Al Waab Farm
DREAMS MADE REAL by Denise Hearst
p h o t o s by Je n n i f e r Og d e n
U p in the north of Qatar lies another world, a tranquil place where a breeder has the time to dream of what might be. He studies his mares, knows their ways, and treasures their history. He walks the pastures and loses himself in their beauty, dreaming of the foal crops to come. Every day is like this for Sheikh Ahmed Abdulla KH H Al Thani.
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He studies his mares, knows their ways, and treasures their history. Al Waab farm, named for the “lowlands,” is a vast tract of land, blessed with water, in a country known for its beautiful landscapes and its ancient heritage that will be forever tied to the Arabian horse. Here, Sheikh Abdulla bin Khaled bin Hamed Al Thani founded his Arabian stud in 2008. And in the years since, Al Waab has become well known for its
exquisite Egyptian Arabian breeding program – a collection that must be seen to be believed. Today, Sheikh Abdulla’s son, Sheikh Ahmed, guides the program. A quiet and sensitive man, Sheikh Ahmed is an accomplished horseman,
Opposite page: Sheikh Ahmed enjoying NAGLA AL WAAB (Ashhal Al Rayyan x NK Nada) and several other mares from his collection. Below: CHERIFA AL RAYYAN (Ashhal Al Rayyan x G Shafaria) and SHALFA AL RAYYAN (Ansata Nile Echo x G Shafaria), from the D ahman Strain, Bukra Family.
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They teach us so much — how to be patient and understanding, to be authentic, and to never hold on to anger.
having competed in equestrian sports. But it is the Arabian horse that has captured his heart. Cognizant of the fact that the straight Egyptian represents just four percent of the total Arabian horse population, it has become Sheikh Ahmed’s mission to spread awareness of this most treasured horse.
From left to right: the mares DURRAH AL WAAB (Fares Al Rayyan x Shahira Al Nasser), LAYALI AL WAAB (Sinan Al Rayyan x Semha Al Waab), SEMHA AL WAAB (Safir Al Rayyan x Ansata Asila Nile), DEENARA AL WAAB (Ansata Nile Echo x RN Dananeer), NAGLA AL WAAB (Ashhal Al Rayyan x NK Nada), and the stallion FARES AL RAYYAN (Ansata Hejazi x G Shafaria).
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We’ll let Sheikh Ahmed himself tell the story of how the Arabian horse, and this land, have shaped his life. “When my father found the land of Al Waab, he discovered a very old Samr tree. The tree gave him a good feeling, and because of its size, my father knew it was very old, and that there would be
water on the land. This is very important to life in Qatar, and that’s why my father decided to make that tree the logo for our farm. “My father has always loved horses, and I inherited the same love. I fell in love with horses as a small child, and this horse remains a very important part of my life.
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Sheikh Ahmed with, from left to right, the mares DELEILAH AL WAAB (Barraq El Aliya x Nabeela Saqr), DEEMA AL WAAB (Ansata Nile Echo x Nadeema, DEENARA AL WAAB (Ansata Nile Echo x RN Dananeer), and OMEIMAH AL WAAB (Barraq El Aliya x Ameera Saqr).
“I owe so much to my father. He has given me unlimited support, and he has helped me more than anyone can imagine. “Thanks to him, I have this passion … a passion that is so hard to describe. I feel as though I am a different person when I spend time with the horses. They teach us so much — how to be patient and understanding, to be authentic, and to never hold on to anger. “In 2008, we started the straight Egyptian breeding program with advice from my uncle Sheikh Abdulaziz and the help of my cousin Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulaziz. We searched the world for the best horses. I have no problem with any pedigree but it is the straight Egyptian Arabian horse that is my passion.
I feel as though I am a
dif ferent person when I
spend time with the horses. “You need to consider so much when creating a breeding program. You need to look at each horse individually and critically, consider their bloodlines, and have a vision of what you are looking for in terms of type and quality. I love a beautiful face, but I believe good conformation is very important, too. Each breeding choice needs to take into consideration a multitude of different elements.”
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Sha m a l A l Wa ab (Fares Al Rayyan x Johara Al Rayyan) 2016 stallion
Fa re s A l R ayya n (Ansata Hejazi x G Shafaria) 2005 stallion
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Above, from left to right, the fillies: SHADIA AL WAAB (Barraq El Aliya x Shalfa Al Rayyan), OMSIA AL WAAB (Sinan Al Rayyan x Shahira Al Nasser), HADEAH AL WAAB (Sinan Al Rayyan x Bothainah Al Maha), and QORTOBA AL WAAB (Farres x Zubaida Al Adiyat).
O ms i a A l Waab (Sinan Al Rayyan x Shahira Al Nasser) 2018 filly
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These considerations occupy Sheikh Ahmed’s mind as he walks the pastures or strolls the barn aisles in the quiet evenings. He finds himself thinking of the Al Waab horses that will live on to write the next chapters in the history of the breed. Perhaps it’s a kind of immortality that breeders may dream of. There is something else. The gentleness of the whole scene … the way it should be between a man and his Arab mares.
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