In June of 2012, Volume XII of the Reference Handbook of Straight Egyptian Arabian Horses was released. Keri Wright, then a member of the Volume XII Committee, was asked to prepare a presentation that would help today’s breeders, owners and enthusiasts to more fully appreciate the value of the Reference Handbooks. We’ve attached that presentation in hopes that we might rekindle the passion for study and research of all things related to the Straight Egyptian Arabian, but especially the Reference Handbooks, which have long been treasured possessions within the Straight Egyptian community. The presentation concludes as we follow Keri’s use of the Reference Handbooks in guiding his search for the stallion who would be bred to one of his mares and the birth of a much anticipated filly. In doing so, he demonstrates how the Reference Handbooks are not just a collection of pretty faces, but have a practical use in the day to day decisions associated with building a successful breeding program. ENJOY!
Not just a pretty face: USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
Not just a pretty face: USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
“The concept for the Reference Handbooks was born out of a lack of pictorial information about Egyptian horses of the past. When Don and I visited the EAO in 1959, the only information available about the RAS foundation stock was Dr. Ashoub’s 1948 herd book. This listed all the foundation horses by strain and family, and there were photographs of some of the important horses. Carl Raswan’s books also provided some pictorial references, as did Lady Wentworth’s - though few. How was one to study? On eventual trips to the EAO, Dr. Marsafi showed me some bundles of old photographs taken by Branch, Raswan, vonSzandtner, etc., and I organized them by family and strain. I also found many old photographs, mounted on pedigree boards that were in poor condition, stored on the floor in a barn stall. Dr. Marsafi gave me many of the duplicate photos and these formed the basis of my collection and the eventual books I wrote. These, together with my own photographs, eventually served many breeders through magazine articles and other reference works.”
Judith Forbis
Ansata Arabian Stud Founding Member & Trustee
The Pyramid Society
Not just a pretty face: USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
“When we formed The Pyramid Society, I remembered how difficult it was for me to find reference photos and suggested to our board that we develop a Reference Handbook of Straight Egyptian Horses that could serve as an historical archive for the future. Jim Kline agreed to take on the project of getting the first one printed….Together we began soliciting our members to support the book with individual pages of advertising, and Volume I was born. Reference foundation mare and stallion pedigrees were listed, along with the basic tenets of The Pyramid Society and the historical background of the Egyptian Arabian horse…[It was] spiral bound for easy use, we chose royal blue and red (ancient Egyptian colors) illustrated by a Vernet drawing of a Mameluke on his horse. The first volume contained 120 pages and we were mighty proud of it…Over the years they have grown to include more information and are now supported globally. The current 528 page Volume XII is hardbound and contains a wealth of information about present day Egyptian horses as well as a legacy section in tribute to those beloved mares and stallions of the past… The overwhelming support for the current Volume XII indicates that the Reference Handbooks are still a viable and important resource, and they should remain so for years to come.”
Judith Forbis
Not just a pretty face: USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
“At [the] time [when Volume I was published] there was no Egyptian Event and no main office - only my office at Ansata as I was Secretary. First it was at Chickasha, (we bought a separate portable office building for adequate working space). After moving to Lufkin, we finally hired Jean Jennings and rented an office downtown. Eventually Lee Cholak was hired and an office in Lexington was leased. Until the Egyptian Event was developed, the Handbook served as our main showcase and a unifying activity that bound our members together. “
Judith Forbis
Ansata Arabian Stud Founding Member & Trustee
The Pyramid Society
Not just a pretty face:
USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
Content Summary:
➢ Info about The Pyramid Society
➢ Short history of Egypt’s horses
➢ Sample EAO pedigree & English version
➢ Reference Pedigrees – 8 ancestral horses – five generations
➢ Pictorials
➢ Listings
Reference Handbook, Volume One
Not just a pretty face:
USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
Content Summary:
➢ All previous features, PLUS:
➢ In-Depth Analysis of the EBC since its inception
➢ Heritage Section
➢ Sire Lines
➢ Dam Lines
➢ Tributes to EAO cornerstone stallions & mares
➢ Legacy Section in tribute to admired Egyptian Arabians (97 horses)
Not
just a pretty face:
USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
Joe Ferriss did a nice companion piece to this feature that was published in the December 2011 issue of The Pyramid Report. The research behind this study took me on wonderful adventures as I explored the sire and dam lines responsible for producing the EBC winners over the past 15 years, and as is frequently the case in projects of this nature, I think I gained far greater insights than a piece such as this allowed me to share. The difficulty was in condensing it down to something that might pique the reader’s interest without boring them to tears with the detail…but with the attractive purse associated with the EBC program, perhaps it will cause people to find that detail a bit more interesting and rewarding.
Not
just a pretty face:
USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
A treatise no serious breeder or enthusiast of Egyptian Arabians could willingly ignore. I consider myself an avid student of these things, and I have yet to plumb the depths of the detail Joe provides in his analysis of Egyptian sire and dam lines. The tributes to EAO Cornerstone mares and stallions is also a real treat. Having access to this piece authored by one of the world’s leading historians and research experts of the Egyptian Arabian is well worth the price of the entire book.
Not just a pretty face: USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
Not just a pretty face: USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
Not just a pretty face: USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
Not just a pretty face: USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
Not just a pretty face:
USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
Not just a pretty face:
USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses Featured Mares:
➢ Bint Sabah
➢ Farida
➢ Zareefa
➢ Dalal Al Zarka
➢ Radia
➢ El Mahrousa
➢ Bint Samiha
➢ Bint Rustem
➢ Bint Rissala
➢ Bint Riyala
Not just a pretty face: USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
Not
just a pretty face:
USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
One of the unique features in Volume XII is the Legacy Section which includes heartfelt tributes by former owners and others who knew many of the early horses...beautiful stories that help us to see the kind and loving dispositions of the Straight Egyptian Arabian Horse. I love reading them from time to time and pausing to reflect on them.
