Wadee
Al Shaqab
“The first step of the return is complete. Wadee Al Shaqab now sets his sights on Paris and a second World Championship.�
Wadee
Al Shaqab
BY JEFFREY WINTERSTEEN AND FRANCESCA ARAGNO
The Journey Sometimes the consuming focus of competition at the shows makes us lose sight of why we love the Arabian horse, as it is a passion that runs through us all. It is in those precious moments that we realize the Arabian horse is so much more than an exhibition at a halter competition. The extreme power, agility, dynamic carriage, and incredible beauty of this animal are timeless, but it is their soul that truly captivates us and draws us in. Even for those who have spent their life with this breed, they continue to surprise us with their generosity, and how they share their feelings without words. They are our friends, companions, and partners. There are those special horses that you will remember for a lifetime, the one you will always hold close to you, and in a small way, want to keep all to yourself. For many, this horse is Wadee Al Shaqab.
Wadee Al Shaqab is a son of legendary Marwan Al Shaqab, and out of the Mishaah daughter, OFW Mishaahl. If this pedigree rings a bell of recognition, it should, as Wadee Al Shaqab is full sibling to World Champion Kahil Al Shaqab, both bred by Al Shaqab Stud of Doha, Qatar. Forget for a moment the number of
that are full siblings? It is a rarity in
World Champions that have hailed
the equine world, to put it bluntly.
from this stud — that in itself is
The exploits of Marwan Al Shaqab
stunning. But two world champions
are universally known, so it is the dam of this remarkable combination that naturally draws your attention.
“There was tremendous tension the day of the surgery. Honestly, I didn’t know if he would make it. I was scared to lose a part of my family.” — Giacomo Capacci
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OFW Mishaahl (Mishaah x OFW Balarina) was bred by Harold and Dolly Orr, and purchased for Al Shaqab by Michael Byatt, who went on a buying trip with Sheikh Hamad bin Ali Al Thani back in 2006. She was four years old at the time. “I knew her as a youngster and she was just a big, correct, very elegant looking mare,” Michael recalls. “She wasn’t the most successful show horse, but both
“If this pedigree rings a bell of recognition, it should … ”
Sheikh Hamad and I saw something in her. She had this beautiful long neck, very tall, very athletic. She was the one we both loved. We looked at a lot of horses that trip, and she really rose to the top of both my and Hamad’s list. She was just a really handsome, beautiful horse.”
Wadee’s grandsire, the 22-year-old super sire Gazal Al Shaqab, was recently presented the Lifetime Award in Aachen during the All Nations Cup. He is pictured here with Sheikh Hamad bin Ali Al Thani and trainer Michael Byatt.
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“ … both Sheikh Hamad and I saw something in her. She had this beautiful long neck, very tall, very athletic.” — Michael Byatt That said, one thing she was not was exotic. “I remember that nobody was really impressed with her at first,” says former Al Shaqab farm manager Santiago Fornieles. “But there was something about her that told me she was going to be a great producer. With some mares you just have a gut feeling.”
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JAN KAN PHOTO
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Given the strong presence of Polish
“because when I look at Mishaahl,
blood in her pedigree, she had
she reminds me of some of those
something about her that recalled the
beautiful bay Kuhailan type mares that
famous Polish Kuhailan mares, great
bred such beautiful horses. She wasn’t
broodmares, though not the type that
necessarily the most exotic, but her
would win in today’s shows. “It makes
fundamentals were so good, her grace
sense that Poland ended up using Kahil
was so good, she was such an elegant
like they did,” explains Michael Byatt,
horse. I see a lot of her style in Kahil and Wadee, long, graceful, beautiful necks, and handsomeness. Just really good horses.”
