The Heart of Albidayer Stud by JEFF WALLACE with THERESA CARDAMONE
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BEGINNINGS Albidayer Stud, located in Sharjah, UAE, takes its name from Bidayer, the first foal of foundation mare Eskalopa to be born to owner and founder Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasimi. Sheikh Mohammed came by his passion for Arabian horses naturally due to the heavy involvement in the breed of his uncle, HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, and his brother, Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Thani who owns Alzobair Stud. After attending a WAHO conference in 1996, Sheikh Mohammed’s interest was further piqued, and in 2003 he founded Albidayer. After surprising himself by purchasing his first three mares in one sweep, he realized he was smitten. He became a serious student of the art of breeding, particularly as it related to Arabian horses, and there was no looking back. The Sheikh was welcomed into the international Arabian community, where both competitors and fans continue to hold him in high regard. “Sheikh Mohammed is a true gentleman, a man of good character,” describes Albidayer farm manager Dawn Martin. “He has a sincere love for the horses, and is devoted to carefully breeding the finest possible Arabians, who are in fact, among the finest in the world. At the same time, he supports the industry as a whole in a quietly generous way, for example, sponsoring classes or divisions of shows that Albidayer horses do not even compete in, or donating breedings to Albidayer stallions that can only be won by local European owners and breeders. He is genuine, and everyone who knows him holds him in the highest regard, myself included.” Fellow breeders appreciate the man and his methods. His selective approach, adding only a horse or two per year to grow the herd, is resulting in a very high percentage of champions from small foal crops without flooding the market with a surplus of inferior horses. Tom and Cathy Schoukens have observed Albidayer’s development. “Being in the Middle East a lot for the show season, we have been able to follow very closely the Albidayer Stud,” they explained. “H.E. Sheikh Mohammed has collected an amazing group of mares over the last decade. The well-thought over purchases of those mares and, of course, the amazing stallion Marajj, combined with some very wise breeding decisions, have made them a leading farm in the world.”
MAYASAH ALBIDAYER Marajj x Mattaharii
Marajj
MARAJJ Marwan Al Shaqab x RGA Kouress, by Kouvay Bey Sired by the breed’s dominant stallion, Marwan Al Shaqab, Marajj carries a strong dam line through the *Bask daughter Belbowrie Baskana. A striking bay, Marajj has racked up an impressive international show record, culminating in being crowned the 2007 World Champion Junior Colt at the Salon du Cheval in Paris, and the Bronze World Champion Stallion as a senior. The Albidayer team spent the first few years trying to breed their own Marajj daughters, a slow process due to their intentionally small foal crops. It was also Sheikh Mohammed’s preference that Marajj stand to limited books of mares, some years restricting
his use strictly to Albidayer bloodstock. Martin explains, “Marajj is a stallion that can cross a lot of boundaries. As a result, he may have been pushed in too many directions as a show horse. He had limited opportunities for semen to be frozen for the international market while he was on the show string. Bred sparingly, he has only produced around 200 foals, about half of them in the UAE.” Considering his exceptional quality and pedigree, it should be no surprise that from such a small pool, Marajj is quietly proving himself to be an amazing sire, with champion offspring in over 20 different countries. A shining example is 2009 Silver World Junior Champion and 2008 Scottsdale Unanimous Junior
MATTAHARII, dam of: Mayasah Albidayer, Mozn Albidayer, and Mashael Albidayer.
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Champion Colt Maharaja HDM, who is out of an Antar Elamal WN daughter. Marajj also sired 2015 Austrian National Champion Senior Stallion Marjan Albidayer, out of Pustynna Droga, by Laheeb. This stunning 7-year-old did a lot of winning in Wels, also earning the Silver Champion Stallion honors at the International Show there. His tail female line descends to one of Janów Podlaski’s finest, through the *Bandos daughter Patera. Marjan Albidayer is owned and shown by the Marjan Syndicate. Also a gold champion at Wels was the yearling Marajj daughter D Safana who is out of the great champion and producer FT Shaella. Bred and owned by Dubai Stud, D Safana was also the 2015 Gold Champion Yearling Filly at the West Coast Cup. Safana’s full sister, D Shahla, is on track to build upon the World Silver Champion Junior Female title she earned in a hotly contested class last winter in Paris, as she sets her sights on the gold at the 2015 Salon du Cheval.