Not
just a pretty face:
USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
My family, including some of my siblings, decided to get together and sponsor several pages in honor of our parents, and to share some of the stories of the horses we dearly loved. This one was about Hekmat and the role she played in helping me process my own grief after my mother’s passing. They can teach us so much.
Not
just a pretty face:
USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
My stories about Mohssen could fill many volumes. This is a picture I call “the little groomer.” It’s Mohssen with my eldest daughter on the stool with me at her side. She was busy brushing his mane and he had turned to nuzzle her as if to say thank you. I loved this horse. He was my best friend growing up.
Not just a pretty face:
USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses Pictorial Section now with reference to sire and dam lines listing the root stallion or mare, the main branch and then the line or family.
Not just a pretty face: USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
“I have been out of the horses for about 9 years. When I was active I referred to the Handbooks repeatedly. I still do when I see an exceptionally beautiful Arabian. I'm always interested in the source of their pretty.”
Willis H. Flick, Glenglade Arabians
Founding Member
The Pyramid Society
Glenglade Foundation Stallion
Ansata El Naseri
Sire: Ansata Ibn Sudan
Dam: Ansata Bint Bukra
Acquired when he was 1 day old
Not just a pretty face: the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
Notes from various conversations with Steve Diamond – the Reference Handbook Incarnate– while discussing published volumes of the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses:
➢ In the early years they served as an inventory of Straight Egyptian horses.
➢ Analysis of horse photos (before the days of photoshop and glamour shots) could help identify conformational structure within family lines.
➢ Helpful in identifying conformational strengths and weaknesses among collateral relatives who weren’t readily available for personal viewing.
➢ Learning tool: Use of flash cards – pictures on one side, pedigrees on the other…
➢ Help new breeders and enthusiasts to train the eye & better understand the “why” behind what originally captivated them about a particular horse or family.
➢ Identify successes and mistakes – what “nicks” well, and what doesn’t.
➢ Assist in identifying the undesirables – keeps us from preserving what ought not to be preserved.
➢ Preserve the history behind the horses for those who will follow in years to come.
Not just
a pretty
face: USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
“I have used all of the Handbooks for many years and continue to use them as a valued reference. In particular, the older issues have been useful in looking up the pedigrees and to see photos of these original horses. In studying bloodlines, it's useful to compare photos of full and half siblings to learn breeding production trends within families. The books also remind us of horses that different farms have used in their programs and to take note if they contributed to the development of their programs... or if they were phased out.”
Jody Cruz Ranch Bulakenyo
The Pyramid Society Foundation Board Member & Trustee
Not just a pretty face: USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
“…the original purpose of the handbooks…was to provide a reference of ancestral horses for people who were new breeders. Now that the first one is going on forty years old (really hard to believe!!), the value of the handbooks is immeasurable.”
Lisa Lacy Bentwood Farm
The Pyramid Society Foundation Board Member
“As a kid, I learned pedigrees from The Pyramid Society handbooks. I do not think there is any better way to learn bloodlines and the different looks of the families. I think the handbooks are pretty much the most credible source of information to the breeder; and for sure to the newcomer as a learning tool. It is all factual information. I see so much information “online “ written about horses that the writer has never seen in the flesh . That is very scary. Judy has a copy of every one. They are worn and the most used books in our library. Every serious breeder should have a set.“
Shawn Crews Shawn Crews International
Not just a pretty face: USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
“When I first got started, my friend and mentor, Judy Jones, provided us with Volumes I – VII. I used them…
❖ As a “shopping guide” of sorts to compare the different bloodlines and breeding programs.
❖ To help develop my eye and build confidence in understanding why I liked what I liked.
❖ To help establish the “human connection” with the horses we liked. Sometimes the horses themselves were not for sale, but out of our admiration for a particular horse came a wonderful friendship.”
Christie Metz Silver Maple Farm Trustee, The Pyramid Society President, The Pyramid Foundation
Not just a pretty face: USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
Not
just a pretty
face: USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
At this point in the presentation I demonstrated how the Reference Handbooks can be used in making important decisions… in this case it was an actual breeding decision we had made. We had purchased a very lovely mare, Almona. She was an older mare at the time we acquired her. After a reproductive exam we determined that it was likely she would still be able to produce a foal and so we brought her home. The Reference Handbooks assisted me in bridging some gaps in my knowledge of the horses in her pedigree while I was away pursuing a career. She descended in tail female through the Mouna branch of the Moniet El Nefous family through Mouna’s daughter, Hoyeda, and her sire through the mare, Fada, of the Maaroufa family, one of the early Egyptian imports by Henry Babson.
Join me as we pursue obtaining a better understanding of her breeding potential through us of the Reference Handbooks, and eventually arrive at our choice for the sire of her next foal.
Not just a pretty face: USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
Ansata Ibn Halima
El Hilal
Bint Nefisaa
The Egyptian Prince
Akid Fa Mona
Fa Moniet
Almona
Morafic
The Egyptian Prince
Bint Mona
AK Alhana
Ibn Hafiza
Zaenap
Hoyeda
Not just a pretty face: USING the Reference Handbooks of Straight Egyptian Horses
