Bahrain & Kuwait
Kuwait City Salmiya
Mangaf
3
7 6
4
5 Al Wafraa
Manama
2
Saar
1
Sitra Riffa
Al Khiran
Farm Index
t i a w u K & B ahrain
@gmail.com ia s a r o a n o m tud | 1. Alorasia S hstud.com ia d e h s a lr a ard@ h Stud | ger ia d e h s a R l 2. A @gmail.com s n ia b a r .a a a abians | abh 3. Abhaa Ar .com stud@gmail n a m u lj a | Stud 4. Al Juman om shab@live.c a h k la | d b Stu 5. Al Khasha yahoo.com @ 1 1 a fr a w | Farm 6. Al Safinat otmail.com h @ 8 lQ e y a s d | a 7. Asayel Stu
Bahrain & Kuwait
by Theresa Cardamone
For millennia, the Arabian Peninsula and its adjacent islands and coastlines were among the most starkly beautiful and least-settled places in the world. Along with pristine beaches,quaint coastal villages and abundant sea life, Western travelers reported a brutally hot, dry climate offshore that provided little chance for agriculture due to the lack of adequate topsoil and fresh water. Nevertheless, the region was considered valuable because it flanked one of the world’s most well-traveled waterways and a number of crucial trade routes.
While the interior of the Peninsula remained under the control of indigenous tribes for most of recorded history, the outlying areas saw change in the form of foreign takeovers and influxes of immigrants in addition to more common tribal disputes. Long considered one of poorest regions on Earth, the future of the inhabitants was radically altered when oil and natural gas were discovered under the desert sands in the 1930s. Once infrastructures were in place for resource development, the small nations of the area quickly emerged as some of the wealthiest on the planet. Included among them are Bahrain and Kuwait.
Bahrain
The Kingdom of Bahrain is a tiny archipelago of 33 islands located in the Arabian Gulf between northeastern Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Since ancient times, Bahrain was known as the “pearl capital of the world� - a title that was held from the Bronze Age well into the 19th century - due to the pearl fisheries established by its earliest known residents, the Dilmun civilization. The Dilmun carved images of horses with riders on round seals over 4,000 years ago, which proves the deep and enduring connection between the native people and the desert horse. Because of its location on ancient trade routes, the area was overrun by conquering armies time and again, coming under the control of the Greeks, the Persian Empire, the Parthians, the Portuguese and many others over the centuries, including rival native tribes.
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In the 1700s, the Sunni Al-Khalifa family, whose ancestors had migrated to Qatar from central Arabia, moved their tribal base to Bahrain, where they rose to become the ruling family in 1783. To guard against aggression by its neighbors, Bahrain became a protectorate of the United Kingdom. But in 1971, Bahrain declared its independence as an emirate, and finally, in 2002, as a kingdom. It was among the first regions to convert to Islam, now the heavily predominant religion in the area. Bahrain was also the first country in the Arabian Gulf to develop a postoil economy, which they have based on banking and tourism. Bahrain now enjoys the status of being among the highest per-capita income nations in the world and is a significant vacation destination for world travelers.
The Royal Arabian Stud of Bahrain was established to continue the historic protection that the rulers of Bahrain have provided to their cherished horses for over 200 years. His Majesty, King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, is deeply committed to the Stud’s mission to protect the purity of 20 particular strains of indigenous Arabian horses. Many of the strains are linked by name to the region of the Arabian Peninsula where they first developed thousands of years ago. In order to preserve the unique gene pool, Royal Arabian Stud mares are not bred to outside stallions, only to those from a Bahraini strain. The influence of the dam is understood by breeders to be of such strength, all Royal Stud foals are named using their mother’s strain as their first name. In the past, common citizens were not permitted to breed Arabian horses in Bahrain, but private breeding farms now flourish there. In fact, Arabian breeders in Bahrain have established a series of horse shows designed to spotlight their breeding achievements, including an annual Bahrain National Championship show. In addition, Bahrain-owned and bred horses are winning against their peers in competitions all over the world. They are the equine “pearls” of Bahrain.
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forced to relinquish any territorial claims and to recognize Kuwait as a sovereign nation. That peace lasted until 1990, when Iraqi forces began an aerial bombardment and overran Kuwait, resulting in a U.Sled campaign to liberate the country which came to be known as the brief and devastating Gulf War. The Al Sabah family regained control of the country following the Gulf War. Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah advanced to the helm as Emir in 2006 following a period of political reform. He was the foreign minister for over 40 years and is responsible for shaping much of the nation’s foreign policy during that time. While more progress is yet to be made, Kuwait remains a Western ally and continues to adopt such reforms as allowing women the right to vote and run for parliament (2005). In an historic outcome, four women were elected to the National Assembly in 2009.
