JANUARY 2012 - NO.1
HORSE REFLECTION
Dar Al Shajer for Publishing and Distribution
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ÊbÌãc AZYAN DESIGN
Centered around elegance
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horse reflection magazine Publisher Dar Al Shajer Managing Editor Dr. Sheikh Ali Alsubah Creative Director General Coordinator
Sherif Salah Mohab El Shiat
Copyright ©2012 Dar Al Shajer All rights reserved. The content may not be copied or reproduced in any way without written permission of publisher.
ÊbÌãc AZYAN DESIGN
Centered around elegance
For Advertising and Articles related queries: info@horsereflection.com Untitled-1 1
12/18/11 10:50:22 AM
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Breeding quality Arabian Horses
AlAraban Salam Horse Sud Kuwait malrokhayes@yahoo.com
A Paradise oasis for the finest straight egyptian arabians
El Gamil Arabian Stud
Ashraf El Gamil & Natalja Skuratovic Damietta-Alexandria International Road (5km after New Damietta) Damietta, EGYPT Tel 0020 12221 03891 elgamila@me.com
Najjar Khidar x Narada DA Najjar has a wonderful EXTREME type, OUTSTANDING movements, BEAUTIFUL head & neck and a very friendly character.
Koo Arabians www.kooarabians.com kooarabians@gmail.com
MultiChampion Stallion Available for breeding!
Najjar is also ridden under saddle and has achieved great results
horse reflection
CONTENTS DECEMBER 2011 - NUMBER 1 THE ARABIAN HERITAGE A historical story about the Arabian horse “Hamdan”, written By Zan Economopoulos with a debt of gratitude to Sara Loken, who provided much of the information
THE EQUESTRIAN A short film by Sybil H. Mair, showing how the dressage is the ideal vehicle that portrays the relationship between the rider and the horse
MY STORY WITH THE ARABIAN HORSE In this special article, Nadine Koo (Koo Arabians) speaks to us about her special story with the Arabian horse
ENDURANCE RIDER & BRUMBIES Mrs. Paula Boer speaks about her first horse-novel “BRUMBIES”, and her old memories about horses
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NANCY G PIERCE PHOTOGRAPHY Talented photographer, Nancy G Pierce, speaks about her love for the Arabian horse and her story with the Arabian horse photography, featuring some of the special Arabian horse photos taken by her
MODERN VS CLASSICAL RIDING An educational article written by the horse trainer & instructor Esther Hillner (Talisman Farm), giving an introduction about the classical training
THE ACADEMIC ART OF RIDING A very interesting article about the Academic Art of Riding that brings the historical Art of Riding from the past back to life again
EQUINE ART SHOWCASE Featuring in this issue the equine artists: Judi McClelland & Jane Crosbie
MINIATURE HORSE Featuing Stud RH that was founded in Germany in 2006 by Jennifer Hasslinger and Patrick Rudolph
MAGAZINE COVER: features 2008 grey stallion El Cosimo (El Sid by Al Lahab x Thee Magic Capri by Thee Desperado). Proudly owned by Victoria Dybalska (Bratz Arabians).
Sedirawi Stud Kuwait kuwait.abdullah@yahoo.com
AL JAZIRA STUD Home f Snan l Rayyan
TALEETH AL NAIF* ANSATA SHALIM* x AL JOHARA
SINAN AL RAYYAN* ANSATA SINAN* x AL WAJBA AL RAYYAN
Po Box 16991 - Qadsiya 35860 - Kuwait +965 2522 8350 / +965 9968 3022 Fax: +965 2252 3255 aljazira_stud@hotmail.com
Al Kawthar Stud Purebred Arabians
Kuwait +965 9921 5868 alkawtharstud@gmail.com
Prebed Araban Horses
AL WAFI STUD
Kuwait alwafistud@gmail.com
Mai Stud
Kuwait maiosha@hotmail.com
M
k a r a b u
Arabian Horse Stud
P.O.Box 20388 Safat - Kuwait +965 2240 4604 / +965 9972 0000 Fax: +965 2242 7897 mohd@almubaraki.com
AL SHAJER ARABIAN STUD Kuwait shaliedigit2l@yahoo.co.uk
Stud and Farm
Arabian Stud Kuwait aljenanstud.farm@gmail.com
Al wawan stud Kuwait +965 991 555 66 ali@alwawanstud.com www.alwawanstud.com
Designed by Ismail Hamed
WAHAG AL RAYYAN ( ALIDAAR x ANSATA MAJESTA )
If you have traveled around the world to events featuring the Egyptian Arabian horse it is likely you have met Mr. Khaled Ben Shokr, who has been carefully studying horses and bloodlines since the inception of his Al Safinat Farm in 1995. Another farm with strong Dahmah families, Al Safinat features two foundation mares from the Bukra branch, Halima and Nefisa branches of the Farida family. In the mid-1990›s Khaled Ben Shokr imported three exceptional broodmares from the United States, each is a daughter of a well-known stallion: Dalul, Jamil, and Ruminaja Ali. His Ali daughter, Aliikat out of Katourah from the Dahmeh Shahwanieh strain, Farida / Nefisa family, has produced three fillies which have been retained by the farm: Adjbah Al Safinat by Ansata Iemhotep; Nefisa Al Safinat by Ansata Hejazi and Hilala Al Safinat by Adnan. His Jamil daughter, Ansata Exotica out of Ansata Ghazala, representing the Sabah/Bukra family, has produced Aarak Al Safinat by Alidaar and a lovely Ansata Hejazi daughter named Kamar Al Safinat, while the bay Dalul daughter, Dal Macharia out of Macharia, representing the Farida/Halima family, produced the chestnut mare Meshkat Al Safinat by Ansata Sokar and the grey filly Mezena Al Safinat by Ansata Hejazi. His other mares reflect the breeding of Al Rayyan Farm of Qatar and include RN Rayana by Prince Fa Moniet out of Ansata Sharifa, one of the “queens” of Al Rayyan. RN Rayaa has produced Rana Al Safinat, an Ansata Hejazi daughter, and Rayan Al Safinat and Rima Al Safinat, a colt and filly both by Adnan. Representing the Hanan family of the Abbeyan strain is the young filly RN Ajaayeb, by Ashhal Al Rayyan out of RN Ajeeba. The farm also boasts a very impressive Alidaar son,Wahag Al Rayyan out of Ansata Majesta, who is a powerful half-brother to the multi-champion Ashhal Al Rayyan and who will be used for breeding more intensively in the future. Khaled Ben Shokr is yet another Kuwait breeder who is honest and open about his horses and his goals in breeding - which makes a visit to see his farm both delightful and educational. 23 - HORSE REFLECTION - JANUARY 2012
