In the Beginning — There Was a Mare …
& Simeon Stud
Marion Richmond
62 ▪ PYRAMID ▪ WORLD
In the Beginning — There Was a Mare …
& Simeon Stud
Marion Richmond
62 ▪ PYRAMID ▪ WORLD
Passion, enthusiasm, dedication, inspiration, creativity, and focus are but a few words that can be used to describe the gifts that Marion Richmond has marshalled in building her Simeon Stud breeding program over the past 56 years. Marion has dedicated a lifetime perfecting her greatest passion in life, the Arabian horse. As a little girl — just five years old and recovering from rheumatic fever — Marion studied about Arabian horses. Marion’s first vision of the ideal Arabian horse was inspired by the story of the Godolphin Arabian, and illustrations by Stubbs, Adam and Vernet — “A horse with large dark and expressive eyes, dry, etched faces on elegant necks, and plumed tails held high.” She dreamed of one day owning a beautiful grey Arabian mare of her own that she could ride through the Australian bush. When she was 10, Marion’s parents, Peter and Ruth Simon, purchased a 26acre farm (now 62 acres) in Dural near Sydney, New South Wales, on rolling hills overlooking beautiful Blue Mountains, where they bred dogs. And Marion was, at last, allowed to buy her first mare — a 30-year-old partbred mare that she bought for 14 pounds. The only problem was that the mare needed oats. Marion’s dad, new to owning horses, assumed she would just eat grass. Not to worry, though — Marion’s entrepreneurial instincts kicked in and so she began offering pony rides and selling guinea pigs to raise money to buy her mare’s oats, which ran 10 shillings 6 pence a bag. Having resolved the feeding and financing issues, it was time to get started breeding. Peter Simon, who was friendly with the director of the state stud in Australia, learned from him about a suitable mare, Fuewasa, who was available unexpectedly and possibly in foal. Simeon purchased Fuewasa for 140 guineas. The decision turned out to be a wise one, because Fuewasa was indeed in foal and delivered Shoshanna, Simeon’s first homebred Arabian. Fuewasa produced many beautiful horses for Simeon over the years — her colts selling to farms in the area that were looking to improve their stock horses.
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C a r o l M a g i n n p h o t o s b y S t u a r t V e s t y
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Right: The bay mare Simeon Shavit (Anaza Bay Shahh x Simeon Safanad), with her daughter Simeon Salit (by Asfour).
Expanding the Mare Herd Over time, and always thinking about the future, Marion felt that the horses they were breeding didn’t measure up to her dream. So, in 1976, Marion and her mother traveled to the Tersk stud in Russia where they were able to purchase two Aswan fillies, for about $20,000 each. These two fillies, Nadira (x Napersnitsa) and Novina (x Nemezida), earned over $1,000,000 each in sales of their beautiful progeny, which kept the farm going for many years. Recalls Marion of the purchase: “I specifically went to Tersk to find daughters by Aswan, the amazing son of Yosreia. Nadira and Novina were both yearling fillies — skinny and covered in mud. It was so hard to walk in that mud they had to carry me through the pastures! These two were exquisitely beautiful — by far the best fillies born in Tersk in 1976. The reason they became mine is that I was young and attractive and cried! Not only were they by the exceptional sire Aswan, they also inherited great qualities from very best dam lines including superior Russian movement.” During that same trip, Marion continued to look for more lines to help build her vision of the Simeon program. During a visit to the Babolna stud in Hungary, Marion found the most incredible dark liver chestnut mare with a flaxen mane — 27 Ibn Galal-V (Ibn
Above: The three-year-old filly Simeon Shoshana (MB Talmaar x MB Massalina). Right: CM Moussameh (Mulayh Ibn Maareesa x Moussah Bint Moussameh).
