Arabian Studs & Stallions

Katharine

Katharine

Katharine

From the Editor

As I write this letter, floods are devastating the Hawkesbury area of New South Wales for the second time this year alone. An area well known for its Arabian horses, both historically and right now, their owners continue to demonstrate their resilience and willingness to help others, as the deluge continues. It is no small testament to our community, than to witness this coming together of like-minded people to lend a helping hand when the going gets tough.

To that end, this edition contains a focus on Arabians of Russian bloodlines. This has been planned for some time, and there was talk of pulling the articles for this year due to the conflict in the Ukraine, however as Arabian horse people we recognise that the horses

known this issue. It is good to see that the wheel does indeed keep turning.

Our Leading Stallions chart again suffered from the loss of several important shows this season, however I know we are all looking forward to a revitalised show calendar for next year. I hope you will enjoy the addition of our leading ladies, our precious mares who deserve the recognition of their work.

Thank you once again to the entire team, it is always a privilege to work on this most beloved of publications.

David Gillett

Elsa Marchenay Photography

NAAJMI, sired by BP Naajman (Ajman Moniscione) from Nakourah (Naavah). Tail female to Naadirah (Aswan) on both sides of her pedigree, through the most significant daughters, Nara (Hadban Enzahi) and Naazirah (Mustafa), now poised to continue the traditions of the Hawley Arabians’ breeding program.

TANYA HAWLEY. LOUISE FLORES. TARNI LETHERBARROW. 0499 896 386

Khalifah Al Saba

STRAIGHT EGYPTIAN STALLION A HADBAN ENZAHIYAH

Myth Haven Arabian Farm

PC: Nicole Emanuel

Khalifah Al Saba

Thaqib Al Nasser (imp Qatar) Simeon Siboni

Ansata Halim Shah Asfour (imp Ger)

Imperial Madanah Simeon Sippora

We welcome the opportunity to show you our beautiful Egyptian Arabian Horses, visitors always welcome by appointment, occasionally youngstock available for purchase.

ABOVE: RD Dynamo (Bey Ambition x TF Falcons Imprint) Image courtesy of Samantha Taylor

COVER

Halimas Lajazi (Laheeb Al Rayyan x Halimas Monessa)

PHOTO:

courtesy of Reece

Tribute to the Old Ladies

you behind the lens to capture the beauty of some timeless older ladies.

Photographer Elsa Marchenay takes

Photo Sabtah Nahlah (WN Dasjmir x Clifton Park Nefisa) –

Arret

Saf

PC: Arreton Photography

MARCUS AURELIUS (GB)

X RALVON GIFT

Above Abha Nadira (Khidar x Abha Jaipur by El Perfecto) – aged 19 years old

Right Elsa and WH Justice’s dam, Vona Sher-Renea (El Sher-Mann x Renea) a year prior to her passing at 30 years old

As most of you, the readers, probably did, I fell in love with Arabian horses at a very young age. For years I was buying every magazine related to Arabian horses you could find. I went to my very first show at a horse festival in the south of France, an Inter B show that attracted quite a few horses at the time. I was going there every year, admiring those stunning Arabian horses, all show prepped, just like those in the magazines. I had a very basic camera at the time and filled up all the films that I had, bringing home some terrible looking images of life changing memories. In January 2003, I remember one chestnut mare that won her class and won the show, she had one of those red Arabic type show halters, similar to the one Al Adeed Al Shaqab wore when he was awarded World Champion Stallion later that year in Paris. That chestnut mare was Om El Jazmina, a beautiful Sanadik El Shaklan daughter out of Om El Jazira (by Estopasan). It turns out that about 15 years later I was in a paddock photographing her in France. She was 23 at the time and I was in awe again in front of her, thinking my life had gone full circle, from admiring her when I was in my early teens to working at Om El Arab with her close relatives then onto photographing her.

“I never wanted to work with horses, you can’t make a living off it”; this was my motto when I was 15. I am 33 today and I have been working full time in the horse industry since I came out of Uni 13 years ago. Never say never! I will forever be grateful to the Arabian horse for allowing me to discover so much of the world. If it wasn’t for them, I’d still be in my mountains in France, trying to grow chestnuts for a living!

After spending a ridiculous number of hours learning pedigrees, collecting photos on my computer, loving those Arabian horses from afar, I got to hang around and give a hand to some breeders near home who were showing quite successfully in France. They got me in contact with different breeders and I did my time as a stable hand at a few places during school holidays. I even had the opportunity to work in Italy at the Tre Balzane Stud, who bred Straight Egyptian horses, for four weeks as part of my school work. Then I finally got my ever-wanted position at a show training facility owned by Robin and Didier Riviere, who are to this day invaluable friends.

Photos by Kerry Frame / Design by Samantha Taylor

Numerous AA class Championships, Reserve East Coast and Bronze Aussie Champion colt, successful endurance horse, Valinor Park Ghazal is 4th generation of Valinor Park Breeding. He has progeny in the ME, Nth America and Australia. His pedigree represents some of the best Russian bloodlines combined with outstanding representatives of Polish, Egyptian and Crabbet blood in his dam line.

Stud Fee $1750 + GST

B. Rutland 2022

From then on there was no stopping me. I worked at a few different studs in France, travelled throughout Europe and collaborated with Johanna Ullstrom who taught me you can treat horses with respect and still be successful in show. After a few years of relentless driving and showing all over Europe I decided that I needed a break, so I went to the USA and worked at Om El Arab for six months ... what else can you wish for? It was the season WH Justice was standing at stud there, and I also worked with the gentleman El Nabila B and my alltime favourite, Om El Bellissimo who I got to ride every day.

The southern hemisphere breeding season brought me to Australia at the end of 2013. What was supposed to be a six month trip ended up being six years at Simeon Stud as foaling manager, then a couple of seasons at the famous Mulawa Arabian Stud on their beautiful property in the Hunter Valley, looking after their pregnant mares, foals and handling stallions.

After spending hours and hours, day and night, with heavily pregnant mares, old or young, most of them quite famous, and falling in love with who they are, I felt inspired to develop a “Tribute to the Old Ladies”. During my travels and different jobs, I have seen some amazing old Arabian mares grazing in the paddock, far away from the spotlight and the breeding crush, or sometimes still with a foal at foot. They make me stop and admire them every single time, as they can still look beautiful even in their late 20s ... it’s like they know they’re famous, they know they are special. So, I wanted to make them shine one more time through my lens. I wanted to capture their beauty before it’s gone and give them another go at looking beautiful and majestic.

During foaling season, I took on the habit of going down to check on all of them, one by one, running my hand over their back, giving them a scratch on the withers, telling them how beautiful they are, trying to detect any behavioural changes, checking their udder status to see if I would be awake all night to welcome a freshly newborn foal or if it would be for later. This was my routine for many, many years, every morning, afternoon and late at night. Those precious moments when the mare is letting you invade her intimate space and starts trusting you to look after her and her soon-to-be newborn are extremely rewarding. I am very honoured to have been invited to share such moments with those mares.

Above Simeon Shuala (Simeon Shai x Ramses Tinah) and Simeon Saada (Asfour x Simeon Safanad) – both aged 28 years old

Top Right Om El Shadiva (Sanadik El Shaklan x Om El Shaina)

– photographed at 20 years old

Bottom Right Melina Vass (AF Vasco x Melina Shaklan) –photographed at 23 years old

Everon Park Ramah x Sabtah Nahlah (WN Dasjmir x Clifton Park Nefisa) Champion Purebred Mare QLD Challenge under Judith Forbis

Some will be super friendly, some will just be their grumpyselves but will secretly enjoy the wither scratches and timidly move their upper lips. Some will not let them near you for a while, whether it is by arrogance or shyness, but they all come around in the end, with time, respect and trust. When everyone on the farm gets excited to see the long-awaited baby, to see if the breeding decisions from last year had been successful, I was secretly admiring the mare’s body shape changing, looking big and about to explode, with a super shiny coat under the spotlights at night.

This is how I fell in love with old broodmares that have had an influence in the Arabian horse world, either by producing champions in show, or by being a champion themselves. They all have something that makes them special.

Slowly I decided to start my project at Simeon Stud, photographing the amazing broodmares Marion Richmond has been breeding over the years, then went to other studs such as Diamond Road Arabians as David had some beautiful mares from the Naadirah line. I also travelled to the US to photograph Vona Sher-Renea, WH Justice’s dam, because she was 29 at the time and I felt like I needed to meet this mare. She was astonishing! My trip to the US that year took me to a multitude of farms and I was privileged to photograph some fantastic old ladies.

The “Tribute to the Old Ladies” is only at its preliminary stage, as I will forever be looking for beautiful old mares to photograph, but if breeders are interested in following me on my journey, I intend to collate all the images in a book with a word from each owner or caretaker of each mare. I hope that this book will serve as a memento for the people who still love these mares today.

For more information on Elsa Marchenay and her work please visit www.elsamarchenay.com

Above ZT Maglie (AB Magnum x ZT Ludmelie by Ludjin El Jamaal) – aged 19 years old Right Vona Sher-Renea (El Sher-Mann x Renea) at 29 years old

PC

‘When the horse is going correctly the tips of his ears should point forward and should hardly move, and they are then said to be de buena vela ’ – a nautical term used to describe the sails of a ship: ‘set fair’ – Guillermo Sampedro

Above Joshua Higgins of DBV Equestrian with Halimas Lajazi (Laheeb Al Rayyan x Halimas Monessa)

Sails Set Fair for Halimas Lajazi

DBV EQUESTRIAN

What sparks the spirit, raises the passion and creates the desire? What is it that causes a three-year-old to take a kitchen broom, throw his leg over it and ride it around the house until it wears to a point? Or stands in the float kicking at the sides? The young boy that doesn’t draw a pretty pony but creates an x-ray view of a mare in foal.

That boy was Joshua. His spirit, his passion and his desire all found a beginning in the horse. Not just any horse – it was the Straight Egyptian Arabian. He is at home here on the family farm building his stud and breeding his horses.

It was always going to be so!

I am his grandfather. Horses are so important in Josh’s world that I am certain his DNA carries a gene that is shaped a bit like a horse. My own life has centred strongly on horses. A horse doesn’t have to buck hard to dislodge me, I don’t know how to sit my seat or use my legs properly for dressage and my only attempt at a jump was catastrophic, but I always loved to ride and work horses. My father died when I was 16 but I cannot be near a horse without thinking of him. When dad returned to Margaret River in 1920 from WWI he had been with the Australian Infantry in Europe for four years – gassed twice on the front line and then in medical teams in large French hospitals. The army offered small loans to assist in the resumption of civilian life and dad was given twelve pounds and ten shillings to purchase a breakers saddle. His father and mother had established a coaching house at Margaret River in 1894 on the Karridale Coach Road. Horses were so important for life in those times and for their business that they employed a man specifically to school the six children in the art of horsemanship. One of father’s brothers had stories that would inspire anybody. In 1876 John, at the age of 16, travelled from his home at Nannup into Busselton to find a job. He was given the task of riding the mail from Busselton via Nannup to Augusta, a distance of 150km which is just shy of Australia’s prestigious national 160km endurance event, the Tom Quilty Gold Cup. He did that both ways each fortnight for 32 years.

Dad developed a reputation second to none as a professional horse breaker. His sister Mary Higgins rode her horse

‘Bluebell’, an outstanding Anglo Arabian mare imported from the UK by the timber tycoon, Morris Coleman Davies. Mary, then 16, rode 60km from her family homestead to the show grounds in Busselton where she won the Ladies Hack in 1906 – scandalising all who saw her by riding astride – ignoring the convention of the day for ladies to ride side-saddle.

When Josh was nine years old we bought a copy of the 1996 Arabian Studs & Stallions , which featured Barabas on the cover. He was hooked on the breed with an interest that morphed to a passion as he grew older. Also, at about this time, like most Arabian enthusiasts, he came across Francis Ford Coppola’s film ‘The Black Stallion’. I think he still has the original copy.

My first horse was a part Percheron stallion, and I don’t think I can over-estimate the qualities inherent in the Percheron breed from the Arab infusion. All my children learned to ride on him, and Josh learned to ride by sitting behind the saddle. Josh then graduated to his own horse, Firefly, by my stallion from an Anglo Arabian mare. We rode together most weekends through the famous Boranup Karri Forest and down to Hamelin Bay. In 2001 at the age of 14, Josh appeared on the front page of the local paper, photographed with his horse Firefly and holding a trophy. He had won the WA State Heavy Horse Ploughing Championship – Novice Class – and the Junior Handler Class at Boyup Brook.

The first real connection Josh had with the pure Arabian horse was through Kerry Higginson from Shaylen Park Arabians. He purchased a black Straight Egyptian colt called Shaylen Park Shakil Rafiq (Rivlyn Kaadeer x Rothlynne Cinnamon). He was a beautiful, refined five-month-old black colt with lots of blow and snort. Through Kerry, Josh met Cheryl Ullrich and discovered the finer points of show preparation, conditioning and presentation. That year Cheryl presented Rafiq for Josh where he was awarded WA Reserve State Champion Colt. In 2015 Josh decided to have Rafiq approved as a foundation breeding stallion for the Trakehner Verband, being assessed by Matthias Alexander Werner of Germany. Rafiq passed his grading and was the second purebred Arabian stallion to be pedigree approved and the first registered Trakehner Foundation Stallion to be accepted into the Australian Trakehner Studbook. His only Straight Egyptian daughter, DBV Mahalia, from the acclaimed mare J’Adore Madinah will be bred to Halimas Lajazi this coming breeding season.

Joshua was inspired by the incredible beauty and type of the Straight Egyptian horse and spent countless hours studying the bloodlines, coming back time and time again to the horses owned and bred by Don and Judith Forbis of Ansata. With sheer perseverance and dedication Josh strove for this ideal, his vision fixed on the attributes he wanted for the horses in his boutique breeding program. As his knowledge grew and lifelong friendships were established his stud flourished. He now has a collection of beautiful Arabians and warmbloods gracing the paddocks of DBV Equestrian. Peter and Jenny Pond of Forest Hill Stud in Wyong NSW have always been a wonderful support and a source of infinite knowledge, helping to shape his breeding program. Forest Hill engaged Louise Brian from the UK, one of the top international handlers in the show scene, to prepare their team for the 2012 Australian National Championships and the East Coast Championships. Jenny invited Josh over to stay and work alongside Louise as a learning experience.

During this time, Josh found himself in the fortuitous position of being able to secure Halimas Lajazi, the first born son of Laheeb Al Rayyan, from Peter and Jenny, imported from Qatar and bred by Sheik Adul Aziz Bin Khalid Bin Hamad Al-Thani at his renowned Al Rayyan Stud in Doha. He is by Ansata Hejazi, a celebrated stallion known as ‘the King of Kuwait’. Ansata Hejazi is an extremely well-balanced individual of the classic type and has made his sire, Ansata Halim Shah, famous. Laheeb Al Rayyan’s dam is Ansata Selket, known as ‘the Queen of Ansata’. She is a beautiful daughter of Ansata Halim Shah out of the Jamil daughter Ansata Samarra. Laheeb was sold back to Qatar and sadly died shortly after – a terrible loss.

Lajazi’s dam Halimas Monessa is sired by Royal Jamill (imp USA), a beautiful stallion who consistently produces horses of a classic type. A grandson of Ansata Imperial and Jamil, his sire Royal Jalliel is a ¾ brother to World Champion Mare Imperial Phanilah. Monessa is a daughter of AK Faressa, a daughter of Prince Fa Moniet, one of the greatest Egyptian horses in modern Egyptian Arabian breeding. AK Faressa was bred in the USA, imported to Australia by Forest Hill and later exported to Saudi Arabia. AK Faressa is also the dam of Ansata Shaamis, a celebrated stallion in Italy.

Warmbloods at this time proved to be the cornerstone for the stud’s commercial interests. Having been inspired for many years

by international European dressage masters, Josh dreamed of producing a warmblood of that calibre and breeding for DBV Equestrian. The hunt began in earnest to source two fillies. The beginning of 2015 saw the arrival of Hollands Bend Dark Desire, by the great De Niro – 2008 Hanoverian Stallion of the Year and one of the highest ranking dressage breeding stallions in the world. She was followed by Hollands Bend Suzi Q, a black daughter of the three times World Dressage Champion Sezuan out of SPS Heartbreaker, the Silver Champion three-year-old mare at Herwart Von Der Decken Show 2010.

As fate and fortune would have it Josh met Heidi Emery from Hermitage Dressage when he was looking for a stallion to use over his warmblood mares. It was through this friendship Josh was introduced to Paula Bell-Cross, the breeding specialist at Valley Equine Clinic in Upper Swan, Perth.

The association with Paula was so successful that Josh decided to make the four hour trip to Valley Equine Clinic with Halimas Lajazi on board to be taught to collect. They arrived at 6pm in the evening and by 10am the following morning Paula and her team had successfully collected viable semen for freezing. Josh now has 20 doses of frozen semen stored at Valley Equine for future use. Lajazi’s first purebred foal out of Josh’s prized Straight Egyptian mare, Simeon Shahnara (Anaza Bay Shahh x Simeon Shiraz) is eagerly anticipated at the end of October.

Josh has recently become the Site Manager of Eagles Heritage Wildlife Park, situated just outside of Margaret River. The park is dedicated to the preservation and rehabilitation of sick and injured birds of prey. Eagles Heritage was established in 1987 by Phil and Kathy Pain and has recently been purchased by the Margaret River & Busselton Tourism Association. This position enables Josh to draw on his years of experience caring, nurturing and training his beloved horses and applying these skills at Eagles Heritage.

Author Thomas J Higgins

Top Left Simeon Shahnara (Anaza Bay Shahh x Simeon Shiraz)

Top Right Hollands Bend Dark Desire and her colt

DBV Starwalker

Images Rebecca Lutton; Reece Penn

Future Farms

Future Farms – Breeding, Training and Marketing horses for all disciplines

PC: Javan, Lisa Gordon, Amy-Sue Alston, Jennifer Ogden, Dana

Concherto FF

(Burren-Dah The Wizard (exp) x Aloha Symphony)

Brown Anglo Arabian Stallion Multi Australian Champion - Led and Ridden

Fever FF

(Crave FF x Double TT Fevia)

Black Brown Arabian Warmblood Stallion

Multi Australian National ChampionLed and Ridden

Proudly bred and owned by Future Farms and available at public stud

PC: Holly

Crave FF

(Mash x Bremervale Charmed)

Multi Australian National Champion - Led and Ridden

PC: Samantha Taylor, Jennifer Ogden

(Volcom FF x Mystica Jamarlee)

2021 Gold Australian National Champion Colt

2021 East Coast Champion Yearling Colt

2021 Arabian Summer Show Supreme

2021 Barastoc HOTY Supreme Junior

2022 Australian National Champion Junior Colt

Volcom FF

(Crave FF x Beguine OH (Imp USA) (x Versace))

Gold Australian National Champion Colt and Stallion Sire of Multi Australian National Champions

Proudly bred and owned by Future Farms and available at public stud

PC: Samantha Taylor

PC: Samantha Taylor

Kilimanjaro (Imp NL)

EBL Empress

(W Ellington (Imp USA) x Lush)

2022 Australian Arabian National Champion Led and Ridden Arabian Warmblood, Arabian Derivative Show Hunter, Arabian Derivative Preliminary

PC: Glenys Lilley, Lisa Gordon

RD Dynamo (Imp

(Bey Ambition x TF Falcons Imprint)

USA)

2022 Australian National Champion Ridden Stallion, Purebred Preliminary Dressage and Western Pleasure

2022 Reserve Australian National Champion Purebred Bridle Path Hack

PC: Glenys Lilley

Rivoli Magic FF

(Fever FF x Romance FF)

2022 Australian National Champion Led Junior Arabian Warmblood and Non Pro Led Arabian Derivative Junior

(Crave FF x Gleniph Bombe Alaska)

2022 Australian National Champion Ridden Partbred Arabian, FEI Inter I Dressage, Arabian Derivative Bridle Path Hack, Non Pro Ridden Derivative PC: Glenys Lilley

PC: Glenys Lilley

Enotri EEA

(Shanghai EA x Enjoi E)

Grey Purebred Arabian Stallion

Available via frozen semen through Future Farms

Spades

LRA (Imp USA/exp CN)

(DA Valentino x Serenata El Jamaal) SCID/CA/LFS clear

Fearless FF

(SF Sir Real (Imp USA) x Double TT Fevia)

Brown Arabian Warmblood

Available via frozen semen through Future Farms

www.ff.org.au

(Padrons Psyche x RD Bey Shahmpane)

SCID/CA/LFS clear

Chestnut Purebred Arabian

Available via frozen semen through Future Farms

PC: Samantha Taylor,

Lisa Gordon, Holly

Jamison FF

Kizashi

As a long term breeder of Straight Egyptian Arabian horses, I have been constantly drawn to Egypt as a source of new bloodlines for Simeon Stud. Egypt has also imported several Simeon horses.

I first went to Egypt on a horse search in the early 1970s and visited many farms. Always a priority among them was the EAO Government Stud, now known as El Zahraa State Stud. I would spend several days looking at hundreds of horses! I remember seeing the grandfather of 27 Ibn Galal V, the original Galal. He was truly a fine horse.

I fell in love with so many of the old mares that were just magical. Ibtsam, her daughter Bint Ibtsam and later I would see her granddaughter Tee ... they were all amazing. I

From Egypt with Love

remember that each time I found a treasure, I got goosebumps and it made my heart sing. I was lucky enough to see Tee again on my last trip in 2019. She was very old but still just as beautiful as the first time I saw her.

On one of my first trips to the US I saw a newly imported stallion from the EAO. His name was Farazdac and he was beautiful. He had a massive shoulder and a long, clean neck. He was very tall for the day and had a magical face. Unfortunately I have no lines directly to Farazdac as he had few progeny when I saw him. Farazdac was by Alaa El Din and out of Farasha, who was out of Yosreia.

Top Alwan Aal Ameen (Shafea x Ahlam Al Ameen)

Yosreia is a keystone mare in the Simeon breeding program. 27 lbn Galal V had three crosses to Yosreia as well as Raffaalla who goes back to her through Dalul.

On one of my trips to Egypt I saw the stallion Gad Allah. Gad Allah was by Adeeb and out of Omnia who also goes back to Yosreia. He was tall and very stretchy, and his movement was absolutely amazing! I tried to buy several daughters to no avail. Gad Allah had a beautiful son, Tagweed. The first time I saw him was at the National Show in Egypt where Simeon Sharav was unanimous Champion. I tried to buy Tagweed, I begged and cried, but unfortunately it was not to be. On subsequent visits I saw that Tagweed had sired a wonderful son himself, Shafea. Shafea is out of the lovely mare Shafaat who carries the beloved blood of Farazdac.

ln 2019 I spent two weeks in Egypt with my farm manager, Tracey Garrison. We were on a mission to find a colt or stallion to complement my wonderful collection of mares. We would start early in the morning and visit four to five studs each day. Among the many studs we visited was the farm of Mr Al Amin, who unfortunately has recently passed from COVID. He had some really fine mares, wonderful old German lines. He and I spent hours looking and talking about the bloodlines. His assistant, Dr. Noora Faawzy was just as knowledgeable as Mr Amin, and she was helpful in arranging my next purchase.

While at Mr Amin’s farm I spotted a weanling filly that absolutely took my breath away. Then I looked at her pedigree. Alwan Aal Ameen is by Shafea and out of the beautiful Ahlam AI Ameen. Ahlam is mostly old German lines that also go back to the EAO. I had finally found a mare that had both Gad Allah and Farazdac in her! Most of her lines go back to original EAO bloodlines. After all those years it paid to be patient! Tracey kept reminding me that she was not a colt. Oh well, next time!

Alwan has an embryo by Simeon Shifran due in 2023. We also imported some semen from Kais Al Bayadaa and Moez Al Bayadaa. We have had four foals by Kais Al Bayadaa and are awaiting more from both Kais as well as Moez. I still have not found my next colt. I will be patient, he will come along at some point. I just hope it is sooner rather than later!

Author Marion Richmond

Images Joanna Jonientz; Diana Cantey; Ahmed Nashaat El-Hamadany

Top Left & Above Left Shafea (Tagweed x Shafaat)

Bottom Left Tagweed (Gad Allah x Tee)

Above Right Marion with Tee as an aged mare at the EAO in 2019

(BALATON X MAGNITKA) BRED BY TERSK STUD IN RUSSIA

His legacy lives on through his daughters...

Sussanah C (SR)

x Sensualle imp US (Mirok Monpelou x Sentiment)

Bellisima C (SR)

Caramea Sassymoon (RR)

in foal to Royal T Phorte (USA)

Caramea Moonlight N Roses (RR)

x Oakdale Sassafras imp US (Monogramm x Sassypants)

x Special Kaiy imp US (Gazal Al Shaqab x LC Special Treat)

Caramea Sassia (RR)

Caramea Tammaya (RR)

in foal to Shazir De Lafon Imp FR

x Tammah imp WG (RR) (Tammen 11 x Nirvana)

KIM COX | 0401 071 695 | NYMBOIDA NSW

PHOTOS: Sharon Meyers, Sue Crockett

x Greengrove Babotchka (Barabas x Greengrove Ludmilla)

x Oakdale Sassafras imp US (Monogramm x Sassypants)

Time is Eternity KHALIFAH AL SABA

Every so often something comes along that signifies a combination of history and integrity in such a fashion, you can’t help but act on it. For Myth Haven Arabian Farm each introduced individual horse signifies an important step, an impulse that must be acted upon. It may have taken decades for the breeding program to take form, however Khalifah Al Saba, the latest addition to the elite stallion line up, has been well worth the wait.

His breeder Saba Arabians described him as heir to his sire Thaqib Al Nasser (Ansata Halim Shah x Imperial Madanah), and as a full brother to Australian National Champion Suhalia Al Saba, who now calls Al Waab Stud in Qatar home, Khalifah represents an exciting opportunity for breeders. With a double cross to Imperial Madheen, he combines the blood of Ansata Halim Shah and a tail female line tracing to the renowned family of 27 Ibn Galal-V.

For those who don’t know the story of Khalifah’s sire Thaqib Al Nasser, it begins with a lengthy journey, quite similar, to his sire Ansata Halim Shah (Ansata Ibn Halima x Ansata Rosetta) some years earlier. Born in the United States of America, Halim Shah’s well-documented visit to the farm of Dr. Hans Nagel in Germany assisted to create a revolution in straight Egyptian breeding throughout Europe, before his journey eventually took him to the Middle East.

Thaqib Al Nasser’s breeder, Sheikh Nawaf Bin Nasser AlThani of Qatar was one of the first to import horses back into the Middle East in the early 1980s. He eventually selected Imperial Madheen (Messaoud x Madinah) as his main source of classical type and imported numerous horses from the then operational Imperial Egyptian Stud in the USA, including the very beautiful Imperial Madheen daughter Imperial Madanah, dam of Thaqib Al Nasser.

At the end of March 2004 Thaqib Al Nasser arrived in Australia, concluding an epic ten-week journey from his birthplace. Thaqib had truly seen the world; he travelled through Dubai, Germany, Holland, England, Denmark and Singapore before finally reaching his new home.

Khalifah might remind you of his sire in many ways; he has a dry, refined type, an overall balance to his form and elegant, scopey lines. Over the years Khalifah garnered many admirers, who like us, share the excitement for his future.

How could anyone possibly forget Khalifah? I had viewed him several times at Saba Arabians as a youngster and the memory of him being shown in Sydney remains a vivid highlight. While at Saba he bred some memorable progeny with equally exciting sons and daughters before becoming a horse of leisure for the past eight years…until now.

Khalifah’s pedigree highlights a chart of significant Egyptian Arabians. His dam Simeon Siboni, a daughter of Asfour (DE) from an Imperial Madaar (US) mare, has more than proved her worth as a broodmare. If you study Khalifah’s pedigree you will find many of the world’s most prepotent and classic Arabians. Horses such as Hanan, Sankt Georg RSI, Alaa El Din, Ansata Bint Bukra, Ibn Galal, Hadban Enzahi and Ghazal to name a few.

Late in 2021, through the generosity of his breeders at Saba Arabians, Khalifah was introduced to the horses at Myth Haven Arabian Farm. He’s settled into his new home with ease and enjoys his new routine. A number of years ago, he was shown in hand by Greg Andrews with great success and knowing he’d been trained under saddle as a younger horse by Rochelle King-Andrews, it became irresistible to jump on his back for a jog around the farm.

Left Khalifah Al Saba (Thaqib Al Nasser x Simeon Siboni)

A new opportunity now presents itself for Khalifah. He has the exciting prospect to produce foals from the soul-stirring collection of mares at Myth Haven. Daughters of Simeon Stav (Asfour x Simeon Safanad), Ashquar Sihr (Salaa Sihr imp USA x Simeon Shaina by Asfour x Simeon Safanad), Simeon Sefa iiu Germany (Safeen x Mussallah imp DE) and Simeon Sadakah (Asfour x Simeon Saada) sparks one’s imagination of what’s to come.

Khalifah’s recent trip to Hat Head, a beautiful local beach near Myth Haven, showed the character we all love about Arabian horses. Nicole Emanuel visited to take some photographs and when Khalifah walked from the carpark to the creek entrance, people stared with fascination. He played in the sand and splashed in the water, before a halter change and more photos. Walking off the beach and back to the carpark, a group of about seven children came running up asking if they could touch him. Khalifah stopped, reached down to their level for all to pat his head and neck. Every so often we all experience a touching moment that stays with you forever and perhaps for these children, this would be one of theirs.

In recent years the world has been challenged but at Myth Haven the expectations for the times ahead always combine with restful solitude and the love of horses. You could say it all adds to a philosophy for the future. Time is too slow for those who fear, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity ... Unknown

Information adapted and written by Carmel Rowley Images Nicole Emanuel

Top & Above Khalifah during a recent photoshoot with Nicole Emanuel and with a group of admirers

The Arabians of Jordan

The story of the Royal Stables of Jordan is perhaps not a very ancient one, however the history of the Arabian horse in this piece of land now known as Jordan and the Hashemite Dynasty reaches back centuries. The Royal Stud originally consisted of the horses of King Abdullah I, founder of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which he collected during the Arab Revolt (1917-1921), when the Ottoman Empire was overthrown.

The King’s horses were settled within the palace walls, and each afternoon he would delight as they were turned loose to graze on the new lawns. They included horses such as Freiha, who had actually carried the King and his cousin away to fight another day during the battles in Arabia, and Sabal, a liver chestnut with white stockings who grew to such an age that even I remember her. During his reign, King Abdullah would be presented with several stallions who would go on to be bred with the royal mares, including the Spanish Ushaahe from General Franco, and El Fagr (renamed Selman) from the Inshass Stud in Egypt.

The King’s love of horses was inherited by both his sons, my grandfather King Talal and his brother Prince Nayef. King Talal used to ride often, and one of his favourite mounts, the famous Farha, was trained by him as a war mare. She later became one of the best producing mares at the stud but, when ridden, would fend off other horses as if to protect her

rider and refuse to be overtaken. King Talal sadly reigned only briefly before he abdicated, which is when my father, who was still very young, left to be educated at Sandhurst. During his absence the horses at the stud were accessible to all members of the family, and while some, like his brother Prince Nayef, were dedicated to the purebred Arabian, there was nothing to prevent others removing whichever horses they wished, either to other premises or to give away as gifts.

At the same time, like in many other areas of the Middle East, horse racing was becoming the sport of choice and some of its devotees, although deeply traditional and attached to Arab culture in many ways, were at the same time not adverse to the odd infusion of Thoroughbred blood to speed things up. In 1953, my father King Hussein returned home from his studies and thankfully for the Arabian horse in Jordan, had formed a deep friendship with a man named Santiago Lopez and his wife Ursula…who would be pivotal to arrest the downward dive of Arab horses in Jordan and the Middle East, before it was too late. After a series of events, a chance meeting at the airport in Jordan between these two great friends saw my father ask Santi to take over the Royal Stables and see what could be done to save the purebred horses of the region. Of course Santi accepted, and Ursula came to Jordan to join him. There were six mares of pure blood left at the stables and no stallions.

