Welcome to another edition of the Arabian Studs and Stallions Annual.
In this years book, we again celebrate the wonder of the Arabian horse, in all it’s diversity. From the comfort of our living rooms, we travel around Australia and the globe to meet people who share our love for the breed, and learn about the horses that colour our lives.
Personally, the past year has been for me a reawakening of sorts to the love of horse riding. This rekindled passion has given me a new outlook on my relationship with my horses, brought me new friendships and wonderful experiences I had only thought of as a youth. Truly wonderful, and something I will share more of in time.
So keep riding, keep showing, keep sharing your Arabian with the world...at the
heart of our hobby is love and enjoyment. It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day drama of who won what and why, but does it really matter? Is it not possible for one person to enjoy their Arabians as they like, and you do yours? You might like this type, they like another, however I’ll let you in on a little secret...you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I think you’ll find that if you are the one complaining and lanenting for past glories publicly, you may be the one that people try to avoid. People are for the most part doing their best, in the time we are living now...let’s lift each other up, one by one, step by step.
While editing this years book, I learned two very valuable life lessons, which I would like to share with everyone in the hope some action may be taken. The first is, catalogue and give access to someone the photos of
your horses. You would be amazed at the high profile horses, of which there are little to no photographs remaining. Make arrangements for these precious records to be treasured.
And secondly, do not delay working on a project until later, as later may never come. This edition of Arabian Studs and Stallions is dedicated to the great Ron Males.
David Gillett Editor
Above Nejilah (RHR Heir of Marwan x Neytiri) and the beauty of Kosciuszko National Park, PC David Gillett.
T H E D R E A M C O N T I N U E S … generation a er generation. Sincere thanks to Ben and Myra Kelly and David Gillett for continuing the project that began many years ago to breed a Naadirah Family mare to Ajman Moniscione (WH Justice - Anthea Moniscione). The result of the breeding to Sabtah Nahlah (WN Dasjmir - Cli on Park Nefisa by Nile) is the beautiful stallion, Naajmir who is six generations in tail female to Naadirah by Aswan. (Sabtah Nahlah to Cli on Park Nefisa, to Nazelle, to Nazli, to Nara, to Naadirah). HAWLEY ARABIANS 0499 896 386
Above (top-down) Ron Males and Ralvon Pilgrim (Rikham x Trix Silver. PC Pat Slater; De-Sharvarll El Dakar (Maraj El Dakar x De-Sharvarll Eyelet. pc Sarah Sullivan. Cover DP Aryan El Jamal (Aryan El Thessa x Ella Noura) PC Nicole Emanuel.
Publisher: Michael Vink INTERACTIVINK | michael@interactivink.com.au Editor: DAVID GILLETT david@redmgmt.com.au Production: Lauren Lavin, Richard Locke & Karen Belik
THE LENS OF
Stuart Vesty
“Equal parts horseman and photographer, Stuart Vesty’s artistic secret is a unique combination.”
The Arabian horse world is extremely fortunate to count the talent of Stuart Vesty as one of their own. Admired the world over not only for his work, but for his sparkling personality and willingness to teach others, Stuart has forged a career in equine photography like no other. His images, at once both whimsical and deliciously real, vibrantly bring the Arabian horse to life. Stuart has been visiting Australia for nearly three decades now, and here he shares some of his favourite images and memories.
Simeon Saada (Asfour x Simeon Safanad) Opposite page Eklipse (Valor x Tarlea Ellabrandi)
SHAZIR DE LAFON
�FRANCE� 2018 PUREBRED STALLION
SHIRAZ DE LAFON (FR �
FM ATHENA (ES)
SHANGHAI EA (ES)
DIACIRA DE LAFON (FR)
WH JUSTICE (USA)
RESACA (ES)
BEAUTY BEYOND BOUNDARIES
SHANGHAI STAR
�FRANCE� 2012 PUREBRED STALLION
BEAUTY BEYOND BOUNDARIES
SHANGHAI EA (ES) WH JUSTICE (USA) SALYMAH EA (ES)
AVALON SHIVA (FR) AH KUDA (UK)
EMILIA BINT ETERNITY VI (BE)
Above Aamahni (TS Al Malik x Alpha Bint Nizr);
Below Matriarchs of Mulawa; from left (Karmaa, Mulawa Chance and Mulawa Behold); Opposite page Klass (TS Al Malik x Karmaa)
Opposite page, clockwise from top Amir El Shaklan (El Shaklan x Sascha), Broodmares at Simeon Stud, KissandTell (Simeon Shai x Dynasty Jamin).
Jessie & John Preece
MALLEEGROVE MANDALLA X KALODY PARK DELTA
ArretonNabilah
MALLEEGROVE MANDALLA X KIRRONG TUPPARA
Main Photo Shakla’s Silver Dream (SK Shakla Khan x Silver Glint) (foreground), and Windella Silver Shadow (Amir El Shaklan x Windella Silver Glitter)
Inset photos from top Asfour (Malik x Hanan), Espadero (Eldon x Esparceta) photographed in Poland before his export to Australia, Youngsters at Mulawa.
THE FUTURE DEFINED
“THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THOSE WHO PREPARE FOR IT TODAY.” Malcolm X
Sovereign MI
(DOMINIC M x KLASSICAL SYMPHONY MI by KLASS)
Seventh-Generation Mulawa-Bred Male Member of the MULAWA CHANCE Family
Valen MI
(VANGELIS MI x ELEGANCE MI by EMERALD J)
Thirteenth-Generation
Mulawa-Bred Male Member of the KARMAA Family
“REMEMBER THAT WHEREVER YOUR HEART IS, THERE YOU WILL FIND YOUR TREASURE."
Paulo Coelho
Saffire MI
(EMERALD J x MUSTANG’S MAGNUM by MAGNUM FORTY FOUR) Member of the SAHTARAH Family
Australasian International Gold Champion Junior Filly – 2024
Emirates Arabian Horse Global Cup Gold Champion Junior Filly – 2024
Australasian International Gold Champion Yearling Filly – 2023
Australian National Champion Yearling Filly – 2023
THE GRACEFUL DANCER
“LIFE IS THE DANCER AND YOU ARE THE DANCE.” Eckhart Tolle
Ballet MI
(MI KLASSIQUE x BREE MI by ALLEGIANCE MI)
Eighth-Generation Mulawa-Bred Champion Member of the LLC BRIANA Family
Australasian International Gold Champion Junior Filly – 2023
Australian National Champion Junior Filly – 2023
Australian National Champion Yearling Filly – 2022
ELEVATING ELEGANCE
“ELEGANCE IS NOT ABOUT BEING NOTICED. IT IS ABOUT BEING REMEMBERED.”
Giorgio Armani
Vittoria MI
(DOMINIC M x VIENNA MI by ALLEGIANCE MI)
Sixth-Generation
Mulawa-Bred Champion
Member of the VALENTINE MI Family
James Weldon Johnson
Anthem MI
(ALLEGIANCE MI x VALENTINE MI by DA VALENTINO)
Fifth-Generation Mulawa-Bred Champion Member of the VALENTINE MI Family
Australasian International Gold Champion Junior Colt – 2024
Emirates Arabian Horse Global Cup Gold Champion Junior Colt – 2024
Australian National Champion Junior Colt – 2023
Australian National Champion Yearling Colt – 2022
Destination Arabian!
WHEN YOU THINK OF TRAVEL AND THE ARABIAN HORSE, THEN IT IS TYPICALLY THE HORSE SHOWS THAT SPRING TO MIND.
by SAMANTHA MATTOCKS
There is a set route covering the major Arabian horse shows in the world that people take, year in, year out, as shared in my novel Sandstorm. But what if you want to get away from the show-ring and enjoy the Arabian horse in a more natural environment? I’m here with the lowdown on some of the most exciting Arabian horse adventures you can have! Travel is intoxicating: a chance to visit somewhere new, enjoy different sights and scents, cultures and experiences. When you can enjoy all of that, and add to it Arabian horses, then so much the better.
This page As seen at Scottsdale. PC: Osteen-Schatzberg Photography.
Australian Horse Adventures
Let’s begin close to home, starting in Tasmania, where the Australian Horse Adventures team is based. Offering riding adventures on barefoot, bitless Arabian horses, these riding trips take in the very best in scenery, food and wine, and are suitable for beginners and advanced riders alike.
In Tasmania, trips include the Tassie Tiger Trail, the Stanley Adventure, a Galloping Gourmet Weekend, a Horsemanship and Cattle Weekend, and a Trail Master Weekend, as well as offering bespoke adventures.
However, one particular trip caught my eye. In Southern Australia, the Australian Horse Adventures team gives you the opportunity to combine Arabian horses with wine, undertaking a five-day holiday riding Arabian horses through the Barossa Valley, home to some of the country’s most famous wines. Honestly, what could be better?
This holiday takes you through the Pewsey Vale and promises exclusive access to private vineyards as you work your way across the Barossa Range, riding through forests and famous stock routes. Along the way, there will be stops in a winery or historic homestead, meaning that having ridden through Barossa, and appreciated the unique geology of the area, you can then taste the wines grown there. What an experience! As though this was not enough, there is also the chance to hear stories from a Ngadjuri Elder, who shares local stories from thousands of years ago.
Each day, you’ll spend between two and six hours in the saddle, with experienced riders able to ride on at their own pace. With six guests per tour, this is a truly immersive experience. Each night, you return to stay at the Strachur homestead in your own private room. All food is included, as are the wine tastings. On this adventure of a lifetime, you can expect to visit Corryton Park Vineyard, the borders of the Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park, the Heysen, Mawson and Kidman Trails, Grant Burge Cellar Door, the Mount Crawford Forestry, the Pewsey Vale, and the Underground, which is Burge Barossa’s Cellar Door. With chef experiences, stunning scenery and a chance to ride Arabian horses, what are you waiting for? Book it today!
Samantha Mattocks is an award-winning journalist and writer. Founder of UK-based The Arabian Magazine in 2004, Samantha has also published several fiction books, including Sandstorm under the name Adelaide Halsey – a romping romantic read set in the mystical world of the Arabian horse. Find out more at SAMANTHAMATTOCKS.COM
The Ultimate Dream – Riding though the Pyramids
AFRICANHORSESAFARIS.COM
Is there anywhere more evocative than the dream of riding an Arabian horse past the pyramids of Giza? For many, myself included, there isn’t. Thankfully, African Horse Safaris can make this dream a reality, offering a seven-night adventure that takes in some of the true highlights of Egypt – much of it on the back of a beautiful Arabian horse. Their Palms, Pyramids & Pharaohs on Horseback tour is the ultimate experience.
Starting in the bustling city of Cairo, the trip ends up at the Red Sea, where you can gallop across the sands with the sea salt tang fresh in the air. The trip includes all accommodation and meals, as well as non-riding activities listed in the itinerary.
The trip begins with a full day in Cairo where, in a true bucket-list fulfilling
moment, you will ride an Arabian horse to the Pyramids of Giza, where you can explore the tombs that have transfixed people for centuries and see the iconic Sphinx. After lunch at the stables, you can visit the Cairo Museum, home to some 120,000 Egyptian artefacts, including the world’s largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities.
From there, it is a short flight to Luxor, known as the world’s greatest open-air museum, where you can walk through the Valley of the Kings – also known as the Valley of the Dead – visiting famed treasures, including Tutankhamun’s Tomb and the Temple of Hatshepsut. You will ride alongside the River Nile on Arabian horseback for a couple of days, stopping at sights including the Karnak Temple, the Mummification Museum and the
Luxor Temple itself. Sail back across the Nile, then ride up Mount Thebes to enjoy sunset over Luxor. After a sunrise trail ride to the Valley of the Kings, your journey eventually takes you to the Red Sea. From there, you can head out to the Eastern Desert and ride on the sands of the Red Sea itself before cooling off in the silky waters with the horses.
This trip is a true once-in-a-lifetime experience, and all you need to do is add on a trip to the Egyptian Arabian Organization in Cairo for it to be the ultimate Arabian horse adventure.
Above Explore ancient wonders when you ride through the pyramids of Egypt. PC Horse Riding Holidays in Egypt.
Travel the Arabian World with WAHO
WAHO.ORG
It would be remiss of me not to include WAHO in this canter through Arabian horse travel. The World Arabian Horse Organization was founded in 1970 and every two to three years, it hosts a Conference somewhere in the world. The last one was Jordan in 2022, with Australia in 2019 and Bahrain in 2017. Other highlights have included Poland in 2004, Syria in 2007 and Oman in 2009.
These conferences offer an incredible chance to visit a country and engage yourself with local breeders and events, as well as spending time with like-minded Arabian horse aficionados from all around the world. For this is the wonderful thing – the people who go to WAHO are not just the Registrars of each Arab Horse Society within WAHO, they are also those who love the Arabian horse. They are the breeders, the stalwarts who have been part of the Arabian world for years, as well as those who are new to the breed and want to know more.
Each Conference has two days for the General Assembly, including lectures from highly informed people who freely share their knowledge on a wide range of topics including, and not limited to, the evolution of the Arabian horse, health issues within the breed,
and insights into the horses of the country you are in. Either side of these lectures is the Conference business itself, including Registrar reports that give crucial insight into the Arabian horse in each country. The 2017 Bahrain Conference, for example, was the first since the Syrian War had broken out and when it came to Syria to give their report, they received a standing ovation. For the Arabian horse unites people, creating a sense of community, and we are all incredibly lucky to be part of that.
Around these two days are the pre- and post-Conference tours and this is where WAHO truly comes into itself. Local breeding farms open their doors and invite you to experience their horses, and there are parades of smaller breeders. There is often a chance to ride horses in the desert, and there are also visits to local attractions that help you understand the culture of the country you are in.
The next Conference is in April 2025 and will be held in Abu Dhabi, taking in several of the breeding farms in the United Arab Emirates. This will include three special days of visits to the major Arabian horse studs in Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai and Sharjah. While the itinerary is still being put together, planned
options for these tours include a trip to the oasis city of Al Ain with its date palms and museums, a visit to the truly remarkable Sheikh Zayed Mosque, and the equally beautiful Qasr Al Watan. There will also be a chance to visit the Cultural District on Saadiyat Island to see spectacular modern architecture such as The Louvre with its beautiful dome; Abu Dhabi’s very special Interfaith Complex; The Abrahamic Family House; and the new Zayed National Museum dedicated to the story of the UAE. Of interest will be a visit to the Abu Dhabi Falcon hospital, a day trip to the wildlife sanctuary of Sir Bani Yas Island to see the results of the Arabian Oryx breeding programme, along with many other wild animals, and an overnight stay at a resort on the edge of the Empty Quarter, where you can take a camel trek into the world’s largest sand desert and experience a night under the desert skies.
To attend a Conference, you need to be a member of WAHO and next year’s tour will run 5-16 April, including the tours. I cannot stress how important these events are, and what an incredible opportunity they provide to visit a wide number of breeding programmes and Arabian horse experiences. I truly hope to see you there.
Below The WAHO group at Hollydene Estate Winery, PC Samantha Mattocks.
PC: SHARON MEYERS & KIM COX
Scottsdale All-Arabian Horse Show
SCOTTSDALESHOW.COM
Truly iconic among all the horse shows in the world is the Scottsdale All-Arabian Horse Show, which first ran in 1955. Now held at WestWorld, year after year, this 10-day show remains a draw for visitors from around the world.
The Scottsdale Show, in Arizona, USA, truly has something for everyone – halter, western, working cow, costume, English pleasure, and so much more, featuring over 2,000 purebreds and derivatives. Against the backdrop of the McDowell Mountains, this is a show where dreams come true.
With such a long show, there is little wonder that there is so much to do around the event. The big training farms host open houses throughout the 10 days, with lunchtime parades and evening events being the norm. This is a chance to experience breeding programmes close up, and to see the next big-name stallions parade in front of you.
There is also plenty of opportunity for time out. A trip to Old Scottsdale is a must, as is a drive out to Cave Creek –and not just for the open houses there, such as at Arabians International. An original cowboy town and located in the desert foothills, Cave Creek offers plenty of chances for trekking, either on foot or, if you can find someone willing to lend you a mount, on horseback. And, if you get the chance to go to the rodeo, do – it’s a great night’s entertainment!
The Scottsdale Show offers so much more than the average show – and indeed, there is nothing average about the size of the shopping hall, where you can buy your own cowboy and Arabian memorabilia to take home! With its international flair and homegrown talent all brought together in one inspiring pot of Arabian delight, make sure you plan to visit Scottsdale if you haven’t already been.
Top & Right Scottsdale All-Arabian Horse Show, PC Osteen-Schatzberg Photography.
Founded in 1972, Equus Journeys offer over 200 different trips, many on Arabian horses, such as riding across Wadi Rum in Jordan – something, incidentally, that was also offered on the 2022 WAHO Conference –or the northern Sahara and Atlas Mountains in Morocco.
The trip I am highlighting here is their Jordan Explorer – from Petra to Wadi Rum, where you can ride in the whispered footsteps of Laurence of Arabia. This 10-day trip takes in two UNESCO World Heritage sites and includes six days spent in the saddle, making it more suited to the experienced rider.
The trip starts in Amman, where you are whisked by car to Madaba for sightseeing before returning to Jordan’s capital for the night. Then, the following morning, you
head off to the famed Rose City of Petra where you have free time to explore this incredibly fascinating, ancient home of the Nabateans. The next day is when the riding begins, as you spend up to six hours in the saddle, going from the mountains around Petra to Wadi Thugra, where you camp under the stars. Then it is on to Wadi Rum itself, another five-hour ride away, and having camped myself in Wadi Rum, I can assure you the vistas of the stars above are just incredible. Having spent the night in the Wadi, before spending the next three days exploring Wadi Rum on horseback. This is a vast place, full of mystery and beauty, and your guides will show you the very best spots to get a real feel for this UNESCO site. Day eight, you return to Petra, the last time
on horseback for the trip and you spend the evening in a hotel. The last full day takes in the Dead Sea, which has to be experienced to be believed, and then you return to Madaba for the night before heading back to Amman the next day.
Should you choose to do this trip, I would urge you to spend some time in Amman and explore this incredible city, plus head out to the ancient Roman town of Jerash. It is also worth contacting HRH Princess Alia Hussein of Jordan, who warmly welcomes visitors to The Royal Stables.
Equus Journeys offer such a wide range of holidays, some that also accept non-riding guests, so head to their website and lose yourself in there for an hour or two, daydreaming of your next escape.
Above Mystical Adventures, PC Equus Journeys.
Shows and Open Houses in Aachen & Belgium
ALL-NATIONS-CUP.ORG
Iend with a personal favourite as, well, why not. This is the All Nations Cup in Aachen, Germany, which is, in my opinion, the best horse show in the world, but what makes it so special is the post-show open houses, something that has grown considerably over the years.
Held over the last weekend of September, the All Nations Cup is preceded by the German Nationals and also runs alongside the Arabian Breeders’ Futurity Finals and the European Breeders Trust Auction, this is a show like no other. Where else in the world could you see four Monogramm daughters power into the ring, one after the other? Being so close to Poland, you get to see an extraordinary number of horses from the Polish State Studs here, as well as the cream of the European and Middle Eastern breeding farms.
The first show in the European Triple Crown – where you have to win in Aachen, and at the European and World Championships in the same year to achieve the title –Aachen is a place where dreams come true. The atmosphere is always fantastic, and with the iconic Triumphal March by Verdi being played as the horses enter individually into
each class, there are plenty of moments to give you goosebumps.
The morning after the All Nations Cup has finished, it is always time to head to Belgium for the first stop of the unofficial post-show tours. Christine Jamar’s Jadem Arabians hosts an open house, showcasing stallions and show horses from her own breeding farm plus those of clients. The open house always ends on the lawn in front of her house where the new foals are presented, culminating in next year’s Jadem superstar. It is always a magical visit, and it always feels like it is too soon before you head down through Belgium to Schoukens Training Center.
Brothers Tom and Glenn Schoukens used to hold an open house but in recent years, this has changed into a high-end auction including star appearances from some of the special stallions who stand at their training facility including, over the years, QR Marc (Marwan Al Shaqab x Swete Dreams), EKS Farajj (Ibn Farid x EKS Bint Helwa) and WH Justice (Magnum Psyche x Vona Sher-Renea). This event has become a true highlight for those who attend, and it is always a glitzy affair.
The following day, Raphael Curti’s Privilege Arabians open their doors and this, too, is an amazing experience. Privilege Arabians is home to some of the most highly decorated Arabian horses in the world, and to visit is a dream. The hospitality is exceptional, and the quality of the horses in the presentation is breathtaking. This truly is a place where you will want to linger and walk the barns in your own time to look at the horses.
Other farms and training centres are joining the post-Aachen itinerary, with Nicolas Frère’s Danisa Training Center running their first open house last year, so it’s always a good idea to check ahead to see what is happening.
For me, however, this is the perfect way to finish the All Nations Cup – and also this article! I hope you feel inspired to dust off your passport, load up the internet and get planning your next holiday – with Arabian horses, incredible countryside and shows, hospitality beyond compare, and the chance to be with like-minded friends you have yet to meet.
Above Horse of the Year Gala, PC April Visel.
and
Strains, Types Misconceptions:
Diversity in the Arabian Breed
by BETTY FINK
Crabbet stallion Marbon Masadi
ANYONE NEW TO ARABIAN HORSES IN THE 21ST CENTURY MAY BE PARDONED FOR BELIEVING THEY COME IN JUST ONE TYPE: THE ETHEREAL, DISHFACED, SWAN-NECKED, LONGLEGGED SPECIMENS SEEN AT THE SHOWS.
Those of us who have been around longer, know better. True, the modern, world-spanning show industry demands this particular type of horse, because others would not be compatible. As a consequence, magazines and adverts propagate this image until people believe that this is the one true Arabian horse, and anything else is ‘off type’.
They couldn’t be more wrong. The original Arabian is a very diverse breed made up of groups which, while they share certain basic characteristics, are each unique and distinct from each other. The type we see in the show ring today is one of many and no more (or less) valid than any of the others. But with the emphasis now firmly on showing, those others are in danger of disappearing completely. At this point they haven’t, not yet. But they have disappeared from the public view. What most people get to see is the modern show horse, which – as unquestionably beautiful as it may be – is quite far removed from the original Arabian horse.
Raswan’s Tangled Strains
In the early days, all our knowledge about Arabian horses came from 19 th century European travellers: men and women who travelled to Arabia and wrote down their observations about the Bedouins, their way of life, and their horses. A few of them even lived among the Bedouins for a time and learned their language, which made them privy to more in-depth knowledge than mere outside observers. One of the earliest of those was Count Waclaw Rzewuski from Poland, followed later by Wilfrid and Lady Anne Blunt. However, their work was little known outside their native countries at the time.
The man whose works had the greatest reach and influence was one of the last to live and gather knowledge among the desert
tribes, at a time when the great days of Bedouin horse breeding were already in decline. This was the famous, or perhaps infamous, Carl Raswan,originally Carl Schmidt, born 1893 in Germany. He travelled extensively in the desert, living among the Bedouins, and was even accepted into one of their tribes. Raswan collected everything he could find on Arabian horses and published this in numerous books and articles. His magnum opus, the encyclopaedic ‘Raswan Index’, became a kind of bible for early Arabian breeders. It makes fascinating reading and contains priceless original documents, but Raswan’s own writing has to be read with discretion. He was prone to inaccuracies and not above adjusting the facts to suit his beliefs.
The most enduring doctrine to emerge from Raswan’s writing was the strain-type theory. Raswan was not the first writer to point out that there was more than one type of Arabian horse, but the first to claim that some types were superior to others. He was also the first to assign these types to certain strains, the strain being the matrilineal descent from a foundation mare. This was a practical way of keeping track of breeding in a society without written records. No matter who the sire was, you always knew a foal’s dam and could trace its lineage that way. These strains identified families kept by different tribes and breeders and were named after them. If a mare from a certain strain changed hands, the new owner would
develop a sub-strain from that family that would also carry his name. In theory then, all horses of the Saklawi strain would have descended from the same root mare, branched out into different sub-strains such as Saklawi Jidran and Saklawi Al Abd, which would then again branch out into sub-sub-strains, so you have Saklawi Jidran Ibn Ed Derri as well as Saklawi Jidran Ibn Sudan. That’s the theory, anyway. Modern mtDNA research has proved that not all Saklawis descend from the same root mare; but that’s a different subject.
These strains had been noted and identified by travellers long before Raswan. Some early writers even refer to them as different breeds, showing that not all Arabians were the same. It was Raswan, however, who assigned different types to certain strains, and this classification became a kind of dogma for early breeders.
The Bedouins had a large number of different strains, usually giving precedence to five of them which were said to descend from the fabled ‘Al Khamsa’: the five mares that, according to legend, left the herd to follow the Prophet Mohammed’s call to battle. But the identity of those five strains varies, depending on which source you use. To show just a few variations:
Burkhardt (c.1815):
Tuwaisan, Muniqi, Kuhailan, Saklawi, Jilfan
Guarmani (1828):
Kuhailan, Abeyan, Saklawi, Hamdani, Hadban
Petiniaud (1861):
Kuhailan, Hadban, Saklawi, Wadnan, Hamdani
Blunt (late 18th century):
Kuhailan, Saklawi, Abeyan, Hamdani, Hadban
The only common denominators here are Kuhailan and Saklawi, while the Dahman, one of the most popular strains today, don’t even get a mention.
Raswan made a valiant attempt to create a definite order out of chaos. He identified a total of 20 different strains, but said that only 12 of these were pure; and here things get murky. The remaining eight, he claimed, had been contaminated with Turcoman blood. Accordingly, he divided all Arabians into two distinct groups:
1. The ‘classic type’ with rounded outlines, beautiful heads and high tail carriage, which included the Kuhailan, Saklawi, and related strains. Within this ‘classic’ type, he further distinguishes between the Kuhailan as the strong, powerful ‘masculine’ type, and the Saklawi as the beautiful, more refined ‘feminine’ type.
2. The straight and angular ‘racing type’ with plain heads, which include the Muniqi and related strains.
From the modern perspective, this division looks very familiar. Today’s Arabians are indeed largely split into a ‘classic type’ and a ‘racing type’, only these days we know that the ‘racing types’ have, indeed, been contaminated – with Thoroughbred blood.
Raswan’s stigmatising of the Muniqi strain, though, did the breed a great disservice. No researcher before or after Raswan found any proof that the Bedouins regarded the Muniqi strain as impure, or as inferior to the other strains. On more than one occasion, the Muniqi are named among the ‘Al Khamsa’. Lady Anne Blunt, while not listing them among those top five, states unequivocally that they are accounted equal to the Al Khamsa, despite having coarse heads.
In this context we should remember that horse breeds don’t fall from the sky ready-made, but develop over a long period of time. Both Arabians and Turkomans are desert horses, most likely descended from the same root stock and at some point probably interbred. Modern genetic research has indeed found similar haplotypes in both Turkmen and Arabian sire lines. There is no reason why this should concern anyone.
Below (left-right) Witraz , Polish Kuhailan type (Skorkowski photo); Ajmal Talal (Sinan Al Rayyan x Ansata Samari) of the Dahmah Shahwaniyah and arguably Saklawi type. Opposite Raswan’s strains (from The Arab and His Horse).
Chelleason
Crown Jewel
MEYERS PHOTOS Alkasir DOB 1/12/21
Ramadan
Dream Maker
Gai El Jullyen (US)
Makers Mark Sophia WV (US)
Ramadan
Arabian Kadin
Jullyen El Jamaal
Gai Fantasha
Falcon BHF
Kharawind
Fame Maker R (US)
Karmaa (US)
Niarob Anwar-El-Sadat
Tristram Purette
SHARON
Strain = Type?
The fundamental problem with Raswan’s strain-type theory is glaringly obvious. If type equals strain, this implies that physical characteristics are passed on through the dam alone, so you should be able tell a horse’s strain from looking at it. Any breeder can tell you this isn’t the case. While there are some dam lines that pass on their own type quite strongly, this isn’t universally so. In any case, it takes just one dominant sire to put an end to it.
Raswan was aware of this himself. He explained it away by saying that the type doesn’t necessarily follow the actual strain, but the strain that represents the highest percentage in a pedigree. To show this, he drew up pedigrees and marked the Kuhailans red, the Saklawis blue, and the Muniqis black to mark the dominant strain, illustrating this with pictures of the horses in question.
While this is all very well in theory, it falls apart when you apply it to other horses and discover it doesn’t work that way, either, because your predominantly Kuhailan horse looks like a Saklawi. This has caused endless confusion. It wasn’t helped by the fact that later authors, like Edward Skorkowski of Poland, fiddled with the strain-type assignation and introduced even more factors into the mix. According to Skorkowski, the Kuhailans are typically bay in colour, the Saklawis grey, and the Hadbans chestnut. The Hadbans here
replace the Muniqis, which don’t come into the picture at all.
In short: While the different types Raswan describes certainly exist, they don’t equal the strains they are assigned to. The strains were just a means of tracing matrilineal descent, not of identifying different types. But thanks to Raswan, the terms ‘Kuhailan type’, ‘Saklawi type’ and ‘Muniqi type’ have become embedded in the collective consciousness of Arabian breeders. Everyone knows what they mean. They are as good a way of defining the different types as any, so we may as well use them. We just have to remember that they are types and have nothing to do with a horse’s actual strain. A horse can be a Saklawi in strain and Kuhailan in type, and vice versa.
Now let’s look at those three types themselves. Each of them is a traditional, valid type of Arabian, no better or worse than any other. But the Kuhailan and Saklawi types have always been more popular than the Muniqis. Leaving aside the question of purity, the Muniqi type is characterised by angular outlines and a plain head. It is no less authentic, but certainly less pretty. Most people’s idea of a typical Arabian today is the Saklawi. In modern show horses, you see the Saklawi type taken to the extreme, almost to the point of caricature: so ultra-refined that even the stallions look feminine.
Most of the early imports to Europe, however, represented the Kuhailan type,
sometimes even the Muniqi. These horses conformed more closely to European ideals. In his book ‘Hanan: The Story of an Arabian Mare and the Arabian Breed’, Dr. Hans Nagel postulates the intriguing idea that the bigger and stronger Kuhailans were the horses of Northern Arabia, which had more vegetation and was more suitable for keeping horses, while the Saklawi types were the horses of the inner and Southern desert, smaller and more refined because of the harsher climate. While this theory is controversial, it is a fact that most of the horses imported to Europe came from the North, most often from Syria. Very few travellers made it as far as the Nejd, where the elite of desert horses were supposedly found. You don’t have to follow this theory to the conclusion that the Saklawi types of the South are the true, classic Arabian horses, but some people certainly do.
It was the Syrian horses, though, that provided most of the foundation stock for Europe. Transplanted from their desert homeland to richer pastures, Arabians began to adapt and evolve. You might say that another division into types and strains happened as each country developed its own breeding programme, and each country was to some extent reflected in its Arabians. The next step, then, is to look at the types developed in different countries and how they reflect the traditional types of the desert.
