Arabian Horse World WORLD CHAMPION MARES
W O R L D
C H A M P I O N
by Emma Maxwell
1984 Penalba (Kilimandscharo x Pionga by Nuri Schalan), 1979 grey, bred by Fritz Koenig, Germany; owned by Bob Stratmore, U.S.
I
n 1980, having received regular entries from Europe including Poland (then behind the Iron Curtain), the U.S., and North Africa, the Salon du Cheval first upgraded its International Championships to the title of World Championships and has held onto this accolade ever since. Thirty-one mares have now been awarded the title of World Champion Mare in front of what has consistently been the largest audience of any Arabian halter show. While it is true that the competition is deeper now than
1980 Hezina (Jacio x Cartama by Uzacur), 1974 grey, bred and owned by Diego Mendez, Spain
it was in the early years, and the whole top ten now would have been capable of winning a title twenty years ago, the full lineup of individuals is a truly glorious array of mares who were the peak of Arabian breeding in their era. Just as all can picture last year’s winner, radiant white CR Jasmeenah, the epitome of structural elegance combined with heart-melting Arabian type, I can still clearly remember the regal Pilarka, only the second winner in 1981 — a mare who would still bring the crowd to their feet today with her
1981 Pilarka (Palas x Pierzga by Negatiw), 1975 grey, bred and owned by Janow Podlaski, Poland
1982 Etruria (Palas x Etna by Faher), 1975 grey, bred and owned by Janow Podlaski, Poland
commanding air and floating movement. There has been a fairly dominant theme throughout the three decades of rewarding classic type, preferably in a grey package as 22 of the 31 titleholders have been. In fact, to be terminologically incorrect, white mares have had the best record whatever bloodline they come from, possibly an effect of the artificial light, which reflects so luminously from a pure white coat. The whitest of white mares I can recall was the upstanding 1991 winner, Julia Bea, whose enormous
1983 El Masra (Shaker El Masri x Estasha by Shaker El Masri), 1978 chestnut, bred and owned by Om El Arab, Germany
1985 Canila (Nil I x Casablanca by Shaker El Masri), 1980 chestnut, bred by Dr. Friedrich Immisch, Germany; and owned by Nile Arabians, Switzerland
black eyes contrasted perfectly. Fleabitten and nearly white mares also get a strong look in — who could forget the delicate desert type of heavily flea-bitten 1995 winner Tiffaha? It must, however, be noted that the color best described as “dead rat grey,” does not get you so far and for darker mares, waiting is the only option. Seven of the champions have been chestnut, and notably so the only double winner so far, the unique Kwestura who combines dramatic refinement with even more dramatic movement. Kwestura had
1988 Aliha (Indian Silver x AK Attallah by Ansata Ibn Halima), 1977 grey, bred and owned by Maxwell, Great Britain
1986 Elsissa (Figuroso x Etica by Tabal), 1971 grey, bred by Christiane Egger, Germany; and owned by Scheerder, Holland
several shots at the title including runnerup as far back as 2000 but finally she got her reward both in 2007 and 2009. Bays have been few and far between with one win in each of the three decades, the most recent the extraordinary beauty Pianissima, a champion who proved as invincible as Usain Bolt. Pianissima, Kwestura, and two other mares, Zagrobla and Amber Satin, share the distinction of winning the ultimate title on both sides of the pond, with all four awarded the U.S. National
1989 Bint Estasha (El Shaklan x Estasha by Shaker El Masri), 1982 grey, bred by Om El Arab, Germany; owned by Paolo Gucci, Great Britain
1987 Orinda (Hoekhorst Shiraz x Nephrim by Neptun), 1977 bay, bred by MW A. DirkxLavrijsen, Netherlands; and owned by Suzy Piraud, Belgium
Champion title as well. Notably this combination, which is getting more possible overtime as European and American tastes and horses start to mirror each other more evenly, with the U.S. placing more emphasis on extreme type and Europe more focused on a streamlined, posed-up structure. Pianissima is also one of six mares who won the title as a junior as well, with two in the eighties, the multi-decorated El Masra and exotic Penalba. Two mares completed the double in the nineties:
1990 Atlantica (El Shaklan x Aliha by Indian Silver), 1986 grey, bred and owned by Maxwell, Great Britain
1991 Julia Bea (Ponomarev x Nairobi by Aswan), 1986 grey, bred by Tersk Arabian Associates, U.S.; owned by Shamilah Arabians, France
W O R L D
C H A M P I O N
by Emma Maxwell
I
