Bassam’s breeding philosophy is humble and pragmatic. “I don’t believe I have a special breeding program yet,” he explains, “but I am trying to have one that is special; one that can produce incredible foals. In the end, only God decides, Inshallah. I am always traveling to farms around the world to try and find something unique to incorporate into my program. My favorite sire line is Padrons Psyche because it is really prolific, but I prefer not to use too much of the same blood. It is not always easy to find a right horse that can give you something distinct and improve your breeding program. I also am really fascinated by the science behind breeding, especially embryo transfer. It is not possible in humans, but thanks to God, it is with horses. This is a great advantage for all of us in the industry.” Bassam Al Saqran with the mare Donna Molta Bella SRA (DA Valentino x RD Fabreanna), above, and the stallion Baahir El Marwan (Marwan Al Shaqab x HB Bessolea), below.
by Jeffrey Wintersteen
“The Arabian horse is a passion, it is the breath of life for the soul,” believes Bassam Al Saqran of Al Saqran Stud. For Bassam, the Arabian industry is his life’s obsession, one that is not driven by financial gains, but for the horse first and foremost. “It is not about making money, it is about seeking the ideal Arabian; this is something I hope to do the rest of my life, Inshallah!” Over the last few years Al Saqran Stud has become a major player at key shows from Scottsdale, to Paris, to Dubai. Al Saqran Stud is comprised of three farms situated in three countries, and on two continents: Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.A.; Dubai, UAE; and Kuwait. The biggest farm is in Dubai, but the Kuwait farm is growing bigger every day. The Middle East locations are used to campaign horses at the Gulf shows and major shows around Europe. The Scottsdale farm was recently purchased and will serve to train and send the stud’s horses to shows in North America.
Among the horses of Al Saqran, Bassam has no favorites. “There is no one horse that I like more than another — they are all like my children so I cannot say there is one I love more,” he says with a smile. “Unfortunately, I am too busy and cannot spend as much time with the horses as I would like. But when I have the time, I love to be at the farm and spend time with them.”
by Jeffrey Wintersteen
“The Arabian horse is a passion, it is the breath of life for the soul,” believes Bassam Al Saqran of Al Saqran Stud. For Bassam, the Arabian industry is his life’s obsession, one that is not driven by financial gains, but for the horse first and foremost. “It is not about making money, it is about seeking the ideal Arabian; this is something I hope to do the rest of my life, Inshallah!” Over the last few years Al Saqran Stud has become a major player at key shows from Scottsdale, to Paris, to Dubai. Al Saqran Stud is comprised of three farms situated in three countries, and on two continents: Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.A.; Dubai, UAE; and Kuwait. The biggest farm is in Dubai, but the Kuwait farm is growing bigger every day. The Middle East locations are used to campaign horses at the Gulf shows and major shows around Europe. The Scottsdale farm was recently purchased and will serve to train and send the stud’s horses to shows in North America.
Bassam’s breeding philosophy is humble and pragmatic. “I don’t believe I have a special breeding program yet,” he explains, “but I am trying to have one that is special; one that can produce incredible foals. In the end, only God decides, Inshallah. I am always traveling to farms around the world to try and find something unique to incorporate into my program. My favorite sire line is Padrons Psyche because it is really prolific, but I prefer not to use too much of the same blood. It is not always easy to find a right horse that can give you something distinct and improve your breeding program. I also am really fascinated by the science behind breeding, especially embryo transfer. It is not possible in humans, but thanks to God, it is with horses. This is a great advantage for all of us in the industry.” Bassam Al Saqran with the mare Donna Molta Bella SRA (DA Valentino x RD Fabreanna), above, and the stallion Baahir El Marwan (Marwan Al Shaqab x HB Bessolea), below.
Among the horses of Al Saqran, Bassam has no favorites. “There is no one horse that I like more than another — they are all like my children so I cannot say there is one I love more,” he says with a smile. “Unfortunately, I am too busy and cannot spend as much time with the horses as I would like. But when I have the time, I love to be at the farm and spend time with them.”