THE SAKLAWIS OF ABBAS PASHA
Let us start with Egypt. To get another popular misconception out of the way: Egypt is not the original homeland of the Arabian horse.
Like all others, the early Egyptian breeders imported foundation stock from the desert and bred them according to their own ideas. You could even say that those Egyptian breeders – Abbas Pasha I, Ali Pasha Sherif, and all the Egyptian princes that followed them – were the first Arabian breeders in the modern sense. Unlike Europeans, who imported Arabians for the practical purpose of breeding superior cavalry horses, the Egyptians bred Arabian horses for representative purposes and for the sake of their beauty. This is a very modern concept! It also explains why Egyptian horses have always been famous for their beauty, and more often show the Saklawi type than any others. You wouldn’t be wrong
to say that the Saklawi type of today originated in Egypt. Researchers will also tell you that Abbas Pasha I, the founder of Arabian breeding in Egypt, valued the Saklawi strain about all others and famously acquired as many horses of this strain in the desert as he could. As a result, Saklawi horses became hard to find for those who came after him.
Whether the strain or type were linked or not, this was the type Abbas Pasha bred and selected for, and his horses were world famous for their beauty. We have a stunning example in the iconic portrait of the Abbas Pasha-bred mare, Koheil Aguse, who was imported to the Weil Stud in Germany. It shows the perfect Saklawi type, though –ironically – the mare’s name shows her to be Kuhailan by strain.
While Egypt is not the Arabian Desert, the climate is certainly better suited for
breeding spare and refined horses than the rich European pastures. It was this superior refinement that made Egyptians bred by the Egyptian Agricultural Organization (EAO) so enduringly popular; along with the fact that they, unlike many others, can be traced back to the desert in all lines of their pedigrees.
This is not to say that Egypt didn’t have Kuhailan type horses, too. They did, as proved by famous sires like Ibn Rabdan, Sameh, or Gassir. The 1920 importation of horses from Crabbet Park added to this. Unlike most straight Egyptians, the Babson Egyptians of the USA – descended largely from Ibn Rabdan and Crabbet stock – represent the Kuhailan type. But it has always been the Saklawi type Egyptians of the EAO that have been the most popular, and they still are.
Above Koheil Aguse from the stud of Abbas Pasha Opposite (left-right) EAO stallion Mogaser (Gabbour x Sawary), Saklawi type, Kuhailan strain; Polish stallion Elart (Palas x Elana) Michalow Saklawi type and strain.
TEHAMA NA SIDAQA SA x EL BADOURA UK
International Champion, East Coast Champion, Bronze Aussie Champion. Sire of Australian Champions, East Coast Champions, Endurance horses and successful performance horses in open company.
Photo: Belinda Zaiter
Valinor Park Kiss of Sidaqa
Valinor Park Sedaka East Coast Champion
Valinor Park Kahlua - Aust. Ch, winner Interschool, Sydney Royal 2024
Photo: David Gillett
Photo: Stolen Moments Photography
Photo: Belinda Zaiter
Photo: Belinda Zaiter
THE CRABBET ARABIAN
The typical Crabbet Arabian is the most perfect example of Kuhailan type you could possibly find. They have the rounded outlines, stronger bone, and the stallions are unmistakably masculine. Not surprisingly, they make fine riding and performance horses, but a modern show judge would not look at them twice.
The Blunts imported two distinct groups of horses: the first directly from the desert, the second from Egypt. The desert horses represented a broad spectrum of strains, but largely conformed to the Kuhailan type, including the Saklawi mares Basilisk and Meshura. It should be pointed out that one, Ferida, was a Muniqi, and another, Queen of Sheba (herself of the Abeyan strain) had a Muniqi sire. If the purity of the Muniqi strain had been in question, we may be sure the Blunts would never have imported these horses. Some of them appear quite plain by modern standards, judging from photographs, and that doesn’t just apply to the Muniqis.
It is hardly surprising that the horses from Egypt were more attractive. They came from the breeding programme of Ali Pasha Sherif, who had bought up most of the Abbas Pasha stock when the stud was disbanded, so they represented Abbas
Pasha breeding. Some of these horses were very handsome even by today’s standards. Unlike the desert imports, most of them were of the Saklawi and Dahman strains, but would still be classified as Kuhailan type. This is especially true of Mesaoud, the most influential sire of them all, whose own type and colour became synonymous with the term ‘Crabbet’. He was a Saklawi Jedran by strain, and if you use Raswan’s method of colour-coding his pedigree, it is overwhelmingly Saklawi. Nevertheless he was a perfect Kuhailan type, which should prove once and for all that the equation strain=type doesn’t work.
The Crabbet horses greatly influenced Arabian breeding in other countries and on other continents. The foundation stock of Australia, the USA, and South Africa were almost entirely made up of Crabbet horses, with the addition of a few original desert horses, and these lines dominated those countries for a long time. This began to change in the later 20th century, and today Crabbet Arabians have become rare even in Britain, where the modern show horse has established as firm a hold as everywhere else. Australia and South Africa still have quite sizeable populations of Crabbet Arabians and breeders that are trying to preserve them.
THE KUHAILANS (AND OTHERS) OF POLAND
Even those Arabian enthusiasts with only the vaguest idea about strains and types have heard the term ‘Polish Kuhailan’ and know what it means. It conjures up an image of a stocky, somewhat ‘chunky’ bay horse, short- rather than long-legged, with a dry, refined head, a straight profile, and huge eyes. It is the archetypal Kuhailan by Raswan’s definition and it used to be almost synonymous with the Polish Arabian.
While those Polish Kuhailans can be of any strain, the type was introduced by an actual Kuhailan stallion: Kuhailan Haifi d.b., imported in 1931. He was one of the last desert imports to Poland, but arguably the most influential, because he passed on his own type very strongly, even through many generations. His son Ofir was the blueprint, siring several look-alike sons in Witraz, Wielki Szlem, and Witez II, who were all just as prepotent as their sire and grandsire, and far more prolific. The Witraz son Bask created an entire dynasty in the USA, kick-starting the modern Arabian ‘industry’. Ironically, it was this industry that eventually swallowed the Polish Kuhailans, though these horses were very popular during the 1980s/90s. Today, the show ring favours more elegant, long-legged, dishfaced horses, and the fans of those horses would consider the Polish Kuhailans as not ‘typey’ enough. Which is again ironic, because that type is identical to that of the foundation stallion, who came straight from the desert. It may not be show type, but it’s definitely desert type.
Poland also has its Saklawi types, though no Saklawi strains. These horses descend from another iconic stallion, Skowronek. Edward Skorkowski, who wrote at length about types and strains, developed his own theory and even went as far as assigning strains according to type. Skowronek’s strain was not known, if he even had one; his dam line ends with a Polish mare, Iliniecka, of unknown descent. Skorkowski simply assigned a strain to her and called it ‘Saklawi Iliniecka’, because Skowronek conformed to his idea of the Saklawi type. Similarly, he ‘created’ the strain ‘Saklawi Milordka’ for the descendants of another Polish foundation mare of unknown origin. While this might horrify purists, it’s pretty much the way the Bedouins did it. And there is a distinct type, both among the descendants of Skowronek and those of the Milordka family, whose lines blended to create the horses for which Michalow Stud became famous. According to Skorkowski, Janow Podlaski bred the (bay) Kuhailans and Michalow bred the (grey) Saklawis. Whether you accepted the
Below Crabbet stallion Marbon Mastarpiece.
terminology or not, you could not deny the reality of those types. While the Janow herd was shaped to a large extent by Witraz and his son Celebes, the Michalow herd was formed by stallions like Negatiw, Miecznik, and Amurath Sahib. Today, though, these distinctions have been largely erased and most Polish Arabians are a blend of both. Given the steady admixture of modern show lines, we may not be seeing those distinct old Polish types very much longer.
Below (top-down) Negatiw (Naseem x Taraszka) Polish stallion of Saklawi type; Polish Kuhailan stallion Europejczyk.
THE ROYAL HORSES OF GERMANY
Arabian breeding in Germany goes back further than in most other countries, in fact all but Poland. King Wilhelm I of Württemberg established his private stud at Weil in 1817 with foundation stock imported directly from the desert. The foundation stallion Bairactar and the foundation mare Murana established a sire and dam line that both continue today and are the oldest lines directly traceable to the desert. Later, horses from Egypt and the bloodlines of Abbas Pasha were added. The breeding programme itself has survived: in 1932 the royal horses were given over to Marbach State Stud, where they are still being bred on.
Bairactar’s strain is not recorded, but he was frequently portrayed and his image conforms to the Saklawi type. It is still found in his descendants: the last stallion of his line to stand at Marbach, Dschehim, bore a striking resemblance to his ancestor. No image exists of Murana, unfortunately, and her strain was not recorded either, but mtDNA typing of her descendants has shown them to trace to the same root mare as the Polish foundation mare Gazella, who was a Kuhailan Ajuz.
Bairactar, it should be noted, played a part in developing the Polish Saklawis of Michalow through his linear descendant Amurath Sahib. It is also interesting to note that his blood in found, many times over, in modern warmblood sports horses, especially Holsteiners. It is so prepotent that it can still be seen many generations later.
Marbach developed a very distinct and recognizable type of Arabian during the second half of the 20 th century, thanks to the hugely prepotent Egyptian-bred chief sire Hadban Enzahi. These horses combined the shorter lines of the Kuhailan type with the refinement of the Saklawi type, falling somewhere between the two. While the modern Marbach horses have developed longer lines, they have not succumbed to any of the fads. The breeding programme of Marbach, like that of El Zahraa in Egypt, is focused on preservation. Unlike the state studs of Poland, they have not followed to the lure of modern fashion and remain a source of authentic, old-fashioned Arabian horses.
Below Weil-Marbach stallion Dschehim.
THE ‘MUNIQIS’ OF FRANCE
Nothing conforms quite as perfectly to Raswan’s Muniqi type as the original French Racing Arabian. This is hardly surprising, since they have been selected for the racetrack for generations. When you do that, you end up with something resembling the Thoroughbred – after all, this is how the breed was created in the first place. The French racehorses don’t only share the Muniqi’s type, but also the stigma of being ‘contaminated’, in this case by Thoroughbred blood. For the most part, this is based on conjecture, though, and has not been proved. DNA tests have instead shown that the horses descending in tail male line from the controversial racing sire Manganate are in fact from the sire line of Latif DB, which is also found in other Arabians.
While Manganate didn’t look much like an Arabian, he conforms to a type that can be traced straight back to Latif through the male line. Latif was a Hamdani by strain, and Manganate himself, for the record, was a Kuhailan Abu Urqub. There’s no Muniqi anywhere in sight. So it’s a case of the use determining the shape of the horse rather than its strain, whether it was the Muniqis of the desert or the racing Arabians of France. Or, for that matter, the modern show horse. You might argue that the modern Arabian show horse is just as much removed from the original desert Arabian as the modern French racing Arabian, only in the exact opposite direction. Both are extremes at the far end of the spectrum. The ideal, as always, lies somewhere in the middle.
THE RUSSIAN BLEND
No other country managed to achieve quite as perfect a blend of all the above sources, as Russia. The Russian state breeding programme at Tersk only emerged after World War II, initially based on horses captured from Poland during the War, then adding Crabbet horses from England and racehorses from France. The catalyst arrived a bit later in the shape of the Egyptian Aswan, adding type and refinement to the solid, athletic horses that were already there. The quintessential Russian Arabian, then, had it all, and came closer to the ideal than any other Arabian before or after him, certainly more so than the modern show horse.
But, also true to its sources, Russian Arabians were not all of one type. Depending on what lines were prevalent, you’d get Egyptian-type ‘Saklawi’ Russians, Crabbet and Polish type ‘Kuhailan’ Russians, and French type ‘Muniqi’ Russians. The Russian Arabian represented the whole breed in a nutshell, the finest of them combining the best of all worlds.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and privatisation, though, Tersk also began to follow the dictates of the market and now keeps distinct breeding programmes for show and racing Arabians, with the traditional Russians becoming the minority.
Left (top-down) French racing stallion Kesmel (Djamel x Kesperla); Russian stallion Napevnij (Piligrim x Nagruzka) is Kuhailan in strain and type; Russian mare Polli (Balafon x Perspektiva) is Kuhailan strain Saklawi type.
Last not least, Spain developed its own and very distinctive type of Arabian. It is one the most striking examples of a European country adapting the Arabian to its own ideals, resulting in a horse of almost ‘baroque’ outlines with strong hindquarters and powerful, highset necks in the stallions that were reminiscent of Spain’s native breed, the Pura Raza Espaniol. The typical old type Spanish Arabian was also known his straight profile and rather large muzzle, but also for very big eyes. At one time, ‘Spanish eyes’ were a well-known term among breeders. Other common characteristics were level toplines and good, strong legs.
The Spanish Arabian was created from a mix of different sources: horses imported directly from the desert (there are two unique Spanish sire lines and several dam lines), Crabbet Arabians, and a few Polish horses. The distinct type that emerged from this blend was a result of selection, in this case towards a specific type rather than a specific use. As far as use goes, they have excelled (and still do) at anything from carriage driving to cross-country, even bull-fighting.
While the typical Spanish Arabian is more Kuhailan in type than Saklawi, Spain also has its Saklawi types. The most famous was the legendary Estopa, who was a Saklawi type both by Raswan’s and Skorkowski’s standards. But she also had a head that was distinctly Spanish: no dished profile or teacup muzzle, but great refinement and large eyes.
The pure Spanish Arabian may be the most endangered of all Arabians today. In Spain, as everywhere else, global show lines have mostly taken over, and only few breeders are making an attempt to preserve the traditional Spanish Arabian.
In Conclusion
All other Arabian breeding countries – the rest of Europe as well as America and Australasia – got their foundation stock from these sources, creating their own blends. In the USA, this eventually resulted in the show horses we see today which, thanks to globalization, have now swept across the whole world.
While there is nothing wrong with the horses as such, the problem is that they are supplanting the traditional breeding programmes almost everywhere. State studs are the original preservation breeders and guardians of original bloodlines. But while those of Egypt and Germany still fulfil that role, the Arabians of the Polish state studs are fast becoming absorbed into the global melting pot, losing their identity in the process. And while there are dedicated private preservation breeders who labour to keep endangered bloodlines and types alive, these are often small breeders with limited means.
Yet they are now the ones safeguarding the diversity of the Arabian breed and with it, a large part of its tradition.
Right (top-down) Spanish stallion Lobeke (Fiolek x Eleskirt); Spanish stallion Ojinegro Qahira (Ghandour x Bel Princess); Russian stallion Sambist (Balafon x Sithia).
Silver Shimmer
THE LEADING LADY FOR THIS EDITION OF ARABIAN STUDS & STALLIONS IS THE GLORIOUS SILVER SHIMMER, MATRIARCH OF AN ENDURING LEGACY. COMING IN AT SECOND PLACE IN OUR LEADING DAMLINES TO THE FENWICK IMPORT NASIRIEH (READ ABOUT HER IN LAST YEAR’S EDITION), SILVER SHIMMER SHINES, FOREVER INTERTWINED ALONGSIDE HER DAUGHTER SILVER GLINT, WITHOUT WHOM THE SUCCESS OF THIS FAMILY WOULD NOT BE THE SAME.
by DAVID GILLETT
Revered breeder Coralie Gordon of Cameo Stud once described Mrs Sheila Stump of Windella Arabians as being ‘one of the Arabian breed’s most successful quiet achievers, but also a fascinating personality in her own right, who bubbles and laughs and brims over with the joy of living and being able to indulge her twin loves of horses and art.’ Indeed, when one considers the almost overwhelming beauty of what would become known as ‘the Windella mares’, you may ponder whether this appreciation of art and horses was in fact a contributor to Sheila’s success in breeding some of the most revered horses the breed has witnessed.
Sheila’s stud was located at Windella near Rowena in the North West of NSW. Sheila’s daughter Anne Vella remembers, ‘Mum started breeding Arabs with her two sisters as part of Gordon Bros when she returned from England in 1958. They bought Moon Kabala (Silver Moonlight x Kassa) from Jean Luckock in 1960. Early mares shared by the sisters included Dara (Darinth x Salari); Nefari (Bahri x Neyussef); Farida (Sala x Sheba); Habzar (Bahri x Neyzar) and Haniya (Mamaluke x Esther) amongst other mares of early colonial breeding.’ The partnership ended around 1960 with the dissolution of Gordon Bros.
Sheila shared the stallions Iran (Yourouk x Zazouri); Pharaon (Fari II x Lyvia) and the imported straight Egyptian El Sherif Nazir (Ansata El Sherif x Yasmina) with Dick Best. Her own stallions were El Calif (Amadi x Dara), who was a registered Australian Stockhorse and won championships in cutting and reining, and Bremervale Colombia, bought from the Tofts in Queensland. The Windella prefix started being used in the late 70s with the birth of Silver Shimmer’s progeny.
‘I was living in England at the time when Mum came over to purchase one or two Crabbet mares. We went on a wonderful car trip visiting at least eight and probably more of the top Crabbet Studs in England. I remember we would arrive before lunch, and were usually treated to a pheasant feast with plenty of sherry before lunch. The afternoon would be looking at the stud and we often stayed overnight.
‘Mum chose two beautiful mares to buy. Silver Shimmer (Fari II x Silver Sheen), a grey, from Mrs Iona Bowring and Wings of Gold (King Cotton Gold x Silent Wings), a bay, from Mrs Caroline Murray of Foxbury Stud. Mum and Caroline became long lasting friends.’
Silver Shimmer’s dam, Silver Sheen was a direct tail female descendant of Crabbet’s great matriarch Silver Fire, the first daughter of Naseem. Silver Sheen was one of the most decorated show horses in England of the time. Naturally, Silver Shimmer was the most expensive of all the mares Sheila had inspected, and thus sacrifices at home were made with several important horses sold to fund the importation of her new prize.
While in England, like many others at that time, Sheila had seen and fallen in love with El Shaklan (Shaker El Masri x Estopa). ‘At our visit to the Maxwells of Lodge Farm, the then two-year-old El Shaklan was on lease from his owners in Germany. Mum and I were rather bowled over by his exceptional beauty and presence. As Silver Shimmer had been purchased at this stage Mum decided a cross between Shimmer and El Shaklan could really work well. It certainly did with the birth of Silver Glint.’
Silver Shimmer and her new filly foal Silver Glint were imported to Australia in 1979. Silver Shimmer would go on to produce another eight foals, some of whom did breed on with success such as VIC Classic Champion Windella Silver Fire and Amira Shimira, both by Amir El Shaklan (El Shaklan x Sascha). None however were to attain quite the heights of Silver Glint and her daughters, who dominated the show ring during the late 90s and early 2000s. In fact, all of the tail female descendants of Silver Shimmer who attained points in this year’s chart trace their heritage to her through her daughter Silver Glint.
That same year that Silver Shimmer and Silver Glint arrived in Australia, Sheila’s husband John passed away. Realising she had to downsize the stud, Sheila, along with Peter and Vivienne Hall of Fairview Arabians, entered into one of the greatest partnerships the Arabian horse industry has
witnessed, enduring for many years. The mares were to be bred to Fairview’s exciting new stallion Amir El Shaklan (El Shaklan x Sascha), sharing the fillies year on year and selling the colts.
‘Unfortunately, with the death of my father, Mum had to downsize the stud. Peter Hall was keen to breed alongside Mum as he had produced Amir El Shaklan. Mum wasn’t keen on inbreeding but realised the opportunity with Silver Glint. She shared other mares with Peter to breed with including Wings of Gold. I think Mum and Peter had a good relationship which ended when she died in 2005.’
Peter Hall remembers, ‘A great friendship and breeding arrangement developed between myself, Vivienne and Sheila Stump, which led us to breeding many of the very best Arabian horses in Australia and the world at this time.
‘Since first viewing El Shaklan as a youngster, as a two-year-old and again as a mature stallion, I decided that I wanted to linebreed to this stallion and his pedigree. I set about
obtaining Arabian mares that were in some way related to El Shaklan and also Amir El Shaklan either through Egyptian or Spanish blood lines.
‘When I became aware that the El Shaklan daughter Silver Glint was in Australia I spent several months talking to Sheila Stump before we entered into an agreement to use her imported mares. Shortly after, three mares including Silver Glint and Silver Shimmer arrived at Fairview Arabian Stud and stayed with me for the rest of their lives.
‘Their progeny sired by both Amir El Shaklan and SK Shakla Khan were outstanding, particularly from Silver Glint. We were all so very proud to have bred them.’
Silver Glint really hit her stride as a broodmare after being linebred to her sire through Amir El Shaklan, then later SK Shakla Khan (Sanadik El Shaklan x Sun King Raindrop). The first result was a beautiful grey filly, Windella Silver Fascination, who would later become the 1996 Australian National Champion Mare.
However it was her younger sister Shakla’s Silver Dream, sired by SK Shakla Khan, who would be the first of Silver Glint’s progeny to win an Australian Championship. Her first in 1994 as a Junior Filly, then again in 2000, at that time a glorious, alabaster vision in white, as Senior Mare.
If Silver Glint had only ever produced Shakla’s Silver Dream and Windella Silver Fascination, she would be revered as an icon, however the family just kept on producing. At the 1997 Australian National Championships the first foal from Windella Silver Fascination, Windella Silver Sensation by SK Shakla Khan was crowned Champion Filly, while Windella Silver Shadow, sired by Amir El Shaklan from Windella Silver Glitter (Bremervale Colombia x Silver Glint) was Champion Mare. This marked the first time both the Champion Junior Filly and Senior Mare were bred by the same breeder.
Earlier at the 1997 East Coast Arabian Championships, Windella Silver Sensation was again Champion Filly whilst Shakla’s
Above Shakla’s Silver Dream (SK Shakla Khan x Silver Glint) PC: Michael Vink. Opposite Silver Shimmer (Fari II x Silver Sheen).
SILVER SHIMMER
AUSTRALIAN BREEDING RECORD
1978 Silver Glint Grey Filly by El Shaklan (DE) (Shaker El Masri x Estopa) – retained at stud
1980 Windella Silver Knight Grey Colt by El Sherif Nazir (US) (Ansata El Sherif x Yasmina) – gelded after siring one daughter from Silver Glint
1981 Windella Silver Cloud Grey Colt by El Sherif Nazir (US) –retained at stud. No recorded progeny
1982 Windella Silver Dollar Grey Colt by Gaul Diman (ES) (Uzacur x Gurab) – sold to H&H Sandford, no recorded progeny
1984 Windella Silver Win Grey Colt by Bremervale Colombia (AU) (Oxford Decimus x Bremervale Zendi) – gelded and retained
1986 Amira Bint Shimmer Chestnut Filly by Amir El Shaklan (GB) (El Shaklan x Sascha) – sold to Peter Hall then Robyn Thompson.
1987 Windella Silver Fire Grey Filly by Amir El Shaklan (GB) –sold to Redwood Lodge. Exported to New Zealand
1988 Windella Magnetic Chestnut Colt by Amir El Shaklan (GB) –became a sire for Robian Stud
1992 Amira Shimira Grey Filly by Amir El Shaklan (GB) –broodmare for Niarla Arabians with seven recorded progeny
SILVER GLINT AUSTRALIAN BREEDING RECORD
1983 Windella Silver Glitter Grey Filly by Bremervale Colombia (AU) – East Coast Reserve Champion Mare
1984 Windella Silver Witch Grey Filly by Windella Silver Night– sold
1988 Silver Fantazia Grey Filly by Saracen Karim (Shaikh Al Badi x Rhuminaja Ghalia) – dam of successful progeny
1989 Windella Silver Fascination Grey Filly by Amir El Shaklan. Australian National Champion Mare
1990 Amira El Shaklan Grey Filly by Amir El Shaklan. Produced one filly, whose family continues today
1991 Shakla’s Silver Dream Grey Filly by SK Shakla Khan. Breed Icon and Twice Australian National Champion
1992 Windella Silver Sequin Grey Filly by SK Shakla Khan. Dam of Ghazal Ibn Estopa
1993 Shakla’s Ibn Shaklan Grey Colt by SK Shakla Khan. Sire for Tristram Stud
1995 Soolai’mon Grey Colt by Amir El Shaklan. New Zealand National Champion
Above (top-down) Windella Silver Fascination (Amir El Shaklan x Silver Glint), PC: Stuart Vesty; Silver Glint (El Shaklan x Silver Shimmer); Windella Silver Sensation (SK Shakla Khan x Windella Silver Fascination). PC: Pat Slater; Opposite Jalilah FF (Crave FF x Mystica Jamarlee). PC: Julie Wilson.
Silver Dream was East Coast Champion Mare. Reserve to her that year was Windella Silver Shadow. A few years later, after winning the coveted Australian National Champion Mare title in 2002, Windella Silver Sensation would be sold and exported back to England, the land of her ancestors, where in 2003 she would attain the British National Champion Mare title.
And it wasn’t just the mares who were winning. Again in 1997, over in New Zealand Wind N Fire (GG Magnetism x Windella Silver Fire) was crowned National Champion Stallion by Lenita Peroy. Bred by Redwood Lodge, he and his dam were exported to New Zealand where they produced very well. Back in Australia, Windella Silver Sequin, a full sister to Shakla’s Silver Dream produced the colt Ghazal Ibn Estopa by Estasan Ibn Estopa (Ibn Estopa x Bint Estawa), who also won two Australian National Championships, the first in 2005 and the second in 2007.
That same year that Ghazal Ibn Estopa won his second Australian National
Championship, a young bay filly by the name of Mystica Jameelah was crowned Australian National Reserve Champion Filly. Sired by Focus Onme FA from Windella Precious As Gold (SK Shakla Khan x Windella Silver Fascination), it is through her that the majority of today’s winning Silver Shimmer Family can be traced. No longer the ethereal, white mares of the ancestors…the new guard are mostly bay, and just as beautiful.
Her 2011 daughter Mystica Jamarlee (by Marwan Al Shaqab) had the good fortune to be purchased by Kate and Doyle Dertell from Future Farms, and in turn she has become one of the most important mares at the stud. Of her seven offspring, five have won A Class Championships, including at the Australian National Championships, and putting her in sixth place on this year’s Leading Mares chart.
Now owned by Sabble Farms, Jamarlee’s first daughter Jalilah FF by Crave FF (Mash x Bremervale Charmed) is leading the charge for this family right now. With only three
progeny to date, SF Jammagio (by Emerald J), SF Jalani (by EKS Alihandro) and SH Jaheris (by RD Dynamo), their combined show success over the past 12 months has propelled their dam to third place on our Leading Mares Chart for 2024.
The Silver Shimmer Family is further represented in our chart this year by the progeny of Fairview Silver Scelebration (SK Shakla Khan x Windella Silver Shadow), who is currently leased to Mulawa Arabians. Her sons Iconic Al Sahrae (by El Chall WR) and Signature MI (by Allegiance MI) placed their dam in 15th place on our Leading Mares Chart.
It has been 45 years since the arrival of Silver Shimmer and Silver Glint in Australia, and their light does not look set to dim anytime soon. As the family continues to produce luminaries of our breed throughout the years, we can be thankful for the foresight and tenacity of breeders such as Sheila Stump and Peter Hall, who set the foundation and indeed the benchmark, for us to aspire to.
What the is thinking:
Arabian Horse World
A
Global Survey
FIVE QUESTIONS ASKED OF SOME OF OUR FINEST ENTHUSIASTS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE.
by MARIO BRAGA
Five questions asked of some of our finest enthuaiasts from around the globe. That was the task that Arabian Studs and Stallions Magazine has honoured me with. Though it is just a small sample, it represents fairly well the different or similar points of view from highly respected people all of which I personally admire. So, I guess for me it was more than a task, it was a true pleasure to register what these amazing people had to say and a unique learning opportunity too. I thank all of them for taking their precious time to present us with this wonderful material.
Tell us about your involvement with the Arabian
Bart Van Buggenhout – Belgium (Founder of Arabians@home and consultant for Al Rayyan Stud, Qatar and Danubius Arabians, Romania)
I have been in horses since I was 9 years old but got familiar with Arabian horses first at Jadem Arabians when I was 12. I had to lie about my age a little as Christine Jamar, the owner and breeder of Jadem, only lets children come and help in the farm from the age of 14. But since my first day at Jadem I knew this is what loved most above all and so my life around Arabian horses started … it’s been quite a ride that brought me overall throughout the world. Right now, I do consultancy work in breeding and management for Danubius Arabians in Roumania and Al Rayyan Farm respectively. Qatar and USA have been my home base for many years, currently my home base is back in Belgium.
Angela Ochoa – Colombia (General Secretary of the Colombian Arabian Horse Association and International judge)
When I was a child, the Colombian army imported some Arabian stallions and mares from the United States. I saw them for the first time when we went to meet them at the air base where they had a horse farm, my family had always been breeders of horses of other breeds, since then I was amazed and infatuated with the Arabian breed.
Ricardo Duch – Chile ( Founder and owner of Haras Lonco )
The first time I saw an Arabian horse was in the Matthei family’s field in southern Chile when I was dating my wife. At that time, I rode them during summer vacations and was absolutely impressed by their agility, docility, and unmatched beauty. Years later, about 20 years later, my children, who spent long summer holidays at their grandfather’s farm, developed a strong bond with horses and wanted to compete in endurance races. In response to this, I sought out the best breeders in Latin America. Today, we have been breeding Arabian horses for over 20 years, which brings us so much happiness.
Isaac Taylor – USA (Owner of Tayor Ranch and Interntional Judge)
My Fathers uncle bred Arabian horses in the 1950’s and 1960’s His dream was to have an Arabian breeding farm. We always had one or two growing up but when I was about 10 years old he became much more involved and I have been heavily involved ever since.
Left (top-down) Bart Van Buggenhout, Angela Ochoa. Opposite Fragonard K (Shael Dream Desert x Faye K) owned by Murillo Kammer.