n 1980, having received regular entries from Europe including Poland (then behind the Iron Curtain), the U.S., and North Africa, the Salon du Cheval first upgraded its International Championships to the title of World Championships and has held onto this accolade ever since. Thirty-one mares have now been awarded the title of World Champion Mare in front of what has consistently been the largest audience of any Arabian halter show. While it is true that the competition is deeper now than
1980 Hezina (Jacio x Cartama by Uzacur), 1974 grey, bred and owned by Diego Mendez, Spain
it was in the early years, and the whole top ten now would have been capable of winning a title twenty years ago, the full lineup of individuals is a truly glorious array of mares who were the peak of Arabian breeding in their era. Just as all can picture last year’s winner, radiant white CR Jasmeenah, the epitome of structural elegance combined with heart-melting Arabian type, I can still clearly remember the regal Pilarka, only the second winner in 1981 — a mare who would still bring the crowd to their feet today with her
1981 Pilarka (Palas x Pierzga by Negatiw), 1975 grey, bred and owned by Janow Podlaski, Poland
1982 Etruria (Palas x Etna by Faher), 1975 grey, bred and owned by Janow Podlaski, Poland
commanding air and floating movement. There has been a fairly dominant theme throughout the three decades of rewarding classic type, preferably in a grey package as 22 of the 31 titleholders have been. In fact, to be terminologically incorrect, white mares have had the best record whatever bloodline they come from, possibly an effect of the artificial light, which reflects so luminously from a pure white coat. The whitest of white mares I can recall was the upstanding 1991 winner, Julia Bea, whose enormous
1983 El Masra (Shaker El Masri x Estasha by Shaker El Masri), 1978 chestnut, bred and owned by Om El Arab, Germany
WORLD CHAMPION MARES
1984 Penalba (Kilimandscharo x Pionga by Nuri Schalan), 1979 grey, bred by Fritz Koenig, Germany; owned by Bob Stratmore, U.S.
1985 Canila (Nil I x Casablanca by Shaker El Masri), 1980 chestnut, bred by Dr. Friedrich Immisch, Germany; and owned by Nile Arabians, Switzerland
black eyes contrasted perfectly. Fleabitten and nearly white mares also get a strong look in — who could forget the delicate desert type of heavily flea-bitten 1995 winner Tiffaha? It must, however, be noted that the color best described as “dead rat grey,” does not get you so far and for darker mares, waiting is the only option. Seven of the champions have been chestnut, and notably so the only double winner so far, the unique Kwestura who combines dramatic refinement with even more dramatic movement. Kwestura had
1988 Aliha (Indian Silver x AK Attallah by Ansata Ibn Halima), 1977 grey, bred and owned by Maxwell, Great Britain
1986 Elsissa (Figuroso x Etica by Tabal), 1971 grey, bred by Christiane Egger, Germany; and owned by Scheerder, Holland
several shots at the title including runnerup as far back as 2000 but finally she got her reward both in 2007 and 2009. Bays have been few and far between with one win in each of the three decades, the most recent the extraordinary beauty Pianissima, a champion who proved as invincible as Usain Bolt. Pianissima, Kwestura, and two other mares, Zagrobla and Amber Satin, share the distinction of winning the ultimate title on both sides of the pond, with all four awarded the U.S. National
1989 Bint Estasha (El Shaklan x Estasha by Shaker El Masri), 1982 grey, bred by Om El Arab, Germany; owned by Paolo Gucci, Great Britain
1987 Orinda (Hoekhorst Shiraz x Nephrim by Neptun), 1977 bay, bred by MW A. DirkxLavrijsen, Netherlands; and owned by Suzy Piraud, Belgium
Champion title as well. Notably this combination, which is getting more possible overtime as European and American tastes and horses start to mirror each other more evenly, with the U.S. placing more emphasis on extreme type and Europe more focused on a streamlined, posed-up structure. Pianissima is also one of six mares who won the title as a junior as well, with two in the eighties, the multi-decorated El Masra and exotic Penalba. Two mares completed the double in the nineties:
1990 Atlantica (El Shaklan x Aliha by Indian Silver), 1986 grey, bred and owned by Maxwell, Great Britain
1991 Julia Bea (Ponomarev x Nairobi by Aswan), 1986 grey, bred by Tersk Arabian Associates, U.S.; owned by Shamilah Arabians, France
world champion mares
1992 Musknitsa (Muscat x Prokaznitsa by Arax), 1983 chestnut, bred by Karho Arabians, U.S.; owned by Shamilah Arabians, France
1993 (*Junior Mare) Crown Muscosa (Muscastar x Crown Narada by Nariadni), 1989 chestnut, bred by Karho Arabians, U.S.; owned by
1993 (*Senior Mare) Amber Satin (Muscat x Satin Silk by Tornado), 1981 chestnut, bred by Karho Arabians, U.S.; owned by Paolo Gucci, Great Britain. *Note: In 1993 there were Junior and Senior
Shamilah Arabians, France
Champion Mares.
