions Parade with Marbach’s straight Egyptian stallion Naoufil

Silvia Naumann, Breeder/Rider, technical event and showdirector as well as board member of the Asil Club

arabian Salukis in action

Mona Schnaufer with Hames el Naarah

vaulting Group of Girls

klaus niethammer driving the Marbach broodmares Dafina and WM Sahaabah

Dr. Astrid von VelsenZerweck, Director of the Marbach State Stud, Speaker

Silvia naumann and her stallion Serenity Shaham

Emirati Arabian horse with U.A.E Guest

Danielle Merzbach, Management asil Club, assistent to President and Mister ibrahim, Uae

Classical Cello, played by eva Freiberg and equestrian arts with Hispano-arabian Stallion Unico CP, ridden by kristin Ullrich

Desert Ships, Camels presented by Frank Bock and Family

Yin Yang Balance Group with Mares and Foals from Sha Mon Stud

The mare Namrata, bred and owned by Marbach State Stud

Livia Jansen and her straight egyptian stallion

DFa Shahir won the 44 km endurance ride

Asil Club Endurance Rides 2024

The winner of the diffrent races

Falconry, the royal art of hunting

endurance riders with Coach ina Baader and Dr. Astrid von Velsen-Zerweck

Marbach’s Daughters of the Wind, the asil mares band

Manfred Olms, Dr. Georg Olms and Moahmmed Achmed EAHS General Director UAE Dr. Georg Olms

Dr. Matthias Oster, Board Member of the asil Club, presenting the history of the Club

Guests from UAE with Bilal al Nabelsi, Syria and Dr. Astrid von Velsen-Zerweck

Anniversary event in the evening at the

Live Music on high level. Alexandra Lehmler and Session band

historical riding house

Desert Heritage

Carle Vernet Exhibition

Atelier - Fine Arts & Antiques

Specialized in the Horse in Art Worldwide shipping available

For more information please contact: Judith Wenning Whatsapp: +49 172 4700325 or judithwenning@hotmail.com

Yearing Fillies

GOLD MEDAL CHAMPION

AB MAI

AL WAAB X AB MUHRA BY ROYAL COLOURS

Egyptian EVENT EUROPE

ASFOOR

B: ABHAA ARABIANS - ALBABTAIN ASA AHMAD

O: ABHAA ARABIAN STUD

SILVER MEDAL OR MARGOT

AYAL EL ASILL X OR MATILDE BY FRASERA MASHAR

B/O: ALLEVAMENTO OL RI

BRONZE MEDAL MARKYYA FRANZ

JANDEH AL SHROOK X HAS ROJA BY TEYMUR B

B/O: SALVATORE FRANZESE

Fillies

GOLD MEDAL CHAMPION D

A’BEER

B/O: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD

Egyptian EVENT EUROPE

SAFEER AL WADI X D AFAF BY FRASERA MASHAR

SILVER MEDAL OR

MIA

OR MANGO X OR MATILDA BY FRASERA MASHAR

B/O: ALLEVAMENTO OL RI

BRONZE MEDAL FRASERA NADIRAH

FRASERA MASHAR X FRASERA NABILA BY NABEEL AL RAYYAN

B/O: ALLEVAMENTO LA FRASERA

Colts

GOLD MEDAL CHAMPION

MAHER SARHAN TS

B/O:

Egyptian EVENT EUROPE

RAYYAN AL NAIF X MAS ROMANA BY IBN MORAFIC II

TADLAOUI SAID

SILVER MEDAL

TB HADIR

NASEEM ALRASHEDYAH X TB HELWA BY IBN EL NIL

B: ALLEVAMENTO TRE BALZANE O: USAMA AL GHAIT

BRONZE

FA NILE SAFIR X MAGIC SIBILLA BY ANSATA SHAAMIS

B/O: GAITO FRANCESCO

Mares

GOLD MEDAL CHAMPION

& BEST HEAD OF THE SHOW

HIKAYET HOB AA

Egyptian EVENT EUROPE

AL AYAL AA X HAMDIYAH AA BY SIMEON SHARAV

B: ARIELA ARABIANS

O: AHMAD ABDULAZIZ AL BABTAIN

SILVER MEDAL HOORIA DEL CASATO

AL ADEED AL SHAQAB X GREA MONEERA BY ANSATA EL SALAAM

B: TIZZANI ELISABETTA

O: DEL CASATO STUD BALDASSARRI & BOOTH SS

BRONZE MEDAL

GAIA UB

EL SHAHWAN RA X AL SHARIFAA BY DEFFIANCE

B/O: L’ECURIE SUISSE

Stallions Egyptian EVENT EUROPE

GOLD MEDAL CHAMPION

FRASERA KHARIM

B/O: ALLEVAMENTO LA FRASERA

FRASERA MASHAR X FRASERA CARINA BY FRASERA MASHALL

Rothenberg Stud

GR Nashad | Shaylah Bint Iman

Desert Heritage

Rothenberg

“Do what you love to do with all your heart and force … and never give up!”