Fara Bint Nira
IN FOAL TO AMANI MONISCIONE
(AJ MARDAN X ALMA EL TIGLIO BY AJMAN MONISCIONE)
Baromanov (AU)
Fara Bint Nira
D.O.B 10/01/2013
Nira
Barabas (NL)
Shimmering Gold (AU)
Naavah
Clifton Park Neeka
Nadejni (RU)
Barhatnaja (RU)
Escalate (exp AE) (AU)
Haisumi (AU)
Vision (GB)
Naazirah
Nile
Nazli
PC DAVID GILLETT
Al Kha-zar (US)
D.O.B 01/11/2009
Clifton Park Nefisa
Thee Asil (US)
Infidels Princess (US)
Nile Nazelle
Thee Desperado (US)
Alia Barakaa (US)
Thee Infidel (US)
Princess Jahara (US)
Mustafa (DE)
Nara (iid GB)
Vision (GB)
Nazli
Deidre Hyde – United Kingdom (Author, International Judge, Ecaho Judging Instructor, Consultant for the Emirates Arabian Horse Society)
I am from Scotland, and I was brought up with horses. My mother had horses most of her life, during WW2 she even worked as a girl groom at the Army Remount Depot, Melton Mowbray. She had a good friend Mrs Lilias Macvie, one of the early breeders of Arabians in Scotland who we used to visit regularly. Mrs Macvie was a very clever lady, she understood how important it is to encourage young people to be interested in Arabians. To that end for several years, she took a group of horse mad girls like me to The Arab Horse Society Annual Show held in the vicinity of London. I was 13 when I went on my first trip and was captured. Not long after Mrs Macvie continued the enchantment by loaning me her daughter’s Arabian gelding Firebird who was followed by the gift of a yearling gelding. The damage was done and several years later in partnership with the late Diana Whittome, we acquired one of the last mares bred at Crabbet, Gold Royal (Royal Crystal-Silent Wings). These were the first of many Arabians from all sorts of bloodlines I have had the privilege to know throughout my life.
They have led me down many extraordinary and exciting paths including almost 30 years of adventure in Abu Dhabi, UAE, working for members of the ruling family. I finally returned to UK in late 2020 but I continue my long connection with Emirates Arabian Horse Society currently working as a consultant. I am also involved with ECAHO through the Judges Instructor Group and as an “A” list judge I enjoy judging and teaching around the world.
Annette Vickery – Australia (International Judge and Owner of Espirit Arabians)
I became familiar with Arabians as a young teenager, my Aunt was offered a part Arabian to show. She did so very successfully, and started showing him at Arabian shows as well as open shows. I went along to those shows and didn’t think I’d ever be able to afford pure Arabians. These days I have a farm in the Hunter Valley NSW. I breed & occasionally show them too.
Murilo Kammer – Brazil (International Judge and Founder/Owner of Haras Aratinga)
The first time I saw an Arabian horse was as a young boy on a visit to a farm from the Ministry of Agriculture. Later, I started educating myself, reading books and magazines and visiting farms around the world. After 4 or 5 years I met a breeder that introduced me to some trainers in the US. That was the start of it all.
Gaston Labadie – Argentina – (Founder/ Owner of Haras Santa Clara and International Consultant)
My first Arabian horse was a 16-year-old grey flea-bitten stallion out of Morana El Shaklan, a full sister to Sanadik El Shaklan and after a visit to Zichy Thyssen I realized I wanted to breed Arabian horses. I began with my brother to breed with almost no knowledge of the breed. Of course, the result at the beginning was a disaster.
Al Shaqab offered me a job in Qatar, where I learned from many people about different aspects of the Arabian horse industry and since I’ve been involved with Arabian horses as a consultant for breeders in different parts of the world.
Leon Botha – South Africa – (Manager of the horse division for Al Waab Stud Qatar and International Judge)
I have been involved in Arabian industry for over thirty years, managing several studs in South Africa. This includes training and showing various disciplines after which, my
wife and I opened a training center and was later joined by our son Victor. We trained and showed several different breeds but focused on the Arabian horse.
After Victor relocated to the USA to train for Stachowski Farms and I decided to scale down which gave me more time to judge and travel more. Long story short, I went to judge in Australia and met Michelle and Elouise Lando. Through Elouise I was introduced to Al Waab stud in Doha, Qatar. After discussions with Jenni Ogden, we relocated to Qatar. Currently I am managing the horse division at Al Waab for Sheikh Abdulla bin Khalid Al Thani.
Galo Hidalgo – Ecuador – (Founder and owner of Haras Gajualo)
I have always been close to horses. Since the time of my grandparents, we have had ties to horses in general. Today I am still close to them, trying to understand what the great breeders do and what the trend is, looking for a balance between functionality and the beauty that a growing market of new breeders and enthusiasts are looking for today.
Above Gaston Labadie and Ludjin El Jamaal
As far as disciplines go, what is your personal favourite and why.
BART: My main interested is in breeding and foaling I think I need to give credit in the first place to Christine as she has that in her blood too, she guided me foaling mares at young age and did with great passion and joy. Then I had the great luck to be close too Sh Abdul Aziz bin Khaled Al Thani of Al Rayyan farm at the time and worked / managed the farm for 14 years. Through that connection I came close with Judith Forbis whom has no doubt had a huge influence on me too on many levels … Mostly my interest was with SE horses and the people involved with them are full with passion in breeding … with them I feel mostly at home and I know its the field within the industry that I love the most.
ANGELA: Trail rides, working Western, working English, dressage, eventing, halter, freestyle and liberty.!!! Every class has its charm and its followers!!
RICARDO: Without a doubt, my favorite discipline is Halter because the constant
challenge of seeking the “ideal,” the best “type” of the Arabian horse, is something that never ends and always marvels you. It is hard work that requires a lot of knowledge and patience. When one achieves the best horse, both in type, structure, morphology, movement, they will be able to breed specimens ready to excel in any other discipline.
DEIRDRE: I find it very hard to select just one as the Arabian is a fantastic all-rounder. I love the beauty of our halter horses, but I believe strongly that halter horses must be suitable for riding, sound conformation is an intrinsic part of type. I love the thrill of racing and I know many horses enjoy their speed and the competition of winning, whilst breeding, training, and riding as an amateur my own racehorse was one of the most exciting things I ever did. Then of course traditional endurance at the highest level demands the best the Arabian can offer courage, soundness, and partnership. It fits the Arabian perfectly. calling on quality of skin and bone, excellent breathing apparatus, nostrils, windpipe, lungs, great
heart and of course athleticism with free, economic movement.
ANNETTE: I enjoy trail riding over all terrains. It’s so good for producing a well rounded saddle horse. The horses I’ve shown under saddle have all had regular trail rides, up and down hills, through creeks and over fallen logs. They really enjoy it, after all who doesn’t get tired of going round in circles.
MURILO: I am a halter person. I respect other people’s choices, but they are not for me.
LEON: That is an easy one ‘My heart lies in schooling riding horses’. To be able to make it in South Africa as a training center, you basically must cover all the disciplines. Selecting an individual and then training it according to its conformation and ability was what gave me the thrill. Making it the best that he can be.
Have you travelled to other parts of the world to view Arabians, and what have been your observations about the horses in each country. Are there differences between the continents?
BART: I have had the luck and pleasure to work on many different locations during my life in fantastic positions besides I traveled a great deal and hope to do much more in the future. Since globalization our Arabian horse world has actually shrunk, breeding numbers are down in all the countries except Middle East. Social media makes you experience the world and for certain influences people globally to use the same stallions making for a more global looking horse. On the other side, some branches of sport within the Arabian horse industry have gone so professional and have focused so much on certain qualities that a very specific and specialized horse was created … a horse that might not fit any of the criteria for another branch. So things have changed dramatically over the past 35 years more or less ….
ANGELA: In the United States there are several models to judge: There are the Egyptian horses of the original structure and other lines of horses that change in their evolution, their structure, functionality and even evaluation according to the demands of the market.
In Ecuador and Colombia, the model remains more stable, the criteria are more uniform and faithful to an ideal Arabian horse standard, among other reasons because the availability of stallions is much more limited despite the enormous efforts made by local breeders. The perseverance and tenacity of our breeders have allowed us to produce winning horses in different latitudes.
Above (left-right) Annette Vickery; Isaac Taylor.
RICARDO: I have an annual travel program to visit different studs and shows in America and Europe. Some of the countries I frequent are the USA, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, and Italy in Europe.
There are clearly differences and trends in the type of horse being bred on different continents. The horse seen in the USA has a preference for large necks, and that has been passed on to parts of South America, while in Europe, there is a much more marked attachment to the Egyptian Type.
Both horses are worthy. We seek the best of both worlds. We aim to avoid mistakes, always using the Arabian Type as a guide.
DEIRDRE: I am fortunate enough to have travelled extensively to view and judge. There used to be far more difference between the horses of different continents and different types were easily identified according to bloodlines and country of origin, then the fascination of seeing the different desert breds, and how different they are from our modern horse.
The influence of shipped and frozen semen has had a profound effect globally which is not necessarily for the good of the breed with a shrinking number of fashionable stallions being used in both the show and racing worlds. No longer do we talk about typical Polish, Russian, Crabbet etc. horses, we have the universal show horse with more or less the same pedigree wherever you are in the world, or the racehorse completely dominated by certain lines that show little or no Arabian features. It would be interesting if a rule was brought in that was applied in Egypt last century that to be eligible to race as an Arabian the horse had to carry its tail!
However, I think the most striking thing these days is the dramatic change in where Arabians are being bred. Small countries like Kuwait and UAE are producing thousands of foals annually, whilst USA, Europe etc. are producing a fraction of what they did in the past and some registries are struggling to exist. State Studs which had such influence over the last decades have been privatized, weakened, or sold off, they are expected to be financially independent, so their breeding programs have become commercial rather than traditional. What effects this will have in the long-term remains to be seen but it is obvious that there is a world shortage of true breeders.
MURILO: I have travelled quite a bit all over for the last 35 years. A little more when I retired from Investment Banking and became a judge. The differences have been slowly shrinking, as the same “famous” stallions are used everywhere. Who can forget the mare classes 15 - 20 years ago with glorious Polish mares trotting in the ring. There is no more of that, and I hate to say that there will not be anymore. Everybody will get 19.5 or 20 regardless.
Right (top-down) Leon Botha pictured wiith his wife Ina; Galo Hidalgo
Talika Jadahlia
Jadaan El Shaqab (Imp. UAE) x El Ahram bint Talia
Talika Jadahlia exemplifies an authentic straight Egyptian desert mare.
Photo:
S. Ruskey-Fleming
GASTON: I travel very often around South America as I live in Argentina, but I do visit at least once a year the USA, Europe and Middle East to see new horses. I had the privilege to visit Simeon Stud, Forest Hill Arabians and Mulawa Stud in Australia many years ago. But I’m also in contact with some breeders from Australia like Sarah J. Muco who is an excellent small breeder with high quality animals. I prefer to go to farms instead of going to the shows. During the shows, the breeders are very nervous and so they won’t dedicate too much time to show you their breeding programs or to answer your questions, so it’s difficult to learn from them.
LEON: The Arabian horse has been very good to me, showing me the world. I have been fortunate to visit Australia, America, Brazil, Europe and Africa to name a few. It was very interesting for me to see how the horses vary from country to country. Form to function is the foundation to me. It became apparent to me that the countries that had a strong riding section, had a different halter horse. Please note that I am not saying that they had less type, but they were more functional. Whenever this is the case, you create a much bigger market for your mares and geldings that cannot compete in halter. The riding section not only draw more horses to the shows but also a lot of riders and participants, especially in the amateur division.
GALO: I have been fortunate enough to be at some shows in Europe and America, and they are really different shows, and they are different horses. Obviously, they maintain the essence of the Arabian horse but with differences more than morphology of details such as head, neck, size, and even in terms of presentation, I think they are more natural in Europe, of which I am personally a supporter, as a more respect for the horse.
In America, we look for a more “stylized” refined horse, which sometimes makes me wonder what would happen to these very extreme horses with such delicate heads with raised nostrils if they were in the desert, what would their behavior be?
We could think that we are breeding horses very different from their origins, which would have to be evaluated over time for their validity as a breed.
What do you look for when evaluating an Arabian and what is most important to you?
BART: I need to see from far that it’s an Arabian horse coming towards me, then I need to love it in its stall too. If it’s not kind and intuitive it might be a beautiful horse but not necessarily my horse. Pieces of art
inspire me to find that horse in real too. But above all, a horse needs to be a horse and it all starts with balance and good conformation.
ANGELA: Stallions and mares that have natural phenotypic characteristics that resemble the ideal and that can be transmitted to their offspring. Horses that the judge can project to produce functional offspring during breeding to the delight of Arabian horse lovers in different competitions and disciplines. Horses that have not only the conformation but also the attitude that radiates energy, something that only an Arabian horse can express and that makes it unique in its species.
I would always like to emphasize the comprehensiveness of the evaluation of the entire horse: The head, the neck, the entire body, the poise that guarantees the useful life and longevity of our horses, the attitude, the way they move.
RICARDO: As breeders, we seek a balanced, harmonious, compact, functional horse, highly marked in its Arabian Type. It must meet important conditions to be selected by us. An outstanding head, a clean and arched neck, short back, and strong hindquarters with a high tail set. Movement must be decisive, strong, and graceful. Its attitude must be imposing. We are very interested in the functionality of the horse, so in breeding, we prioritize that the horse's structure is correct, paying close attention to the hands and legs. This strategy and vision have given us unique specimens and winners in Chile, Brazil, Argentina, and Europe.
ISAAC: The first thing I look for in evaluating an Arabian is type, because type includes all the other categories, beauty, movement, and conformation which all combine to make the Arabian horse what it is.
MURILO: I am biased for eyes, ears and nostrils. But no horse with serious conformation faults will enter my farm or will be champions with me.
GASTON: As I usually analyze horses for breeding or showing, I have some steps I try to follow. I don’t see the pedigree before I see the horse because it's going to affect your ability to judge objectively. You will like it more if it’s a full brother of…and less if its sire is a stranger. After the first 5-10 seconds of having the animal in front of me, I see the pedigree. The pedigree is very important, but after you see the animal. I try to relate the pedigree with the animal. Genes with Conformation. If many characteristics match or I can recognize where they come from, this horse is considered better to breed than others. A more consistent / honest horse, as it is what his pedigree says. Usually the pretty horses with ugly parents do not breed well consistently.
Another consideration I have when analyzing a horse, is where does it come from?
If it’s coming from a long and respected breeding program, then if I’m between some mares and I have to choose, I'm going to lean towards the horse from the long breeding program. This was explained to me by Mark Wharton.
LEON: When you ask me what I am looking for, I am thinking, what would I take home for myself. To me it is all about balance. You can never achieve form to function if you don’t bring balance into the equation. A horse that can carry himself, moving diagonally from behind with a true beat and gate with a willingness to please. Combine this to Arabian type and I am hooked.
What changes have you seen in the Arabian industry during your involvement with the breed?
RICARDO: The changes I have witnessed over time are that there is now high availability and access to information, allowing us to be constantly informed about what is happening in the world of the Arabian horse. Furthermore, connectivity and collaboration among breeders from other countries give us access to genetics that raise the standard of the Arabian horse worldwide.
Unlike in the past, it is no longer just an opportunity for some countries. We have been fortunate to find impressive colts and fillies outside of Chile, and at the same time, have the courage to import them in order to breed the Arabian Type in our stud farm.
ISAAC: Of course, the involvement with horses have dwindled over the years and there are many factors as to why. We still have the best horse in the world and I am committed to sharing it with as many people as possible.
DEIRDRE: the loss of serious breeders with a long-term vision regardless of fashion and money is a growing problem. Also, the indiscriminate overuse of modern reproductive techniques is narrowing the genetic pool with very few stallions having a profound effect on this, many good stallions without frozen semen just don’t get used. The development of extreme type particularly in the shape of the head potentially affecting breathing and the loss of big black round eyes, the use of ginger to falsify tail carriage. The way shows have become more about presentation and showmanship than the natural horse.
Unfortunately owning and breeding horses means having a deep pocket, so it is difficult for young people to come into the breed. Small breeders need to be supported and far greater encouragement given to using horses in all the disciplines mentioned
above to ensure those that are not suitable for breeding have a role to play which will benefit the breed for the future.
ANNETTE: I’ve seen a lot of change in regard to accessibility of overseas stallions. Less breeders seem to ride their horses and hold saddle horse abilities as important. We have followed the trend of using professional trainers, which in turn decreases the entries in some cases. The non pro classes and home produced classes have been an attempt to encourage owners to show their horses themselves.
LEON: Like everything else in the world this industry is evolving. To ensure the future
of the industry we must evolve with it, but we also have a responsibility to preserve our breed. I am of the opinion that economics probably has the biggest effect, people are showing and breeding less horses in order to cope with the costs.
Some breeders seem to specialize in breeding halter and others performance horses. The end product, although spectacular in both departments, has developed into two very different horses. Whether it is possible to bring the two closer together, time only will tell.
GASTON: The Arabian horse breed is evolving very fast and continuously. You can
see that two-year-old colts are already breeding and very young fillies are giving embryos to be transferred. Sometimes this is good but sometimes is not. We can be redirected through a path that may be very difficult to come back from.
For me, the existence of genetic and conformation variety is important.
The people around the breed are also changing because they need to adapt themselves to breed’s demands, halter show’s demands, and other disciplines’ demands.
In conclusion, we have to be responsible when we make decisions that will affect future generations of horses and breeders.
Above Author Mario Braga, acclaimed breeder, judge and journalist from Brazil. Pictured with AHSA Chair Helen Rutland at Valinor Park.
Kelaray Stud
ELEVATING ARABIAN HORSE BREEDING TO NEW HEIGHTS
NESTLED AMIDST THE SERENE LANDSCAPES OF WAIHARARA, KAITAIA, NEW ZEALAND, KELARAY STUD STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO PASSION, PERSEVERANCE AND A RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE IN ARABIAN HORSE BREEDING.
interview with KELLY MASON
Founded and nurtured by Kelly Mason, Kelaray Stud represents a culmination of decades-long dedication to the Arabian breed. In this comprehensive exploration, we delve into Kelly’s journey, the evolution of Kelaray Stud, its triumphs in the show ring, the pioneering venture of importing frozen semen, and Kelly’s vision for the future.
KELLY’S JOURNEY INTO ARABIAN HORSES
Kelly’s affinity for horses was kindled at a tender age of two, surrounded by the equine companionship of her family in Auckland. From her inaugural pony at the age of 10 to competitive ventures in eventing, Kelly’s equestrian journey was one marked by passion and determination. However, it was a fortuitous encounter with a Purebred Arabian gelding owned by her friend Renée Hart that sparked a profound fascination with Arabians.
Kelly recalls, ‘I made the decision to buy my first Purebred yearling gelding JA Kassanova and together we travelled the North Island of New Zealand, competing in led and later in ridden with him, he really started my serious addiction with Purebred Arabians.’
Kelaray Stud’s genesis can be traced back to the picturesque landscapes of Waiharara, where Kelly embarked on a mission to cultivate excellence in Arabian horse breeding. Situated within a sprawling 700-acre farm encompassing dairy and beef operations, Kelaray Stud emerged as a sanctuary where passion converged with purpose.
‘The stud originally started as a derivative Arabian stud, we were breeding Anglo and Arabian warmbloods. It was a few years later and a visit to Australia that we decided to start expanding into breeding Purebred Arabians.’
Driven by a vision to elevate the Arabian breed’s presence in New Zealand and beyond, Kelly transitioned from breeding derivatives to championing Purebred Arabians, laying the foundation for a legacy of distinction and excellence.
Kelaray Stud’s ascent to prominence in the Arabian horse community is punctuated by its stellar successes in the show ring. From securing coveted titles at New Zealand National Championships to triumphs in prestigious competitions like HOY, Kelaraybred horses have consistently exemplified excellence and grace. Notable achievements include the double triumph of Miracle of Love (AU) (Shakla’s Fame N Fortune x Summer Love) as the National Champion Mare and Amateur-to-Handle Champion.
‘This was my first attempt at prepping a Purebred for New Zealand National Championships, and her win, as well as her hand-raised colt Jassur KS winning Reserve Champion Colt was such a thrill.
Above (top-down) Kelaray Electra (Emerald J x BFF Cinderella); Na’mous Al Shahania (FA El Shawan x Virtuosa MLR) is available via frozen semen.
Opposite Aali Farid (RFI Farid x AJ Deena) is one of the new frozen semen offerings from Kelaray this season.
‘Miracle of Love produced Kelaray Goddess of Love (by Gazal Al Shaqab) who we sent to Australia. Under the guidance of JH Show Training she won several titles, including East Coast Reserve Champion Junior Filly, and also Supreme Female at the Victorian Championships, before she was sold to Slangsboda Arabian Stud in Sweden.’
Kelaray’s early forays into breeding and showing cemented the stud’s reputation as a powerhouse in Arabian horse breeding. Fuelled by an insatiable quest for diversity and excellence, Kelly embarked on a new adventure – importing frozen semen directly to New Zealand and Australia. This audacious endeavour aimed to democratise access
to premium bloodlines and revolutionise Arabian horse breeding practices in the region.
‘Fifteen years ago our first attempt at using Arabian frozen semen was a purchase from Michael Byatt Arabians of frozen semen from Gazal Al Shaqab, EKS Bey Al Gazal, ZT Marwetyn and Besson Carol. Apart from the stud fees themselves the whole process was ridiculously expensive.
‘I also didn’t know what questions to ask back then. We just thought the semen would be fine and we would get resulting foals fairly easily. This was definitely not the case… it’s not a process I would ever repeat again.’
The process is fraught with challenges, from navigating intricate import regulations
to grappling with the uncertainties of fertility and viability of frozen semen. Despite the hurdles, Kelly’s unwavering resolve and pioneering spirit propelled Kelaray Stud to the forefront of innovation in Arabian horse breeding.
‘I learned the hard way to read a contract carefully. Some agents will only send the minimum amount of doses on each shipment (2) and when that shipment is coming from the USA or further abroad to Australia or New Zealand, it’s a huge expense to get another shipment.’
Whenever Kelly spoke to people about importing and bringing in new bloodlines into New Zealand, the consensus was always the same: it was considered a significant expense, and many questioned the value of doing it for just one or two stallions. However, Kelly held a different perspective. She believed that a more effective approach would be to bring in a group of stallions, offering a diverse selection of frozen semen to provide breeders with a wider array of bloodlines to choose from. In Kelly’s view, this mirrored the practices of many warmblood agents who typically offered extensive rosters of 60 to 70 stallions, providing breeders with a centralised resource for a variety of breeding options.
The endeavour began with Kelly sending emails to several prominent stallion centres in Europe and the USA. Convincing them that sending breedings to Australia and New Zealand was a viable option proved to be a considerable challenge. Despite her efforts, some centres did not even bother to reply, even after multiple attempts. Evidently, they did not perceive it as a worthwhile investment of their time. While this lack of response was disheartening, Kelly remained undeterred by the initial setbacks and resolved to persevere in her pursuit.
‘My first shipment was a combined shipment from Privilege SFQ & Jadem Stud. It was a bit of a juggle trying to pick who to bring over and making sure they could all fit into the tank. I only brought five breedings for each stallion, and each stallion also has additional doses to cover rebreeds if needed.
‘I tried to get a mixture of pedigrees, and also bring in some of the best Straight Egyptian stallions available as well. I have used some of these stallions myself and have been very impressed with our foals.’
Today, Kelaray Stud’s semen roster stands as a testament to its commitment to diversity and quality. With an impressive line-up of twenty stallions available in Australia and fourteen in New Zealand, Kelly has curated a selection that encompasses a wide array of pedigrees and bloodlines. Collaborations with renowned entities like Mulawa Stud and Privilege SFQ have further enriched Kelaray’s offerings, fostering a global network of partnerships
Right (top-down) Magic Mon Ami (FS Bengali x Magic Mon Amour), available with frozen semen; Kelaray Ulysses (RFI Unique x MI Harmony), bred & owned in partnership with Kim Wilkinson.
Al ZilZal
(RNZ SCORZA x ROTHLYNNE CINNAMON)
2019 Mahogany Bay Rabicano
Straight Egyptian Stallion
CA LFS SCID Clear by Parentage
SEPA Hi Point Australian Champion Stallion
Now starting under saddle
Sileby Kruzsader
(TAMWELL NATAAL x KAINUI PARK BINT KAZAREH)
2009 Grey Purebred Arabian Stallion
CA LFS SCID Clear 2022 and 2023 WAAHA Horse of the Year - Ridden Stallion
Surely Australia’s most versatile saddle stallion. State Champion in Halter, Ridden Stallion, Open Australian Pleasure, Open Working Stockhorse, Bridlepath Hack, Costume, Liberty, and high scoring in dressage and competed in endurance. Schoolmaster for children. Sire of quality, correct and champion purebreds, now siring elegant big moving extraordinarily well-tempered tall Anglo Arabians. At stud by private treaty.
aimed at advancing Arabian horse breeding practices. From the classic beauty of the world’s best Straight Egyptian stallions to the modern refinement of European show bloodlines, Kelaray’s semen roster embodies a tapestry of excellence and diversity.
‘I still have some breedings available from the very first shipment that I imported to Australia. I have recently completed a couple of shipments from Italy as well, to try and add a bit of diversity into the bloodlines available to Australia and I get contacted by private owners now as well wanting to be included in shipments to Australia and New Zealand. Together, we can make it work for all of us as the shipping costs are the same whether it’s one breeding or fifty.’
The full stallion roster reads like a who’s who of some of the greatest stallions within the breed today. Stallions such as Haash OSB, Shiraz De Lafon, Jyar Meia Lua, Marajj, Raoud Albidayer, Emerald J and more.
Despite the euphoria of successes and the thrill of pioneering new frontiers, Kelly acknowledges the inherent challenges and risks that accompany her endeavours. From financial investments to the emotional rollercoaster of breeding cycles, the journey of Kelaray Stud and the subsequent frozen semen business has been marked by resilience, determination and unwavering passion. Yet, amidst the trials and tribulations, Kelly finds solace and fulfillment in witnessing dreams materialise and fostering connections within the equestrian community. As Kelaray Stud continues to chart its course forward, Kelly’s commitment to excellence and innovation inspires others to strive for greatness.
With new partnerships on the horizon and a steadfast commitment to quality, Kelaray Stud is poised to redefine the landscape of Arabian horse breeding, one foal at a time. From the tranquil embrace of Waiharara’s rolling hills, Kelaray’s journey epitomises the transformative power of dedication, innovation and a profound love for Arabian horses. As Kelaray Stud continues to chart its course forward, its legacy will endure as a beacon of inspiration for years to come.
Right (top-down) Shams Al Din AA (Shams Sharav AA x Rally) is a Straight Egyptian available via frozen semen; Madagascar J (Excalibur EA x Mississippi J) is one of the younger stallions available via frozen semen.
DP Aryan El Jamal
MF ARYAN EL THESSA X ELLA NOURA (IMP USA)
Jamal, as he is known by his breeders and friends, was born in 2012 from the El Nabila B daughter, Ella Noura and by the ethereal grey stallion, MF Aryan El Thessa. Ella Noura was purchased by us to show in the USA before we imported her to Australia along with her friend, Bianca Rosetta. Both had been quite successful in their short American show careers and whilst Bianca was put into show prep as soon as she arrived here, Ella Noura was sent straight to stud. It was to be her first foal and was much anticipated as we felt we had made an excellent match for the young mare.
When the colt was born the following season he was the subject of much interest as his bloodlines were not found previously here in Australia. At that stage Frank and I were using professional handlers to show our
by MARIA DARAIO photography NICOLE EMANUEL unless stated otherwise
Above DP Aryan El Jamal. Opposite (top-down) DP Aryan El Jamal, PC: Samantha Taylor; DP Aryan El Jamal.
horses, and we made the decision to send him to NSW to be shown at shows like East Coast Championships, The Stud Horse and Pony Show, and Equitana among others. Right from his first show Jamal proved himself to be a colt of superlative type and conformation. It was an open breed foal show and he came home with Supreme Champion All Breeds foal. By that stage he’d already become a stunning pure white horse with the beautiful silver sheen in his coat adding to the picture.
Other show wins include East Coast Champion, Equitana Gold Champion and Australian Top Ten Stallion. He was turned out to grow and mature after the Australian Championships that year and has yet to return to the show ring. In the meantime, he was bred over a small number of quality mares and produced some outstanding babies. Some of these babies have been shown very successfully, including Kepeka Kubinec who is an East Coast Champion Stallion himself as well as a Reserve Australian Champion Stallion. Other successful progeny are the horses Hurricane, Bohemian El Jamal and Guns N Roses MG.
For us he has produced the stunning stallion DP Malik El Jamal and the beautiful mare, DP Aryana Jamal neither of which have been shown. DP Malik El Jamal is unshown firstly due to the Covid lock downs and then he was injured as a two year old. He has started his breeding career with some very beautiful purebred fillies and one special Arabian Pony colt bred by Shane Farrell.
This year we bred one stunning filly that we have named DPA Kassandra. She was conceived within days of Jamal’s surprise arrival back home last year. We have three beautiful mares tested in foal to him for next season and we await their arrival with great anticipation. These babies are from mares by Om El Akid (imp USA), Maharrajah and Allegiance. We believe their babies will continue to mark Jamal as a sire of significance.
For the foreseeable future Jamal will stay here at Dara Park in his paddock fulfilling his duties as a breeding stallion. He provides Australian breeders with international bloodlines of note with crosses to the giants of the breed such as El Nabila B, Kubinec, Padrons Psyche, MF Aryan El Thessa, Ludjin El Jamaal and Ali Jamaal just to name a few. He will be available to breeders on a limited private treaty basis. Those that are interested may contact us via our website at daraparksstud.net.
Right Ella Noura (US) (El Nabila B x C Psyleaha)
Below DP Malik El Jamal (DP Aryan El Jamal x DP Akivaa)
South Serenity
SOUTH SERENITY ARABIANS IS A BOUTIQUE BREEDING AND TRAINING FACILITY HOME TO SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND WELL PERFORMED PUREBRED ARABIANS AND ARABIAN DERIVATIVES IN THE STATE.
photography 42BEATS unless noted
Owned by Peter and Belinda O’Connor, the vacant 200 acre property was originally purchased in 2014. Peter used his design skills to fasttrack building and construction, and South Serenity Arabians was born. Since that time, the business has expanded its services to see the establishment of the Kilmore Equestrian Centre, Kilmore Equestrian Float Hire, Belle’s Equine Rehabilitation and most interestingly, AirBnb accommodation.
Only 45 minutes from the Melbourne International Airport and only an hour from the Melbourne CBD, the AirBnb business has proven to be a wonderful introduction to the Arabian horse for many people, who have found their way to the property when seeking a respite from their city lives.
Belle believes that often it is the every day experiences and interactions with horses that allow her guests to truly appreciate their character and inner beauty, beyond superficial qualities like pedigree or physical appearance. It’s in those quiet moments, observing their gentleness, hearing their knickers, even simply feeling the warmth of a horses breath on our their faces for the first
time, that these guests connect with them on a deeper level.
The Arabian horse, known for its grace and elegance, often reveals its true character in its natural environment or home setting. Observing them in familiar surroundings, where they feel comfortable and secure, can provide a glimpse into their unique personalities and behaviour. This deeper understanding and connection with horses can be a truly rewarding experience for those who appreciate the subtle nuances of their everyday lives.
“We often share ribbons that our stallion Mystica Abbas has won, or give out photos and other Arabian horse associated merchandise to children who show interest in the horses. Most kids take it to Show and Tell at school, and tell everyone there about their experience”.
