Khemosabi "Lives" Again

Arabian Horse Times Guest Feature

No Doubt About It: Khemosabi “Lives” Again

by Julie Klug

after she aborted twins

by Toi Soldier.

In the spring of 1980, Doubt came to Montana to start his new career and life in the mountains. Doubt’s fame in Montana started when the local paper featured this love story between a woman and her horse in the Western News of Libby, Mont., which headlined “Chris Harper’s Dream Comes True: There’s No Doubt About It.” t’s difficult to Nodoubtaboutit (Khemosabi x Jus Ultima).

Doubt grew up on describe the feelings the ranch with cows I have when I look and very few other out my kitchen window and see Nodoubtaboutit horses. Since Chris had scrimped and saved to buy Doubt, she (Khemosabi x Jus Ultima). Truly a dream come true for me, couldn’t afford to buy top-quality mares. She set her sights on this amazing horse has touched several peoples’ lives during breeding to top mares and leased well-bred mares for two years his 24 years of life. A son of the national champions that resulted in the two fillies Jeana Khemille and Big Sky Lady.

Khemosabi and Jus Ultima, he was born in August Chris saved her money to promote Doubt in the show ring, of 1979. and during his show career he earned over 6,000 points in The immortal Khemosabi, of course, needs no introduction. halter and western pleasure in Idaho, Montana and The son of Amerigo and out of the great Jurneeka, a Fadjur Washington. From IAHA, he earned 32 performance points daughter, he also carried two lines to *Fadl and Skowronek and one halter point. through *Raseyn.

In addition to the Arabian show ring, Doubt had an Jus Ultima ( Justin x Nadtifa) also carried the wonderful old important role on the family farm. Most of the time, he roamed blood of *Raseyn as well as *Serafix and Gulastra with two loose and went wherever he pleased. At times, he even walked crosses to Abu Farwa. “Doubt” was her second foal, and her up on the deck of the house looking for his human owners, Roger and Myrna Heldfond of Santa Ynez, Calif., companions. He often carried her children for rides and spent planned to continue breeding her. many days trail riding in the mountains. He lived the life of a Chris Noel of Kalispell, Mont., was looking for the right colt king. He sired only a few, but high quality foals. In 2003, he to start her breeding program when she saw Doubt. Although hadn’t bred a mare for over five years. Chris’ life had changed he was only 6 months old, it was love at first sight. However, dramatically, and she suddenly found herself having to board his owners were reluctant to sell such a high-quality show colt her stallion, which is where my story begins. to a home in northern Montana where he would not receive The Khemosabi Dream the exposure he deserved. Chris persisted and wrote several letters to the Heldfonds asking if they would reconsider. Since From the time I was a little girl, pictures of Khemosabi were Doubt’s dam was young, they thought they would have many plastered all over my bedroom wall. Those that knew me knew of foals from her, and the decision was finally made to sell him to my love for him. Back then, his stud fee and foals were beyond Chris. In retrospect, Doubt was Jus Ultima’s last foal. She died my reach. Plus, I grew up in Wisconsin and he was in California.

All of my life as a small Arabian owner and lover, I’ve always dreamed of having a horse that would be “great” enough to be in the Arabian Horse Times. I’ve had horses since I was 9 years old and once I rode my first Arabian, I was hooked.

That horse (a Durral son bred by Bill and Pat Trapp) lived until he was 37. I thought no other could match him until now ...

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Arabian Horse Times • December 2003

No Doubt About It: Khemosabi “Lives” Again

“Doubt” at home on the range.

Even as a child, I knew that it would be difficult for me to ever own a Khemosabi baby. As I grew up, I followed his show career and wrote letters to his owners Dr. and Mrs. Bert Husband about how much I loved their horse.

When I was 22, I had the opportunity to buy a 9-month-old Khemosabi grandson. I was delighted. This horse has proven the genetics true. He pulls a buggy; he works cattle; he rides both English and western; and he has the heart and spirit of the gentle and kind Arabian breed. People often don’t believe me that he’s a purebred. Then I acquired “Khemo Khitten,” a Khemosabi granddaughter (a full sister to my gelding) and a Safire daughter (Bask-bred). Both were quality horses with good bone, versatility and excellent dispositions.

I moved to Montana five years ago and live in Quarter Horse country. Time and time again, my Arabians have proven their worth and have out performed many Quarter Horses in our area.

I’ve used all of my Arabians for sorting and cutting cows, moving cows down from the mountains, driving, trail riding and parades.

They truly are versatile.

I made several pilgrimages to see Khemosabi. I saw him when he was at Delongpré Arabians and when he was with Laura Cronk. I also saw him in Scottsdale for his 30th birthday party.

To see this magnificent horse in person was a dream for me. I cried every time I saw him. Of course, I loved his magnificent personality and charisma. I told Laura that I had always dreamed of riding Khemosabi and that the “owners” decided to “give” him to me because he was getting old and they wanted a good retirement home.

“I can’t give him to you, but you can ride him,” she told me. I was ecstatic! I thought I was riding a cloud. It might have only been a five-minute ride, but I rode Khemosabi!