The first task was to establish the ancestry of these horses, and then to trace any potential additions of credible breeding. The serious issue of lacking a stallion was solved by Prince Nayef, who entrusted Santi with Madrid, a stallion of his own

Left Hlayyil Ramadan (Kamar El Zaman x Haboub)

breeding and thus, the breeding program began. Several years later, a son of Ushaahe joined the stud. Bahar, out of King Abdullah’s beloved Sabal, was returned to the stud by Sherif Nasser. This was probably the most significant development for the stud’s future, and he remained the King of the Stud until his death in 1978.

The chestnut Akhbar (Indian King x Astreelia) would become the next breeding stallion for the stud. I had been told he had something of a reputation for being difficult to handle in England, however in Jordan he was no problem at all. In fact he was such a pleasant horse to ride, I gave him to my 13-year-old sister Princess Zein who was learning to ride. She thought him quite wonderful.

Our next infusion of new blood again came from England, when we were intrigued by the produce of the El Shaklan son Maleik El Kheil, whose Spanish/Egyptian blood intrigued me. Two colts were chosen, Hamadahn and Zaahi, who were at first left in England to be shown. Managed by the Maxwell family, Hamadahn represented Jordan that December at the Salon du Cheval in Paris where he won his class, a great thrill for us.

It seemed logical next to show a Jordanian-bred horse in Europe but we were inexperienced in such things. Jordan had been represented at the British National Arab Horse Show for several years with a stand, and in the 1960s Santi had established an annual trophy called the Princess Muna Saddle of Honour for the prestigious mare produce class, however we had not shown any horses at the event.

A young Baharein daughter was chosen, Sarra. Sarra was a mare of strong frame, extreme type, wonderful and powerful movement, and a character of equal strength. She made her wishes clear, and while never aggressive, neither was she

Middle Royal Stables of Jordan

Above Princess Alia al Hussein with Aziza

amenable in the ring. She would walk and trot around the show paddock the night before with no trouble, but once among other horses in a class she turned into the war mare of her forebears. She would arch her neck, flare her nostrils, break into a sweat and attempt a canter on the spot. Time and again she was shown – at Ascot, Haydock, the Nations Cup in Frauenfeld and the European Championships in Leiden. At Ascot, the largest show in Europe in those days with well over 20 quality mares in her class, she was always noticed. She was once pulled in first, but as usual was dropped to second when the judge could not assess her trot. After a number of shows, and comments like ‘I really liked your mare, but she can’t move,’ I gave up replying that it was a case of ‘won’t’ and not ‘can’t’ move.

Sarra was shown loose to gasps of awe at Painswick Lodge’s open house one year, and gave credibility to my words. However, she had achieved what we had sent her to England for: she made a huge impression. On one memorable occasion, a delegation from Syria was present, and finding Sarra to be ‘a true Arab’ had tried to buy her, but had been told she was ours! Betty Finke summed up the situation in the Arabian Horse Society News in stating something to the effect that, ‘worthy of mention in the intermediate mares class was the Jordanian Sarra who as usual refused to cooperate but has enough quality to stay at the top anyway.’

The next horse to represent Jordan so flamboyantly would be born in 1996 to the mare Haboub, during Ramadan. I named him Hlayyil Ramadan (Small Crescent Moon of Ramadan). As

Top Sadiqa (2012) (Monarcos DD (BE) x Rafiqa by Pobeditel) Above Monarcos DD (Psytadel x Monogrammed Lady)

he matured it was clear he was a stallion of great beauty and substance, full of charisma and regal bearing. He would take many shows by storm, and in December 2000 at the Salon du Cheval in Paris he became Reserve World Champion Stallion. This was a great honour for the stud and breeding program, as through his dam Haboub, Hlayyil Ramadan descends from King Abdullah’s war mare of the desert, Freiha.

After the Salon du Cheval, Hlayyil came home and his descendants, as well as those of our next stallion Monarcos DD (Psytadel x Monogrammed Lady), did really well for us, . This was especially fruitful when combined with the blood of our stallion Abakan (Balaton x Amunitia). A filly named Almasa (Monarcos DD x Jawaahir) was from memory a bronze winner in Paris and bronze or silver in Aachen as well as National and Middle East Champion mare. Her mother Jawaahir is by Hlayyil Ramadan from the Abakan daughter Goleh Gola. Another mare by Hlayyil, Hasanaat Al Haneefah has several times won the highest points for a horse produced by both sire and dam bred in the Middle East

In 1990, the first competitive show of Arabian horses was held in Jordan. I had hoped at the time that this will be the first of many competitive shows within the Arab world, and my hopes have been realised. Despite the lack of entries at the original event, the annual show has grown from strength

Top Hlayyil Ramadan (Kamar El Zaman x Haboub) Above Hlayyil Ramadan being

RAMADAN ARABIANS PROUDLY OFFERS FOR SALE THIS OUTSTANDING COLT OUT OF RAMADAN DREAM MAKER X CHELLEASON CROWN JEWEL

to strength with bigger and better entries from both international competition and the many other studs now to be found in Jordan.

It was around the same time that the first endurance marathon in recent history was to take place in Jordan. Some 50 horses started out early in the morning to avoid the worst heat of the day, and the majority of the horses completed the rest. The winner was a fine Shagya Arabian, in second place a son of Hamadahn from the Royal Stud, and third another stallion from the Royal Stud, Golden Decimus, who had placed in the stallion class only days earlier at the Jordan Show. Interestingly for Australia, he is sired by Bremervale Emperor (Oxford Decimus x Bremervale Phaedra).

Jordan was, I believe, the first Arab country after Egypt (a founding member thanks to the late Dr. Amin Zaher) to become a full member of WAHO with a recognised Stud Book of just 54 horses in 1980. It was considered a great feat back in those early times and all the more precious for the stringent inspections of animals, paperwork and historical support which were required. That first Stud Book contained extensive details of the horses from the long-standing breeding program

of The Royal Jordanian State Stud. To this day, the Royal Stables takes care to preserve the foundation male and female lines that are unique to Jordan.

Jordan’s current horses are known worldwide, but what is perhaps less widely known is that they feature and have had significant influence on many other breeding programs through horses which were sent abroad in the early to mid1900s. They feature in the bloodlines of the Yeguada Militar of Spain, the EAO and private stud farms of Egypt – perhaps most notably Shams el Asil of the late Wegdan el Barbary and Dr. Nagel’s Katharinenhof in Germany – and on through the breeding programs of Ansata in the USA, Al Rayyan in Qatar and Simeon Stud in Australia, among others.

In 1987 Jordan initiated the ‘Festival of the Arabian Horse at Home’ in order to bring breeders from the Middle East together with their horses, as well as guests from around

Below Rayat Rafiqa (2013) (Monarcos DD (BE) x Rafiqa by Pobeditel)

Noran Ebinee Rose Grand Champion Arabian Derivative

Noran Bella-Sansa Silver Junior Champion Filly Owned by P & T Hornby

Images: G. Lilley; Vicki Photos

the world, to see examples of the region’s breeding programs. Since those days, interest in the Arabian horse has reawakened and there are new breeders of both show and performance horses increasing yearly in number and quality. Our Arabians are mainly used for breeding, endurance and pleasure riding, as well as showjumping. We also supply the Mounted Police with purebred horses for training, competitions, displays (such as tent pegging) and competing in various disciplines. With their gentle temperaments and exceptional empathy with people, especially children, our horses also provide invaluable support at Growing Together , our dedicated hippotherapy project for young people with special needs.

In 2022 we welcome the international Arabian fraternity to our land as the host country of this year’s WAHO conference, and you are invited to visit the Royal Stud and several other wonderful Jordanian breeding programs including the Royal Jaafar Stud of my sister Princess Zein. Arabian horses have been an integral part of Jordan’s culture and history since time immemorial, and we are very proud that in this modern age we still have so many excellent representatives of the very qualities for which our local Arabian horses were famous.

Author

Images Reinherdt Jansen; Tariq Dajani; Rick van Lent; Marek Trela; With thanks to the Imperial War Museum

Princess Alia al Hussein

Top Hhoor (Monarcos DD x Hasanaat Al Haneefah) Right Hlayyil Ramadan (Kamar El Zaman x Haboub)

Avonview Arabians –the second coming

The daughter of the well-known breeders Pam and Rob Morris of Avondale Stud, Kerry Hammond grew up alongside the many famous Arabian horses that would call that stud home. Living and breathing horses for all that time, Kerry’s own program, Avonview Arabians, originated back in January 1985 with the purchase of the mare Ennerdale Valencia, sired by the El Shaklan son Izmir from Shareston (Indian Fire Dance iid GB x Unicorn). At that time Kerry says she had no idea that her colt foal Avonview Akubra by Akhu (Remembrance x Kai) would, in time, play a significant role in her current breeding program.

Avonview Akubra was sold just short of being three years old, and over the next two years sired two filly foals before being gelded. One daughter, Bint Georgie Girl, became an important mare for Krishlah Arabians, as the dam of Australian National Champion Georgio KA and the exquisite Gameelah KA (both by Crave FF) who was exported to America to great success.

Avondale Gai Enchantment was his first foal. Bred by Kerry’s mother Pam Morris from the mare Avondale Gai Silver (Gai Raphael x Avondale Gem), Gai Enchantment produced seven

registered foals however the best known and important to Kerry’s program would be Avondale Grace (by Avondale Eclipse). Prepared and shown by Jayne Bellchambers of Westacres Arabians, her notable achievements include winning Supreme Purebred at the Victorian Classic on three occasions, one with a foal at foot. That foal was Avondale Cruise (by Crave FF), who is now resident stallion at Avonview Arabians. Avondale Cruise grew up at Westacres Arabians and was shown successfully in hand by Jayne prior to being retired to focus on stud duties.

From 1985 to 2005, Kerry enjoyed her horses and bred a few foals with the Avonview prefix however, like many of us, life took her away from Arabians for a time. ‘I went out of horses completely when we moved to a three acre property on the edge of Ararat in 2005. At this time Mum and Dad were still running Avondale Arabians, and with me being a fulltime teacher and a business owner, there wasn’t any spare time for horses. So during that time, I enjoyed my mother’s horses. In October 2013, Mum had an accident the day before her 80th birthday. It involved horses, a dog and a quad bike and the result was devastating. In short this resulted in me realising that the care of her 50 or so horses would lie with family and friends…something had to be done.’

Kerry did not want to lose precious bloodlines from the Avondale breeding program, however she was faced with the juxtaposition that to make it work, numbers would need to be reduced and horses would need to be rehomed or sold. ‘It was a difficult time managing Mum and Dad’s medical needs with the needs of the remaining animals, along with keeping my own automotive and agricultural equipment sales business running smoothly. I resigned from my teaching career of 30 years, however amongst all the

challenges, the highlight was being able to enjoy what I was doing with the horses again.’

Always with a keen eye looking at available real estate, in 2016 Kerry was drawn to a 40 acre property located close enough to town for twice daily visits. In short, although feeling sceptical that the property would not be as delightful as it appeared, Kerry was pleasantly surprised during the inspection and subsequently bought the property very quickly after that.

‘The property wasn’t set up for horses and I have done a considerable amount of work making it safe for them and it will always be a work in progress. Horses will always find the least safe stretch of fencing to argue with, at the least suitable time, so good fences are a must. That said, my partner now calls it Horse Heaven!

‘There is a great deal of learning required with horses. Despite years of previous experience, bad experiences have a habit of teaching us something each time. In my previous involvement with horses, I was mainly a rider. Of course, I grew up with Mum and Dad breeding horses, so it wasn’t all new, just perhaps the finer details which over the years had become a bit rusty.’

Kerry began the second coming of Avonview with a small group of mares of Avondale breeding, including the aforementioned Avondale Gai Enchantment, and has since incorporated her daughters Avondale Enchantress and Avondale Grace, as well as two of Grace’s own daughters Gabriella W (by Crave FF) and Pshola Grace W (by Pshalomar (US)). At present there are nine purebred mares at Avonview, all of which are of Avondale bloodlines aside from two who were purchased specifically to breed to Avondale Cruise. Memoirs of Marwan SA, is by Marwan’s Echo (Echos of Marwan x Myriad Park Krystelle) from the lovely bay Gaisha Girl (Gai El Jullyen x The Palms Uptown Girl) and Aviance MI (Parkview Audacious x Mulawa Aria), a full sister to Audacia, dam of nine champion winning progeny.

Top Left Avondale Bel Spirit (Avondale Mardisi x Merlo)

Above Avonview Angelica (Avondale Cruise x Avondale Bel Spirit) – Supreme Junior Champion Goulburn Valley Arabian Show

Bottom Left Akhu (Remembrance x Kai)

‘I was brought up to value correct leg and feet conformation, good bone, good hindquarters and riding types, and I aim to produce this in my foals. There seems to be some particular leg faults which are quite prevalent these days, and I would like to avoid breeding on certain faults therefore select my breeding stock very carefully.’

2021 saw the arrival of three purebred foals, the most in one season since Avonview started breeding again. Interestingly one foal is from Avondale Grace and the other two were from her daughters, the aforementioned Pshola Grace W and Gabriella W who produced foals by Voyager W (Sir Charmed FF x Amira Mulahn). ‘It was a dream come true to welcome a filly out of Grace, who had spent most of her years on lease with Jayne and Trevor Bellchambers. Grace returned to live with me in 2020 and her foal by Marshawan (Echos of Marwan x Chelleason Wind Fortune) is delightful.

‘2022 has thrown a slight curve ball in my direction, and some things have been placed on hold as I deal with, and undergo, treatment for breast cancer. The horse world has been wonderful with offers of help from dear friends to care for horses, or to help with feeding during treatment times. Determined to make the time go quickly I am planning the coming breeding season and working on other small projects on my property.’

This year Avonview will stand Avondale Cruise at stud via artificial semen from Hollowbend Equine near Ballan in Victoria. ‘I am excited to offer this magnificent stallion for other breeders to utilise. Avondale Cruise has correct conformation for proper function with good bone. He has excellent feet and a beautiful typey head with deep jowl, small tippy ears and a big kind eye. Most of my mares are very closely related to Cruise, so the search for a high-quality mare or two has consumed some time in the last twelve months. He deserves the best!’

by Janeils Ambition.’

Lastly, Avondale Felicity, a part Arabian Akhu granddaughter is expecting her third foal by Fever FF (Crave FF x Double TT Fevia), in what has been a very successful cross for two beautiful part Arabian fillies thus far.

‘Especially now over these past few months, and looking forward to what I will face, I owe my strength to my amazing Arabian horse connections…my friends and family who have offered help during this very trying time. “Horsey” friends with similar experiences have shared their stories which has helped me immensely with strategies for how they have managed. My beautiful horses have provided solace for me during this battle and have provided the motivation for exercise each day. Their expectant and thankful faces at feed times is worth the huge effort it takes on the difficult days. I am extremely grateful for the help given to me by others and for the presence of my horses. I hope by Christmas time most of the battle will be behind me. Time will tell! In the meantime, I look forward to four beautiful foals this season and for some exciting breedings for next season’s foals. There is so much to look forward to, while at the same time so much history when looking back with Avonview Arabians being largely based on my parents’ Avondale Arabians bloodlines. It is exciting being able to carry on what Mum started all those years ago.’

Interview with Kerry Hammond Images Kerry Hammond Archive

Above Pshola Grace W and her filly Avonview Sophia Grace (pend)

My Journey with Russian Arabians

Australia’s romance with Russian Arabians blossomed during 1970 with the importation of a rare gem, the exquisite grey mare Naadirah (Aswan x Napraslina). Over the years other Russian horses slowly trickled into the country but no one formed a straight Russian breeding program with them. They were used effectively in outcross programs and their progeny made their mark at stud as well as being bold moving saddle horses.

In the late 1980s Greengrove Stud imported horses directly from Tersk Stud in Russia via England and also purchased the stallion Barabas (Nadejni x Barhatnaja) from the Netherlands, who was bred by Robbie Den Hartog of The Kossack Stud. At the time it was the largest importation of Russian horses into Australia. Eventually Greengrove scaled down their breeding operation and many of the horses passed into the hands of other breeders who also valued their bloodlines.

Enter Kim Cox of Caramea Arabians, situated in New South Wales. Kim is a huge fan of Russian Arabians and imported the largest group of these horses into Australia. I recently caught up with Kim to speak to her about Caramea Arabians.

Above Kim in the USA with her Russian mare Sensualle Right The remarkable Troika – horses being driven in the traditional Russian harness driving combination of three horses abreast

When did you become involved with Arabian horses? I’ve always loved Arabians since I was a little girl, but I didn’t have the opportunity to do anything about this passion until later in life as an adult. When I became involved with the breed I was hooked and there was no turning back.

Initially you bred different lines of Arabians. I started breeding Anglo Arabian stockhorses in 1976 to use them for cattle mustering on our central Queensland cattle property. Purebred Arabians at that time were very expensive and hard to obtain. My first Arabian stallion was the tall, athletic bay Al-Meraine Riff-Raff and his tail female line went back to the Arabians imported into Australia by Sir James Penn Boucaut in the late 1800s.

In earlier days my brother had syndicated trotting horses and one of them was named Caramea Belle. The name Caramea appealed greatly to me, so I named my stud after this mare. I had no idea at the time that Caramea meant ‘my love’.

Eventually Russian horses caught my eye. As there were very few straight Russian horses available in Australia, I started to collect horses with Russian related bloodlines. I was also extremely interested in Egyptian and El Shaklan-bred horses at the time and I still have a few of these lines within the stud today.

Why Russian Arabians? My love for the Russian Arabian started in the 1970s with Naadirah, the beautiful ethereal white Aswan daughter imported into Australia who produced an incredible line of horses.

The Russian stallions that came into Australia in the early 1980s were awesome, powerful looking creatures with big hock action and drive from behind, and unmistakably Arabian – horsemen’s horses! They had a different look to what was available in the country at the time. Since owning Russian horses I also value their trainable natures and of course, their marvellous movement.

Eventually I purchased the lovely bay stallion Simeon Sur from Marion Richmond and he was predominantly Egyptian with Russian blood on his damline. Sur’s sire was the straight Egyptian Anaza Bay Shahh (US), and his dam was Australian National Champion Mare Simeon Savion (DE) sired by Ansata Abbas Pasha from the Russian Aswan daughter, Novina.

It was a great thrill when I eventually bought my first straight Russian stallion, Simeon Sol. Again, he also counted Aswan as an ancestor. Aswan’s blood has been the golden thread running through my herd. Sol’s sire Simeon Seth’na imp NL was a Peleng son and Sol’s dam was the delightful grey Simeon Samara, a

daughter of Novina (Aswan x Nemezida). With Simeon Sol I bred some beautiful half Russian mares that I still own. As luck would have it, due to unforeseen circumstances I had to sell Sol. Meg Wade purchased him and used him within her Castlebar Stud.

How did you expand your knowledge of the Russian horses? By looking at as many horses as possible and studying overseas breeding programs. I also delved into their history which is fascinating.

In 2008 I became friendly with Joanne Ogden of Aurora Wind Arabians in Canada. Joanne is also passionate about Russian horses, so we planned a whirlwind road trip together.

We travelled through seven American states visiting the following Russian horse breeders: Top of the World Ranch; Selket Arabians; the Shone family, breeders of Salon bloodlines; Singing Hearts Farm where I saw RD Five Star, Aabsolut and Momentus; Sport Arabians, where I purchased the straight Russian mare Sensualle (by Mirok Monpelou from the Menes daughter Sentiment). I later imported her into Australia in foal to Aabsolut.

We visited the Bergren family where I saw the Salon son, Solstice. I also bought the Novator daughter Novaya (from the Mamluk daughter Krasnaya) and Pavriel (by RD Ariel from Pavlovka – double Muscat) and she went to Joanne’s farm in Canada, together with another straight Russian mare from Top of the World Ranch. As I didn’t end up with any foals from these two mares, I eventually sold them.

I was invited to visit Russia by a fellow Russian horse breeder who I had met at a World Arabian Horse Organization Conference (WAHO). After much planning I attended the 2011 Tersk Open Day. We were warmly welcomed to this historic and worldrenowned stud. At the time Tersk was in the process of rebuilding and was under new management. It was so exhilarating and motivating to see their breeding program. When viewing these gorgeous Arabian horses, I remembered Dr Dee B Whittlesey’s words about Tersk, ‘Nowhere in the twentieth century, maybe ever, have so many immortals of the breed been gathered into one stud’. A memorable highlight was visiting the statue and grave of the illustrious stallion, Aswan. I was so proud that his descendant, my lovely stallion Moondancer DSA (Balaton x Magnitka 20), was conceived at Tersk.

Top Middle

Bottom The famous Aswan’s grave at Tersk

We visited several private Russian breeders as well as the famed Khrenevsky Stud that was owned by Count Alexei Orlov. He was a Russian soldier and statesman who rose to prominence during the reign of Catherine the Great (circa 1762). Count Orlov was a renowned breeder of livestock and developed one of Russia’s celebrated breeds, the Orlov Trotter. It’s noteworthy that the foundation sire of the Orlov Trotter was the Arabian stallion Smetanka. It was at Khrenevsky Stud where we first saw the remarkable Troika –horses being driven in the traditional Russian harness driving combination of three horses abreast. They exhibited the Troika with three magnificent bay/brown horses especially for us to see. It’s a memory I will always treasure.

What Russian bloodlines appeal to you now? I loved the look of the Salon horses I saw in the USA and nearly bought a gorgeous grey stallion by Prussia. The other look that I like is Nadir 1, as exhibited through the daughter and granddaughter I have at my stud, and the lovely Nadir 1 foals I saw in America. After visiting Russia the majority of the horses I liked had Balaton, Drug, Pilgrim or Aswan breeding. Although I haven’t had the chance to visit SAX Arabians in Germany, where the majority of my straight Russian mares originated from, I was a great admirer of their breeding program. SAX Arabians and The Kossack Stud in The Netherlands are on my bucket list to visit.

You are the largest importer of Russian Arabians into Australia, how did this come about? After my trip to the USA I was told about a group of straight Russian horses that had become available for sale in New Zealand. These horses originated from SAX Arabians as well as Cedar Oaks in France. I travelled to New Zealand to view them and after long, drawn-out negotiations I purchased and imported them during 2009–2010 (nine in total).

This group included the handsome Balaton son, Moondancer DSA, from the Gips daughter Magnitka 20. Moondancer was bred by Tersk Stud in Russia and was foaled at Cedar Oaks in France. He was shown for a Junior Reserve Champion as a foal on his mother before being weaned and heading off to his new home in New Zealand. Moondancer’s progeny certainly didn’t disappoint! They have beautiful, trainable temperaments with awe inspiring tail over the back movement, great legs and feet, pretty heads and beautiful neck sets. I was devastated when Moondancer DSA died far too young.

How many Russian/Russian-related horses are at the stud? After importing the horses, I had 14 straight Russian (SR) horses residing at Caramea Stud with three straight Russian foals due that year. There were also 15 Russian-related (RR) horses with 50% or more Russian blood.

After the tragic loss of my chief stallion, Moondancer DSA several years ago, I felt my enthusiasm for a straight Russian breeding program began to wane. Then years of punishing drought followed, and as a result I didn’t breed any foals.

I eventually moved the stud from drought-ridden Queensland to Victoria and last year I relocated to New South Wales. During these moves, I sold several of my straight Russian mares to enthusiast breeders who valued their bloodlines. As of today, I have retained five straight Russians and ten Russian-related Arabians.

Your future plans for the horses? I am exceptionally keen to continue with my Russian Arabians and plan to utilise frozen semen this coming season. Australian breeders have been offered a wonderful collection of Russian stallions to enhance their breeding programs from a European stud. Hopefully this will increase our straight Russian gene pool once more!

I believe you are also a judge? Yes, I became an Arabian horse judge in the late 1970s and later qualified as a National Panel Judge, now classed as Internationally qualified. This has given me some great opportunities to judge Arabians in Australia and New Zealand, and also many other breeds in halter as well as indulge my passion for ridden classes. I enjoy visiting Arabian horse farms whenever I can.

During my 18 years of attending WAHO Conferences it has been fascinating to see the volume of Russian Arabians incorporated into so many breeding programs worldwide. Countless show winning horses today often have a link to Russian Arabians.

Interview by Sharon Meyers with Kim Cox

Images Sharon Meyers, Kim Cox, K Sheridan

SR & RR IMPORTS TO CARAMEA STUD

Moondancer DSA (FR) (Balaton x Magnitka by Gips) SR

Oakdale Sassafras (US) (Monogramm x Sassy Pants) RR

Sensualle (US) (Mirok Monpelou x Sentiment by Menes) SR

Aabsolutely Sensualle (Aabsolut x Sensualle) SR (iid)

Mareia (DE) – deceased (Balaton x Marei by Kilimandscharo) SR

Moneva Bint Mirokan (DE) (Mirokan x Mona by Vympel) SR

Menesha (DE) (Menesk x Matrisha by Vympel) SR

MW Iphigenia (DE) (Mirokan x Masha by Nadir 1) SR

Naduika (DE) (Nadir 1 x Nirvana by Chocolate Fix) (RR)

Tammah (DE) (Taman 11 x Nirvana by Chocolate Fix) RR

Nemara 11 (DE) (Mamluk x Nenija by Neman) SR

Trinity (DE) (Khidar x Mareia) RR

Special Kaiy (US) (Gazal Al Shaqab x LC Special Treat)

Caramea Tammsin (iid) (Marsin x Tammah) RR

Caramea Marsinaa (iid) (Marsin x Iphigenia) RR

‘It was at Khrenevsky Stud where we first saw the remarkable Troika – horses being driven in the traditional Russian harness driving combination of three horses abreast.’

Dara Park Stud

I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t the horse crazy kid, however growing up I rarely got to have anything much to do with them other than the occasional trip to the local riding school.

I didn’t begin my horse journey with Arabians. I started off buying an ex-racehorse six weeks after his last race as my first ever horse. I had waited so long to be able to get my own horse and so I bought the first horse that came my way. I did plenty of trail riding with him and he was good for the first couple of years, but the relationship deteriorated when he bolted on me when riding out one day.

Arabians were not on my radar then, however my best friend at the time was very excited by them, so much so that she couldn’t stop talking about them and so I learned from her. One particular day we came across a picture of Arabesque Sultan in ‘Rider’ magazine. He caught my attention with his lovely dapple-grey coat and so I made an enquiry in regards to using him. I ended up breeding two of my mares to him, including the partbred filly Jimundi Gypsana. She was by Desert Moonlight out of an unregistered mare and she was a good riding horse.

This mating resulted in the birth of the lovely partbred filly, Aratar Janorrah and the beginning of my showing Arabian horses. I took her to the Victorian Arabian Horse Classic where she placed in both the futurities and in her yearling partbred filly class, shown on both occasions by me. This was in 1985 and marked the beginning of my long breeding and halter showing career.

Dara Park is situated on 60 acres of rich grazing land in the town of Bunyip, Victoria. It is easily accessible by travelling on the M1 from Melbourne towards the Gippsland town of Warragul. The property is divided into large paddocks where our horses run together in large groups.

These days our horses consist of heavy infusions of Estopa blood through her son, El Shaklan and her only pure Spanish son, Estopasan. This is through sires such as Amir El Shaklan, Om El Shahmaan, Sanadik El Shaklan, SK Shakla Khan and Simeon Sa’ar.

I have always been impressed by the horses bred at Om El Arab International. They epitomise the Arabians of the desert, being beautiful as well as functional. They combine extreme type with a willing saddle horse disposition and can compete well in halter, under saddle and in endurance. In recent years we have introduced straight Egyptian blood. For us, it is about producing beautiful, functional horses capable of competing at the highest level in halter and performance. To that end the horses we utilise in our breeding program must be well conformed and beautiful athletes with outstanding, trainable temperaments.

I had also always admired Mr Peter Hall of Fairview Arabian Stud. He has brought some amazing horses into our country. He allowed the rest of us to have access to them so that we could improve our own horses and everyone had the opportunity to benefit from that.

Right Ella Noura (El Nabila B x C Psyleaha) and Angelina Daraio

Our stallions include the Om El Shahmaan son, Om El Akid (imp USA) and the straight Egyptian stallion, Al Kha-Zar (imp USA). Both have been shown sparingly but have revealed their true worth as breeding sires. Both have produced highly successful show and endurance horses, and both have had progeny exported overseas with several of Om El Akid’s babies now having successful endurance careers in both Malaysia and the Middle East. We also own the beautiful MF Aryan El Thessa son, DP Aryan El Jamal in partnership with Mr Paul Hedges as well as his stunning son, DP Malik El Jamal.

Our more recent additions have been the El Nabila B daughter, Ella Noura (imp USA) and the DA Valentino daughter, Bianca Rosetta (imp USA).

Ella Noura was shown to some success in the US before her importation winning such titles as Region 13 Reserve Champion and Champion Filly at the Summer Show in Indiana. Then upon her arrival in Australia she was bred via frozen semen to the lovely MF Aryan El Thessa and produced our beautiful DP Aryan El Jamal. DP Aryan El Jamal’s show career has been stellar, with titles such as East Coast Champion and Gold Medal winner at Equitana as well as Australian Top Ten Stallion.

After foaling duties, Ella Noura entered the Australian show ring to gain Top Ten Australian National Champion Mare shown by Silvio Galea. A few years later she entered the Australian Championships again, shown by my 14-year-old daughter Angelina, and was awarded Top Ten yet again in both Open and Non-Pro. Today Ella Noura has progeny sold to an international endurance home, and in 2021 she foaled a gorgeous Arabian Pony filly by Trincada Strike via embryo transfer for Sue Williams. This year we await the arrival of her first foal by our senior SK Shakla Khan son, Kublai Khan.

Bianca Rosetta was imported after a successful show career in the US, where she gained Region 13 Reserve Champion Filly and Top Ten Sweepstakes Filly at Scottsdale Show. Upon her arrival she continued this success winning Champion Senior Mare at the Victorian Championships at the tender age of three. She was Gold Champion Purebred Mare at the Australian Breeders Cup

at Equitana, Reserve Champion Mare at the Victorian Classic and East Coast Champion Mare. At the age of ten and after several foals, she returned to the show ring to win Champion Senior Mare at the Victorian Classic, amongst other wins. It was especially exciting as she was shown once again by our 15-yearold daughter Angelina.

As a broodmare Bianca, in partnership with Om El Akid, has given us a string of very good horses, most notably her stunning bay daughter, DP Valentino’s Rose who has gone on to beat her dam’s show record with wins across New South Wales and Victoria. This year Bianca has foaled her first mini-me foal in the colt, DPA Viserion. The only attribute he has from Akid is his grey colouring… he shows the usual Bianca trait of tail carried straight over his hindquarter, good legs and heaps of attitude. Being a late foal, he will commence his show career next season as a yearling. This season Bianca is in foal to our junior sire, DP Malik El Jamal and we are excited for this foal to arrive late next season. Our other breeding plans include DP Valentino’s Rose foaling to Magic Magnifique. Our stunning Quarab mare, Dara Park Shameless Love is in foal to Kublai Khan for an early foaling next spring and Dara Park Akida is in foal to Al Kha-Zar (imp USA) as is Dara Park Shadanah.

The beautiful Al Kha-Zar (imp USA) daughter, DP Al Joharrah is booked for a breeding to Platinum World Champion, Hariry Al Shaqab next season, so it will be exciting to incorporate these lines into our program.

I have recently retired from full time teaching and was looking forward to spending time with my horses. However, due to the huge teacher shortages in Victoria I have joined the ranks of relief teaching, and so I still work most days of the week. I have been very ably assisted by my husband, Frank Daraio who has run the stud whilst I have been at work. It was Frank that encouraged me to dream big.