The Arabian Heritage THE WORLD WILL NEVER FORGET
"It is the desert, and how the Arab people treated the Arabian horse that produced such horse of a great spirit”
HAMDAN & Descendants
“By Zan Economopoulos with a debt of gratitude to Sara Loken who provided much of the information herein”
HAMDAN was foaled in 1936. He was the preservation of careful breeding dating into antiquity. By the 19 years old Ibn Rabdan and out of the 16 years old Bint Radia, Hamdan was foaled at the Kafr Farouk Stud Farm of the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS), east of Cairo. At the time of his dam’s birth, saviors of the Egyptian Arabians, the RAS and Mohammed Ali, had returned 18 Arabians by purchase from England to preserve the foundation stock for Egypt. Every foal, and every horse, was a triumph for this goal. Hamdan was born chestnut, with the star of Egypt on his head. In his old age he turned alabaster white. Hamdan’s birth coincided with the
death of King Fouad and the return of the King’s sixteen years old son, Prince Farouk, to reign as sovereign. He was the first sovereign to speak to the people in their own language; he was also educated in the West, and brought with him a love of all valuable things. When South African visitors came to Kafr Farouk in 1939 and saw the three years old Hamdan, they offered a huge price for the horse. This impressed the Prince that he claimed his right to the horse, and the RAS had no choice but to give Hamdan and three mares to the King as a coronation gift. Hamdan was ridden from Kafr Farouk to Inshass, a long trip through the beautiful and poetic country that bred him. It is easy to image the sight of this imposing stallion, surrounded by his mares, head high, surveying his country.
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Hamdan’s Descendants
2008 SE/AK stallion
NEO DE BLOODSTONE The Singleton x MB Pirouette
Owned by Bloodstone Farms
HAMDAN & Descendants
It was the last time in his long life he has enjoyed such freedom. From 1939 to 1945 the world war 2 gripped the world, and Inshass served as a meeting place for the military leaders of the Allied Forces. Hamdan became one of the most photographed horses in the world because of these guests. At 16 hands, strong and imposing, Hamdan was the embodiment of strength and power. The famous patrons were forced to teeter in deep sand, looking up at the elegant stallion who gazed over their heads. With the overturn of King Farouk in 1952, Hamdan’s circumstances changed dramatically. The priceless blood of the King’s herd was slowly auctioned off. Hamdan was among the last. 20 years old, ill and dying after months of confinement and little food, the great Hamdan was sold for about $150. He was purchased by Ahmed Hamza, once Minister of Agriculture and a superb horse breeder. He bought Hamdan, he said, “to bury him”. A man was hired to stay with Hamdan to his last breath, but the attention and loving care enticed Hamdan to eat. He thrived. Hamdan was taken to Hamza’s estate at Dohanaub where
for the next ten years he sired some of the greatest race horses in the country, among them the superb and dynastic Antar. There Hamdan lived quietly, almost an exile in his own country. As the revolutionary government struggled with severe economic problems, and strived to provide desperately needed social services to the people, properties formerly owned by the King were confiscated. Though some funds were allotted to the care of the horses, Hamdan was forced to eat through his stall door in an effort to survive. In 1966, three dying horses were sent to the Zoo to be shot for lions. Hamdan was among them. Hamdan was allowed a ten day reprieve. And as he had before, Hamdan conducted himself with dignity. He was experienced in the technique of rebirth. Slowly and methodically he chewed his food, contributed by Zoo keepers from their own sparse funds. Sequestered in a tiny stall originally built for a pony, he exercised himself when he is released, trotting and cantering in circles around a bewildered camel, and even, switching leads.
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Hamdan’s Descendants
2005 SE/AK mare
SHADAISYY Thee Desperado x Shadiyyah
Owned by Witts End Arabians
HAMDAN & Descendants
The elephant attendant, a Nubian, rode him around the Zoo grounds daily. It was a magnificent sight – the lean dark rider bareback, the makeshift hackamore, and the still handsome stallion, saluting the lions that were deprived from his flesh. On October 22, Hamdan was officially released from the meat program and was escorted through the streets of Cairo. Still emaciated, he didn’t impress the grooms of his new home at Gezira Club till they came to get him the first morning and found the bars of his stall bent as he tried to reach a mare in season. As they were leading him to graze, Hamdan stopped, raised his head high, stuck his meager tail to the sky and neighed, bellowing for all to hear. The groom put his hand on Hamdan’s shoulder. He spoke in Arabic: “He is calling his thanks to God, because before he was a prisoner and now he is free”. In the end it was cancer that took the life of the incredible Hamdan. He returned to the EAO and spent his last days there.
