Cover Story: Arabian Meadows by Arabian Horse World

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arwan Abusoud was raised in East Jerusalem, near the Naqab desert in the the cradle of the Arabian horse. He was introduced to the Arabian horse when his father took him to El Khan al Ahmor, an outpost for the Bedouin cavalry. The passion that was awakened by his father was fanned into flame by a horse trader named Abu Musa, his neighbor in Jerusalem when he was a boy. Abu Musa spent many hours teaching Marwan about the Arabian horse, and later Marwan worked for Abu Musa helping train the horses he had learned so much about. One day Marwan and his friend Sameer went with Abu Musa out to the Al Naqab desert to buy a mare. The Bedouins picked them up in a small pickup truck and drove them into a rugged, desolate area of the desert. They arrived at a small tent with a grey mare tied up to the only tree. The resident Sheikh was a tall man, regaling them with horse stories, telling them he would rather sell his wife than the mare, before directing them to another who might have a mare for sale. “We kept driving,” remembers Marwan, “to a very flat area of the desert with tents, a few camels, some sheep and goats. There was a chestnut mare tied up to a long rope. I would not be exaggerating if I said it was a mile long. The mare was of the Saqlawi strain, and I recall thinking the horse had a very big head, not refined at all. I said, ‘you brought us all the way from Jerusalem for this horse with a big head?’ Abu Musa, a horseman with infinite wisdom said, ‘hold on Marwan — wait!’ When one of the Bedouin got next to her and held the rope, she lifted her tail, and with her head held high, it looked completely proportionate to her body. She was beauty in motion. The man was wearing a traditional Bedouin garment and had a bit in his hand, which he slipped into the mare’s

Left: PJ Altshuler and Marwan Abusoud, owners of Arabian Meadows. Facing page: The straight Egyptian stallion EAI Silvereen (Safeen x Shohreh by CES Taliell).

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Facing page: EAI Silvereen. Below: The home of Marwan and PJ sees regular visitors, including Canada geese.

mouth. He leaped on her bareback, and took off like the wind over the desert. In a few minutes, he went so far he disappeared where the sky met the ground. I wondered where he had gone; there was nothing to hide behind. A few minutes later, I saw a speck in the distance getting larger. As he neared the tents, his image became identifiable. When he stopped, I took a turn and leaped onto the bare back of the mare to the cheers of the Bedouin and took off for the distance. Returning, I tried to control the mare and bring her to a walk. She flung her head, connecting with my forehead. It was impossible to walk, so I let the mare run back to the tents. She was the fastest, most beautiful horse I have ever seen and the memory is indelibly engraved in my mind.” Marwan took this memory of the Asil Arabian with him to the United States, and fate intervened when he met and eventually married PJ Altshuler of Dallas, Texas. “In the Arab culture, the Arabian horse represents manhood, power, honor, poetry, and heroism,” explains PJ. “When riding a horse it brings strong emotions of pride and bravery, reminding Marwan of the days of war on horseback — a time when you and the horse are alone and you are face to face with the enemy.” For PJ it was a bond with a magnificent being that she had dreamed of creating. Seeing the horse through Marwan’s eyes, she had the same sense of pride and respect that mirrored her own connection to horses. PJ had not owned horses before, but Marwan’s passion became intertwined with her own and PJ decided it was time for her to make the leap and have an Arabian of her own.

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After an exhaustive search for an Asil Arabian with a specific bloodline, beauty and power, they found a grey mare named Ajeeba (Imperial Salateen x Khafrana). Unfortunately, she had recently been sold, but a full sister, Hakaya El Nefous, was offered by the same breeder. PJ and Marwan went to visit Kara Crowell of KC Straight Egyptians. “Hakaya turned out to be a fantastic, beautiful, and strong mare,” remembers PJ. “We knew instantly she was the horse.” Kara then told PJ that there was a similar mare she wanted to show her. “When we entered the paddock, all of the horses were running full circle, except one that walked directly up to me. It was Ajeeba! The full sister that Kara wanted to show me.” The pending sale had not gone through and Ajeeba was still available. “She was perfect, everything I dreamed of in an Arabian horse. We ended up buying both mares. Every moment of my life with Ajeeba was a joy.” It is from these beginnings that Arabian Meadows grew, located in Valley View, Texas, just north of Dallas. Arabian Meadows officially opened its doors in 2010 and the first foal was on the ground in 2011. The farm sits on 30 acres of lush pastures and is adorned with trees. They have 21 stalls, which includes both stallion and foaling stalls. A riding arena and round pen complement this equine paradise. Arabian Meadows currently has eight broodmares with several young, promising fillies on the ground as potential broodmares. Currently they breed two to three foals a year. The breeding program is predicated on a specific goal that draws on Marwan’s unique experience. “Our core objective is to preserve the purity of the old line Asil bloodstock,” explains Marwan. “We breed pure, powerful, strong, and fast horses who are also beautiful. You can’t separate beauty from power and still have a true Arabian, so it is important to us that we breed them to be strong and functional horses. The true Arabian horse is naturally beautiful and they need to keep all of their attributes including being fast, strong, and courageous.”