Kuwait
Kuwait is a country on the Arabian Gulf bordered by Saudi Arabia and Iraq. It became an important region on the ancient trade route after being colonized by the Greeks. In the 1700s, the Al Sabah family was one of the nomadic tribes who settled on the bay in what would become Kuwait City. They eventually gained control of the region, which the family still holds. Like Bahrain, Kuwait turned to the British for protection, in this case against the expanding Ottoman Empire at the turn of the last century. When huge oil reserves were discovered in the poverty-stricken nation in the 1930s, the country’s economy took a dramatic change for the better. In 1961, Kuwait became an independent nation. Two years later, continued border disputes with Iraq led to a military intervention by Kuwait’s former protector, the United Kingdom, which resulted in Iraq being
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In 1980, a state-owned stud farm was established by the late Emir, H.H. Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, to “preserve and perpetuate the Arabian horse of true origin in Kuwait.” Given the name Bait Al Arab, the Arabian Horse Center is designed to be a “place of serenity, where the splendor of the Arabian horse can thrive in peace and pass on this perfection for future generations,” as described on the official website. The Emir has given his strong support to Bait Al Arab Kuwait State Stud, which has allowed for the further development of the stables and arenas and the erection of an administration building, where a modern registry manages the breeding records of purebred Arabians in Kuwait. There is an inspirational mosque; a cuttingedge equine hospital; comfortable staff housing and other features designed to give support to both the horses and the people who care for them.
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The state stud facility is designed to offer the Kuwaiti Arabian horse to a broader audience, as explained by the Bait Al Arab vision: “to preserve the Arabian horse breed and to reestablish excellent representatives from different historical strains and families of Arabian horses of true descent from the Arabian Peninsula, the land of its forefathers, and further protect Kuwait’s horse-related cultural heritage for future generations to come.” In addition to housing the horses, Bait Al Arab can accommodate a wide range of seminars, lectures and exhibitions on its expansive grounds. It publishes a quarterly newsletter in both English and Arabic to inform the public about Kuwaiti culture, heritage and history along with news and activities at Bait Al Arab and Arabian horse breeding in general. There is also an impressive equine book collection which includes the famous ‘Gleannloch Library.’ Bait Al Arab organizes national and international events for both purebred and Straight Egyptian Arabians. As the website reminds us, “The Arabian horse is part of the Arab world’s history and tradition and in Kuwait in particular, it is considered the Arab’s duty and responsibility to preserve the breed and to further its importance worldwide.” Bait Al Arab has a Straight Egyptian Arabian breeding program designed to preserve the breed as it has been since ancient times. The state stud stallions stand to outside mares, which supports the programs of the smaller breeders. They have spent the last 25 years rebuilding the gene pools that were decimated by the horror of war.
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The Gulf War was cruel to the Arabian horse. In addition to oil fields and other military targets, the retreating Iraqi army laid waste to infrastructure, homes and businesses. Collateral damage was the destruction of the Kuwaiti Arabian horse breeding programs, many of whose horses were killed in the fray. In later years, breeders from around the world have helped to repopulate the Kuwaiti Arabian horse population, which is flourishing once again. The people of Kuwait revere the Arabian horse now as they have always done. They have created a full calendar of horse shows that includes a Kuwait Egyptian Event, shows exclusively for Kuwaiti or for international breeders, and a Kuwaiti National Championship. In other areas of the world, horses from both the state-owned and private stud farms of Kuwait are making their mark at the most prestigious competitions. The Arabian horse has been reborn in Kuwait, where it will continue to build on the heritage of its desert ancestors.
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Al Orasia Arabian Stud
Magnum’s Fortune KA
QR Marc x FS Magnum’s Madonna
Sheikha Mona Al Rashed has been motivated throughout her life by her passions both for her family heritage and for the Arabian horses that evolved alongside her ancestors. A few years ago, those passions manifested in the creation of Al Orasia Arabian Stud in Bahrain in the Arabian Gulf. She has selected a strong collection of foundation mares, basing her choices on well-known bloodlines and individual quality, and relying on the kind advice of breeders and other experts to help inform her choices. While there is a predominance of Egyptian breeding in the herd, Sheikha Mona values a variety of strains from breeding programs throughout the world. Her horses are shown under the Al Orasia banner a combination of the first letters of her family name and the continents Europe and Asia. The Al Orasia horses receive impeccable care by the exceptional staff on the farm in Bahrain. They are raised, bred and trained with the well-being of the horse always priority.
Al Orasia is a relatively new farm that is still in the process of developing, yet recent show ring accomplishments are proving its worth. Magnum’s Fortune KA (QR Marc x FS Magnum’s Madonna) - who the Sheikha chose as a foundation mare - is a prime example, having won back-to-back Gold championships last winter. She claimed the top prize for Junior Mares at the Bahrain National Arabian Horse Festival in December and again, at the Bahrain International show in January. In March of 2017, Al Orasia had stunning success at the Bahrain local produce show with all three of the Gold Male Championships going to sons of Bint Al Lail (El Gameer x Doudja Allail), another precious foundation mare for Sheikha Mona. It was an unprecedented achievement that earned the Sheikha the Best Breeder trophy. Ghali Al Orasia, by D Fayez, was the Gold Champion Yearling Colt, Rahib Al Orasia, by ZT Faa’Iq, was the Gold Champion Junior Stallion, and herd sire Kaheel Al Orasia, by Tabaque, was the Gold Champion Senior Stallion.
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The Sheikha has established relationships with other trainers in the industry as well, who have presented her horses to some impressive wins. Tom Schoukens and the team at Schoukens Training Center in Belgium, are the European base for Al Orasia and are a strong support for the breeding and showing efforts. This year, the farm is also entrusting Giacomo Capacci with presenting two of its finest yearling fillies, Israa AH (Wadee Al Shaqab x Zhared Dreamz JTA), who debuted with him in Menton, and Meravigliosaah MCA (EKS Alihandro x Rebeccaah Marc MCA), whose show career has yet to unfold.