Hamdan’s full sublings were so famous as the ancestors, of famous Arabians. Hamdan’s full brother was Shahloul, who was so well known as a broodmare sire for the EAO and was also the sire of *Moniet El Nefous. His full sister was Samira. A rare bay Morafic son, born in Egypt, named El Araby, was out of a double Hamdan bred mare. Sadly he died early. Perhaps the two best known Hamdan offsprings were *Fol Yasmeen, a gray and very popular in the USA, and *Hafiza, the dam of the Gleannloch stallion *Ibn Hafiza. *Ibn Hafiza was so different, but he has prevailed through time as a good broodmare sire. He also was bay and was a very powerful horse. I had one of Hamdan’s descendants. Her name was Haanya, she was by *Ibn Antar by Antar by Hamdan. Hamdan was born in a country where time is measured in thousands of years. Like the famous Karnak Temple of Luxor, he was the form of dignity and integrity with a beauty, and he will live forever, in the blood of the Egyptian Arabian Horse.
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Hamdan’s Descendants
2008 SE Mare
Malikat Al Jannat The Singleton x Adeenah
Owned by Paradise Arabians
Hamdan’s Descendants
2002 SE Stallion
The Singleton
Thee Desperado x Alia Riyala
Owned by Paradise Arabians
THE EQUESTRIAN Short film by Sybil H. Mair Two athletes at the top of their game competing as a closely bonded duo – the inevitable tensions sparked the drama in award-winning film maker Sybil H. Mair’s latest film. 32 - HORSE REFLECTION - JANUARY 2012
The Equestrian film also features a special guest appearance of the British dressage star Carl Hester following his medal-winning performance at this year’s European Championships in Rotterdam. Horse Reflection magazine talks to the writer-director about the film. Sybil explains, “the film is a dark psychological drama about how a young dressage rider’s desperate desire to win threatens to ruin a partnership on the verge of a blossoming career.” For Sybil, dressage is the ideal vehicle to portray the intimate relationship between the rider and the horse. And a film is ideally suited to telling that story to a wider audience. 33 - HORSE REFLECTION - JANUARY 2012
Layke Anderson Sybil was inspired by watching her instructor training for a dressage competition. “I’d had in mind adapting a short story on horse racing,” she says, “when I was struck by the idea that something much more interesting, subtle was going on here. There was a compelling intensity to the interaction between the rider and the horse.”
Assembled round the project is a fine cast and crew. Upcoming British actor Layke Anderson in the lead role is joined by James Wilby (Gosford Park, Howards End) and Carl Hester (dressage star and British 2012 Olympic competitor). Sandros Dancer, a gorgeous 7yr old, black Swedish Warmblood, is the hero stallion. Also on board are twotime Oscar nominated cinematographer Tony Pierce Roberts and twice BAFTAnominated editor Jon Gregory, as well as the rising dressage composer Tom Hunt, who had collaborated with top riders such as Michael Eilberg, Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester, is keen to make his film music debut.
THE EQUESTRIAN
We were curious about the difficulties posed by working with a horse as one of the lead actors. Sybil understood there would be challenges: “I enjoy exploring the rich complexity offered by non-verbal communication. It lays at the heart of my last film” [The Chef’s Letter, which starred Jonathan Firth, brother of Colin]. “In that story,” she continues, “dialogue was secondary because I wanted to explore the slight gestures, cues, which reveal mood and propel the action.
British leading man (Maurice, Gosford Park) James Wilby will is featured as Freddie, the dressage rider’s father
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The film is set for release in spring 2012
Fabulous editor Jon Gregory
In directing, whether man or horse, one is trying to find the key to unlock the desired performance, action or response. And when it came to the dressage sequences in the film, my aim had always been for the dressage to do more than providing an action, as it was integral to the narrative itself.”
Horse Reflection asked about the plans for the film and when it would be released. Sybil tells us, “The film is set for release in spring 2012 and will go to international film festivals with DVD sales to follow. A ‘making of documentary for H&C TV Sky280 is also considered and planned for early next year. And we’re also excited about The Equestrian Film 2012 calendar which is available and full of beautiful images from the film, many of which won’t be available elsewhere. For more about the film, see www.facebook.com/theequestrianfilm. Follow the production on Twitter @equestrianfilm.
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THE EQUESTRIAN
Carl Hester rehearses a scene from the film with fellow British dressage rider Henry Boswell (l) and lead actor Layke Anderson (r)
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2012 FEATURED PRODUCTS
JAZZMEEN ESSTEEM x JASMYNE
Arabian Stud Europe
ASE Jazzaree out of Dakaree
ASE Parissia out of Parnassia
www.arabianstudeurope.com
Maraj贸
ASE
Marajj x Manilah 2nd place Emerald Trophy, Belgium 3rd place International B-show, Italy Champion colt, International Milano Cup, Liberty, Italy
Arabian Stud Europe
Nihar el Jary
ASE
Jary el Jamaal x Anjuli Bai Young colt with a phenomenal pedigree Direct descent of Ali Jamaal, Bey Shah, Ansata Sinan and Messaoud Available at stud for 2012 Available for sale or lease to a serious breeder
www.arabianstudeurope.com
Sire of 3 Regional winners
and 1 U.S. NATIONAL RESERVE CHAMPION from his first foal crop of 7 foals
2007 Bay Stallion
WC ALI
Gazal
Frozen and cooled semen available 2012 Stud Fee: $2500 (*Gazal Al Shaqab x JE Ali Selene by *Ali Jamaal)
Weatherford, Texas, USA www.westerncrossranch.com
Holly Dillin, Owner E-mail: hdillin@mac.com Cell: (817) 994-0918
Lisa Baker, Farm/Breeding Mgr. E-mail: lisa@westerncrossranch.com Cell: (817) 994-1081
My Story With the Arabian Horse Nadine Koo
In this special article Nadine Koo speaks to us about her story with the Arabian horse.
I
always loved horses since I was a little child. I guess I inherited this from my father and grandmother who always had such great passion for horses.
My grandmother was a great horselover, even when she was 90 years old, she still wanted to visit the horses everytime she is at our home and always bring some apples and carrots for them.