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Galal x 10 Hosna 71) who became the first Australian National Champion Mare. Her daughter Simeon Sukari (by Asfour) and her granddaughters by Asfour Simeon Salome (x Simeon Safanad) and Simeon Sehavi (x Simeon Sheba) eventually followed in their dam’s footsteps and were also awarded the Australian National Champion Mare titles. Galal’s grandson Simeon Sadik and great grandson Simeon Sokaret (both black) were also Austrailan champions. These lines were the basis of the Simeon mare program, and the results of these initial matings have brought success to Marion’s list of clients worldwide. In fact, based on research as of last year, over 20 percent (84 horses in total) of the horses bred at Simeon have been exported. When asked what she feels her greatest achievements have been thus far, Marion says, “The success of Simeon horses in the showrings and endurance races all around the world is incredibly satisfying and exciting. That said, and I truly believe this, I feel my greatest achievement is the continued production of great stallions that go on to beget their own legacies, wherever they go.” Examples include Simeon Segev (Asfour x Simeon Shuala) in South Africa; Simeon Sharav (Asfour x Simeon Shuala) in Egypt and since sold to Iran; Simeon Sadik (Asfour x Simeon Safanad) in the U.K.; Simeon Shemini (Asfour x Simeon Shuala) in New Zealand; and multiple exports to the U.S. including U.S. National, Scottsdale and Canadian National Champion Simeon Shai (Raadin Royal Star x Simeon Safanad); Simeon Sochain (Simeon Sadik x Simeon Simona), Simeon Sachi (Asfour x Simeon Sheba), and Simeon Shavvot (Imperial Madaar x Simeon Soosa). The Mare Families of Simeon Seda and Simeon Shavit Marion is extremely proud of all her mare families, but when asked to name recent standouts she says, “We are truly blessed to have our outstanding bay mare Simeon Shavit (Anaza Bay Shahh x Simeon Safanad). When Safanad passed away she was in foal to Anaza Bay Shahh, as I dearly wanted a colt from this mating. Sadly it was not meant to be. Shavit is a complete and reasonably compact mare with her sire’s lovely big brown eyes and perfect feet. Her first foal, a colt, was sold to international judge Jack Maritz from South Africa and we have retained four progeny from Shavit including the exquisite headed mare Simeon Salit by Asfour. We also have on permanent lease another full sister, the bay Simeon Samra. 65 ▪ PYRAMID ▪ WORLD
Top: Marion Richmond with El Dahma II (Montasar x Bint Iman). Middle left: Simeon Safran (Anaza Bay Shahh x Simeon Sukari). Middle right: 2012 filly by Simeon Shifran out of El Dahma II.
Right: The 1990 broodmare Simeon Shuala (Simeon Shai x Ramses Tinah), center, with her daughters by Asfour: Simeon Suzannah and Simeon Shiraz (chestnut). Middle left: Simeon Sibolet (Asfour x Ramses Tinah). Middle right: Simeon Safanad daughters Simeon Shavit (by Anaza Bay Shahh) and Simeon Salome (by Asfour). Bottom: The yearling filly Simeon Seis (Imperial Madaar x Simeon Se).
“Simeon Shavit is the dam of the very best colt born at Simeon Stud, Simeon Shifran by Asfour, and we also have his younger full brother. The last foal of Simeon Shavit is a gorgeous yearling filly by another young stallion, Simeon Sahron (Imperial Madaar x Simeon Setavi by Simeon Sadik). Simeon Shavit is currently in foal to Mulayh Ibn Maareesa (Ansata Amir Zaman x Maareesa) as is her daughter Simeon Salit by Asfour. Simeon Shavit is following in her dam’s footsteps in being a breeding sensation. “A new family for Simeon Stud is that of Simeon Seda who was imported in utero. I have always valued the mare line of Yosreia and I admired the stallion Dalul in Canada many decades ago. I searched for many years for a grey Dalul daughter and found a lovely one in Raffaalaa (Dalul x BF 66 ▪ PYRAMID ▪ WORLD
Marion’s perspective “As a breeder, something that upsets me is certain breeders who, for their own commercial gain, have suggested that certain bloodlines are ‘less pure’ based on their pedigrees,” says Marion. “It has scared away a lot of young breeders and it is unacceptable. Even worse, it’s reducing the quality of horses being bred, which harms all of us who love the breed. This is completely different to having a personal choice of not incorporating a certain horse — for example, you may not like his ears! “The Arabian breed needs enthusiasm in young breeders — people who love Arabians for their unique value, and not simply their monetary value — and mentors who inspire them. “Of course, to make your mark as a breeder, you must have fortitiude. I think all breeders have felt the pain and devastation of losing a gem of a horse that you looked forward to having for such a long time and then you lose for reasons that are no fault of your own,” Marion says. “It’s very difficult to recover from losses like this. However, the joy of producing your dream horse outweighs the grief felt over loss and it is a part of being a longtime breeder.”
Top: Muli-international champion mare *Simeon Sehavi (Asfour x Simeon Sheba), now owned by Dubai Stud, UAE. Above: The 2009 filly Simeon Salaeh (Asfour x Simeon Sibolet by Asfour).