Our daughter Angelina has always been very passionate about horses. She commenced her show career at the tender age of five with her little mare, Thorwood Sweet Georgia Brown at the Victorian Classic. She then moved onto the Arabian Pony mare, Dara Park Panache and spent several years enjoying the eventing aspect of pony club. Angelina rode a number of different horses in the show ring before discovering the delights of the halter show ring. She has become quite passionate about breeding Arabians and plans on continuing the stud into the future once Frank and I become too old to continue…we have had many heated debates as to who we should breed to who each season! I am looking forward to seeing which direction she takes Dara Park Stud in time.

Author Maria Daraio

Images Nicole Emanuel; Glenys Lilley

Above DP Aryan El Jamal (MF Aryan El Thessa x Ella Noura)

Deltree Arabians

Emma Cooper

Like many Arabian horse enthusiasts, I grew up living vicariously through the Arabian horse publications and dreaming that there may be a day that a horse so beautiful might be a part of my life. So it seems somewhat surreal that not only do I have several Arabians in my life, I am sitting down to pen an article for Arabian Studs & Stallions – the very same publication that I waited on every year as a youth.

Although I grew up on acreage, with a couple of dealerbought horses of unknown history, I didn’t have parents who were able to facilitate my dreams of showing horses beyond the odd local backyard competition. It wasn’t until I had left school that I purchased myself a little single-axle miniature horse float, a bright green RAV4, and a couple of miniature ponies so that I could finally go to a show.

Naturally, a couple of ponies became many and before I knew it I owned a stallion and was introduced to the world of breeding. Over the next decade, I would spend that time striving to be better, beginning at the bottom of the show lineups and working my way to the top. A very dear friend and mentor, Jeannette Vetter from Ambaura Park, helped educate my eye for horses, shared a great deal of breeding wisdom, and truly showed me the kind of horse person that I wanted to be.

During that time, I always had in the back of my mind that I wanted a palomino partbred Arabian – my ‘dream’ horse if you will, and pursuing that dream is what eventually reignited my dormant passion for Arabian horses. The first real step in that direction was the acquisition of Krystal Creek Summer Hope (The Phantom of Sierra x Espirit Prima Donna), a little palomino pocket rocket who thrust me into the Arabian show scene. I remember making friends in the marshalling yard at the 2017 inaugural Double Diamond Showcase, because I was so nervous I looked green. Hope and I won High Point Non Pro Derivative in an amazing field of horses – and to be perfectly honest, I had no clue what that even meant at the time.

The first thing that stood out to my partner, Nathan, and I at the show was the electrifying atmosphere when the purebreds entered the ring. The cheering, the sense of community, and the thrill was intoxicating and completely unlike the silently shuffled workouts I was accustomed to from showing ponies. We were completely captivated and it was probably those moments that drew us down the path of owning purebred Arabians.

We started out by trying to dip our toes in – we purchased a purebred mare to breed to Ray of Light and the purebred gelding, Aston MI (MI Klassique x Always an Angel). I also purchased the charming Anglo Arabian mare, Yarradene Attitude (Springtime Rossini x Elle) to rebuild my confidence in the saddle after an extended break and a previous bolter.

But as it turns out, I’m not very good at just dipping my toes in and when we acquired the captivating Karissa MI (Kavalier MI x Mulawa Karismaa), she really started an intense love affair with purebreds.

Karissa was instantly my favourite – she was beautiful, tall, intelligent and possessed an unsurpassed temperament. She has since been started under saddle by the excellent team at Voller Park, already winning Champion Ridden Purebred on her debut at Maitland Show 2022, as well as captivating several admirers at local dressage competitions with her beauty and sensibility. For the Arabian fraternity, she delighted no one more than me when she gave a spicy, snorty performance in her filly class at the 2022 Aussies, proving that she truly can do it all.

I was determined to keep our Arabian interests on a smaller scale than the miniatures and to focus on enjoying a handful of horses only. But despite myself, and in the midst of the COVID lockdowns, I was inexplicably drawn to Rolex GW (Impreza x Bluegrass Made in Heaven), a horse I had admired greatly as a foal, as well as being a huge fan of his parents from afar.

When he arrived, we instantly clicked. Although paddock fresh and unfamiliar with the big, wide world, he was the second horse to enchant me with his cool, collected temperament. I mouthed, drove and backed him myself and when weather hindered our progress, he also went to Voller Park to finish.

I’ve been lucky enough to own some beautiful stallions and have always felt they are fiercely loyal. Rolex’s first ridden outing off the property was to a very crowded Jimmy’s Beach on New Year’s Eve, where he placed an incredible amount of trust in me to ride him amongst a million people, kids running amok, gazebos flapping, jet skis and paddle boards and many yappy dogs.

Left Emma with Rolex GW (Impreza x Bluegrass Made in Heaven)

Determined to show the world why we believe in him so much, we purchased a couple of mares and now eagerly await two purebred foals by him in spring – one from Charaway Truly Precious (True Colours x D’Amors Shakari Khan) and one from Lea-Ma Park Holly (Justin MI x Lea-Ma Park Just a Secret). His show career is off to a flying start, winning the Supreme Purebred Arabian award at Maitland Show and Reserve Australian National Champion Non Pro Stallion, as well as managing a Top Five Ridden Stallion in his first ever outing after an unplanned six week hiatus from ridden work.

However, it’s not just Rolex we believe in and we’re on a mission to show the world why we adore the Arabian breed. At every turn in my life, and I’m sure readers can relate, Arabians have been met with a supreme amount of prejudice from the wider horse community. ‘I can’t believe how quiet she is’ was said a number of times as I sat astride a very relaxed Karissa at her first dressage competition, as if people expected her to sprout horns, blow smoke and throw me to the ground.

We have a distinct goal to breed horses that can work the 9-5 grind in the saddle but can enjoy the snort and blow of halter when asked. Although we are always refining our herd to meet these goals, we feel we are off to a steady start with our first babies. ‘Illuminaire’ (pending) is a striking palomino colt from Ray of Light and Miss Infatuation who checks all of these boxes. He is supremely sensible and smart and loves nothing more than to throw his tail over his back and show off.

In 2019 when we purchased Yarradene Attitude, she foaled a buckskin Arabian Riding Pony filly who was also stylish and smart – so after she gave me my confidence in the saddle back, it was naturally our first thought to breed her to Ray of Light as well – a coloured partbred foal we eagerly await in spring.

It is a non-negotiable trait for all our horses to have wonderful temperaments and be pleasant to be around every day, but

we also believe good horses are made. It is not everything to have a wonderful temperament and a quality horse – said horse also needs to have a solid understanding of what we call ‘life skills’. Our foals start early, so come weaning we have a well adjusted individual who is eager to please and receptive to new tasks.

We are hopeful that the majority of our horses will have a saddle career and regardless of the duration of that career, we hope they each play a part in raising the regard that Arabians are held by the wider equestrian community.

So our goals are simple, really. We’re going to enjoy our horses – we’re going to take them to the beach, to dressage days, to trail/endurance rides, to team penning. We’re going to show our horses ourselves, work hard, study and improve. We’re going to breed a handful of foals that embody our ‘beauty and brains’ ideals and share them with the wonderful community we’ve found being involved with Arabians. And hopefully, piece by piece, we can do our part to chip away at the prejudices and encourage others to fall in love with Arabians the way we have.

People often ask me what the name ‘Deltree’ means. In the beginning, it didn’t mean anything. It was a name I made up from a pile of jumbled letters as a kid, when I wanted to give my collection of toy horses a ‘stud name’. But as I grew, it grew too, and I took it with me into my future pursuits. Now, it’s a symbol of persistence, of creating something from nothing. So my parting words are this – believe you can, and you will. Enjoy the journey.

Author Emma Cooper

Images Elsa Marchenay

Top Emma with Karissa MI (Kavalier MI x Mulawa Karismaa)

Embraced by the Future

‘Greatness is the creation of a vision, from the imagination of our dreams –it’s time to join us and EMBRACE the future’.

Embraced was foaled in May 2020 at Loomis Equine Facility in Northern California. His breeder, Suzanne McEuen, has been breeding Arabians for 40 years but was recovering from a knee replacement, so was unable to visit right away. A dear friend, accomplished breeder, trainer and judge, Jason Daniels made the visit on her behalf and immediately informed her that he was a special colt. He arrived home at two months of age and was full of confidence, often not following his dam from their stall to their turnout. He would instead proceed in the opposite direction with his head and tail high, introducing himself to the other horses, shrubs and flowers growing on the farm.

Greg Knowles, owner and trainer of Arabian Expressions in Scottsdale, Arizona followed his development during the first few months, so upon weaning he was sent down to commence his training. Having established the company in 1979, which specialises in marketing, training and showing Arabian horses for clients all over the world, Greg would be an invaluable start to his career. Upon Embraced arriving, Greg commented that the colt always walked upright, with his neck arched, tail up and exuding confidence. Prior to his show debut at Scottsdale, Javan was booked to photograph him and these photos would go on to set the future for this young colt. Posted online in February 2021 by Greg, they were viewed by breeders, trainers and Arabian enthusiasts from across the globe, including here in Australia.

Having recently purchased frozen semen stored in Australia to RFI Farid ourselves, we became aware of photos that had just been published of one of his exciting yearling colts in America. The portrait of a short face with big eyes, curly ears and an incredible neck was being shared across social media. This prompted us to message Greg, who organised a brief video to be sent through.

Within several days, Greg forwarded through a clip of a very charismatic and upstanding bay colt bouncing across the arena. A video not to be forgotten, which we have enjoyed watching many a time over – made it impossible to not envision the incredible impact he would have on our breeding program. We would like to thank Greg from Arabian Expressions for your assistance and professionalism in making this happen and

also to his breeder Suzanne, for her continuing support of his journey. While not in the market for another colt, upon seeing this video – as they say, the rest is history.

He is sired by RFI Farid, a bay 2007 stallion whose name has graced the lips of many breeders across the world for over a decade. Whilst successfully shown himself, starting off as the 2009 Italian National Champion Colt and Bronze World Champion Colt in 2010, along with the Gold Junior Male Championships at both of the 2010 International B Shows – Kauber Platte and Verona, where he also took out Best in Show, his legacy has truly formed inside the breeding barn. With progeny consistently in the top placings, he has built a reputation and confirmed himself as a leading sire, earning himself breedings to some of the world’s mares of distinction. A notable achievement in particular was the 2016 World Championships in Paris, where three of his yearling fillies were awarded the top honours of Gold, Silver and Bronze Champion in their class. RFI Farid was named Leading Sire of the Show.

Embraced is out of the QR Marc daughter, Marca. Shown herself in 2018 for Scottsdale Top Ten Two-Year-Old Filly and Reserve Champion Silver Sire Two-Year-Old Filly titles, she returned the following year as the Scottsdale Signature Stallion Top Ten Three-Year-Old Filly. Still owned and adored by Suzanne, she has delivered her a beautiful bay filly during the writing of this article.

Another stallion of significance, QR Marc also requires no introduction. A horse that created worldwide sensation from his first photo as a yearling, through to his World Championship in the ring and onto his success as a leading sire. He was bred in California by Lou and Vicki Doyle of Quail Ridge Arabians and is currently owned by Paul and Ria Gheysens of Knocke Arabians in Belgium. First shown as a yearling with Rohara Arabians, he was the 2006 Unanimous Region 14 Sweepstakes Yearling Colt & 2006 US Nationals Reserve Champion Breeders Sweepstakes Colt. However, eyes were already on him from all over the World. Paul Gheysens first saw Marc as a two-year-old, purchasing him immediately and starting their journey together in Europe.

From there, QR Marc exploded into the show ring during the 2008 Al Khalediah Arabian Horse Festival in Saudi Arabia, stopping all in attendance to watch as he claimed the first of many Gold Championship titles. In the same year, he was Champion Junior Male at the Elran Cup in Belgium and took away the World Reserve Junior Male Championship in Paris. He would then take a break from the ring to prove himself as an equally exciting sire. Known for his type and captivating ring entrances as the ultimate show horse, his progeny have followed the foundation strongly laid before them.

Returning to the ring in 2012, the best was still to come. An impressive lead up containing three Gold Male Championships at Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the All Nations Cup in Aachen, he rounded off the season with being named the Unanimous World Gold Champion Stallion title in Paris.

As winter arrived in Australia, Embraced was warming up on the other side of the world for the Arabian National Breeders Finals held in September. Having already had a close association with Andrew Sellman, the decision was made to move the colt to Orrion Farms. Shortly before the show, a professional photoshoot was booked with Stuart Vesty, the photos of which are first published herein. In a strong Yearling Colt class including National Champion winners, Embraced was shown to perfection by Andy and awarded the Bronze Champion title. We will forever be thankful to Andy for all of the work and care while at Orrion Farms. In typical Embraced style, he captured the attention of breeders around the world and received impressive remarks, solidifying the decision for him to be the next step in Australia.

With a pedigree of international greats – Embraced was the first RFI Farid progeny to arrive on Australian soil and his own entrance to the breeding barn is eagerly awaited. At only two years of age, he is currently enjoying a spell between seasons, next to two resident senior stallions of the farm – their grassy paddocks overlooking the creek through our property in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia.

After a quiet couple of years experiencing isolation and segregation due to COVID, we hope Embraced will help excite and symbolise our future of the Arabian horse and ignite communities encompassing breeders, competitors and enthusiasts, to connect and support each other into the future.

As his breeding suggests, his story has only just begun ...

Author Nikki Frisby Images Javan; Stevie Bagdasarian; Stuart Vesty

Top 2021 Arabian Breeders Finals Bronze Champion Above Embraced at Orrion Farms

EMBRACING AUSTRALIA AS HIS NEW HOME

2021 ARABIAN NATIONAL BREEDERS’ FINALS BRONZE CHAMPION YEARLING COLT

From Strength to Strength

Tanya Hosking must be one of the busiest people in the Arabian horse community. Whether she is organising an equine event, sitting on a board or committee, running a business or showing her horses…she is always, doing, something . Not to mention, working full time in Sydney as well. I have known Tanya for many years, however recently it occurred to me that I didn’t really know her story at all, surprising for one of the most active and prevalent contributors to our Arabian world.

‘I was given my first horse, King, when I was five years old. My parents’ friends said they were wasting their money, however my mother’s father had racehorses, and horses were in our blood. I was lucky that I wasn’t alone in my love for horses growing up – my sister and my cousin were also obsessed,’ Tanya begins.

King, a 14.2 hand bay gelding of mixed heritage would be the start of a journey that continues to this day. ‘I was lucky enough to have a cousin that was older than me who was already riding, Cheryl Barlow. I remember the very first time I cantered. It was on a trail we used to ride at the back of an orchard, covered with blackberry bushes…it was such a thrill.’

With King, Tanya attended Pony Club and by the time she was seven years old, her parents had purchased for her a second horse. ‘He was an unbroken, 16-month-old palomino brumby who I named Fernando …because I loved ABBA! Perhaps he was not the most ideal horse for a seven-year-old child however I was quite competent and even more keen. Once broken in, we continued with Pony Club, eventually learning the art of mounted games at which we actually became quite good!’

Tanya owned Fernando until he died at 26 years old, during which time he shared with Tanya’s family members the same skills they learned at Pony Club. ‘I am lucky to have family that share my passion, namely my sister Naomi Schofield and my cousin Cheryl Barlow. Cheryl taught me so much, which

Top Tanya with Arabian Pony Hollyford Park Gianna (Karanga Sea Eagle x Fantazja Kei)

Bottom Left Nejilah (RHR Heir of Marwan x Neytiri)

Bottom Right Naasir Al Badr (Ulysium x Giselle V)

carried me through Pony Club and eventually to showing in open company. In turn, my sister Naomi learned early on from me, and was always around my horses. Naomi went on to get her own horse and it grew from there, and today both Cheryl and Naomi own Arabians and compete regularly. We always meet up at the Arabian Horse Connection shows as we are all on the committee…we love what we do.’

During 1996, Tanya was studying a Diploma of Applied Science in Horse Management at college, during which several stud tours were undertaken. One of these was at Simeon Stud in Dural. ‘I was inspired by what I saw, and fell in love with a weanling gelding Simeon Sihon (Asfour x Ramses Tinah), whom I soon purchased.’ Three years later a second purebred gelding would capture Tanya’s heart, Wybalena Lodge Alamir (Amir El Shaklan x Coolinda Park Alaska). Sadly this magnificent gelding would live only a few more years, however he sparked within Tanya a love and appreciation for the bloodlines of El Shaklan (Shaker El Masri x Estopa) and his dam Estopa (Tabal x Uyaima).

In 2001, at the Fairview Open Day, Tanya enjoyed her first meeting with the great stallion Amir El Shaklan (El Shaklan x Sascha), and that spark that had started with Wybalena Lodge Alamir was fanned into a flame, and her love for El Shaklan and Estopa breeding continues to this day.

Ten years later, Tanya found herself with two of Australia’s most prominent stallions of her preferred bloodlines in her stable. On lease from Fairview Arabians, the twice Australian National Champion Ghazal Ibn Estopa. Ghazal is sired by World Champion Estasan Ibn Estopa (Ibn Estopa x Bint Estawa) from Windella Silver Sequin (SK Shakla Khan (US) x Silver Glint (GB)), and in a dream come true, Tanya was the coowner of Ibn Amir El Shaklan (Amir El Shaklan x EW Halina’s Estana (Estashan x Halina Shaklan)). Sadly, the latter passed away early from cancer, however through frozen semen, his impact on the breeding program will continue.

While low in number, the quality of Tanya’s purebred breeding program is enviable. Tanya bred her first purebred foal in 2012, a grey filly she named Giselle V. ‘At that time I had on lease Ghazal Ibn Estopa, and I wanted to breed a high quality foal by him. She was not for sale, however I was able to lease a young grey mare named Adana Al Nadira from Diamond Road Arabians. Tall, strong and very beautiful, Adana is sired by Afrikah ERA (Sanadik El Shaklan x Arabian Park Egyptian Echo) from Naasama BGA (Amir El Shaklan x Naadya), thus incorporating new lines to my much-admired El Shaklan. Giselle is everything I ever wanted in an Arabian.’

Giselle V has been a wonderful ambassador for Tanya’s breeding program. She has been Champion Mare at the Victorian Classic, National Capital and the NSW State Titles, Australian National Champion Mare AO and Australian National Champion Top Ten (equal to Bronze) amongst other wins. Giselle V has been started under saddle and has been a kind and willing mount. It is regrettable that injury has meant that her saddle career has been put on hold for now.

Giselle V has produced one foal, Naasir Al Badr, a superlative colt by Ulysium (JA Urbino x Marc of Ali CBA). ‘Unshown as yet, Naasir has been allowed to grow and mature into the super horse he is today. I absolutely love him and I can’t wait to share him with everyone this show season.’

Tanya is passionate about Arabian Ponies. Today, the foundation of Tanya’s Arabian Pony breeding is the Welsh B mare Cherrington Celeste. For the most part, she has been bred to purebred Arabian stallions with spectacular results. Her 2011 daughter by Sobek (Asfour x Harts Desire), Bellah So’Luna won many ribbons before producing Tanya’s much-loved black stallion Nox, by Fairview True Believer (Al Kha-zar x Shartier True Love). Nox has won many halter championships at Australia’s most important shows, however Tanya is most proud of his Australian National Champion win in Preliminary Dressage.

The next daughter from Cherrington Celeste, Bellah Maiya was by Ghazal Ibn Estopa and she is the dam of Tanya’s second retained Arabian Pony stallion Japhrimel. This beautiful chestnut colt has been awarded Australian National Silver Champion Arabian Pony Colt. Birdwood Gypsy Girl (Birdwood Bushranger x Warrabinda Gabriella), a palomino Arabian Pony mare, is currently on lease from Travis and Jaymee Lord of Excalibur Park to be bred to Japhrimel for his first foal.

Not content to simply compete with her horses, Tanya has been a passionate member of several committees over the years. ‘As a competitor it is important to see what goes into running shows. It’s important to understand the committees are all volunteers, they do it for the love of it.

‘I moved to the Hawkesbury in 2006, and it’s then that I first became involved with running horse shows when joining the NSW AHA committee. In time, myself and a group of others formed Arabian Horse Connection inc. with the intention to fill what we saw was a gap in the show scene. We wanted to create something that was fun, friendly and cost effective for our members.

‘This experience led me in 2020 to become a director on the Arabian Horse Society of Australia and Chair on the Show Committee. It was a very committed 12 months but due to a health scare I resigned from the board. I am still involved with the Arabian Horse Connection inc. and it is a project of which I am very proud. We have created an environment where people feel they can ask anything of us, where there are no stupid questions.’

To that end, the Arabian Horse Connection inc. has initiated one of the most well-received shows in recent years, the Double Diamond Arabian Showcase. ‘We didn’t want a show

that had every class imaginable. We wanted a show with good competition, reasonable entry fees and a positive vibe. Starting a show from scratch, gathering sponsorship and such, was daunting but we were amazed at how many people got behind this new venture, and some classes have had more than 20 horses.’

Tanya’s most recent venture is Tali Equestrian Lodge, an agistment centre in the Hawkesbury area. ‘Together with my dear friend Lisa, we have created an environment where people can enjoy their horses and become friends. One of our agistees is holding her wedding ceremony in the barn in May. Unfortunately Tali Equestrian Lodge is in a flood zone and within the last twelve months we have had to deal with three floods. It’s been a bit frightening at times, but we got through it.’

As the clean-up continues, Tanya is looking forward yet still to the next show and breeding season. During the past season she leased the purebred filly Nejilah (RHR Heir of Marwan x Neytiri) showing her to Champion Junior Filly at the 2022 Victorian Championships, before being sidelined for the East Coast and the Australian Championships due to the floods. Originally the plan was to breed her to Naasir Al Badr in the spring, however her show career will continue and another lovely mare has been selected for him, in the hope to produce Tanya’s next Australian National Champion.

Interview with Tanya Hosking Images Glenys Lilley; Samantha Taylor

Top Giselle V (Ghazal Ibn Estopa x Adana Al Nadira)

RNZ ScorzaThe Quiet Achiever

Foaled on the 31st of August 2010 at the well-known Rhodium Arabians, then operating in New Zealand, RNZ Scorza* would come to Australia as a two-year-old. By the Anaza Bay Shahh* son Simeon Saraaf*, a maternal grandson of Simeon Sadik, and out of the black US-bred mare Hu Alimaana* (Hu Shaikh Ali x Hu Dalimaana), Scorza is of the Saklawi1 sire line and the Kehailan Rodan strain.

I was looking for an outstanding black straight Egyptian colt or stallion to add to my breeding program, but finding one that ‘ticked all the boxes’ had proven to be extremely difficult. After finding nothing suitable in Australia, an enquiry to Fanus Crous of Rhodium Arabians in New Zealand brought a list of colts and stallions they had for sale…and there he was! RNZ Scorza ticked every box and then some! Black, gorgeous to the eye and beautifully bred, with 38 crosses to Nazeer via 16 different Nazeer sons and daughters. Upon further inspection the pedigree revealed multiple crosses to horses I greatly admire such as Moniet El Nefous, Shaikh Al Badi, Yosreia and five crosses to Farida. He is also 7.8125% Straight Babson

Egyptian, and he has no The Minstril breeding, which made him a perfect outcross for my beautiful mares of this line.

RNZ Scorza had been shown once, as a weanling, where he won the 2011 NZ National Junior Champion Colt title…the icing on a cake I very much had already made the decision to purchase. He arrived at Salam Arabians on the 10th of July, 2013, and apart from his trips up to Dr Al’s (Al Simson) at Carmyle Vet Services for semen collections, he stays home and lives a very laid back lifestyle, living out full time, with my other two stallions and my mares all around him. He would have to be one of the happiest, most easy-going stallions I have ever owned, and his lovely nature is always evident, no matter what’s being done with him or what situation he is in.

Dr Al and the crew at Carmyle think a great deal of Scorza, so much so that Dr Al bred one of his best stock horse mares to him last year for a foal bred specially for their first grandchild, who has just been born, as his future saddle horse. This was quite the compliment considering the amount of different

stallions of various breeds Dr Al deals with each season and has access to. Scorza is like a family member up there now and he loves his visits. Whenever he sees us hooking up the float he starts yelling and upon turning into the Carmyle gate he starts announcing his arrival to everyone.

Scorza has matured into a magnificent stallion, standing 15.1hh. He is a homozygous black, which means he cannot sire a chestnut foal regardless of the colour of the mare he is bred to. His conformation, legs, feet and movement are everything one could want in a breeding stallion and he has proven to be a very prepotent sire. He has, at the time of writing, 49 registered progeny, with both pure Arabian and derivative foals. Of these, 27 are black, though not all out of black mares. He consistently shortens heads, smooths bodies and lengthens croups. He has also improved legs and feet, and passes on his wonderful temperament and beautiful movement, no matter the type, bloodline or breed of the mare.

As I purchased Scorza primarily as a breeding horse, I have never really felt the urge to show him, but his progeny are filling that gap admirably. To date, 11 of his progeny have been shown, and their results have been nothing short of outstanding, as you can see from the following snapshot of their many achievements.

Salam Black Velvet (from Shaylen Park Ooh La Laa) is now owned by Allyndah Stud who have shown her to 2021 East Coast Reserve Champion Yearling Purebred Filly and Supreme Champion Egyptian Arabian at the 2020 Top Of The Range Show Qld amongst other wins.

Salam Scorzire (from Hart’s Desire) owned by Kath Taylor is the 2021 South Australian State Champion Purebred Gelding,

while Lanie Bray’s Scorza's True Reflection SA (from Shartier True Love) is the 2017 Western Australian Arabian Horse Association's Purebred Halter Stallion or Colt of the Year, WA State Champion Colt and Champion Arabian Stallion/Colt at the Perth Royal.

Rouhani Raphael (from Rouhani Raqisa) was bred by Kai Lightmon and was Qld Reserve State Champion Purebred Junior Colt, and also won at the Challenge. Temar Rahsati (from Belbowrie White Rose), bred by Terri Love, is a multi champion in two states, and 2016 Arabian Extravaganza Champion Yearling Arabian Colt. He was also 2016 Victorian State Champion Yearling Colt and 2016 National Capital Show Reserve Champion Junior Purebred Colt before being gelded and shown to 2017 East Coast Reserve Champion Yearling Gelding and 2017 Silver Australian National Champion Yearling Gelding.

Amaki’s Scorch’n (from Amaki’s Va’nilla Creme), a buckskin Half Arabian colt bred by Diane Gale, was Reserve Champion Part Arabian Colt at the 2016 East Coast Arabian Championships, Champion Half Arabian Colt at the 2016 State Titles Arabian Show, Supreme Champion Junior Half Arabian at the 2016 Canberra National Show and Supreme Champion Buckskin at the Dilute Show.

Most recently, Marlli Al Malik (from Joda Al Amala), bred and owned by Tiann Wright, was Supreme Champion Straight/ Egyptian Related Exhibit 2021 Top Of The Range Show and Champion Junior Colt 2022 Qld Challenge Show.

Not to be outdone, Wakely Park Platanium (from De-Sharvarll Emah Jamaal), bred and owned by Nicole Wakely, was Reserve Junior Champion Colt 2022 Qld Challenge Show to his brother Marlli Al Malik.

Left RNZ Scorza (Simeon Saraaf x Hu Alimaana)

Bottom Left Salam Zaneeta (RNZ Scorza x Joda Al Sharaf)

Bottom Right Scorza’s True Reflection SA (RNZ Scorza x Shartier True Love)

Scorza also has progeny proving themselves under saddle, one of which is the lovely black tobiano Half Arabian gelding, Arabanni Apache Full Moon, bred and owned by Ann English. Apache is just about to begin his endurance career, while another Scorza youngster, the beautiful young black stallion Salam Black Magic has begun his career under saddle, trained and ridden by his devoted owner, Simone Cooper.

While Scorza’s opportunities have been somewhat constrained due to being owned by a small stud with limited resources, he has continually proven himself as a consistent, world class sire and now has progeny in four countries. I regularly get enquiries from overseas regarding black straight Egyptian sons and daughters of Scorza I might have for sale. I attempted, somewhat in vain, to keep all of his early black daughters for future broodmares, so I used to tell these people I had nothing available for purchase. The recent drought changed all that and to take care of my horses I ended up selling all his daughters except for one, Salam Dark Queen, who I refuse to sell for any reason…except maybe at the point of death!

It was during this time Scorza’s superb black straight Egyptian daughter, Salam Black Opal (out of Shaylen Park Ooh La Laa)

was exported to the USA, where she has become a valuable broodmare for Star Arabians LLC , having already produced a magnificent black straight Egyptian colt by Esfahan Manaseer. Scorza is a stallion that produces equally good sons and daughters, and enough time has passed to now know those sons and daughters are breeding on themselves, producing the same quality in the next generation. At only 12 years of age, he has many more years left to continue what he does best. Meanwhile, he is happily dozing in the shade or rolling his feed tin down the hill or chatting up mares...just being a ‘quiet achiever’.

Author Terry Hardcastle

Images Ambur Large; Lanie Bray; Terry Hardcastle; Nicole Henricus

Above Salam Black Velvet (RNZ Scorza x Shaylen Park Ooh La Laa)

Simeon Sadik, 1989 black stallion (Asfour x Simeon Safanad), multi-international champion with 38 lines to

The Longest Reigning Queen –Queen of Sheba

Initially, it must seem a little silly to write an article about an Arabian mare for an annual publication devoted to Arabian stallions. Not to mention that this mare was born nearly 150 years ago! Why does it even matter today? Well, let’s explore the question and see if there are any answers.

Her name is Queen of Sheba, a name given to her by Wilfrid and Lady Anne Blunt, founders of the globally influential Crabbet Arabian Stud beginning way back in 1878. Lady Anne Blunt was meticulously particular about the quality and provenance of the Arabian horses she and her husband acquired, establishing a foundation of Arabian breeding that was of unquestioned authenticity. With that high of a benchmark, it is no wonder that a mare like Queen of Sheba was destined to have a strong legacy within Arabian horse lineage.

Queen of Sheba was first referred to as Beteyn’s mare when the Blunts discovered her. Lady Anne notes that ‘she is a dark bay (brown), everything perfect for racing, head good, with a fair neatness and finish about every movement that reminded her of a fawn’. It is clear that Queen of Sheba was a muchadmired mare for the Blunts, and most notably her splendid action is emphasised in Lady Anne Blunt’s comments. That feature would lead Lady Anne Blunt to often ride Queen of Sheba sidesaddle and she was also carriage driven, no doubt a brilliant sight. Lady Anne Blunt notes later in her writing when Queen of Sheba was 17 years old she still showed grand spirit. With the young 19-year-old Lady Wentworth (Lady Anne Blunt’s daughter) riding her, she bucked, kicked and reared and generally showed great merriment.

Here is a description of ‘the Queen’ penned in Lady Anne Blunt’s own words:

‘Foaled in 1875, an Abayyah Sherrakieh, of the Gomussa tribe of Sebaa Anazeh; 15 hands. A brown mare with four white feet, a very small star and snip, a good head, remarkably fine nostril and fine ears, muzzle not particularly small, splendid shoulder, strong back and quarter, very free action trotting, great stride galloping and tail carried high. This mare is perhaps taken altogether, the finest in the stud. She is celebrated in the Syrian Desert. Sire a Managhi Hedruj of Ibn Gufeyfi of the Gomussa. Purchased in autumn of 1878 of Beteyn Ibn Mirshid, who owned her on half shares with her breeder…. This mare took us longer to buy than any of the others…. at first sight, we saw that she was superior to all the mares we had been looking at.’