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My Grandmother in a moment of passion with my Arabian horse I started my first riding lesson when I was 5 years old. Since then, I never stopped riding. For 6 years, I kept going to the riding school several days a week. I helped with everything and rode a lot of different horses. I also helped with breaking in young horses. My favorite horse was a young gelding with 50% arabian blood, his name was Youki. When we moved to a smaller village, my parents said that we can buy our own horse! So, after years of trying to convince my parents to buy a horse, FINALLY, my dream came true!
A long journey of finding the right horse started. We saw over 100 horses in 6 weeks! And finally, we found a nice 3 years old gelding with 75% Arabian blood. He really had the look of a purebred Arabian horse. His name was Meafoot, by sire Nefoud ox. I had him for 8 years and rode dressage level Z1 with him. I loved this horse and really learned a lot from him. But when I was 18 years old I had a very busy school life and we decided to find a new home for him. We found a lovely girl who took him and still has him till now. He is 20 years old now.
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His name was Scapino BB by sire Gomel. I really enjoyed riding this horse, but unfortunately, this horse was also sold after a while too. Then I decided that it must be the time to get my own Arabian stallion! I started looking for an Arabian horse to buy, and I came in contact with Klarenbeek Arabians who had a stallion for sale. His name was Enderllin, a bay Arabian stallion, pure polish bred (Monar x Emarilla by Monogramm), bred by the Michalow Stud, Poland. He was 3 years old and ready to go under saddle. After a short time thinking, I had my first Arabian stallion.
Me riding Najjar After selling Meafoot, It was hard for me to stay without riding. I started looking for anyone who might be looking for a rider. I succeeded in finding a lot of horses to ride. I met someone who had 2 Arabian stallions. He was looking for a rider for his black Arabian stallion. It was a girl’s dream to be riding a black Arabian stallion! This horse was Flaxman’s Taraakh by sire Waseem Saraakh. I rode him for a while before he was sold. After that, I started riding another Arabian stallion.
I started riding him and showed him several times. He was a great riding horse, a very smart one! When Enderllin was in one of his show training sessions, I went to visit some of my friends who had just bought a young colt from a breeder who had to close her stud. When I saw him it was love at first sight. The young colt was named Najjar, by sire Khidar. When I came back home I couldn’t forget Najjar or get him out of my mind. I fell in love with him, but I wasn’t sure if it was possible for me to own 2 horses! All what I was sure of is that I really wanted to get this horse, so, I made my friends an offer.
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I became honored by owning Najjar, at my 22 years old age, after my friends accepted my offer. This made me blessed by having 2 stallions at that time. In 2006, I had the opportunity to run a training stable for Arabian horses under saddle together with a good friend of mine. We named it ´Estrella Training Stables´. We had a great time and learned a lot and met great people. It was a great success since the time this training stable started. We had a lot of Arabian horses to break in, train for dressage, and other training stuff. We had many great stallions in our stable like Riki´s Shabri (by Veteran), Empress (by Monogramm), Psy Magin (by Psytadel), and many others.
We visited a lot of studs and shows during this time, and after seeing and talking with several breeders I became more interested in breeding. I tried to learn more and more considering pedigrees and which bloodlines that gave great results In 2008, I fulfilled another dream, breeding my own arabian horse! My friend and I decided to close our training stable and go our own ways in the Arabian horse world. She wanted to focus on riding and show horses under saddle and I wanted to focus more on my own horses and fulfill my breeding goals. I had to get a mare but I couldn’t afford to get another horse at my age of 22 as I was still studying.
Me with KA Gabrillo (Galinka el Sheik x Wolante) having fun 50 - HORSE REFLECTION - JANUARY 2012
My Story With the Arabian Horse
Another photo of KA Gabrillo enjoying the nature I thought of telling my father about my dream of breeding my own Arabian horse, and that I need a mare for that. We had a long chat and he welcomed the idea of becoming my partner, and supporting me in buying a mare. Since then, my father played a big role in our small stud as a partner and a co-owner of our horses. I was always very charmed by the polish Arabian horse. So I started looking for a mare with pure polish or related polish bloodlines. I saw a lot of mares and then I met the mare Wolante by sire Wojslaw. She had one of the most beautiful eyes I ever seen.
We bought Wolante and she was 10 months and half in foal to Pesal (by Partner). After a week she gave birth to a beautiful colt that made me blessed by a family of four Arabian horses. The little colt was named Wolantes Waheed. We tried to breed Wolantes to Enderllin but unfortunately she did not get in foal even after several tries. The amazing thing is that Wolante got in foal by Najjar who was just 2 years old, and after only one try. Again we had to make another decision about which stallion to keep. I loved Enderllin and Waheed, but Najjar was really special to me.
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In July 2008 we received our special foal from Najjar x Wolante. It was a gorgeous colt. We named him KA Divo Ibn Najjar. This was the beginning of a new chapter: Koo Arabians! Owned by me and my father ‘Sing Koo’. In the previous years more mares joined our stud, foals were born and Najjar grew up to a GORGEOUS stallion. More about our horses can be seen at www.kooarabians.com.
Do you agree with who thinks that Arabian Horse is mostly for showing?
2011 filly AR Nadjarah (Najjar x AR Majidah) After a long time thinking we decided to keep Najjar only as our future stallion, and we offered Enderllin and Waheed for sale. Waheed was sold to a very nice family in Greece and he is still owned by them, Enderllin was sold to a nice woman in Holland. She gelded him and used him for riding. We started counting down the days for our first home bred foal. Also, we welcomed a new mare in our stables, Carisma bint Psaida by JK Catalyst and out of AS Sinans Pacha daugther.
I dont agree with that opinion at all. I am convinced that the Arabian horse has a great potential to be a great riding horse besides showing. They are so smart that they can do both without problems. They love to work and really enjoy learning new things. Teach them something new a couple of times and they would know it forever. They are great in endurance, but they are also perfect for dressage. I really believe that Arabian horses should be trained for riding besides showing . Our stallion Najjar is a great example for this. He is shown in-hand and under saddle. Sometimes we even show him in both categories in one weekend. In 2009 Najjar became Champion Ridden Class Stallions and Silver Medal Champion Senior Stallions in-hand at the Belgian Nationals in one weekend!