Emotional and inspiring talk with Annette Escher, the woman who keep fulfilling her dreams and reach the success no matter what comes the way.

by Urszula Łęczycka photos by Annette & Erwin Escher

Urszula Łęczycka: Your farm has been established more than 30 years ago by you and your husband Erwin. Nowadays you run it all by yourself and Straight Egyptian horses with GR prefix are worldwide known. You also run one of the largest Straight Egyptian black coloured herds in the world – that is in high demand nowadays.

Can you tell us more about the idea of establishing your breeding program? Was it the same from the beginning or it has been changing through the years and following the market?

What were your first horses and where did you get them from?

Annette Escher: We started our Straight Egyptian breeding with a small number of horses several years before we could buy the right place and built “Rothenberg Stud” in 1991. In 1992 the stud and pastures were ready and we moved our horses here... from this time on, having enough space, we looked for the right additions and as we didn’t find most of them in Europe (there were few Egyptians in Germany /

Europe at that time and almost nothing for sale), we travelled several times to the USA to look at studs and horses, driving thousands of miles a week. During this time we found and bought the foundation horses for my new breeding programme, so the mares like them: Halims Asmara (Ansata Halim Shah x Lancers

Asmara - US National Top Ten and twice World Res. Champion Mare), Dalima Shah (Ansata Halim Shah x AK Bint Dalia II), Ansata Aya Maria (Ansata Shah Zaman x Ansata Aya Halima by Ansata Ibn Halima)

- Bukra line and the black Champion Mare Maria Halima (Haziz Halim x Chelsea). Then we found the black mare Fasinah (Nahaman x Fatima) in Germany and before 1992 we already owned the mare Samara (Ibn Moheba x Safiniya by Ibn Galal), I still own her black great granddaughter GR Samantha who is now pregnant for the first time!

Over the years we have sometimes leased a mare or entered into a breeding co-operation to add foals from interesting dams and dam lines - this is how we bred our “Queen” GR Nashidah (by Classic

Stud

Annette and GR Anastacia (Classic Shadwan x Halims Asmara) full-sister to Multi-Champion & gold premium stallion GR Amaretto

Rothenberg Stud

Dalima Shah Multi - & European Champion Straight Egyptian by Ansata Halim Shah - one of our foundation mares

GR Adelle

black filly 2022, by GR Ishad out of GR Anastacia (Classic Shadwan x foundation-mare Halim’s Asmara by Ansata Halim Shah). GR Anastacia is a full-sister to our homebred Multi & European- Champion SE GR Amaretto

GR Shakadah

black mare 2019, GR Ishad x GR Shakirah (Maheeb x Shatigah) great great granddaughter of Dalima Shah

Classic Shadwan (Alidaar x Shagia Bint Shadwan) Multi-Champion, foundation stallion

GR Aliyah (GR Faleeh x GR Anastacia by Classic Shadwan) first black out of Halims Asmara line

GR Faleeh (Madallan-Madheen x Fasinah) & Annette, the day before GR Faleeh left to Kuwait

Shadwan), who is the dam of the black Gold Premium stallion GR Nashad (exp. Kuwait, by GR Faleeh) and the black mare GR Layla (by GR Faleeh) who is the dam of our young broodmare GR Larissa (in foal to GR Fasin) and our future stallion GR Layad (both by GR Ishad). After moving to Rothenberg Stud we also bought our foundation stallions: Classic Shadwan (Alidaar x Shagia

Bint Shadwan imp. Egypt), who we found in France, was four years old at the time and the black MadallanMadheen; when we heard about a very special black colt born in 1994 out of special bloodlines, we quickly went to see him and bought him at the age of 6 weeks! He was the very first foundation of our black breeding programme! Madallan-Madheen was not bred to be black, his parents

Rothenberg Stud

GR Aya Malikah

black mare, by GR Faleeh out of GR Aya Mahiba (Maheeb x GR Aya Farida) goes back to our foundation-mare Ansata Aya Maria from the Bukra line. Black colt GR Malish 2023 (by GR Ishad) beside which was exported to USA

were chestnut (his sire Ansata El Salaam) and bay (the famous mare Madinah, dam of Imperial Madheen), but he turned black “by accident” and was just bred to be a great horse... and later won a rare gold premium ribbon from the German registry at the stallion licensing!