I cried when I heard he died and could hardly read the book Khemosabi Now and Forever published by Arabian Horse Times and written by Faye Ahneman-Rudsenske. It took me several days to get through the first page that talked about his last day.

Arabian Horse Times • December 2003

Julie Klug with the great Khemosabi.

The Vision In the spring of 2003, still holding on to my “Khemosabi dream,” I started looking for the right Khemosabi son to breed to my two mares. I contacted several across the country. I recalled an advertisement for a Khemosabi son in Kalispell, Mont., several years earlier although I hadn’t seen that ad for several years so I thought he wasn’t around anymore. This is when I truly believe that things happen for a reason. Out of the blue, in the latest stallion issue of the Rocky Mountain Rider was his ad. I immediately called and made arrangements to look at him. I talked with his owner, Chris, on the phone for a long time and we spoke about our love of the great Khemosabi. I couldn’t wait to meet her and Doubt. For several nights before we left I couldn’t sleep, I was so excited. I hoped that she would agree to breed my two mares in exchange for one foal. With a young family and a new business, extra cash for horse breeding is sometimes hard to come by.

The night before we went to visit him, I had a dream. It was just like my earlier dream about Khemosabi, but this time it was with Doubt. In my dream, I not only rode him, but she gave him to me! The next day, my husband and I, along with our two children, headed north to see this great horse. My husband asked how I planned to pay for this breeding, but I told him that I would “figure it out.”

When we arrived at the farm, there was an instant bond between Chris and I. Then we walked over to the “the old man” as she kindly referred to him. He was lounging in the sun and really had no intention of getting up to show us his stuff. All Chris had to do was bring his beautiful daughter Khemille around and he immediately perked up. We talked and I offered her my idea. It would have been difficult for her. She was already boarding three horses and really couldn’t afford any more. I then showed her a catalog of western furniture that my husband builds for our business “Cowboy Steel.” She paged through it and liked what she saw. I then told her (my husband couldn’t believe 351

No Doubt About It: Khemosabi “Lives” Again it) about my dream that she let me ride him and then decided to give him to me. She looked at me and said, “I just might do that.”

I went home to think about how I could raise money to breed to this horse. He was everything I value in my horses — kind, beautiful and athletic with excellent dispositions and willing to do anything you want! Once again I became obsessed with my Khemosabi dream. With my hands tied financially, it was up to Chris. A week passed, and when she finally called asking if I was serious about wanting Doubt, my heart nearly stopped. I screamed, “Oh, my God, yes!” Then my heart stopped again wondering about the “how much part.” As we talked, I broached the idea with my husband about us taking care of an elderly stallion. Being the supportive, loving husband he is and seeing the delight in my eyes, his response was to “go for it.” Chris and I talked some more and decided we couldn’t put a monetary amount on Doubt. She wanted him to go to a good home, not to someone who would keep him in a stall and not spend any time with him. So we traded things other than money for him.

I have to say it was truly the effort of my husband that made it happen. He built three custom barstools with an Arabian head that had “No Doubt” written on the back, along with a lamp of an Arabian head with the same engraving. He traded one of his 3-year-old, dun Quarter Horse fillies as well since Chris wanted a new horse that could be competitive in barrels for her young daughter.

Continuing The Legacy I couldn’t sleep or eat for days, and little did I know that Chris was experiencing the same thing. On Memorial Day 2003, we made the trek to Kalispell to pick up my Khemosabi son. For me, it was the beginning of a dream while Chris was sharing her lifelong dream with me. She truly felt in her heart that Doubt would be better off at my house, breeding mares, trail riding and being used and loved.

The first time I rode Doubt, I felt like I was back on that cloud in California when I rode his great father, but this time I owned him. Doubt was put to work on all levels within a week of being “home.” We bred my Safire daughter and my Khemosabi granddaughter as well as our performance Quarter Horses that are bred for roping, cutting and reining. I feel strong about the cross. Doubt is 15.2 hands, and I hope to breed both purebreds and Half-Arabians that are competitive in the cutting, reining and working cow world.

My expectations amplified when I put Doubt to the test himself. We spent several days cutting and sorting cattle, which included 10-hour days gathering cattle in the mountains. He does it all! He’s so versatile and athletic. I know this when I see him “get after” a calf in the herd. The few months I’ve had this stallion, he’s proven himself over and over again. He is fiery for me to ride and has the spirit to go all day, but gentle enough for my 3-year-old son to ride around the yard. Plus, his beauty stops all who see him.

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Doubt, a complete picture in the show ring.

Also out of this story two people have become good friends. I view Chris as my angel for what she has done. She enjoys hearing about Doubt’s adventures and really liked it when I told her we were moving cattle with the lieutenant governor of Montana! We talk every week, share stories and now our lives are forever entwined because of this wonderful horse. This horse not only made two dreams come true, but how many can say that it happened through a mutual love of Khemosabi?

How many more lives will Doubt affect with the foals he will produce in the future? How many performance arenas will be in awe of the Arabian because of him? Since both of my purebred Arabians and my Quarter Horses are performance bred, undoubtedly you will be hearing from us. In the meantime, if you are ever in Pony, Mont., and see a woman riding a horse as if she is on a cloud that will be me. May the dream continue!

Arabian Horse Times • December 2003