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My Story With the Arabian Horse
In this photo: Sing Koo, Nadine Koo, Tom Oben & Najjar at the Int B-show Emerald Trophy, Belgium
Najjar is only 6 years old now but has already achieved a lot of championship titles in-hand and under saddle. Besides showing and riding, we also use him for breeding, so he is an all-rounder in every way! I train Najjar for dressage, do regular ground work, ride him outside, etc. In the competition season our training is around 4 times a week under saddle. Besides training under saddle we do ground work, he goes outside every day, he walks on the treadmill. But I also give him a lot of free time to keep
him fresh. The good thing is that he really likes to work, so, i try to achieve this with giving him a lot of alternation. After any competition I don’t ride him for a week. And after the show and competition season I give him around 2 months off. And I think it works, since Najjar is always happy with working and it doesn’t matter what we do, he really enjoys everything.
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A lot of breeders are really passionate about their breeding Do you think Arabian horse is difficult to deal with? I think not everyone is suitable for the Arabian horse. If you don’t understand them and don’t treat them with respect they can be a real pain.
Arabian horse is a very sweet, calm and trustful horse But I think it all depends on the rider or owner. Naturally, the Arabian horse is a very sweet, calm and trustful horse. It depends on the owner/trainer/rider and how to deal with these great traits of the Arabian horse.
Do you remember any special situation that you experienced with any of your Arabian horses?
For anyone who may get consumed only by breeding, can this ruin the passion for horses? If you only breed to do business I do think it can ruin your passion. I don’t like breeding a lot of foals and when they are born they are for sale immediately for bargain prices. We are just a small stud and we don’t produce any foals more than we can handle. We find it really important to find a great new home for them, where they can stay their life. I still have contact with all of the new owners of our horses. I love it to see that the new owners are very happy with our horses, and that I can still watch them mature. There are a lot of breeders who are really passionate about their breeding.
One of the times I was riding Najjar I fell off by accident. I saw him running away from me and all I could think of was shouting NAJJAR! When he heard my voice he stopped immediately, turned around and came back. That was really an incredible feeling to me. 54 - HORSE REFLECTION - JANUARY 2012
My Story With the Arabian Horse
What are your horse-plans for 2012? My dream is to produce some gorgeous fillies by Najjar and use them for the next generation of my breeding program. We had to wait a long time for our first homebred filly. But after 7 colts, finally we received our own homebred filly KA Nala Diva by Najjar. And she is more than we expected. We also have a 2nd Najjar filly AR Nadjarah, bred by our friends’ Arabian Ranch and is now owned by us. So, we now own 2 Najjar fillies, 1 Najjar colt, 4 broadmares and Najjar. We are expecting 2 foals by the promissing stallion Makisa Adaggio (Vervaldee) and 1 by Najjar. May be next year we will take our Najjar offspring to some shows in Europe and ofcourse I will also take Najjar to riding competitions next year to achieve our next class in dressage. Also we will join some Ridden Classes and probably he will also appear in hand again in 2012.
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El Cosimo El Sid x Thee Magic Capri
El Cosimo A.13321 (AVS) Grey Stallion born on 23/04/2008
BRATZ
COVER STORY ARABIANS
Sire: El Sid by Al Lahab Dam: Thee Magic Capri by Thee Desperado Breeder: R. Peek (Linden Arabians) Owner: Victoria Dybalska & Ralph Eberson
Bratz_Arabians@hotmail.com Phone/Mobile: 0031(0) 617137053 BRATZ ARABIANS The Netherland
3/4 brother to international champion Eagleridge Passionata
Baghira ERA Om el Shariekh x Eagleridge Rain Dancer
Siring exceptional quality foals with height, movement & great temperaments
www.jensempark.com jenni@leadingdesigns.com.au
Jenni Fairweather Jensem Park Lancefield, Victoria, Australia +613 (0)433 800 626
BRUMBIES
Brumbies
Novel by Australian Endurance Rider
Mrs. Paula Boer Mrs. Paula Boer speaks to us about her story with horses, and how she got inspired by the Australian wild horses in her novel, “BRUMBIES”. 60 - HORSE REFLECTION - JANUARY 2012
The Old Memories I started riding in England when I was nine years old. I could never afford my own horse, but rode every horse I could and worked in riding schools on weekends and school holidays. When I left school at age 15, I became a hunt groom. I eventually had my first horse given to me when I was 28 years old and then I moved to Australia.
My Equine Soul mate They ARE my life! Apart from having to work (in the computing industry for twenty plus years), all my time is spent with horses or thinking about horses. My current horse, Saracen Samson (also known as Spotty) is my equine soul mate. We have spent thousand of kilometres together, and he looks after me as much as I do for him. Absolutely. I think he uses ESP - extra sensory perception. I just have to think about something and he responds immediately though not always as I expect. I am also sure he can follow the arows of an endurance ride without guiding him. All the time. horses body language is very readable. Especially at breakfast “I’m starving!”. Or in the wind and rain “I’m a desert Arabian, I’m not meant to get wet!” Or if I bring the clippers out “Don’t bring that thing near me!” 61 - HORSE REFLECTION - JANUARY 2012
One day we found one of our Arabians in the kitchen
These days my horses run free on 500 acres. Whenever they see me, they come over for a scratch. I see myself as a member of their herd. We are still building our house, so they are living in a shed. Before we had afence around what we are going to make as a garden, the horses (there were five then) would try and come into the shed (the roller doors are up in summer). One day we found one of our Arabians in the kitchen!
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Spotty & an act of caring At one very hot ride I got a heat stroke, I was dry retching on my knees, and Spotty blew on the back of my neck. I knew he wanted me to get back on, which I did, and he took me back to the ride base as fast as he could - so I could receive medical care.
