Story and photos by Glenn Jacobs
Preceding page and above: The multi-champion stallion Ansata Nile Echo (Ansata Hejazi x Ansata White Nile).
T
hirty minutes outside Doha, the capital of Qatar, there is a green oasis surrounded by windswept deserts. Al Naif Stud, established in 1996 by Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasir Al Ahmed Al Thani and managed by Mr. Rashid
Al Malki, has been producing some of the finest straight Egyptian Arabian horses in the region and perhaps even worldwide. In addition to its breeding program, Al Naif Stud is home to 150 racehorses of French Arabian and English Thoroughbred origin. Of these, many have claimed international victories in the Arabian Gulf and also in Europe.
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Full siblings sired by Ansata Nile Echo and out of G Shafaria by Prince Fa Moniet, Shamah Al Rayyan, right, and Shalfa Al Rayyan, below, both owned by Al Rayyan Farm, Qatar.
Ansata Halim Shah
Ansata Hejazi
Ansata Sudarra
Ansata Nile Echo
Prince Fa Moniet
Ansata White Nile
Ansata Nile Gift
1996 Dahman Shahwan Stallion
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Ansata Nile Echo.
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The first Arabian horses arrived from England, and soon after straight Egyptians were imported from the U.S. and from Australia. Today Al Naif Stud’s straight Egyptian program consists of some 40 horses and each year an average of 10 foals are born.
Above: Deema Al Waab (Ansata Nile Echo x NK Nadeema by Salaa El Dine), bred and owned by Al Waab Stud, Qatar. Right: The 2011 filly by Ansata Nile Echo out of Bukra El Salaam by Ansata El Salaam, owned by Al Safi Stud, Belgium.
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Left: Nayel Al Naif (Ansata Nile Echo x Ansata Mouna by Farres). Below: A 2011 colt (Ansata Nile Echo x RN Dananeer by Ansata Halim Shah). Facing page top: Adal Al Naif (Ansata Nile Echo x Simeon Shama by Anaza Bey Shahh). Facing page bottom: Egaab Al Rayyan (Ansata Nile Echo x Nadrah Al Rayyan by Ashhal Al Rayyan), owned by Al Rayyan Farm, Qatar.
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Our breeding is extremely selective, so our breeding decisions are based on the knowledge we have gained over the years about the breeding capabilities of our mares, the family lines, pedigrees, and the superb stallions we have available in Qatar. Our first straight Egyptian foal was born in 1997 — the beautiful grey Shahlika (Ansata Halim Shah x Bint Hassema) came over from the U.S. in foal to Ansata Hejazi, and she produced Hejazia Al Naif. One of Hejazia’s youngest daughters, Rayyana Al Naif (by Shagran Al Nasser), garnered the titles of Qatar international Egyptian Event Junior Champion Filly and Qatar National Junior Bronze Champion Filly.
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Below: Ebtiyaj Al Naif (Ansata Nile Echo x Ansata Aya Nadira), Qatar Egyptian Event Reserve Champion Stallion. Bottom right: Ebtiyaj’s dam Ansata Aya Nadira (Jamill x Ansata Aya Halima).
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Two promising colts that grew into two of the most important stallions in Qatar were imported in 1996 as well: the youngest son of Ansata Halim Shah born in the U.S.; the unbeaten Get of Sire Champion Ansata Shalim (x Ansata Nefertari by Prince Fa Moniet); and the incomparable multichampion Ansata Nile Echo (Ansata Hejazi x Ansata White Nile by Prince Fa Moniet). He is beauty in motion and widely known as the “King of Trot.� He distinguishes himself by his powerful and fluid movements, which he passes on to his get.
Ansata Hejazi
Ansata Nile Echo
Ansata White Nile
ebtiyaj al naif
Jamil
Ansata Aya Nadira
Ansata Aya Halima
2007 Dahman Shahwan Stallion
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Ansata Nile Echo descends from the same magnificent cross that produced the exquisite sisters Wafaa El Kuwait and Ansata Nile Pearl. The famous Nile family traces back to the Ansata foundation mare Falima (Ansata Ibn Halima x Fa-Habba by Fadl) and is pure in the Dahman Shahwan strain.