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The black stallion SS Shadeed (So Excited ER x LD Silver Shadow by Empyriean).

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The 2007 straight Egyptian stallion Heirogant (VP Regal Heir x Hakaya El Nefous by Imperial Salateen).

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In many respects, this philosophy differs from what is generally the accepted norm of the U.S. showring, particularly under saddle. Marwan experienced in his youth something completely different than the controlled aspect of main ring western, hunter, and English pleasure. “The Bedouin Arabian style of riding is a free style — yet, it’s still controllable,” explains Marwan. “Most importantly this style lets the horse express itself. The head is up and proud; the Bedouins use their legs to control the horse. Children are taught to ride bareback so they learn to effectively use their legs. The ‘rein’ and ‘bit’ are not as much a concern. The Bedouins do not use martingales. Many ride with a reshma, a halter with a lead rope attached. The rope comes from one side of the halter to control the horse and the rein is tightly maintained until they run, when full rein is given. The trot is not preferable as they take the horse from a walk directly into a canter. They love riding full speed, sideways and dancing — allowing the horse to move and express itself so the horse enjoys the ride as much as the rider.” Another aspect of the Arabian that was an adjustment from the desert horses was the refinement of the present day show horse. “I found the horses in the U.S. to be more delicately boned and the heads more severely dished than I remembered,” says Marwan. “While a few horses back in the Middle East had dished heads, it was not as prevalent as it is in the U.S. The Pashas of Egypt liked a dished face; the horse traders searched for dished faces because it was easier to sell them to the Pashas. Many of the horses they acquired did have a slight dish, but not the extreme one we see in the showring today.” This does not mean that the program of Arabian Meadows is antiquated or not relevant in today’s market. For proof of that you need to look no further than the Gold Champion Junior Mare at the 2017 Arabian Breeders World Cup in Las Vegas, Fanaticaa. This incredibly exotic straight Egyptian mare’s grandsire is Faleenah El Masr’s sire EAI Silvereen (Safeen x Shohreh by Ces Taliell). “Fanaticaa’s win is exciting to us,” explains PJ, “but we aren’t surprised as he consistently sires beautiful foals. When we purchased Silvereen, he was already the sire of multiple champions and

Facing page: The 1989 mare LD Silver Shadow (Empyriean x Kim Star by Kalrafic). Right: Curious mares, Bint LD Silver Shadow (Line Dancer x LD Silver Shadow) and Alis Bint Maggih (Ali Nazeer x Maggih by Sahlih), peer into the windows of Marwan and PJ’s home.

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was known for siring better than himself and improving the mare. Fanaticaa has his body, neck, and shoulders. She seems to love the spotlight and draws your attention just like Silvereen does.” EAI Silvereen was purchased from Pat Platzek who knows firsthand the value of the sire. “Sometimes people don’t realize the quality and value of a horse until it is too old or has passed away,” explains Pat. “I think Silvereen is one of those horses as was his sire. Unfortunately, when Silvereen is no longer here, people will want his daughters. We recognize the quality this horse has; he puts on a super topline and high tail carriage. If anybody can help a mare with a poor rear end, it is this horse. His conformation is wonderful; he has a terrific shoulder, short cannons, and he is absolutely perfect in the rear end. He can also move — he floats and really covers ground. Some horses may have front action but they don’t have the whole package; this horse does. I am so pleased to have Silvereen go to such a great home! PJ and Marwan are wonderful people!”

Right: The 1996 mare Madrahlena (El Hadiyyah x Saahaar Nuss Lel by Shaikh Al Badi). Below left: The colt Scimitar El Heir (Heirogant x Alis Bint Maggih by Ali Nazeer), pictured at one week old.

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Below right: PJ enjoys a moment with Tiahana (Ali Nazeer x Tahara Risaana by Al Saaheb) and her week old colt Al Kassam (by EAI Silvereen).

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Facing page: Ubayyat AlBahrain is the daughter of the only Bahraini-bred sire in the U.S., Mlolshaan Hagar Solomon, and is one of only two straight Egyptian daughters by him. “Ubayyat al-Bahrain is our preservation horse,” explains PJ.

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Marwan in the Naqab desert with a Bedouin Sheikh, above, and at right, Marwan with a Juraybah mare in the Naqab desert.