Photo: Saad
Photo: Gigi Grasso
Israa AH
Wadee Al Shaqab x Zhared Dreamz JTA
Meravigliosaah MCA
EKS Alihandro x Rebeccaah Marc MCA
In addition to the excitement of breeding and international competition, Sheikha Mona takes the time to enjoy quiet rides on her mare in Bahrain. She looks forward to continuing to develop Al Orasia Arabian Stud, along with her children as they grow up, believing in the strong connection between her family and her horses. In doing so, she will also be improving the quality of Arabian horses in Bahrain as a whole. “I want people to enjoy my horses,” she says. “Even if they are few in number, each horse is special and receives special care and people can see the difference.”
G hali Al Ora sia D Fayez x Bin
l Ora silia Rahib A l La x Bint A ZT Faa’I
t Al Lail
q
Kaheel Al Orasia Tabaque x Bint Al Lail
Bahrain
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Al Rashediah Stud
Many years ago, young Abdulrahman Al Jasmi dreamt of a future which included a farm full of the Arabian horses he knew were a part of his heritage. He began to develop mental images of what that farm would look like and how it would function. He wanted to combine the grace and elegance of regional architecture and the bloom of verdant foliage with cutting-edge breeding and management practices to create a safe and nurturing home for his future herd. With adulthood came the means to turn his dreams into a reality. Built with the comfort and care of the horses in mind, Al Rashediah Stud was finally opened in 2007. The farm name is an homage to Abdulrahman’s son, Rashid, who had demonstrated a tremendous love of horses and accumulated a great deal of knowledge already. Farm manager Gerard Paty appreciates Rashid’s contributions. “He plays a very important part at the Stud,” says Paty. “His knowledge of pedigrees is amazing and his love for horses is God-sent.”
Together, Rashid and his father have created a beautiful, safe and supportive environment for raising some of the finest Straight Egyptian Arabian horses in the world. Abdulrahman first became interested in Egyptian Arabians while visiting friends in Kuwait. He recognized the Egyptian breeding program as a storehouse for uniquely Arabian bloodlines and decided to specialize in preserving those bloodlines for the future while honing the image of the contemporary Arabian show horse. Abdulrahman thinks it is important that the Al Rashediah horses compete and win both against other Straight Egyptian horses and in open competition globally. His belief is that his horses are quintessentially Arabian and should be able to compete and win everywhere. Presently, Al Rashediah Stud has around 85 horses, most of which reside on the farm in Bahrain. All horses at the Stud are turned out to pasture every day so that they can just “be horses.” Each horse has its own
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Colt foal
by Jamil Al Rayyan
Colt foal regimen of training and conditioning designed to keep the horses mentally and physically fit. Some horses are in Europe for breeding or showing, residing with a number of notable trainers and breeders. For much of its history, Bahrain did not allow the registration of foals who were conceived using frozen semen. That led to reduced choice in stallion selection at home and forced breeders to ship mares to outside farms to be covered. In recent years, the ability to use frozen semen in Bahrain has allowed more of the Al Rashediah mares to be bred to outside horses while remaining at home. There are usually between 10 and 20 foals born each year.
by Naseem Al Rashediah
One of the farm’s special foundation mares is Maghribia, an elegant, exciting daughter of Imperial Mashhar and the Imperial Al Kamar daughter, Khemisset. Maghribia was named the 2003 National Reserve Champion Junior Female of Morocco before making her mark as a broodmare. She has provided exceptional foals for Al Rashediah using a variety of stallions and is the dam of two national champions to date. Maleeha Al Rashediah, Maghribia’s 2009 daughter, is by Tammam Albadeia. He brings the blood of the famous Simeon Stud in Australia through his sire and owns a number of impressive titles himself:
Jamil Al Rayyan Ansata Hejazi x Dana Al Rayyan
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2006 Egyptian National Champion Junior Colt, 2007 Sharjah Egyptian Event Junior Champion Colt and 2008 UAE Egyptian Event Senior Champion Stallion among them. Maleeha Al Rashediah brought additional luster to her family when she was named the 2015 Gold National Champion Senior Female of Bahrain. Maleeha also earned the 2015 Silver Champion Senior Mare at the very competitive HH Sheikh Faisal Bin Hamad Al Khalifa National Show. A year later, Maghribia was honored once again when her son Al Aryam Majid, by multiple Middle Eastern National Champion and Egyptian Event winner Al Bilal, was named the 2016 Gold National Champion Junior Male of Oman. Maghribia has given a number of other outstanding offspring and is still producing valuable additions for Al Rashediah. Her 2018 colt by homebred Naseem Al Rashediah (Al Adeed Al Shaqab x Nabaweyah Ezzain, by Ansata Almurtajiz) is considered by the farm to be a superstar in the making. “Al Rashediah Stud is loaded with stallion power,” Paty relates. “We are fortunate to own amazing stallions, so we are able to breed in-house mostly, going outside when needed. Having a full-time veterinarian, we are now able to use all means of breeding, catering to the individual stallion and the mare’s needs.” The senior herd sires are famous throughout the Arabian horse world, with homebred junior stallions making names for themselves through their offspring.