What about the BRUMBIES? My first novel, The Okapi Promise, was published last year. That covers my own adventures when I travelled to Africa in 1990 - nothing to do with horses. My friends told me I should write something about horses, and a younger age group seemed to be an appropriate audience. I have mustered, caught and broken in brumbies (Australian wild horses) myself, so it seemed like a great idea for a story and could mix my passions - horses, the environment and writing. The publisher of my first novel was very keen on the idea, so I started writing. Then a friend told me about an artist that lived locally. I met her and I liked her work, and she drew 40+ beautiful ilustrations for the book - they are in black and white and look really good. Brumbies is a series of five novels. The first was released in Australia, and is available for delivery on January 2012 for the rest of the world. The remaining four books will be coming out over six months. 63 - HORSE REFLECTION - JANUARY 2012
NANCY G PIERCE
Photography
My love for horses began the moment I was born, as I can’t remember a time I wasn’t fascinated with them. I distinctly remember standing in front of the television when I was about 18 months old, watching Arthur Godfrey’s horse, Goldie. I began drawing horses when I was about 4 years old, and even at that age, the horses I drew looked like Arabians, with tiny little heads, elegant, curved necks, and lofty tail carriage. 65 - HORSE REFLECTION - JANUARY 2012
Gazal Al Shaqab Anaza El Farid x Kajora
1995 Arabian Stallion owned by Al Shaqab Stud in Doha, Qatar
Photos by
NANCY G PIERCE
NANCY G PIERCE
Photography
Once I learned to read, I devoured every book I could find that had anything to do with horses, Man O War, Misty of Chincoteague, King of the Wind - and then I discovered Walter Farleys The Black Stallion series. Marguerite Henry’s King of the Wind introduced me to Arabs, but it was Walter Farley’s books that started the burning in my soul. Back then, my family didn’t own a single horse, but I knew one day I would have an Arabian horse. They were grace and spirit, mystery and intrigue, and they were very, very beautiful. When I was 8 years old, my parents finally presented me and my sister with a pair of shetland ponies, JoJo and Lady. From there, we graduated to a grade saddle horse mare named Molly, followed by a series of saddle horses, Tennessee Walkers, and quarter horses. In 1965, I saw my very first Arabian horse in the flesh a beautiful little liver chestnut stallion named Bates Hassan, who I believe only sired one foal a beautiful half Arabian colt out of our Molly - before dying of colic. Thus began my lifelong adoration of the Arabian horse. When I wasn’t riding horses, I was reading about them or drawing them. My young adulthood was spent devouring any and every horse publication I could get my hands on, studying photos, pedigrees and life stories of various horses and sometimes an Arabian horse owner or two. Even today, I will often recognize a horse, yet have no idea who owns that horse. I have owned and loved purebred Arabians since 1979, but the thought of photographing them didn’t occur until much later in my life. 67 - HORSE REFLECTION - JANUARY 2012
Gatsby CC (*Shahir IASB x Miss Maggie Mae) 1999 straight Egyptian stallion owned by Drs. Mike and Karen Pallone of Rose Hill Equine Center of Rose Bud, Arkansas, USA Photo by Nancy G Pierce www.piercegraphicdesign.com
NANCY G PIERCE
Photography
I had dabbled in web site construction for several years while teaching public school English, journalism, and art, and it happened in 2006 that a couple of my clients were having difficulty getting a photographer to come out and photograph their sale horses. After trying unsuccessfully to help them arrange for photographers, I finally gave up in frustration and told them I would come to their farms and take a few photos if they wanted me to - and I did. Those first photos were more bad than good, I’m sure, as I had absolutely no training and barely knew which end of the camera to point, but I was hooked! The challenge of capturing the beauty and spirit of each individual Arabian horse quickly became a passion. Drs. Mike and Karen Pallon of Rose Hill Equine Center gave me my first real “professional” opportunity in late October of 2006, allowing me to photograph the well-known straight Egyptian stallion, The Minstril, resulting in a photo that has accompanied magazine articles in at least 3 different countries. Since that time, I have been extremely blessed to have had many, many wonderful Arabian horses in front of my lens in a short time. I still have much to learn about cameras, equipment and light, so I really appreciate all the people who continue to provide me with opportunitites to photograph their beloved Arabians. 69 - HORSE REFLECTION - JANUARY 2012
NANCY G PIERCE
Photography
My goal is always to capture dynamic images that demonstrate the spirit of the individual horse, occasionally I succeed. Most of my time these days is spent in traveling from place to place doing photo shoots, and I still do quite a bit of e-blast and print ad design at night and between shoots. I enjoy traveling, seeing the results of everyone’s breeding programs, and appreciating the immense beauty of our earth. I am available worldwide! In between shoots, I am home with my husband, Ron, who patiently holds down the fort when I travel. After a lifetime high of 14 horses at one time, I am down to only two, a 24-year-old Wisdom daughter out of a Kaiyoum daughter and a 13-year-old Padrons Psyche daughter out of an El Hilal daughter. My Psyche daughter continues my breeding program, and I must say that the thoughtful pairing of stallion to mare to produce an exceptional foal is probably the only thing that brings me even more joy and satisfaction than my photography - but it is close! Three foals will arrive for my farm, Journeys End Arabians, this spring - a Renaissanse (by *Ali Jamaal) baby from my Psyche daughter, a WC Ali Gazal (by *Gazal Al Shaqab) foal from a leased Psyche/Huckleberry Bey bred mare, and a *Rough Justice that will be half mine from a partnership on a Petrus Carol daughter. 2012 should be an exciting year!