Most of our early blacks came from non-black lines ... blacks were rare and good blacks even rarer and usually impossible to buy! Since I was a child I have always been a big fan of black horses, but Erwin loved the greys the most - in the end we love all colours, so we only had a few blacks in the early years.

Over the years we got more and more black foals (also Classic Shadwan produced fantastic blacks) and after more than 30 years I have managed to get fantastic blacks out of all our foundation horses... for some of them it took several generations, but now I have a fantastic group of black and black producing broodmares, many of them already in the 4th and 5th generation of our foundation mares!

GR Aya Malaika

black filly 2022, GR Ishad x GR Aya Malikah (GR Faleeh x GR Aya Mahiba) goes back to Ansata Aya Maria, Bukra line

GR Moneef (show-winner GR Faleeh x GR Mona by foundation-stallion Madallan-Madheen) homozygous black stallion

But colour was not always the most important thing - we both loved pretty exotic faces, good (proven) straight Egyptian pedigrees and as we were also riders from the beginning we wanted a solid horse with good body, legs and movement to carry us over the fields! The aim was not to lose any of these points over the years ... type, body, movement ... and most importantly, the fantastic, people loving, sweet character the Egyptians are famous for.

UŁ: Straight Egyptian breeding is one of most difficult ones as you must use a very limited gene pool that creates some problems in avoiding inbreeding and breeding overall harmonius and typey horse. Limiting the Straight Egyptian breeding to black colour group only must be even more challenging. How do you find your way to keep breeding beautiful and correct horses with such a limited requirements?

this year

GR Bint Asmara

(GR Moneef x GR Asmara by GR Lahab) 13.9.16 - 4 months after Erwins death

GR Bint Asmara

(GR Moneef x

Asmara)

high pregnant goes back to Halims Asmara

Rothenberg Stud

AE: Most of our foundation horses were not bred to be black, which means they had a larger gene pool, even though we bought mostly black in the beginning ... there were very few black and black producing lines at that time, which were already often inbred. And over the years we’ve always been open to using outside stallions, regardless of colour, such as World Champion Al Lahab, if we thought they would bring us something new in blood and look... in my current herd I have great mares from this line! We always used the straight Egyptian bloodlines that we personally liked, not looking for trends and what other breeders preferred... we went our own way for our own taste and what we loved!

UŁ: Did you manage to combine your goals of having the bloodlines, the strenght, stamina and also the colour and then keep into the fashion to win the show titles? It had to be extremely difficult task..

AE: Over the years we have shown many of our horses and many of our foundation horses and their offspring have gone on to become Multi-Champions and Gold Premium Stallions. For example, Dalima Shah and GR Layad

homozygous black colt 2023 (GR Ishad x GR Layla by GR Faleeh) Abbayyan line - future stallion at Rothenberg

GR Ishad (GR Nashad x Shaylah Bint Iman) homozygous black gold premium stallion

GR Larissa

black mare 2021 (GR Ishad x GR Layla by GR Faleeh)

Abayyan line, in foal to GR Fasin

GR Mahalia

black filly 2023 (GR Ishad x GR Maheeba by Maheeb)

Moniet El Nefous line - the future

GR Aisha

black filly 2022, GR Ishad x GR Anisha (GR Faleeh x GR Anastacia)

great granddaughter of Halims Asmara

GR Mahidah

black filly 2022 (GR Ishad x GR Maheeba)

Moniet El Nefous line - the future

Rothenberg Stud

her daughter Shadwanah (by Classic Shadwan) and Halims Asmara and her son GR Amaretto (by Classic Shadwan) won the Egyptian Event Europe Champion Stallion title. Also our first homebred black mares GR Marietta and GR Marianah (both Madallan-Madheen x Maria Halima) won several championships, which was very special at that time as there were hardly any black mares successfully shown! Later on, our black stallion GR Faleeh (exported to Kuwait; Madallan-Madheen x Fasinah) was shown successfully at the Egyptian Event Europe as a class winner and top five ... and many more.

We have sold and I still sell my foals all over the world and many of them have won and are winning a lot for their new owners - many championship titles in halter classes as well as endurance races or riding classes.

Our sold horses live all over the world as breeding horses and produce fantastic foals for their new owners... or they are just best friends and great riding horses that give their new owners fun and happy hours.