Bahaala) in foal to MB Talmaar (Talmaal x Imperial Orbilahh). Simeon Seda is the result and has developed into a beautiful mare, and when bred to Asfour produced amazing offspring. Seda’s first filly is in Saudi Arabia and her first colt is in South Africa. We kept champion Simeon Se (by Asfour) and she produced a delightful filly by Imperial Madaar, Simeon Seis, who we feel is an almost perfect Arabian. Simeon Seda’s last foal is a superb weanling filly by Simeon Shifran. Simeon Seda is in foal to Mulayh Ibn Maareesa. I admire Seda so much that I purchased another breeding to MB Talmaar and leased an amazing Imperial Madheen daughter, MB Massalina, from Kehilan Arabians, and we now have a superb three-year-old filly named Simeon Shoshana gracing our pastures. These are truly exciting times for Simeon Stud down under.” 67 ▪ PYRAMID ▪ WORLD
Right: The 1986 stallion Anaza Bay Shahh (Shaikh Al Badi x Bint Deenaa). Middle left: The 2005 mare Simeon Shaddai (Anaza Bay Shahh x Simeon Simona). Middle right: A 2011 colt (Anaza Bay Shahh x Simeon Saada).
The Foundation Stallions of Simeon Marion’s list of ideal qualities in breeding stallions includes: movement, type, pleasant disposition, good legs and feet, tail carriage, dark skin pigment, beautiful large “mascara eyes,” small ears, and good structure overall. One can see all of these qualities quite clearly in Marion’s initial stallion imports, which included Asfour (Malik x Hanan), Anaza Bay Shahh (Shaikh Al Badi x Bint Deenaa), and Imperial Madaar (Imperial Madheen x Ansata Nile Mist). These stallions have sired exceptionally well, though all very different in phenotype. It is interesting that Marion was able to select such unique stallions which, though all phenotypically different, sire get that are quite similar. Marion explains, “I have always been intrigued by the success of my two past senior stallions, Asfour and Imperial Madaar, and the similar look that they sired. After extensive research, I concluded that their common ancestors were the best the EAO had to offer at the time, and this quality in the foundation of the pedigree has been the key to their impact as magnificent breeding stallions. 68 ▪ PYRAMID ▪ WORLD
Top left: The 2004 stallion Immesmerize (Imtaarif x Bint Mareekh Amir). Top right: A 2012 colt (Immesmerize x Simeon Sumaq). Middle right: Simeon Sara (Immesmerize x Simeon Sibolet).
“…These horses from the EAO included Hadban Enzahi for type, as well as the great moving stallion Ghazal, and Morafic. In addition, the mares Malika and Maymoonah form an ideal vision that has stayed in my mind since the first time I saw them at least 20 years ago. “Looking back, There was a Kaisoon son I would have bought if I could have — he was quite significant. In addition, I wish I had used Imperial Madaar sooner — that was a huge mistake! At the time, I felt that he was a bit plain as a three-year-old compared to my other stallions. I realized when I visited Omar Sakr’s farm and saw his sire Imperial Madheen, that I needed to use him more. This is a line that is slow maturing. He was my mother’s favorite horse and became exceptionally beautiful once mature.” The Recent Imports Recently, Simeon has imported several new lines and Marion is extremely excited about how this new blood will impact the Simeon program. “I wanted these horses ‘up close’ in the pedigree for more impact, but it was so difficult as the progeny if still alive were very elderly. The first recent purchase was Mussallah (Montasar x Mohebba Bint Maymoonah), an old mare who is the result of a brothersister mating, which crosses the awe-inspiring stallion Montasar to his full sister. Mussallah is an old-fashioned Arabian who possesses big, dark eyes with ‘mascara rims,’ great depth of body, excellent limbs, and the sweetest disposition. Many years ago I had tried to purchase her dam but to no avail. A year later I purchased another Montasar daughter, El Dahma II, whom I absolutely adore. Her pedigree includes the exotic stallions Farazdac and Adaweya. El Dahma II had two daughters that were even more beautiful, but I just fell in love with this grand old mare. “The third mare Simeon recently purchased is a granddaughter of Messaoud, sire of Imperial Madheen, and through her sire she carries the blood of Ansata Shah Zaman 69 ▪ PYRAMID ▪ WORLD
Top left: The young stallion Simeon Sahron (Imperial Madaar x Simeon Setavi by Simeon Sadik). Top right: The 2002 mare Simeon Simone (Asfour x Simeon Simona), whose first foal is now in South Africa. Middle left: The stallion Mulayh Ibn Maareesa (Ansata Amir Zaman x Maareesa by Montasar). Middle right: The 2012 colt Simeon Shinui (Asfour x Simeon Seda). Below: Breeding Manager Tracey Garrison with the late, great, Asfour (Malik x Hanan) as an aged stallion.