In today’s world, when one examines the 19th century photo of Queen of Sheba compared to today’s dramatic poses that we normally see, she might not appear so striking. But consider Lady Anne’s comments and imagine what an impression she must have given in person — the sight of her in brilliant, airy movement with tail carried high, and with those excellent shoulders, fine, correct, balanced bone, tail set on high, fine shapely ears, large, dark, almond shaped eye well set, typical desert-bred straighter profile but with good full nostril size, often prized by the Bedouin, and the line of the mouth in the right place. It appears to be cold and rainy in the old photo of Queen of Sheba hence her longer coat, but imagine her dark seal brown coat shining in summer as she casts a striking silhouette trotting or galloping across the fields at Crabbet in 1879. Queen of Sheba had unquestionable style in a dark patina accented by charming eyes — enduring qualities for many generations later throughout much of the breed.

Queen of Sheba produced eight foals but several died young so only three carried forward for Crabbet – the stallion Ahmar (x Azrek D.B.), and his full sister, Asfura, and finally the more famous stallion Astraled (x Mesaoud). From these three offspring, the Queen would live long throughout some of the most admired Arabians as well as in many international champions. From her three extant produce, two were stallions and only one was a mare, so this left a challenge to maintaining a tail female legacy for the Queen.

Asfura

(Azrek x Queen of Sheba)

Her only producing daughter was Asfura (x Azrek D.B.). Though a chestnut, Asfura did show much of the scope and structure of her mother. Asfura would establish a female line for Queen of Sheba in England, yet remarkably it became of note for great stallions rather than mares. From Asfura descended her important grandson Ajman exported to South America where he was well used. Asfura’s granddaughter Amida produced the chestnut stallion Aldebar (x Dwarka), exported to the U.S. by Henry Babson. Aldebar’s get were noted for their brilliant action, no doubt inherited from the Queen.

The females descended from Asfura tended to produce more males than females. Perhaps the most famous and influential tail female Queen of Sheba stallion in England was the legendary Oran (Riffal x Astrella). Born in 1940, he is not only tail female to the Queen but he has five lines to her and his sire line goes to Queen of Sheba’s most renowned son, Astraled (x Mesaoud). Oran sired 72 get in England, a remarkable number for a horse born in the depths of WWII. Many of Oran’s get were prized and though he was a chestnut and sired many chestnuts, many were noted for Queen of Sheba’s brilliant action. I remember as a younger man seeing the Oran son Oran Van Crabbet shown in America, displaying a breathtaking trot either under saddle or driven. Another Oran daughter exported to the U.S. that was very impressive was the great Silfretta (with 11 crosses to Queen of Sheba), foundation mare for Michigan State University’s renowned Arabian breeding program. Seeing Silfretta in person was a memorable sight. When she was led out of her stall at age 25, she was still a bold, tall chestnut mare, snorting and dancing, with tail held high in lively fashion while being led, perhaps much like Queen of Sheba’s kind of style, and all this display of exuberance from a 25-year-old mare! Oran’s daughter Orilla (seven crosses to Queen of Sheba) came to Australia as an important foundation mare for Arabesque Stud, being just one of many Queen of Sheba descendants to grace Australian shores from Crabbet-bred stock bred in Europe. With Queen of Sheba’s daughter Asfura being mainly a stallion influence, the stage is set for the Queen’s two sons Ahmar and Astraled.

Ahmar (Azrek x Queen of Sheba)

Born in 1890 when the Queen was 15 years old, Ahmar was described by Lady Anne Blunt as ‘a bright bay with four white feet and a narrow blaze, very beautiful head, small muzzle, fine shoulder and magnificent action… tail set high and splendidly carried’. Having inherited his dam’s brilliant action, Ahmar would prove to pass on this desired trait. Ahmar's daughter Namusa (x Narghileh) was exported to Australia, brought in by renowned early breeder James Penn Boucaut, and her line exists even today.

Top The Queen still reigns to this day: Queen of Sheba, 1875 dark bay mare of the Abayyah Sharrakiyah strain. Rosemary Archer archive.

Right Ahmar, 1890 bay stallion (Azrek x Queen of Sheba). Ferriss archive.

STALLIONS

loha ARABIANS A

REDUCTION SALE of 90+% OF ALL OUR STOCK – Stallions | Mares | Young Horses OPEN to ALL OFFERS

ALOHA THEE DESPERADO - Pure Arabian (A.Telesmon x A.ABBA) bay, 14yrs, 15.2hh.

Fabulous bloodlines of Crabbet/English/Egyptian. Royal Domino, Arabian Park Egyptian Magnetic, Stephen (imp. GB), The Fugitive (USA), Desert Queen, Banderol. Top racehorse, winner of 4 races. ALSO multi Supreme Led at top shows and CHAMPION ridden. Beautiful horse to handle & ride. Very easy hand or paddock serve. Very lightly used, as always away in Spring for training. Progeny have fabulous temperaments, flashy & great heart rates.

ALOHA SULTAN - Pure Arabian (A.Zar +ch. x A.Jessamine) chestnut, 19yrs, 15hh.

Great old bloodlines Crabbet/English, in 90+% Crabbet. Zenith 11 (imp. UK), Hamana (imp. UK), Ralvon Pilgrim, Royal Domino (iid.UK).

Sultan has magnificent, extreme & amazing movement, which he puts into his progeny. He is a multi Supreme HARNESS horse, winning in AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, ACT NATIONALS, etc. His progeny are very eye catching & he has very good fertility. SULTAN has to go to top loving home, which is most important, before money etc.

ALOHA DANTE - Pure Arabian

(Arabian Park Desert Dashar (dec) x A.Farina) grey, 4yrs, 15.1hh.

Beautiful young stallion, top bloodlines English/Crabbet/Egyptian, great lines to outcross, with the new modern lines, for extreme movement & bone. Make a top saddle horse & sire, for Show & Endurance, and great purebred Racehorse. He is due to be broken-in soon. Unshown to date.

EMINEM AKOUSTIK - Pure Arabian (E.Cymphonique x Hume Creek Annikka) bay, 3yrs, 14.3hh.

Top bloodlines of Gai El Jullyyen (USA), Magnum Forty Four (USA), Arjai Summit, Arabian Park Triumph, etc. Shown for SUPREME J. PURE ARABIAN at ACT NATIONALS, Top 5 PUREBRED Colt 2&3yrs, EAST COAST CHAMPIONSHIP. AKOUSTIK (Trekki) has just been broken-in, beautiful to ride, fabulous temperament. Ideal for showing, lovely Galloway. First Show under saddle in June, for a win.

DERIVATIVE STALLIONS

ALOHA CAVALIA - Arabian Warmblood

(A.Kaaba x Glencairn Winter Escapade) chestnut, 9yrs, 17.2hh.

Bloodlines of Winterkoenig, Herr Dominator (Ger), Royal Domino (iid. UK), Zenith 11 (imp. UK)

MULTI Supreme & Champion Exhibit, led in NSW, VIC & ACT. Magnificent stallion, broken-in & educated under saddle, but unshown under saddle, owing to Covid. Make a beautiful dressage/hacking horse. Very fertile stallion, only has 3 outstanding big progeny, with amazing movement & temperament for dressage & hacking.

ALOHA JUSTIFIED - Anglo Colt

(Aloha Kaaba x Aloha Desert Bell (Anglo) bay, rising 4yrs, 16.1hh.

Magnificent colt, just being broken-in by top breaker Jeff Edwards, Eagleview Equine. Justified will make a top Hunter Hack, Dressage, Endurance - full brother successfully competed in last Quilty. I consider this colt will become a top sire with great bloodlines of Talquah Talik, Royal Domino (iid), Arabian Park Desert Dashar & T/Bs. Marrakesh (NZ) Australian Cup winner, Pakistan 11 (imp), Kentucky (USA) 10 wins. Nasrullah (USA), one the most famous sires in history.

PURE ARABIAN BROODMARES

ALOHA FASHION (F31420)

(A.Telesmon x A.Fascinate) bay, 15.1hh.

Empty. Fabulous mare to join to modern lines.

RED RAGAMUFFIN (F29382)

(Cherox Merlin x Jedda Park Emma) liver chestnut, 15.1hh.

Ragamuffin has a weanling colt & is in foal.

MOUNTAINVIEW FIORENZA (F30392)

(Shakheel ERA x Summerzar Sharni) grey, 15.1hh.

FIORENZA is a very quiet mare to ride, done dressage & hacking, would make a great pleasure horse. Has a weanling colt. Not in foal.

DERIVATIVE BROODMARES

ARAB/WARMBLOOD

A.VATELLIA (A.Valour x Brave Goddess (ASB)) 17.2hh. Vatellia was a multi CH & Supreme, including AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPION ARAB/WBL. in foal to A. Cavalia (Warmblood).

NORAN AMAZING GRACE (Chopin x Mye-Scarlett-Ladey) 16.2hh. Just weaned. Unjoined. Dam of A.Desert Elegance - A.Rubens, multi Champions & Supreme, led & saddle.

ANGLO

A.BRAVIA (Arabian Park Desert Dashar x Brave Goddess) bay, 16.2hh, Black Weanling just weaned.

A.SILVER BELL (A.Rostrum x A.Queen of Bells) grey, 16.2hh, Weanling, in foal to A. Kaaba. Silver Bell is also fully registered ASHS. Has progeny UAE, UK etc.

A.DESERT BELL (A.P.Desert Dashar x A.Queen of Bells) bay, 16.1hh, in foal to A.Kaaba.

A.NATIVE PRINCESS (A.Rostrum x Tribal Lisa) grey, 16.1hh, in foal to A.Sultan.

A.DESERT AURORA (A.P.Desert Dashar x Northern Red (ASB)) brown, 15.2hh. Dam of Rhiannon Gambell’s beautiful yrling gelding ‘Casper’ Australian National Champion 2022.

ARABIAN STOCKHORSE

A.MYSTIC BELL (A.Viking x A.Stylish Bell) chestnut, 16.1hh, Weanling, in foal to A. Kaaba. Mystic Bell has very successful progeny in Spain, UAE, AUST.

A.BRIER (A.Tollman x A.Blackberry) bay, 16.2hh, in foal to A.Kaaba. Both these mares are fully registered ASHS & AHSA

PARTBRED

A.POWER OF DREAMS (A.Power of One (AWB) x A.Apache) pinto, 15.1hh, Weanling, in foal to A.Dakota.

A.APACHI PRINCESS (A.POWER of One (AWB) x A.Apache) pinto, 16hh, Weanling, in foal to A.Dakota.

A.CHER (A.Desert Kingdom x Cherokee) chestnut, 16hh, bred on pinto lines. Black Weanling, in foal to A.Dakota.

YOUNG STOCK

15 FILLIES - yrlings, 2 to 4yrs. Mares - 5 to 6yrs.

16 GELDINGS - yrlings, 2 to 4yrs. 2 colts - yrlings.

REGISTERED: Anglos, Arab/Warmblood, Arab/Stockhorse, Partbred. 14.3 to 16+hh, ALL well handled, led, float, stabled. Ideal for Showing, Dressage, Endurance, Pony Club & Pleasure.

Sharon Meyers

Ahmar’s famous grandson Berk (Seyal x Bukra by Ahmar) was a brilliant moving bay stallion who became an international influence. Berk left influence in England including the beautiful and globally influential Rissla, with descendants in Australia, South Africa, South America and North America. Berk's son in Egypt was Hamran (x Hamasa), ancestor to the legendary El Hilal (Ansata Ibn Halima x Bint Nefisa) as well as World Champion Bint Jehan, Ramses Fayek and many others. Berk himself came to the U.S. as an older horse. Often winning performance show horses in the U.S. were referred to as having the beautiful ‘Berk trot’ which in fact comes from Queen of Sheba, per Lady Anne Blunt’s own description.

Astraled (Mesaoud x Queen of Sheba)

The final foal of Queen of Sheba and her last son was the immortal Astraled about whom a large separate article could certainly be written. The web of Astraled’s influence in the breed is enormous. Sired by the Blunt’s renowned and handsome chestnut stallion Mesaoud, Astraled got many of the features of both his parents, but he was truly his mother’s son. He was very dark brown, without markings, balanced in form with shorter back than his mother, a straight profile head like his mother, but a bit more plain. He was said by Lady Anne Blunt to have the same expressive dark eyes, very good legs, and most of all magnificent light, flashy movement. He sired 29 get, a considerable number of purebred Arabians for a horse born in 1900 and only selectively used. The lines to Astraled come through many excellent producing sons and daughters.

Bottom Left Hansan, 1974 grey stallion (Ibn Anter x Hamamaa) imp. to Australia in 1977. He has 16 lines to Queen of Sheba. Peter Pond photo.

Bottom Right Sotamm, 1910 bay/brown stallion (Astraled x Selma). Double Queen of Sheba. Ferriss archive.

Astraled daughters were exceptional producers, including Riyala (x Ridaa). The American Spencer Borden wanted to buy Riyala but the Blunts would not sell her. The Riyala female line in straight Egyptian breeding did very well with the Australian imports, Hansan (El Hilal x Hamamaa), Omayma (Sameh x Nazeera) and there are many examples of excellent horses from the Riyala line.

The cross of Astraled with Ridaa that first produced Riyala proved to be a golden one and was repeated three more times. One result was the mare Rim, influential at Crabbet and in international pedigrees including her grandson Nizzam, who also traces to Rim’s full sister Riyala. The third sister of the Astraled x Ridaa cross was the mare Ramla exported to America where she proved an amazing endurance competitor winning a 300 mile endurance race, however she left no descent and was likely barren. The fourth cross of Astraled and Ridaa was the renowned stallion Rustem, a handsome bay that was not only influential at Crabbet but also later appearing in numerous Australian imports. Rustem himself was later exported to Egypt where his daughter Bint Rustem founded the important family of many famous Egyptian horses including the renowned Australian National Champion mare 27 Ibn Galal-V, as well as the famous Yosreia line that produced the beautiful World Champion mare Gelgelah Albadeia, the famous Russian sire Aswan, as well as champion sires Khofo, Thee Desperado, Ibn Galal and many others. In Egypt, Rustem sired Mekdam, used effectively at the Royal Inshass stud. Mekdam is famed as the grandsire of celebrated sire Anter (Hamdan x Obeya by Mekdam). If there ever was a horse that truly represented the style and quality from Queen of Sheba, among straight Egyptian horses, it certainly must be the incredible moving Gharib (Anter x Souhair) who had four crosses to Queen of Sheba. As a black horse he certainly was in her image in form, quality and movement.

Another good cross for Astraled was with the mare Selma, a Queen of Sheba granddaughter, first producing the dark

Left Astraled, 1900 bay stallion (Mesaoud x Queen of Sheba). Ferriss archive.

bay mare Selima who became the dam line of renowned Polish sire Palas (Aswan x Panel). Selima was double Queen of Sheba close up. The cross that produced Selima was repeated producing her full brother, the hugely influential stallion Sotamm, also double Queen of Sheba. Sotamm was influential at Crabbet and his grandson Riffal was not only the sire of previously mentioned Oran, but Riffal was exported to Australia becoming an important sire there as well. Sotamm also sired Rief, exported to Australia, who was a three-quarter brother to previously mentioned Rustem. Both Riffal and Rief play an important role in the Crabbet-bred stock imported to Australia. Sotamm was said to be a horse of great style and being a dark seal brown he really seemed so show a strong influence from his double ancestor Queen of Sheba.

Sotamm was later exported from Crabbet to Egypt where he became a sire for Prince Kemal El Dine. In Egypt, he sired the excellent mare Bint Serra (x Serra) who was imported to the U.S. by Henry Babson. Bint Serra clearly showed her two close lines to Queen of Sheba being dark brown/bay and with excellent shoulder and withers and in many ways having remarkably similar conformation to Queen of Sheba. Perhaps it is no surprise that Sotamm’s sister Selima and Bint Serra looked like sisters. The Bint Serra horses also were excellent movers, a trait that was passed on well when she was inbred producing Ibn Fa-Serr, a noted Babson sire of brilliant moving horses, all relating back to Queen of Sheba.

Sotamm also sired Kazmeen who as born at Crabbet but sold young to Egypt where he became an important sire for the RAS. Again showing the double Queen of Sheba influence, Kazmeen was dark brown/bay with style, refinement and became an important broodmare sire. He sired the legendary producer Bint Sabah, dam of Layla, Bukra, Sheikh El Arab and Bint Bint Sabbah. Kazmeen also sired Bint Samiha, most famous for her celebrated son Nazeer. Kazmeen’s daughter Zareefa is dam of the handsome sire El Sareei as well as Maisa who gave us the beloved Bint Maisa El Saghira, the brilliant moving bay show mare with four lines to the Queen and also renowned for her son Shaikh Al Badi, sire of Ruminaja Ali.

Top Left Selima, 1908 dark bay mare, full sister to Sotamm. Dam line of famous Polish sire Palas. Ferriss archive.

Top Right Kazmeen, 1916 dark bay stallion (Sotamm x Kasima), pictured in old age in Egypt. He is the grandsire of Nazeer, Sheikh El Arab, El Sareei and Maisa to name a few. Ferriss archive.

Bottom Left Bint Serra, 1923 dark bay mare, daughter of Sotamm and remarkable likeness to Selima. She is dam of the black Babson stallion Fa-Serr. Ferriss archive.

Bottom Right Gulastra, 1924 chestnut stallion (Astraled x Gulnare), Astraled’s last son of note. Born in the US, he was an extremely influential sire and continues to be internationally. Michael Bowling archive.

imported such as Fadl and Maaroufa, or the bay, dark bay, brown and black horses resembling the influence of Queen of Sheba. Among Mr. Babson’s many famed results was British National Champion The Shah (Fabah x Bint Fada), with six lines to Queen of Sheba. This horse in his polished seal brown coat resembles to a high degree the Blunt-bred Sotamm, and like Sotamm, The Shah proved to be a noteworthy sire of international influence.

Astraled also sired Razaz (x Rose of Hind) at Crabbet who had influence in England and later via the handsome Salon Du Cheval champion Fakhr El Kheil (Korayem x Bint Muneera) with nine crosses to Queen of Sheba.

Astraled was sold in his prime to the U.S. and unfortunately this great sire passed through several hands sometimes just serving as a driving horse until late in his life he came into the hands of respected American breeder W.R. Brown who bred from him

the great stallion Gulastra. In his day, Gulastra became a super sire, whose get were sought after, many being unbeatable show horses in America but also he seemed to impart that same incredible endurance talent that his half sister Ramla had years before. Gulastra was Astraled’s swan song and he lived to a very old age, siring 113 foals, an incredible number for a horse born in 1924. Gulastra has such a large impact in America that he is now found many times in pedigrees of international champions.

So getting back to my original question as to why an Arabian mare born nearly 150 years ago even matters today it is interesting to ponder the following. Take for instance Arabians of the black colour that are often very popular. Queen of Sheba has been considered by experts to be a profound influence in producing black and very dark bay or seal brown Arabian horses. This seems particularly true in straight Egyptian horses that exhibit many lines to Queen of Sheba. Take for instance the famous grey straight Egyptian mare Simeon Safanad (Sankt Georg x 27 Ibn Galal-V) who has 24 lines to Queen of Sheba. She appears to be a source of the black colour, as does her son Simeon Shai. When she was mated to Simeon Stud’s grey stallion Asfour (Malik x Hanan) who has 14 lines to Queen of Sheba, the result was the World Champion Simeon Sadik, a stunningly handsome black stallion with 38 lines to Queen of Sheba.

Fast forward to now and in Australia you have a yearling black filly named Lazy T Queen of Sheba (an interesting namesake), bred by Ann Sibun and Rebekah Cusack, and she has countless numbers of lines to Queen of Sheba including three crosses to Simeon Safanad, and even more to Ansata Ibn Halima.

So many of these lines to Queen of Sheba come via her double descendant Sotamm, who also sired the Babson mare Bint Serra who produced the black stallion Fa-Serr, a stallion found in many Black Arabians, straight Egyptian and other lines. Ansata Ibn Halima has from time to time produced black horses from grey or chestnut mares even though he has no black ancestors, but he has four lines to Queen of Sheba. Australians know his son Al Karim Sirhalima well, a handsome black stallion and very successful sire.

Aside from the black colour, Queen of Sheba is inescapably ever present in many of today’s international champion stallions. Take for instance the celebrated Mulawa multi-champion sire Klass (TS Al Malik x Karmaa). It took me a while but as I counted back in time through his ancestry, I discovered that he has an astounding 86 crosses to Queen of Sheba.

The Queen of Sheba legacy lives on in tail female lines in only one family of Pure Crabbet Arabians. Located in New South Wales, Australia, ShahwanPark Arabians, Preservation Breeders of Pure Crabbet Performance Arabians, has bred five tail females who have produced a further two fillies from the oldest living and breeding tail female descendent, Arfaja Ajrami. As this is the only family of its kind in the world, descendant from Queen of Sheba in Pure Crabbet form, Australia holds a unique and precious gene pool to this fine performing mare.

Top Klass, 2003 grey stallion (TS Al Malik x Karmaa), multi-champion sire bred and owned by Mulawa Arabians. Stuart Vesty photo.

Middle Pure Crabbet Mare Abrielle SPA is a daughter of Arfaja Ajrami by Binley Prince Iqbal (imp UK). She is one of only a handful of tail female Pure Crabbet descendants of Queen of Sheba, all located in Australia. Jennifer Hawkins photo.

Without question that ‘something special’ seen in Queen of Sheba by Lady Anne Blunt has endured for many generations and there are few Arabians today whose legacy has not in some way been touched by dashes of Queen of Sheba who is still laced throughout some of our most memorable Arabian horses of today. The next time you see a horse entering a show ring that seems to move without touching the ground like a fawn, or rides like a magic carpet or drives for hours on end, chances are there is a dash of ‘the Queen’ showing through. Long live the Queen – the longest reigning queen of the Arabian breed – Queen of Sheba.

Author Joe Ferriss

PC: DAVID GILLETT

EKSTERN | Farewell to the King

The world bid farewell to the legendary show horse and sire EKSTERN in April of 2022. Having lived an incredibly full and abundantly fortunate life that encompassed the better part of three decades, EKSTERN will forever be commemorated as both a trailblazer for the breed and a banner carrier for the Polish Arabian horse, as well as one of the most endearingly kind, engaging and joyful horses ever encountered. His is a tale of inspiration and achievement, of opportunities seized, of dreams fulfilled, of record books rewritten in perpetuity, and of life-changing encounters with so many special people whose lives were forever transformed by his existence. It is with great pride and privilege that we celebrate the life of this extraordinary stallion and the enduring legacy he continues to leave behind for the resounding benefit of us all.

Main Image & Right Ekstern (Monogramm x Ernestyna)

There was a palpable excitement omnipresent at Michałów in the early months of 1994. The first foals of the US-bred MONOGRAMM were arriving in multitude and it was readily apparent, in extraordinary foal after improbably more sensational foal, that something monumental was unfolding.

One of the very first MONOGRAMM progeny to prove his sire’s destiny-altering worth in that energising inaugural foal crop was a compact, uncommonly ‘pretty’, grey colt, who arrived in the coldest, darkest days of winter on the 10th of January. Jerzy and Urszula Białobok, then Breeding Manager and Vice-Director at Michałów, respectively, recall their first reaction to this unique foal. ‘He was special from the moment he arrived, something “very different” to the typical Arabian colt born in Poland at the time. As it is common practice for breeders to assess new foals in the first few days of their lives, to best gauge their future potential as well as to assess the strongest attributes and inevitable shortcomings most apparent in newborns, we were very busy that season with the arrival of so many special foals by MONOGRAMM.’ Director Ignacy Jaworowski, then in the twilight of his legendary career as the breeding genius of Michałów, ‘had taken an immense risk leasing MONOGRAMM for two seasons, a bold decision’, then regarded with great scepticism worldwide, ‘that he hoped would invigorate the gene pool in Poland with the most admirable qualities of BASK’, the unparalleled breed icon whose genetic influence in his homeland was essentially nonexistent at the time.

‘With the arrival of EKSTERN,’ Jerzy continues, ‘in the earliest days of that very first foal crop of MONOGRAMM at Michałów, we had a very strong feeling that something special was transpiring.’ Urszula remembers the newborn as ‘decidedly imposing’, with an ‘undeniable confidence and presence’. In particular, she recalls most vividly that ‘he possessed great beauty, especially evident in his small, pleasingly proportioned head, with large black eyes, a wide forehead and a short distance to the muzzle, with delicate nostrils’. This ideally designed head structure, a decisive leap forward in terms of type, refinement and beauty when compared to the typical heads found in prospective sires in Poland of the 1990s, was further enhanced by ‘small, shapely ears with a gentle curve that pointed towards the centre’ when alert, making his head a hallmark feature that would place him ‘head and shoulders’ above his peers for decades to come.

Jerzy remembers his first time out of the foaling box, three days post arrival on a crisp, wintry morning. ‘Despite the cold,’ he reveals, ‘EKSTERN was supremely confident, with his head and neck held high as he emerged from his stable, and exhibiting a long, purposeful stride all the way down the corridor. He leapt out of the barn into the sand paddock in front of his dam (then an inexperienced maiden mare), bouncing like a ball off the ground, with so much natural energy and charisma, tail in the air the entire time. His balance and strength of build, square and perfectly proportioned, all rather impressive for a newborn, were more obvious while he was in motion, as was his highly set, well arched, although slightly short, neck.’ His inherent athleticism –animated, impulsive, with an improbably long suspension phase and tremendous amount of loft ‘were apparent from his first excursion outside the stables,’ remembers Jerzy. ‘It was obvious this athletic gift of MONOGRAMM, and of BASK, had been passed onto EKSTERN’, with a little ‘something extra’ made manifest in this newest generation.

By the time the final foal of 1994 had arrived, the first instalment of ‘Monogrammki’ (a stallion’s name plus the plural Polish suffix ‘-ki’ is used, most endearingly, to reference the collective progeny of a sire) had enriched Michałów with an extraordinary collection

of future show and breeding superstars. While EKSTERN had certainly been a revelation in the early days of January, he now shared star status with at least half a dozen other extremely promising colts, as well as with several phenomenal fillies, the likes of which would go on to become legendary themselves.

By midsummer, EKSTERN was looking very plump at his dam’s side, an indication of not only ERNESTYNA’s impressive maternal ability, but of the colt’s insatiable appetite and highly efficient metabolism, behavioural and physiological traits that would both obscure his potential worth in the short term and challenge his health and well-being in the long term. Born a rich dark bay, his colour was a loathsome ‘filthy grey’ – the darkest slate grey interspersed with patches of mule-brown – once he shed his foal coat, which combined with his rotund silhouette, did little to enhance EKSTERN’s prospects at the annual autumn herd evaluation. By now, the solid-coloured GANGES and PREMIER had risen to ‘most promising heir’ status amongst the weanlings, both more decidedly Kuhailan in type and pedigree than EKSTERN and more reminiscent of the kind of colt Director Jaworowski had envisioned MONOGRAMM would sire in Poland. Even the distinctively Saklawi-style EL MUNDO, KORDELAS and FERNANDO showed greater promise than EKSTERN as young weanlings, all the produce of more proven and well-respected dams and each of them with cleaner, longer and more refined forehands, a universally admired trademark of the Arabian herd in Michałów.

Spring Awakening

By early spring of the following season, a year that welcomed the arrival of fellow iconic MONOGRAMM luminaries such as FALLADA (out of Fanaberia by Probat), ELANDRA (out of Erlanda by Eukaliptus), PALMIRA (out of Palestra by Penitent), EGZONERA (out of Egzotyka by Probat) and the incomparable KWESTURA (out of Kwesta by Pessenik), stud management was busy planning for the upcoming Polish Spring Show. Having been revived the

As the yearling fillies lived close to the centre of activity at the stud and were seen several times each day by everyone, the selection of the best MONOGRAMM daughters to be prepared for the show elicited very few surprises. The selection of the colts, however, required a special trip to Podlesie, the adjacent farm located a few kilometres from the main stable complex at Michałów, at which all the yearling and two-year-old colts live together in loafing barns. While the routine is to turn the colts out to graze in spacious paddocks collectively each day just after breakfast, all the colts remained chained to the wall that morning post-feeding to allow for thorough inspection by management. Those most promising were unchained one at a time and led to the centre of the loafing area for close scrutiny, with the likely prospects of GANGES and PREMIER selected by unanimous consent. Three grey colts

Before the final decision was reached, however, Urszula wisely asked to see the decidedly inconspicuous EKSTERN as a possible ‘alternate’. Bright and buoyant as he was led to the centre for his turn to be inspected, it was immediately apparent that time had not been kind to the growing colt, as he was still several kilograms overweight and possessed the same unappealing coat colour, now in a deep winter shag. While his length of neck had never rivalled that of his fellow MONOGRAMM foals, it had become thicker and chunkier over the winter, and seemed to lack the shape of his promising youth. There was, however, an undeniable appeal in his still beautiful head, with the distinctive dish, those dark soulful eyes, and his full expressive nostrils, as there was in his compact, well-balanced build and exceptional topline. Urszula patiently reminded everyone with decision making authority that three months still remained to ‘improve his condition’ prior to the show, and of his ‘overwhelming potential as a young foal’ that just might require the kind of special attention show preparation could provide to reveal itself once again.

Top Ekstern at the WAHO Trophy presentation | 2008 Right Ekstern at Michałów

Immediately after, EKSTERN, the show prospect, formed a bond with one of the most important people in his young life, a trend he would repeat most rewardingly time and time again in his nearly three decades of charmed existence. Jerzy remembers the inauspicious ‘introduction of legends’ with great detail. ‘As Michałów’s head trainer, Tadeusz Wojtal, was nearing retirement around this time, we were eagerly seeking to train someone new and younger to replace him. Mariusz Liśkiewicz, having recently joined Michałów as an endurance rider and trainer, was a likely prospect as he was not only young, but patient and well educated, with a natural affinity for horses. As Mariusz was initially apprehensive about the idea of “handling” horses as a profession rather than riding them, I gave him EKSTERN as his first halter project, confident that the young colt’s kind, people-oriented disposition and dependable show attitude would inspire trust between them, and more importantly, sincere interest from Mariusz.’

During this same timeframe, at Poland’s other famous mecca of Arabian horse breeding, Dr. Marek Trela was busy preparing the Janów Podlaski youngsters for the show ring debut of the season at Michałów. ‘The first of January 1995 marked the transition of my role as resident veterinarian to breeding specialist at Janów Podlaski,’ recollects Marek, and with it the responsibility of preparing the show teams for the upcoming competitive season. ‘As I had been completely engaged with my veterinary responsibilities the year prior, I had been unable to attend the annual spring and fall breeding inspections (at the other State Studs) and had yet to see any of the MONOGRAMM foals. I was, therefore, eager to see for myself exactly what was causing such excitement (amongst all the other breeders in Poland). I was confident the team of junior horses bred and prepared by Janów was strong and would be very competitive, and so with great hope for a successful outcome we made the journey to the Polish Spring Show.’ Soon after arrival, Marek had a quick visit to the show stables to catch a brief glance at the competition. ‘While it would have been inappropriate for a thorough analysis of the competition prior to the event, the Michałów contenders, standing there quietly eating their hay, did not appear to be

unbeatable. I most certainly do not remember seeing any extraspecial yearling colt, especially the one that was about to become Junior Champion.’

What unfolded on show day, however, was something entirely unexpected and unprecedented. Former Polish Arabian Horse Breeding Specialist Anna Stojanowska, whose career at the Ministry of Agriculture had only just begun a few years prior, remembers the day most vividly. ‘It was a revelation,’ she effuses, ‘as the MONOGRAMM foals not only won their classes, they dominated every single placing from first through fifth and beyond, dazzling the judges and spectators with their incredible charisma and uniquely modern style. It was an unforgettable day in which history was being made, and everyone present felt as if something monumental was happening. In retrospect, we can now recognise that a new era of Polish Arabian breeding was ushered in that day,’ one that would soon transform nearly every breeding programme in Poland, at all the State Studs as well as amongst the private breeders, with reverberations felt most positively around the world for decades to come.