GR Mariyah

black mare 2018, by GR Moneef out of black champion-mare GR Marianah (by Madallan-Madheen) goes back to our black foundation-mare, the

GR Famonah black mare 2021, GR Moneef x GR Farasha (Maheeb x Fasinah) - in foal to GR Ishad

GR Samantha black mare 2019 (Maheeb x GR Safiniya by GR Faleeh) goes back to our first SE mare Samara (by Bint Moheba)

Champion Maria Halima

GR Nasirah

black-bay filly 2022, by GR Fasin out of GR Nashidah (Classic Shadwan x Nejdschah).

GR Nasirah was the first foal of our young homozygous black gold premium stallion GR Fasin!

GR Nashidah (Classic Shadwan x Nejdschah) mother of our homebred stallions GR Nashad (gold premium stallion; father of GR Ishad) and GR Lahab. Black-bay filly GR Nasinah 2023 (by GR Fasin) beside

We have also bred several gold premium stallions at the stallion registry, for me one of the most difficult golds to get!

We got gold premium titles for GR Amaretto (exported to Iran, Classic Shadwan x Halims Asmara by Ansata Halim Shah), his ¾ brother Maheeb (black; Classic Shadwan x Bint Bint Mahiba by Ansata Halim Shah) and for the other black stallions GR Nashad (exported to Kuwait; GR Faleeh x GR Nashidah by Classic Shadwan), his black son at stud GR Ishad (GR Nashad x Shaylah Bint Iman by Classic Shadwan) and also for our young black stallion GR Fasin (Maheeb x our foundation mare Fasinah by Nahaman). And I have great hopes of continuing this fantastic line in the future with my promising young black colt GR Layad (GR Ishad x GR Layla by GR Faleeh)! He is also homozygous without any white markings and has an extremely dishy head - he is the future of Rothenberg Stud and I can hardly wait to breed the first mares to him next spring!

Rothenberg Stud

GR Shakirah

2011, black mare (black gold premium stallion Maheeb x GR Shatigah) & her daughter GR Shakadah (by GR Ishad) as a foal

UŁ: Did you manage to establish some dam and sire lines of your own that you admire until that day and continue?

AE: All my recent breeding horses are in direct line from our early foundation mares - and all of them carry either the blood of Classic Shadwan or Madallan-Madheen or both!

Over the years I have managed to breed fantastic blacks from all the foundation mares, which has made me very happy and proud, and I love to see the ones I have sold make their new owners happy too.

UŁ: There is probably no Arabian horse lover in Europe who does not know the photos taken by your husband Erwin, who passed away 8 years ago. Since then you have continued to run the farm on your own with just one helper. Your strength, passion and achievements could be an inspiration to many women or girls who, for various reasons, dream of or run a horse breeding business on their own. It must be hard, emotional but probably also satisfying if you manage to breed a great horse in the end? What would you say and advise to other women-breeders?

AE: Yes, Erwin’s death was certainly the worst time in my life, I thought my life had stopped too. But the horses helped me a lot, because giving up is not the answer, you have to go on day by day, they are waiting for you, they need you!

GR Nashadah

2018, bay mare by GR Darwan (Maheeb x Dalima Shah) x GR Nashidah (by Classic Shadwan). Granddaughter of our foundation-mare Dalima Shah

GR Shatigah

black mare 2003 (Pasha Farid x Shadwanah) last daughter of GR Shadwanah at stud; granddaughter of Dalima Shah

GR Shaminah

black filly 2024, by black gold premium stallion GR Fasin out of GR Shatigah (Pasha Farid x Multi-Champion mare Shadwanah) goes back to our foundation-mare Dalima Shah - the future

GR Farasha (Maheeb x Fasinah by Nahaman) - full-sister to GR Fasin

GR Myrella black filly 2023, GR Fasin x GR Maryah (GR Moneef x black Champion-mare GR Marianah by Madallan-Madheen) goes back to our foundation mare to Maria Halima

GR Fasin

2019 (black gold premium stallion Maheeb x foundation mare Fasinah by Nahaman) homozygous black gold premium stallion

Rothenberg Stud

Maheeb

(Classic Shadwan x Bint Bint Mahiba) - black gold premium stallion, sire of many of our breeding-horses

Halims Asmara (Ansata Halim Shah x Lancer’s Asmara, US National Top Ten and World Res. Champion mare). Multi- & European Champion Res. SE one of our foundation mares

In addition, Erwin’s second favourite mare GR Asmara (GR Lahab x Halims’s Asmara) died a few days after him from problems after giving birth and left her newborn filly GR Bint Asmara (by GR Moneef) alone with me. This baby almost died as well because of the replacement milk, so I had to take milk from other mares to feed this baby... you can imagine that I had almost no time to sleep for months, which was very hard but maybe good for me in this situation. My only aim was that we both survived ... and we did! Meanwhile GR Bint Asmara has given birth to three beautiful black fillies and her black yearling filly by GR Ishad even won a championship for her new owner in France this year ... all this made me very happy and gave me the strength to carry on!