“The influence of the Albidayer Stud breeding program is felt throughout the world. Sheikh Mohammed's passion and appreciation of quality have earned him much success not only as an owner, but also as a respected breeder of champions.” —Erin Naas
“Having followed Albidayer Stud and Sheikh Mohammed’s program, I’m very impressed with what smart choices their breeding program is built on. We’ve had the pleasure of collaborating together in the last few years through presenting Albidayer’s stallions Kanz Albidayer and Marajj. I have a lot of respect for the team of Albidayer and in particular, for Sheikh Mohammed himself. The professionalism that manager Dawn Martin and resident trainer Barry Shepherd exhibit is just great.” —Tom Oben
MASHAEL ALBIDAYER Psyrasic x Mattaharii
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One of Marajj’s strongest traits is his ability to add his own dimension of quality and correct type, while letting the best attributes of the dam shine through. For example, in addition to Marajj, FT Shaella has also been bred to some of the breed’s dominant sires, including QR Marc and Marwan Al Shaqab. While the results from those stellar stallions were good, Shaella’s cross to Marajj has borne the sweetest fruit and allowed her the opportunity to most closely reproduce herself. With only a few foals born to Albidayer in each of the earlier years, it has taken until now for their Marajj daughters such as Karawan Albidayer, out of the Kubinec daughter Khaleifa, to be old enough to have foals on the ground. The next generation is eagerly awaited. “I have known both Dawn Martin and Barry Shepherd individually for a long time, and admire them both for many reasons. They are each determined while being humble, professional, honest, skilled, and well liked by everyone from the world’s leading breeders, to trainers, to grooms! Together with H.E. Sheikh Mohammed, who has a wonderful reputation for the same reasons, Albidayer Stud has become one of the leading farms in the world.” —Johanna Ullstrom
MARAM ALBIDAYER AJ Barzan x Marami Albidayer
MARAMI ALBIDAYER Marajj x Marsina by Marsin Multiple champion mare
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THE PRESENT Albidayer has developed slowly over the last decade, due to Sheikh Mohammed’s desire to make each decision with specific intent. He is not a blanket breeder, but prefers a targeted approach. When it became prudent to hire a resident trainer, Martin secured Barry Shepherd’s services—a major coup. In addition to sharing a common ethic, he has the talent to represent the farm at the highest levels. He has a great touch with horses, a skill that cannot be taught but must spring from within. “We were lucky to get him as a full-time trainer, “Martin comments. “He has a special way of connecting with the horses that results in them wanting to perform for him. Mozn Albidayer has something of a diva attitude, but she responds really well to Barry.” Barry is well liked by all of the other trainers as well, who respect his ability with all kinds of horses. Even his competitors root for him and Mozn when they are in the ring! He takes his position and the opportunities and responsibilities that come with it very seriously. He sums up the farm philosophy when he talks about nurturing each horse and letting them develop at their own pace. “I feel so very lucky to be able to have the luxury of working with these special horses as foals, slowly schooling them and watching them grow in confidence while creating a bond that enables them to go out and be happy, joyful horses and enjoy their times spent in the show arena. That, for me, is my aim as a trainer. After all, the judges are looking at these beautiful horses and not me, so when we are in the ring, we work as a team.” More than simply a trainer and handler, Barry provides assistance and support to Martin across the board. “I have been with Albidayer for three years now and have loved every minute. When I was first offered the job, Sheikh Mohammed joked that I would have to breed him some champions. So, I joined together with Dawn, each of us adding knowledge of different bloodlines and breeding ideas.”