Dr. Trela, also standing ringside that day, remembers the rollercoaster of emotions he felt as soon as the Michałów-bred competition began to reveal themselves in the ring. ‘With every single new MONOGRAMM foal that entered the ring that morning, my optimism for the success of the Janów youngsters began to fade. Truthfully, the MONOGRAMM foals did so much more than just enter the show ring, they flew around it, horse after horse after horse, presenting themselves with such incredible charisma, fantastic movement and undeniable beauty, truly remarkable for horses so young. I moved from deflated to inspired very quickly, immensely hopeful for the future of the breeding in Poland.’ Remarking on the final lineups of MONOGRAMM foals from first to fifth, Marek adds ‘the domination of the MONOGRAMM foals that sunny day in Michałów was just the precursor to greater achievements soon to unfold not only at the Polish National Show for years to come, but, more impressively, at several of the most prestigious shows all over the world.’ The stratospheric standard-elevating era of MONOGRAMM had begun most decisively, with EKSTERN blazing the trail at the forefront.

For the breeders at Michałów, Director Jaworowski and Jerzy and Urszula Białobok, the satisfaction of witnessing the MONOGRAMM foals in their very first official public presentation, and the subsequent success they achieved at home, was extremely gratifying. The risk to lease MONOGRAMM, and subsequently utilise him across such a large number and diverse range of mares at Michałów, was now reaping rewards well beyond the grandest expectations, with several more aspiring superstars still nursing at the sides of their dams in the foal crop of 1995. Urszula, especially, took great satisfaction in the success of EKSTERN, having patiently persisted in his inclusion on the show team just a few months prior. Jerzy, particularly proud post-show, recalls his ‘great confidence in both EKSTERN and Mariusz prior to show, believing together they possessed a serious chance of being victorious. They did not disappoint,’ he continues, ‘with EKSTERN practically carrying Mariusz around the ring at the end of the lead, moving with more power, animation and energy than any yearling colt had ever summoned in the Polish show ring.’ In the end, it was ‘his irresistible charisma, his well-balanced conformation, his trend-setting type and his phenomenal movement, the same characteristics he displayed on his first day outside the stable’ (some eighteen months earlier), Jerzy reminisces, ‘that were responsible for his debut triumph in the show ring. That unforgettable moment at Michałów launched his incredible show career, one that would eventually lead all the way to the World Championships in Paris.’

Post-show, a humbled yet inspired Marek Trela was eager for a closer look at the colt that had just created such a sensation in the show ring. ‘How,’ Marek questioned, ‘had I missed this horse in the stables prior to the show?’ The mystery was solved, however, upon Marek’s return to the Michałów stables, as he ‘discovered the inconspicuous EKSTERN, standing quietly amongst his stablemates, still plump and dark grey, appearing much smaller and less impressive when relaxed,’ not to mention fully engaged in satiation. ‘He was a remarkable transformer as soon as he emerged from the stables, appearing twice as large and with so much confidence and presence. When asked to pose, elevating his beautiful head and creating shape and lift through his neck, his charisma was absolutely commanding, as if exuding the ability to bend the universe to his will.’ This was a ‘very special young horse,’ Marek authenticates, ‘at the beginning of what would become a legendary journey for both Poland and the Arabian breed.’

Tested at Home and Abroad

The next show ring outing for EKSTERN was his first international excursion, one often forgotten when recounting his remarkable show ring triumphs. As relations between the State Studs of Poland and Bábolna, the premier State Stud of Hungary, were more intimately intertwined in the 1990s, including sending mares to be bred abroad in both directions, resulting, most notably, in the production of PĘTLA (Visbaden x Petra by Pepton) for Janów Podlaski, all the State Studs regularly supported the annual Arabian Horse Festival each summer with a team of top show horses, travelling and competing together as Team Poland. A prime example of the quality horses presented by the Poles at the summer show in Hungary was ESKLAWA (Eukaliptus x Ekstaza by Celebes), a legendary show and broodmare that had yet to achieve her most famous accolades in the show ring, Polish National and European Champion Senior Mare, when she graced the grassy arena in Bábolna with her inimitable style and grace. Reflecting back across the decades, one can now appreciate the presence of EKSTERN at this small, but stately, show, far off the beaten track in a former Eastern Bloc country just a few years post-fall of the Berlin Wall, now an awkward two-year-old, still an unflattering dark dirty grey and perpetually weight challenged. In classic EKSTERN style, however, he did not disappoint the

small but eager crowd in attendance, dazzling the judges as well with his trademark trot, charisma and type, transforming into show horse extraordinaire with instantaneous ease. Poland’s best kept secret was now an internationally recognised contender as Bábolna Arabian Horse Festival Champion Junior Colt, one capable of receiving top scores in the show ring from a globally respected panel of judges. A soft murmur of approval and anticipation was beginning to coalesce amongst the informed breeders of Europe, the foundation of which would eventually open the floodgate of universal admiration and appreciation in just a few short years’ time.

In the autumn of 1996, EKSTERN was dutifully despatched to the Służewiec racecourse in Warsaw for mandatory performance testing, a mainstay of the Polish breeding programme that reliably proved the physiological and psychological fitness of the Polish-bred Arabians for decades. He was amongst the first of the MONOGRAMM foals to compete in race competition and given the presence of two legendary racehorses in the second generation of his pedigree – maternal grandsire PIECHUR, a Polish Derby, Arabian Produce and Criterium winner, and paternal granddam MONOGRAMMA, a Russian racecourse record holder – expectations were hopeful that he would display some degree of natural talent as a racehorse. While several of his paternal siblings did prove themselves capable racers, including the stakes-winning GANGES, EKSTERN never did win a race in ten starts throughout the 1997 season, but finished respectably in at least half those efforts with a lifetime record of 1/10 (1x3rd, 1x4th, 3x5th). A single season record of ten starts is incredibly respectable for any three-year-old in performance testing at the track, especially one destined for chief sire status, as at least half a year of rigorous competition would be required to amass such a record. EKSTERN’s prowess on the track would ultimately be proven in future seasons, no longer as a competitor, but as an unexpectedly consistent sire of brave, tenacious racers, especially those bred at Janów Podlaski and Białka.

Upon his return to Michałów post racing career, EKSTERN was soon promoted to his most important and enduring responsibility, that of chief sire in February of 1998. As GANGES was being trained and conditioned for his second season at the racecourse, during which he most capably competed in every major stakes race for which he was eligible, EKSTERN, without great fanfare, became the first MONOGRAMM son to be granted chief sire status in Poland, an honour that would be exploited most

Top Left Ekstern at the monument for Director Ignacy Jaworowski

Top Right Ekstern delighting the local fans at Michałów

rewardingly in his homeland for more than two decades beyond that inaugural season. Anna Stojanowska remembers EKSTERN as ‘not particularly impressive’ at the onset of his breeding career, ‘a bit short and stuffy everywhere’ and ‘very different from the kind of stallions being utilised in Polish breeding at this time.’ She does, however, credit the Białoboks for ‘seeing his potential’ and for ‘giving him a chance to prove himself with the celebrated mares of Michałów.’

A Winter Discovery

Just as the first foals of EKSTERN were arriving in early 1999, the aspiring sire was introduced to another breeder of monumental importance to his young life and soon-to-be-epic future: Christine Jamar-Demeersseman. A respected breeder of primarily Polishrelated horses at Jadem Arabians in Belgium and a frequent visitor to the State Studs, Christine had come to Michałów in search of a potential sire to lease for a few seasons, possibly even a son of MONOGRAMM. Sincerely hoping her serious intention was appreciated (who in their right mind plans a sire search in Poland in January!), Christine recounts ‘being committed to finding the right stallion to improve my mares, then mostly daughters of EUKALIPTUS and BANDOS, who best embodied the type of Arabian I most appreciated.’ Most vividly, Christine remembers the weather that morning while inspecting stallion prospects as ‘bitterly cold, at least -15°C’, the result of which was ‘ground that was completely frozen in the presentation paddock’, an unforgiving environment in which to demonstrate athletic ability.

‘When EKSTERN was turned loose in the paddock however,’ Christine illuminates, ‘time seemed to stand still. It was as if all the energy in the universe was focused solely on him. Despite the hard ground, EKSTERN trotted with so much power, propulsion, elevation and control – I knew in an instant that this was the stallion I had been seeking.’

Sensing her intention and emotional response, Urszula took Christine confidently by the arm following EKSTERN’s physicsdefying demonstration and led her back to the stud office where she showed her several famous photos of glorious grey mares.

‘EKSTERN belongs to this family of mares,’ Urszula explained, ‘the “E” line of Milordka, the most precious and valuable dam family at Michałów.’ In typical Polish negotiating fashion, the first response to Christine’s enthusiastic request to lease EKSTERN was ‘this is not possible’. Convinced a more generous offer might persuade Jerzy Białobok to change his mind, Christine recounts ‘calling my husband Guy that evening to tell him that I found a

fantastic stallion, one I believed would be able to improve my breeding programme. So good was this stallion,’ she continued, ‘that it would likely cost a considerable amount more than the typical lease of a high-quality stallion.’ This impassioned phone conversation laid the groundwork for Christine to return to Poland two weeks later with Guy’s blessing to offer twice the initially proposed lease fee, a generous offer that was graciously accepted by Michałów management for the duration of two breeding seasons.

Negotiated as an essential centrepiece of the lease agreement was the guarantee for Jadem to promote EKSTERN as a show horse while on lease. As a result, yet another person of profound impact was introduced into EKSTERN’s life of rising fame and irrefutable good fortune: the Dutchman, Erik Dorrssers.

Kindred Spirits

A very experienced and accomplished handler and trainer, Erik had already shown several high-profile horses to elite honours by the time he met EKSTERN. A naturally gifted horseman with a knack for eliciting the best performances from his horses, Erik was yet unaware how this ‘nice little stallion’ would transform his life, both personally and professionally, when he first met EKSTERN while working at Jadem. ‘My first encounter with EKSTERN,’ Erik explains, ‘was in the stable. Still a very dark grey, it was easy to see many of his best qualities – strong body, well balanced, good feet and legs and quite a pretty face. But it was those eyes that touched me from that very first moment – big, round and black, yet soft in expression and filled with so much kindness. He had a way of looking straight into your soul with his eyes.’

Convinced he might be a special horse just by those soulful eyes alone, Erik’s opinion of EKSTERN was fortified one thousandfold when the stallion was led from his stable and turned loose in the paddock. ‘All it took was the slightest bit of noise,’ Erik recounts, ‘and he transformed into this magnificent show horse – trotting, snorting, tail up, eyes and ears alert, nostrils flared. It was just incredible! I can still feel the goosebumps from that first encounter, still feel myself smiling from ear to ear.’

During daily training and show preparation that first season, the bond between Erik and EKSTERN evolved from a respectful working partnership into one of undeniable kindred spirits. ‘Hands down,’ states Erik emphatically, ‘EKSTERN had the best personality I had ever encountered, from either a horse or a

human!’ With a preference for the quiet, simple life ‘content to rest in his stable or graze in his paddock,’ EKSTERN had a ‘natural tendency to be a bit lazy, especially when exercised. He was always laid back about everything in life, except when it came time to show. In an instant, the lamb would become a lion.’

The first opportunity for EKSTERN to dazzle the crowd on a grand scale was the UK International Arabian Horse Show (UKIAHS), then held annually in late August at the Towerlands Centre in Essex, Great Britain’s premier international Arabian horse event and the only A-level ECAHO-sanctioned show on the island. Fitter and trimmer than he had ever been in his life for his senior stallion debut, and now softening to a richly dark dappled grey, EKSTERN, with Erik, entered the ring in England as the ultimate dark horse, virtually an unknown commodity in stark contrast to the more experienced show horses/teams that had come from all over Europe with the high hopes of claiming one of the continent’s most prestigious honours. By the time the less than five-minute presentation in his qualifying class of four to sixyear-old stallions had concluded, however, EKSTERN had become the talk of the show. ‘EKSTERN went from unknown to newborn star in an instant,’ Christine effuses, ‘receiving fourteen 20s from the judging panel, perfect scores for Type and Movement, and just one half point short of perfect for Head and Neck. Everyone wanted to know who this stallion was and where I had found him.’ Poland’s best kept secret had just been uncovered at one of the most important shows on the international stage.

In Pursuit of the Crown

EKSTERN was not shown again until the following spring, when his first Belgian-bred foals were arriving to great acclaim. As EKSTERN was still busy breeding mares in April, which was his primary responsibility at Jadem, he ventured just 60km to the always competitive Tulip Cup in the Netherlands for his continental debut as a senior stallion. It was the first year of the new millennium and 2000 would prove to be the year of EKSTERN’s most important and memorable triumphs in the show ring. Crowned Senior Champion Stallion at the Tulip Cup with great fanfare, again with an impressively high score and full sets of 20s for type and movement, EKSTERN was now a decisive contender for the most important shows on the European calendar scheduled for autumn, collectively known as the

Denmark, in October; and the World Championships in Paris, France, in early December.

As EKSTERN’s lease to Jadem was due to expire at the end of the 2000 calendar year, the pressure was on Erik and Christine to ensure the horse had every chance to succeed at the Triple Crown events. While the Tulip Cup victory ensured he was a known quantity in his campaign for show ring immortality, it was his next appearance in the completive arena that both Erik and Christine recall with great affection and satisfaction. ‘As the breeding season was concluded in Belgium,’ explains Christine, ‘EKSTERN could have easily returned to Poland to stay by early August in time to compete at the Polish National Show. We had, however, agreed to promote EKSTERN at all the biggest shows in Europe, so we made the long trip back to Poland just to showcase him at home, to give the Poles a chance to see their rising superstar at his very best.’ Erik remembers EKSTERN ‘taking the long trip in stride and giving a spectacular performance,’ no small feat in a country known for extraordinary performances at their National Show each year. For Erik, this presentation was ‘especially rewarding and a great honour, the fulfillment of a lifelong dream to show a Polish horse at home in Poland. For that dream to have been fulfilled with that horse, EKSTERN, my horse of a lifetime, was the ultimate blessing.’

The reward of seeing EKSTERN win at home in Poland was not the only satisfying return from his triumph as Polish National Champion Stallion. The judges who were charged with EKSTERN’s evaluation on show day – HRH Princess Alia Al Hussein from Jordan, Silvia Garde-Ehlert from Germany and Francesco Santoro from Italy – were all respected and accomplished breeders who could boast decades of expertise and experience amongst them, with each hailing from decidedly different backgrounds. To have all of them, with their diverse perspectives and preferences in Arabian type and beauty, reach unequivocal consensus concerning the excellence of EKSTERN as a superlative example of the Arabian stallion as compared to the breed ideal bode well for his most demanding performances back on Europe’s grandest stages. To EKSTERN’s good fortune, a prodigious gift with which he was uncommonly blessed throughout his long life, all of these

esteemed breeders would serve, precisely one at each event, on the panels of distinguished judges that had been selected to adjudicate the Triple Crown shows.

The first to see EKSTERN again in the ring was Francesco Santoro in Germany at the All Nations Cup. Conveniently held just a short distance from Jadem Arabians on the German border with Belgium and the Netherlands, the All Nations Cup was then, and still is, considered the premier show in Europe for breeders, with a reputation for incredibly deep competition as well as authentic evaluation delivered by a globally representative panel of equine experts. Any win secured in Aachen is considered a great honour, one that often ensures further success at the other legs of the Triple Crown. The All Nations Cup would pose the most formidable challenge to EKSTERN as a show horse, and will forever be remembered as his most prestigious win amongst a stellar line-up of stallions, a renowned collection of enduring show and breeding horses the likes of EL NABILA B (Kubinec x 218 Elf Layla Walayla B by Assad), SIMEON SADIK (Asfour x Simeon Safanad by Sankt Georg), AS NATSIR APAL (Ibn Estasha x Saskia RJ by Plakat), ORASHAAN (Maysoun x Orasha by Malik), EL SHER MANN (El Shaklan x Gazira by Gazi), MOSALLI (Imperial Imdal x Musaliha by Malik) and the Michałów-bred WADIM (Grandorr x Warszula by Palas), as well as paternal brothers and former stablemates GANGES and KORDELAS.

What all of these stallions had in common, even those bred in Poland thanks to PALAS (Aswan x Panel by Nil), were strong infusions of Egyptian blood, considered the gold standard in Europe for show ring success at the time. Despite his highly credentialled, centuries old Polish origins on both sides of his pedigree, EKSTERN ‘possessed a very Egyptian phenotype, compact and square, with a great topline and a beautiful head,’ reveals Jerzy. ‘Most of the judges were convinced he was predominantly Egyptian influenced, he was simply too exotic and refined not to be.’ In the final lineup on championship Sunday, EKSTERN triumphed over all his impressive competition, out-trotting, out-snorting, out-showing and out-impressing in unfailing abundance those stallions with more recent ties to the desert, including the prominently campaigned and extremely exotic SIMEON SADIK, a black Straight Egyptian bred in Australia by Marion Richmond in the proud ownership of Shirley Watts, who had to settle for Reserve Championship behind the ascending show ring star. Most notably, EKSTERN shared championship honours at the 2000 All Nations Cup with his former stablemate ZAGROBLA, born just 35 days after him at Michałów, as Senior Champion Mare, an incredible collective triumph for his maternal stud.

HRH Princess Alia would meet EKSTERN again in Denmark at the European Championships, when the event was still open to horses bred and owned from all around the world. Many of the same credentialled stallions that had competed in Aachen had made the trip to Vilhelmsborg on the eastern central coast of the Danish peninsula, with two new significant additions: former World and European Champion MEDALJ (Menes x Sadza by Rusazcie) and another Polish-bred stallion, Białka’s beloved PESAL (Partner x Perforacja by Ernal), a multi-international champion that was just three years EKSTERN’s elder. Having already proven his ability to bring his extraordinary gifts to the indoor arena in Aachen, EKSTERN was again at his best far from home in Denmark, basking in the spotlight and the adoration of his fans, the group of which was multiplying exponentially with every inspiring show ring appearance.

Top Left Equator (QR Marc x Ekliptyka)

Top Right Perfinka (Esparto x Perfirka)

Middle Right Pinta (Ekstern x Pilar)

The senior stallion championship line-up was filled completely with legends – EKSTERN in front of EL NABILA B from the class of four to six-year-old stallions, WADIM in front of PESAL from the class of stallions aged seven to ten, and SIMEON SADIK ahead of MEDALJ as the final pair from the stallions aged eleven and older qualifier. EKSTERN once again proved the decisive favourite in the comparative final, with SIMEON SADIK finishing as the respectable Reserve Champion. In this millennial edition of the European Championships, EKSTERN’s triumph was the crowning final glory for Michałów, whose home-bred horses took home a full half of the major awards at the event, including the Junior Filly Championship for then two-year-old EL DORADA (Sanadik El Shaklan x Emigrantka by Eukaliptus) and a clean sweep in the Senior Mare Championship for the MONOGRAMM daughters KWESTURA and ZAGROBLA, as Champion and Reserve Champion, respectively. What a night it was for Michałów, for the MONOGRAMM progeny and for EKSTERN, who was just one victory shy of the ultimate show ring achievement.

The final judge from the Polish Nationals trio of experts to evaluate EKSTERN from centre ring in 2000 was Silvia GardeEhlert, who had the distinct honour of judging the legend more

times than any other, having been a member of the Tulip Cup panel in April. But the stakes were now considerably higher, with EKSTERN expected to showcase his unparalleled abilities on the grandest stage in all of Europe, and arguably, as the name of the event rather strongly suggests, on the entire planet. Not unlike Poland, the local crowds at the Salon Du Cheval in Paris have an established reputation for supporting their favourites, clapping, cheering and whistling in approval, creating a decidedly un-French amplified air of excitement to the event, especially on championship Sunday. From the moment he stepped into the ring during his qualifier, tail flagged, eyes and ears alert, trotting at full speed and power, the crowd from both sides of the arena, the VIP and the general attendance, roared their approval in support of EKSTERN. This electric energy only magnified EKSTERN’s response, as he seemed to grow more imposingly and commandingly with each stride forward, resulting in an indomitable masterclass performance that was rewarded with yet another set of high scores, including more than a dozen 20s.

Confident that EKSTERN had a real chance at the World Championship title the next day, Erik amusingly recalls this potential misstep. ‘Having asked the girls to begin preparing EKSTERN no less than an hour before his class, I was horrified to discover my fiery show stallion,’ (whose legendary show career hung in the balance), ‘sound asleep in his box with the grooms sitting on his back just 30 minutes out from show time!’ After a few choice words of displeasure, EKSTERN was hastily but properly prepared for the show ring and ‘in his typical style, walked quietly and patiently to the collecting arena like a placid broodmare. With that very first step into the bright spotlights of the arena, his show switch turned on like a flash – tail up, head and neck elevated, ears forward, eyes wide and alert taking in absolutely everything in his view – in total command of his domain. He floated around that arena like he owned it, never breaking stride, happy, content and absolutely in his element. I was never prouder of him than in that moment.’ It was never a question of EKSTERN’s triumph in Paris by the time he circled the championship area in his incomparable style on Sunday afternoon.

For the Białoboks EKSTERN’s victory in Paris, and the Triple Crown title he accrued, further validated their insistence that the stallion be shown while on lease, elevating the status of the Polish-bred stallion to serious and significant contender on the world stage. ‘Poland was always famous for amazing mares,’ Jerzy discloses, ‘so EKSTERN’s success in the show ring in 2000 came as a big surprise for everyone.’ To the surprise of no one, however, Michałów concluded the World Championships with yet another record-setting result, taking home four of the eight major titles, all with progeny sired by MONOGRAMM. With EMMONA as World Champion Junior Filly, ZAGROBLA and KWESTURA swapping honours from the European Championships as World Champion and Reserve Champion, respectively, and the King of the Ring, clinching his fifth straight title of the season, the ‘risky’ lease of MONOGRAMM some seven years earlier was beginning to look like the boldest stroke of breeding genius in modern Arabian history.

Michałów’s Matrons of Merit

Back in Poland in steady progression, EKSTERN established himself as the most important home-bred sire on the new millennium, not only at the State Studs, but also in private breeding programmes. In total, over 16 consecutive seasons from 2001 to 2016, Poland’s aspiring private breeders bred to EKSTERN more than one hundred times, attributing to more than one-fifth of his lifetime total of foals. This selective use of EKSTERN within these young programmes gifted each with supercharged momentum, not unlike the boost reflected at Jadem during the same timeframe, allowing each to leap generations forward in terms of quality and genetic potential in just one thoughtfully matched mating.

Poland’s youngest State Stud in Białka found their greatest success with the Michałów-bred EKSTERN son ESPARTO (x Ekspozycja by Eukaliptus), a seasoned show horse with an impressive show record amassed all across Europe and the Arabian Gulf. His greatest gift to the breed was the splendiferous PERFINKA (out of Perfirka by Gazal Al Shaqab), a unique blend of back-to-back World Champion Stallions that both served as invaluable chief sires in Poland. PERFINKA is beloved the world over as one of the most successful show mares of all times, having magnificently graced the winners’ circles at the All Nations Cup, Scottsdale, the US National Championships, the Arabian Breeders World Cup and the World

Top Left Morion (Kahil Al Shaqab x Mesalina)

Top Right Pepita (Ekstern x Pepesza)

Championships. After her final lease abroad, PERFINKA returned home and again made history, this time as the star attraction of the annual Pride of Poland auction, selling to Al Rajhiat Stud in Saudi Arabia for the whopping sum of 1.25 million euro, the second highest price ever paid at public auction in Poland to date.

While standing at Janów Podlaski for five standard-setting seasons, EKSTERN accomplished what was denied his historyaltering sire MONOGRAMM a decade earlier: the opportunity to leave a genetic impact at all three State Studs and to more broadly distribute the invaluable genetic contribution of his greatgrandsire BASK throughout the Polish breeding programme. For Marek Trela, ‘the utilisation of EKSTERN on the precious mares of Janów Podlaski delivered, rather surprisingly, entirely unexpected results. That is not to say that I did not believe in his ability as a sire, for on the contrary, I expected EKSTERN to add his spirited charisma, brilliant movement and exotic type. These traits he did indeed gift to the vast majority of his progeny at Janów,’ Marek confirms, ‘but most inexplicably he also proved to be a reliable source of strong, solid builds, great frames and limbs, and inherent athletic ability on the racecourse. I am a firm believer that the Arabian horse should be both beautiful and brave, so naturally my favourite horses are those who are able to win top honours in the show ring and to be tenacious athletes on the track.

‘One of the most endearing qualities of the EKSTERN progeny,’ Marek reveals, ‘was their exceptional dispositions. They are all inherently kind, willing and gentle horses, with a natural affinity to humans, eager to please and constantly curious. This makes their instantaneous conversion into fiery show horses all the more rewarding, with the ability to summon incredible energy and charisma on cue. Even more impressively, they are able to convert back into placid pets, walking quietly and obediently back to the stables alongside their handlers as if nothing out of the ordinary has just happened. Most expectedly, this was exactly the same disposition that EKSTERN himself possessed. Time may very well prove this to be one of his greatest gifts to the breed.’

Two of EKSTERN’s most endearing daughters are also Janów Podlaski-bred legends: PINTA (x Pilar by Fawor) and PEPITA (x Pepesza by Eukaliptus). While both are celebrated show horses and matrons, each has earned legendary status by selling for record sums at the annual Pride of Poland auction, with PINTA selling for half a million euro and PEPITA for the princely sum of 1.4 million euro, still the all-time record setting price on home soil.

Like MONOGRAMM before him, EKSTERN shattered records and raised the standard of possibility not only in the show ring and the breeding barn, but most indispensably, in the public auction ring, generating critical capital, in most generous supply, to further fund breeding efforts at the Polish State Studs. As the existence of both record-setting high-sellers – PEPITA and PERFINKA –would not have been possible without the vital genetic influence of EKSTERN, his contribution to the total income earned at the Pride of Poland auction over its 40-plus years of existence remains one of the most important and impressive.

Home at Michałów, EKSTERN spent more seasons at stud than anywhere else, siring foals in an impressive 16 years of his total 21 years as chief sire. Then Director Jerzy Białobok states very candidly that ‘it was rather challenging to use EKSTERN across a broad range of mares in his maternal stud, as firstly, the largest group of broodmares at the time were daughters of MONOGRAMM, and furthermore, an even larger percentage of the broodmare band was strongly influenced by the Milordka dam family, many of them closely related tail-female descendants. Unlike the use of MONOGRAMM, whose influence at Michałów over a short number of seasons was like a tidal wave of change, EKSTERN’s selective use progressed more slowly but steadily in Poland and was only truly appreciated and fully understood towards the end of his life.’

What was readily apparent, however, was the distinctive EKSTERN phenotype present in the best of his progeny, especially his highly prized daughters. While MONOGRAMM was always a reliable source of charisma and an animated powerful trot, the phenotypes of his most prominent progeny often varied significantly, even amongst full siblings. The EKSTERN get, on the other hand, were more uniformly stamped with his unique silhouette, indisputably identifiable in foal crop after foal crop, regardless of the genetic heritage of the mares to which he was bred. His best progeny were, most fortunately, still blessed with the MONOGRAMM trot and charisma, but enhanced with added EKSTERN lift and bounce, plus his always joyous effervescence. The EKSTERN foals were exceptionally well balanced, compact and square, with long laid-back shoulders, short, strong muscular backs and loins, full and deep through the quarter with a long level croup, and always impressively three-dimensional from every angle, substantial, muscular and capacious through the barrel. Type was always enhanced in the next generation when using EKSTERN, as he routinely improved refinement and quality, adding cleanliness and

x

dryness of bone and tendon, dark vascular skin, and rich lustrous coats, from dark, perfectly dappled steel greys and enchanting flea-bitten silver greys to the richest bays and chestnuts, who were also routinely bedazzled with intense, perfectly designed dapples all across their full frames. Like MONOGRAMM, EKSTERN was always a significant step forward in type, blessing his foals with beautifully designed dished heads, big, round, dark, luminous eyes, round, full, capacious nostrils, and well-shaped ears, even if not always placed perfectly atop the poll. EKSTERN’s trademark tail carriage – joyously carried like a flag unfurled whenever in motion – can still be seen in all his best descendants like an emphatic exclamation point echoing through time.

The blood of Ekstern can be found in Australia through several descendants, and today there are two living sons, both of whom are from dams who were pregnant when purchased in Poland. Both tall and grey, they are Titanium FX (from Funkia by Gazal Al Shaqab) and Peronii MA (from Debowa Polana by Eldon).

Farewell to the King

Anna Stojanowska is confident that the world ‘will long celebrate the daughters of EKSTERN’ who she boldly brands ‘an absolute guarantee of quality. To own any member of this “Collection of Pearls” is a privilege,’ she elaborates. ‘These mares are like the most wonderful raw material from which the sculptor can create something unique and magnificent, without any fear that the end result will be unsuccessful. All one needs is the right “chisel” and an inspiring dose of imagination.’ Asked if she could imagine a world without the amazing daughters of EKSTERN, Anna amusingly replies, ‘indeed one could, but that world would be so much poorer as a result and far less interesting.’ She considers herself incredibly fortunate, to have ‘shared so many special years with EKSTERN and his descendants’ with the clear understanding that horses such as him ‘come only once in a lifetime.’

Christine is unsparing in her praise for EKSTERN. ‘Very rarely does a top show horse become a top sire – every breeder dreams of finding stallions such as these. To have discovered EKSTERN so early in the history of Jadem has forever expanded the possibilities on my journey with the Arabian horse.’

Reflecting back across the past two decades, Marek Trela admits with great pride that ‘while I expected his tenure at Janów Podlaski to have significant impact, EKSTERN did so much more, and must now justifiably be considered one of the most important and influential stallions in the two-hundred-year history of the stud.’

As his breeders, Jerzy and Urszula are ‘still amazed how EKSTERN seemed to transcend time, improving with age like a fine wine, and never failed to put on a great show, regardless of the surrounding environment and circumstances.’ Having borne witness to and skillfully stewarded the epic era of MONOGRAMM at Michałów, both enlighteningly reveal that ‘while his daughters were the banner carriers for the breed in the show ring, it is the influence of EKSTERN that has endured most profoundly in the breeding barn.’ In closing, Jerzy and Urszula share that they ‘are immensely grateful for the opportunity to have lived in the era of EKSTERN,’ adding that ‘we understand, with great clarity, that a horse like EKSTERN is unlikely to come along again anytime soon!’

With the passing of EKSTERN, one of the brightest lights of our time is extinguished. Though his incomparable presence, so full of energy, exuberance and joyous generosity, no longer illuminates our world, his enduring legacy of esteemed and cherished descendants the world over will forever light the way forward for the Arabian breed. We remain eternally indebted, not only for the boundless gifts he has left behind, but most importantly, for the transformation he created in the lives of everyone he touched.

Farewell, to the once and forever King.

Author Scott Benjamin

Images Stuart Vesty; Mattsson Photography; Glenn Jacobs; Sylwia Iłenda; Javan; Jennifer Ogden

Top Titanium FX (Ekstern x Funkia)

Evaluating a Breeding Horse

It’s funny that I got the topic for this article as I was just sending an email to a client who had asked me if a certain stallion would be a good cross for his mare. He had sent video of the mare and her pedigree. The stallion was well known and I was easily able to access video of him online, although I had also seen him at a show a few months previously.

I knew instantly when he had told me which stallion, that it would not be a good match. How did I know that? Because I knew the stallion’s sire and dam very well, and the sire of this very nice stallion had one trait that was not ideal, and I had seen enough of his offspring over the years to know that he passed this trait reliably to his offspring. Unfortunately, the mare had the exact same trait (unrelated to the stallion) and was the one trait she had that needed fixing. Since I had seen so many of this stallion’s offspring over the years, I was quite comfortable suggesting another well known and good producing sire that was known for fixing the trait that the mare lacked.