Naseem
Al Rashediah Al Adeed Al Shaqab x Nabaweyah Ezzain
“The future for Al Rashediah is Naseem Al Rashediah,” says Paty. This homebred stallion has done it all in not many years. He has won wherever shown against straight and non-straight horses and now is producing horses (such as Maghribia’s colt) for the future. Naseem was the Gold Champion and Best in Show/Male at the 2016 Egyptian Event Europe and crossed the line to compete against non-Egyptian horses in 2017 when he was the Silver Champion Junior Colt in Menton. Another significant junior stallion on the farm is Nadeer Al Rashediah (ZT Faa’iq x NK Nadine), the 2016 Gold Champion Junior Colt at the Egyptian Event Bahrain who has started his career in the breeding barn with a “homerun filly.” Nadeer’s sire is World Champion ZT Faa’iq, a legendary horse who has given the world many exciting moments in the show ring as well as many valuable offspring. ZT Faa’iq (Anaza El Farid x ZT Jamdusah, by Jamil) was bred by Count Federico Zichy-Thyssen and foaled in Argentina. A smooth and exotic bay whose pedigree embraces the revered blood of his illustrious ancestors, ZT Faa’iq was a European and World Champion Junior Colt with Reserve Championships earned at the All Nations Cup and the Egyptian Event. His sons and daughters have earned a plethora of show honors on nearly every continent.
ZT Faa’iq Anaza El Farid x ZT Jamdusah
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Also contributing to the Al Rashediah stallion roster is another legend, Jamil Al Rayyan. Paty agrees with the worldwide opinion that he is one of the top-producing Straight Egyptian stallions in the world. The son of Ansata Hejazi and Dana Al Rayyan was the Egyptian National Reserve Champion Junior Colt in 2008 before siring a score of champions. As one example, his daughter, Sheika Al Fala, won the Gold Champion Yearling Filly title at the 2017 Egyptian Event Europe, before she was also named the Gold World Champion Straight Egyptian Yearling Filly. Photos: Gregor Aymar
Recently the Stud has made some of its foundation stock available for purchase. Gerard Paty explains, “As we gain daughters from our first group of mares, it is only right that we let some of the other breeders in the world have access to these great mares.” As those astute breeders begin to take advantage of such a fantastic opportunity, they will facilitate spreading the contribution of the horses of Al Rashediah to farms all over the planet. In that way, they are also spreading the dreams of Abdulrahman Al Jasmi and his son Rashid, by creating new and fertile ground for the breeding of the world’s finest Straight Egyptian Arabian horses.
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Abhaa Arabians
AB Muhra
Royal Colours x Hamra Music Memo
While much of Kuwait and its neighboring countries are covered in desert sands, the city of Wafra, nestled in the far south against the Saudi Arabian border, is surrounded by fertile soil and lush farmland. Underground lakes provide the water source for growing produce and nourishing the pastureland for horses and other livestock. It was the perfect location for Ahmad Abdulaziz Al Babtain to pursue his lifelong dream of raising Arabian horses, and he founded Abhaa Arabians in 2012. The name of the farm is an homage to the Straight Egyptian breeding farm of the same name. Located in Saudi Arabia, it was established by Al Babtain’s close cousin and very good friend, Saud Al Babtain in 2006. It was an easy choice to keep the name in the family, especially because Ahmad Al Babtain’s motivation to have horses in the first place came from his father. He explains, “In my childhood, my father bought for me an Arabian horse - then it became a passion! So, when I finished my studies, I started to live my passion by founding Abhaa Arabians. I started with
the horses that had Straight Egyptian bloodlines close up in the pedigrees, but after two years, I changed my mind to use all Straight Egyptian lines.” The breeding philosophy of the farm is to find solid, good-bodied mares with excellent pedigrees, then add refinement and other qualities by focusing on the pedigree match with correct stallions. Al Babtain’s vision is to continue to breed toward the ideal Arabian horse. There are over 25 horses in the Abhaa herd, each one of them are specially selected to support Al Babtain’s vision without restricting a variety of Straight Egyptian bloodlines. One broodmare that stands out among the foundation mares is Bint Farid Nile Moon (Farid Nile Moon x Bint Farid, by Anaza El Farid). She is not only the dam of 2016 Czech National Champion Stallion, DHS Tahrir, she is also the dam of one of Ahmad Al Babtain’s finest homebred fillies, 2017 Straight Egyptian Gold World Champion Junior Filly, AB Faridah, by DF Malik Jamil. Foaled in 2015, Faridah has earned numerous other
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titles including Gold Champion Junior Filly at the West Coast Cup Egyptian Event, where she also won the trophy for the Best Straight Egyptian horse at the show. This year, Faridah was named the Gold Champion Junior Filly at the Kuwait All Nations’ Cup / Straight Egyptian. AB Muhra (Royal Colours x Hamra Music Memo), another homebred, made her show debut in 2018. She won her class and was the Silver Champion Yearling Filly at the Kuwait Local Show and won her class and was the Silver Champion Yearling Filly at the Kuwait All Nations’ Cup / Straight Egyptian, where she was also the highest scoring yearling filly. Al Babtain considers his Dalal Zamani (Laheeb x Zena Al Burar) to be one of the best Straight Egyptian mares of this time. She was the Gold Champion Mare at the 2016 Egyptian Event Europe after earning Silver Champion Yearling Filly at the 2014 Event. Ahmad Al Babtain continues to build towards his vision of the ideal Arabian. “I have just added a stallion, Ibn Farida Sakr, a beautiful Tallahsman son out of Farida Sakr,” Al Babtain explains. He plans to use the horse on his own mares, as well as offering him at stud to the public.
Dalal Zamani
If all goes according to plan, this will be the next successful chapter in the story of Abhaa Arabians, Kuwait.