Above and right: The stallion AJ Dinar (WH Justice x Deska HJE).
AJ Dinar, the grey WH Justice son, is the foundation stallion of Al Saqran. The showy sire was bred by Ajman Stud in the UAE and is out of Deska HJE (Lumiar Amadeus x Soldadeska). AJ Dinar has had numerous successes in the Gulf region, including UAE National Gold Medal Colt and again as a mature stallion. But it is as a sire that AJ Dinar has made his biggest contribution to Al Saqran with three remarkable progeny: AJ Dinara (out of HS Dancing Queen by AS Natsir Apal), who was Scottsdale International Bronze Champion Mare; ES Jawal (out of AJ Lailac by Marwan Al Shaqab); and ES Harir (out of TF Magnums Magic by Magnum Psyche). Though Bassam had been breeding horses for many years, he started to become serious about collecting the very best to promote in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.
One of his first significant stallion purchases was Baahir El Marwan (Marwan Al Shaqab x HB Bessolea). While Bassam was in attendance at the 2013 Breeders World Cup in Las Vegas, he asked David Boggs to find him a high-quality stallion. As David explains, “We happened to be together in Las Vegas watching Baahir show and I expressed my fondness and respect for the horse. I mentioned that if it was at all possible to purchase the horse we should make a run at it. He said, ‘Go ahead, if you think that is the right one, go for it!’ So I immediately got the wheels in motion and we sealed the deal before the finals. We actually were in the championship win picture for Baahir.”
Above and right: Scottsdale and U.S. National Champion Stallion Baahir El Marwan (Marwan Al Shaqab x HB Bessolea).
For Bassam it was of end of a long search — he acquired the stallion he had always wanted. “The horse of my dreams; a stallion of almost perfect conformation and balance. He is the reflection of an eagle — powerful, graceful, and majestic, with the heritage of noble ancestry.” Baahir El Marwan went on to win 2014 Scottsdale and U.S. National Champion Senior Stallion, as well as Gold Supreme Champion Stallion in Menton. Baahir El Marwan is now retired from the showring and resides at the Scottsdale farm.
The dappled grey ES Harir is a dynamic addition to the Al Saqran stable and has carried the stud’s banner to tremendous success in Europe and North America. By the Al Saqran-owned AJ Dinar and out of TF Magnum Magic, ES Harir was bred by Sheikh Abdullah bin Majid Alqassemi in Sharjah. Before ES Harir’s European campaign, the colt proved his quality as a two-year-old when he was named 2013 U.S. National Reserve Champion Junior Colt with David Boggs. It was in Europe, however, where his success peaked with Glenn Schoukens at the lead. As a four-year-old, ES Harir was Gold Champion Senior Stallion at Ströhen, Germany, and in Chantilly, France. But his crowning achievement was Gold Champion Senior Stallion at the prestigious All Nations Cup in Aachen. ES Harir has solid conformation and his attractiveness is enhanced by his large, liquid eyes and beautiful movement. He has started covering mares in the Middle East and his first yearling filly was second in her class in the Ajman and Abu Dhabi shows, which demonstrates great promise for the future.
Facing page and this page: The stallion ES Harir (AJ Dinar x TF Magnums Magic).
The queen of the Al Saqran broodmare band is the U.S.-bred Donna Molta Bella SRA by DA Valentino out of the highly regarded RD Fabreanna, who was U.S. National Champion Yearling Filly and U.S. Reserve Champion Junior Mare. The beautiful bay Donna Molta Bella SRA was bred by Dan and Maureen Grossman of Bloomington, Indiana. She was purchased in February 2014 as a two-year-old and promptly won 2014 Arabian Breeders World Cup Gold Champion Junior Filly for Al Saqran in Las Vegas. That win was only a preview of what was in store, as she went on to win 2014 U.S. National Champion Filly in Tulsa and then flew to Paris to take the World Champion Junior Filly title at Salon du Cheval.