My advice is to do what you love with all your heart and soul... and never give up!

Madallan-Madheen

(Ansata El Salaam x Madinah) - black gold premium stallion, foundation-stallion

Fasinah (Nahaman x Fatima); black foundation-mare, mother of homebred black show-winner GR Faleeh (exp. Kuwait) and my young black gold premium stallion GR Fasin

There are always good times and bad times in our lives ... you have to survive the bad times and grow in the good times and take it into your heart for the future. Like when my home-bred young homozygous black stallion GR Fasin (by Maheeb by Classic Shadwan), the last foal born much too early out of our foundation mare Fasinah (who nearly died several times in the first weeks of his life), got a gold ribbon from the German registry as a breeding stallion with just amazingly high scores in all points. And every birth when both mother and baby are doing wella miracle every time! Moments like these keep me going and make me happy!!!!

UŁ: What an amazing story and the best proof of your words of advice, which I would certainly use as the title of this interview! I wish you all the best in achieving your future goals and, of course, with those great and happy moments for every breeder.

Maria Halima (by Haziz Halim by Ansata Ibn Halima) Champion USA, black foundation-mare mother of black Champion-mares GR Marietta & GR Marianah (mother of our black broodmare GR Maryah)

Shadwanah (Classic Shadwan x Dalima Shah); first daughter of both her parents, Multi- & European Champion Straight Egyptian. Mother of black broodmare GR Shatigah

Annette Escher 86653 Monheim (Germany) - tel. +49 0 90913707 email: escher.rothenberg@t-online.de www.RothenbergArabians.com instagram: @RothenbergArabianStud

Orienta Arabians presents...

Orienta Aysha

Photo: Judith Wenning

(Al Adeed Al Shaqab x Ansata Azali)

2005 Straight Egyptian

Kuhaylan Rodan Strain - Riyala - Malaka Family

Photo: Judith Wenning (Al Adeed Al Shaqab x Ansata Azali)

Atelier - Fine Arts & Antiques

The new

Art Gallery for Arabian Horses

Judith Wenning is an established name in the world of Arabian horses since many years. She breeds purebred Egyptian Arabian horses at her stud farm Orienta Arabians, has published countless articles in international magazines about Arabian horses and authored the book “Jewels of the Desert”. Judith Wenning has always been interested in the Arabian horse in art. In the past years, one of the major subjects of her writings were Arabian horse painters and sculptors - antique and contemporary.

In the summer of 2022, Judith Wenning moved with her family to the magical five lakes region just outside Munich, one of the most beautiful areas in Germany. There she noticed how many art galleries and artists were in the area. She quickly came up with the idea of setting up a gallery herself, specializing in art and antiques relating to horses - mainly Arabians. Suitable premises for an art gallery were available and the project soon got underway. When writing articles

A part of the Carle Vernet exhibition hosted by Atelier – Fine Arts & Antiques.

about the Arabian horse in art, Judith Wenning built up a notable network with galleries, collectors, artists, etc. So it was easy to acquire a fantastic range of extraordinary works of art as a starting point and offer them in the new gallery. Today “Atelier – Fine Arts & Antiques” is specialised in buying, selling and researching equine art. The main emphasis is on Arabian horses - paintings, prints, sculptures, clocks, porcelain, etc. from the 19th century and contemporary. Visitors and interested people can expect to find a unique choice.

“As far as I know, my gallery currently offers the widest selection of available Arabian horse art worldwide”, Judith Wenning explains. “It’s a treasure trove for Arabian horse art enthusiasts”, she smiles.

In the summer of 2024, the “Atelier - Fine Arts & Antiques” gallery hosted a highly acclaimed exhibition on Carle Vernet. Vernet was certainly one of the most famous and sought-after artists of the 19th century who dedicated many of his works to the Arabian horse. An informative catalogue has also been published by Judith Wenning and can still be obtained in electronic form via e-mail or WhatsApp, as well as in print. Another exciting special Arabian horse art exhibition is currently in preparation.

Judith Wenning, founder and owner of the gallery Atelier – Fine Arts & Antiques.

The gallery is a treasure trove for Arabian horse art enthusiasts.

Visitors are always very welcome in the gallery by prior arrangement. All works of art which are presented in the gallery are available for sale. With only about 30 minutes from the city center of Munich and circa 40 minutes from Munich international airport, the gallery is easy to reach.