Laheeb x Zena Al Burar
AB Faridah
DF Malik Jamil x Bint Farid Nile Moon
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Al Juman Stud
Sheikha Al Juman For centuries, the pearl divers of the Arabian Gulf risked their lives to harvest the magnificent jewels produced by local oysters. So perfect were they, the rare pearls were in high demand throughout the world. When Jasim Al Mesbah and Mohammad Al-Awadhi decided to establish an Arabian horse breeding farm in the lush Wafra region of Kuwait, they wanted the name to reflect that history. “Al Juman is a synonym to pearls,” explains Jasim Al Mesbah. “Pearl diving, in the old days, was the main source of income for many Kuwaitis despite the hardships faced by many divers in the vast wide seas. We were thinking of a name that is related to our heritage in Kuwait and at the same time represents a valuable and a precious thing.”
RFI Farid x PF Panama
Established in 2012, Al Juman set an early goal to breed a select group of Arabian horses. Presently, the farm has 13 horses of Ali Jamaal, El Shaklan, Padron and Egyptian bloodlines. “We like to keep the group small, but high in quality,” Jasim states. “We aim to keep only the mares, and sometimes colts, who have a future in shows and can contribute to the development of our breeding program.”
Geneva Rose (Shagran Al Nasser x Psytaniums Mist
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Jasim mentions Geneva Rose (Shagran Al Nasser x Psytaniums Mist, by Psytanium) as a prime example. “She is the best producer at our home stud,” says Jasim. “She has an extreme head and type that she always passes on to her foals. Geneva Rose is a special mare to us because we won with her in our first appearance at an international championship.”
Al Juman Arabian Horse Stud Caesar Al Juman FA El Rasheem x
Photo: Azza
li
Latikka Del Palazzotto
Geneva Rose was the Bronze Champion Junior Filly at the 2013 Kuwait International Arabian Horse Festival. At Al Juman, stallion choice depends on what the mare lacks. “We look first to the stallion that has the phenotype to complete her without sacrificing other qualities and ensure that he is passing these features to his offspring,” says Jasim. “Then we look at his genotype and pedigree also.” On the horizon is the show debut of a colt that the Al Juman team is very excited about, Caesar Al Juman (FA El Rasheem x Latikka Del Palazzotto, by Royal Colours). “You’ll see him soon in the show ring,” Jasim assures us. “He is a very promising show and breeding colt coming from precious bloodlines. He is carrying the refinement from his sire FA El Rasheem, and the attitude and charisma of Royal Colours.” The horse that has had the most impact on the farm to date is their beautiful homebred filly Sheikha Al Juman (RFI Farid x PF Panama, by WH Justice). Foaled in 2016, Sheikha won the Gold Champion Filly Foal title at the 2016 Montefalco Spring Show and was the Silver Champion Foal overall at the 2016 Arabian Futurity Europe. In 2017, Sheikha Al Juman was Gold Champion Yearling Filly and Best in Show at the Arabian Horse Weekend and was the Gold Champion Yearling overall at the Arabian Futurity Europe. She was also Silver Champion Yearling Filly at the AHO World Cup, Bronze
Champion at the Sharjah International Arabian Horse Festival and Top Four at the 2017 European Championships. “It is our success story,” Jasim relates. “Our first leased mare PF Panama, our first embryo transfer, and our first home-bred foal, Sheikha Al Juman was shown around the globe and competed against the best of the best.” Deluged with requests to buy her, Jasim and Mohammad made the difficult decision to sell Sheikha to Al Bariq Stud of Kuwait. “Sometimes you have to let go of even the best ones when the right time and home comes,” Jasim advises. Through Sheikha and the homebreds to come, Al Juman Stud will influence the quality of Arabian breeding in Kuwait and around the world.
Sheikha Al Juman RFI Farid x PF Panama
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Al Khashab Stud
Bint Hazy Al Khalediah Mubarak and Adel Al Khashab share a deep and abiding passion for the Arabian horse. As is customary among the people of the Arabian Peninsula, the brothers grew up steeped in the knowledge that desert horses were intrinsic to their native culture. Many families owe their very existence to the horses who developed side-by-side with their ancestors. As adults, Mubarak and Adel determined that they would establish a breeding farm where they could raise Arabian horses which were as close as possible to their ideal image. In the latter part of 2012, they established Al Khashab Stud in the fertile Wafraa region of Kuwait, near the shores of the Arabian Gulf. The farm is quietly elegant, with shimmering desert sands relieved by landscaping that includes a forest of palms, their fronds on full display. The stables are a classic showcase for the exquisite horses that they house, with additional facilities that provide full-service care to all of the equine residents. From the beginning, the brothers set a high standard for their worldwide search for foundation stock.
With a core group of mares now well-established and producing wonderful homebred foals, they are still continually on the lookout for exceptional horses to add to their program. For example, the beautiful Sahara Angel, a daughter of WH Justice and Annjolina, was purchased at the 2017 Schoukens Training Center auction. An elegant addition to the Al Khashab collection, Sahara Angel was the Gold Champion Junior Filly at the 2017 Deauville Arabian Cup. The horses of Al Khashab have made names for themselves and the farm in the show rings of many countries and are developing a following. Perhaps their most well-known mare is the very popular Bint Hazy Al Khalediah (El Palacio VO x Hazy Al Khalediah). A many-time champion in the past, she is being campaigned again this year and was recently named the 2018 Silver Champion Senior Mare at the very prestigious Mediterranean and Arab Countries Arabian Horse Championship in Menton. It was her second Menton win, having brought home the Bronze championship as a yearling.