Donna Molta Bella SRA is being campaigned again at all the major shows in the Middle East and has already won Gold Champion Mare at the prestigious Abu Dhabi International. Bassam is hopeful she can repeat her World Championship as a filly in the mares in December. “She has the biggest eyes you will see in the showring now,” he says with his voice full of pride. “Her charismatic movement is also quite captivating. I am so happy about the show results with Harir and Donna and I hope that this upcoming show season will keep going like this for me.”
Donna Molta Bella SRA (DA Valentino x RD Fabreanna).
If Donna Molta Bella SRA is the queen of Al Saqran, Deska HJE is the foundation. Bred in Brazil by Jose Eduardo Guinle and imported to Europe by Francesco Grotaria, she was subsequently sold to Ajman Stud, where Bassam found her. She is by Lumiar Amadeus and out of Soldadeska. Deska HJE is well recognized in the showring, having claimed the ultimate title of World Champion Filly in Paris in 1997, and just as important, she is the dam of the previously mentioned sire AJ Dinar.
Above: The mare Deska HJE (Lumiar Amadeus x Soldadeska), the dam of AJ Dinar, left.
The mare Shownel (Showkayce x WR Jullane).
Eleven-year-old Shownel (Showkayce x WR Jullane) is a demonstration of Bassam’s perseverance in pursuing specific horses. “Bassam came to the farm and fell in love with the dam of Shownel, WR Jullane,” explains breeder Carol Steppe of Day Dream Arabians in Santa Ynez, California. “We had a great day at the farm, and Bassam was wonderful. He just saw Jullane in her stall; I didn’t even want to take her out as I didn’t want to part with her,” she says with a laugh. But Bassam never forgot that day at Day Dream, or the beautiful WR Jullane. When WR Jullane’s daughter Shownel was sold to Dubai Stud, Bassam kept an eye out for her and was eventually able to purchase her when Dubai Stud put her up for auction. “I am so happy that Bassam owns her,” confides Carol. “I know she will have a great home.” It proved to be an astute purchase as Shownel recently won her class at the Abu Dhabi International with a score of 93.13, including four 20s for movement. She was Silver in the Championship to the other Al Saqran-owned Donna Motla Bella SRA. “Shownel is a very complete and showy mare, really an incredible mare,” says Bassam with a grin. ”We will breed her to Harir and she will join the broodmare band”
Above: The mare Luxemere Jizette (KM Bugatti x TA Jihana Bey). Left: The filly SQ Sahara (Invictus PCF x Sephora PCF).
A few other mares that have proven their significance for the Al Saqran broodmare band are Simourah W by the Polish-bred Garsal and out of Sima. She was bred by Mr. Blak from Holland and was Silver Champion at Salon du Cheval. Luxemere Jizette (KM Bugatti x TA Jihana Bey) was bred in the U.S. by Todd Roberson. The grey mare was Canadian National Champion Futurity Filly and U.S. National Champion Junior Filly in 2012. SQ Sahara (by Invictus PCF) is from Sam Peacemaker’s PCF Arabians and is out of the Scottsdale Breeders Final Champion Filly Sephora PCF. She has yet to see the showring, but will be campaigned this year in the U.S. and then come to Europe.
ES Harir (AJ Dinar x TF Magnums Magic).
Al Saqran Stud has recently started working with Frederik van Sas of Belgium, both for farm management and as a trainer. “I am happy about Frederik; he has worked really well for us,” Bassam says. “I have had quite a few successes — I hope I can continue to be lucky! The human beings are led by instinct to pursue their own passions, and only this strong passion allows us to leapfrog our limitations and fears.” Bassam Al Saqran has shown an astute eye for horses and his love and enthusiasm for the Arabian horse is infectious. There is little doubt his “luck” is assured in the future.