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EAI Silvereen is homozygous grey and descends from the Dahman Shahwan strain. To date, EAI Silvereen has sired four offspring for Arabian Meadows and all of them are exceptional. PJ and Marwan are anxiously waiting for them to mature. In addition to EAI Silvereen, Arabian Meadows stands the straight Egyptian stallion Heirogant (VP Regal Heir x Hakaya El Nefous by Imperial Salateen). Bred by Kara Crowell, Heirogant gives compact athletic bodies, good bone, speed, and beauty to his foals and hails from the Saqlawiyah Jidraniyah strain. “In addition,” explains PJ, “he is a fantastic mover, a true powerhouse. Heirogant will head to the Egyptian Event this year in liberty. We are so excited about showing him for the first time.” Heirogant has given the farm one foal, an outstanding colt. Arabian Meadows also offers another stallion that is not straight Egyptian, but follows their overall philosophy of functional Arabian horses. The black SS Shadeed (So Excited ER x LD Silver Shadow by Empyriean), sires long necks and large eyes, as well as speed, power, and elegance with good minds. While he has not yet been used in their Asil breeding program, they do offer him for breeders looking for a purebred Arabian. Hakaya El Nefous and Ajeeba, their first Asil purchases from Kara Crowell, have established the mare foundation for the farm, although they lost Ajeeba in 2016. Both mares are straight Egyptian and descend from the Saqlawiyah Jidraniyah strain. Kara became a close friend and mentor and more mares from her breeding program have made it to Arabian Meadows. They have accumulated mares from the Dahman Shahwan, Hadbah Inzihi, Ubayyan, Saqlawiyah Jidraniya, and Kuhaylan Ajuz strains. One of the more unique mares of the farm is a “code red,” or rarest of the Asil breeding. Ubayyat al-Bahrain is the daughter of the only Bahraini-bred sire in the U.S., Mlolshaan Hagar Solomon, who was bred by Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Salman al-Khalifah of Bahrain, and imported to the U.S. by Bill Biel in 1988. Ubayyat al-Bahrain was bred by Jenny Krieg, and is one of only two Asil daughters of Mlolshaan Hagar Solomon.

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The 2002 mare Ajeeba (Imperial Salateen x Khafrana by Ibn Morafic), now deceased.

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“Ubayyat al-Bahrain is our preservation horse,” explains PJ. “Being one of the only two Asil descendants of the only full blood Bahraini horse in the U.S., our plans for her are to breed her to an Asil, full blood Bahraini stallion. If not that, then to an Asil sire imported from Saudi Arabia. To continue her bloodline, we plan to breed her annually. We will look for homes for these foals with people who understand the importance of purity and will continue to breed this precious bloodline.” PJ and Marwan are hoping that Ubayyat al-Bahrain will be in foal for the first time this summer. Arabian Meadows also has two purebred mares that match their performance philosophy — LD Silver Shadow (Empyriean x Kim Star) and her daughter Bint LD Silver Shadow by racing champion Line Dancer. LD Silver Shadow is extremely athletic, but at 28 is no longer a broodmare; they have hopes of producing racehorses with Bint LD Silver Shadow. After 36 years in a foreign land, Marwan recently returned to visit his homeland. He wanted to again see for himself the Asil horses of the Al Naqab. Like before, the Bedouins picked him up in Jerusalem. “As we approached the Al Naqab, everything took on a yellow look from the sand and the fresh arid scent of the desert filled my senses. My memories were refreshed as if it was only yesterday that I was there. I felt a thrill knowing that the noble Asil Arabian still existed in the Naqab.” After a Bedouin wedding, Marwan was invited for a ride. They rode out into the open desert where 20 years prior the Bedouin lived in tents, nothing but a few sparse trees to be seen. “We slept under the stars with no tent, our mattresses arranged in a circle around the fire on the desert floor. We talked late into the evening about the Asil Arabian with my two friends Abu Said and Mohammad al Nasara. They started counting the Asil that are remaining in the Al Naqab desert. They stopped counting when they reached 300. As we fell asleep, we could hear the hyenas and coyotes in the distance.” “The horses are a huge part of our life and our family,” says PJ. PJ’s sister Shirley, and her husband Mark Dodson, along with their children Kenny and Staci, take a big role in the farm and have purchased horses, as have family friends Leslie and Jay Jones. This extended family spends weekends and holidays on the farm. “Our son Jamal, at ten years old, already knows strains, purity, conformation, and of course, how to ride. We are elated and blessed with the horses God has given us. It is the importance of the Asil horse and the necessity of breeding purity, strength, speed, and beauty that is the legacy that we hope to leave to our son, so that he may preserve the precious and prized horse into the future.”

Riding is a family affair — PJ and Marwan head out for a ride aboard the full sisters Ajeeba and Hakaya El Nefous.

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Marwan enjoying a lively gallop on Heirogant, above, and Marwan instructs his son, Jamal, on the finer points of riding, left, aboard Ajeeba.

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Marwan and Jamal with Hakaya El Nefous and her filly Habibiti Bint Hakaya (by EAI Silvereen).

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2900 Hemming Road 路 Valley View 路 TX 76272 Marwan: 469.556.6425 路 PJ: 972.679.9990 路 pguth24916@aol.com

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2900 Hemming Road · Valley View · TX 76272 Marwan: 469.556.6425 · PJ: 972.679.9990 · pguth24916@aol.com

Designed and produced by Arabian Horse World · 05/17