“For me, Wadee is a friend, he is one of my horses, his life is all that mattered, and I didn’t care about what he achieved.” — Giacomo Capacci
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Wadee came to live with Giacomo
long-legged colt. He needed to grow
Capacci as a young horse and began
up.” But grow up he did, and after
his show career. Giacomo Capacci
championships in the Middle East,
became his regular handler as he was
he eventually campaigned in Europe,
for the older sibling Kahil Al Shaqab.
winning
The start of Wadee Al Shaqab’s show
World Champion Junior Male in 2012
career was inauspicious. “He was
in Paris.
prestigious
Menton
and
a little bit unlucky in the showring initially,” explains Giacomo. “He was born in August, so as the youngest in the classes he was always the first one into the ring … which is not always helpful. In the two-year-old classes he was 24 months old while other colts were 28 months. Wadee was a
Belladonna AT (Wadee Al Shaqab x Om El Bellatrix), bred and owned by Al Thumama Stud, Qatar, was recenly named Bronze Champion Junior Filly at the Mediterranean Championships in Menton, facing page and right. 11 b AL SHAQAB b WORLD
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After this success, Wadee returned to Qatar to enjoy life and grow a little. This, however, was not without trials. There, after time to adjust, he seemed tired, not enjoying life as he should. He was also losing weight, which became very concerning to then manager Mohammed Al Sulaiti. A decision was made to send him to back to Italy and Giacomo so he could be thoroughly checked out. There it was discovered he had chronic dislocation of the intestine, or colic, and would require surgery.
Mansour Al Khor (Wadee Al Shaqab x Rumaitha Al Zobara by Farhoud Al Shaqab), above, bred and owned by Al Khor Stud, Qatar, was 2016 Kuwait International Silver Champion Yearling Colt. Menwah Al Shaqab (Wadee Al Shaqab x Miss El Power JQ), right, bred and owned by Al Shaqab. Marmar Al Shaqab (Wadee Al Shaqab x Magheeda Al Shaqab), facing page, bred and owned by Al Shaqab.
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“There was tremendous tension the day of the surgery,” remembers Giacomo. “Honestly, I didn’t know if he would make it. I was scared to lose a part of my family. I spent all day and night with him at the clinic, hoping that everything would be sorted out. For me, Wadee is a friend, he is one of my horses, his life is all that mattered, and I didn’t care about what he achieved.”
“But you know, when you live with a horse like this, that doesn’t matter, you can’t help but fall in love. I can’t describe my attachment for him, he has become part of my family, come what may.” — Giacomo Capacci
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As fate would have it, the surgery was successful, and Wadee Al Shaqab improved dramatically, thanks to all the kind care by Giacomo and his capable team. “My advice was to take our time with him, and Sheikh Hamad and Al Shaqab were completely supportive of this idea. Now he has really developed into a stallion. He is acting studdy, and he has been breeding mares. It was time to show him again — this is his time.”
“There are those special horses that you will remember for a lifetime, the one you will always hold close to you, and in a small way, want to keep all to yourself. For many, this horse is Wadee Al Shaqab.”
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The time that Giacomo chose was Menton this past summer, a stern test for an aged stallion going up against previous World Champions. Wadee had not shown in Menton since his youth in 2012 when he was two. Giacomo was especially gratified by the response Wadee inspired in people. “It was a big surprise for everyone to see Wadee all grown up and beautiful. Most of the people had not seen him for many years, and they all were so kind to express so many positive comments about him and the way he presented himself.
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“The moment they announced that Wadee had won, Sheikh Hamad was very emotional, and so was I. We did not say much, but hugs and kisses were flying everywhere. It was crazy fun when Sheikh Hamad and the Al Shaqab team members picked me up and threw me in the air. Not many words, but a lot of meaningful expressions.”
“It was a fitting return to the ring with the handler that knows him best. It is also a bond that is obvious when one sees the two together. ”
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It was a fitting return to the ring with the handler that knows him best. It is also a bond that is obvious when one sees the two together. In 2012, the two took Menton, and then later Salon du Cheval in Paris. That was five years ago, but the first step of the
“Wadee is one of these horses that will make a difference. ”
return is complete. Wadee Al Shaqab now sets his sights on Paris and a second World Championship. But for his faithful handler Giacomo, that has become all secondary. “Wadee is one of these horses that will make a difference. He has been with me since
and win a world title. But you know,”
he was a foal, so I saw him grow up,
pauses Giacomo with an warm smile, “when you live with a horse like this, that doesn’t matter, you can’t help but fall in love. I can’t describe my attachment for him, he has become part of my family, come what may.”
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Sheikh Hamad bin Ali Al Thani Manager of Breeding and Show Department
www.alshaqab.com
Designed and produced by Arabian Horse World ¡ 11/17