force 9 back-to-back as a three- and fouryear-old, and statuesque Psyches Amber Gem. Just two years ago, the glamorous and charismatic Bess Fa’izah added herself to that roll of honor. It is hard not to notice those Polish names in the list, and from its inception the Salon has been host to many of the most famous mares from this country. Overall Poland has bred seven World Champion mares, three from Janow, four from Michalow, and they have managed to own all seven of them, in Kwestura’s
1999 Victoria II HPS (RSD Dark Victory x Hillah NA by Manzo), 1991 bay, bred by Antonio Flores Neto; owned by H. Preuss, Germany
case for the first of her two victories gaining them a spectacular row of those Moroccan saddles to house. Six of the Polish winners were by an outcross sire with just the dignified Emanda being by Polish Ecaho. It is worth noting that it is particularly taxing for Poland to prepare mares for a December show, with its harsh winter climate, and between 1983 and 1999 they did not win the title once, a drought which takes some explaining given their constant record
2000 Zagrobla (Monogramm x Zguba by Enrilo), 1994 grey, bred and owned by Michalow, Poland
1994 Imperial Phanilah (Ansata Imperial x Imperial Phanadah by Ibn Moniet el Nefous), 1984 grey, bred by Imperial Stud, U.S.; owned by Al Shaqab, Qatar
of senior mare champions. As far as ownership is concerned, Poland is now the only country that can hold off the powerhouse that is the Middle East. Al Shaqab from Qatar began the triumphant procession in 1994 with Imperial Phanilah, and four of the last six World Champion Mares have been owned in that region: Robin K from the Al Khalediah stables of Saudi Arabia; Kwestura and Bess Fa’izah from the Ajman Stud of the UAE; and CR Jasmeenah from Aljassimya Farm of Qatar.
2001 Emanda (Ecaho x Emanacja by Eukaliptus), 1996 grey, bred and owned by Michalow, Poland
2002 ZT Sharuby (ZT Sharello x ZT Bint Ruby by Ansata El Mabrouk), 1991 grey, bred by Count Zichy-Thyssen, Argentina; owned by Al Shaqab, Qatar
world champion mares
1995 Tiffaha (Jamil x Taghreed by Shaarawi), 1981 grey, bred by Dr. Nagel, Switzerland; owned by Ariela Arabians, Israel
1996 SHF Pearlie Mae (SHF Southern Whiz x Citona by GB Baron), 1990 grey, bred by Sothern Heritage Farm, U.S.; owned by Halsdon Arabians, Great Britain
However, while there has been an overall trend in type, there has really been no runaway success for one stud, provenance, or sire, or training stables, perhaps due to the large number of judges invited, with seven on rotation. Every year the title remains wide open and it has truly been a World competition. The U.S. ties with Poland for number of champions bred, also with seven, having a particularly strong run in the nineties when all seven won. Four were of mainly Russian bloodlines with three bred by Howard
2003 Gelgelah Al Badeia (Imperial Madori x Anhar Albadeia by Amir Albadeia), 1995 grey, bred by Dr. Nasr Marei, Egypt; owned by Halsdon Arabians, Great Britain
1997 Psyches Amber Gem (Padrons Psyche x AK Zabiya by Na Ibn Moniet), 1993 chestnut, bred by Zahara Arabians, U.S.; owned by Shamilah Arabians, France
Kale of Karho: Amber Satin, Musknitsa, and Crown Muscosa. Representing other blood were stately flea-bitten Imperial Phanilah from Imperial Egyptian Stud and the feminine Ferzon-bred SHF Pearlie Mae, an outstanding example of an earlier era of American domestic breeding. Magnificent Psyches Amber Gem was the first, and surprisingly only, winner by Padrons Psyche. Six winners were bred in Germany, two from the early days of Om El Arab in the Black Forest, the half sisters El