Some of the regularly featured artists are: Victor Adam, Carle Vernet, Horace Vernet, Alfred de Dreux, Gabriele Decamps, Albrecht Adam, Baron Gros, Georges Washington, Henry Alken, Hippolyte Lalaisse, Noel D. Finart, Theodore Gericault, Eugene Fromentin, Adolf Schreyer, Pierre-Jules Mene, Alfred Barye, etc.

19th century bronze of a Mameluck holding his Arabian stallion. After a drawing by Carle Vernet. 21,0 x 25,0 x 10,0 cm. Very rare piece with excellent patina and refined details.

19th century porcelain sculpture, beautifully decorated by hand with extreme details, probably manufactured by the French company Michel et Valin. 17,4 x 16,0 x 8,5 cm.

“Mameluck”, 19th century bronze sculpture. 21,5 x 22,5 x 9,0 cm.

Sculpture “Jument Arabe et son Poulain no. 2 - Arabian Mare with her Foal nr. 2” by Pierre-Jules Mene (1810 – 1879). Bronze with brown patina, signed P.J. Mene.

Measurements: lengths 25,3 cm, height 17,0 cm.

One of the most impressive horse sculptures ever created: Antoine-Louis Barye’s work “Cheval Turc”.

19th century bronze of a Mameluck holding his Arabian stallion. After a drawing by Carle Vernet. 21,0 x 25,0 x 10,0 cm. Very rare piece with excellent patina and refined details.

Alfred Paris (1846 – 1908) “Arab Riders”, photogravure published and printed by Boussod, Valadon & Co. 1893. Beautifully water colored at the time by the publisher. 81,0 x 58,8 cm.

Even though the gallery has only been around for a relatively short time, it has already attracted a very international audience to visit in person. Besides a visit to the gallery, it is of course also possible to purchase by Whatsapp, phone etc. and Judith Wenning will ship the works of art worldwide. Transported by reliable companies, they will arrive in a short time.

Please

the

for your

Carle Vernet: “Mameluck with Proud Stallion”, 19th century lithograph by Turgis. 63,0 x 45,0 cm

Carle Vernet “Arabian Horse Family”, beautifully colored 19th century lithograph, 60,0 x 42,5 cm.

contact

gallery

personal copy of the Carle Vernet exhibition catalogue.

Carle Vernet: “The Fight”, 19th century lithograph by Turgis. 32,6 x 28,9 cm.

Incunable by Baron Gros: “Arabe du desert (1817)”. 40,8 x 34,0 cm (measured with passepartout).

If you would like to build up your own collection, Judith Wenning will also be happy to help you find high-quality works of art and advise you on the selection if you wish. She has excellent relationships with art dealers, galleries, art experts and collectors worldwide and will be happy to find that very special piece for you. If you are looking for a gift, want to embellish your office, reception hall or home, you are sure to find with her a suitable object that reflects the beauty of Arabian horses. “I only buy works of art that also appeal to myself”, Judith Wenning explains with a smile. “Art should make your heart beat faster. If an artwork touches you, you will always find a place in your house. The charisma and high quality of the artwork are my top priorities.”

Alfred de Dreux “La Paix - Peace”, 19th century lithograph. 77,5 x 65,0 cm.

Carle Vernet: “Cheval Arabe Equipe”, 19th century lithograph by Delpech. Antique gilded frame. 57,7 x 50,0 cm (measured with frame).

Original ink drawing by Jules Martelet (1843 - 1916) “Arabian Rider with a Gun”, signed lower left. 51,5 x 41,0 cm (measured with frame).

Original ink and wash drawing. Gilded frame (wood), unsigned, marked “C. Vernet” on the passepartout, 19th century. 42,5 x 33,3 cm (measured with frame).

“Of course, all old works are authentic, genuine antiques. A very good condition is always important to me,” explains Judith Wenning. “I work with experienced restorers and high-quality frame stores to present the artworks in the best possible way.” Then she continues: “I have an extensive library of expert art literature on the premises, which is constantly being expanded. This enables me to help my clients with well-founded knowledge on equine art as well.” Besides of Arabian horse art, the gallery offers regularly exceptional works showing Thoroughbred racehorses, Polo, Trakehners, jumping horses, etc. Some selected works by contemporary artists as, for example, the Iraqi-American artist Mr Qais Al-Sindy complete the gallery’s broad portfolio.

Original pencil drawing attributed to Victor Adam “Chasse a la lionne”, dated. 69,0 x 57,5 cm (measured with passepartout).

into the gallery “Atelier - Fine Arts & Antiques”.