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WC Ciao Bella Xceptshahn x JE Ali Selene
2004 Arabian mare owned by Holly Dillin of Western Cross Ranch in Weatherford, Texas, USA
Photo by
NANCY G PIERCE
Grey Straight Egyptian stallion
Cwyrtai Jahaal Muhajjal x Alyetta
6 yrs 15.2hh Frozen semen available BriMar Stud Northumberland, UK
01434 321623 brimarstuduk@yahoo.co.uk
Montoya The boys say “Hi Dad�
photo: Isabelle Konst - Advert design www.arabianhorsepromo.com
av
Usra Haakima
(wh Justice x Metelica 8)
Avatar Sahir Forever
Multi Champion and Reserve BNC Junior Gelding at Malvern National Show 2011 Owned and bred by Ursula Morley
Multi Champion and Reserve Best Yearling Colt Malvern National Show 2011 Owned and bred by Pat Hannay
C Show Champion
Owned and bred by Mrs E German
Montoya is producing the goods!
Filsinger photo
Lois Rose photo
Ref lection LA
2010 British National Champion Colt
Bred by Anjuli Bethall & owned by Al Muawd Stud
Sue and John Bundy Higher Picks Farm Devon EX3 64NN Tel: 01769 550 475
www.avmontoya.com
Bodhisattva SCA OFFERS INVITED
Southern Cross Arabians
Melbourne, Australia www.southerncrossarabians.com.au michelle@southerncrossarabians.com.au
Classical Riding MODERN vs
Written by Esther Hillner – Talisman Farm
C
lassical training , you hear the terms used loosely, is it a new age of training? Classical training is nothing new, it has been developed and analyzed for centuries beginning with the Greek General Xenephon.
Horse show judges in the show ring are overlooking and rewarding horses that are flashy in the front end but disunited in the hindquarter.
Horse breeding today is producing superior sport horses that are bred confirmationally correct with superior movement but without correct understanding of proper classical training, even these superior horses no longer look magnificent.
For a Better Horse & Better riding So what is correct classical training?
So what is modern training?
Correct “classical” training of the horse involves engagement of the back and lowering of the hindquarter, due to the bending of the hock joints, and carrying the weight behind.
“Modern” training involves taking shortcuts ; misuse of draw reins, the much controversial roll kur ( also known as hyperflexion) , and other misuse of training gadgets, the end result is a horse that is disunited from its hindquarter and lacks the “spring” to properly collect and stay light in the rider’s hands, and also feels uncomfortable or develops mental or behavior issues due to his physical discomfort.
The horses most powerful part of the body is the hindquarter, and it is from the hindquarter that the horse must connect and move forward into the riders contact and show signs of relaxation. The goal of training is to help the horse reach its highest physical and mental level in dressage or show jumping. My goal as an instructor is to properly educate the rider on how to adhere the classical training system to the rider, not only the proper use of the aids, but also in developing a sense of feeling the horse when riding.
Alois Podasky - “ Xenephon” was the first to to claim that a horse only becomes more beautiful with correct training, never uglier. This is the first of many series that will help the reader to learn how to apply the classical system whether as a beginner rider or an intermediate rider.
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THE ACADEMIC ART OF RIDING
Bent Branderup & Bianca Grรถn www.bentbranderup.dk Photos by Lotte Lekholm
About Bent Branderup & Bianca Groin
Bent was born in Denmark. He travelled around Europe to study different horse-cultures and now ended up in Denmark again, where he has his own farm. Bent Branderup is the Grandmaster at the Knighthood of the Academic Art of Riding, which is an organisation with some of his students. Bianca Grรถn was born in Germany. She studied for becoming a teacher in Flensburg, Germany. After finishing her exams, she decided to work as a riding instructor instead of teaching, since 2008 she is living in Denmark and working together with Bent Branderup.
Bianca Grรถn takes us on a journey to learn about the beauty of Classical Riding & Training at the Academic Art of Riding
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Photos by Lotte Lekholm
The Academic Art of Riding is based on the knowledge of the old riding masters starting with Xenophon, Pluvinel, Guérinière, Newcastle and up to Steinbrecht. Bent Branderup’s goal is to bring back the knowledge of the old masters and to explain their work. Since years, he dedicated his time to the art of riding -an endless journey through the work of the old masters - and applying it with his own horses and students. Bent Branderup’s guideline “Two spirits must want to do what two bodies can” which means that he is not only training the horse physically, but also mentally. The thoughtful use of gymnastic excersises should build up the horse and keep it healthy in both ways. The Academic Art of Riding begins with the awareness of the horse as a worth being, a partner in life. The basic concept is to collect all information, and the use of different aids to build up a communication between the horse and the rider or trainer. 81 - HORSE REFLECTION - JANUARY 2012
Working with Favorito
This is Favorito after his arrival in February 2011 at our place in Denmark. When i was giving him a little push with the lunge line without any metal noseband to stop him he was exploding forward because of the bad experiences in his past. He has experienced a lot of violence. It took me months to start earning his trust, get him to listen to my body language. Now when I stop, he stops, and if I take my point of weight back he is getting calmer or collected. This is a good point to start from.
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Young Horse Training The aim is to become physically and mentally connected to the horse in a way that would look like a dancing couple. The rider has to take responsibility of the horse, in the same time, the horse has to have enough trust in the rider to accept the guidance. We start by building a close friendship with the horse, starting from leading it with the halter. Also, it’s very important to introduce the arena to the horse in a friendly way, we consider the horse as a student who is joining a new classroom. We prepare the horse for riding by first lungeing it with a cavesson. The horse needs to find its balance without the rider or saddle on its back by stepping with its hind legs below its point of weight. Over this point we will also find our balance on the back of the horse when we start sitting on it in later sessions. When the horse becomes able to bend its body to both sides equally we start to put a saddle on its back and see if it can stay in balance, move with suppleness without getting stiff in the back. When the horse succeeds in going on with the saddle in all of the three gaits we start to put a person in the saddle to get the horse used to having a rider on its back, then we start to teach different riding aids.
By lungeing the horse we teach him the aids from ground. When the horse knows how to use its body we start to sit its back. In the beginning, the rider just sit without using any aids or interrupting the horse in anyway. Later on, he starts introducing the aids using the seat, the reins, and the whip in later stages.