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Sahara Angel Rshediah
WH Justice x Annjolina
Al Khashab
EKS Alihandro x Symphony of Love
Bint Hazy Al Khalediah El Palacio VO x Hazy Al Khalediah Bint Hazy has earned a mountain of other honors in the show ring, including 2015 Silver World Champion Junior Mare and 2016 Bronze World Champion Junior Mare. Bint Hazy Al Khalediah was also the Gold Champion at the 2017 AHO World Cup, the 2015 UKIAHS at Addington, the 2015 West Coast Cup and the 2015 Emerald Trophy show. Twice, she has been named Majeedah CF Best in Show in addition WH Justice x to winning gold; those Maharani CF victories were at the 2017 AHO World Cup and the 2015 Emerald Trophy shows. Another crowd favorite is the lovely Majeedah CF (WH Justice x Maharani CF), who represented Al Khashab brilliantly in 2016 when she earned the Gold Champion Senior Mare titles at both the West Coast Cup and the Bruges International.
She capped her winning season by being named the European Silver Champion Senior Mare. Mubarak and Adel Al Khashab are proud of the achievements of their horses in competition with the finest in the world. They did extremely well at the 2018 Kuwait International Arabian Horse Championship “A” show, with homebred Rshediah Al Khashab (EKS Alihandro x Symphony of Love) winning the Gold Champion Junior Filly title. Rshediah Al Khashab was the Gold Champion Yearling Filly at both the 2017 KAAHC Championship “A” show and the 2017 Kuwait National Championship “B” show. Rshediah Al Khashab is also the 2018 Silver Champion Junior Filly from the Menton Arabian Horse
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Champion Yearling Colt honors at the 2015 Al Ahsa Saudi National Championship. Zaher has also been named the Bronze Champion Junior Colt at the 2017 King Abdulaziz Arabian Horse Center Show. Zaher Al Muawd is out of Espinilla, who comes from the finest Egyptian bloodlines through her sire Al Maraam and the finest Polish bloodlines through her dam Espadrilla, a Monogramm granddaughter. They are particularly thrilled with the foals that Zaher Al Muawd is producing: Modmozel Al Khashab, from Eriana FMA; Rahma Al Khashab, from SA Minerva and Zaher Al Khashab from Nardin are all showing exceptional promise.
Malikat Al Moluk Mameluk x Asalat Al Hala
Championship and earned the Silver Champion Junior Filly honors at the 2018 AHO World Cup. The brothers have high hopes for her continued success on the European show circuit this year. Stablemate Malikat Al Moluk (Mameluk x Asalat Al Hala) added to the farm’s glory in Kuwait when she won the Silver Champion Mare title. Malikat has numerous previous medals including Silver Champion Junior Mare at the 2016 All Nations Cup and 2016 West Coast Cup. Malikat Al Maluk was also named the Gold Champion Junior Mare at both the 2016 Tulip Cup and the 2016 Emerald Trophy shows.
The Al Khashab brothers have developed reciprocal relationships with many other breeders, allowing them the opportunity to be flexible with their herd and to manage its growth. They have benefitted from leasing great mares from outstanding farms and they are willing to offer that same advantage to other breeders. Mubarak and Adel also know that in order be creditable as breeders, they sometimes have to let some of their best horses go to new homes. Their lovely mare CAP Bianca (Shanghai EA x Arabians Blanca) is a good example of such a sacrifice. She had great success for Al Khashab in the show ring, garnering the Silver National Champion honors at the 2016 Kuwait National Championships. She was also the Gold Champion Senior Mare at the 2016 Berlin Cup International. In keeping with their philosophy, CAP Bianca will be offered for sale at the Schoukens Training Center auction to be held in October 2018.
Three Al Khashab yearlings also won important prizes at the 2018 Kuwait International Championship. Jude MS (Abha Ubangui x JJC Lourdes) was the Bronze Champion Yearling Filly, while two offspring of Al Khashab’s herd sire Shakar Pegasus (Shaezz El Madan x Jameel Pegasus) also ended up in the winner’s circle. Shakar Pegasus won Gold Champion Senior Stallion honors at the 2016 West Coast Cup and is now making a name for himself as a sire. His lovely daughter, Ghazl Al Khashab, was the 2018 Bronze Champion Yearling Filly. Out of Majeedah CF, Ghazl also placed first in her section of fillies at the Kuwait National Championships. Mubarak and Adel have high hopes for their young stallion, Zaher Al Muawd. A son of the Polish-bred international champion Equator, Zaher Al Muawd is a multiple-gold champion himself. He was the Gold Champion Junior Colt at the 2017 Kuwait International Championship show after already earning Gold
Zaher Al Muawd
Equator x Espinilla
Kuwait
A HT Abroad
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left:
Shakar Pegasus Shaezz El Madan x Jameel Pegasus right:
Ghazl
Al Khashab
Shakar Pegasus x Majeedah CF
With so much success already in the books, the Al Khashab brothers are enjoying the fruits of their labor of love. They see their horses winning in the international spotlight and, more importantly, see their vision of the ideal Arabian horse coming to fruition. With every new foal, they get ever-closer to that goal. Mubarak and Adel Al Khashab welcome all who love the Arabian horse to visit Al Khashab Stud should your path lead you to Kuwait. There you may find a horse that is the answer to your dreams!