Dawn Martin, farm manager Barry Shepherd, trainer
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Martin elaborates, “We spent the first several years trying to get Marajj daughters for our program, and then the past year or two we have been trying to create some outcross daughters that can be bred to Marajj. We incorporate different stallions into the program for different reasons, including AJ Barzan, Shanghai EA, WH Justice, Fadi Al Shaqab and SMA Magic One.” Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. “What a breeding program they have,” remarks Marnix Criel, the breeder of SMA Magic One. “Dawn and Barry have chosen the perfect mares for him with the result everybody knows … all champions!” MOZN ALBIDAYER SMA Magic One x Mattaharii, by Magnum Chall HVP Shepherd and Martin had a vision of what SMA Magic One’s blood could infuse into the herd, combined with the knowledge that comes from the experience of many years of, “breeding, watching, and silently taking note,” as Barry describes it. “It all came together when we saw the birth of the filly Mozn Albidayer in 2014,” he adds. “She melted my heart when she first popped out. I patiently waited, not allowing myself to get too excited before she grew up and was named first, Gold Champion in Ajman, and then Gold Champion Yearling filly at the mecca of the UAE show scene, the Dubai International Arabian Horse Festival. Recently crowned AHO Breeders World Cup International Champion Filly at Chantilly, I feel that she has stolen European hearts as she has mine.” The
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Schoukens could not agree more, “She completely stole our hearts and many other hearts all over the world. She is truly one of a kind and possesses all that we look for in an Arabian horse.” Mozn is a breathtaking filly who reigns from an amazing American dam line which traces to a wonderful root mare from Judy Lairmore in Oklahoma, the *Bask daughter, Bask Gazal. Mozn’s dam and grand dam were both top winning show mares in the States and her direct dam Mattaharii is one of the original foundation mares for Albidayer, who acquired her as an early yearling and campaigned her to the title of United States National Reserve Champion Yearling Filly. Mattaharii has always cut a beautiful silhouette and has passed many of her finest attributes on to the lovely Mozn. Mozn’s class this year at Chantilly was quite impressive, especially given the competition—truly an extraordinary class. Mozn represents to the world a sign of the efforts of several astute breeders, something that creates a most unique elegance all its own. Her beauty, almost haunting, was revered by all present in both Dubai and Menton as Mozn Albidayer is a true breeder’s dream. Good breeding and good breeders at work, as it should be. SHAHIRA ALBIDAYER Shanghai EA x Psyche Illusion HBV
PSYCHE ILLUSION HBV Padrons Psyche x NV Cocoa, by Bey Shah Albidayer Stud | 7 | Ar abian Horse Times
RAOUD ALBIDAYER SMA Magic One x DL Marielle, by Marwan Al Shaqab Raoud holds exceptional promise for the Albidayer program. An elegant colt with an eye-catching appeal and commanding attitude, he is out of a full sister to foundation stallion, Marajj. Raoud Albidayer has been accumulating an impressive list of titles in his first year of competition. He was the Gold Champion Yearling Colt in Ajman, the Silver Champion at both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and the Bronze Champion at Sharjah to start the season. Following his show career, Albidayer will retain this stunning product of their program for future breeding.
DL MARIELLE Marwan Al Shaqab x RGA Kouress, by Kouvay Bey. Dam of Raoud Albidayer and Kanz Albidayer.
RAOUD ALBIDAYER
“I became a big fan and began following Albidayer Stud after they purchased Marajj just prior to his Scottsdale win back in 2005. It’s been a thrill to watch a horse that I bred be campaigned and marketed around the world through the brilliant efforts of owner Sheikh Mohammed and the team of talented professionals he has collaborating with him. Dawn Martin and Barry Shepherd work tirelessly to make sure the horses are happy and healthy, and do an incredible job promoting Albidayer Stud around the world. It was a thrill to be in Dubai this year with a very proud Sheikh Mohammed to watch his horses shine in the show ring. They walked away with several of the top titles at the Dubai show and others throughout the Middle East.” —Joel Desmarteau
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KANZ ALBIDAYER Ajman Moniscione x DL Marielle, by Marwan Al Shaqab No mention of Albidayer can be made without including superstar show horse and sire Kanz Albidayer. He is also out of Marajj’s full sister, DL Marielle who is truly one of the finest producing mares on the planet. Kanz racked up an impressive string of championships in the Middle East before relocating to Texas to stand at Michael Byatt Arabians. His first foals are exceeding all expectations and include: 2015 Tulip Cup and Vichy Gold Champion Yearling Colt, Luigi, out of Lolita; UAE Bronze National Champion Filly Nisreen Albidayer; Swedish National Junior Champion Filly JL Azamah; 2015 Dutch Silver Medal Champion Filly Foal, Habibs Nakanza; and Akanza Kossack, 2015 Dutch National Unanimous Champion Junior Filly and Dutch Best Bred Horse. Kanz Albidayer’s show record: 2010 Sharjah Gold Champion Colt 2010 Menton Silver Champion Colt 2010 Dubai Gold Champion Colt
2011 Dubai Silver Champion Colt 2012 Abu Dhabi Gold Champion Colt 2012 Dubai Gold Champion Colt
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MARAJJ
THE FUTURE As the frenzy of the summer show season settles into the culminating events of the year, the Albidayer contingent will be well represented. As this year’s foals grow into the producers of tomorrow, they too will represent the Stud with honor. As each year passes, the Albidayer Stud breeding program will continue its steady progress of improving a genetic pool established by generations of desert breeders. It is the heritage of the Arabian horse that is at the heart of Albidayer. ■
O w ned by: She ikh Mo ham m e d B in Sau d Al Q as im i Daw n M a rt in, Manage r • P.O . B ox 27000 • Sharj ah, UAE Tel epho ne: 9 7 1 - 5 0 - 6 2 6 - 7 309 • Fax : 971-4-288-6546 • info @ albid aye rs t u d .co m www.albidayerstud.com