By offering these unique experiences to their Air BNB guests, Pete and Belinda are promoting the Arabian horse in a way that allows guests to immerse themselves in the world of Arabian horses for a time, without the pressures of competition or audience. It is hoped that these unforgettable
experiences will encourage guests to further their interest in the breed.
“Our first accommodation is the Heartland Suite’ says Belle. “It is luxurious and romantic, with a comfortable twisted four poster bed, and modern facilities. The inclusion of stunning photographs by 42beats showcasing our Arabians is a great way to build anticipation and give guests a glimpse of what they can expect when exploring the farm.’
Being so close to the foaling area adds a touch of authenticity and allows guests to witness firsthand the care and nurturing of the mares and foals.
The second Airbnb is called Mystical Arabian Horse and Country Experience, and can sleep a small family or twin couple. “It’s a unique and spacious contemporary unit that caters to various groups. Being situated above the indoor arena provides guests with a captivating view of the arena and horse paddocks, allowing them to breathe in the equestrian atmosphere from multiple angles.”
The largest Airbnb, the “Waterfront Country Homestead,” is a perfect retreat for families and groups seeking tranquility
Above The view over the dam. Opposite Abigail by Mystica Abbas
and a touch of luxury. With the capacity to sleep ten guests, it offers ample space for a relaxing stay. The highlight of Waterfront Country Homestead is that it overlooks the lake-style dam, while the deck provides a picturesque spot for fishing, allowing guests to enjoy leisurely moments while being surrounded by the serene beauty of the water.
“Many of our guests at this property enjoy a bon fire during their stay. It’s a fun way for families to gather together around and adds a fun and communal touch. Its an ideal setting for evening relaxation and enjoyment,”
The range of guests that are attracted to a tranquil getaway at South Serenity, indicates the appeal and versatility of the property. The Arabian horses and other recreational activities provide an opportunity for guests to unwind and create lasting memories in a serene and ‘insta-worthy’ setting.
‘As horse owners we may not always see the fun in an every day chore, however the night feed run is always a fantastic experience for those who don’t own horses themselves. Guests can join in and meet he horses individually while they are being fed, and the sight of the horses cantering alongside the Kabota six seater adds an element of excitement’ says Belle.
“The chance to come into the barn and interact with the horses, learning about the Arabian breed, further deepens the understanding and appreciation of these magnificent animals. For couples seeking a quiet getaway, it’s a wonderful opportunity for them to encounter horses up close and personal, an experience they may not have had before.”
Belle offers a private display of Arabians at liberty in the indoor arena, and anyone who was present for the liberty class at the 2023 East Coast Arabian Championships will have had the opportunity to see Belle and her beautiful chestnut mare strut their stuff as they do for guests at the Airbnb. This display includes an explanation of the breeds form and function, and adds an educational element to the guests stay. This display helps guests understand the unique features and characteristics of the Arabian breed.
Lastly, the offer of a long-lasting friendship and an open invitation for guests to return and visit anytime is a testament to the warm hospitality and genuine care that is provided. By fostering these connections, one creates a lasting bond with your guests and ensure that their experience extends beyond their stay, creating a sense of belonging and a desire to return.
Overall, South Serenity offers a truly unique and immersive farm stay experience. From outdoor activities to up-close horse interactions and educational displays, Pete and Belle provide a diverse range of experiences that cater to different interests and create lasting memories for their guests. And while we cannot all own an Airbnb business such as that at South Serenity, we can each look into our own piece of the world and wonder, how we can all do our part to encourage passion in others for the Arabian horse.
Above (top-down) Mystical Arabian Suite; Heartland Suite; Belle competiting in Liberty at the 2023 East Coast Arabian Championships with Alyssia SSA at the East Coast, PC: Glenys Lilly.
Simeon Stud
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A STALLION IN THE BREEDING PROGRAM. WHILE I BELIEVE THE MARE GIVES 80% TO THE FOAL, A STALLION CAN INFLUENCE THE DIRECTION OF QUALITY.
by MARION RICHMOND photography STUART VESTY
The Straight Egyptian breeding program at Simeon Stud began with a mare who is renowned worldwide for the influence her progeny have had on six continents, including numerous national and international champions: the first Australian National Champion Mare, 27 Ibn Galal V (Ibn Galal x 10 Hosna 71). Her daughters included the revered mares Simeon Safanad (*Sankt Georg RSI), Simeon Simona (*Asfour), Simeon Sukari (*Asfour), also an Australian National Champion Mare, and Simeon Sheba (*Raadin Royal Star), whose daughter, Simeon Sehavi (*Asfour), was the unanimous Australian National Champion Mare, 25 years after her granddam was the inaugural winner of the title.
The success of this family alone would have been enough for many farms to rest upon her legacy, but the importance of consistently improving and expanding the horses I have produced has been my lifelong passion. During my extensive travels as a young woman, certain horses struck me as being quite amazing. These horses I always had in my mind to somehow incorporate into my breeding program: horses like Deenaa (Sameh x Dahma), Ramses Fayek (Nazeer x Fayza I), Hanan (Alaa El Din x Mona), Dalul (Morafic x Dawlat), Aswan (Nazeer x Yosreia), Kaisoon (Nazeer x Bint Kateefa), Malikah (Ghazal x Malacha) and her daughter by Hadban Enzahi, Maymoonah, amongst others. This inspired me to constantly try to improve – I want to breed a perfect Straight Egyptian. I started as a five-year-old, with my idea of what I wanted in an Arabian, and seventy-three years later this is still something I strive towards.
Today, the stallions at Simeon Stud are an outcross to most of the world’s Straight Egyptian breeding programs. I have travelled the world viewing many of the very best Arabian horses, and in the recent past have come to the realisation that some prominent breeders are losing sight of the idea that the horse must be a useful animal, and are instead breeding pedigrees with pretty faces. I had always loved to ride my Arabians, and although I do not ride anymore myself, all of the horses at Simeon Stud would make fine mounts.
We currently have four breeding stallions. The newest addition, who is expecting five foals this year, is Naadir KA. Naadir is by Makhnificent KA, a stallion I have adored for twenty years, who was by the Sameh grandson Makhsous. I saw Makhnificent’s elderly mother, Star Bint Hafiza, with a huge belly and she just flew over the paddock. She was amazing, exhibiting the best of the famous stallions, Tuhotmos, Sameh and Morafic in her pedigree. Naadir’s dam, Isabella KA, was the highest-scoring mare ever at the Egyptian
Event in Lexington, Kentucky, in the days of tough competition. Hopefully, Naadir will bring to the mares here at Simeon his fantastic short-backed body, lengthy hindquarters, big eyes and pretty face. We are excited to see his first foal crop at the end of spring 2024.
Our senior stallion, Simeon Shifran is by our beloved Asfour who was one of the world’s leading breeding stallions leaving champion progeny on almost all continents. Shifran’s dam was by our wonderful Anaza Bay Shahh, by Shaikh al Badi and out of the Deenaa daughter Bint Deenaa. Anaza Bay Shahh bred black, as did Asfour. He gave wonderful, large, luminous eyes, fine black skin, great legs and feet and amazing bodies. Shifran’s granddam, Simeon Safanad produced winning daughters and sons throughout the world. Disposition is an important but often overlooked quality in our modern show horses, and Shifran’s progeny, like all Simeon horses, have his wonderful, trainable disposition in addition to his height and elegance, tiny curly ears, beautiful eyes, an amazing shoulder and great legs and feet.
Simeon Shifran’s son, our exotic Simeon Seifan is from one of the most wonderful mares I have ever seen: CM Moussameh,
who we purchased in Germany as an aged mare. She was by Mulayh ibn Maareesa, whom we also subsequently purchased and have lovely daughters remaining in the stud. Seifan’s progeny are beyond our expectations, exhibiting all of his exotic type typical of the Simeon horses, correctness and movement, and scope.
Our fourth stallion at Simeon is Simeon Sahron by the Australian National Champion, Imperial Madaar. Madaar, long-legged and with a beautiful hindquarter, was from the first foal crop in the USA by the worldclass stallion Imperial Madheen. Madaar’s dam goes back to the famous Babson mare, Falima, through Ansata Nile Mist – a great moving machine. The sire of Ansata Nile Mist was my favourite Ansata stallion, Ansata ibn Sudan: he was sweet, with enormous eyes, a wonderful hindquarter and neck, tall and elegant. Simeon Sahron gives beautiful lengthy necks and clean throats, great eyes and bodies. We bred Sahron’s dam, Simeon Setavi, in the United Kingdom. She was a daughter of the black stallion, Simon Sadik and equally exotic. Setavi was out of a leased mare, Nameeza by Idrees, who had unfortunately died as a four-year-old in Germany. I was lucky enough to see him flying over the
Above Naadir KA (Makhnificent KA x Isabella KA) Opposite Simeon Shifran (Asfour x Simeon Shavit)
paddock at Kauber Platte. He had a massive shoulder, wither and huge eyes and the way he carried himself over the misty plateau was unbelievable. I have yet to see a photograph that does justice to the reality.
One of the advantages of being almost 78 years old is having seen these horses in the flesh. It is unfortunate that people base opinions on either old photos that do not do the horses of history justice or on modern photos and videos that are often manipulated.
Another outcross stallion we were delighted to be able to use was MB Talmaar, by the Amaal son Talmaal, through two beautiful daughters whose influence on the continued success of Simeon mare families has been significant. Simeon Shoshana was the daughter of a tall and scopey Imperial Madheen mare, MB Masaleena. Simeon Stud leased Masaleena in the United States, importing Shoshana as a filly: she had been a farm favourite not only because of her beautiful face, long neck, lengthy hindquarter and excellent feet but also because of her completely lovely and endearing character. We lost her earlier in February of this year, and the farm feels her absence keenly. Her daughter, Simeon Shagah, walked up to me in the paddock and it was like seeing the best of her dam still here. The family is so consistently beautiful.
A Dalul daughter, Rafaalaa was purchased in Canada and imported in foal to Talmaar: she was carrying a spectacular daughter, Simeon Seda, whose family have continued to produce his huge eyes and amazing type, generation after generation, including Simeon Se, winner of numerous championship titles. Se produced Simeon Seis, an East Coast Reserve Champion, and her daughters Simeon Suzette, Shivah Reserve Australian Champion and Shua multiple Champion winner and highest scoring female in open competition. They have all continued to exhibit size, long, fine necks and good bodies in combination with their beauty.
Many years ago, we imported a beautiful Imtaarif son, Immesmerise. He was an Ibn Mareekh Amir grandson, and we retained a wonderful daughter. The very aged stallion, Imperial Immahal was also imported from Canada and we have a beautiful daughter, Sharon, and granddaughter, Sohara by Shifran. Immahal was by Ansata Imperial and out of the mare, Malekat el Gamal, famed for her beauty. His daughter adds much to our program, carrying the blood of Faleh: a liver chestnut horse, tall and beautiful, short-backed and with the most spectacular front, thanks to his sire Alaa el Din. Sharon is also a descendant of one of my keystone mares, Yosreia.
Above (top-down) Simeon Shivah (Simeon Seifan x Simeon Seis); Colt by Simeon Seifan from Alwan Aal Ameen.
I admired Ramses Fayek for years: he was a beautiful Arabian and a great horse. He had been a successful racehorse in Egypt and had legs and feet like iron. When he was finally sold to Talaria, I went one Christmas Eve and looked through 300 mares before finally choosing his daughter Ramses Tinah, to lease for breeding to Simeon Shai. She was chosen for her beautiful eyes, lengthy hindquarter, great body, legs and feet. She moved like a dream. Upon seeing the progeny, the exquisite filly Simeon Shuala, I purchased Tinah as an aged mare to be imported to Australia. The importance of seeing the progeny of the horses you love is invaluable, and again it is the production, not the photographs or show wins that are the true value of the individual.
Whenever I had a big sale, I either purchased new horses or land for the stud. Simeon Sehavi allowed me to purchase Musallah, El Dahma and CM Moussameh, all from Germany. These are bloodlines I had admired from the very beginning but had not been in a position to purchase until Dubai Stud acquired Simeon Sehavi. They also introduced the blood of two stallions I had long admired through the mare El Dahma:
Ikhnatoon and Farazdac, bred at the EAO. Both were tall, had a massive shoulder, long fine necks and tremendous movement, and these were very dominant in their get.
Breeders should work together. My very dear friend, Nasr Marei and I had a great deal of mutual admiration for one another’s breeding programs, and exchanged horses to add new bloodlines and opportunities to our own herds. Nasr was hoping to add the refinement and type of Asfour, and I wanted the blood of Farid al Badeia. Farid had a broad face, huge eyes, feet, legs, an incredible hip: to see the movement of that horse at 21 years of age was heart-stopping. He was a dream. We incorporated Farid through his daughter, Wed Albadeia, and now have her daughter, Simeon Marei, named in honour of her breeder and my dear friend who passed away. Marei is in foal to Simeon Seifan and is treasured at Simeon.
In 2019 we went to Egypt to purchase a colt, and came home with a filly, Alwan al Amin. She brings to the stud the blood of other horses I had always wanted to incorporate into my breeding program, including the stallions Gad Allah and Tagweed, and
the famous EAO mare, Tee. Alwan gave us an absolutely exquisite filly, tragically lost in an accident, and two spectacular colts. We are looking forward to her influence on the farm in the coming years.
Straight Egyptian Arabians liken to a bluewhite diamond, the most beautiful, best and rarest. Keeping in mind that the horse has to be a useful animal: great conformation, action, legs and feet are 100% important in a breeding program, with of course, added type. Breeding Straight Egyptians brings its own challenges, as the gene pool is small and thus there are limitations as to the number of horses that can be used. Every desirable trait in the Arabian can be found in Straight Egyptians, and so the challenge is to find these animals and blend them to create the perfect Arabian. It is my life’s work… or rather my passion.
Above Simeon Seifan (Simeon Shifran x CM Moussameh) and Marion Richmond
BORN IN A SMALL TOWN IN WAR-TORN AND POVERTYSTRICKEN IRAQ, I DREAMT OF LIVING A BETTER LIFE.
by MOHAMMED ATIYAH photography SHARON MEYERS
Iwas overjoyed when our family moved to Australia when I was a boy in 2013. I couldn’t speak English, but I was determined to make this beautiful country my second home. My twin brother and I attended a local school in the Brisbane area, and even though we were the only Iraqi Arab children there, we assimilated quickly and made friends. Life in our new land was wonderful.
Arabian horses have always fascinated me, and part of my dream was to live on a farm and own these remarkable horses. My grandfather had an Arabian and I learned they were entrenched in Iraq’s history and culture. Stories of their courage and intelligence spurred my interest further.
Above Alkasir RA. Opposite (top-down) Mohammed with Alkasir RA; Alkasir RA.
Eventually I started researching the breed in Australia and began to look for ‘my’ Arabian horse, one that would fulfill my dreams with his majestic beauty. I spent many months searching for a colt to no avail, and then one night I discovered a photo on the Internet of a handsome colt bred and owned by Ramadan Arabians.
The next day I arranged a visit to meet the owner of the stud, Karen Hodges, and to see the colt. The moment I set eyes on him I knew he was the ‘one’. I was introduced to his charismatic dam Ramadan Dream Maker and her sire, Makers Mark, and was surprised he was 25 years old. He is a big, strong horse with attitude but also with a lovely soft nature. I bring him lots of carrots whenever I visit.
I named my colt Alkasir RA, which means ‘the breaker’. I live a few hours away from Karen’s stud but spent as much time as possible with Alkasir getting to know him and doing the basics with him, plus snapping a phone full of photos! Alkasir RA seemed to take a shine to me, and whenever I turned up and went to his paddock and called him, he would whinny and gallop over to me for a cuddle. He appeared to know we were a partnership and enjoyed his time with me too.
Wanting to show my boy, Karen suggested I take him to Lee-Ann McClelland to prepare him for the upcoming 2023 A Class Top of the Range Show at Gatton, QLD. With much trepidation I took my first steps towards showing him. I had no idea how Alkasir was going to accept the training and the show preparation, but it had to happen.
He took to it like a duck to water and in no time was trotting along with all the confidence in the world with his handler Richard Sharman. Lee-Ann prepared and cared for him daily while Richard did the show training. I was grateful for their professional help. At the time I was extremely busy with work and my wife had just given birth to a beautiful baby girl, so the time leading up to the show sped by. Suddenly, it was showday! I was nervous not knowing how my colt would go. My family came along to watch my pride and joy trot around the ring. He was the youngest of the junior colts. The other two that won their classes were lovely and I thought my boy might be too young, but he proved me wrong.
Alkasir RA entered the ring as if he had springs in his hooves, he seemed to float on air above the ground, tail over his back and head held high, he took my breath away. The judge gave him the blue ribbon and then he lined up with the older colts for champion. The judge asked them to trot around the arena again and Alkasir just took off and moved like magic. He was awarded Junior
Champion Colt. I was ecstatic and my family were jumping around and congratulating me as if he had just won the Melbourne Cup!
Alkasir RA is following in the hoofprints of his impressive sire and dam. His sire Chelleason Crown Jewel has won two Australian National Championships, 2019 New Zealand National Champion Stallion and is the sire of Australian and international champions. Alkasir RA’s gorgeous dam Ramadan Dream Maker has a long and prestigious show record at both halter and under saddle.
Alkasir’s full sister is Crown of Dreams RA, and she has been very successful in the show ring for Mel Goss. His half-brother sired by Chippendale V, was Junior Champion Colt at the Top of the Range Show and was exported to New Zealand where he won Reserve National Champion Colt.
Naturally, I am looking forward to a bright and exciting future with my boy.
WITH THE BIRTH OF BP EL SEGHIR, A NEW CHAPTER FOR BYRNLEA PARK ARABIANS BEGAN. THIS WOULD SEE, DREAMS FULFILLED, ADVENTURES WITH FRIENDS, AND A RETURN TO THE SHOW RING CULMINATING IN THE ULTIMATE TITLE, AN AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
BP El Seghir
‘Once in a while, love gives us a fairytale...’
by DIANNE HEWAT
The story of BP El Seghir commenced long before his arrival. He represents the discernment and knowledge that's been acquired from breeding purebred Arabian horses for over three decades. Throughout this time, Byrnlea Park has held steadfast to its ideals and shown remarkable commitment to a select family of horses, many of which are within the pedigree of this enchanting young colt.
When an opportunity presented in January 2021 from our friend Sarah Muco offering us a dose of the extremely limited frozen semen from the deceased Ghianni WPI, we didn't hesitate. We had a long held desire to breed to him and had a specific mare in mind.
Ghianni WPI was a son of Ajman Moniscione and the distinguished Australian & US National Champion mare Ghazala El Jamaal imp/exp US. Tragically, this gorgeous bay colt passed away at only 2 years of age.
Ghianni's sire and dam were well known to us. We were among the first breeders in Australia to utilise Ajman Moniscione via frozen semen, and embryo transfer resulting in two full siblings, the mare Byrnlea Park Naajwah and stallion BP Naajman. Ajman Moniscione is now known as one of the most influential stallions worldwide and is renowned for his superior producing offspring.
Ghianni's dam, Ghazala El Jamaal, was bred by Marlene Rieder of Foxbriar Arabians, USA. She was imported into Australia at 10 months of age by our friends Bianca Douglas and Paul Clark. Upon exiting quarantine,
Ghazala came to reside at Byrnlea Park as her new owners had relocated overseas; she joined their eclectic group of horses that were already residing with us in Victoria.
Ghazala, an extraordinary daughter of multi World Champion Marwan Al Shaqab (Gazal Al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame), her dam Foxbriar Parysel (Parys El Jamaal x Selket Mirror by Furno Khamal) is a maternal sister to Foxbriar Shakita sired by ZT Shakfantasy. Shakita is the dam of the phenomenal US & Brazilian National Champion Stallion FA El Shawan by Marwan Al Shaqab. Sadly, he also tragically died much too young but has left an indelible legacy of exemplary progeny in particular being the sire of World Champion and living legend, FA El Rasheem!
There's something quite special about the blood of Furno Khamal (Kapello x Kemla). A stallion of predominantly Russian/Egyptian lineage, he was a Junior World Champion in Paris and was well ahead of his time. His daughter Selket Mirror has been key in perpetuating his beauty and athleticism which are evidenced in his great grand-get, the 3/4 siblings, FA El Shawan and Ghazala El Jamaal, both also being prepotent producers of national and international champion progeny.
Ghianni WPI left a lasting impression after witnessing him crowned 2014 Australian National Champion Yearling Colt. We had planned to one day incorporate Ghazala El Jamaal into our breeding program and believed Ghianni would bring hybrid vigour and complement our young straight
Egyptian mare Simeon Serafin. She is a black bay daughter of Simeon Shifran, he is an ethereal son of the incomparable *Asfour (Malik x Hanan) and Simeon Shavit (*Anaza Bay Shahh x Simeon Safanad). Serafin's dam Simeon Susula (Simeon Samech x Simeon Sanaa) traces in tail-female line to the aristocratic mare *27 Ibn Galal V via her granddam, the much loved Simeon Sukari. Both of these incredible Simeon mares were past Australian National Champions along with Serafin's maternal great grand-sire *Imperial Madaar who also won this prestigious title. Serafin's pedigree is overflowing with beauty and influence, she is a glorious reflection of her paternal great grand-dam, the EAO-bred and Katharinenhof elite broodmare, Hanan (Alaa El Din x Mona) which she has three crosses via Asfour.
Thankfully, everything went to plan with the Ghianni frozen breeding and Serafin, a maiden mare, conceived on the first attempt. In the darkness of the predawn on 06 February 2022, Serafin foaled a black bay colt. Our new little prince was exquisite, so refined and fawn-like with large dark liquid eyes, tiny tippy ears and long limbs – he looked just like Bambi! Our vision had worked beautifully; 'Bambi' was soon up on his legs frolicking around and was curious about everything. He had a regal calmness about him, was cheeky and so very sweet all in one. Not only was he an extremely beautiful and correct foal, he also had the influences of his incredible heritage shining through. We knew he was special and felt he was destined
Above (left-right) BP El Seghir & Jack, PC Samantha Taylor; Ghazala El Jamaal Opposite BP El Seghir, PC Tabitha Segar.
for the show ring and had contacted Mitchell Taff when he was only 6 weeks of age. We thought it most likely would be as a 2 year old, given he was February born, as he would need the extra time to grow, and that he did. As the months went by Bambi blossomed into a very elegant yearling. The onset of winter signified it was time for him to commence his training and show preparation. We were extremely happy to have secured a spot for him on the show team based at Krishlah Arabians, and together we chose the three shows for him to attend. We had long admired the expertise and kind way that Mitch presented his horses and also how beautifully Krishlah turned out their show team – it was the perfect choice!
At his debut in November at Werribee Park for the Australian Arabian Alliance Championships everything was new to him. It was his first time in an indoor arena and he handled the whole show experience calm and relaxed. He put on a lovely show for Mitch and came away with Top Five 2YO Colt. His next show would be in early February in NSW at Willinga Park.
Three months went by fast with Bambi loving his exercise routine and schooling, and he especially loved all the attention and pampering given to him by his groom Ellen. Mitch visited regularly from Sydney to finetune his and the whole show team’s overall training.
The team arrived safe and happy at Willinga Park on the beautiful south coast of NSW at Bawley Point, a few days prior to the commencement of the Australasian Arabian Breeders’ Coalition International Championships & Emirates Arabian Horse Global Cup. Willinga Park is beyond imagination, set amongst lush sub-tropical gardens with state-of-the-art, architecturally designed equine facilities. It was well worth the 7 hour drive from Victoria with friends Nathan and Julian to experience this equine paradise. Unfortunately, my husband Jack (Denis) couldn't make it; he stayed home to hold down the fort and look after all our horses and fur kids.
Bambi seemed to love the balmy coastal weather and looked amazing the next morning as he sashayed into the arena with Mitch. They are an elegant combination and gave the judges a beautiful presentation and stand up on both days. We were thrilled with the results; he was awarded AABC International Silver Champion Junior Colt, EAHGC Bronze Champion Junior Colt, and AABC Breeders Challenge Bronze Champion Highest Scoring Arabian Entire.
It was wonderful to be part of this exciting and innovative new show and are grateful for the generous awards provided by the Emirates Arabian Horse Society.
Fast forward five weeks to the Australian Arabian National Championships, this year held in Victoria at Werribee Park. We arrived with friends Sheila and Christine to find Bambi relaxed, happy and lapping up all the attention in the extreme 40°c heat that had swept across Victoria. With his family’s rich history at these championships, we hoped he would follow in their hoofprints and do us all proud. Thankfully, the extreme heat didn't seem to affect Bambi. With Mitch on the end of the lead, he strutted into the arena with much exuberance and showed brilliantly. With tears in our eyes, our beautiful BP El Seghir was crowned 2024 Australian National Champion Junior Colt!
BP El Seghir has taken the very best from his sire and dam with his paternal grand-dam’s influence shining through. With a pedigree rich in Egyptian blood, he will need the time to mature fully. He has a wonderfully kind temperament, is refined, statuesque, and is quite simply, undeniably Arabian! His dam, Simeon Serafin, is living up to her promise and proving to be a wonderful broodmare. Last season, she produced her second foal – an equally enchanting bay filly Byrnlea Park Sehara sired by the FA El Rasheem son D Nayel.
It’s been a fairytale journey so far, and a dream fulfilled seeing our beautiful colt achieve the same high-level success as his incredible family before him – honestly, we couldn’t be more proud!
Left (top-down) BP El Seghir at Willinga Park, PC Deltrees Photography; Simeon Serafin; BP El Seghir as a foal.
Equine Excellence Advancing
A Retrospect of Fifty Years of Mulawa Chief Sires
REFLECTION IS ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS OF TIME, PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXAMINE, ASSESS, UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE HOW THE CONSEQUENCES AND RESULTS OF DECISIONS MADE AFFECTED THE OUTCOME AND REALITY OF PRESENT DAY.
by SCOTT BENJAMIN photography STUART VESTY unless otherwise noted
Applying this gift of reflection across five decades of a breeding programme, during which nearly two dozen stallions stood as chief sire, provides invaluable insight into not only how the visions and aspirations of the breeders were made manifest, but also of how each of these stallions made a constructive contribution to the genetic palette of the programme as well as left their indelible signature on the unmistakeable phenotype for which the programme has deservedly earned universal acclaim.
For the Farrell family of Mulawa Arabian Stud, the catalyst that transformed their small family farm to serious breeding programme of significance was the purchase of their first chief sire from the United States in the mid-1970s: the aptly named AMBITION, whose destiny-altering contribution earned him the honorific of Mulawa’s ‘reason for being’. Most remarkably, over the ensuing decades, a dozen chief sires would be acquired from overseas, the vast majority from North America, to enhance the expanding aspiration of the programme, the record of which remains unprecedented and unchallenged in Australia in terms of both ambitious scope and enduring impact.
So successful was the skilful blending of these imported stallions into the Mulawa breeding programme, that, when
combined the superlative dam families carefully curated from both overseas and within Australia that comprised the core of the Mulawa breeding vision, the Farrells began to create, with remarkable consistency, home-bred stallions of even greater genetic prepotency and impact, the majority of whom possessed pedigrees infused with vital links to multiple Mulawa foundation sires. With the advent of imported frozen semen to Australia in the new millennium, the Mulawa breeding programme expanded exponentially, layering in the best genetics and phenotypic attributes available from the global gene pool with consequential effect, elevating the respectability and desirability of the Mulawa Arabian on the international stage to unparalleled new heights.
In celebration of the incomparable contribution the Farrell family has made to the advancement of the Arabian breed over the course of half a century, both closer to home in Australasia as well as worldwide, we will journey back across the decades and discover the success of the modern Mulawa Arabian through the lens of each of the transformative chief sires whose invaluable genotypic and phenotypic contributions helped to create the instantly recognisable and universally admired ‘Mulawa type’ and ‘Mulawa style’ the global community so respects and appreciates today.
Imported Sires
Given the limited access to quality bloodstock from around the world that has proven the greatest challenge to genetic improvement in Australasia since equines first arrived in the late 18th century, the importation of wellbred Arabian stallions by breeders with both ample resources and visionary determination has been the principal change agent that has propelled the breed positively forward in both Australia and New Zealand. Having imported a total of twelve Arabian stallions from overseas from 1973 through 2008, Mulawa unquestionably ranks among the leading studs in Australasian history in terms of total number of imports, years of active importation, diversity of bloodlines, and continental origin, with stallions bred in Europe, North America and South America all standing as chief sires during the past five decades. Of these, eight are still celebrated as essential predecessors to the continuing success of the Arabian breed, not only in the Mulawa programme, but also, increasingly so, in the most well respected and consequential breeding programmes and competitive arenas all across the globe.
Ambition
(Bask x Bint Ambara by Comet) Grey | January 1972 – March 1985
BRED BY: Lasma Arabians, USA Imported to Australia 1975
SIRE LINE: KUHAILAN HAIFI or. Ar. (1923)
Imp. to Poland from Syria (1931)
DAM LINE: MLECHA or. Ar. (1840)
Imp. to Poland from Arabia (1845)
BLOODLINES: Pure Polish
SEASONS AT STUD: 9 (1976-1984)
LIFETIME FOALS: 144
MULAWA BRED FOALS: 64
The horse most closely associated with the identity of Mulawa is irrefutably AMBITION, the first and most important son of the immortal breed pillar BASK (Witra˙z x Bałałajka by Amurath Sahib) ever to be imported to Australia. Both of AMBITION’s parents were bred in Poland - BASK by Roman Pankiewicz at Albigowa and the in-utero import BINT AMBARA (out of Ambara by Wielki Szlem) by Andrzej Krzyształowicz at Janów Podlaski, providing both the Mulawa programme and the Australian gene pool at large an incomparable source of classic Pure Polish bloodlines with essential links to all four of the most important post-war sires: COMET (Abu Afas x Carmen by Trypolis), AMURATH SAHIB (35 Amurath II x Sahiba by Nana Sahib I) and the OFIR (out of Dziwa by Abu Mlech) sons WITRAZ (out of Makata by Fetysz) and WIELKI SZLEM (out of Elegantka by Bakszysz). Of all the stallions utilised in the Mulawa programme over the last half century, AMBITION, rather remarkably, possessed the most recent links tracing directly to the Arabian homeland with no less than four desert-bred ancestors, all exported in the 20th century, present in the first five generations of his pedigree: FATME or. Ar. – dam of 35 AMURATH II (by Amurath) imported from Syria to Radowce Stud in Austria; KUHAILIAN AFAS or. Ar. – the paternal great-grandsire of COMET imported to Gumniska Stud in Poland from Bahrain; KOHEJLAN or. Ar. – imported from the Nejd to Jezupol Stud in Poland and the sire of the unparalleled Polish matron GAZELLA II (out of Abra by Anvil), who appears four times in AMBITION’s pedigree; and KUHAILIAN HAIFI or. Ar., paternal great-grandsire of AMBITION himself, whose positive influence is prepotently present through three invaluable ancestral connections.