However, what if one did not have the luxury of knowing intimately the horses that were several generations deep in both pedigrees? How would you go about making that match? There are several things that can help you make the most informed choice.

Left Australian National Champion Stallion

Volcom FF (Crave FF x Beguine OH (US)) comes from a long line of champions and is now producing champions himself Below Simeon Saada (Asfour x Simeon Safanad) with daughters Simeon Saadia (by Imperial Madaar) and Simeon Sepharad (by Asfour)

1. Do your homework

If you are new to the breed, or have not been around since dinosaurs roamed the earth, you need to study. Study the horses in the pedigrees of what you have. Study the pedigrees of horses you like. When I was a college student, a professor told me once that pedigrees weren’t worth the paper they were printed on. For someone whose family bred Arabian horses, that was like a red flag to a bull! While I will agree totally that you cannot simply use pedigrees as a method of breeding, they are useful as predictors. For example, if you like a certain type of horse, and most of the horses you like have similar horses in their pedigrees, then it’s time to do your homework. Look at as many photos and/or videos of the horses in each pedigree. Find out if there are traits that show up in multiple offspring through the generations – both good and bad. Maybe there is a beautiful trait that only shows up in the first generation, or only is expressed in the female offspring. Perhaps there is an undesirable trait that seems to show up in all of the offspring but it is not a deal-breaker. Information is knowledge. Knowledge is power. Pedigrees are useful predictors to what you might expect from certain bloodlines. But certainly not a guarantee. However, as in the example above – I knew immediately that the bloodline the client was considering absolutely was consistent in a trait (based on observations of many, many offspring) that would not complement his mare.

2. Look at as many offspring as you can from both mare and stallion

If they don’t have many offspring, look at full siblings. While you might not look exactly like your brother, if you both have children, it is very likely there will be traits that are similar. You are not trying to predict exactly what you will get but you are trying to minimise the risk of being surprised by the result. I cannot over-emphasise looking at lots of offspring to try to determine what, if any, traits are reliably being passed on. Obviously this is easier for stallions who can have hundreds of offspring, while mares have much fewer. At least in the era of instant communication, it is much easier to see these offspring without having to travel. Back in the day, one had to put in a lot of miles to gain information. However, check out Point 4 below.

3. Beware of the ‘If this is, than that will…’ trap

For example: Your mare has a beautiful head but a rather short neck. You decide to breed to a stallion with a really long neck, based on the assumption that the foal will come out with a longer neck. Maybe, but probably not. In fact the foal could come out with a neck shorter than the mare’s. Genetics are way too complicated to indulge in this 50/50 way of thinking. A better way to approach it is to look at all the offspring you can from the stallion with the long neck. What are the necks like on his offspring? Also importantly, what were the necks like on the mares he was bred to? What, if any, predictors were in the pedigrees to lean towards longer necks? Just crossing horses with contrasting traits, hoping to come out exactly in the middle will not work. Yet I find people making decisions like that often. Unfortunately without the results they were hoping for.

4. If you can, it is always better to see a horse in person to evaluate it

If that is not possible, get a video. Photos are the most unreliable of all formats due to rampant misrepresentation and photo altering. While there are many very honest photographers, there are legions of savvy photo manipulators who can work miracles. And it can work both ways – I’ve seen beautiful horses that look awful because of a poor angle on a

photo. So photos are not the best format to study. However sometimes, especially with research on older horses, it will be all you get. So if you have to rely on photos, ask for profile pictures that show the entire horse from the ground up on a flat surface without a show pose. Just as halter trainers can sometimes transform a horse’s anatomy with a pose, the angle of the photo can make a big difference. If shot from the front, you can shorten the head. If shot from the shoulder towards the tail, you can hide a long back. Actually, often the manipulated photo will tell you exactly where the faults are! Is the horse always standing behind bushes or rocks? Looks scenic, but likely hiding poor legs. Is the photo a close-up of the head and eyes but it ends at the forehead? Likely to have long ears. Videos are harder to manipulate, but again, require that the entire horse is shown in video from ground up. I’ve watched thousands of videos where you never see the horse below the belly. Makes one wonder why they never show the legs?

5. Why can’t we breed horses more like livestock?

A few breeds are. Growing up raising cattle and sheep, I learned early about things like weight per day of gain statistics on calves sired by certain bulls. Or the size of the loin on lambs produced from certain sire lines. In livestock breeding you are producing a product, and any advantage gained in production is valued and utilised. To that end, statistics have been kept and crunched and heritability factors calculated for various traits. Now you can look up whatever trait you are trying to improve and can find a bull or ram that has been statistically verified to pass on that trait. Horses, on the other hand, are bred from emotion, not statistics. Of course, in Thoroughbreds for example, there are some traits that have been statistically analysed for speed, but it is nothing like the livestock industry. However, the Friesian horse breed has been documenting, analysing and statistically reporting on a variety of traits within their breeding stock, as are several sport horse registries. They have been collecting data for many years and correlating that with visual inspections that are required within the breed. As a result, they are able to give heritability values on both stallions and mares for a variety of traits – like length of neck or back, or straightness of shoulder. Now, as I’ve said, genetics are complicated and not all traits have the same heritability quotient. But it is a good start at looking at more reliably predictable breeding decisions.

Until we have more reliable statistics to work from, breeding will always be an art more than a science. However, if you do your homework and train your eye, you should be able to increase your chance of breeding a better horse than the parents. That is what a breeder should always strive for – each generation should be better than the previous one. Or as the old, traditional horsemen would say, ‘Breed the best to the best and hope for the best!’

Opposite Page Top A live foal reveals the effort is worth the reward. QLD Challenge Champion Mare Fazenda Za’Jarne (Everon Park Ramah x Sabtah Nahlah) with her filly foal Opposite Page Bottom Ray of Light (Amaki’s Impressionist x Amaki’s Golden Imp) – a successful show horse from Champion parents who has proven to be an accomplished sire who passes on his best qualities

Left Twice Australian National Champion and sire of multi champion progeny RHR Heir Of Marwan (Marwan Al Shaqab x LC Psychesheiress)

Images Elsa Marchenay; Stuart Vesty; Samantha Taylor;

A Golden Reign

The Mares of Mulawa Arabian Stud at the Australian Arabian National Championships

The Arabian mare has always been the cornerstone of the most respected and enduring breeding programmes in breed history. The most illustrious mares were the prized possessions of their Bedouin caretakers, are the sources of the many celebrated strains from which our modern horses descend, and were the treasured lifeblood of every essential European stud from the 19th and 20th centuries, whose indispensable breeding stock comprise the basis of all our modern pedigrees.

At Mulawa Arabian Stud, the Farrell Family has always drawn their greatest inspiration from the most esteemed breeding programmes of the past, beginning first with the State Studs of Poland and their singular reverence for the Arabian mare. Over time, the inspiration has expanded to encompass the desert foundation of Crabbet Park, the nationally guided

programmes of Germany at Marbach, the former Soviet Union at Tersk and the military studs in Spain, as well as many of the most ambitious and accomplished modern studs in North America and Australia, which collectively comprise the source of their own illustrious band of broodmares. This commitment to superior quality Arabian mares descending from the best available bloodlines has proven to be the foundation upon which all the modern-day success of Mulawa continues to be built.

Maintaining relevance over decades is the true testament of success for any breeding programme, with the ability to create horses in each new generation that are capable of competing amongst the global elite while remaining true to the breed ideal. As Mulawa celebrates 50 years of breeding excellence in 2022, the Farrells continue to take great pride in those horses that bear the MI stud prefix, especially the mares which remain the banner carriers for both the programme and the Arabian breed.

Opposite Page (l to r) 2022 Australian National Champions

BALLET MI, VIENNA MI and MI APHRODITE

Below (l to r) 2019 Australian National Gold Champions

VENECIA MI, KLASSICAL FAME MI and KLASSICAL TIARA MI

Nowhere has the success of the Mulawa-bred Arabian mare been more consistently recognised with the highest possible accolades than the Australian Arabian National Championships, which coincidentally also celebrates a decades-long milestone in 2022 with 40 years of continental

competition. Most remarkably, Mulawa-bred mares and fillies have been awarded 34 Australian National Championship titles in the past four decades, including the highest honour of National Champion Senior Mare an astounding 13 times, which equates to nearly one-third of all titles ever awarded in the history of the event. Even more impressively, the Farrells are responsible for making the breeding decisions that resulted in the creation of every single one of these females with the exception of the Shane Edward Arabians-bred MUSTANG’S MAGNUM, a record that remains unrivalled in breed history. Mulawa-bred females honoured as Australian National Champion can now boast as many as 12 generations of Farrell Family breeding genius in their pedigrees, with the success of the Mulawa-bred sires in the programme now consistently compounding this influence even more meritoriously. This unparalleled record of success, one that continues to expand with impressive consistency, is one of which we can all be proud as Australians and ardent devotees of the Arabian horse.

Once again in 2022, Mulawa was the breeder of all three Australian National Champion females: Senior Mare MI

APHRODITE (Guiliano x Audacia by Parkview Audacious); Junior Filly VIENNA MI (Allegiance MI x Valentine MI by DA Valentino); and Yearling Filly BALLET MI (MI Klassique x Bree MI by Allegiance MI), with the youngest of the trio the proud product of both a Mulawa-bred sire and dam. While this clean sweep of all three of the most impressive breeding titles awarded at the Australian National Championships is unquestionably an

impressive feat, even more astonishing is the fact that Mulawa has achieved this perfect trifecta of victories a total of eight times in the last 12 years. Eclipsed in prestige only by Mulawa’s record-breaking success as the breeder of ten successive Australian National Champion Senior Mares from 2011 through to 2020, this clear commitment to creating superlative Arabian fillies and mares has elevated the reputation of Mulawa’s universally respected status the world over.

Four imported Mulawa chief sires – AMBITION (Bask x Bint Ambara by Comet), GLF APOLLO (Diamond Padron x Per-Brio by Percussion), GUILIANO (Legacy of Fame x SC Psavannah by Padrons Psyche) and MAGNUM FORTY FOUR (Magnum Psyche x WH Nashahna by Bey Shah), have been directly responsible for Mulawa’s success as a breeder of National Champion Mares and Fillies, with the use of frozen semen by breed legends MAGNUM PSYCHE (Padrons Psyche x A Fancy Miracle by Sasaki) and DA VALENTINO (Versace x DA Love by Padrons Psyche) adding further significant genetic contribution. Even more successful have been the Mulawa-bred sires themselves, especially KLASS (TS Al Malik x Karmaa by Kaborr) and ALLEGIANCE MI (Magnum Forty Four x Audacia by Parkview Audacious), and most recently, the former’s son, MI KLASSIQUE (x Mustang’s Magnum by Magnum Forty Four). The all-time leader of Australian National Champion daughters, in terms of both total winners and titles awarded, is indisputably KLASS, with ALLEGIANCE MI close behind, and even ahead of his famous stablemate in the category of Australian National Champion Yearling Fillies. Most notably, nearly all of the chief sires in Mulawa’s half century of devotion to the breed can be found in the pedigrees of its homebred Australian National Champion mares and fillies, including VISION (Jamil x Euni by Bandos), WARRANTY (Aladdinn x Wizja by El Paso), ARRIVAL (Ambition x Euni by

Above (l to r) 2018 Australian National Gold Champions A VISION MI, KLASSICAL FAME MI and ROMANCE MI

Bandos) and FAME MAKER R (Fame VF x Inschallah El Shaklan by El Shaklan), a true testament to the breeding vision and commitment to genetic diversity of the Farrell Family.

The true scope of genetic variation within the Mulawa-bred National Champion females is best appreciated in terms of distaff source, as these 23 honourees descend from nearly half as many unique dam families – an impressive 12 in total – encompassing the essential foundation dams from the early 1970s through to the most recent invaluable introductions from overseas in the last decade. Not surprisingly one of the most successful dam families is that of the ‘Queen of Mulawa’ KARMAA (Kaborr x AN Marieta by AN Malik), who can boast not only three awardees directly tail-female – two-time champions MULAWA KARISMAA and KLASSICAL DEVOTION MI as well as the most recent winner MI APHRODITE – but

can also be found in the pedigree of every single female sired by KLASS and ALLEGIANCE MI, her most famous male descendants. The DZINA (Buszmen x Dzisna by Naborr) family is the source of the most titles, with three-quarter sisters KLASSICAL FAME MI and KLASSICAL PRESENCE MI, the only three-time successive winners in the collection, having accumulated the majority of these titles, alongside the perpetually popular PARADA, ‘Australia’s Sweetheart’ as a dual honouree. Three pairs of full sisters from two separate dam families – KLASSICAL DREAM MI, MI KLASSIC FANTASY and KLASSICAL TIARA MI from the SAHTARAH Family and VENECIA MI, VENICE MI and VIENNA MI from the VALENTINE MI Family – have all made breed history as Australian National Champions, with VENECIA MI the most awarded amongst these glorious females as Australian National Champion in every single category, with her final title achieved in the shortest amount of time possible by age four. Full sisters VALENTINO’S ANGEL MI and ALWAYS VALENTINE MI, both highly accomplished international champions, are magnificent representatives of the beloved M ANGELIQUE (Vision x Abanda by Banderol) dam family. Adding further credibility to this illustrious lineage is the ALWAYS VALENTINE daughter A VISION MI, yet another international champion of the highest order. This admirable mother-daughter Australian National Champion combination is equalled only by PARADA and

Above (l to r) 2017 Australian National Gold Champions VENICE MI, VENECIA MI and MI KLASSIC FANTASY

KLASSICAL PRESENCE MI, who between them can boast five trips to the most illuminated winner’s circle on the continent.

Of the 23 mares to have accumulated these titles, nearly half, a total of ten, have been sold overseas, including VALENTINO’S ANGEL MI, VENICE MI and A VISION MI who all found ambitious homes overseas after their Yearling National Championship titles, which, while denying them further accolades earned at home, opened the door for incredible achievements abroad on three additional continents. With the exception of KLASSICAL DEVOTION MI, who was purchased just after her Junior Filly title, the other Mulawa-bred National Champions, now the prized possessions of foreign breeders, were all purchased after their Senior Mare titles were awarded: MULAWA EUNIQUE, KLASSICAL DREAM MI, KLASSICAL PRESENCE MI, ROMANCE MI, VENECIA MI and MI KLASSIC FANTASY.

Spanning 39 extraordinary years of continual success – from MULAWA EUNIQUE’s inaugural win in 1984 to the triple triumph of BALLET MI, VIENNA MI and MI APHRODITE in 2022 – the magnificent mares of Mulawa continue to set the standard for excellence for the Arabian breed at home, while elevating the possibility of breeding achievement on a global scale. May these amazing mares continue to inspire us all for generations yet to come and the golden reign of these Mulawa matrons forever celebrated with authentic Australian pride.

Top (l to r) 2016 Australian National Gold Champions

KLASSICAL DEVOTION MI, KLASSICAL PRESENCE MI and VENECIA MI

Above (l to r) 2014 Australian National Champions KLASSICAL DEVOTION MI, KLASSICAL PRESENCE MI and KLASSICAL DREAM MI

GUILIANO x MULAWA KARISMAA

Australian National Gold Champion Senior Stallion | 2018

East Coast Champion Seven & Older Senior Stallion | 2018

East Coast Reserve Champion Ridden Arabian Stallion | 2017

National Stud Show Champion Ridden Arabian Stallion | 2017

KKonquest MI

National Stud Show Champion Senior Stallion | 2016

Australian National Top Ten Junior Colt | 2014

East Coast Reserve Champion Junior Stallion | 2014

Australian National Top Ten Junior Colt | 2013

East Coast Champion Two Year Old Colt | 2013

National Stud Show Champion Junior Colt | 2013

National Stud Show Reserve Champion Yearling Colt | 2011

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPION YEARLING FILLIES

Year Won Filly Sire x Dam by Dam’s Sire Dam Family

2006 MULAWA KARISMAA (Magnum Psyche x Karmaa by Kaborr) KARMAA

2007 MUSTANG’S MAGNUM (Magnum Forty Four x Sahtarah by Sahjat) SAHTARAH

*2011 ROMANCE MI (Magnum Forty Four x Rimaraa by Marwan Al Shaqab) RIMARAA

*2012 MI HARMONY (Guiliano x Fames Harmony by Fame Maker R) MULAWA CHANCE

2013 VALENTINO’S ANGEL MI (DA Valentino x Always An Angel by SK Shakla Khan) M ANGELIQUE

*2014 KLASSICAL DEVOTION MI (Klass x Mulawa Kiara by Magnum Psyche) KARMAA

*2016 VENECIA MI (Allegiance MI x Valentine MI by DA Valentino) VALENTINE MI

*2017 VENICE MI (Allegiance MI x Valentine MI by DA Valentino) VALENTINE MI

*2018 A VISION MI (Allegiance MI x Always Valentine MI by DA Valentino)

*2019 KLASSICAL TIARA MI (Klass x Mustang’s Magnum by Magnum Forty Four) SAHTARAH

2021 I ADORE MI (Allegiance MI x Ivory MI by ZT Marwteyn) IVORY MI

*2022 BALLET MI (MI Klassique x Bree MI by Allegiance MI) LLC BRIANA

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPION JUNIOR FILLIES

Year Won Filly Sire x Dam by Dam’s Sire Dam Family

2010 PARADA (Magnum Forty Four x Presence by GLF Apollo) DZINA

*2011 KLASSICAL DREAM MI (Klass x Mustang’s Magnum by Magnum Forty Four) SAHTARAH

*2012 ROMANCE MI (Magnum Forty Four x Rimaraa by Marwan Al Shaqab) RIMARAA

*2014 KLASSICAL PRESENCE MI (Klass x Parada by Magnum Forty Four) DZINA

2015 KLASSICAL PRESENCE MI (Klass x Parada by Magnum Forty Four) DZINA

*2016 KLASSICAL DEVOTION MI (Klass x Mulawa Kiara by Magnum Psyche) KARMAA

*2017 VENECIA MI (Allegiance MI x Valentine MI by DA Valentino) VALENTINE MI

*2018 KLASSICAL FAME MI (Klass x Forever Fame by Fame Maker R) DZINA

*2019 KLASSICAL FAME MI (Klass x Forever Fame by Fame Maker R) DZINA

*2022 VIENNA MI (Allegiance MI x Valentine MI by DA Valentino)

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPION SENIOR MARES

VALENTINE MI

Year Won Mare Sire x Dam by Dam’s Sire Dam Family

1984 MULAWA EUNIQUE (Ambition x Euni by Bandos)

2003 MULAWA BEHOLD (GLF Apollo x Amurath Beguile by Ramses Fayek)

*2011 MULAWA KARISMAA (Magnum Psyche x Karmaa by Kaborr)

*2012 PARADA (Magnum Forty Four x Presence by GLF Apollo)

2013 MULAWA ASPIRING (Magnum Forty Four x Jiah Aspire by GLF Apollo)

*2014 KLASSICAL DREAM MI (Klass x Mustang’s Magnum by Magnum Forty Four)

2015 ALWAYS VALENTINE MI (DA Valentino x Always An Angel by SK Shakla Khan)

*2016 KLASSICAL PRESENCE MI (Klass x Parada by Magnum Forty Four)

*2017 MI KLASSIC FANTASY (Klass x Mustang’s Magnum by Magnum Forty Four)

*2018 ROMANCE MI (Magnum Forty Four x Rimaraa by Marwan Al Shaqab)

*2019 VENECIA MI (Allegiance MI x Valentine MI by DA Valentino)

2020 KLASSICAL FAME MI (Klass x Forever Fame by Fame Maker R)

*2022 MI APHRODITE (Guiliano x Audacia by Parkview Audacious)

EUNI

AMURATH BEGUILE

KARMAA

DZINA

JIAH ASPIRE

SAHTARAH

M ANGELIQUE

DZINA

SAHTARAH

RIMARAA

VALENTINE MI

DZINA

KARMAA

*denotes a year in which Mulawa bred all three Australian National Champion purebred females

Author Scott Benjamin

Images Stuart Vesty, Glenys Lilley

ARABIAN WESTERN PLEASURE IN AUSTRALIA

Western Pleasure is enjoying a resurgence of late within the Arabian horse show scene, not least of all due to the efforts of Doyle Dertell and his family at Future Farms. Wanting to know more about the discipline for my own benefit, we asked Doyle to share his personal views and expertise on the subject, in the hope that more people will take up this rewarding sport with their horse.

Top Australian Champion Jalilah (Crave FF x Mystica Jamarlee) now competes in Western Pleasure

Let’s start simple by explaining some of the Western language that we will use throughout the article.

At all gaits the pleasure horse should remain in a steady, well-set head position. As a rough guide, depending on the individual horse and their neck and shoulder conformation, we aim for the tips of the ears to the poll being at the same plane as the top of the saddle horn to the top of the horse’s wither. The forehead should be perpendicular to the ground and as close to the chest as possible, and the best front ended horses give the best shaped necks to give them a beautiful swan-like arched neck connected to a steady yet softly swinging poll. Minimum rein contact is ideal.

The main gaits and commands are:

Walk – a striding working walk, not collected. Free flowing, but not extended or rushed. Under control.

Jog – a very collected sitting trot aiming for the jog to be slower than the walk. The rider knows when jogging as they can feel their hips move more side to side rather than forward and back. For the horse, they are trying not to be lazy or drag their feet, rather they are super collected and lifting in each stride to show swinging suspension. They must retain the same head position and light rein contact.

Top Sam Thomas of Sabble Farm has embraced the discipline of Western Pleasure

Opposite page Kody Dertell has emerged as one of the young leaders in Western Pleasure today

My motto is ‘low and slow’, but that does not mean low and lazy. To me these are worlds apart and really separate a Western horse from a good Western horse.

Lope – a very collected canter. It is still a three-beat canter, but a true lope has the first beat then a pause, followed by the second and third beat in time.

I personally like to see a horse loping straight. There is a big trend in the open quarter horse arenas both here and in the USA to have the horse falling forward on the third beat, coming across their body at a 45 0 angle in order to slow the horse speed down to an extreme. I strongly disagree with this. None of the Arabian Western gaits should be extreme, simply well balanced and collected. Many dressage horses hit the lope just as they go in or out of their pirouettes.

Again, the head should remain in the desired position with light rein contact.

Rein Backs – asking your horse to back up a few strides, with light aids using reins or legs.

Halt – stopping and standing still. This can be asked from any gait at the judges’ discretion. Horse’s head set and rein pressure should remain the same as when in motion.

Reverse – this is a change of direction on the rail or after a halt, walk or jog. Western Pleasure horses work only on the rail and don’t do any changes through the middle.

When asked what kind of horses are suited to Western Pleasure, Doyle answers enthusiastically ... Honestly at a grass roots level for people with a small interest, any horse that a rider likes riding that has the ability to go slow in a jog and lope and a rider feels safe on, is all it takes to get you going in Western Pleasure.

It’s not too different from dressage. Get your horse, get the right gear to get you through gear check and get out there and start doing it! Then start working your way up the levels. As you progress you might find you start looking for a horse that can do the job just a little better.

The main things I like to find in a prospective Western horse is the same horse I look for in a high-end English horse.

I like a good moving horse with a well sloped shoulder, long shapely neck and clean throat latch, and the prettier headed horse the better. A nice, strong, short back with well-shaped hind legs will allow hocks to get under the animal and create all the collection from the hind leg forward. Remember, slow and low is not slow and lazy. I want a horse that has self-carriage.

Where a good Western horse differs from some English horses is they must have the trainable mind to be in this collected motion with light to little rein contact. They must travel with self-carriage and feel my seat and legs for cues and control before the use of reins. And a good Western horse has nowhere to hide as a rider can’t hold them together. A good Western Pleasure horse will learn to hold themselves together.

Top Jody Strand from Strand Arabian Stables in the USA is one of the elite Western Pleasure trainers

Basic rules that are sometimes unknowingly overlooked in Australia include:

Rowan Wigginton

Shannon Hore

Framed by Frame

1. Horse from six years old and older (senior horses) must be shown in curb single Western style bits with curb strap or chain and must be ridden one handed.

2. When riding one handed you must not use your free hand on the controlling part of the reins.

3. Junior horses (3,4,5) must be ridden two handed in a snaffle bit or bosal (Western hackamore) or they can choose to ride in a curb, but then one-handed rules (as with senior horse) apply.

I would like to see in Australia that we grow this division. Riders should not be disqualified from going into the classes if they are found to have infringed on the abovementioned rules, however I do not believe they should be placed. Rather, they should be encouraged to continue their journey in Western Pleasure and have judges educate the riders after the class, so next time they have the required equipment.

As far as gear, it comes down to personal preference…you can go ‘simple to fancy-like’. At a minimum for the horse, you will need Western tack, including a saddle, saddle pad, bridle, bit and reins. At a minimum for the rider, you will need a helmet, a Western shirt, chaps, and boots with heels. Western spurs are an option, but no crops or whips are allowed.

Top RD Dynamo (imp USA) (Bey Ambition x TF Falconsimprint) is the current Australian Champion Western Horse ridden by Kody Dertell

The current trends are to bling it up from the gear on your horse to the clothes on the rider, and there are specialised Western helmets on the market. You can try any colour and sparkle with lots of silver. The sky’s the limit!

The nice thing about Western if you find a quality horse, is the riding is a comfortable jog, slow and easy. It’s never hard work, and it can really appeal to those who want to get back in the saddle and have an easy ride. There is no trotting fast and having to work hard to post in the saddle or having a forward canter where the rider may be nervous about the speed. Western is a division where it’s okay to have the hand brake on a little and be comfortable just getting around on the rail in a group. There are no individual work outs in front of the whole crowd, and if you want to just hug the rail and go around, that’s perfectly fine.

I know you will have fun picking your outfit. A nice pair of jeans, no skin-tight jodhpurs, just a nice pair of boots! Maybe a really cool shirt showing off your favourite colours and bling. It’s exciting finding a nice, good leather Western saddle with silver and tooling. Nobody else will have the same saddle as you! English people get excited about a browband and maybe a badge on their jacket or a tie, us Western folk have it all or nothing, whatever we choose!

Get out there and let’s make it a pleasure.

Author Doyle Dertell Images Samantha Taylor; Glenys Lilley; Stuart Vesty

Bullio Arabians

Bullio Arabians is owned and operated by the Bailey Family on over 10,000 fertile acres near the booming town of Orange, approximately 3.5 hours’ drive west of Sydney. By focusing on producing animals with the desirable traits of heart, size, power, soundness and intelligence, Bullio strives to produce the very best Arabian work horses possible. The expansive property provides the family’s horses with the opportunity to grow in herds over vast areas of very fertile and undulating land, and is producing some of the country’s very best endurance horses.

Chris Bailey had very little choice when it came to learning how to handle and manage horses. ‘I grew up riding from a very young age. My parents owned and operated a riding school on a property called Bullio Station, about an hour and a half from Sydney. The property was 10,000 acres of wilderness flanked by the Wollondilly River. It was the sort of wild Australia that crept into your blood, and growing up experiencing that country on horseback left an imprint that will always remain.’

It is from this property that the name of the stud is derived. Chris feels lucky to have parents that gave him the opportunity to participate in many and varied horse sports including eventing, show jumping, gymkhana, polo cross and campdrafting as well as endurance riding. Chris’ parents bred horses in a small way whilst he was growing up, however it wasn’t until he left high school that he started breeding horses himself. ‘In the time since we have been lucky to breed some horses that we are very proud of.

Above Chris and Catherine Bailey with their children Hamish, Lachlan and Georgia and one & two-year-old geldings

‘I had some amazing horses to ride as a kid and they remain some of my all-time favourites. My first horse was “Blacky”, or “Bwacky” as I used to say it…despite her name, she was a grey ¾ Arab mare sired by Omar (Sala x Daralga). She was bred by Dad when he was a teenager and was a riding school horse, then passed around the district to be many kids’ first horse before I got her at an older age. I’m not sure how old she was but I can remember being asked at the time to which I would answer “well she’s been 20 for 3 years….”. She was an amazing horse, willing but calm and immensely kind. She’d try her hardest in a sprint and two seconds later let me hang from under her belly without spooking. This little Arab cross mare is no doubt part of why I’m still obsessed with horses today.’

Chris’ relationship with the sport of endurance goes back as far as he can remember, with both his parents having participated in the sport for many years…Chris was only seven years old when his father won his first Tom Quilty Gold Cup. He grew up in awe of what these horses could do as athletes, and the feeling has not waned. ‘To this day I still can’t believe what they are capable of. For thousands of years Arabian horses have been selectively bred. This breeding has culminated in animals that can carry around 18–20% of their bodyweight for 160km at half pace whilst passing multiple veterinary checks in the process. To me that is remarkable, and I think they are the greatest athletes on the planet of any species.’

To that end, Bullio is now producing some of the greatest endurance athletes Australia has to offer. ‘Our horses have won world championships and broken world records in endurance. These successes have been amazing moments for us. However, as a breeder that has undergone major growth in the last 12 years in particular, the times where we have been able to introduce amazing horses to our farm will go down as the most important. The joint venture formed with Razorback Stud

some years ago allowing us to merge and combine the blood of each stud has been an extremely important move for us. The knowledge of Matt and Katie Walker of Razorback and the bloodlines that have been accessed as a result, I believe, have allowed us both to create a level of endurance horse that neither of us have before.’

Arguably the most famous horse currently to come out of Bullio is the chestnut mare Bullio Blue Sue, recently exported to France. She is both the current Open and Young Riders Individual World Champion and is the only horse ever to hold both world championship titles at the same time. Sired by Kevisan Park Kentucky Blue (Talawa x Arabesque Stardust) from Saracen Sukalata (Iraki Iskander x Chip Chase Carissa), Bullio Blue Sue is of mostly Crabbet bloodlines with a dash of Egyptian on her sire line. She leaves behind in Australia a daughter by Karabil Tagera (Salam Kadesh x Dandaloo Bishara), and two daughters by Littlebanks Troubador (Chip Chase Sadaqa x Hillbrook Desert Silver). Her son Bullio Blue Steel, also by Littlebanks Troubador is now a young breeding stallion with his first foal on the ground. Bullio has also retained her dam Saracen Sukalata and two maternal half sisters, so although Blue Sue may now be owned by international interests, her full impact may yet to have been realised.

When asked about bloodlines and selection for his stud, Chris refreshingly and naturally focuses on the female line. ‘Obviously with the mitochondria being sex linked, the female lines are

Below Current World Champion Endurance horse Bullio Blue Sue (left) with Elizabeth Moir in her second 80km ride in 2017 Right Temperament is of major importance at Bullio

well documented to be crucial in breeding a performance horse and this is no different for an endurance horse.’

The two most prominent mare lines within the herd are Chip Chase Carissa, a 1977 mare by Cherokee Mecca from Tarney and Razali, a 1965 mare by Sherif and from Haskha. Bullio also breeds a number of Arabian Stockhorses and the female line of Parlour Mountain Anna (Diabolo x Parlour Mountain Kelly) is very prominent within this group.

‘Our Arabian content is of a higher percentage of Crabbet than the other lines available to us however it is not pure Crabbet. In my experience, pure Crabbet horses as a norm are not athletic enough for modern day championship level endurance and some stretch and athleticism needs to be added from somewhere else.’

Today, there are seven stallions breeding at Bullio, six purebred Arabians and one Arabian Stockhorse. Like several well-known endurance programs, the most prominent sire lines are Chip Chase Sadaqa (Cherokee Mecca x Silala), Aethon (Spindrift x Hestia) and Diabolo (Delos x Lianda). More recently Chris has introduced Tonki Dee Boo Eike (Elphyn Comet x Elphyn Sarossa) to the stallion list. ‘On a percentage basis, Elphyn Comet is one of the most successful endurance stallions in the world and we are excited to be standing his only registered purebred son. From the 34 Elphyn Comet horses to compete in endurance, 27 of them have been exported and 9 of them or 26% have been on the podium in the UAE which is known to be the toughest competition for endurance in the world. I have spent a lifetime analysing endurance pedigrees and I don’t know another sire that compares to this.’

help but be fascinated by just how passionate Chris’ words become, by the eloquent, commanding way he is able to answer the question that only comes with experience and having faith in oneself.