Rshediah Al Khashab
Kuwait
A HT Abroad
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Al Safinat Stud
Firas Al Safinat
Sinan Al Rayyan x Agayeb Al Rayyan
The Arabian horse breeders of Kuwait share a special commitment to each other and to the horses that they hold dear. Together, they have worked to restore and enrich the breeding of Arabian horses following the devasting Gulf War in 1990-1991. Because underground water supports the country’s only uniformly fertile area in the southern region around Wafra, nearly all of the breeding farms in Kuwait are in close proximity to each other, another important factor in the development of the collaborative spirit that has fueled their successful effort. Among those to make an early contribution to the rebirth of Arabian breeding in Kuwait was Khaled Ben Shokor, who founded Al Safinat Stud near Wafra in 1995. Khaled Ben Shokor has loved Arabian horses for many years, admiring everything about them. His reverence for every detail is evident in his reason for choosing the Arabic name Al Safinat for his farm. “It symbolizes the characteristics of Arabian horses that stand on three legs,” he explains, “the fourth leg relaxed on the tip of the hoof.” Khaled Ben Shokor’s appreciation for every
element of the horses, including their typical behaviors, contributes as a factor in his ongoing success. “My plan did not change over the years,” he states. Khaled Ben Shokor visited many farms in many countries all over the world, learning from and mentoring with some of the most successful breeders in the Arabian horse business. His basic breeding philosophy remains the same, “to maintain the quality and purity of my breed.” It is a worthy goal. More specifically, Khaled’s vision into the future is to, “breed correct and elegant Straight Egyptian horses.” Bait El Arab, the state stud farm of Kuwait, has been at the center of reconstruction of the Arabian breed for many years now. In their 2008 brochure, they endorse Al Safinat’s owner, offering him their sincere praise, “Khaled Ben Shokor is … honest and open about his horses and his goals in breeding, which makes a visit to see his farm both delightful and educational.” The many Arabian horse enthusiasts who have visited Al Safinat Stud would agree.
Kuwait
A HT Abroad
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Al Safinat Stud has a present roster of around 45 mares and fillies, and four stallions, a number that Khaled thinks is just about right for them. He keeps the numbers fairly constant by sometimes selling horses to interested breeders and only purchasing a new horse if it would be of significant value to the breeding program. Not all the horses are shown, some are only for breeding and some are used for pleasure riding. Khaled Ben Shokor is grateful for the positive impact that the horses have on the lives of the people he loves the most. “All my family are involved in Arabian horses,” he declares, “as the horses became part of my family.”
Photo: Irina Filsinger
Al Safinat employs the most current breeding techniques,using frozen semen and/or embryo transfer when necessary. They cater to each mare and stallion’s preferences, breeding by both natural service and via embryo transfer. The horses receive nothing but the finest of care in every area, undergoing a light training routine that keeps them in good condition.
Aliikat
Ruminaja Ali x Katourah
majority of the Al Safinat mares. Sometimes, individual mares are sent abroad for breeding to outside stallions if Khaled thinks that would be the best cross. He still has two of the original four mares with which he founded the farm over 20 years ago: Aliikat 1989 (Ruminaja Ali x Katourah, by Mohssen) and RN Rayana 1994 (Prince Fa Moniet x Ansata Sharifa, by Ansata Ibn Shah).
RN Rayana
Khaled takes the breeding of Straight Egyptian horses very seriously, using his accumulated knowledge to select each stallion/mare combination with the greatest of care. He pays particular attention to the strains that trace back to some of the Arabian breed’s greatest desert-bred foundations. “I use mainly Dahman Shahwan bloodlines through Sabah and Farida,” he says. “And Saglawi bloodlines through Moniet El Nefous and Ghazala.” He bases his decisions on the conformation / phenotype of the horses in addition to their Straight Egyptian pedigrees. Khaled offers his four stallions at stud for other breeders to share, as well as using them on the
Photo: Gigi Grasso
Prince Fa Moniet x Ansata Sharifa
Kuwait
A HT Abroad
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Exotica had a number of excellent children for Khaled, including Arak Al Safinat by Alidaar, and the elegant Kamar Al Safinat by Ansata Hejazi. It was Exotica’s 1992 daughter Ansata Shahrezade (by Ansata Halim Shah) who has had the most impact on the family to date. Her first two foals, by Ansata Iemhotep, placed well at shows in Europe and the Middle East, with her 2000 son Ansata Alghazzali winning the senior stallion championships at the Northern Group AHS show in both 2004 and 2005. Her son Labbad, by Ansata Nile Nadir, placed well in national competitions in Sharjah, Ajman and the UAE, and he has proven himself to be a useful sire. But it was a daughter who would add the most luster to the family tree. The ethereal beauty, Ansata Bint Shahrezad was born to Ansata Shahrezade in 2002. Her sire, Farres, is a son of Anaza El Farid. It was no surprise when Bint Shahrezad won her class and was named the 2005 Egyptian National Champion Junior Female. She followed that up by earning the 2006 Egyptian National Champion Senior Female honors. Upon retiring from the show ring, Bint Shahrezad produced excellent offspring, including Motair Al Baidaa, by Tarres Rasheek Al Qusar, who was the 2013 Silver Champion Junior Male at the 15th Sharjah International Championships.