Ansata Ibn Halima
Ansata Halim Shah
Ansata Rosetta
Ansata shalim
Prince Fa Moniet
Ansata Nefertari
Ansata Sudarra
1994 Dahman Shahwan Stallion
Facing page and left: Ansata Shalim (Ansata Halim Shah x Ansata Nefertari), unbeaten Get of Sire Champion.
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Most of the horses imported in 1996 were still young, so it was not until 1999 that the first steps were made toward creating the breeding program we have today. Several mares were bred, resulting in two major international straight Egyptian champions in 2000 and 2001. The first was Jandeh Al Naif (Ansata Shalim x Ansata Nile Gypsy by Ansata Hejazi), a more refined version of his sire, who won multiple show titles over the years, including Qatar National Champion, Qatar international reserve champion
Ansata Halim Shah
Ansata Shalim
Ansata Nefertari
Jandeh al naif
Ansata Hejazi
Ansata Nile Gypsy
Ansata Nile Starr
2000 Dahman Shahwan Stallion
Facing page: Jandeh Al Naif (Ansata Shalim x Ansata Nile Gypsy), European Egyptian Event unanimous Champion Stallion, Norway unanimous International Champion Stallion and best in show, Travagliato unanimous Champion Stallion, Kauber Platte International Champion Stallion, Vilhelmsborg International Reserve Champion Stallion, Frankfurt International Egyptian Show Champion Stallion, Qatar International Reserve Champion Stallion, multi-Qatar National Champion Stallion, Qatar International Reserve Junior Champion Stallion, and Qatar National Junior Champion Stallion. Right: Jandeh’s dam Ansata Nile Gypsy (Ansata Hejazi x Ansata Nile Starr).
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Simeon Seate (Anaza Bay Shahh x Simeon Sippora by Imperial Madaar), Qatar National Reserve Champion Mare.
stallion
and
several
international
championships in Europe. Jandeh Al Naif ’s winning streak has an added touch of finesse and quality provided to him through his dam’s renowned lineage; Ansata Nile Gypsy comes from a world-class pedigree of champions and champion producers.
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Above: Toya Al Naif (Al Adeed Al Shaqab x Simeon Seate by Anaza Bay Shahh), Qatar Egyptian Event Junior Champion Filly. Right: Simeon Seate’s 2011 filly by Ebtiyaj Al Naif.
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Arqah Al Naif (Ashhal Al Rayyan x Simeon Seate by Anaza Bay Shahh).
In 2001, another noteworthy and exquisite Ansata Shalim offspring was born in the depths of the desert, the ethereal Johara Al Naif (x Al Johara by Prince Fa Moniet). Her name means “Jewel of Al Naif,� and she certainly is. She captivated the hearts of judges and fans alike in Europe and achieved the ultimate status of World Champion Junior Filly at the Salon du Cheval in Paris in 2002, making her one of a select group of straight Egyptians that have won this highly prestigious championship.
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Above: Kerdan Al Naif (Ansata Sokar x Arqah Al Naif ). Right: Arqah’s 2011 colt by Ebtiyaj Al Naif.
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Above: Ansata Mouna (Farres x Talmona by Talmaal), Qatar National Champion Mare, Wels International Reserve Champion Mare, and Blommerod International Bronze Champion Mare. Right: Jouna Al Naif (Ashhal Al Rayyan x Ansata Mouna).
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We recently incorporated our young stallion Ebtiyaj Al Naif (Ansata Nile Echo x Ansata Aya Nadira by Jamill) into our breeding program. This impressive son of Ansata Nile Echo adds the “old” valuable blood of Jamill, Ansata Ibn Halima, and Ansata Bint Bukra up close in his pedigree.