‘This is a massive question but one that I spend many a waking hour thinking about. It’s not possible to do this topic justice in a few paragraphs but I’ll try to cover some of the important points. Like everything there are guidelines but there are also many exceptions to these guidelines, and many a champion that will prove the confident assessor wrong. Despite this, any high-performance breeding program must have a goal and an ideal to strive for, and these are mine.

‘Firstly, no blood no horse. There are very few flukes in elite level endurance when it comes to pedigree. Having spent many years analysing the pedigrees of endurance horses, when it comes to the big championship events, they are won by horses from a select group of bloodlines. Consequently, when you are trying to breed an endurance horse you will need to either be very lucky or have a strong understanding of bloodlines.

‘Secondly, the horse needs to be an athlete. This is easily observable and doesn’t necessarily need years of experience to judge. You don’t need to be an experienced basketball player to see that Lebron James is an athlete suitable for basketball. For endurance it’s much the same. If you think of the endurance horse as a human runner, the marathon runner has amazing stamina, but probably doesn’t have the strength to carry 20% of his bodyweight. The sprinter has amazing speed and explosive power but often at the expense of excess muscle bulk and limbs that are too short to maintain efficient long-distance movement. For me the endurance horse is the 800m runner. He’s strong but not overly bulky. He has long limbs proportionate to his body.

Above Marcon Calamity and Bullio Duchess are both purebred daughters of Marcon Ios Conquero

Bullio Blue Steel

2018 Colt

Razorback Republique 2018 Colt

Razorback Wings On Fire 2004 Stallion

Razorback Arctic Fire 2017 Stallion

Tonki Dee Boo Eike 2014 Stallion

His stride length is not excessive like the sprinter but moderate to make sure he maintains efficient breakover for the next stride. He is light in his movement. An endurance horse should be deep through the torso to support heart and lung room and allow gut function to not be restricted during long periods of exercise. The tucked up “bumble bee” look will often result in horses with reduced

modern show horse which seeks a long, flat croup is typically far too flat in the pelvis and consequently high in the hocks. These backends have typically not performed well in performance sports, especially endurance.

‘To be an elite endurance horse, they must be very resilient mentally. Anxiety is the enemy of the endurance horse. They must be happy to work/eat/drink/travel without anxiety build up. A stressed endurance horse will not sufficiently refuel its body to attain the physical conditioning it needs to perform at an elite level. Not every horse can cope with this mentally and certain genetic strains will perform better mentally.

‘An elite endurance horse needs an elite heart rate recovery. Championship events are decided by a few minutes now or even

Above Arabian Stockhorse gelding Bullio Solute with Chris Bailey on board in his first 80km endurance ride. Bullio Solute went on to represent the UAE at two World Championships in the USA and Italy

‘Other than that, there’s about a million other things that go into making an elite endurance horse….’

Over the last six years, Chris and the team have ramped up the breeding program at Bullio by retaining fillies and using a significant embryo transfer program, and are now breeding 30 to 40 foals per year.

‘Most of our horses are run on our home farm, near Orange. The horses are run in reasonably large herds of 30 to 40 horses in paddocks of 30 to 50 acres. Young horses are run in accordance with their gender with typically two different age groups in a herd. Other than maidens, mares typically foal in a group of 10 to 15 mares. Mares are predominantly hand served with some paddock

service. We usually produce 8 to 15 embryo transfer foals each year allowing us to expedite our genetic improvement. We have focused heavily on pasture improvement and nutrient balance within our soils. Although we supplement calcium to offset the phosphorus we have applied to the soil, we also have a significant lime fertiliser program to lift the PH and available calcium within the soil over time. We have noticed significant increases in the amount of bone in our young horses in recent years with improvement to these management practices. We are lucky to have a small but amazing team of passionate people on our farm that make this all possible!

‘I really believe our horses are improving every generation. With the acquisition of the stallion Tonki Dee Boo Eike in 2020 we now have enough genetic diversity to sustain us in the medium term. This year we introduced 9 new fillies to our breeding herd and post weaning we will be offering some older broodmares to the market as a result. We hope to do this each year and our broodmare band will hopefully continue to upgrade over the next few years. This upgrade will eventually put pressure on us to introduce new blood and we will continue to try to identify outside stallion opportunities in the years to come. We really believe in the genetic improvement that is coming every year and we’re looking forward to seeing just what is possible for an endurance horse in the future.’

Interview with Chris Bailey Images Animal Focus

The Heritability of Endurance

Endurance riding is a gruelling, yet incredibly rewarding sport. Not only does the sport require tenacity on behalf of the horse, it also pushes the rider to their limits, making the horse-rider relationship a critical factor in determining success. It is a sport dominated by the Arabian due to their phenomenal stamina, endurance and inherent exerciserelated physiologic traits, such as the ability to withstand heat. Over the years, we have seen a significant increase in the speeds at which our horses can compete, as well as the swiftness of heart rate recovery and cardiac recovery times. These improvements are due to important advancements in many aspects of the sport, from an increase in knowledge of the management of endurance horses, including their nutrition, improvements of training and crewing, but also due to refinement of the breeding programs and genetics involved with the breeding of elite endurance horses.

Having bred and competed on our horses bred at Valinor Park for the past 40 years, it is clear that there are some strongly inherited traits amongst different bloodlines. To breed an endurance horse, there are some very important

traits to aspire to, including straight legs, good feet, sloping shoulder and a light, ground covering gait. Many also know that the personality of the horse is fundamentally important, and if a horse doesn’t want to do endurance or they have a disagreeable personality to the rider, then that’s a problem! A low resting heart rate and a fast cardiac recovery are critical for people wanting to be more competitive, as of course, is having a faster horse. So, if you are considering breeding your own endurance horse, it is important to critically appraise your mare (or sire), seeing where you need improvement, and identify the most appropriate match to improve in your foal, which will live up to the goals you have set for it.

From a photographic pedigree analysis, you can see there are more and less desirable, phenotypic (physical) traits that can be clearly heritable amongst certain groups of Arabians and bloodlines; heritability being a measure of how well a particular trait is transferred from the individual’s parents. As a simple generalisation, most people assume that Straight Egyptians (SE) will have the most extreme head conformation, and are the ‘prettiest’ of the groups. As a comparison, Crabbet, Russian and Polish bloodlines often tend to not have as extreme head conformation but often have larger bone density when compared with some Straight Egyptian bloodlines (acknowledging there are always exceptions!). To show a photographic example, you can see three generations of breeding, starting with the illustrious Russian stallion

Left Barabas (imp NL) (Nadejni x Barhatnaja) Below Nadejni (Nabeg x Nasturcia)

Nadejni, his son Barabas (imp NL) and Valinor Park Ghazal. All photos were taken at similar angles to reduce variability. You can appreciate the marked similarity amongst all three generations, and based upon this photographic assessment, make conclusions as to highly heritable conformational traits along this particular sire bloodline. The long-sloped shoulder, strong back and straight legs are evident, but in addition, over the past 15 years, it has become apparent that whilst Barabas (imp NL) never competed in endurance himself, his stock have become highly sought after for their consistently incredible heart rate recoveries, courage and soundness.

Over the past 10 years, there have been a number of scientific studies that have emerged from across the world investigating the heritability of different traits, such as endurance ability and speed, that validate what many breeders already know. Interestingly, some of the papers have focused on a particular country’s breeding program (such as Spain, France, Turkey, Poland) with the express intent to complement their programs and create a genetically superior flat race or endurance

horse. In 2020, the genetic origins of the Arabian horse were studied. Over 300 Arabians from 12 different countries were included, and a genetic analysis was performed to evaluate the Arabians’ ‘genomic diversity’ (i.e. whether there is evidence of significant inbreeding). The paper also looked at how distinct populations of Arabians differed from each other, as well as the relationship of Arabians to other horse breeds. This paper was very interesting, as it confirmed how genetically distinct different groups of Arabians are from each other (i.e. Polish vs. Egyptian vs. Turkemen such as the Akhal-Teke), and whilst there is some limited genetic diversity in some groups of horses, overall the breed remains genetically robust. Interestingly, although not unexpected, when the groups of horses were analysed according to their sport, show horses were comprised mostly of Straight Egyptian lineage, whereas endurance horses were from Polish and multi-origin clusters, and flat-racing Arabians were more genetically distinct from these and more closely related to the Thoroughbred.

This study challenged long held assumptions about the influence of the Arabian horse in the origins of the presentday Thoroughbred. Contrary to common belief, the authors showed that there are actually no Arabian genetics in Thoroughbreds, and that the three ‘Arabian’ stallions that were involved in the creation of the Thoroughbred breed (‘Darley Arabian’, ‘Godolphin Arabian’ and ‘Byerley Turk’), whilst they did originate from Arabia, were not in fact Arabians, and more

Left Valinor Park Gucci (Barabas (imp NL) x Valinor Park Geisha)

Below Valinor Park Ghazal (Barabas (imp NL) x Valinor Park Geisha)

likely to have originated from other ancient Middle East horse populations. Controversially, when a further genetic analysis was performed on flat-racing Arabians, it was apparent that they shared ancestry with the modern Thoroughbred (and not the other way around), implying Thoroughbreds at one time were crossed with Arabians, which is not recognised in the Arabian horse registries.

Other studies have evaluated the heritability of some phenotypic traits. For example, heritability of various body measurements was assessed in Turkish Arabian foals, including wither height, front cannon circumference, heart girth (barrel size) and body length. These measurements were taken at birth, six months, one year and two years of age. The authors found that wither height had the highest heritability, with the wither height at six months of age the best predictor for the height as an adult. But interestingly, the width of the cannon bone was not found to be a highly heritable trait, whereas I am sure many breeders would disagree with this finding! Other studies have found specific genes that are associated with flat racing performance; these genes (such as SLC16A1) are involved in muscle metabolism and the utilisation of lactate, and appear to be found in successful racing horses.

The heritability of exercise ability has also been evaluated. A study by Younes et al in 2014 found that the cardiac recovery time was more influenced by genetics than the speed of a horse and the heart rate recovery, which confirms what we have seen on our own breeding programs with the use of sires such as Barabas (imp NL). In 2020, Lindner et al found that horses with a lower resting heart rate will recover faster after exercise, and

they note that resting heart rate can be impacted by training as well as genetic factors. A study from 2017 by Ricard et al found that the performance of a horse during endurance races involves complex polygenetic traits, meaning that there is more than one gene involved. This makes sense, as we all know that multiple factors make a successful endurance horse, and breeding for one particular trait may not provide you with the horse that you are looking for.

No discussion about breeding can avoid mentioning the heritable genetic diseases that Arabians are predisposed to. These diseases, namely SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disorder), CA (Cerebellar Abiotrophy), LFS (Lavender Foal Syndrome) and OAAM1 (Occipital Atlanto-Axial Malformation) amongst some other new emerging diseases, are autosomal recessive, meaning that a horse needs to have two copies of the gene to be affected (sadly, generally fatal as foals). The breeding of a carrier of one of these diseases can be accomplished safely, but only if the horse is bred to a noncarrier, so there is no chance of the foal having two copies of the gene. There are simple and cost-effective methods to test for these diseases, and testing is strongly recommended if you are considering breeding a foal. An excellent website that provides a large amount of well-researched information on these topics can be found at: www.waho.org/geneticdisorders-in-arabian-horses-current-research-projects.

In summary, whilst this article has focused mainly on the heritability of performance characteristics desired in the field of endurance, heritability traits can also be extrapolated for Arabians in other performance arenas – when breeding for ‘type’

and certain Arabian characteristics, it is important to remember that the qualities we prize in our horses, were those qualities that came about early on in the development of the Arabian breed, and these characteristics have remained dominant due to the horses’ need to adapt to a tough environment. Modern feeding and breeding techniques have begun to ‘skew’ the curve somewhat, but as breeders, we all hold responsibility to adhere to breeding for those characteristics that make the Arabian unmistakably an ‘Arabian’, whether we are breeding for endurance, the halter ring or the performance arena.

Authors

Dr. Bronwyn Rutland BSc (VB) BVMS DACVIM

Merindah Equine, Home of Valinor Park Canada

Helen Rutland, Valinor Park Arabians, Australia

Breeder of successful endurance and show horses since 1979

Images Sarah Sullivan Photography, Wendy Webb; Nicole Emanuel, Melanie Cottle; Robbie Den Hartog Archive

Opposite Page Valinor Park Storm (Barabas (imp NL) x Valinor Park Symphony)

Top Left Valinor Park Nickolai (Barabas (imp NL) x Harmony Hill Nina)

Top Right Baahir VP (Valinor Park Ghazal x MSU Bellanoche), bred by Merindah Equine, Canada

Above Right Nadjeni has proven to be a sire of both halter and endurance champions for several generations

References

1. Cosgrave EJ et al ; Genome Diversity and the Origin of the Arabian Horse. Scientific Reports, Nature Research. (2020); 10:9702

2. Çilek, S Heritability parameters for some body measurements in Turkish Arabian foals. Iranian Journal of Veterinary Research. (2012); Vol. 13, No. 4, Ser. No. 41, 32 3

3. Ropka-Molik et al ; The use of SLC16A1 gene as a potential marker to predict race performance in Arabian horses. BMC Genetics (2019) 20:73

4. Younes M, et al ; Genetic Component of Endurance Ability. Equine Veterinary Journal. (2014) Volume 46, Issue S46 /p. 15-15

5. Lindner et al ; Relationship between Resting Recovery Heart Rate in Horses. Animals. (2020) 10, 120

6. Ricard A et al ; Endurance Exercise Ability in the Horse: A Trait with Complex Polygenic Determinism. Frontiers in Genetics. (2017). Vol 8, Article 89.

The Arabians of Russia

Russian Arabians dominated the European and American show ring in the 1980s and 1990s but then, they lost ground. Perhaps this was because athleticism and movements, substance and calibre have been pushed far behind type, ‘refinement’, dish and, once more, type in Arabian horse breeding. Fortunately, there are still some breeders that do not subscribe to the demands of today’s show ring and breed riding horses, for which the Russian Arabian horses are an excellent basis.

The mid-1980s to the 1990s was the era of the Russians, when movements, substance and athleticism were still in demand in the show ring. Later, when ‘type’ took over the priorities of a show horse, the winning horses became more and more ‘refined’, and the Russians fell behind. Hence, breeders covered their Russian mares with ‘show stallions’ in order to make the offspring ‘showable’. The consolidated damlines were sometimes maintained because they were often able to give the show horses some substance, even after several generations, but only a few breeders, especially those from the endurance riding scene, stuck to their ‘Straight Russians’ and subjected them to a performance test wherever possible or they rode them in endurance competitions. Over the years, and due to this change in time, ‘Straight Russian’ stallions in particular became short in supply.

What are ‘Russian Arabians’?

But what exactly are ‘Russian Arabians’ anyway? Like so many other aspects in Arabian horse breeding, this is a matter of definition, because today’s Russian Arabian breeding was founded only in the 1930s with the help of various Arabian breeding stock that came from Crabbet Park in England, from France and Poland. What then turned these horses into a ‘Russian Arabian’ is the masterful combination of these three founder populations, and the performance test on the racetrack with appropriate selection and extensive youngstock rearing. This has led to a basis of consolidated mares and to horses that could be used as ameliorators in other riding horse breeds – just think, for example, of Pomeranets (Priboj x Mammona), who was used in both Arabian and Trakehner breeding.

When the Egyptian Aswan (Nazeer x Yosreia) came along in the mid-1960s, he brought the necessary ‘type’ with him, adding the finishing touches and the resulting horses were discovered for the world stage. The Russian boom in Europe in the 1980s and 1990s was stimulated and fuelled by the auctions that took place first at the Russian state stud Tersk from 1970 to 1990 – and the stories of older breeders about how they travelled to Russia with a plastic bag full of money are more than adventurous!

Then, from 1991 on, the horses were sent to Holland by truck and sold to the highest bidder at the annual ‘Tersk Holland Sale’

at The Kossack Stud. This was of course convenient for the European buyers because the horses were already in Holland, you could see them there in detail without the relatively arduous journey to southern Russia, and the risk of the long transport from Russia was also eliminated for the buyer. The Tersk Holland Sale soon became the annual meeting point for Russian lovers, and 30 to 40 horses changed hands here every year. In addition, very good stallions came to Western Europe on lease for a breeding season or two – just think of Drug (Prizrak x Karinka) or Balaton (Menes x Panagia). However, in the final few years of Tersk functioning as a ‘state stud’, there was a large sell-off, and when Tersk was privatised in 2006, the new owner put a stop to this mass sale of horses. This was also the ‘end’ for the DutchRussian cooperation.

As mentioned previously, the market had changed over the years, and sales in Europe were no longer as easy as they were in the heydays of the 1990s. From 2012 onwards, auctions at the Tersk Stud were resumed in a smaller and more modest style, concentrating on the one hand on the domestic market and on the other hand on the markets in the east – Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia.

Only slowly, the word got around ‘in the West’ that there are still good horses in Tersk. There was a small renaissance of the Russians in the last five years when 46 horses – among them some pregnant mares, some with foals at foot – arrived in Europe directly from the Russian stud Tersk. The vast majority of the horses went to Austria and Germany, but breeders in Romania, France, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Poland were also looking for new ‘Russian blood’.

Today’s Three Breeding Sections

There is no ‘official definition’ of the term ‘straight Russian’ or anything similar. But at Tersk Stud there are now three different breeding sections:

1. ‘Straight Russian’ and ‘Classic Russian’: These are horses of which all ancestors were born in Russia before 1986 and registered in the Russian Studbook (RASB). Within the group of ‘Straight Russians’ in Tersk, a distinction is made between

those with proven performance potential, who are referred to as ‘Classic Russians’, because the performance component should be an integral part of a Classic Russian Arabian. Of the 41 ‘Straight Russian’ broodmares imported recently to Europe, 28 belonged to the ‘Classic Russians’. This group usually includes horses from the lines of Korej, Priboj and Salon (via Anchar), to a lesser extent from Menes, provided they have proven themselves in sport.

Some of the most well known Russian mares of today include Gold Champion Belosnejka Tersk, a 2014 daughter of Muscat himself and a product of a breeding experiment with frozen semen of ‘old’ stallions, and her dam, the WAHO-Trophy winner Gold Champion Mare, Borodina (Piligrim x Molvina), a mare with an exquisite shape to the neck who has since left Tersk as an older mare. They are classified as ‘Straight Russian’.

One of the current show favourites Germiona Tersk (Gusliar x Madeyra) is a Classic Russian, and only three generations in tail female from Monogramma. Germiona has been raced, and was also Best In Show at the 2017 and 2019 Russian Athletic Cup Show.

There are five straight Russian stallions currently used at stud, such as the Classic stallions Sakmagon Tersk (Maklaud x Stepen) and Coyote Ugly Tersk (Akcent x Kanjera), both with an excellent race record. The very elegant Angleter (Namaz x Assol) is used on Straight Russian mares.

Of the 83 broodmares at Tersk in 2021, 41 belonged to the ‘Straight Russians’, 28 had modern racing lines and 14 modern show lines in their pedigree.

In TERSK the Straight Russian mares include the mare families of:

Sapina (Arax / Solianka II) 1959, damline Warda db

Novella (Lak / Nevidimka) 1966, damline Milordka (PL)

Tonika (Nard / Tronka) 1995, damline Selma (EG)

Karinka (Aswan / Karta) 1974, damline Sahara db und Nutria (Topol / Nasturcia) 1976, damline Gazella db

In CHRENOVOE (partly moved to Tersk after its dissolution in 2012), this included:

Prikhot (Sport / Perikola) 1967, damline Rodania db

Kaia (Semen / Knopka) 1964, damline Dafina db

Kazna (Anchar / Kuraga) 1995, damline Rodania db und Malinovka (Kumir / Moda) 1980, damline Sahara db

In SAMOVOLOV, a private stud near Krasnodar: Sova (Angel / Statuia) 1979, damline Balkis db

These families have made a name for themselves and with their offspring as particularly good performance horses in racing and endurance sports. Some Polish horses (Pure Polish, eg. Egis) have also been included in this definition, provided they can show a performance pedigree, because the Polish Arabians were a significant part in the development of the Russian purebred Arabian in the 1930s.

‘Straight Russian’ is therefore used as the umbrella term, ‘Classic Russian’ a further subdivision or characterisation. All ‘Classic Russians’ are therefore also ‘Straight Russians’, but not all ‘Straight Russians’ are ‘Classic Russians’ – just the way all pigeons are birds, but not all birds are pigeons!

However, the lines between these groups are not always drawn sharply and the classification is also often based on the breeding experience that the breeders in Tersk have made with these lines. For example, in the heydays of Russian breeding for the (then) show market, horses were bred with parents that did not excel in racing. These include the Malvina, Pantomima and Purga mare families, and stallions such as Balaton and Piligrim, who had that certain ‘show appeal’. Overall, however, the Russians are ‘all-rounders’, some of them come from proven performance lines (‘Classic Russian’), others tend to be more ‘Arabian beauties’ – and, as is often the case, it’s the mix that counts!

2. Race Breeding: Then there are the lines with modern racing blood (French lines, Amer, Tiwaiq) and are bred for flat racing. There are currently eight Race Breeding stallions at the farm including Nonet (Nitagor x Nonna), who combines well known Russian horses close in his pedigree such as Drug (Prizrak x Karinka) and Naftalin (Topol x Nepriadwa) with French lines. An interesting note for Australian readers, the dam of Naftalin is out of Napraslina, British National Champion Mare and dam of Naadirah. From 38 starts, Nonet has won 15 times, run second seven times, and third nine times.

Main Broodmares at Tersk

Top Right Vasilij (Prince d’Orient x Vamlana)

Middle Right Priz Tersk (Moment x Pianistka)

Bottom Right Angleter (Namaz x Assol)

Other race breeding stallions include Vasilij, a product of the French stallion Prince d’Orient and Vamlana, one of the best race horse producers in recent history. Vamlana tails back to Stihia and as such belongs to the best race horse family in Russia.

Arabian Racing is quite popular in Russia and was for a long time the only way of performance testing. For breeding, not necessarily the fastest horses were considered, but those who combine athletic conformation and soundness with Arabian type and work oriented character. Tersk still aims to send the youngstock of the race breeding program as well as most of the Classic Russians to the race track and they have training stables at the race track of Pyatigorsk for that purpose. Classic Russians will mainly race in Heritage races, of which there are only few, while the modern racelines are competitive also against French horses. Important for Tersk is that all race horses start their training and that the trainers can assess their workability. Some of the Classic Russians then move to endurance, for which Tersk has some horses in training. One of these is the very interesting Apollon Tersk, the product of using the ‘old semen’ from Aswan (Nazeer x Yosreia) just a few years back. However, his endurance career was cut short due to COVID. Tersk also organises each year some endurance rides, one of them an international CEI** of 120 km.

3. Show Breeding: Here, the Russian lines are combined with modern show blood such as WH Justice, Marwan Al Shaqab and so on. Often, such as the case with the mare Bajena Tersk, a Straight Russian mare has been crossed with a stallion of modern show blood, to maintain the substance of the Russians and get some more type from the show blood. Bajena’s sire is by WH Justice (Magnum Psyche x Vona Sher-Renea) and therefore includes 25% ‘new’ blood.

Before being sold, the aforementioned Borodina left behind a very showy grey stallion Banderos at Tersk, sired by WH Justice, who is being used for few selected mares at the stud. Perhaps his best son is Jasmin Tersk, a striking grey stallion out of Preria (Balaton x Poslannitsa), so far with six Gold Championships to his credit.

Banderos by WH Justice is not to be confused with the twice Gold Champion at the World Championships Baanderos (Marwan

Al Shaqab x HB Bessolea by Besson Carol) who has no recent Russian blood at all. He was a gift by Prince Khaled Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Al Khalediah Stud Farm, to the Russian government and is being used on a variety of mares in the program.

Today there are seven stallions used in the Show Breeding program, of which three are also Straight Russian. Interestingly, one stallion used (in the recent past) in the show program, a grey by the name of Sirdar, was a gift from UAE to the Russian government. He is out of the mare Santa-Padova Statement, who was sired by Fairview Amir Sah-Heer (Amir El Shaklan x Star Drift), from Santarabian Kazimera (Witezan x Santarabia Alusuf) … something for Australians to be proud of.

Tersk organises each year several shows, some even with classes for horses of racing lines. In the South of Russia, where the main breeders are situated, ‘shows’ are still a breeding stock assessment rather than ‘show biz’.

Russian Blood for Australia

Australian breeders should consider themselves lucky to have imported Russian horses in the past, starting with legendary Naadirah (Aswan / Napraslina), born 1966 at Tersk Stud. And although her sire is the Egyptian stallion Aswan, she is considered – according to the above definition – as ‘Straight Russian’. Naadirah became quite famous – and actually she still is – not least through the book with her name as a title, written by her owner, Tanya Hawley. She arrived in Australia pregnant by Hadban Enzahi (Nazeer / Kamla), the grey chief sire at Marbach State Stud in Germany. The resulting Nara was hence ¾ Egyptian. Naadirah had eight more foals, but none of them by a Russian sire, as – quite simply – there wasn’t any in Australia at the time!

Two more Aswan daughters left their mark in Australia: Novina of Tersk (Aswan / Nemezida) and Nadira of Tersk (Aswan / Napersnitsa), both born in 1976. Both were owned by Marion Richmond, but couldn’t travel to Australia, due to piroplasmosis, so they were stabled in Europe, where there was also a number of Russian stallions available for them. Their offspring, free of piroplasmosis, were then exported to Australia. This way, the blood of Peleng, Plakat and Narav Ibn Aswan found its way Down Under.

Yet another Aswan daughter came to Australia ‘in person’: Vnuchka (Aswan / Nesravnennaia), who was imported in 1988, pregnant by Nimroz; the resulting filly was Greengrove Ludmilla. Vnuchka became, together with Greengrove Tanya (Neapol / Viola), the foundation of Roderick and Katherine Muir’s Greengrove Stud. While Naadirah was from the first Aswan crop, Vnuchka was from his last, and her daughters became the progenitors of the next wave of Straight Russians in Australia, when the Muirs bred several offspring from them with Barabas (Nadejnij / Barhatnaja), a Straight Russian stallion whom they bought from The Kossack Stud in The Netherlands, the place where for many years the Tersk Holland Sales took place.

Barabas was later sold to Valinor Park Arabians, where his first foals were born in 2004. All in all he had 83 offspring, not all of them Straight Russians, of course. His progeny was successful, both in the show ring and in endurance, and he left a major mark in Australian Arabian horse breeding.

Two more stallions were available in Australia by frozen semen only: Desant (Aswan / Natuma) *1988 and the famous race horse Sambist (Balaton / Stihia) *1987, sadly neither of them left any Straight Russian offspring.

The next major influx of Russian Arabians came when Kim Cox of Caramea Stud imported a number of horses from New Zealand who had come from Europe.

Recent Imports to Europe

As mentioned above, some 46 horses were imported to Europe straight from Tersk Stud over the last five years. But what prompted the new owners of these horses to import them directly from Russia? For many it is the decline in horses from Russian lines in Western Europe, as well as an impoverishment of diversity within the existing Russian lines, because in Western Europe there are mainly horses of the stallion line Bairaktar via Arax and the damline Sahara via Mammona.

For that reason, the young stallion Priz Tersk (Moment / Pianistka) *2018, who is probably the only active ‘Straight Russian’ stallion from the Ibrahim line via Salon in Europe, was among the imported horses, whose first foal crop is expected in 2022. He comes from the same breeding experiment with old frozen semen as the abovementioned Belosnejka. Between 2015 and 2017, foals from Aswan, Muscat, Moment and Mashuk were born – Priz Tersk is one of them.

Another youngster stands out due to his bloodline: Vadim (Sakmagon / Velikaia) *2020, imported in utero. He also has interesting bloodlines which are rather rare in the West. Both sire and dam go back to the best racing damline in Russian breeding, Sapine. His pedigree also includes the Derby winners Karat, Madiar, Drug, and the Oaks winners Valuevka, Prikhot and the runner-up Vamlana. He is raised as a candidate for becoming a breeding stallion.

There is general agreement among the new owners that they want to breed versatile sport horses with ‘Arabian characteristics’. Unfortunately, with the recent political developments the import of horses directly from Russia has come to a grinding halt. Even more so, it will be exciting to see whether these horses will find the appropriate use in breeding to revive the much reduced population of Russian purebred Arabians in Central Europe. Everyone who breeds or wants to ride Arabian horses should keep their fingers crossed for this!

Author & Images Gudrun Waiditschka

Far left Banderos (WH Justice x Borodina)

Left Apollon Tersk (Aswan x Pelopia)

Above Napevnij (Piligrim x Nagruzka)

Bashir (Al Salil x Minstril’s Grace) – Kehilan Ajuz

‘A true portrait is always given, never taken.’

Tariq Dajani

Photographic-Artist

Tariq Dajani insists that he is not a horse photographer in the traditional sense, but rather a photographic-artist who uses the medium to make pictures of horses that have an element of feeling and emotion. ‘I photographed the horses and falcons using an old-fashioned portrait setup with studio lights and a backdrop. This allowed me to work in a calm, almost meditative manner, as I try to portray the personality and inner “being” of my subject. And there needs to be some form of connection or understanding. A true portrait is always given, never taken.’

Dajani’s journey photographing horses started in 2005. At the time he was living in Stockholm, Sweden. He realised that to photograph Arabian horses, he needed to return to his native Jordan, to connect with his roots and to be able to present the Arabian horse through the eyes of an Arab living in the Arab world.

In Jordan, Dajani contacted some of the country’s top breeders. True to Arab tradition, they hospitably welcomed him to their stables. Encouraged by the progress he was making, he presented his project to HRH Princess Alia Al-Hussein, who generously invited him to the Royal Jordanian Stud.

The star of the stud was Hlayyil Ramadan, 2006 World Arabian Horse Champion, born and bred in Jordan and the jewel in the eye of Princess Alia. ‘The beauty and intelligence of Hlayyil captivated me, as did his grace and strength,’ said Dajani. ‘He was clearly an intelligent horse, aware of his status, yet at times playful and cheeky with the grooms.’

Over the following years, Dajani continued photographing the horses with a studio setup, gradually growing the body of his project. ‘I was completely swept away by these magnificent creatures,’ he said. ‘I hoped to be able to reflect not just each horse’s beauty and elegance, but something essential of their personality and demeanour.’

For a while Dajani settled in Jordan, then Dubai for several more years. His reputation photographing horses grew and he became in demand by commercial and private clients.

While in the Gulf of Arabia he extended the project to include hunting falcons. The Middle East with its desert kingdoms was the perfect place to do this, as the hunting falcon, along with the purebred Arabian, is held in high esteem as a symbol of culture, heritage and nobility.

Dajani’s photographic work on the Arabian and the falcon was showcased in various exhibitions and galleries in the Middle East and Europe. In 2012, he produced a beautiful photo book entitled ‘Asil, Photographic Studies of the Purebred Arabian Horse’.

Eventually Dajani relocated to Spain with his wife, Saluki dogs and Arabian horses. While he remains viscerally connected to the Middle East, which constantly features in his work, he now spends most of his time working on art projects and tutoring in photography and printmaking in his ancient Spanish farmhouse studio.