A monumental leap forward for the Mulawa programme both genetically and phenotypically, the decidedly masculine, unmistakably Kuhailan AMBITION became the foundation upon which all the future
success of Mulawa was built, firmly establishing correct conformation, versatile athleticism, strength, substance, trainability, aristocratic quality and captivating charisma – all defining characteristics of both the OFIR and COMET descendants – as trademark attributes of the quintessential Mulawa Arabian. During his nine seasons at stud, AMBITION was one of the most popular stallions in Australia, with more foals born to outside breeders than to Mulawa. Of all the stallions to stand as chief sire at Mulawa, AMBITION sired the most lifetime foals – a rather modest total of 144 compared to other leading sires of the era – leaving the most influential legacy throughout the greatest number of breeding programmes.
Tragically, AMBITION’s tenure as chief sire was cut short at just thirteen years of age, when he succumbed to complications from colic. This devastating loss, still remembered as the darkest day in the long history of Mulawa, proved a turning point for the young programme, inspiring not only the complimentary addition of another Pure Polish import of enduring impact, but also the understanding and awareness that greater genetic diversity was necessary in future bloodstock acquisitions. Trainability, intelligence, sound conformation, length of rein
and versatile athleticism are the most celebrated attributes of AMBITION still found in the modern Mulawa Arabian, with his classic ‘look of eagles’ still the benchmark for impeccable Arabian type within the programme.
AMBITION
LEGACY ATTRIBUTES
TYPE: exceptional quality; fine, black, vascular skin; short, lustrous hair coat; dryness of constitution; large, dark eyes; noble presence – the ‘look of eagles’; ebullient, correct tail carriage; commanding charisma
CONFORMATION: correct conformation; substance (circumference of bone, muscularity and three-dimensional capaciousness); clean, deep, welldefined tendons; strong coupling; length of neck
ATHLETICISM: long, ground covering stride; powerful impulsion through hindquarter; natural animation and carriage; versatile athleticism
DISPOSITION: intelligence; keen instincts and awareness; highly trainable, trusting and willing; bold and fearless; affinity for human interaction
PC: Bonnie Bradbury
(Jamil x Euni by Bandos)
liver chestnut | June 1980 – September 2003
BRED BY: Katharinenhof Stud, Germany
Imported to Australia 1980
SIRE LINE: SAKLAWI I or. Ar. (1886)
Imp. to Egypt from Arabia (~1890
DAM LINE: SAHARA or. Ar. (1835)
Imp. to Poland from Arabia (1845)
BLOODLINES: Pure Polish & Straight Egyptian
SEASONS AT STUD: 15 (1983-1997)
LIFETIME FOALS: 62
MULAWA BRED FOALS:29
The unexpected bonus to the roster of Mulawa chief sires was undeniably VISION, the in-utero reward purchased from Dr. Hans Nagel with the acquisition of EUNI. Born in quarantine while in the UK, the then unnamed VISION was imported to Australia as a foal still at the side of his dam. Greg Farrell Jr., upon seeing both EUNI and her foal for the first time at the Australian port of entry, famously reported back to the family “I am confident you will all be pleased. The mare is even lovelier than expected… and the colt is mine”.
VISION proved to be an apt namesake for this trailblazing genetic pioneer, who perfectly blended the contrasting influences of both his royally bred Straight Egyptian sire JAMIL (Madkour I x Hanan) with his illustrious Pure Polish Janów Podlaski-bred dam EUNI (out of Eunice). The success of VISION with the Mulawa broodmare band across diverse bloodlines bolstered confidence that Straight Egyptian bloodlines could successfully be infused with the predominantly Polish and Crabbet genetics, a positive result reflected across multiple consequential breeding programmes continent wide. Blessed with an enthralling presence, uncompromising refinement and an absolutely enchanting liver chestnut coat colour, VISION was an immensely appealing sire for breeders from broad and diverse backgrounds, whose iconic image captured by Gigi Grasso served for years as a pin-up for the romanticised Arabian stallion of antiquity. Of all the chief sires used predominantly in the first quarter century of the Mulawa’s existence, VISION lived the longest and fullest life with his thoughtful incorporation used across the greatest number of breeding seasons.
Unsurprisingly, given the essential contributions of legendary broodmatrons - granddams HANAN (Alaa El Din x Mona by Badr) and EUNICE (Comet x Epigona by Amurath Sahib), great-granddam BANDOLA (Witraz x Bałałajka by Amurath Sahib), and fourth-generation dams MALACHA (El Sareei x Moheba by Sid Abouhom) and CARMEN (Trypolis x Wilga by Ofir) - in his distinguished pedigree, VISION proved to be an invaluable broodmare sire. The VISION daughters can still be reliably found as instrumental stepping stones of progress in the pedigrees of many of the most celebrated and respected modern Arabians with vital connections to Australia. Consummate quality and refinement, superlative skin and hair coats, large, lustrous eyes, dry ‘desert’ constitutions, smooth silhouettes and an elegant, elastic turn to the throat can all be attributed to the enduring influence of VISION, essential characteristics still apparent with remarkable consistency generations on in the new millennium Mulawa Arabian.
VISION LEGACY ATTRIBUTES
TYPE: exceptional quality; uncompromising refinement; exquisitely fine, black, vascular skin; short, iridescent hair coat; dryness and cleanliness of constitution; large, dark eyes prominently set; aristocratic presence; captivating charisma
CONFORMATION: correct conformation and proportion; clean, deep, well-defined tendons; smooth coupled; depth of girth; well-muscled; clean, prominent wither; length of neck; long, elastic, clean mitbah; well-designed, well-placed ears
ATHLETICISM: length of stride; natural balance and carriage; versatile athleticism
DISPOSITION: highly instinctive and aware; effusive energy; affinity for human interaction
PC: Gigi Grasso
Warranty
(Aladdinn x Wizja by El Paso) bay | May 1982 – July 2008
BRED BY: Michałów Stud, Poland & Lasma Arabians, USA | Imported to Australia 1986
SIRE LINE: KUHAILAN HAIFI or. Ar. (1923)
Imp. to Poland from Syria (1931)
DAM LINE: SZWEYKOWSKA (~1800)
Imp. to Poland from Arabia (18th Century)
BLOODLINES: Pure Polish
SEASONS AT STUD: 3 (1986-1988)
LIFETIME FOALS: 116
MULAWA BRED FOALS: 54
The premature loss of AMBITION was the catalyst that initiated the search for another Pure Polish chief sire at Mulawa during the most expansive period of Arabian horse activity in Australia. That search led back to Lasma Arabians in Scottsdale, the indisputable industry leader in both breeding and marketing at the time, where Greg had apprenticed as teenager in the 1970s and, as a result, was well acquainted with the bloodlines and horses that had consistently achieved the greatest success and were in highest demand. One of the mares who had made the greatest impression on Greg as a young man was the improbably beautiful, statuesque WIZJA (out of Warmia by Comet), the 1977 United States National Champion Mare, who, although she had already returned home to Michałów Stud in Poland, had left behind a young son by the leading sire in the breed - Scottsdale, United States, Canadian & Swedish National Champion ALADDINN (Nureddin x Lalage by Gerwazy).
In keeping with the Polish tradition of naming the progeny after the first letter of the dam’s name, the young colt was christened WARRANTY, and as luck would have it, was available for a short-term lease. Arriving just in time for the Australian breeding season in 1986, WARRANTY quickly ascended to the heights of both popularity and intrigue, with Australian breeders keen to take advantage of his celebrated genetic heritage. In three very busy seasons at stud, a very fertile and virile WARRANTY sired 116 foals, with an average of nearly forty foals born each year, the majority of which were bred by outside breeders.
Phenotypically, WARRANTY was unlike any Arabian stallion Australians had ever seen – imposingly tall and masculine, superbly balanced and conformed, with an explosive, energetic character and a powerhouse trot of awe-inspiring impulsion, length of stride and animation. Like AMBITION, WARRANTY was unmistakably
Kuhailan in phenotype, but given his impressive scope, substance and athletic prowess, his physical expression was more classically Anglo-Arabian in style, akin to the most celebrated Arabian sires used in Poland when creating quality saddle horses and cavalry mounts was of principal importance. Of the four imported Mulawa chief sires to earn the coveted title of Australian National Champion Stallion, WARRANTY would be the first to bring the honour home with a very capable Greg Farrell at the lead, whose talent and natural aptitude as a horseman was tested to the extreme whenever the pair made a public appearance. Upon his return to North America, WARRANTY would become one of the most successful competitors in the fledgling performance division of Country English Pleasure, further proving his exceptional athletic ability and establishing his trailblazing status within the breed.
WARRANTY proved to be a prepotent sire of all the best attributes of both his venerated sire and dam. The exceptional balance, substance, harmony of proportion and versatile athleticism of ALADDINN can still be found in the vast majority of WARRANTY descendants throughout breed. From the incomparable WIZJA, the mare from whom Greg hoped the greatest genetic influence could be gained, WARRANTY and his descendants were blessed with aristocratic quality, refinement and elegance, immense, luminous eyes, a magnificently designed, upright forehand, significant length of neck, a long, laid-back shoulder,
a strong, powerfully built hindquarter and powerful athleticism that remains unrivalled in the breed. Whenever exceptional athletic ability, especially explosive power and animation oftentimes associated with highly reactive and sensitive dispositions, is manifest in the Mulawa Arabians of present day, the inestimable influence of WARRANTY is irrefutably still making its mark within the breed.
WARRANTY
LEGACY ATTRIBUTES
TYPE: elegance, quality and refinement; fine, black, vascular skin; short, lustrous hair coat; dryness and cleanliness of constitution; large, dark eyes; commanding charisma; imposing presence
CONFORMATION: superlative conformation; exceptional balance and harmony of proportion; clean, dry constitution; long, superbly shaped, well-placed neck; long, laid-back shoulder; deep, muscular, powerfully built hindquarter
ATHLETICISM: explosive power and impulsive drive; extravagant animation; exceptional length of stride; expressive balance, suspension and natural carriage; versatile athleticism
DISPOSITION: highly sensitive and aware; endlessly energetic; fearlessly bold
PC: Pat Slater
GLF Apollo
(Diamond Padron x Per Brio by Percussion) chestnut | March 1990 – October 2020
BRED BY: Gas Light Farm, USA
Imported to Australia 1991
SIRE LINE:SAKLAWI I or. Ar. (1886)
Imp. to Egypt from Arabia (~1890)
DAM LINE: BASILISK or. Ar. (1876)
Imp. to UK from Syria (1878)
BLOODLINES: Polish, Russian, Egyptian, Crabbet & American
SEASONS AT STUD: 13 (1992-2014)
LIFETIME FOALS: 102
MULAWA BRED FOALS: 59
The importation of GLF APOLLO ushered in the ‘new wave’ of sires for the Mulawa programme, bringing with him the very first connection to a sire of supreme global significance whose ascendancy was on a rapid rise: the North American Triple Crown sensation PADRON. Bred in the Netherlands, PADRON was Russian-Crabbet blend masterpiece, sired by the Terskbred PATRON (out of Podruga by Priboj), himself a son of the Straight Egyptian breeding legend ASWAN (Nazeer x Yosreia by Sheikh El Arab), and out of the British-bred ODESSA (Bright Wings x Serinda by Seradin), whose predominantly Crabbet pedigree was intensely line-bred to the two most important foundation mares from the desert: DAJANIA or. Ar. 1876 and RODANIA or. Ar. 1869. APOLLO was a direct paternal grandson of the Living Legend through his Texas-bred son DIAMOND PADRON, whose maternal line was enriched with the beneficial genetic influence of American Arabian sires extraordinaire SERAFIX (Raktha x Serafina by Indian Gold), FADJUR (Fadhelian x Bint Sahara by Farawi), TSATYR (Tsali x Imamara by Imaraff) and RASEYN (Skowronek x Rayya by Rustem). Bred in Michigan by Lori Humphrey and recommended to the Farrells by longtime friend and mentor Gene Reichardt, APOLLO’s pedigree was a bountiful blend of several of the leading sires from the Great Lake State, including the legendary Straight Egyptian SHAIKH AL BADI (Morafic x Bint Maisa El Saghira by Nazeer), his well-conformed and elegant son AVATAR AL SUFI (out of Bint Buena Suerte by Buena Suerte), and the powerful PERCUSSION (Perkal x Hillcrest
Hanrifa by Handeyraff), the latter two both chief sires at the influential Avatar Arabians. This blend of predominantly Crabbet and foundation American bloodlines with some of the very best Straight Egyptian descendants of NAZEER (Mansour x Bint Samiha by Kazmeen) was also enriched with an essential link to Poland through the Janów Podlaskibred PERKAL (Palas x Pier´snica by Negatiw), an exceptional athlete who was a direct tail-female great-grandson of the immortal PIEWICA (Priboj x Włodarka by Ofir), foundress of the unparalleled Polish ‘P’ family of international champions.
Phenotypically, APOLLO was most reminiscent of his maternal grandsire PERCUSSION, a National Reserve Champion Park Horse esteemed for his considerable substance, strength, masculine power and athletic inclination, and the superbly conformed, prototypically versatile SERAFIX via multiple crosses in his sire line, with an apparent dose of PADRON’s aristocratic elegance and magnetic presence layered in for good measure. Renowned for siring bright chestnuts with flaxen manes and tails – the golden ‘surfer girls and boys’ of Mulawa of the 1990s - APOLLO would leave his indelible mark on dozens of breeding programmes all across Australasia in the ensuing decades, with his daughters reliably found in the pedigrees of several of the most celebrated modern Mulawa Arabians who enjoy international acclaim.
The fiercely independent, infinitely energetic APOLLO was not only in residence at Mulawa longer than any of the other imported chief sires – a remarkable 29 years,
he lived the longest, fullest life of any of the stallions ever to call Mulawa home, moving on to greener pastures at thirty extraordinary years of age in 2020. His enduring gifts to the breed continue to be substantial strength and capacity, correct conformation, admirable length and shape of neck, a powerful hindquarter and his trademark golden-blonde coat/hair colour combo. Unsurprisingly, given the number of celebrated athletes in his pedigree, the APOLLO descendants continue to excel across a wide variety of equine sport, renown for their remarkable work ethic, indefatigable enthusiasm and effortless versatility.
GLF APOLLO LEGACY ATTRIBUTES
TYPE: old-world elegance; black skin; dark, round eyes; self-assured presence
CONFORMATION: correct conformation; superlative substance, strength and three-dimensional capacity; long, well-shaped, clean neck; round, capacious nostrils; muscular, powerfully built hindquarter; reliable size and scope
ATHLETICISM: long, fluid stride; cadenced way of going; effortless suspension and natural carriage; versatile athleticism
DISPOSITION: exceptional work ethic; highly trainable; intelligent and curious; tenacious and enduring; purposeful pleasers
Fame Maker R
(Fame VF x Inschallah El Shaklan by El Shaklan) chestnut | June 1989 – April 2019
BRED BY: Joyce DeWitt & Laura Cleaves, USA Imported to Australia 1996
SIRE LINE: MIRAGE or. Ar. (1919)
Imp. to Iraq & France (1921), UK (1923) & USA (1930) from Syria
Of all the imported stallions afforded the honour of chief sire at Mulawa, none enjoyed more universal acclaim and interest than FAME MAKER R. Already a United States & Canadian National Champion Futurity Colt when purchased by fellow Australian David Westbrook at public auction during the annual Scottsdale Show, the overwhelming favourable reputation of the immensely popular FAME MAKER was only magnified when he landed Down Under in the winter of 1996. So keen were the Farrells to make FAME MAKER an integral part of the Mulawa future that, prior to his acquisition in Scottsdale, they reached an agreement to stand and promote the stallion for David should he become the successful buyer, committing to a 50% share prior to export and securing full ownership by February 1997. This key acquisition coincided perfectly with FAME MAKER’s ultimate triumph as Australian National Champion Senior Stallion in a spectacularly unforgettable, crowd-pleasing performance that still elicits goosebumps in recollection.
Phenotypically, FAME MAKER exemplified the breed ideal more so than any chief sire in Mulawa’s long history. His silhouettesuperbly balanced and harmoniously proportioned, with an elegant upright forehand, a compact level topline and an undeniable aristocratic elegance - was remarkably reminiscent of his maternal grandsire EL SHAKLAN (Shaker El Masri x Estopa by Tabal), the iconic sire of unparalleled global influence whose monumental influence in Australia had yet to be incorporated into the Mulawa breeding programme. FAME MAKER’s exceptional conformational correctness, strong, smooth coupling and powerfully impulsive, brilliantly animated athleticism can be credited to his paternal grandsire RAFFON (Gazon x Vadraff by Indraff), a United States National Champion Stallion & English Pleasure Horse
responsible for so much genetic merit in the breed worldwide. FAME MAKER’s uber-abundance of irresistibly compelling charisma and imposing, overwhelmingly extroverted self-confidence, along his reliably exuberant tail-carriage – carried at full mast in flag unfurled style whenever he was in motion, were the irrefutable gifts of his paternal grandsire BEY SHAH (Bay El Bey x Star of Ofir by Bask), whose profound legacy has enriched the breed inestimably. FAME MAKER’s final genetic connection of consequence was his maternal granddam PROMETIDA (Zanjar x Batista by Sherif), a Straight Spanish mare discovered in 1970 by Sigi Siller on her first trip abroad in search of quality bloodstock, who became one of the foundation mares at Om El Arab alongside the legendary ESTOPA (Tabal x Uyaima by Barquillo).
Prodigiously prepotent, FAME MAKER stamped his get with his pleasing phenotype with reassuring consistency. Routinely tall and exceptionally complete, the FAME MAKER progeny exemplified symmetry, structural integrity and elegance in perfect proportion, exuding type, charisma and self-assuredness in spades. Almost all were further blessed with his phenomenal movement, which never failed to manifest as excellence both in hand and under saddle
across a wide variety of versatile equine disciplines. Whenever a long tail bone, perfectly shaped and proudly carried with just the slightest provocation is spotted on a Mulawa Arabian, one can almost guarantee that FAME MAKER is the source.
FAME MAKER R LEGACY ATTRIBUTES
TYPE: unparalleled charisma and presence; breed ideal silhouette; long tail bone, perfectly carried; unfailingly exuberant tail carriage
CONFORMATION: superlative balance and harmony of proportion; compact, level topline; depth of girth; full, muscular hindquarter; upright, elegant, proudly carried forehand; reliable size and substance; good substance and quality of bone
DISPOSITION: natural enthusiasm for life; intelligent and eager; highly energetic; easily animated; fearlessly brave
TS Al Malik
(Hello Barich ELS x BF Tiffany Select by BF Rageymazon) grey | December 1992 – January 2020
Discovered on the same trip to Scottsdale in 1996 when FAME MAKER sold at public auction, TS AL MALIK was the stallion the Farrells did not know they needed until he burst into their lives at a Midwest Training Centre presentation of sale horses. Imposingly tall, indisputably masculine and commandingly charismatic, the young TS AL MALIK proved to be exactly what the Farrells were seeking, with his impressive scope and substance, consummate conformation and long, sweeping stride. Just a few months over three years of age that February, the Brazilian-bred TS AL MALIK made an enthralling impression not only on Julie, Jane and Greg, but also on the officials adjudicating the Scottsdale Show, as he was named Reserve Champion Senior Stallion by week’s end, then already proudly in the ownership of Mulawa.
While TS AL MALIK’s phenotype was exactly what the Mulawa programme needed, his pedigree was replete with bloodlines almost entirely untested within the breeding herd. The Farrells were taking a huge risk on his intensely linebred FERZON (Ferneyn x Fersara by Ferseyn) and RAFFLES (Skowronek x Rifala by Skowronek) pedigree, lightly blended with a dash of the Polish-bred legend BASK, the Russian icon NABORR (Negatiw x Łagodna by Posejdon) and Straight Egyptian breed pillar MORAFIC
(Nazeer x Mabrouka by Sid Abouhom). The presence of another vital link in his pedigree, that of the Straight Spanish sire of renown BARICH DE WASHOE (Zurich x Aldebaran II by Malvito), would prove monumentally consequential, compounding the Spanish bloodlines introduced through FAME MAKER with great effect and forever elevating the trademark type of the modern Mulawa Arabian. Of all the stallions masterfully incorporated into the Mulawa programme across five-plus decades of existence, TS AL MALIK, who would become the third Australian National Champion Senior Stallion from amongst the imports, was unquestionably the greatest risk genotypically, a gamble that is still reaping unprecedented dividends almost thirty years later and counting.
Over the course of the next two decades, it was the phenomenally prepotent Straight Spanish genetics in TS AL MALIK’s heritage that would prove to be most reliably inherited by his descendants, with the BARICH DE WASHOE phenotype still omnipresent in the vast majority of the Mulawa breeding herd of the new millennium. The common denominator shared by the most important Mulawa-bred sires, KLASS and ALLEGIANCE MI, is TS AL MALIK, as is KARMAA, the undisputed ‘Queen of Mulawa’ for whom TS AL MALIK was purposefully purchased in an effort to maximise her boundless genetic
contribution. The Arabian breed continues to be enhanced with the best of the TS AL MALIK legacy, accomplished, most remarkably, with just 53 lifetime Australian-bred foals, including his exceptionally long, elegant and upright forehand, his size, substance and strength, his breed ideal length and slope of shoulder, his large, dark eyes, and his commanding confidence and charisma.
TS AL MALIK LEGACY ATTRIBUTES
TYPE: commanding charisma; confident masculine presence; fine hair coat; large, dark eyes
CONFORMATION: imposing size and scope; smooth harmonious proportion; correct conformation; substantial, muscular build; legs placed squarely on four corners of body; long, laid-back shoulder; long, muscular quarter; exceptionally elegant, upright forehand; length and elasticity of neck
TThe friendship with Gene Reichardt reaped its greatest reward with the introduction of MAGNUM FORTY FOUR, who was offered on very generous lease terms to the Farrells in 2003. Once the promising poster child of excellence from the inaugural foal crop of MAGNUM PSYCHE (Padrons Psyche x A Fancy Miracle), MAGNUM FORTY FOUR had fallen into obscurity as a result of multiple unfortunate ownership exchanges. This early misfortune, however, proved to be just the opposite for both MAGNUM FORTY FOUR and Mulawa, as a horse of his quality would never have been made available to Australia during the height of MAGNUM PSYCHE mania had it not been for his ‘donation’ as a tax write-off to the Salem’s Children Home in Iowa where Gene was employed as horse supervisor.
Phenotypic excellence aside, having already been named United States & Canadian National Reserve Champion Stallion AOTH, MAGNUM FORTY FOUR’s pedigree offered the Mulawa programme more of the bloodlines that had proven to be most effective within the breeding herd, blended creatively into a most appealing package of distinctly modern features. A direct paternal descendant of PADRON, like GLF APOLLO, MAGNUM FORTY FOUR possessed, more importantly, an essential link to PADRONS PSYCHE, another living legend and global sire of significance whose Straight Russian dam KILIKA (Tamerlan x Kilifa by Kiliminjaro) added superlative structure, old world elegance and indomitable athletic ability to his heritage. Like FAME MAKER, FORTY FOUR was a blend of Balearic and BEY SHAH bloodlines, inheriting elegance, scope, balance and enormous liquid eyes from MAGNUM PSYCHE’s Straight Spanish dam A FANCY MIRACLE (Sasaki x Medina Azahara by Garbo) and the trademark
charisma, tail carriage and enchanting presence that defined BEY SHAH via his own dam WH NASHAHNA, a successful show mare for North Arabians.
MAGNUM FORTY FOUR proved to be such a successful sire for Mulawa, that his purchase was secured at the end of his lease in 2006. He would remain the most important and influential sire in residence until his premature loss in 2013, leaving just 93 lifetime foals behind, two-thirds of which were bred by Mulawa. Most remarkably, from this modest number of foals, MAGNUM FORTY FOUR would be honoured as the leading sire of champion progeny in Australia for six consecutive years, responsible for the greatest number of accomplished performers both in hand and under saddle all across the continent whose impressive portfolios of achievement are still rewriting the record books. Despite his unparalleled impact on the positive trajectory of the show ring, MAGNUM FORTY FOUR’s most profound legacy is his iconic status earned as a broodmare sire supreme. His elite collection of daughters, which numbered as many as a dozen at their peak, comprised the essential core of the Mulawa breeding herd for more than a decade.
It was universal justice that, after the unnecessary and wasteful wandering of his youth, MAGNUM FORTY FOUR found his forever home at Mulawa. Despite a few appearances in the show ring, the pinnacle of which included his triumph as East Coast Champion Senior Stallion, MAGNUM FORTY FOUR lived a comfortable, stationary existence in Berrilee
during Mulawa’s most ambitious era of expansion in the new millennium. Exquisite quality and refinement, unsurpassed balance and harmonious proportion, exceptional breed type and elegance, unexpectedly versatile athleticism and those trademark ‘44’ eyes –alluringly large, liquid and luminous – are the gifts with which MAGNUM FORTY FOUR continues to enrich the global breeding population for the better.
MAGNUM FORTY FOUR LEGACY ATTRIBUTES
TYPE: exotic Arabian type and elegance; unrivalled quality and refinement; aristocratic presence; black, vascular skin; fine, lustrous hair coat; enormous, dark eyes placed wide and low on a perfectly proportioned head
CONFORMATION: exceptional balance and harmonious proportion; smooth and strongly coupled; compact, muscular breed standard topline; clean, well-defined bone and tendons; elegant, upright forehand; admirable length and shape of neck and mitbah
ATHLETICISM: light, cadenced way of going; long, purposeful stride; exceptionally versatile athleticism
DISPOSITION: highly intelligent and curious; unrivalled work ethic and trainability; optimistic approach to life; remarkable affinity for human interaction
Guiliano
(Legacy of Fame x SC Psavannah by Padrons Psyche) bay | April 2007 – January 2015
BRED BY: Roland & Judith Schmid, USA Imported to Australia 2008
The final masculine import from overseas to Mulawa more than a decade and half ago was GUILIANO, a gifted show horse with an enticing phenotypic appeal and pedigree filled with celebrated icons. Discovered as a yearling at Arabians International in Scottsdale, GUILIANO, like GLF APOLLO before him, would arrive early
to Australia and stand his entire life as a breeding stallion in the Antipodes. Of all the imported stallions, GUILIANO would prove to be the most successful in the Australian show ring, earning championship honours at the National Stud Show, East Coast Championships, and the Queensland Challenge prior to his final triumph as unanimous Australian National Champion Senior Stallion in 2012 with Andrew Sellman at the lead.
While GUILIANO’s exterior assets were the driving force behind his acquisition, his star-studded pedigree gave the Farrells confidence that his incorporation into the Mulawa programme would enhance and bolster those bloodlines that had proven most successful over the decades. As the first Mulawa chief sire since WARRANTY to possess a direct relationship to the legendary ALADDINN, GUILIANO was the beneficiary of his most successful line of National Champion-winning male
descendants through ALADA BASKIN (out of Launa Basketu by Baske-Tu), LEGACY OF GOLD (out of Khatar Firesember by Fire Chief) and LEGACY OF FAME (out of Fames Elegance C by Fame VF). The presence of multiple crosses to breed pillars BASK, SERAFIX, RAFFON and BEY EL BAY (Bay-Abi x Nagnaka by Bad Afas) in GUILIANO’s pedigree were welcome reinforcements to the breeding herd, as was the most prodigious addition of Russian bloodlines to the programme thus far through both PADRONS PSYCHE and the Tersk-bred PESNIAR (Nabeg x Pesnia by Aswan).
Utilised intensively across just three seasons, GUILIANO proved to be an exceptional sire of show horses, responsible, in his inaugural season at stud, for the Australian National Champion Yearlings in all three gender divisions – filly, colt and gelding – in an industry first. With just fifty lifetime foals, the vast majority of which bear the MI breeder designation, GUILIANO has left an indelible mark on the Arabian industry in Australasia, extending the National Champion-winning legacy of his sire line to yet another generation with two sons – MAXIMILLIANO and KONQUEST MI – named Australian National Champion Senior Stallion, not to mention the scores of additional progeny with dozens of other prestigious titles earned at the highest levels continent-wide both in hand and under saddle.
Sixteen years on from his arrival Down Under, GUILIANO’s greatest influence in the breed now resides outside the Mulawa programme, thriving within the visions and aspirations of fellow Australian breeders, owners and exhibitors. Time has proven his greatest contribution to the local breeding population to be considerable size and scope, an impressively upright, elegant forehand, a smooth, well-coupled silhouette, a powerful, animated stride and a natural inclination for the excitement of the show ring.
GUILIANO LEGACY ATTRIBUTES
TYPE: natural carriage and charisma; short, well-proportioned head; compelling show ring presence
CONFORMATION: length of leg; harmonious design; scope and stretch; elegant, upright forehand; exceptional length and shape of neck and mitbah
ATHLETICISM: naturally animated trot; powerful impulsion; natural tension and lift
DISPOSITION: trainable and willing; intense affinity for show ring
Mulawa-Bred Sires
Given the world-class genetics introduced from overseas in the form of chief sires, foundation dams and frozen semen, it was inevitable that Mulawa would create its own sires of significance to test within the programme. More than a dozen home-bred sires have been used across the decades, the vast majority of which can be traced to just four stallions of profound consequence.
Arrival
(Ambition x Euni by Bandos) grey | August 1982 – September 2003
SIRE LINE: KUHAILAN HAIFI or. Ar. (1923)
Imp. to Poland from Syria (1931)
DAM LINE: SAHARA or. Ar. (1835) Imp. to Poland from Arabia (1845)
BLOODLINES: Pure Polish
SEASONS USED: 10 (1985-1994)
LIFETIME FOALS: 36
MULAWA BRED FOALS: 24
Pure Polish broodmatron supreme EUNI was the most celebrated mare at Mulawa in 1980’s, not only because she was incredibly beautiful and classically ‘Old World’ in style, but most importantly because she had produced two chief sires for the fledgling programme, the result of which makes her the second most prevalent ancestress in the prestigious pedigrees of the modern Mulawa Arabians. While her in-utero bonus gift VISION left more progeny of consequence behind, her second son ARRIVAL proved to be her most enduring within the Mulawa breeding population. Elevated to chief sire status at three years of age after the tragic premature loss of his sire AMBITION, ARRIVAL was used selectively across the broad range of Mulawa dam lines for just 36 lifetime foals, finding his most successful outcome with KARMAA, the future ‘Queen of Mulawa’, soon after her arrival. The product of this fortuitous mating was MULAWA ARIA, undeniably ‘Old Polish’ in type, colour and style, who would leave four daughters by another sparingly used sire, PARKVIEW AUDACIOUS, whose progeny in turn would revolutionise the breed both at home and abroad.