Nefisa Al Safinat
Ansata Hejazi x Aliikat
Aliikat is an elegantly beautiful daughter of the legendary Ruminaja Ali, still gorgeous at nearly 30 years old. She has produced foals by a number of different stallions, with two of her finest offspring being full sisters by the remarkable Ansata Hejazi (Ansata Halim Shah x Ansata Sudarra, by Ansata Abu Sudan). The eldest, Nefisa Al Safinat, was foaled in 2001. She placed well at the 2010 Kuwait National Championships before being sold to Al Waab Stud together with her daughter Najlaa Al Safinat (x Wahag Al Rayan). RN Rayana is another grand mare who has produced well for Khaled Ben Shokor when bred to Ansata Hejazi and the Salaa El Dine son, Adnan. Rawan Al Safinat, by Hejazi, has produced several show winners, as has Rayana’s Adnan daughter, Rimaa Al Safinat. While these two mares deserve high accolades, when asked which of the Stud’s mares was the most important to mention, Khaled named Ansata Exotica (Jamilll x Ansata Ghazala, by Ansata Ibn Sudan). Foaled in 1986, Ansata Exotica is a product of Don and Judy Forbis’s fabled Ansata Arabian Stud.
Najlaa
Al Safinat Wahag Al Rayyan x Nefisa Al Safinat
Kuwait
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Rimaa Al Safinat
Rana Al Safinat
Ansata Exotica
Ansata Hejazi x RN Rayana
As the heat of summer begins to wane, the horses of Al Safinat Stud continue to blossom. It is they who will keep Khaled Ben Shokor’s dream of the ideal Arabian horse alive, with each ensuing generation bringing him closer to that goal. It is the horses who will enrich the gene pool in Kuwait, providing a rich palette for the future.
Kamar Al Safinat Jamilll x Ansata Ghazala
Kuwait
A HT Abroad
Adnan x RN Rayana
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Ansata Hejazi x Ansata Exotica
Asayel Stud
Khaled Abdulaziz Al Nughemshe grew up dreaming about raising the desert horses that are a part of his heritage. He eventually began a hobby farm, naming it Asayel, which Khaled describes as “identical to the Arab identity.” As he and his family became more involved in the breed, Khaled began to turn his hobby into a full-fledged Arabian horse business in Al Wafra, the southernmost area in Kuwait. With over 150 horses, the Asayel herd is robust and includes 12 stallions that serve the farm and visiting mares. Khaled believes that reasonable prices on good horses will create more demand and secure their value to the horses’ best advantage. With so many successful homebreds, Khaled only buys horses that will have a significant impact on the Asayel program. His horses are in demand by other breeders and are valuable additions to the local gene pool. Asayel Stud has produced a dozen and more Gold Champions and has promoted many others.
In particular, the Asayel Stud stallions have brought notoriety to the farm through their many wins in the stiffest international competitions. This year, in a dominating display by two of the farm’s stallions, PSE Al Rakhan (Royal Colours x PSE Mistrez) and Naseem Al Nakeeb (Murtajab Al Nakeeb x Nessma), they brought home both the Gold and Silver Senior Stallion titles, respectively, at the Kuwait All Nations Cup for Straight Egyptians. PSE Al Rakhan was previously named the 2016 Gold Champion Senior Stallion at the Egyptian Event Europe and the 2014 Gold World Champion Colt at the Straight Egyptian World Championships. At the 2013 Egyptian Event Europe, Al Rakhan was the Gold Champion Colt and the Best in Show. Later that year, he was named the Best Straight Egyptian at the 2013 Arabian World Championships in Paris. PSE Al Rakhan’s stellar show record comes as no surprise, as he was the 2012 Gold Champion Foal at the Egyptian Event Europe, scoring 93.5 points, with four 20’s!
Kuwait
Naseem Al Nakeeb was also shown prior to this year, including winning the 2015 Silver Champion Senior Stallion title at the Kuwait International Egyptian Event. That same year, one of Asayel Stud’s most exciting junior stallions was foaled. D Arghad (FA El Rasheem x Krystal Tiara) is a stunning bay who was named the 2018 Bronze Champion Junior Stallion at the Kuwait International Arabian Horse Championships. Van Gogh AM (Magnum Psyche x Ynazia HCF, by AF Don Giovani) is one of the most popular show horses and sires in Europe. His offspring have won scores of gold, silver and bronze titles all over the world. Van Gogh has been earning championships at the most prestigious shows on the planet for more than six years. In 2011, he was the Silver Champion Junior Stallion at Menton to start the summer, earning the Silver Champion Junior Stallion title at the All Nations Cup in Aachen later that year.
pse Al Rakhan
Van Gogh AM Magnum Psyche x Ynazia HCF
Royal Colours x PSE Mistrez
Photos: Elisa Grassi, Gigi Grasso
Van Gogh earned a Bronze in Menton the following year as a junior stallion, and in 2015, crossed the Atlantic Ocean and most of North America to become the Gold Champion Senior Stallion at the Scottsdale International Arabian Breeders Classic in Arizona. Van Gogh was also the Gold Champion Stallion at shows in Italy and France that year. More recently, he was named the 2017 Gold Champion Senior Stallion and the Crowd Favorite at the Elran Cup. He earned a third Menton title in 2017, Bronze Champion Senior Stallion. Khaled Abdulaziz Al Nughemshe has much to be proud of. Through his efforts, the horses of Asayel Stud will continue to prosper.
Kuwait
D Arghad
FA El Rasheem x Krystal Tiara
Design by Melanie Groger Text by Theresa Cardamone for Arabian Horse Times Abroad