Orientalism and the Arabian horse

Since primeval time, the horse has been a favourite subject for painters and sculptors. The 19th century was a very important time period for Arabian horse art. The term Orientalism refers to the many 19th century artists who specialized in “Oriental” themes. They painted for example Islamic architecture, lively Arabian market scenes, imposing guards and the endless expanse of the desert. Fiery stallions with flashing eyes, Mamelucks on proud steeds, noble mares with their dainty foals found their way into art. As Orientalism and Arabian subjects were so much “en vogue” during this time, Arabian horses were a favourite motif. The mystical Orient bathed in a new, unknown light, attracted a large number of artists looking for new sources of inspiration. Desert landscapes, fantasias and Oriental hunting scenes impressed people. Superb Arabian horses, their nobility, beauty and strength became recurring subjects exhibited at the Salons and art fairs at that time.

But how came the Orientalist movement into existence? For centuries Western artists have been fascinated by the exotic world of the Orient. The culmination however was certainly reached in the nineteenth century. A door opener for this was Napoleon Bonaparte’s invasion of Egypt in 1798. It was not only a military expedition but also a scientific exploration. Its science and art commission made up of mathematicians, artists and architects. This project stimulated great public interest and founded Egyptology as we know it today.

The beginning of the 19th century brought about a strongly growing appreciation for the Arabian horse. Its beauty, nobility and endurance were highly esteemed. Artists immortalized Arabian horses in breath-taking works and provided a new source of stimulation for breeders and admirers – even up to this day.

Growing interest in Oriental countries soon spread all over Europe and exerted an influence on science and the arts. The taste for Orientalist paintings grew with the public’s new preference for information on Arabian countries. This phenomenon was international, supplied by a complex group of artists. Regarding Arabian horse pictures, there is a number of great artists who immortalized the beauty and charisma of the Arabian horse. There were famous as well as almost unknown painters. Many of them came from France – a real stronghold for Orientalism. Also, the “Great Three” – Carle Vernet, Horace Vernet and Victor Adam were French. Their paintings and drawings are exemplary.

Today, Orientalist lithographs and originals are highly sought-after collectors’ items. They are in great demand by art connoisseurs but of course especially by Arabian horse enthusiasts.

Robert Mauvy (1900 – ?) “Portrait of a black Arabian Stallion in the Desert”, original oil painting on canvas, signed lower right. 61,0 x 50,0 cm.

Victor Adam: “Le Derviche (Etalon Arab – Arabian Stallion)”, 19th century lithograph, very refined, beautifully colored by hand. 46,7 x 35,0 cm.

STRAIGHT EGYPTIAN ROYAL WORLD CUP ARABIAN HORSE SHOW

12-13 October 2024 - Vermezzo - Milano

By Giorgia Mauri, photos by Simone Bergamaschi

This time Barbara Morali outdid herself. The event in Vermezzo hosted not only prestigious Egyptian Arabian horses but also important national and international guests.

The winners of the special prizes at this edition of the Straight Egyptian Royal World Cup were some of the best international protagonists: Namara El Alya owned by Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Saud Al Thani of Al Hamama Stud (Qatar) who won the Best in show Female, the Best Head award and the Overall Best in show Absolute, PSE Al Rakhan owned by Sheikh

Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum of Dubai Stud (UAE) who won the Best in show Male and Unica PPJ owned by Donato Prisco who won the Best European Horse award.

The Morali family and Barbara’s husband Alberto Vitali, as always united and compact, this time really gave their best, demonstrating once again the importance of a strong family cohesion behind the construction of great works, relying on a large parterre of extra-sector sponsors who not only supported the organisation of the event but also brought allure and prestige of the highest level to

this event that has always been exclusive and elitist.

Let’s start by saying that the arena was built by Morali’s partner Amg International, which is among the most established companies in Italy and Europe for audiovisual and scenic production.

The most prestigious and coveted trophy of the show, the one envisaged to award the Overall Best in Show

Absolute horse, a 25 kg Murano glass horse head handcrafted in the furnace to the design of artist Sara Forte (who also exhibited part of her latest collection of works in the VIP area) and created by Master Glassmaker Alex Signoretti from Murano, represents a unique object and a priceless work of art that has gone to enrich the gallery of Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Saud Al Thani.

During the two-day show, a video was shown of the preparation of the work in the Signoretti family’s furnace, showing everyone an evocative “making of” of great artistic and craftsmanship value.

Signoretti also set up the arena and the entire VIP area, taking care of the lighting. Magnificent chandeliers and floor lamps illuminated and enriched the atmosphere with the prestigious shapes of their multiform and multi-coloured glass in a play of sparkles and reflections.

Another important sponsor, whose presence outside and inside the arena characterised the luxurious set-up of the entire show, was Rossocorsa, official Ferrari, Maserati and Rolls-Royce dealer, who brought several models of luxury cars on display right to the arena.