Most notably, the cross of AMBITION with EUNI combined the incomparable genetic
contribution of full siblings BASK and BANDOLA, unquestionably two of the most profoundly consequential horses ever to be bred in Poland, endowing ARRIVAL with a unique concentration of linebred excellence. This intensely linebred heritage to both WITRAZ and AMURATH SAHIB was further magnified with two essential crosses to breed pillar COMET, the other Polish supersire most closely identified with the foundation Mulawa type, all of which made ARRIVAL a reliably prepotent sire of the classic Polish style so admired by the Farrell family. Like AMBITION, ARRIVAL is celebrated as a reliable source of correct conformation, substance and strength, abundant athleticism and kind, engagingly intelligent and trainable dispositions, in combination with the aristocratic elegance, smooth harmonious design, classic desert dryness, and extra length of rein and desirable shape through the throatlatch of his exemplary dam EUNI.
ARRIVAL LEGACY ATTRIBUTES
TYPE: aristocratic quality and elegance; black, vascular skin; short, fine hair coat; dryness of constitution
CONFORMATION: correct conformation; substance (circumference of bone, muscularity and three-dimensional capaciousness); clean, deep, well-defined tendons; strong coupling; length of neck; elasticity through mitbah
ATHLETICISM: long, ground covering stride; powerful impulsion through hindquarter; natural animation and carriage; versatile athleticism
DISPOSITION: intelligence; keen instincts and awareness; highly trainable, trusting and willing; affinity for human interaction
PC: Jenny Jerrard
Klass
(TS Al Malik x Karmaa by Kaborr) grey | January 2003
The sagacious acquisition of TS AL MALIK was impelled largely by the desire to mate him with KARMAA, who by the mid-1990s had displaced EUNI as the new, and forever, ‘Queen of Mulawa’. An exceptional blend of Spanish, Russian, Polish, American and Crabbet bloodlines, KARMAA brought to Mulawa the phenotypic excellence of both her highly decorated sire – World Champion Stallion KABORR (Naborr x Bint Kholameh by Adibiyez) – and dam –United States National Reserve Champion Mare AN MARIETA (AN Malilk x An Fayrosa by Fadjeyn). So successful did she become as a broodmare that KARMAA can now be found in over 95% of the current breeding herd at Mulawa in at least one generation, having established a foundation dam family of her own that is comprised of the largest and most diverse tail-female descendants in the entire Mulawa programme, with branches still thriving through four invaluable daughters into the fifth generation. KARMAA is also responsible, exponentially so, as the tail-female common denominator, for more Mulawa-bred chief sires than any other matron past or present, with her trademark ‘K’ namesake now found routinely in the pedigrees of many of the most universally admired and respected Arabians throughout the breed.
The combination of KARMAA and TS AL MALIK was repeated four years in succession for an equal gender split, the final result of which was an impressively complete, tall, and imposingly self-confident colt born in January 2003, who was christened with the unequivocally suitable name of KLASS. His record a show horse would rewrite the history books in Australia, becoming not only the first horse to be named four-time undefeated East Coast Champion Colt/Stallion in every age division in which entires are able to be exhibited, but also, most astoundingly, the only horse ever to be named thrice successive Australian National Champion as Senior Stallion (2009), Ridden Arabian Stallion (2010) and Working Stock Horse (2011), the final title earned against all Arabian-related breeds. This unprecedented level of achievement as a breed exemplar in the show ring, coupled with his even more significant success as a sire, earned KLASS the ultimate honour of WAHO Trophy Recipient for Australia, awarded for his extraordinary contribution as a breed ambassador. The iconic Vesty photo of KLASS around the campfire in stockhorse regalia still hangs proudly in the Arabian Horse Galleries at the Kentucky Horse Park nobly representing the Australian-bred Arabian horse to the world. Given KLASS’ impeccable reputation as a sire, it is surprising to discover that he
accomplished such record-setting feats with just 72 lifetime foals. KLASS is responsible for more Australian National Champion females than any other sire in breed history. His daughters have been exported to leading programmes in both Europe and the Middle East, while his descendants closer to home continue to excel across every level of equine sport and endeavour.
KLASS LEGACY ATTRIBUTES
TYPE: unmistakeable Arabian type; regal presence; fine hair coat; large, dark eyes
CONFORMATION: imposing size and scope; smooth harmonious proportion; correct conformation; substantial, muscular build; legs placed squarely on four corners of body; long, laid-back shoulder; long, muscular quarter; clean, elegant turn through neck and mitbah; large, round, capacious nostrils
ATHLETICISM: long, fluid stride; natural lift and strength; versatile athleticism
DISPOSITION: methodical thinkers; brave and bold; enjoy human interaction
Allegiance MI
(Magnum Forty Four x Audacia by Parkview Audacious) grey | January 2009
SIRE LINE: SAKLAWI I or. Ar. (1886)
Imp. to Egypt from Arabia (~1890)
DAM LINE: RODANIA or. Ar. (1869)
Imp. to UK from Arabia (1881)
BLOODLINES: Spanish, Egyptian, Russian, Polish, American & Crabbet
SEASONS USED: 13 (2010-2022)
LIFETIME FOALS: 103
MULAWA BRED FOALS: 80
At the peak of MAGNUM FORTY FOUR’s reign as chief sire supreme, the arrival of an ultra-refined, flamboyantly charismatic colt foal named ALLEGIANCE MI in January of 2009 marked a turning point for his legacy. The very first foal for his dam AUDACIA, an Aristocrat Dam in the making and a maternal granddaughter of Queen KARMAA, it was her pedigree that incorporated the key influences of the aforementioned, sparingly used, chief sires ARRIVAL and PARKVIEW AUDACIOUS, both of whom would earn global recognition as essential ancestors as a result of this auspicious young colt. Blessed with a distinctly modern phenotype inevitably destined for international export, ALLEGIANCE MI made his show ring debut at the National Stud Show at just ten months of age, winning the Yearling Colt Championship, and finishing Supreme Reserve Champion Junior Colt behind stablemate GUILIANO. Just weeks later, both his fate and that of the Mulawa programme would forever be altered when he shattered his left hock on New Year’s Eve, ending not only his show career but any possibility of a future overseas.
Given a very grim prognosis of survival, ALLEGIANCE defied the odds by fully recovering with no visible lameness and only minor scarring, thanks in largest part to the tenacity and dedication of the Mulawa personnel charged with his daily intensive care as well as the gratifyingly patient, sensible and indomitably optimistic approach to life of the patient. Once granted permission to exercise in a larger paddock during his recovery, ALLEGIANCE was relocated to first-class accommodation at Alabama Stud, where all stallions in residence enjoy their own private paddock and yard, complete with an open-style stable and a neighbouring companion gelding. Days after arrival, ALLEGIANCE was soon bouncing around his paddock as capably and soundly as any other two year old in their prime, inspiring the decision to give him a couple of mares to breed as a test in his first season at stud. The
following spring, with the arrival of just two colt foals – ALLEGIANT MI (out of MI Angel by TS Al Malik) and ADVISE MI (out of W Alegria by Amado Juan) – the legend of ALLEGIANCE MI the sire was born, forever transforming the positive trajectory of Mulawa as a breeding programme of supreme significance both domestically and abroad.
For the next dozen breeding seasons, ALLEGIANCE MI would become the most important sire at his maternal stud, eventually elevating himself to leading sire status continent-wide for several years in succession with dozens of overachieving progeny rewriting record books as quickly as they were published. Several of his most distinguished get were acquired by leading programmes on three continents, adding the prestigious titles of All Nations Cup, Dubai International, PSAIAHF, United States National, Scottsdale & Canadian National Champion to his canon of accolades as a sire.
The ALLEGIANCE daughters now comprise the largest group of breeding females in the Mulawa broodmare band, while several sons – the likes of TRUTH MI (out of DM Marcedes True Love by RHR Marcedes), HERMES MI (out of MI Harmony by Guiliano), AUTHOR MI (out of Always An Angel by SK Shakla Khan) and ADVANTAGE MI (out of Valentine MI by DA Valentino) – continue to extend the influence of their sire and of MAGNUM FORTY FOUR yet another generation confidently forward.
Given ALLEGIANCE’s extraordinary record of accomplishment as a sire, it is especially noteworthy that his international fame and good fortune have been achieved with just over 100 foals across thirteen seasons, an average of eight each year, the vast majority of which were bred by Mulawa. Of all the chief
sires used in Mulawa’s celebrated half-century of Arabian horse endeavours, ALLEGIANCE has been the most prolifically dependable, earning not only the highest percentage of champion offspring across his career, but also highest honours as the banner carrier of excellence for the programme worldwide. While the profound legacy of ALLEGIANCE is most assuredly still evolving, his trademark attributes of exemplary breed type, regal refinement and quality, perfect balance and harmony of proportion, breed ideal topline, elegant, upright forehand, athletic versatility, enchanting presence, natural show ring aptitude and unrivalled trainability continue to be his greatest gifts to his exponentially expansive generations of descendants.
ALLEGIANCE MI LEGACY ATTRIBUTES
TYPE: exotic Arabian type, quality and elegance; regal refinement and presence; black, vascular skin; fine, lustrous hair coat
CONFORMATION: exceptional balance and harmonious proportion; smooth and strongly coupled; compact, muscular breed standard topline; clean, well-defined bone and tendons; elegant, upright forehand
ATHLETICISM: light, cadenced way of going; long, purposeful stride; exceptionally versatile athleticism
DISPOSITION: highly intelligent and curious; unrivalled work ethic and trainability; zestful enthusiasm for life; natural affinity for human interaction
Vangelis MI
(DA Valentino x Always An Angel by SK Shakla Khan)
Liver chestnut | August 2013
SIRE LINE: MIRAGE or. Ar. (1919)
Imp. to Iraq & France (1921), UK (1923) & USA (1930) from Syria
DAM LINE: DAJANIA or. Ar. (1876)
Imp. to UK from Arabia (1878)
BLOODLINES: Spanish, Egyptian, Russian, Polish, American & Crabbet
SEASONS USED: 5 (2018-2022)
LIFETIME FOALS: 12
MULAWA BRED FOALS: 12
Thus far, of all the chief sires produced as a result of frozen semen acquired from overseas, the most impactful has been VANGELIS MI. The youngest of three superstar full siblings all born two years apart, VANGELIS was everything the Farrells had hoped for when choosing six-time United States National Champion DA VALENTINO for the Mulawa breeding programme. Exceptionally gifted as a show horse, VANGELIS amassed an impressive show record as a young horse, earning the Australian National Championship as yearling at home before scoring Gold Junior Championship victories at both the Scottsdale International and the Arabian Open in Central Park once in North America. Upon his return to Australia in his prime, VANGELIS completed his show career at just five years of age winning the title of Australian National Gold Champion Senior Stallion at Boneo Park, Victoria, in a sensational crowd-pleasing performance.
The existence and unique phenotype of VANGELIS could not have been possible without the indispensable influence of the formidable show horse and sire supreme SK SHAKLA KHAN (Sanadik El Shaklan x Sun King Raindrop by Hilglor Rainmaker), an American import that stood as chief sire at Fairview Arabians and blended the best of his ‘Golden Cross’ Spanish and Egyptian bloodlines with an intense FERZON, RAFFLES and RASEYN combination of genetics on the distaff side of his pedigree, not dissimilar to those that had made TS AL MALIK such a prepotent sire. Greatly admired by Julie Farrell, she persuaded Greg to send the maiden FAME MAKER R daughter, ANGEL OF FAME (out of Mulawa Angelica by Wanted KE), to SHAKLA KHAN to further concentrate the Straight Egyptian and Spanish bloodlines in the resulting foal. In typical Mulawa good fortune fashion, ANGEL OF FAME produced a filly – the future Aristocrat Dam ALWAYS AN ANGEL – a matron of immeasurable worth whose affirmative influence is expanding
worldwide thanks to her Mulawa-bred progeny, amongst whom are full sisters ALWAYS VALENTINE MI & VALENTINO’S ANGEL MI.
Of all the chief sires utilised at Mulawa over the years, VANGELIS blended the genetic influence of more of the foundation sires than any other, with essential links to the three early pillars – AMBITION, VISION and WARRANTY – as well as a more obvious phenotypic connection to FAME MAKER R. Most remarkably, he did not possess any blood from either TS AL MALIK or MAGNUM FORTY FOUR, the two anchors of the Mulawa programme in the new millennium, which made VANGELIS the ideal outcross for the vast majority of the mares in the herd. While distinctly VALENTINO in phenotype, especially his extravagantly scopey silhouette, VANGELIS is most reminiscent of both his celebrated liver chestnut forebears - SK SHAKLA KHAN and VISION – blessed with exceptional quality and refinement and an undeniable aristocratic elegance. VANGELIS not only possesses the longest, most elastic and most highly set neck of any stallion ever used at Mulawa, he consistently passes this unrivalled attribute onto all his cherished get. With only a dozen lifetime foals to his
credit, including the very promising V MI, the programme’s first ever genuinely black Arabian, VANGELIS has enriched Mulawa with a handful of hopeful daughters, all of which are blessed with his large, dark eyes, his singular scope and stretch, his fine, vascular skin, a short, lustrous hair coat, and his undeniable show ring presence.
The inclusion of PARKVIEW AUDACIOUS into the Mulawa programme was a natural extension of the TS AL MALIK legacy, one intended to enhance the genetic potential within the breeding herd with several of the most influential Arabian stallions ever to be utilised in Australia, including key imports HANSAN (El Hilal x Hamamaa by Ibn Antar), BASKHAN (Bask x Kimeyn by Kimfa) and AL KARIM SIRHALIMA (Ansata Ibn Halima x Sirhabba by Sirecho), as well as Bremervale foundation sires OXFORD DECIMUS (Risaldar x Oxford Sunset by Razaz) and LORD GOLD-N-GLO (Crystal Fire x Lady Blunt by Zadaran). The most sought-after genetic appeal in the powerhouse package was AUDACIOUS’ gorgeous Australian National Champion dam ALIHA BINT NIZR (out of Warrayna Baskette by Baskeri), proudly owned by close friends the Bonney Family, and one of the very best progeny of her highly esteemed imported sire: Australian National Champion Stallion
Conclusion
IShown successfully by Cameron Bonney to multiple championships against large, highly competitive fields of contenders at both the National Stud Show and the East Coast Championships, PARKVIEW AUDACIOUS proved his greatest worth as a sire of equally gifted progeny in the show ring. Tragically lost to colic at just five years of age, his legacy was secured through nine precious daughters, several of which were conceived with frozen semen after his untimely death. These meritorious matrons have since had a profound impact on breeding worldwide, present in more pedigrees of top show and breeding horses on multiple continents than one would expect from a stallion with only seventeen lifetime foals. An irrefutably handsome stallion with an abundance of beauty and elegance, AUDACIOUS endowed his descendants with large well-balanced frames, substance, capacity and
strength, versatile athletic ability, an inspiring zest for life and a compelling charisma that defied one to look away.
PARKVIEW AUDACIOUS LEGACY ATTRIBUTES
TYPE: classic desert type and beauty; aristocratic elegance and quality; charismatic self-confidence
CONFORMATION: size and scope; harmonious balance; substance and strength; strong, level topline; depth and capacity through girth; highly carried forehand
ATHLETICISM: long, fluid stride; natural carriage and collection; versatile athleticism
DISPOSITION: optimistic nature; highly intelligent; strong work ethic; willing and trainable
n year forty-four of their trailblazing journey with the Arabian horse, the Farrells welcomed a very special filly in the 2016 foal crop whose pedigree was comprised, most extraordinarily, of nine Mulawa chief sires – AMBITION, VISION, ARRIVAL, WARRANTY, FAME MAKER R, TS AL MALIK, PARKVIEW AUDACIOUS, MAGNUM FORTY FOUR & ALLEGIANCE MI – as well as a dose of two other essential sires – SK SHAKLA KHAN, an Australian import to Fairview Arabian Stud, and the legendary DA VALENTINO, the most important foreign sire utilised via frozen semen. This constructive convergence of genetic goodness was blessed with the name A VISION MI, honouring both her sire ALLEGIANCE MI and her grandsire twice over, both five and six generations removed, VISION, whose invaluable influence was infused into the Mulawa programme during its very first decade of existence. Universally admired as both an internationally accomplished show
horse and broodmatron supreme, A VISION MI continues to be one of the premier banner carriers for Mulawa on the world stage under the proud stewardship of Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasimi of Albidayer Stud in the United Arab Emirates.
Fifty years on, the influence of the Mulawa Arabian continues to expand around the world with positive and profound effect, proudly showcasing to the international community the best of Australian ingenuity and determination. Through the thoughtful and intentional introduction of dozens of iconic Arabian sires representing the broadest spectrum of bloodlines over the course of half a century, the Farrell Family continues to prove themselves consummate and uncompromising stewards of the Arabian breed, assuring their invaluable contribution and the ‘MI’ horses of global renown will endure for decades yet to come.
ANAZA EL NIZR (Ruminaja Ali x Bint Deenaa by Ansata Ibn Halima).
Arabian Horse
Exploring Myths and Legends
THE ARABIAN HORSE, WITH ITS ETHEREAL BEAUTY, TIMELESS ELEGANCE AND STORIED HISTORY, HAS CAPTIVATED THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF EQUESTRIAN ENTHUSIASTS FOR CENTURIES. RENOWNED FOR ITS DISTINCTIVE APPEARANCE, GRACEFUL MOVEMENT AND ENDURING STAMINA, THE ARABIAN HORSE HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE ANNALS OF EQUINE LORE. ITS ORIGINS SHROUDED IN MYSTERY AND ITS PRESENCE WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF ANCIENT CIVILISATIONS, THE ARABIAN HORSE HAS INSPIRED COUNTLESS MYTHS AND LEGENDS THAT CONTINUE TO ENDURE TO THIS DAY.
ORIGINS AND EARLY HISTORY
The Arabian Peninsula, with its harsh desert landscapes and unforgiving terrain, is the ancestral home of the Arabian horse. Believed to have originated in the Arabian desert thousands of years ago, the precise origins of the breed remain a subject of debate among historians and scholars. Some theories suggest that the Arabian horse is descended from wild equids that roamed the area, while others propose that it is a result of selective breeding by ancient people. What we do know is that Arabians are among the oldest horse breeds worldwide. The notion of breed purity within the contemporary population cannot be reliably traced beyond the last two centuries, however recent genetic studies examining mitochondrial DNA in Arabian horses from Polish and American lineages suggest that the breed’s origins are diverse, with ten distinct haplogroups.
The Bedouin people, nomadic desert dwellers known for their intimate connection with the land and its inhabitants, played a pivotal role in shaping the Arabian horse as we know it today. During the early stages of Arabian selective breeding and registry, there existed no precise breed standard. Instead, emphasis was placed on breed characteristics and temperament traits rather than physical appearance.
Survival in the harsh desert climates necessitated specific attributes for Arabians. The close bond between horse and human was crucial as horses relied on humans for sustenance, water and shelter. Mares held greater value over stallions due to their quieter demeanour during specific war manoeuvres and generally milder temperament.
In this coexistence, traits such as loyalty, soundness, stamina, courage and willingness were indispensable, while enlarged,
elastic nostrils, fine skin, large eyes and high tail carriage have as much functionality for a desert animal as good legs and a strong heart. The most esteemed horses were often brought into family tents to shield them from theft and the harsh climate, highlighting the significance of their role in protecting their human companions.
The most obvious ancestral stock, known as the Oriental subtype, exhibited traits reminiscent of the modern Arabian. Horses with such characteristics have been documented in rock art and inscriptions across the Arabian Peninsula dating back approximately 3,500 years. In turn, a similar looking horse is found in ancient Egyptian artworks, far pre-dating the spread of the Arab-Byzantine wars from the 7th to the 11th centuries, with Egypt an early victim of the invasion.
In the 20 th century, some scholars proposed that the Arabian descended from a distinct subspecies of horse referred to as
Equus caballus pumpelli. However, others, including prominent Arabian researcher Gladys Brown Edwards, argued that the ‘dry’ oriental horses of the desert, from which the modern Arabian emerged, were actually Equus ferus caballus with specific regional characteristics shaped by their environments, rather than constituting a separate subspecies. Horses exhibiting similar, though not identical, physical traits include the Marwari horse of India, the Barb of North Africa, the Akhal-Teke of western Asia, and the now-extinct Turkoman Horse.
The influence of the Arabian horse spread far beyond the borders of the Arabian Peninsula, thanks in part to the expansion of trade routes and of course the conquests of war. From the sands of Arabia to the palaces of Europe, the Arabian horse captured the imagination of kings, queens and aristocrats, who coveted these noble steeds for their exceptional qualities and regal bearing.
MYTHOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE
In the rich tapestry of Arabian folklore and mythology, the Arabian horse occupies a central place, revered as a symbol of grace, beauty and nobility. Tales of majestic steeds with supernatural abilities abound in Arabian folklore, where the Arabian horse is often depicted as a creature of myth and legend.
While artwork and records indicate the horses of Arabian type as we know it existed long before the religion of Islam was developed in the 7th century, we have the stories from the religion to thank for many of the myths and legends that surround the Arabian horse today. In the centuries before Islam, the people of Arabia practised Christianity, Judaism and polytheism, the latter being the most prominent. Most Bedouin tribes practised polytheism in the form of animism, a belief system giving non-human entities (such as animals and plants) a spiritual essence. It is possible therefore, that the elevated position of the Arabian horse in Bedouin life, had its roots in polytheism, going back many centuries. Of course this relationship is not unique to this part of the world, one could also argue that the horse is revered in many cultures, admired for both its beauty and its usefulness.
One of the mythical tales surrounding the origin of the Arabian horse revolves around the Islam prophet Muhammad’s selection of his foundational mares, a test of their courage and loyalty. While there are several versions of the story, a prevalent account recounts Muhammad releasing his herd of horses to race to an oasis for water after a long desert journey. Before they reached the water, Muhammad called them back, and only five mares obediently returned to him. Despite their thirst, these faithful mares earned his favour and were named Al Khamsa, meaning ‘the five.’ These mares were believed to be the legendary ancestors of the five ‘strains’ of the Arabian horse.
Another story of origin credits the introduction of the Arabian horse to King Solomon, who supposedly received a purebred Arabian mare named Safanad (‘the pure’) from the Queen of Sheba. It is also said that Solomon gifted a stallion named Zad el-Raheb or Zad-el-Rakib (‘Gift to the Rider’) to the Banu Azd tribe when they paid homage to him. This legendary stallion was reputedly swifter than the zebra and gazelle, ensuring successful hunts and earning a place as a foundation sire in legend.
Another myth places the Arabian horse’s genesis during the time of Ishmael, the son of Abraham. According to this tale, the Angel Jibril (also known as Gabriel) descended from Heaven and awakened Ishmael with a whirlwind. Commanding the thundercloud to cease scattering dust and rain, the Angel transformed it into a majestic horse that seemed to consume the earth as it pranced. Consequently, the Bedouins dubbed it the ‘Drinker of the Wind.’
Lastly, a Bedouin legend describes how Allah fashioned the Arabian horse from the south wind, declaring, ‘I create thee, Oh Arabian. To thy forelock, I bind Victory in battle. On thy back, I set a rich spoil and a Treasure in thy loins. I establish thee as one of the Glories of the Earth... I give thee flight without wings.’ Variations of this story depict Allah commanding the South Wind to condense and then fashioning a horse of kamayt colour (a bay or burnt chestnut), imbuing it with attributes symbolising prowess and fortune.
CULTURAL INFLUENCE AND SYMBOLISM
Throughout history, the Arabian horse has left an indelible mark on the cultures and civilisations of the Arabian Peninsula and beyond. Revered for its strength, agility and loyalty, the Arabian horse became a symbol of prestige and status among ancient rulers and monarchs.
In many cultures worldwide, the Arabian horse is often celebrated in poetry, art and literature as a symbol of grace, beauty and resilience. Poets and storytellers have long extolled the virtues of the Arabian horse, likening its flowing mane to the desert winds and its eyes to pools of dark, mysterious depths.
Artistic representations of fiery war horses with dished faces and high-carried tails were widely admired in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, often portrayed pulling chariots in battle or during hunting expeditions. These depictions extended to later periods, reaching as far north as Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, where horses with oriental features became prominent in artwork. While the term ‘Arabian’ was not used for such horses in the Ancient Near East until later times, these early specimens, referred to as proto-Arabians, shared many traits with the modern Arabian breed, such as swiftness, endurance and elegance. An illustrative discovery supporting this link is a horse skeleton found in the Sinai peninsula, dated back to 1700 BC and believed to have been introduced by the Hyksos invaders. This specimen displayed distinctive features typical of the Arabian horse, including a wedge-shaped head, large eye sockets and a petite muzzle.
Here are three exquisite verses from the renowned pre-Islamic Arab poet al-Nabigha al-Dhubyani (535 AD - 604 AD), celebrating the desert Arabian horses of the Asad Bedouin tribe. In this poem, al-Nabigha extols the virtues of the tribe, including its magnificent horses:
‘In them are the daughters of al-‘Asjadi and Lahiq, their sides are adorned with the marks of training
Droplets of dew grace their cheeks, their nostrils tinted yellow from nibbling on aromatic herbs
Their offspring answer their call, trotting back like anxious adult leopards to their mothers.’
Translating the beauty of Arabic poetry into other languages is notoriously challenging, especially when it encompasses the intricacies of pre-Islamic central Arabian life and imagery.
LEGENDARY HORSES OF ANTIQUITY
Throughout history, certain Arabian horses have achieved legendary status, their exploits immortalised in tales of valour, heroism and triumph. One such legendary horse is ‘Al-Mushtari’, the favourite mount of the Prophet Muhammad. According to tradition, Al-Mushtari was a swift and noble steed who carried the Prophet safely through countless battles and trials, earning him a place of honour in Islamic history.
Another famed Arabian horse is ‘ Kuhaylan Zaid’, a legendary warhorse renowned for his courage and ferocity on the battlefield. Believed to have lived during the time of the Prophet Muhammad, Kuhaylan Zaid was said to possess unmatched speed and endurance, making him a formidable adversary in combat.
Enduring Legacy
Despite the passage of time, the mystique and allure of the Arabian horse remain as strong as ever. Revered for its timeless beauty, unmatched athleticism and unwavering loyalty, the Arabian horse continues to capture the hearts and imaginations of equestrian enthusiasts around the world.
In the modern era, Arabian horses can be found in virtually every corner of the globe, competing in a wide range of disciplines including endurance, racing, dressage and show jumping. Yet, no matter where they roam, Arabian horses remain a testament to the enduring legacy of a bygone era, a living reminder of the bond between human and horse that has endured for millennia.
In conclusion, the Arabian horse stands as a symbol of grace, beauty and resilience, its legacy intertwined with the myths and legends of ancient civilisations. From the sands of Arabia to the world stage, the Arabian horse continues to inspire awe and admiration, a living testament to the enduring power of the human-horse connection. As long as there are stories to be told and hearts to be stirred, the mystique of the Arabian horse will endure, a timeless reminder of our shared history and our enduring fascination with the noblest of creatures.
Complete Win is to Chronicling Endurance Riding in Australia To
by DAVID GILLETT and JIL BOURTON photography SARAH SULLIVAN unless noted
ENDURANCE: adjective ; denoting or relating to a race or other sporting event that takes place over a long distance or otherwise demands great physical stamina. Oxford Dictionary
ENDURANCE RIDING, a sport that challenges both horse and rider to cover long distances across varied terrain in all weather conditions, tests the stamina, resilience and partnership between horse and rider. This demanding equestrian discipline has a rich history in Australia, reflecting the country’s unique landscape, love for horses and adventurous spirit.
Above Jayd Sansucie riding PVE Remington (Maximilliano x De-Sharvarll Dimonds) @ QERA State Championships Best Conditioned Workout 2023. 2nd LWT. Opposite Molly Choyce riding Abberlyn Park Astanna (Fen x Lindall Astana) @ Killarney 2017.
ORIGINS OF ENDURANCE RIDING
The roots of long-distance riding stretch back to ancient times, approximately 6,000 years ago, when humans relied on horses for transportation, exploration, communication and warfare. Horses played a crucial role in traversing vast distances across continents and cultures, becoming integral to human survival before the industrial revolution. The endurance of horses under challenging conditions was not merely a sport but a necessity for mankind.
In modern times, this historical connection with horses through long hours in the saddle has evolved into the specialised sport of endurance riding.
Arabian horses have quickly become the breed of choice for enthusiasts due to their natural athleticism, efficient metabolism and ability to regulate body temperature in extreme conditions. These attributes make Arabian horses ideally suited for the rigours of long-distance riding and racing, where they consistently outperform other breeds, earning a reputation for unmatched endurance and resilience.
ICONIC ENDURANCE EVENTS
The Western States Trail Ride, known as the Tevis Cup, is recognised as the founding ride of endurance riding in the United States. However, it was preceded by numerous endurance efforts dating back to 1814.
The inaugural Tevis Cup, a one-hundred-mile ride in one day, was held in 1956. It was founded by Wendell Robie, a passionate horseman and trail rider, and named in honour of Lloyd Tevis, a remarkable endurance horseman from the 1800s. This annual ride, which follows the historic Pony Express route through the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, has become a “Mecca” for both American and international endurance riders and is considered the birthplace of modern endurance riding. By the next decade, similar endurance tests evolved in other countries, including Britain’s Golden Horseshoe (1965) and Australia’s Tom Quilty Gold Cup (1966).
EARLY DAYS
In Australia, the pioneering efforts of individuals such as R.M. Williams and his wife Erica played a crucial role in popularising endurance riding. After witnessing the Tevis Cup firsthand, they brought the concept back to Australia. R.M. Williams, an entrepreneur with his iconic bush outfitter brand, found a willing donor for a prize in legendary Kimberley cattleman Tom Quilty, who offered $1,000 for a gold cup for the first endurance ride in Australia. R.M. Williams, an avid horseman and advocate for preserving Australia’s equestrian heritage, inspired many to take up the sport and is generally regarded as the founder of Australian endurance riding.
The annual running of the Tom Quilty Gold Cup honours Australia’s pioneering past, including early explorers, overlanders, great cattle drives and the legendary Australian Light Horse. “One hundred miles in one
day” pays homage to these iconic equestrians. Today, the Tom Quilty Gold Cup attracts riders from across Australia and around the world, all vying for the prestigious title or the sheer achievement of earning a coveted silver buckle. For many competitors, this is the pinnacle of their endurance riding career, representing the ultimate test of skill, determination and unity with their horses.
In the early 1980s, a second iconic Australian endurance ride was developed by artist and architect Halifax Hayes. This marathon covers an eye-watering 400km over five consecutive days, winding through the bushland surrounding the town of St Albans in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. Riders must demonstrate exceptional horsemanship and a deep understanding of their equine partners as they navigate treacherous terrain and unpredictable conditions.
Above Fernvale Oz Endurance, Qld. 80km. 2018. Kaylea Maher riding Maluka Park Thomas. Top Right Peter Holmes riding SB Defino @ Cooyar 83km 2020.