For the best part of a decade, Dajani worked on studio portrait pictures of Arabian horses and hunting falcons. He reflects that he is satisfied with much of the work and that he doesn’t wish to dwell on the subject for ever. ‘But there is always a new picture that emerges from my extensive catalogue which I suddenly have a desire to print,’ he says. ‘I continue to produce large, colour Giclée prints as well as more intimate, smaller hand-crafted black and white photogravures. My aim is always to produce a picture that has soul and feeling, that can create an emotional response in the viewer. Sometimes I am successful and it is wonderful when that happens.’

Above The beauty of the falcon is astounding in such detail

Top Right Haleem (Kamar El Zaman x Hamidah) – Abu Argub

Bottom Right Hlayyil Ramadan (Kamar El Zaman x Haboob) – Kehilan Ajuz

‘While commercial art galleries like to push up the prices of my prints, I prefer to keep them low, without demeaning the work. Art nourishes my soul and fills my life with beauty and meaning. If my work might do this for others, then I would like it to be affordable.’ In this spirit he is flexible with prices, because, as he says, ‘the Arabians, the falcons and all life, are a gift from God, and the best we can do is to try to be generous with whatever life offers us.’

www.tariqdajani.com

Tariq Dajani’s portraits of the Arabian horse and the hunting falcon can be viewed on his online gallery pages. Most are available as limited edition, fine art prints.

Above & right Tariq Dajani at work

VADOBA

Early 2019 a few friends were discussing the need for a club in Victoria that would not just run a show every year, but would actively promote the Arabian breed. The Victorian Arabian & Derivative Owners & Breeders Alliance Inc (VADOBA) was formed in May 2019.

Starting a club from scratch, as many would know, is very hard work and takes a lot of time and organisation to fundraise etc. We worked together and with the help of amazing sponsors and donations, and a hard working committee, we ran our first Alliance Show. We had two international judges, three Australian judges and a judge’s advocate. We had managed to raise enough money to purchase beautiful trophy heads from Wendy Morris Tank

Top

(Scottsdale) for our Supremes awards. We also had a fantastic competitor get together with the judges on the Saturday night with free finger food/grazing tables and drinks with both the international judges having a mini seminar with the competitors able to ask questions in a relaxed social environment.

We had 2020 planned for several shows including Youth, NonPro, Foal Shows as well as social events and training/information seminars. Well, 2020 became a year that nobody will ever forget. The year the world changed and the name COVID became the most spoken word throughout the world. VADOBA organised and planned several events and shows which unfortunately didn’t happen thanks to lockdowns. Memberships were extended for a

Volt KA winning Supreme Champion Led Purebred Gelding. (L-R) Aleesha Campbell, Ellen Lober, Alcides Rodrigues (USA), Mitchell Taff, Jonas Salzmann (Kuwait)

year and our main Alliance show in November sadly didn’t happen. All we could do was plan to make 2021 a big year.

2021 started with us successfully running the Arabian ring at both the Summer Show and Barastoc Horse of the Year. We planned a Youngstock and Youth/Non-Pro show which thanks again to lockdowns were cancelled days before the show. We ran an online show for Youngstock but this was difficult for many due to the weather.

The committee remained determined to do all we could to provide shows and events and to promote the Arabian breed as much as possible. Lockdowns were definitely making this very difficult. A Christmas in July Gala was organised and booked to allow for some much needed socialising after a very difficult year. We had decided to run an online auction and stallion sweepstakes which would see the auction closing during the Gala. This was the start of what VADOBA hopes is a long term and very exciting stallion sweepstakes.

COVID struck again and the Gala was cancelled. Despite this the committee kept working and planning on more shows including the November Alliance Show. International and Australian judges were booked. We just couldn’t catch a break and again COVID lockdowns once again meant that we couldn’t hold the show. We were devastated and felt like this was just never going to end. So much time and effort had been put into trying to run these shows and events but COVID just kept knocking us down. Good thing the committee are not only resilient and passionate but also determined as we kept making plans and managed to actually run a show in early December with a Youth and Non-Pro ring as well as an open Arabian ring. We also held a judges meeting and education session at this show.

Finally 2022 came around and the likelihood of lockdowns were highly unlikely. VADOBA again ran the Arabian rings at the Summer Show as well as Barastoc HOTY. It was so great to see people out and about again and enjoying their horses. In May 2022 we had a weekend of showing at Werribee with a Foal/Youngstock show on the Saturday with a spit roast social gathering for lunch, and a Non-Pro/Youth show on the Sunday. Many of the horses had been to very few shows (if any) over the past two years so it was a great opportunity for them to socialise and show.

We have a Winter Gala booked at the Crown Casino on July 23 which will be a great night for people to let their hair down and have some fun. Our Stallion Sweepstakes is back this year and will close at the Gala. There are plans for more shows and social events for this year and finally we can run another Alliance Show in November. Our two International judges and Australian judges are confirmed. Our incredible Supreme Trophies are here and the committee have been working on ideas to make this one bigger and better than the first.

Since VADOBA’s incorporation it has been challenging, disappointing, fun, hard work and rewarding. We couldn’t have achieved what we have without the support of our members, sponsors, donators, exhibitors, helpers and, of course, a great committee. We are looking forward to the upcoming shows and social events.

The Stallion Sweepstakes

VADOBA hope that the stallion sweepstakes are an annual event that grows and becomes an event everyone looks forward to each year.

The way the sweepstakes work is that the stallion owners donate a breeding to be included in our annual sweepstakes auction. 60% of all income received from the stallion auction will be used for prize money for the resulting yearling class to be held two years later (the resulting foals from the service auction). The remaining 40% goes back to VADOBA for the continued promotion of the

Top Left Kody Dertell with RD Caprice

Bottom Left Rhylee Damaskinos and Woronora Selwyn

Above Our beautiful Supreme Trophies made by Wendy Morris Tank and Supreme Rosettes

n 45% of the prize money for Champion

n 25% of the prize money for Reserve Champion

n 10% of the prize money for Top 5

n 10% of the prize money for Top 5

n 10% of the prize money for Top 5

There will also be futurity classes for 2 year olds, 3 year olds and 4 year old snaffle bit entries – when age applicable. Horses who are born from the sweepstakes auction only can enter. Prize money for futurity classes will be 100% of entry fees split as follows:

n 45% of the prize money for Champion

n 25% of the prize money for Reserve Champion

n 10% of the prize money for Top 5

n 10% of the prize money for Top 5

n 10% of the prize money for Top 5

People nominating stallions can enter a foal resulting from the stallion they have donated the service to for a $100 fee providing the auction met the reserve price for their stallion and the breeding is paid in full.

Arabian breed. Two (2) classes will be run for the resultant foals –one for Purebred yearlings and one for Derivative yearlings. The prize money is allocated to the two classes based on whether the resultant foal is purebred or derivative. Prize money is split as follows for both the derivative and purebred class:

Top (L-R) Alcides Rodrigues (USA), Westacres Glamour, Ava Holland, Jonas Salzmann (Kuwait)

Above Amazing grazing table donated by Aleesha Campbell and Krishlah Arabians for our Social Evening

Our first stallion sweepstakes auction was a huge success with just over $26,500 going into the pool which will be divided into Purebred and Derivative after June 30 this year. This is the deadline date for all mares to be nominated.

We are very excited to be running another auction this year with both general items and the stallion sweepstakes. The auction will open on July 1, 2022 and close on July 23, 2022.

Author Helen Hardwick (VADOBA)

Images Samantha Taylor

Some horses deserve to be remembered as National Treasures. In the case of a royallybred Pure Crabbet stallion named SILWAN, he has 110 sons and daughters plus a huge diaspora of descendants. He lived long enough to enjoy his 33rd birthday party at his home, Chip Chase Park near Bathurst in NSW, and was one of the last living sons of the famous Crabbet stallion Dargee. Among his family he can boast an Australian National Champion Stallion and one of the most eminent endurance stallions in the world.

SILWAN

PEDIGREE

SILWAN was foaled at Crabbet in 1954. He was bred by Lady Wentworth in the last years of her life. His sire Dargee was bred by George Ruxton of Craven Lodge, Basingstoke, and was brought into the stud by Lady Wentworth, a little at odds with her preference for the taller Arabians although she often stated that she loved her little horses too, when referring I expect to Dargee and Skowronek. She introduced both of them into her breeding program from outside the stud. Dargee became a Supreme Champion showhorse and although his get are not so great in number, the quality of his mares more than compensated for the quantity.

Dargee’s sire was Manasseh, a great-grandson of Mesaoud. For Australia Manasseh also sired the Barnoolut Stud’s senior sire ALRAWD, foaled just two years after Silwan in 1956. Alrawd is from Buseyna, a Nuhra granddaughter, and like Silwan lived a very long life.

Dargee was also the sire of the Bostocks stallion Crystal Fire [from Rosinella] with the super big trot, imported in 1961, the same year as Alrawd. Dargee sired British National Champion Darjeel [from Rajjella] for Sir Henry and Lady May Abel Smith in 1962. Several Dargee get made their way to Australia as did

descendants of some Dargee full-siblings. The Queensland Agricultural College’s stallion Mahif [by Indian Magic] was, for instance, the son of Dargee’s full-sister Myolanda.

To those who treasure the blood of Silver Fire, the distaff side of Silwan’s pedigree is most valuable. His dam Silwa was sired by that beautiful stallion Raktha, often called “the perfect Arabian” and used by Lady Wentworth in her various publications to illustrate many of those characteristics that are specially desirable in the Arabian breed. Raktha shared his sire Naseem with Silver Fire, the three close crosses to Skowronek in the first three generations of Silwa’s pedigree assuring her genetic prepotency to reproduce this type. Raktha’s dam Razina, one of the greats of English Crabbet breeding, also produced Riffal [by Naufal], Radi [by Rishan], Nurschida [by Nuri Sherif] and Shamnar [by Naziri]. Bred by Crabbet she was in every way an exemplary broodmare for her owner Lady Yule. Raktha sired Electric Silver, Star Diamond, Indian Jewel [all exported to Australia], Ezrah [exported to New Zealand], Indian Magic, Serafix, Silver Drift [sire of Australia’s Spindrift] and General Grant [sire of Australia’s Zenith II]. We have much of this blood here in Australia.

Silwa’s dam SILVER CRYSTAL [Rangoon/Somara] is of particular interest to Australians because she is a full-sister to Stefan. She was also previously known as Zenobia and Snow Crystal before her export to the US. A Champion herself, she was the dam of six American Champions including the first US National Champion Stallion Mujahid, and a US Reserve Champion Mare Silver Dawn. The latter is the dam of two Champions, Dawney [by Sureyn] and Silver Cloud [by Serafix]. Another Champion, Royal Silver was exported in utero, and was by Grand Royal. Silver Crystal’s full-sister Silver Snow was also exported to the US where she was known as Shayba.

Silwan’s full-sister SILWARA went to the US with Bazy Tankersley’s huge importation after the death of Lady Wentworth. She became a broodmare at Dr Eugene La Croix’s world-renowned Lasma Stud. There she bred two fabulous full-siblings by the iconic Lasma stallion Bask. The gloriously elegant mare SILHOUETTE was twice Canadian Top Ten in English Pleasure, also Canadian National Champion Mare, before she was sold at the Lasma 1 Sale for $56,000 then a record price at auction for a mare. Silwara’s wonderful breeding stallion son TORNADO, Canadian National Champion and US Top Ten, was syndicated for $1.5 million dollars. Silwara’s daughter, Canadian National Champion Mare SILVER CHARM [by Bajram], sold in the 1982 Willomar Stud Sale at Calgary, Canada. Yet another fabulous daughter COUNTESS LASMA [by Count Dorsaz] was also a Champion. I think I’d have liked that daughter, by Count Dorsaz, the sire of Australia’s muchloved Count Manilla!

Such is the rich heritage of Silwan.

HIS STORY

Previous Page Silwan (Dargee x Silwa)

Above Australian Champion Stallion Chip Chase Meccali (Cherokee Mecca x Lisa by Argent)

Mrs Mary Leicht of West Pennant Hills [on the fringe of Sydney] purchased the young Silwan for importation to Australia in 1956. She had a small but ultimately very influential stud that began with Colonial lines from the NSW Department of Agriculture Studs, later starring the Silver Family horses like Silver Magic and Spindrift. Unfortunately she retired from Purebred breeding soon after this, but her stud in its entirety became the foundation of the Queensland Agricultural College Stud in 1958. In that year all of her Purebred mares [mostly of Jelbart Colonial lineage] were in foal to the young Silwan. Disappointingly, however, one mare slipped twins while the remainder foaled colts. As the College commenced a system of alphabetically naming its foals year by year, a string of A name colts mark the 1958 foaling season – AJAX, AKBAR, ATARIFF, ARGENT and AURIOLE. Australian readers will

recognise these names for the group was strong in quality. Several went into major breeding programs.

Silwan was prepared for the showring by the College and was Champion Arab Stallion at Brisbane Royal in 1959, but his time in the stud was short as he was sold to Central Queensland breeder Mr Lionel de Landelles of Cherokee Stud in 1962, his place in the College Stud taken by Spindrift and Silver Moonlight [Indian Magic/ Silver Fire].

Cherokee was principally a pioneering Brahman cattle breeding enterprise located at Tanby, coastal Rockhampton. There Silwan had the opportunity to sire a large number of foals. Mr de Landelles had assembled together some interesting Arabian mares, but not all the Silwan stock was Purebred Arabian as he was experimenting with his own “breed” of horse – a blend of Arabian and Percheron blood which he named the Llander – for cattle work in tough country. Many of the Silwan Purebred sons went to properties in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory as station sires. They were offered in the catalogues of the annual Cherokee Sales as such and bidders, who would have known little of Arabian bloodlines, seemed very impressed with the strength and conformation of them. Silwan’s sons AKBAR and CHEROKEE DESERT RED were associate sires at Cherokee. Some outside breeders sent mares to Silwan, among them Mrs Beryl Landsberg of Tropic Stud at Marlborough who bred four lovely Silwan daughters from her Pure Crabbet mare Tropic Jewel [Grey Mist/ Niskib]. It seemed as if the old horse might live out his days running with his mares there in Central Queensland.

Then suddenly in 1977 a Reduction Sale of the Cherokee horses was announced. Arabian breeders were stunned to see that the 23-year-old stallion Silwan headed the Sales List. Many people travelled to Rockhampton intent on buying Silwan, but they reckoned without his greatest fan, Mrs Pam Roydhouse of Chip Chase Park who was determined to have the royally-bred old horse at any price. She already owned his liver chestnut son CHEROKEE MECCA. A spirited bidding duel, mostly between Mrs Roydhouse and a Victorian breeder, saw Silwan sold for $11,000 in what was a record price at auction for a horse of his age. Other breeders acquired valuable Silwan daughters for their own studs.

Silwan made the long trip from Tanby to Bathurst by horse float. Pam’s husband John was joined by my husband Ken to collect Silwan, not at all sure how he would travel. In the event he stepped

out of the float at our farm in much better shape than the two men! I had notified a few of the local Crabbet breeders so Silwan was met by a group of fans and a photographer. He posed quite happily and some of the photos taken that day are frequently used today.

At Chip Chase Park Silwan joined his son CHEROKEE MECCA and dozens of grandget. Pam had gathered up some wonderful mares and Silwan lived happily at Rock Forest for more than another ten years, making Pam’s initial investment seem very insignificant indeed. He celebrated his 33rd birthday on Saturday 13th December 1986 with his Arabian and human families, and some of his greatest fans. His Lifetime Purebred progeny numbered 110 but his Partbred and unregistered stock would easily double that number.

HIS PROGENY

1. The College Years

The QAC Stud bred Mary Leicht’s interesting collection of mares to the young Silwan. Falka [Kataf x Rifa] produced a colt AURIOLE in 1958, and a beautiful filly BELLONA, one of Silwan’s best, in 1960. Her influence has been widespread through sons such as IVAN [x Silver Moonlight] who was owned by several studs during his lifetime, including Paul James’ “Arabian Park” and Weerina Stud. Ivan sired 150 registered foals, some of them from the famous Arabian Park mares. His full-brother LEOPOLD sired 57 registered foals from more limited opportunities. Bellona’s 1967 bright chestnut colt was JOVE [x Mahif], sire of 78 foals. Another beautiful daughter, MADHARA 1970 [x Spindrift] was shown periodically with success. An elegant Grand Royal daughter of Bellona, GLYCERA 1964 contributed 12 foals including a quality Sirocco mare named PAX. A bright chestnut son named SATURN was often seen around the Brisbane shows, even in harness classes.

Some of Silwan’s other daughters from his QAC days were DIDO [from Bindalla] 1961, FARINA [from Tareefa], FEODORA [from Rouelle] and FLIRT 1963 [from Silver Moonlight daughter Moonamet]. Flirt was an exceptional broodmare. Her daughter CATHAY [by Hadban Enzahi son Mustafa] was bred four times to the Spindrift son Aethon, and six times to the famous Ralvon Pilgrim. Her Pilgrim son RALVON PILOT has been producing beautiful foals for Marbling [now Mattilda] Stud in Western Australia in an inspired outcross. FIONNA [from Cyrene] became the dam of Peter Pond’s beautiful foundation show mare FANFARE. Feodora’s daughter KAREN [by Silver Moonlight] sold through the auction ring for a then record price when a very old mare. She was everything you would expect a product of Silwan and Silver Moonlight breeding to be.

The best known of the College progeny was undoubtedly the lookalike Silver Magic son ARGENT who was bought as a yearling

Above Left Chip Chase Meccali in harness

Above Right Iraki Iskander (Scimitar Desert Prince x Cherokee Silura by Silwan)

by the John Wyatt family of Rokeby Stud at Warwick. Sire and dam were of the Hamdani Simri strain, and his dam was an own daughter of Silver Fire, leading Argent to be a superbly prepotent sire. Rokeby was also the home of a Thoroughbred stud, with a handful of Purebred Arabian mares. Here Argent produced Anglo Arabs as small hacks, Partbreds and Purebred progeny, many from daughters of the handsome Thoroughbred Jack Ketch. His reputation spread across many disciplines from hacking, campdrafting, endurance, polocrosse and pony club.

Argent was twice Reserve Champion Stallion at Brisbane Royal Show, to Silver Moonlight on one occasion and to Count Manilla on the other. He sustained a leg injury then and was not shown again. Rokeby held semi-regular auction sales of their surplus stock, both Arabian and Thoroughbred, where people were pleased to obtain Argent progeny for riding and breeding.

The Argent daughters were particularly sought – white, doe-eyed beauties, all curves and well-proportioned with excellent legs and short, short cannons. The delightful JADARA [from Fantasy’s daughter Miraya] was a many times Champion and a Top Ten Mare at Halter at the Australian National Championships of 1983. Among mostly colt foals she has produced daughters by AK Sirhalima [USA] and Simeon Sa’ar. She was owned by Alison Soster of Robali Stud, Moss Vale. Her piece de resistance is her handsome bay son ROBALI DARGEELING [by Silwan grandson Chip Chase Desert Wind] whose own son RHYTHMIC [from Solitairey Dancer] has been exported to the US. Bostocks Stud, which seldom used outside stallions, bred Jadara, and also a lovely mare FANYA 1971 [from Capricious] and a stallion full-brother SAKKARA 1973. Aloha Stud owned Fanya, whose get have included some sold overseas for endurance.

Other Argent mares of significance included DONNETTA 1972 [from Madonna], pure Crabbet full-sisters DANCING FAY 1974 and BURLOCK PARK APHIAN 1978 from UK importation Dancing Silhouette. The very feminine mare SULA [from Bostocks-bred Qishta] became an A Class show winner in her old age. In 1987 Patricia Lindsay awarded her the Reserve Mare Championship at the Arabian Valley A Class Show at Ipswich.

A dainty Partbred Argent mare named ANNA was Queensland Arabian Horse of the Year winner on two occasions. In 1974 one of Argent’s progeny was Polocrosse Horse of the Year. An Argent Purebred son named TASSIN was a top campdraft competitor.

Rokeby Stud set a benchmark with two Argent mares named GENYS and RANI [from Tazar]. They would not have met today’s show standards, or even standards of beauty of the time but they were well-proportioned, correct broodmares who produced some of the best grandget. Genys bred the stallions ZACHARY [by Grand Royal], ALEXANDER [by Grand Regent] and BANQUO by Abiram. Rani was later owned by Erica Williams, but for Rokeby she bred the endurance stallion GRAND RAJAH owned by El-Shalao Arabians, and Rokeby Stud’s own stallion DAMIEN by Seradin. Erica bred the versatile show stallion GAI RAPHAEL by Gai General. The mare ARABELLA from Tarney produced top stock for Bostocks, Dunwingeri and Fairymount Studs. One of her daughters, FAIRYMOUNT DESERT BELLE by the Silwan grandson Chip Chase Desert Wind, was purchased by Paul Husband for importation to the US to breed with Khemosabi. The Argent mare LISA, owned by Chip Chase Park, was the dam of an Australian National Champion Stallion, CHIP CHASE MECCALI by Silwan son Cherokee Mecca.

There were Silwan progeny in all States. Sydneysiders will remember the stallion FABIUS, a winner both in-hand and under saddle.

2. The Cherokee Stud Years Lionel de Landelles owned some interesting mares. One of them, Princess Royal [Royal Domino x Mutrif] was a full-sister to the

Above Left Cherokee Mecca (Silwan x Cherokee Royal Sarong) Above Right Chip Chase Desert Wind (Cherokee Mecca x Chip Chase Desert Joul) and Cameo Windsprite (Chip Chase Desert Wind x Kalila)

Famous Four stallions Ibn Domino, Mildom, Arim and Royaljan. She and her daughter Chip Chase Desert Joul [by Silwan son Akbar] played a significant part in the Silwan story. Pam Roydhouse already owned a fairytale white mare CHEROKEE NILE QUEEN [from Cherokee Royal Sarong] and her full-brother CHEROKEE MECCA. Cherokee Nile Queen bred eight foals including the fullbrother stallions CHIP CHASE TAJAR 1978 [by SINDBAD (Ger) who was by Hadban Enzahi] and Chris Ros’ stallion CHIP CHASE NILE CONSORT 1981. Both stallions were top showhorses of their time. Wantley Stud owned a lovely mare CHEROKEE LITTLE SKY from Princess Royal who bred 15 foals. The lovely white CHEROKEE SILURA [from Nura] is best known as the dam of AAROM Supreme and versatile saddle stallion IRAKI ISKANDER. One of my favourites was a lovely little mare CHEROKEE SILDREAMER [from Cherokee Desert Eve] with her daughter POROTI NADJA [by Samiri]. SILVERELLE [by Wundurra Van Nina] and MT EERWAH SILVER SPIRIT by Silver Conquest were both high-percentage Crabbet mares.

Silwan’s sons AKBAR and CHEROKEE DESERT RED were used as associate sires at Cherokee. Most of the Purebred stock was heavily inbred to Silwan.

RM and Erica Williams of Rockybar Station owned the stallion CHEROKEE KING PIN by Silwan, the Akbar mare CHEROKEE A’BINDA by Akbar who was such a versatile saddlehorse for Erica, and the Silwan mare Cherokee Silura. They bred a lovely look-alike Silwan

mare named SILQUE. Her spirited, athletic son INDIAN SILQUE by Shiekie became a sought after Queensland endurance sire.

Princess Royal’s foals by Silwan and Akbar were the cream of the crop. They included CHEROKEE ROYAL SARONG, dam of CHEROKEE MECCA; the stallion CHEROKEE CASINO ROYAL, and the mare CHEROKEE PERSIAN SLIPPER. As the dam of Cherokee Mecca alone, her blood has travelled around the world.

3. Chip Chase Park

When Silwan arrived at Chip Chase Park his son CHEROKEE MECCA was very much king of the stud, already producing distinctive Arabian type with his short strong body, well-shaped neck and throat, deep girth, strong hindquarter and four-square correct legs. He prolifically produced short, deep heads with large eyes. There was a definite Mecca type, which was, in essence the Silwan type with Royal Domino superimposed. And of course Royal Domino was from an Irex mare. Yes, there was a definite type. It was interesting to see how this was interpreted in Pam’s breeding program because although she had assembled some very significant Purebred mares, they were drawn from a number of quite different breeding programs.

The elegant bay beauty Kai [Rapier by Electric Silver x Browne Anne], already dam of significant pure Crabbet stallion Akhu, bred a handful of lovely daughters by Silwan – CHIP CHASE SHILQAN 1978, CHIP CHASE KAIWANI 1981, CHIP CHASE KAI’ILA 1979 as well as a son CHIP CHASE KAI’IL in 1982. Silwan blood always combined well with that of the stretchier Fenwick mares with their Riffal, Sindh and Electric Silver male lines.

And what can I say about Cherokee Mecca, who, with Argent, was one of the most successful sons, among so many good sons, of the great Silwan? He sired 159 registered progeny, Purebred, Partbred and Palomino. He was the sire of 1983 Australian National Champion Stallion CHIP CHASE MECCALI [93 registered progeny] who was also a grand athletic performance horse excelling in harness.

Cherokee Mecca was the sire of CHIP CHASE SADAQA [240 registered progeny, 159 Purebred progeny, 29th on the Alltime Purebred Sires List, 13th on the Contemporary Sires List 2000 – 2020], Tom Quilty Gold Cup winner in 1983, sire of Tom Quilty winners, and one of the most famous endurance sires in the world! Sadaqa has a huge number of competing endurance horses both here and overseas and has sired Tom Quilty winners like KURRAJONG CONCORDE and CRYSTAL FLYER. He also has

Above Chip Chase Sadaqa and Ron Males parading at the 2008 Tom Quilty

Above Right Jadara (Argent x Miraya)

many sons in endurance breeding studs. In his last years he was owned by Toft Endurance in Queensland.

The Mecca son PEPPERSFIELD NABUCCO [from Peppersfield Mustine] was part of Australia’s gold medal endurance team which won the Endurance World Championship in France in 2000. Nabucco won the Tom Quilty in 1997 and was equal winner in 1999.

One of the Mecca stallion sons ABROCK SPRINGFIRE, a noted endurance horse, also took part in the dressage at the Paralympics in Sydney 2000 with a rider who only met him at the Olympics. This is a line which could go on forever.

Cherokee Mecca was the sire of my own stallion CHIP CHASE DESERT WIND [from Chip Chase Desert Joul] who won many halter championships but particularly enjoyed being shown under saddle in English, Western, Costume and Sidesaddle. He was a Reserve Australian Champion in Western and Sidesaddle, Top Ten in Costume and Stallion Under Saddle. His son SHERWIN WINDFRO was three times Top Ten in the Australian Championships, twice as a stallion and once as a gelding. His daughter CAMEO WINDSPRITE was Top Ten in Mares in 1983. His daughter NIGHTSHADE is the dam of one of Queensland’s most prominent Crabbet show stallions of recent times, SHADOWY NIGHT. Windy’s son ROBALI DARGEELING sired recent US export RHYTHMIC, who now has progeny in the States. He has Australian National Champion Anglos and Arabian Ponies. Windy sired many, many show winners, and now is the grandsire of just as many successful endurance horses.

Chip Chase Stud’s tall and typey bay-brown beauty CHIP CHASE SALOME [by Mecca from Flash Lass] 1973 was a showring winner as was the beautiful CHIP CHASE NILE PRINCESS [from Cherokee Nile Queen] 1974. CHIP CHASE NASRANI [by Cherokee Mecca from Lisa] 1975 became the dam of successful Arabian racehorse CHIP CHASE NASARETH by Sindbad, Pam’s Hadban Enzahi son. In his turn he sired an international endurance horse NATSU [from Quebec] who won a bronze medal at the WEG Championships.

CHIP CHASE CARISSA [by Cherokee Mecca from Tarney by Argent] 1977 has a daughter Saracen Sukalata [by Iraki Iskander] – who is dam of 2021 World Champion Endurance Horse BULLIO BLUE SUE 2011 [by Kevisan Park Kentucky Blue] who was exported to France but is now owned by Sheikh Mohammed. She won the 2021 Youth World Championship as well! [Note: she was re-named overseas and is now known as Haleh.]

CHIP CHASE MECCANA [by Cherokee Mecca from Coronet] 1976 was the dam of those super show fillies SALAH EL SAADIQA and SALAH EL SAADONAY by Arabesque El Saad, bred by Dorothy Hodge in Victoria.

Palomino mare CHIP CHASE ANNYETTA 1973 and her full brother CHIP CHASE BUKHARA 1976 won at all the major shows as both Partbred Arabians and Palominos by Cherokee Mecca.

CHIP CHASE JEHANE [by Cherokee Mecca from Lisa] 1972 was sold to Chris Ros from Western Australia where he was Supreme in the AAROM and bred 72 progeny including Champions like ROS STARFIRE 1977 [from Scimitar Sharina].

Many of the Chip Chase progeny have more than one line to Silwan. They are from Silwan daughters by Silwan son Cherokee Mecca, sometimes from Argent mares or daughters of Silwan’s son Akbar. Breeders who bought Silwan, Mecca or Argent youngstock also bred on down into the family, and it seemed to work very well, with a consolidation of the type and no obvious downside. They were not usually any taller than 14.2 to 14.3 hands but the occasional individual grew to 15 hands or more. I haven’t even mentioned that the family have excellent trainable temperaments and movement.

IN CONCLUSION

It’s hard to write a conclusion to the Silwan story just as it is only just possible to consolidate the story of his life and his progeny’s achievements into a readable, concise account! On the Arabian Studs & Stallions All Time Purebred Sires List Silwan still appears as Number 41 of 50 with 110 progeny, in an era where imported sires have dominated since the 1970s, especially in the showring. He is joined on the All Time List by his grandsons Chip Chase Sadaqa [125 progeny in 29th place] and Chip Chase Desert Wind [117 progeny in 36th place]. The Silwan family has a very tough streak which stands them in good stead in endurance, a sport at which the family obviously excels but today descendants can be found in all the major equine disciplines. Definitely a family which has translated well into modern times.

Author Coralie Gordon I October 2021

Images Pat Slater; Sue Crockett

Above Left Peppersfield Nabucco (Cherokee Mecca x Peppersfield Mustine) – International Endurance Gold Medal winner

Above Right Fairymount Desertbelle (exp USA)

(Chip Chase Desert Wind x Arabella by Argent) with judge Paul Husband and handler Richard Sharman

2022 Leading Sires & Dams of Champions

The following pages represent in numbers, an analysis of the most successful bloodlines currently on the Arabian show scene. Due to the small number of shows during the past season, we will not be offering individual state breakdowns, however for the first time we have analysed the female lines of our champions in addition to the male.

Based on results from leading shows around the country, points on the following charts are awarded as follows: CHAMPION = 10 points; RESERVE CHAMPION = 7 points; TOP FIVE/TEN OR PLACING = 2 points

Classes in this study include all age group halter classes, and excludes speciality classes such as Classic Head or Classic Trot, or any jackpot or sweepstakes events. The ridden section is calculated from Ridden Breed classes only, it does not include, for

example, Bridle Path Hack or Western, yet it does include Ridden Purebred Mare, Gelding and Stallion classes. The results have been deemed correct as supplied, and we do not make any claim that the horses represented here are ranked in any other system than which we describe in these pages.

With the impacts associated with the global pandemic, shows previously used in this study are absent this year due to being cancelled. New shows have been included. Shows are added if the committee sends the results before the deadline.

Results have been calculated from the Victorian Barastoc Arabian Show, Victorian State Championships, Victorian Summer Show, Australian National Championships, QLD Challenge Show, QLD Top Of The Range Show.

Allegiance MI (Magnum Forty Four x Audacia)

2022 Leading Sires of PUREBRED Champions

Overall Leading Sires of DERIVATIVE Champions

2022 Leading Dams of PUREBRED Champions

2022 Leading Damlines of PUREBRED Champions

This chart is calculated by tracing back through the dam line to the first mare imported to Australia. In the case of an imported horse being shown, its dam will be listed as the dam line, even though she may have never been imported to Australia.

Australia’s Leading Endurance Horses 2022

MIDDLEWEIGHT