Cusi Gioielli, on the other hand, curated a magnificent display of unique jewellery in the sky box of the equestrian centre, exhibiting some of the most prestigious pieces of their historical high jewellery collections.

Kiton, the historical Neapolitan tailor’s shop narrated in the videos that enriched the visual and sound accompaniment of the entire event in Vermezzo, supported the SERWC and the owner’s son awarded prizes at the event.

Harley-Davidson provided special motorbike models on display at the location.

Wave Italy, a global benchmark for excellence in driving simulation, provided VIP guests with a Formula 1 simulator to experience the adrenaline rush of professional drivers.

Impersive Technology provided visors to experience immersive virtual reality videos unique in the international panorama that exploit an exclusive technology.

Finally, Amg international and Queenlight took care of all the backlighting of the event, setting up backlit megascreens for the projection of videos and works of art.

As always, luxury and splendour enriched this important event dedicated to straight Egyptian horses that once again brought their traditional refined elegance to the well-kept location of the CMV Royal Club equestrian centre as part of an appointment that the Morali family, and in particular Barbara and her mother Chiara, always take care of with maniacal attention to offer all those present an all-round experience of beauty, elegance and exclusivity. q

Judges and officials awarded by

Gold Medal

KHALEEFA

KHARAFI AL DANAT X KHALEESI

B/O: LO IACONO ROSA

Yearling Fillies

Gold Medal

GHAYA EL ALYA

QAMAR EL ZAMAN AL WAAB X GHEZLAN AL WAAB

B: EL ALYA STUD

O: AL HAMAMA STUD

Silver Medal OR MARGOT

AYAL EL ASILL X OR MATILDE

B/O: ALLEVAMENTO OL RI

Bronze Medal PREZIOSA PPJ

EZZ AL DANAT X UNICA PPJ

B/O: PRISCO DONATO

Junior Fillies

Gold Medal NAMARA EL ALYA

ANSATA NILE ECHO X NOOR AL RAYYAN

EL ALYA STUD

O: AL HAMAMA STUD

Silver Medal SANA AL WAAB

TAJWEED AL WAAB X SOBH AL RAYYAN

B: AL WAAB STUD - O: GIUSEPPE BARAGIANI

Bronze Medal HANAYA FARASHEH

AL RAHEB AA X BINT FARI HA MAGIDAA

B: HANAYA ARABIAN STUD - O: NUNZIATA ANTONIO

Senior Mares

Gold Medal

KHALEESI

AYAL EL ASILL X BAYDAH

B/O: MARGHERITA CRACCHIOLO

Silver Medal UNICA PPJ

Bronze Medal JOWHARA PPJ

NASEEM AL RASHEDIAH X SL PREZIOSA

B: PRISCO ANTONIO - O: PRISCO DONATO

EZZ AL DANAT X UMAI AL ADEED

B: PRISCO DONATO - O: LAURI ARABIANS

Junior Colts

Gold Medal

MAHER SARHAN TS

RAYYAN AL NAIF X MAS ROMANA

B: AL TS STUD MOROCCO

O: TADLAOUI SAID - AL TS STUD MOROCCO

Silver Medal AMHAR DEL SAR

B/O:

Bronze Medal TB HADIR

FA NILE SAFIR X MAGIC SIBILLA

GAITO FRANCESCO

NASEEM ALRASHEDYAH X TB HELWA

B: ALLEVAMENTO LE TRE BALZANE - O: USAMA JITH

Senior Stallions

Gold Medal PSE RAKHAN

ROYAL COLOURS X PSE MISTREZ

B: PRESTIGE BVBA

O: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD

Silver Medal MARTIAL PPJ

NASEEM AL RASHEDIAH X DALILA

B/O: PRISCO DONATO

Bronze Medal BAHAR EL KUWAIT

MARWAN ELKUWAIT X BILQIS EV

B: AHMAD ALABDULGHAFOOR - O: ARABIAN HORSE CENTER

Special Awards

Overall Best in Show of the Show

STUD

Best in Show Female & Best Head Female

NAMARA EL ALYA AL HAMAMA

Best

in Show Male & Best Head Male PSE AL RAKHAN

DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD

Best European Horse

UNICA PPJ

PRISCO DONATO

TB HeBa

*2011, Italy (NK Sharaf El Dine x TB Hasna)

Strain: Obayan Om Grees

www.straightegyptians.it

Mares the

We do not do embryo transfer. All our foals are A-foals, which means, they are carried to term from their natural mother. Until they are weaned at almost 6 months, they spend their days in green pastures as part of a herd. They are unique and have a unique pedigree.