Natural Curve Shahzada ▶
Natural Curve Hidalgo ▶ Regular Natural Curve
The Rise of Endurance Riding as a Sport
The Australian Endurance Riders Association (AERA) grew from that first Quilty and serves as the national governing body for the sport in Australia. AERA plays a vital role in setting standards, organising events and fostering the growth of endurance riding across the country. State-based associations also play a significant role in development and promotion, working tirelessly to organise local events, provide support to riders, and preserve the traditions of endurance riding in their respective regions.
Advancements in technology, such as lightweight tack, GPS navigation and sports science, have paralleled the evolution of the
sport. Scientific research into equine nutrition, conditioning and biomechanics has contributed to developing superior equine athletes capable of recording fast times over long distances while remaining “fit to continue”. Rules and stringent veterinary processes are in place to protect the welfare of the horses.
Australia has led the world in much of the technology around tack (equipment) including specialised saddles, saddle pads and hoof boot manufacture, not to mention the colour revolution in equine tack. Endurance riders take great pride in the colours they incorporate in their gear, whether riding
as individuals, in teams, or representing particular stables. Despite being an amateur sport, the variety of colour combinations imbues a sense of professionalism. Australian riders and horses continue to make their mark on the global endurance scene.
Below Poppy Kettlewell (left) riding Oso
Dizzy (Kelkette Park Silver Implication x Al-Marah Danae) & Victoria Bice (right) riding Oso Evita (SDA Silver Legend x Kelkette Park Silver Eyre) @ NSW State Championships 160km. 2022
Bottom The grounds of Tom Quilty Gold Cup 2023 @ Stirling’s Crossing, QLD.
THE GLOBAL REACH OF ENDURANCE RIDING
Today, endurance riding has transcended cultural and geographical boundaries, attracting participants from all walks of life and corners of the globe. The popularity of the Arabian horse has grown alongside the sport. Riders and their treasured equines venture far and wide in pursuit of the ultimate challenge. Prominent international events such as the FEI World Equestrian Games, the World Endurance Championship and World Youth Endurance Championship attract participants from up to forty different countries, showcasing the diversity and talent within the global endurance community. Australia is renowned as a world leader in producing superior endurance horses for international competition, with many of the sport’s most successful athletes, including world champions, born and bred on Australian shores.
THE ENDURING BOND BETWEEN HORSE AND RIDER
At the heart of endurance riding lies the profound bond between horse and rider, forged through countless hours of training, shared challenges and mutual trust. This partnership transcends mere competition, embodying the timeless bond that has united them throughout history. Whether crossing deserts, scaling mountains or traversing forests, the enduring spirit of adventure and camaraderie fuels the passion of endurance riders and their Arabian horses.
As we look to the future, the legacy of endurance riding in Australia continues to inspire new generations of riders to embark on their own journeys of discovery and adventure. Whether competing in the prestigious Tom Quilty Gold Cup or exploring the vast Australian outback on horseback, riders carry on the tradition of pushing the limits of human and equine endurance in the Land Down Under.
Top Right (from left) Leigh Rich riding
El Crown Prince, Renee Kelso riding Bonnybrooke Waratah, Georgie Barber riding Concerto, Ellie-Rose Bowden riding Silver Centurion & Charlotte Williamson riding Burralga Thunderbolt @ Easter at Stirling’s 320km Marathon 2021.
Middle Right Maggie McNamara riding De-Sharvarll El Dakar (Maraj El Dakar x De-Sharvarll Eyeleka)
Right James Sheahan riding Minton East Chaucer (Musical Gully Allegro x Minton East Willows Gift)
THE AUSTRALIAN ENDURANCE RIDERS ASSOCIATION (AERA)
The exciting equestrian discipline of Endurance Riding has flourished in Australia since the first long distance “race” the inaugural TOM QUILTY GOLD CUP, in 1966. The AERA was born and dedicated Associations and clubs exist in most States to foster a fabulous sport which offers:
• Many levels of riding experience from short, entry level distances – ‘come and try endurance’ (CATE); Introductory and Intermediate rides, to competitive events of 80kms plus.
• A relaxed, yet skilled equestrian pursuit suited to all ages, genders and ethnicities that is recognised as a wonderful family sport/activity.
• Riding in the annual 160km TOM QUILTY GOLD CUP as the ultimate goal for all Australian Endurance Riders and many Internationals.
• Pathways to ride internationally, whether as part of an Australian team or individually through our affiliation with Equestrian Australia.
If you love horses, fresh air and camping out in the Great Outdoors with like-minded people, amidst the excitement of competition –ENDURANCE RIDING IS FOR YOU!
The AERA website has information and links to everything you need to get started aera.asn.au
Every year Endurance Riders from far and wide come together to celebrate the sport at the iconic Tom Quilty Gold Cup, 160km National Championship. The staging of this year’s 58th edition will be at Wirrina Cove, South Australia, on October 18th – 20th. Our dedicated TQ24 organising committee can guarantee “the ride of your life” and an unforgettable spectacle for onlookers and horse enthusiasts – against a backdrop of rolling coastal hills and dramatic ocean views from the clifftops of our unique southern coastline.
ONE HUNDRED MILES, ONE RIDER. ONE HORSE, ONE DAY. An Event not to be missed!
tomquilty.com.au email: info@tomquilty.com.au
Endurance Riders
DEDICATED
EQUESTRIANS
(and a little bit crazy) by
JIL BOURTON
Over six decades Endurance
Riding as a sport in Australia has created many extraordinary riders and horses. Indeed, the winner of the very first Tom Quilty in 1966, Gabriel Stecher, rode his Arabian stallion – Shalawi – the entire one hundred miles bareback accompanied by his dog! Stuff of legends!
For those who are committed to the sport and naturally to their horses, dedication to the care and training of their equine athletes is akin to bringing up a child, there are no shortcuts. Every horse is an individual and it takes a good rider/trainer and a very special bond to achieve milestones, both personal and competition related in what could be classed nowadays as an extreme sport.
Camped at a marathon ride this last Easter I kept hearing my neighbour talking to his horse like it was another person in camp – such is the relationship that develops between human and equine. Of course, horses’ replies are
Breeding Purebred Arabians for over 30 years
mainly non-verbal but their actions usually speak louder than words.
The Endurance Riders profiled in the following pages come from all walks of life and their ages span from a 10-yearold junior to a 75-year-old grandmother. They have been enjoying the sport for varied amounts of time and some are champions, some are still to gain that title. Their commonality is passion for their horses, mostly Arabians, and the hard work and dedication they are prepared to put in to be their very best, whether riding hard and fast to win or taking it “easy” to complete those hard won kilometres. They all have their four legged companion’s welfare foremost in their minds and can “read” their horses and ride to the conditions.
Having this bond is something unique to Endurance Riding. There is nothing in this world more exhilarating than crossing that finish line after 40, 80 or especially 160 kilometres astride a strong and faithful horse – usually an Arabian – FIT TO CONTINUE.
Above 2023 Tom Quilty winner, Ashley Cole, from NZ
Upcoming sire:
2021 SE colt “Zuhra Zajaahri”
Zuhra Zhajaan x Halimas Fayisa mature 15.2hh
2022 SE filly “Zuhra Zadarahh” Sayyad Al Jannat* x Al-Daniifahh
ALAN MACKINDER JEZABELLE SWEET DREAMS
MARE, GELDING or STALLION – which is better for Endurance Riding? I am 6’ (1.8m) tall and my horses have to carry saddle and rider averaging 100kg.
THE STALLION: Arabian Park Amierr: Purebred Arabian (Ansata El Hakim x AP Dancer) 15.1hh Bay/Brown.
Amierr competed in 24 Endurance rides completing 21 rides successfully. Shahzada 400km Marathon five times including four x 1st Heavyweight and an overall win in 26 hours including Best Conditioned/Managed Horse award. In the Tom Quilty 160km National Championship he came 1st in 1984 and backed up the following year with 3rd place, plus 2 x 1st Heavyweight and two x Best Conditioned. A career total of 3,740km and a career completion rate of 87.5% .
THE GELDING: Vanay Park Ambassador: Purebred Arabian (Baskhan x Faliha) 15.1hh Chestnut.
A successful Endurance career completing 35 from 39 Endurance Rides including four x Shahzada Marathons and the Best Conditioned/Best Managed award on two occasions. Tom was also the only horse that completed the 800km Melbourne to Sydney Marathon in 1994, where he won 1st Heavyweight and Best Conditioned Horse awards. Tom competed and completed 7 x 160km events four of which were Tom Quilty’s. A career total of 5,710km and a career completion rate of 89.74%.
THE MARE: Jezabelle Sweet Dreams. Purebred Arabian (Princeton x Aloha Delphic) 15.2hh Grey.
Dream competed in 39 rides, I withdrew her on three occasions late in her career and she only ever vetted out at one ride, albeit lame, at the end of a Shahzada 400km. Dream completed 6 x 160km rides including 5 x Tom Quilty’s with a 1st Heavyweight and Best Conditioned at the Western Australian TQ in 2014. She also won 1st Heavyweight and Best Conditioned at NSW State Championship 160km in 2019. A career total of 3,515km and a career completion rate of 89.74%.
In Endurance Riding a well-managed horse will succeed, no matter which gender.
ALLAN CASLICK A’LANDELL JESTER
Ihave been involved in Endurance Riding since 1975, competing on many of my homebred horses, resulting in 31,000 competition kilometres and seventeen Quilty buckles – with many more to come!
There have been many special horses over the years, but the two stand outs are Richard (Summerland Robreyn x Tehama Stardust) and a more recent homebred Arabian – A’Landell Jester (A’Landell Soul x Judstan Elanora). Richard gave me five Quilty buckles and the fastest time in the 400km Shahzada in 1991.
As a youngster Jester fell mysteriously ill and spent two weeks in the Newcastle Equine Hospital. After no improvement I brought him home. It was a long road to recovery and a year later I began riding him again, training in the forest and thinking to myself, “this horse is never going to win anything!” Boy was I wrong!
In 2017 we completed our first ride – a 20km, followed by a 120km mini marathon. Shortly after a move in 2018 Jester became ill with stringhalt after eating dandelion on our new property, resulting in a setback that we fortunately resolved with dietary changes.
Over the next four years Jester and I developed quite a partnership and we won or placed in many rides. He was challenging to ride at the beginning of each event, I soon discovered by walking the first five kilometres he would, in his own way, let me know when he was ready to go and then he enjoyed the chase! He would roll into an “armchair” canter and easily catch the horses in front.
During those years Jester received 10 Best Condition awards but our proudest is the Bank Robbers Challenge award. This was a bit of fun at the Bullio Ride in 2020, awarded to the horse with good temperament, comfort, conformation, soundness, endurance and speed. A’Landell Jester was the horse chosen by the vet as the best getaway horse.
My next pride and joy, after 35 years of breeding, is my Stallion, A’Landell Max-Factor. WATCH THIS SPACE.
PC: J Sheppard
APRIL NEWMAN TARNETTE
Standing at 14 hands high, Tarnette (Whyneemah Jataan x Alandell Scarlet) was awarded Endurance Horse of the Year at the 2024 Australian National Arabian Championships – a true “pocket rocket” proving that size doesn’t matter. Tarnette’s achievements span a career over 10 years and 5,225km of successful Endurance competition with owner April Newman who purchased the bay purebred mare as a green broken seven-year-old from “Jon de Le Arabians” in NSW.
Starting her endurance career in 2011, “Tarnie” wasn’t an easy horse to manage, being prone to tieup and metabolic issues, meaning April had to pay extra attention and a lot of trial and error to get her successfully competing in Endurance. Good management and attention to detail was ongoing throughout this mare’s career and the results speak for themselves including:
2014 National Lightweight Distance Horse of the Year, 1,280km, as well as Lightweight One Horse/One Rider of the Year.
2015 Tarnette and April won “the Big Three”. A special achievement awarded in NSW to horses and riders who complete: 1) The Tom Quilty Gold Cup 160km; 2) The Shahzada Memorial 400km Marathon; and 3) NSW State Championship 160km, all in the same year.
Two years in the broodmare paddock saw Tarnette produce a bay colt but soon went back into work to re-qualify just in time for the 2018 Shahzada where she and April completed in 10th place with only seven weeks training, showing what a tough little Arabian she is! The pair completed, placed or won endurance rides of all distances with many best condition awards during their long partnership, for which they won a prestigious “Decade Team” trophy at the AERA Annual Awards held at the Tom Quilty 2023. At that Quilty – Stirling’s Crossing QLD – April and Tarnette, then aged 21, completed their final ride together – an amazing journey for a great little horse and her dedicated rider.
DEBBIE GRULL LAURALYN NOTORIOUS
Participation in the Tom Quilty Gold Cup relies on many combinations. Committees, Stewards, Vets, community, your partner and your Quilty family support camp. Ultimately at 23:59:59, it comes down to you and your horse, tactically undertaking each loop for the “100 miles in one day” . Lauralyn Notorious (Fred) (Princeton x Lauralyn Music) has his own ideas about the Quilty, he knows the final leg, has expectations, and issues a running commentary of my performance.
At just a few days of age, at Lauralyn Arabians Tasmania, Fred approached me with his mother Lauralyn Music guarding his side, I took a photo and he soon became the subject of many conversations with his breeders Lyn and Laurie Nicolle. I could not believe that I was granted the tremendous responsibility of developing him as an endurance athlete. Fred has over 8,000km of endurance completions; achieved Arabian Horse Society of Australia Endurance Horse of the Year for 2017; a Tom Quilty Gold Cup winner in 2016 and made the podium consistently over his achievement of 10 Quilty buckles. He’s a multi Shareym Award winner and many Best Conditions.
Fred has placed in and won State Championships – an FEI win and placing – not to mention all our other rides spanning a 14 year partnership, during which we have shared a strong bond. Fred is familiar with 100 milers – warming up in the marshalling area is a dance, a “let’s get going” walk while never allowing him to steam train out the start gate!
Preparing endurance horses relies on relentless dedication, undeniable passion and next level attention to detail. Roaming large hilly paddocks is a key legging up process, slow and steady riding later, sprinkled with measured interval training in the long lead up to that first 100 miler. It’s a balancing act, a challenge to adequately prepare without overdoing it and there are no short cuts. When YOU ride your endurance horse, connect with your horse and crew and enjoy every part of the adventure.
PC: Julie Wilson
HEATHER STUCHBREE VELOCE ENCORE
Ilive in Yapeen, Victoria on a hundred acre farm used for thoroughbred agistment. I have ridden horses all my life, not the least to school and back as a small girl.
In the early 1980s I owned a quarter horse and started endurance riding with good results. However, my path in life took me into thoroughbred racing and I soon took out my VRC licence and successfully trained racehorses over the years.
I came back to Endurance in 2019 riding a standardbred but a couple of years later had the chance to compete with an Arabian mare. We did well and achieved Victorian lightweight distance horse and one horse/one rider in 2021. My new found love and respect for the Arabian led me to purchase purebred gelding Veloce Encore (Pilgrim’s Prophecy x Veloce Divine) from Veloce Endurance Stables in South Australia.
In our first five months together “Fella” and I completed five 80km rides and finished the year by winning Lightweight Champion at the 2022 South Australian 160km Titles.
Having a competitive mindset I decided to try winning distance horse again in 2023. During our campaign lots of little things were going wrong but Encore NEVER let me down. Had I worked him enough? Were his feet okay? Was the shoeing the best it could be? Just little niggles but in this sport they can very soon become huge! But being a tough “Dahman Om Aamr” he rose to the occasion finishing the year with Victorian Lightweight Distance Horse and one horse/one rider AND runner up Lightweight Distance Horse in Australia.
Veloce Encore is a devil and an angel in one – he keeps me on my toes – but I wouldn’t have him any other way. In my eyes he is a true champion. I’m 75 years young so I hope to do it all again this year – with a Quilty buckle to complete the dream!
MELANIE SCOTT EMINEM MISSELLA
Idid not start riding until 40 years old. I have been endurance riding ever since on Arabs and partbred Arabs, some registered and some not. I also do some dressage with my younger horses. I do not ride to win but I am known for my consistent pace which can lead to very pleasing results.
I have found purebred Arabs easier to teach things to! I have had four significant endurance geldings (all more than 2,000km, one over 5,000km) and the current love of my life is my first mare, a purebred Arab mare bred by Megan Menzies in NSW. I bought her sight unseen as a newly broken 4yo after looking for a bay unbroken 3yo mare. Some endurance friends checked her out, I had her vet checked and the small but incredibly tough package arrived at my home in South Australia. Eminem Missella (aka Hurtle), (Moonlite Gande x Eminem Jessabelle) is now rising 13 with only one vet out (rider error –greasy heel), three Tom Quilty buckles having travelled to WA, NSW and Qld to secure those buckles and three marathons (240km each). She lives in the paddock with her two sons (one partbred and one purebred), a retired gelding and another young purebred mare. For a first mare she has been more than I could ever dream of despite her nickname of the white witch. I work to pay for my horses, and my holidays are going to horse events around the world and Australia. I am lucky to have done a rider swap and ridden the Tevis Cup in California for a Tom Quilty ride on one of my horses. That rider is now a life long friend. If you love spending time with your horses and endless hours riding both at events and training, endurance offers you some places you would probably never otherwise see.
PC: Lynn Ruesseler
NATASHA ELLERY SUNDALE BELLAGIO
Twenty one years ago Tash stumbled into the sport of endurance riding when accompanying a friend on a 20km ride and helping her partner’s parents run an event. Coming from a pony club and eventing background, endurance was a completely unknown sport but she thought it would be a good way of rehabbing her show hack, Sundale Neptune +S, after a bout of laminitis.
The rest, as they say, is history with five Sundale-bred horses (three purebred and two derivatives) becoming qualified endurance horses over this time. Proving the sport is more about the horse’s heart and willingness to compete rather than being “purpose bred”, her two most successful mounts were bred for completely different sports.
Sundale Neptune +S (Yamegi Adonis +S x Myriah Park Marina), an Anglo Arabian, completed over 5,000km, gained a Tom Quilty buckle, was Australian Middleweight Points and Distance Horse in 2008 and represented Australia in the Trans -Tasman event in 2010. Tash and Ted gained their “Decade Team” award in 2021.
Her current horse Sundale Bellagio (Bellario x Rivlyn Maalee), an Arabian Warmblood, was bred for dressage but as of Easter 2024 he has successfully completed over 3,000km, won 2 WA Endurance Championships, completed 2 x 240km Marathons and achieved National Heavyweight Points and Distance Horse in 2022 & 23.
As a heavyweight competitor-rider and tack 91kg plus, Tash is well aware of the effort her horses put in for her and what she asks of them. She trains predominantly in the hills around Gidgegannup and in summer frequently visits the beach. Some intermittent flatwork and jumping as well as mounted games provides cross training for their muscles.
Tash is a firm believer in using professionals such as Farrier, Horse Physio, Saddle Fitter and Vets who understand exactly what an Endurance athlete does. This philosophy has served her and her horses well.
RUSSELL GILLINGHAM ENNERDALE RUBIK
We have always been involved in sports in the local community, football and netball, but when we retired and our children left home we decided to explore equestrian sports for something different. Endurance Riding appealed to us so we attended some rides, asked lots of questions and found out as much as we could. The Victorian endurance community were very helpful and in no time I was riding my Quarter Horse cross “Cruize” in some events, he thought he was as good as those Arabians that kept passing him – he soon found out HOW good they were! It became obvious Arabians were the way to go.
We were fortunate to purchase two purebred geldings from the Ennerdale Arabian Stud – E. Rubik (Marbling Nafara x Oakhill Reba) and E. Regent (McKinda’s Mr.Magestic x Oakhill Rafiqa), both purpose bred for endurance.
Rubik and I soon developed an amazing bond, built on trust and consistency in handling. He is bold and funny and likes to join in with whatever I’m doing; like sometimes I had to shoot rabbits on my property. Walking in his paddock he would follow right behind me and I’m sure he was thinking “Did you get him?” after the gun went off. The gunshots never worried him! Cutting up fallen branches one day he came over and rested his chin on my shoulder, he is a real character.
At the beginning of the 2023 season we were plagued with saddle fit problems but, with some expert input it was resolved and from then on everything seemed to be working fine with Rubik much happier and moving like the machine he is.
With renewed confidence we tackled chosen rides over the year, nice and steady, working towards the Victorian Championships in September – our first attempt at a 160km and a chance to qualify for the 2024 Tom Quilty. I won’t say it was easy, but Rubik never missed a beat and we looked after each other over some 19 hours of riding. The end result? We became the 2023 Victorian Heavyweight Champions – I still have to pinch myself – so proud of Rubik who gives me so much.
PC: Down Under Images
TAYLOR GROGAN ANASTAZIA VA
Ihave been riding horses since I could hold my head up. At the age of 10 mum asked me if I wanted to ride the 2023 Far-A-Way marathon, and I said yes. The marathon was 320km long, over four days, 80km per day.
Mum and I rode, my brother and dad strapped for us. Mum rode Halo Rhapsody In Blue and I rode the amazing Anastazia VA – Grace, by Odyssey White Tiger from Simeon Astarte. Each day we rode from the Imbil showgrounds at 3am. My mum and dad were the ride organisers. We were riding during Easter which meant there were lots of Easter eggs.
Each day riding was a challenge, we had to go over big hills like Melawondi and Breakneck. Some parts of the track were very rocky, and some were very soft.
When we finished each leg we had to take the horses to the vet check. We had to trot the horse out and back 25 metres and then they check the horse’s heart rate. If it is over 60 or 55 you vet out and cannot continue the ride. My horse Grace got through the 320km marathon and we placed 2nd Junior.
Later in the year I rode Grace in the 220km Winton to Longreach ride. At Winton, before the event mum and I went for a short ride on the horses and they were feeling very fresh. The ride was held over two days and we started the first day in the dark and rode 180km. On the second day we rode 40km. At the end of the first day my horse was starting to feel a little bit tired but after a rest and a good feed the next day she was like a lightning bolt!
During the second day it got quite hot but when we were close to Longreach I knew where we were, because we’d trained the horses there before we’d driven to Winton. When we were very close to Longreach someone asked mum if we could hold hands with them across the finish line, so we all finished as a team. Grace and I won 1st Junior and best condition as well!
TALEA HASKO BLAKE’S HEAVEN BOMBORA
As a young girl, I was lucky enough to be introduced to Arabians by my horse-crazy mother, Fia. I was luckier still at age 17, when she decided that her champion endurance horse, Blake’s Heaven Bombora (Shakir ibn Rashan x Steveie Nix) should be my mount for the 2011 season. Bombora was straight off the back of winning the Lightweight National point score in 2010.
Our first competition together was a 100km event which we completed at 17.4kmph for 1st across the line. We improved from there. In 2012 we went on to compete at the World Championships in the UK, and in 2013 and 2015, Bombora won every horse category in the National awards (points, distance, one-horse/ one-rider). In 2018 he was awarded the AHSA Endurance Horse of the Year… I could go on!
As with many of our special Arabians, Bombora’s worth isn’t measured in awards, but the love he gives. Bombora is full of quirks. He likes to breathe on our house windows at all hours of the day, asking for a carrot. He calls out every morning and every night when he sees me approaching. He leans his nose down to accept his headstall and bridle, always happy to be caught. The way he gently rubs his head on me, warms my heart as I scratch him behind his ears.
In January 2022, Bombora’s off side eye was removed after a traumatic injury sustained in his paddock. Despite this set back, he continues to thrive! Now 23, and with almost 12,000km completed in competitions, Bombora still embodies the Arabian spirit – athletic, handsome, gentle, tough. He is forever my champion, and my friend.
PC: Sarah Sullivan
Totara Breeding Endurance Horses 1975 TO 2024
I FIRST BECAME INTERESTED IN HORSES IN 1972 – A GIRL WAS TO BLAME. LATER, WE PURCHASED LAND AND HORSES IN 1974 AND BRED OUR FIRST FOAL IN 1975, SO THIS YEAR IS 50 YEARS OF BREEDING HORSES INITIALLY AS UGARAPUL ARABIANS WHEN I LIVED NEAR BOONAH IN THE FASSIFERN VALLEY, AND NOW AS TOTARA ENDURANCE HORSES, NEAR LEYBURN ON THE SOUTHERN DARLING DOWNS.
by DICK COLLYER
My first mare was a skewbald that I rescued from the dogger pens at Churchill and then bred her to the TB/ASH stallion, Sovereign Sea, who was just up the road. However, it didn’t take long to lease and then purchase the part-bred Arabian mare, Valkyrie, by Silver Moonlight (UK) (Indian Magic x Silver Fire). Early on, I developed a bit of a passion for the Silver Moonlight and Zadaran (Prince Nejd x Yenbo) bloodlines, and then for the Bostocks/Farleigh horses. These were great working and great moving horses, with very trainable temperaments and plenty of attitude and character.
In 1976, I went to an Arabian stallion presentation day at Gatton and saw Alan Hopf ride the imported liver chestnut stallion, Zenith II (imp GB) (General Grant x Zirree El Wada) – in a child’s pad and then bareback, with flying changes and perfect manners. That year, we sent Valkyrie and another mare to Zenith II at Farleigh Stud and began an everlasting friendship with Phyllis and Alan Hopf. During these visits, Alan would happily ride Zenith – and later Sir Ibn Moniet (US) (Ibn Moniet El Nefous x Bint Cleopatraa) – in the child’s pad and the workouts were always impeccable, including flying changes every second stride, the best stop and roll-back you have ever seen and the fastest opening and shutting of a gate a horse has ever done! The next year, we bought the Zenith II colt Zenarten, who was from the mare Memory’s Pride who was a grand-daughter of the great Crabbet stallion Star Diamond (GB) (Raktha x Sharima).
Zenarten developed a local reputation as a sire of good-looking, calm, easy to ride horses and he covered quite a few stock horse and pony mares whose foals were never registered.
In the late 70s, my friend Phillip Wieland and I did the occasional horse-buying trip into western and central Queensland, and on one of those trips we visited Palm Tree Station near Taroom in the Dawson Valley. There I saw the stallion Rakkal (by Rakib (imp) from Kassa by Kataf (imp)) being ridden at 25 years old by his owner, Cliff Hay, running in a big mob of horses for us to look at. Rakkal had perfect legs and feet and a great temperament. Rakib went onto my list of stallion bloodlines to follow.
In 1982, I saw an ad in the Qld Country Life newspaper for a partbred Arabian mare by the stallion Scimitar Shereef. I phoned and said I did not want the mare but I was interested in buying her sire. He was by Silver Moonlight from the prolific Zadaran
Right (top-down) Scimitar Shereef (Silver Moonlight x Atalanta); Sigmund (Scimitar Shereef x Lady Tania) being a kids’ pony at a Crows Nest endurance ride; Katushka (Stravynsky x Cudglebar Kaskara), ridden by Emily Bell at the QERA State Championships, 2020. PC Sarah Sullivan. Opposite Emilina (Mahazin Ibn Cairo x Shanina), ridden by Alana Simpson. PC Sarah Sullivan.
mare, Atalanta. I drove up to Monto to have a look and found him looking like a little tub of lard in a big yard with a hay rack full of sorghum stubble and a feed bin full of whole sorghum.
The owner asked for a high price but we did the deal and the then 12-year-old stallion was mine. I was hopeful for another 10 years of breeding with him – but he lasted for more than 20 and was put down in his 35th year. Scimitar Shereef, bred by Frank Staunton, was a little dynamo, very typical of his bloodlines. He was beautiful to ride with smooth paces and lovely transitions, and he was very tough. He produced several fine endurance horses, and gave us lots of great foals including my first endurance horse, Sigmund (from Lady Tania by Casteneer). One of Shereef’s partbred mares, Lilith, from the TB/ASH mare Allen’s Lasca, was probably the best horse I have ever ridden. She could do anything – campdrafting, jumping, barrel racing, and was my pick-up horse at Boonah shows and rodeos – and she produced a line of excellent endurance horses including Lilla (by Shalaz) with 3 Tom Quilty buckles.
For several years in the 80s, I was able to lease the great old horse, Santarabia The Caliph (by the Rakib stallion, Anouk, and out of the Prince Nejd mare, Rashidiyah). He had rare and valuable Colonial breeding, beautiful sound legs and feet, and a quite unique outlook on life. He also lived well into his 30s. His daughter, Marike (from Merrosa by Zenith II) produced Marinella (by Shah Dara), who was one of our best broodmares, producing the four times Quilty buckle horse, Meea (by Mahazin Ibn Cairo).
Then, in 1992, I acquired Shah Dara. By then, I was involved in endurance riding, and he appealed for his classic riding type and endurance pedigree. He was by the Royal Domino son, Shiekie, who had won three Quilty buckles, and from the Shafreyn mare, Sharinda, who was from the Barada II line. His owner, Mike Harper, entrusted me with a lease on the then 22-year-old – and later Mike gave me the horse so that he could live out his retirement with me.
Shah Dara gave me and a lot of other breeders a great line of genuine endurance horses, with excellent movement and a very tough attitude. Sometimes the attitude was a bit over the top, and it can take a real horseman to control it, but when you do, you have a very precious commodity when you’ve done 100km and still got 60 to go. One of his outstanding foals was Harriet, who was part of the Australian Team that won a silver medal at the World Endurance Championships in Dubai. In fact, Harriet, mostly ridden by Penny Toft, completed big endurance rides on three continents. Another is Blue Bronco (named because he was born on the day the Broncos won their second premiership…not because of any rodeo tendencies), purchased unbroken by Christine Barlow, who turned him into a trail horse, then an endurance horse, and who completed numerous marathons and 160km rides.
The Shah Dara gelding Julian (from Cudglebar Jeddah by Helicon) was sold south and went through a few homes before Jarrod Robinson found him at the Echuca saleyards and turned him into the top Heavyweight endurance horse in Victoria for several seasons. Another Shah Dara progeny was Cronus (Set Sail), from the TB mare Spritsail (by Spritely Knight by Kaoru Star), who was exported to the UAE and who won the prestigious President’s Cup in 2011 and came second in 2012. For me, it was the little mare, Thalara (from Lady Thalia by Scimitar Shereef) who was the star of the Shah Dara family. Barely 14.1hh, she had a long endurance career mostly carrying Juniors, and then, after having two foals, in her mid-20s, spent a couple of years as a school horse at Clifton SHS.
A few years after Shah Dara came Shalaz –by the Rakib stallion, Baz (out of Barada II), and out of the Shafreyn mare, Shalina. He was a grey horse with fantastic bone and feet, and a wonderful temperament. Unfortunately he was only with me for three seasons, but his foals were also excellent endurance horses, and are a little less difficult to get on with than the Shah Dara horses. A number of his progeny went to the UAE and one of them, Jayhal Shazal, set what was then a record time for a 160km ride – 5hrs 45 minutes! Shazal was bred by my old friend Hal Archer, and was 16hh and moved like a gazelle. Another Shalaz foal was one of my favourite mares, Crystabarbara (from Lady Crysani).