and Anstata Ibn Sudan — my two favorite Ansata stallions, who were both great athletes,” continues Marion. “It was a significant day for the Simeon program, as I had just traveled about 600 kilometers to a stud that was badly sign posted and hard to find. But upon first sight of the mare CM Moussameh (Mulayh Ibn Maareesa x Moussah Bint Moussameh) I stopped dead in my tracks — I didn’t even know her pedigree but I had to have this mare! She was strikingly beautiful and in foal to a tall bay stallion named Massalam (Montasar x Massilah) and has subsequently given us a lovely filly with the ‘big dark eyes.’ The mare’s sire is an elegant old stallion who sires consistently, among other things, great Arabian eyes and long, well-shaped necks. Having these wonderful mares in my pasture — greedy as I am I wanted more of this treasure trove — led to our leasing of Mulayah Ibn Maaressa, now also at Simeon Stud. We are expecting 15 foals by him from some of my very best mares starting in our foaling season September 2012. “To date we have some absolutely gorgeous fillies by our young stallion Simeon Shifran (Asfour x Simeon Shavit by Anaza Bay Shahh) and out of our matriarch Simeon Safanad. We have 14 foals due from Simeon Shifran this season and he seems to be in his first season surpassing his great sire as a breeding stallion. We are waiting with baited breath to see if we have the same success with an outside stallion on our established breeding program as against our homebred stallions on mares of new bloodlines. We also purchased the beautiful Imtaarif son Immesmerize out of Bint Mareekh Amir (exported to Saudia Arabia). Immesmerize is a beautiful young stallion with three crosses to the magnificent mare Bint Deena, whose first colt is in South Africa and from whom we have kept his first daughter Simeon Sara. We also added to our mare band the grey Tammen daughter MB Sahammena from whom we have a 70 ▪ PYRAMID ▪ WORLD
handsome, long-necked, bay two-yearold colt by Simeon Sadik and a very tall Simeon Shifran daughter. Sahammena is due to foal this season to Mulayah Ibn Maaressa. “Building Simeon Stud has brought many great memories, lessons and experiences,” says Marion.
From Marion’s vantage point of 56 years of breeding Arabians, she offers this advice to new breeders: ❖ Don’t just breed on pedigree, always look to the horse. ❖ Don’t breed bad legs and feet. ❖ Always check the mouth to see that a horse is not parrot mouthed or having other mouth issues.
We asked Marion to share some fun memories: “The biggest laugh and most fun was probably coming home after a long ride with my two children on the front and back end of the saddle complaining about their bums hurting and damp from the sweat of the horse. We would ride for miles all over the Australian bush, having a great time. At the time I was young and foolhardy. There were snakes and all kinds of dangers out there in the bush — but we brushed caution to the wind and had a wonderful time.”
❖ Don’t lose movement — the Arabian is a warhorse and should be ground covering. ❖ Breed for good Arabian tail carriage as it is one of the signatures of the breed. ❖ Be careful and always remember that the horse is a horse, not just a piece of art, and must be able to function as a horse. ❖ In Australia, we have a hole in the ozone layer so I recommend breeding for black skin pigment. ❖ I love a beautiful large black eye with the lovely “mascara eyeliner”— it makes the eye look prettier. Breed for beautiful large black eyes.
As Marion gazed out from her farmhouse porch, surveying the breathtakingly beautiful mares grazing in lush pastures beneath the flowering jacaranda trees, we asked her what challenges lay ahead for her. She replied simply, “To breed an even more beautiful horse …”
Top: The 2009 colt Simeon Savorai (Asfour x Simeon Shavit). Middle: The stallion Simeon Shifran (Asfour x Simeon Shavit). Bottom row: Three get of Simeon Shifran, from left to right are the 2011 filly Simeon Sa-Nur (x Simeon Shatkin), a 2011 filly out of Simeon Sepharad, and a 2011 filly out of Simeon Seda.
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