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When we start to ride, our goal shouldn’t be just doing a piaffe or a flying change in canter, it should be building the horse physically and staying in communication with the horse during the time of riding. For example, when a horse is doing a canter on the right lead, it’s important to know how it should feel like and what are the correct aids for it. If the horse isn’t doing what we ask it to do then it might be not interested in what we are doing or it doesn’t understand what we are asking. We have then to check our aids, and whether it’s possible for the horse to do it or not. We have to consider many things before rushing into blaming the horse. There is a quote that says “A lot of people talk to their horses, but not many listen.” Also, a very important citation by Bent Branderup “We are not using the horse for the dressage, we are using the dressage for the horse.” The Academic Art of Riding isn’t only about the horse, it’s also about building your body awareness in a way that can help you achieve your goals in riding.
My pony mare Maya doesn’t have the power to have me on her back for a long time after she had an accident. I am just riding her very short in walk and after that I am doing handwork to make her more supple. The school halt is a gymnastic for the hindlegs to lift the chest up, that the horse gets lighter in the front like in the collection, which makes the horse also more movable.
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Introducing the collected walk
In this session, I am teaching the horse how to do the collected walk. I am using the whip to lower the tail. If the horse trusts me and undestands the aid it should put more weight back on the hindlegs and starts to lift up the chest. The voice of the rider can motivate the horse to move with a bit more energy.
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Bent Branderup doing the School Halt
This is Bent Branderup with his Frederiksborger “Zarif� in the school halt. You can find this movement in the old copper prints and the descriptions in the books of the old masters. The benefit is to move the weight of the horse backwards, that the horse is carrying more weight on the hindlegs, which are stronger than the frontlegs. It is a gymnastic for the muscles and ligaments and makes the horse stronger in the hind legs. In the Academic Art of Riding we train the horse to become a ridinghorse that can carry the rider properly as the horse is not meant to carry weight on the chest.
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What is new for 2012?
In 2012 we are starting a Training System with “Bent Branderup ® Trainer”. As more and more people became aware of the Academic Art of Riding, and to be able to meet such demand of interested people from all over the world, Bent and I developed the concept of “Bent Branderup ® Trainer”. For this concept, Bent Branderup has chosen some members of the Knighthood who are known for their passion for working with horses. They pay a special attention to their own continuous & advanced training, always looking for more future developments. Those are the ones who are qualified to teach people and call themselves “Bent Branerup ® Trainer”. Their common ambition is to spread the Academic Art of Riding all over the world, to examine their own work, and to develop themselves together with Bent Branderup and the Academic Art of Riding.
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LD Pistal x Cameo K Rose
Two Dollar Pistal
AVAILABLE AT STUD Frozen Semen Available
Limited Bookings
Sired by 6 TIMES NATIONAL CHAMPION
LD Pistal
My Way Ranch Arabians Trace & Lisa Moffatt 903-288-3236
mywayranch7@aol.com www.mywayranch.com
FOR SALE 2010 Bay Colt Reasonably Priced
Prince Of Persia
MWR
STIVAL
Sired by Stival (Gazal Al Shaqab) Out Of WH Magic Allure (Magic Dream CAHR)
My Way Ranch Arabians Trace & Lisa Moffatt 903-288-3236
mywayranch7@aol.com www.mywayranch.com
Special Gifts
Horse people need
http://judishorsejewels.weebly.com http://www.facebook.com/judi.mcclellandequineart
Judi McClelland Exclusive Equine Sculpture & Jewellery
Judi McClelland Jewellery Exclusive Equine Designs Commission enquiries welcome
Painting by Judi McClelland
EQUINE ART
SHOWCASE
How noble the arch of his crested neck, The wisdom that gleams in his eyes, The spirit within his most dainty step, And the power and grace when he flies! The Noble Horse - (c) Judi McClelland, 2002
Featuring a few of the special Equine Graphite Drawings by Judi McClelland
Judi McClelland
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Jane Crosbie
Jane Crosbie is an equine artist from New Zealand. She believes that her equine art is an extension of her love for horses, her love for God - an extension of her faith.
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One of the very special paintings made by Jane Crosbie
In our next issue we are going to publish the full story of Jane Crosbie with horses and equine arts.
Jane Crosbie
www.janecrosbie.com www.janecrosbiesequineartschoolblog.com 97 - HORSE REFLECTION - JANUARY 2012
RH Stud Jennifer Hasslinger & Patrick Rudolph
www.gestuet-rh.de info@gestuet-rh.de
Stud RH was founded in Germany in 2006 by Jennifer Hasslinger and Patrick Rudolph. Both, grown up with horses. Patrick, at the well-known Arabian stud of his mother ,and Jennifer as a successful rider in many disciplines: Dressage, Jumping and Cross Country. 99 - HORSE REFLECTION - JANUARY 2012
First Knights Divine Baroness Yearling filly, multiple supreme champion
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With the beauty of the Arabian horse, and the movement of a dressage horse in mind, Jennifer & Patrick looked for a cross of both in Miniature, and started to train Miniature Horses professionally for Driving and Halter classes. In 2009, the stud earned the European Grand Champion junior stallion title. A great success for the first official European Championship to join. Till today many European Top Ten titles are achieved by our own horses as well as other horses that we train. A standard example of our perfect Miniature horse is our yearling mare, First Knights Divine Baroness. She is not only a beauty, she loves to show and trot in the arena like a little Arabian. She won 2 Regional Surpremes and many Grands at Canadian regional shows as well as World Reserve Grand Champion Amateur, World Futurity Top 5 and Open Top Ten. She will be shown in the US next year again. Co-owned with KC Pappas, First Knight Miniatures.
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Creative Showcasing of the beautiful
Arabian horse
A ZYAN
DESIGN
Centered around elegance
www.azyandesign.com