In late 1986, I visited the Cudglebar Stud near Dunedoo and struck up a friendship with Les Ellery, a man full of wit and wisdom, especially in relation to Arabian horses and their history in Australia. Les’ father had worked for the McDonalds and the Cudglebar horses were founded on those old Colonial bloodlines. They were sound, solid, tough, tractable working horses – just what I liked, and a few months later I bought the mare Cudglebar Yenbo (Cudglebar Mameluke x Cudglebar Gadare) from Les. And a few years later I went back and bought Yenbo’s daughter,
Cudglebar Jeddah by Helicon (by Sala from Mira by Kataf). At that time, Les’ stallions were the ageing Cudglebar Mameluke (by Sultan) and Cudglebar Es Sahra (by El Katif) and the younger Cudglebar Nureodam (by Helicon) –lots of line breeding to Shahzada, Rakib and Sala and the early Blunt horses. Later, he used the New Zealand bred but very Colonial stallion Cairo (Sahara II x Nurmana) and then his son, Cudglebar Manak.
Many times I asked Les if I could lease Manak for a few years and breed him to my mares, but he refused, saying he didn’t think the horse would cope well with a move to Queensland where he might be fed mangoes and pineapples! So I went looking for a Cairo stallion and found him in Horse Deals – Mahazin Ibn Cairo (from the mare Keishir Cappelia), bred by Helen Parks and owned by Kellie McDougall. He was a long way away so I trusted Kellie and the bloodlines and bought him sight unseen. When he arrived on the interstate horse transport truck with a bunch of other horses, the driver commented that the ‘little Arab stallion’ was the best behaved horse on the long trip up from Temora. He proved to be a great stallion for my breeding program, producing a long list of very successful endurance horses.
Then, in about 1990, I discovered endurance riding and the world had changed a bit. I had bred the gelding Sigmund (by Scimitar Shereef from Lady Tania), started him under saddle and sold him to a very experienced endurance rider who wanted a horse to win the Quilty when it next came to Queensland. Sigmund was a great horse to ride but his three lines to Zadaran meant he was pretty touchy and sensitive, and the new owner and Sigmund did not go well together. So, to save my reputation, I bought him back and decided that if the ex-owner thought he could do a Quilty then maybe I could try. And, in 1994, in the mountains around Kenilworth and Imbil, that’s what Sigmund and I did – got a big silver buckle! Sigmund got a second buckle in 2000 with Allison Scott and later became a kids’ horse, carrying quite a few young riders through their first endurance experiences.
In 2007, endurance rider and vet, Jo Hamilton-Branigan and I visited the Talisman Stud of Gina and Kevin Chapman at Tabulam, and the result of that visit was my leasing the then 11-year-old stallion Talisman Razbahri (Beau Bahri x Talisman Jerszyca), who is still with me and now the senior stallion at Totara, rising 29 years old.
Above Matilda Silque (Sachin x Michaela Silque), ridden by Anita Maggacis. PC Sarah Sullivan Opposite (top-down) Luciana (Shalaz x Livilla), ridden by Keith Sullivan, crossing the Brisbane River at Fernvale. PC Sue Crockett; Soliloquy (Sachin x Shanina), ridden by Ken Moir. PC Sarah Sullivan; Cronus (Set Sail) (Shah Dara x Spritsail (TB)) winning the President’s Cup in 2012.
KIRRA: sire - Shamaria (by Shah Dara) dam - Cudglebar Kaskara (by Cudglebar Manak)
Just 14.2hh in her shoes, over 3,000kms, 2 Quilty buckles, more than 50 rides and ridden by 24 different riders, many of them beginners. Plus, a second job as a school horse at Clifton SHS for 5 years.
Over the years, my breeding ‘philosophy’ has never really been a philosophy. I haven’t set out to breed a particular type or line of Arabian horse. I have just focused on trying to produce good horses to ride from bloodlines that I know and trust. For me, the holy trinity of stallions has been Silver Moonlight, Rakib and Zadaran, complemented by other proven endurance and riding horse lines such as Shiekie (by Royal Domino), Zenith II, Crystal Fire, Count Manilla, Aethon and of course the legendary Shahzada.
I have collected a number of mares from some of the great breeding studs in our country. Lady Tania (by Casteneer), Merrosa (by Zenith II), Farleigh Crystine (by Zenith II) and Lady Crysani (by Sir Ibn Moniet) came from Alan and Phyllis Hopf and represent the incredibly valuable Darribee Blue Diamond and Lady Blunt lines. There was Cudglebar Yenbo, Cudglebar Jeddah and later Cudglebar Kaskara (by C Manak) from Les Ellery. Talika Reflection (by Sirocco) and Dunwingeri Zar Harana (by Imperial Maadir) came from one of the great breeders and mentor, Sylvia Archer. And there was Tropic Manina (by Silwan imp), bred by Beryl Landsberg of Central Queensland.
Most of the old stallions have gone but I have kept sons and grandsons to be able to keep going with the bloodlines that I like and trust. Stravynsky (by Shalaz from Lady Thalia by Scimitar Shereef) is rising 25 and represents that Rakib/Silver Moonlight cross, as does the much younger Scipio Africanus (Google it!) who is by the Scimitar Shereef son Sachin (from Cudglebar Yenbo) and out of the Shalaz mare Shanina (from Tropic Manina). Then there is the Mahazin Ibn Cairo son Condamine (from the Shamaria mare, Blue Bernadette) and also the all Colonial bred Razinzky – by Talisman Razbahri from Zemzem Sweetheart who is a mare with the rare and valuable Karakatana lines.
I am happy to continue on – breeding, breaking, training and riding my own horses. There is something very special about lining up at the start of an endurance ride on a horse that is all of your own making, from conception to that moment – and it is even more special to see a few of your other horses lining up beside you.
Right (top-down) Crystalilly (Talisman Razbahri x Crystalara), ridden by Lilly Stephens at Killarney Ride, 2024. PC Sarah Sullivan; Lasca’s Legacy (Mahazin Ibn Cairo x Lillith), ridden by Karen Fields. PC Sarah Sullivan.
In Tribute to
Ron Males OAM
‘DO NOT GO WHERE THE ROAD MAY LEAD, BUT GO AHEAD AND LEAVE A TRAIL’
Nothing could probably better sum up the legacy left by Ron Males than this quote. Ron, together with wife Val, founded Ralvon Stud in 1954. A stud whose hoofprints have left an indelible print in the Arabian community worldwide.
It’s hard to know where to begin, and as I write this, on a personal level, the stories, memories and tears come flooding through my mind and down my cheeks – as I’m sure they do for many.
Ron forged so many new pathways for Arabian lovers, breeders and owners – Ralvon mares and stallions became the cornerstone of many breeding programmes, both in Australia and worldwide.
In 1966, Ron, together with wife Val, were instrumental in planning and organising the first Tom Quilty 100 mile Endurance ride, and then, he was also instrumental in the foundation of the Australian Endurance Riders Association in 1967.
Ron, during his endurance career, claimed 21 Qulity buckles – he was the first to gain his 1,000 mile buckle (10 completions) without a single vet out – a record in itself.
In 1969, a chestnut colt was born on Ron’s birthday – this colt. Ralvon Pilgrim, (Rikham x Trix Silver), in 1977 went on to become the first International Arabian Champion Stallion when taken to the UK to be shown. Prior to his World Championship win, he had amassed an outstanding show record in Australia. His progeny today span the globe.
A roll call of Ralvon winners, both here and overseas springs to mind – Ralvon Elijah, Ralvon Nazarene, Ralvon Job, Ralvon Siver Jubilee, Ralvon Royal Jubilee – and the list goes on.
Always prepared to take a risk, Ron (and Val) were instrumental in importing new bloodlines to Australia with the US Egyptian stallion, The Puritan and the Polish stallion, Milex.
Ron, again, forged a new pathway for Australian Arabians with his relationship with Sheik Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in the UAE with the export of the first endurance horses, among them the stallion, Palexis (Milex x Promissa). Others have since followed with Australian endurance horses now being recognised as some of the best in the world.
Aside from his vast contributions to the Australian and worldwide Arabian industry was a man who will also be remembered for many other attributes.
Ron was a friend to many, a mentor to more. Always prepared to listen and never judgemental. His family meant the world to him. His friendship circle was diverse and widespread. He had a dry and wicked sense of humour, and at times could also be a ‘bit of a larrikin’ as those of us privileged to travel to interstate Quilties with him can attest.
He was also a wonderful storyteller.
He was a consummate horseman – the like of which is rarely seen, and a breeder, together with wife Val, of excellence.
He will be very sadly missed, and I’m sure all in the Arabian community send heartfelt condolences to Val, and his children, Kerry, Phillip and Peter, together with their partners, and Ron’s extended family of grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
I am proud to have been able to call him a friend of over 40 years standing, and I know that there are so many in our Arabian community who share that honour as well – his passing marks the loss of an Arabian icon.
RIP Ron.
Helen Rutland, Chair, AHSA
Clockwise from top left Ron and Val Males PC Natural Focus Photography; Ron Males riding the great stallion Chip Chase Sadaq; Ron Males riding Anijoa September Rain, PC Jo Arblaster; Ron with Champion Mare Ralvon Silver Jubilee (Ralvon Pilgrim x Trix Silver), PC Pat Slater.
Clockwise from top left Ron riding Orlando in the Working Stockhorse class; Ron Males; The Males’ Family with a young foal; Ron and Ralvon Mark (Ralvon Pilgrim x Wimsey Milexa), PC Nicole Emanuel; The iconic duo... Ron Males and International Champion Ralvon Pilgrim (Rikham x Trix Silver).
For the last 40 years,
have passionately bred beautiful and correct Arabians, a pursuit we cherish above all else
3RD GENERATION
Cearadale Shiraan
2020 GREY COLT (Ghazaal M x Cearadale Shiraani)
Cearadale Shakira
(DEC’D) GREY MARE (Simeon Stav x Arjai Lucinda)
Cearadale crown saaphira
BLACK MARE
(Chelleason Crown Jewel x Cearadale Saahara)
Cearadale Saaraya
GREY MARE (Pearsons Shakayne x Cearadale Shakira)
Cearadale Szorro
2022 BLACK COLT (RNZ Scorza Imp x Cearadale Crown Saaphira)
The Arabian at A Natural Fit
IPony Club
FOR MANY AUSTRALIANS, YOUNG AND OLD, THEIR LIFE WITH HORSES STARTED AT PONY CLUB, THE WORLD’S BIGGEST YOUTH RIDING MOVEMENT. WE HAVE THE LARGEST NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP OF RIDERS OF ANY COUNTRY INVOLVED IN THE MOVEMENT, WITH SOME 40,000 MEMBERS SPREAD OVER 750 CLUBS. IT SEEMS ALMOST AS NATURAL AS BREATHING TO HAVE PONY CLUB.
by JANINE-HELEN DANIEL
n the late 1920s, hunting clubs in the United Kingdom began to become interested in raising the horsemanship skill of children. Thelwell-style images of ponies in charge fuel speculation as to why such concern came about. During 1928-1929 the Institute of the Horse formed a sub-branch to hold gymkhanas and paper chases to give these children a place to practise their skills off the hunt field. In November 1929, the Institute formalised a junior branch known as ‘The Pony Club’. The following year, the Royal Calpe Hunt Pony Club of Gibraltar was formed. In the UK, within a year, 59 branches were organised. Australia was not far behind.
Our first recorded Australian Pony Club was founded by Marjorie Hirst in 1939; the Ingleburn Horse and Pony Club NSW. More followed, and clubs continued affiliating with the British Horse and Pony Society or their state Pony Club until Pony Club Australia was set up with an initial Advisory and Liaison Committee in September 1961.
Pony Club Australia aims to combine a sincere spirit of giving everything a go with the highest ideals of sportsmanship and horsemanship. The movement celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2019.
With its focus on learning to enjoy almost every type of riding sport, Arabians and their derivatives have shown themselves to be ideal mounts for Pony Club. Judging from historic Pony Club Australia photos partbred Arabian ponies formed the backbone of the mounts used at many Pony Clubs. Since the 1980s, purebreds have made great inroads at Pony Clubs across Australia because of their versatility and temperament. Certainly, the reputation of the Arabian at Pony Club has improved a great deal since the 1970s, when one of our prominent Australian Arabian judges remembers that her state Pony Club manual advised parents not to mount their children on Arabians as they were too hot to be safe.
Makayla Hopwood, one of our most prominent up and coming riders from the Hawkesbury area of NSW says, ‘I started Pony Club at the age of 10 and have not ridden anything but an Arabian… not only did Pony Club teach me about friendships and team work with your horse but it showed me just how versatile the Arabian breed is. Whether it be jumping, sporting, dressage or showing I was able to give it all a go. From this I worked out showing and dressage was where I wanted to head but boy, I had fun trying all the different things Pony Club offered.’
The Arabian and its derivatives are today credited with an important part of the success of our riders. From international Olympic rider Clayton Fredericks to our own aspiring Olympian Jessica Dertell, many Australian top riders started out on an Arabian or a derivative. When the call went out on social media for those who take a purebred Arabian or derivative to Pony Club to be involved in this article, the proud response from hundreds of families with versatile horses doing brilliantly was quite simply overwhelming. This response truly shows just what a magnificent Pony Club mount the Arabian and its derivatives are.
In 2021 the Arabian Horse Society of Australia introduced the Pony Club Horse Of The Year Award. The award may be bestowed to multiple horses in a single year, and is given to those who attend Pony Club with AHSA registered horses, who exhibit the following attributes: Keeps the rider safe and happy
• The rider enjoys spending time with the horse
• Has progressed the potential of the rider
• Be versatile in a variety of disciplines and events
Avondale Celeste is the AHSA Pony Club Horse Of The Year 2023. Bred by Pam and Rob Morris at Avondale Arabians, the 2009 chestnut purebred mare descends from Australian Arabian Crabbet lines tempered with more modern Straight Egyptian, being by Mulahn (MB Mayal x Avondale Montaya) out of Avondale Salome (Jantason Cass Ibn Rish x Avondale Elite). Celeste began attending Adult Rider Club with Helen Spencer, with the pair taking up dressage and saddle showing. After Helen’s eldest daughter Amy had had a fall, and lost her confidence, she rebuilt with Celeste. Celeste took Amy to Pony Club, developing her confidence to such a level that Amy has now started her own Arabian Pony under saddle.
Helen’s daughter Clare has now taken over the saddle at Pony Club, achieving the highly regarded C* Proficiency Certificate with Celeste. Recently, Clare was injured badly in a fall from another horse. While she was recuperating, Celeste competed at the 2024 AANC with Ava Holland. In her first show under sidesaddle after only one formal lesson in the discipline with Clare prior to her accident, Celeste was awarded the Reserve Champion.
Celeste has become famous as a confidence builder and first ridden mount at Ararat Pony Club. She has special ‘gears’ –with first ridden she is very slow and gentle, then with a competent foot in the stirrup, she finds her ‘let’s roar’ gear. She certainly makes a fallacy of the chestnut purebred mare reputation!
Shakeefa is also an AHSA Pony Club Horse Of The Year 2023. A bay 2011 purebred mare, Shakeefa is the very definition of an Arabian so bonded with her human that she will take on anything she is asked to do, a shining example of why the Arabian is so suited to Pony Club and its aim to teach riders to learn to enjoy all horse sports. Bred by Ricky Brown, Shakeefa’s pedigree (Pearsons Shakayne x Reshahrah) is a who’s who of Australian Straight Egyptian breeding, seasoned with a nice dash of Crabbet lines.
Many Australian Pony Clubs have a history of precluding adults from riding membership but not Paracombe Pony Club, where Shakeefa and her owner Sally Gould-Hurst are the beneficiaries of this inclusive age policy.
While she is quite sensitive, due to her strong bond with Sally, Shakeefa is famous for sensibly approaching any task under
Above Dream Fever (Gai El Jullyen x The Palms Uptown Girl) and Thomas Kelly. Left Purebred Mare Shakeefa (Pearsons Shakayne x Reshahrah) competing at Pony Club.
saddle. She is renowned as an absolute sweetheart on the ground, and competes in in-hand obstacle courses with children solo. She is famous for her incredible bond with ‘her’ family, even being known to stand watch while protecting Sally’s children from the great big bad world.
Sunland Amber Diamond was AHSA Pony Club Horse Of The Year 2022. Considered the spitting image of his ancestor, the famous Crabbet import Shafreyn (Royal Diamond x Sharfina), he is another chestnut purebred Arabian who really defies stereotypes. Bred by Rosalind and Owen Wagstaff, the 2011 purebred straight Crabbet gelding is by Sunland Jag out of Sunland Argyle Diamond and is now owned by the next generation of the Wagstaff family. ‘Apache’ is an enormous asset to the Arabian cause in Australia. Started under saddle and in harness, Apache was in training for combined driving when the breeders’ granddaughter, Matilda, urgently needed a horse for her next Paterson River Pony Club rally. Being the only horse available, Sunland Amber Diamond had a go at everything on offer, from hacking, sporting, campdraft, stock work, and even a jumping grading. Although he had never seen a jump before, he was a natural and from that point onwards has been greatly admired at Pony Club.
Over the intervening years the pair have worked their way up the grades and today have three Pony Club state titles, in Cross Country, Jumping and Combined Training.
He gives dressage a real go, and just to round it out, he participates in ANZAC Day marches, reverently commemorating the contribution Australian horses made to the efforts of our troops during WWI.
Dream Fever. When you ask someone to name the most famous male performer in the English speaking world, you would expect this gelding’s paddock name to come up ... ELTON! Like his namesake, Dream Fever (Elton) is the ultimate performer. To the best of available data, Dream Fever, a 2008 purebred bay gelding, holds more Australian Champion titles than any other horse. His dam, 2006 East Coast Champion The Palms Uptown Girl, with multiple crosses to Naadirah, Nara, Mustafa, WN Dasjmir and Hadban Enzahi, represents the 1970s revolution in Australian Arabian breeding while his sire, the iconic Gai El Jullyen, represents the evolution of American Arabian breeding, moving from the original blend of Crabbet Polish horses, to the influence of Egyptian and Egyptian/Spanish breeding. Truly, Dream Fever’s pedigree is a cast of significant change makers.
Bred by Mark Lilley, Dream Fever had several high profile owners and wins before coming home to Ben and Myra Kelly at Victoria Park. Here, their son Thomas, a small nine-year-old, clambered on board and instantly found the ‘confident in the saddle’ button Elton is famous for helping people find. Displaying immediately the giving and trusting nature he is famous for, Dream Fever
won over the Lancefield Pony Club on his first visit. He seems able to turn his hoof to absolutely anything. At Thomas’s first open company show with Dream Fever, he went Top 10 in a large class. He adores mounted games, especially horse ball (a game designed to build polo skills amongst junior riders), has perfect duck feet and unhesitatingly ploughs through water (even while doing dressage in the pouring rain) and is just not phased by any activity his muzzle is pointed toward. He holds his frame for the tiniest of junior riders, trots for a cluck, canters for a kiss, lopes when you say lope, does a slow lope when he hears ‘slow’, jogs when you say jog. On the same day, he will swap from western to English. His only tiny flaw is that he is not an enthusiastic jumper. But, when ridden with determination, he quite happily pricks his ears and obliges. Dream Fever truly flies the banner for the Purebred Arabian as the ultimate Pony Club mount.
The joy of partnering with an Arabian is on display right across the country every rally day at almost every Pony Club in Australia. What a tribute these horses are to our breeders in producing such versatile, safe, loving, keen and enthusiastic saddle horses excelling in every equestrian discipline.
Below Sunland Amber Diamond (Sunland Jag x Sunland Argyle Diamond).
Breeder’s A Point of View
by JOHANNA ULLSTROM
AFTER COUNTLESS NIGHTS WITH NO SLEEP BECAUSE OF FOALING SEASON, I DECIDED TO SHARE MY RESPONSE TO A TYPICAL MESSAGE REGARDING SALES FILLIES OR MARES.
Tasmania JJ (AJ Nawash-Tamara LL/Gris El Jamaal). PC Johanna Ullstrom
This is nothing personal against the person writing, other than repeated questions over the years. I just like to express to you, my side of the coin.
“What is your budget, and is your search serious? I have been giving you info so many times, and I just like to know how serious you are in your search for a horse.”
Sorry to be blunt.
I love to help, and I have helped so many over the years to find their dream horse. But there are also those who ask intensively for info a few times per year, or more…year after year but never really buy a horse anywhere. Not here, not elsewhere.
I will explain to you, for you to understand what is behind your search.
Most breeders work almost day and night. We watch the pregnant mares night after night, stay awake in the barn during and after
each foaling until we know the foal and mare are perfectly fine and the foal nurses by its own machine.
We raise the foals with nothing to spare, care for them when young, make them trusting, safe and easy to handle, and happy. When we load the youngsters to go, and they walk straight onto a truck they have never seen, without much hesitation - it’s not like that happens by itself.
We stay beside the suffering mare who has a misplaced foal that dies shortly after foaling, hoping that the foal will survive after all. We watch the mare grieve, and then we send the little dead foal away.
We are also there for the mare who dies during foaling or aborts her foal.
We do the genetic tests, dental statements and x-rays of our stallions. We ride our mares and stallions.
We care for the retired broodmares for the rest of their lives, thanking them for all they have given us.
The costs of collections, shipments, handling fees, office fees, breeding fees, health papers of outside stallions, only to have regularly late or lost shipments, more vet and associated costs.
We never save on vaccinations, farrier, trim and healthcare. The best feed, and never any shortcuts on dental checks or other costs. We have wooden fences everywhere for safety and enormous pastures that are seeded and cared for.
We also do not put a “dealing margin” on horses as we do not find it honest - we are asking the price we feel is relevant and fits the horse in question. There will be no dealing space. To raise a foal is expensive, time-consuming, and also emotional.
We also spend hours and hours clipping faces, cleaning up horses, using time with help needed from the whole staff for photo shoots, videos, new videos and even more videos. I’m sitting at my little lunch break or at night at my so-called “free time” to go through countless photos and video clips, to save into galleries – then sending out and answering questions from all those who are curious and/ or serious.
If we have bad weather or are really short of time, I’m sometimes being pushed around as “slow” if a new video is not sent within 1-2 days.
I am the one constantly cancelling on family and friends, celebrations, Christmas, rest days and holidays because of farm duties/visitors/foalings/ sick horses/shows/other. I do not recognise “weekend” as a quiet pair of days, but rather the opposite.
I have gained experience over the last 30 years.
I have travelled the world, searching for mares, handpicking pedigrees and the type of horses we love. Many of these mares have been put on a flight to get to our farm, and their offspring would be unreachable and unavailable in Europe if we did not make the investment and effort of both the search, the quarantine and the flight.
I have been sitting to plan, with hopes to breed the perfect foal, but for each and every almost perfect foal, there are so many failures, heartaches and lost investments as well. But, I do that with great pleasure!
Only, please understand all the work, effort, risk and sweat it takes.
When I get messages asking me to handpick the best of our young, with plenty of video clips, and on top, they should preferably have an “extreme face” (while we breed for extremely classic more than “extreme”), they should also preferably be champions, and their dams as well.
And all this should be for a small price.
I would just like you to understand what is behind each and every good filly or colt, and all the effort put into it. Sorry to be harsh. I would really love to help you. But pretend to switch places with me, maybe it gives you a little understanding of what you are actually asking for.
All of you, who have become dear friends, all of you who have trusted my word and advice, and all of you who have serious intentions, all of you who have horses from or through us, that thrive as breeding horses/show horses/sport horses/family horses, we follow you with enormous joy! You make it all worthwhile and I can’t even explain the energy boost I have each time hearing from you, talking to you or seeing updates/results/photos/offspring on social media.
I think I don’t know any of you who have regretted the price you paid for your horse.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Above (top-down) Kaiser JJ (AJ Nawash-Sahara Khipsyche/Khidar), PC Johanna Ullstrom; The author photographed with Divinity (AJ Mardan-Dahlia K/Borsalino K); Opposite Agmal Jahana (Safeer by Sibilla-Agmal Jahiddah/WH Justice), PC Johanna Ullstrom. All photos have unaltered conformation.
Kindest Cut
WHEN DO YOU KNOW WHETHER TO GELD A COLT OR LEAVE HIM A STALLION?
by CINDY REICH
There is no cut and dried answer to that question. It depends on a variety of factors. Depending on the breeding program, the intended purpose, the state of the industry or even the culture.
To start, we have to get rid of the notion that somehow, if you produce a colt that isn’t a stunner, it is somehow a failure. While it is not as prevalent in Australia, the mindset has been around a long time, and I think it is time for a rethink. When I worked for a company that commercialised sexed semen in equines, one of the selling points was that by selecting the sex of the foal prior to breeding (almost always for female) resulted in less ‘throwaway’ males. Anyone who has raised livestock is producing a product. Inferior breeding males are still going to go to market and will still make money. However, our industry has done a great disservice by perpetuating the idea that if it’s a colt it isn’t worth much.
How many of the people reading this, got their start with some stalwart, stoic, well-mannered gelding that taught the rider more than the other way around? Tolerant, steady and useful, geldings were generally more predictable than mares, and wouldn’t have to take time off to raise a foal or two. Which raises another point for another day. Why is it that a colt that is not deemed of the highest quality will be mourned and gelded, while a female that is not of the highest quality will usually still be bred? I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard someone lament that a filly isn’t good enough for the halter ring, so heck, we’ll just go ahead and breed her and hope for the best. If we truly wanted to be doing our best for the breed, we should hold females to the same standard as males if they are going to be used for breeding. Like I said, a topic for another day.
Intended purpose is another driver of both gelding and not gelding. Many
demanding performance disciplines (racing, eventing, dressage, etc.) may prefer the males to be entire. There are a variety of reasons – increased muscle mass, increased endurance, more brio. Which are all valid. However, while those all contribute to a dynamic, powerful individual, as a performance horse, testosterone also can influence focus, behaviour and consistency. But that choice again, is totally valid, depending on the intended purpose.
Below Wishlist (Ray of Light x Escarda Spozabella) was destined for life as a stallion, then after being gelded achieved even higher accolades than ever thought possible, PC Glenys Lilley Opposite Young gelding at Simeon Stud, PC Stuart Vesty.
Where it gets a bit murkier, is where a really good quality male is gelded simply because there is no market for any breeding stallion that isn’t the ‘flavour of the day’. Small breeders were and still are, the backbone of the industry, but as we move away from horsemen and horsewomen breeding for the long view and using different stallions for different purposes to achieve their final product, we have horse owners that feel that whichever stallion is the most popular, or whose foals sell for the most money, is the ‘best choice’. Whereas the best stallion for their mare might be ten kilometres away at a small breeder’s barn. The goal is not a 20, or 40-year vision, but a quick turnaround. Therefore, many good stallions never get a chance. The opposite side of this coin is the colt of a very popular ‘flavour’ stallion that has faults that would not make it a good breeding animal, that the owners insist on keeping it entire, hoping it will turn out like its illustrious sire or be even better. Spoiler alert – this rarely happens. Beware of rushing to judgement too early, however. The colt that looked like a mediocre prospect as a short yearling, might be a world
beater at two years of age. And vice-versa. Better to give promising colts a bit more time to mature before making a decision that can’t be changed. Realistically, one really can’t know whether any colt is going to be a breeding stallion until foals are produced. Decisions on which colts to geld often have to be made far before this stage. Which is why breeding is a long-term vision.
Infrastructure and quality of life are two more factors that might influence when to geld. Keeping stallions requires additional accommodations in fencing and stabling. Young colts, to be frank, are often a pain in the butt in terms of behaviour and require time and effort to make into good equine citizens. Putting in the time and handling of colts when young, will make the keeping of stallions easier. If that isn’t an option, or the infrastructure isn’t in place to mature young colts, it might make that decision to cut a little easier. Gelded colts can be turned out in mixed groups, have less drama and are safer for more people to be around.
Quality of life for many stallions is less than ideal. They are often isolated from
other horses on the farm. They require a lot of exercise to expend their energy. They require adequate fencing and facilities. Stallions are hardwired differently than geldings or mares. Their mental and emotional state must be taken into consideration more carefully. Geldings, on the other hand, usually blend in well with other horses, don’t usually require any specialised facilities and are safer and easier to handle.
Another option for the breeder of a very promising colt that does not want to deal with a stallion long term, is to freeze semen on the colt and then geld him. You get the best of both worlds. If the horse ends up being a success as a show horse, or is functionally what you were hoping for, you have the opportunity to produce offspring. Yet the horse himself can live an easier quality of life. Stallion or gelding? Every breeder and owner must make their own decision. Gelding is not a declaration of lower quality. It is making a horse more useful, accessible to more people, easier and safer to work with and able to live a better herd animal life. Truthfully, gelding is often the kindest cut.
Above Palma El Ameira (Ecaho x Pilica) pictured with her gelding by Titanium FX (Ekstern x Funkia), PC David Gillett.
2024 Leading Sires & Dams of Champions
The following pages represent in numbers, an analysis of the most successful bloodlines currently on the Arabian show scene.
Classes featured 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, 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.
The dam line chart is based on the first mare imported to Australia from the line. Imported horses who achieved points during the year do not have points allocated to their dam line as she was not imported to Australia.
Results have been calculated from the East Coast Arabian Championships, Australian National Arabian Championships, Tasmanian A Class Championships, WA
Championships Spring 2023 and Summer 2024, SA Championships, NSW State Titles, National Stud Horse Show, International Championships, Top Of The Range, VADOBA Alliance Championships and Western Districts Spring Spectacular. The full results from the QLD Pacific Coast were withheld, however rather than not include these results at all, we have used those made public on social media after the show by owners.
If your show would like to be involved next year, please contact the editor.
Leading Sire of Purebreds Allegiance MI. PC Stuart Vesty
NATIONAL COMBINED 2024
LEADING SIRES OF PUREBRED CHAMPIONS
NATIONAL COMBINED 2024 LEADING SIRES OF DERIVATIVE CHAMPIONS
2024 LEADING DAMS OF PUREBRED CHAMPIONS
2024 LEADING DAMLINES OF PUREBRED CHAMPIONS
Left column (top-down) Chelleason Crown Jewel (AU) PC Samantha Taylor; MI Klassique (AU) PC Stuart Vesty; Echos of Marwan (US).
Right column (top-down) Crave FF PC Samantha Taylor; Fever FF, PC Holly Taylor; Ray of Light, PC Elsa Marchenay.
Left column (top-down) A’Real Diva KA, PC Samantha Taylor; Mulawa Karismaa (AU), PC Stuart Vesty; Jalilah FF (AU), PC Samantha Taylor.
Right column (top-down) Nasirieh (GB); Silver Shimmer (GB) (AU); Karmaa (US) PC Stuart Vesty.