2004 Loubna (Imperial Imdal x Imperial Kalatifa by Imperial Al Kamar), 1997 grey, bred by Ariela Arabians, Israel; owned by Portsdown Arabians, Great Britain, and Ariela Arabians, Israel
1998 Targuia El Maklouf (Maklouf x Nziba by Dahman), 1984 grey, bred and owned by André Sultana, France
Masra and Bint Estasha, making Estasha the only mare to ever produce two World champions. Hans Nagel’s Katharinenhof provided Tiffaha. German-bred Penalba is, astonishingly, the only Americanowned mare at the time of her win. British breeders claim three titles, with the only two generation World Champion mares Aliha and her daughter Atlantica, bred and shown by the Maxwell family, and last year’s ethereal CR Jasmeenah. All three are of mixed bloodlines, fittingly including a significant chunk of Crabbet.
2005 Galilea (Laheeb x Georgia by Monogramm), 2000 grey, bred and owned by Michalow, Poland
2006 Robin K (CG Balih El Jamaal x Sweet Gypsey Rose by Emperator), 1996 grey, bred by Murilo Kammer, Brazil; owned by Al Khalediah Stud, Saudi Arabia
world champion mares
2007 Kwestura (Monogramm x Kwesta by Pesennik), 1995 chestnut, bred and owned by Michalow, Poland
2008 Pianissima (Gazal Al Shaqab x Pianosa by Eukaliptus), 2003 bay, bred and owned by Janow Podlaski, Poland
2011 CR Jasmeenah (WH Justice x Fforget Me Not by Ffatal Attraction), 2004 grey, bred by Carole Ratcliffe, Great Britain; owned by Aljassimya Farm, Qatar
2009 Kwestura (Monogramm x Kwesta by Pesennik), 1995 chestnut, bred by Michalow, Poland; owned by Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, UAE
Three winners come from South America: exquisite ZT Sharuby from the justly famous Zichy-Thyssen farm in Argentina; the “dancing queen” Victoria II HPS from Brazil; and the flawless Robin K, bred by Murilo Kammer. The first to triumph bred in the Middle East was Gelgelah Albadeia, bred by the longstanding Albadeia Stud of Egypt. In all, twelve countries have bred one or more World Champion Mare. A quick look at pedigrees confirms a trend from “straight” and first-generation outcrosses to horses of “pure show horse” pedigree as exemplified by the last two winners Bess Fa’izah and CR Jasmeenah. Both are daughters of the incomparable WH Justice, himself an evenhanded mixture of Russian, Spanish, Egyptian, and American blood, and out of mares who are equally outcrossed. There is no sire, as yet, who has managed to provide more than two winners on this list, but those who have sired two are Palas, Shaker El Masri, El Shaklan, Muscat, Monogramm, and WH Justice. However, there is an ever-tightening grip from the Saklawi I sireline, with nineteen tracing directly to Nazeer.
2010 Bess Fa’izah (WH Justice x Sharon El Kendal by Ass-Kendal), 2004 grey, bred by Bessewacht, Belgium; owned by Ajman Stud, UAE
There is no female family that can truly claim world domination, with no taproot mare line producing more than three of the thirty-one champions. The numerous Rodania family has produced three as has the tiny family of Verana. Otherwise 19 mare lines have produced one or two champions, which should be cheering to those who think the show world is dangerously narrowing down on the genes they use. The one that intrigued me most was that of Zulima from Spain through the Draper import Meca. This line produced both ZT Sharuby and SHF Pearlie Mae and is otherwise known as the family of TW Forteyna, like Verana, a small family with a big impact. So despite knowing that a mare of superlative quality is needed, it is hard to predict where the next mare will be from and what pedigree she will have. She may well be white and will probably have a Nazeer sireline, but to find out who the 2012 World Champion Mare is, only a visit to Paris in December will answer the question.