Above: Tabraa Al Naif (Ansata Nile Echo x Ansata Mouna by Farres). Left: Tabraa’s 2011 filly by Ansata Shalim.
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Johara Al Naif (Ansata Shalim x Al Johara by Prince Fa Moniet), European Egyptian Event Champion Mare and Egyptian of the Year, Blommerod International Champion Mare, Qatar International Reserve Champion Mare, World Champion Junior
Many of the gorgeous mares at Al Naif are homebred and represent the qualities we look for in an Arabian horse;
Mare, Qatar International Junior Champion Mare, and Dubai
we focus on refinement, conformation,
International Junior Reserve Champion Mare.
athletic ability, and movement. We aim to breed the highest quality possible and keep the numbers small. We often sell horses that excel in showrings far beyond the Qatar borders.
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Top: Heylanat Al Naif (Ansata Selman x Johara Al Naif ), Qatar International Egyptian Event Bronze Champion Junior Mare. Middle: Nardene Al Naif (NK Sahib x Johara Al Naif ). Bottom: Ansata Bint Sinan (Ansata Sinan x Aissha by Ansata Halim Shah). 21 b AL NAIF b WORLD
Above: Ansata Marjaneh (Ansata Halim Shah x Dal Macharia by Dalul) and Seneca (Salaa El Dine x Senaja by Madkour I). Left: Dyala Al Naif (Sinan Al Rayyan x Ansata Marjaneh). Facing page top and bottom: Dheba Al Naif (Ansata Sinan x Ansata Marjaneh), multiple winner of most beautiful head.
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The majority of the Al Naif straight Egyptian collection have either produced winning offspring and/or are halter champions themselves. After a decade of breeding we have come to a stage at which we have a perfect understanding of what our mares will produce when bred to the right stallions, and with each foaling season we are proven right. Establishing a breeding program is a matter of being open-minded, having patience, gaining knowledge, experience, and a little luck.
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Above: Hejazia Al
At present the foundation has been
Naif (Ansata Hejazi
set for progress. With a past so rich in
x Shahlika by Ansata
genetic excellence, the future becomes
Halim Shah). Left: Rayyana Al Naif
easier to predict.
(Shagran Al Nasser x Hejazi Al Naif ), Qatar International Egyptian Event Junior Champion Mare and Qatar National Bronze Junior Champion Mare.
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Above: Jo Sahja (Ansata Nile Pasha x Sakani by Ibn Morafic). right: Sabiat Al Naif (Sinan Al Rayyan x Thamrath Al Naif ). Facing page: Thamrath Al Naif (Ansata Nile Echo x Jo Sahja), Qatar International Egyptian Event Reserve Champion Mare.
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Above: Shomos Al Nasser (Imperial Mahzeer x Royal Halipha by El Halimaar) and Qatar National Champion Mare Mezna Al Rayyan (Imperial Mahzeer x Ansata Magnifica by Ansata Halim Shah). Facing page, top: Daajaa Al Naif (Al Adeed Al Shaqab x Mezna Al Rayyan).
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Shomos Al Nasser.
Mezna Al Rayyan. 29 b AL NAIF b WORLD
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Facing page: Batoul Al Naif (Ansata Sahir x Nevine by Narim), Qatar National Champion Mare and Qatar National Reserve Champion Junior Mare. Above and right: Marghoba Al Naif (Marwan Al Shaqab x Batoul Al Naif ), Qatar National Champion Filly.
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all photos unaltered
Al Naif Stud P.O. Box 4991 路 Doha 路 Qatar Owner: Sheikh Abdulla bin Nasir Al Ahmed Al Thani Manager: Rashid Al Malki
www.alnaifstud.com info@alnaifstud.com
Ansata Nile Echo is available by frozen semen worldwide. For information: Europe and Middle East: Glenn Jacobs glenn@alnaifstud.com U.S. representative: David Cains info@stonewallfarm.com Australian representative: Paul Hedges pthedges@gmail.com