Of three more Ma’naghi Sbayli stallions: Sabiq, *Haleb and Funaytil

Since I am back talking about Ma’naghi Sbayli stallions (see yesterday’s short post on RB Bellagio), I thought I’d bring up a picture of the stallion Dakhala Sabiq (Prince Hal x Sirrulya by Julyan), a 1975 stallion bred by Jeanne Hussong, when she was just about to become Jeanne Craver.

Dakhala Sabiq, an asil Ma'anaghi Sbayli stallion by Prince Hal x Sirrulya

A coouple of years ago, I was seriously considering to buy a daughter of Sabiq’s sister Soiree (Sir x Sirrulya): Dakhala Sahra is a lovely 1985 chestnut mare by Plantagentet out of Soiree, and is owned by Crista Couch. Perhaps I should have made a move.

Dakhla Sabiq and RB Bellagio who was featured below, are closely related, since their respective dams Sirrulya and Sirrunade are sisters, both out of Jane Ott’s broodmatron Sirrulla (Sirecho x Drissula). Unfortunately, Sabiq never had the opportunity to be used as a stallion

 I have always had a soft spot for Ma’anaghi Sbayli stallions. It dates back to the time I read a story by Ali al-Barazi, an old-time Syrian horse breeder, about one of the last ghazus (Bedouin raids), in the early 1940s. That was just before the French, who were ruling over Syria at the time, put an end to all raiding activity and imposed peace upon the tribes of the Syrian desert: a large party of Sba’ah Bedouin horsemen had just raided a Ruwalah camp, and were returning with a large booty of Ruwalah camels. A group of Ruwalah warriors then chased them, eventually taking the camels back, and capturing or killing a large number of Sba’ah horsemen. The Sba’ah suffered a severe defeat and by the end of the day, only 37 Sba’ah Bedouins had returned to the camp; of their 37 horses, 34 were daughters and grand-daughters of the one stallion: Funaytil, a Ma’naghi Sbayli, and one of the herd sires of the Sba’ah. As to the other 3, one was Funaytil himself. That story really stuck in mind since, and I was not surprised when I later read that *Haleb, yet another Ma’naghi Sbayli stallion from the Sba’ah imported by Homer Davenport to the USA in 1906, had covered no less than 200 mares the year before he left the desert.  

*Haleb, a desert-bred Ma'naghi Sbayli bred by the Sba'ah Bedouins and imported to the USA in 1906

14 Replies to “Of three more Ma’naghi Sbayli stallions: Sabiq, *Haleb and Funaytil

  1. Hi Edouard

    If anyone would have more pictures, it would be Jeanne Craver or one of the later owners.

    Perhaps someone could track down some taken when he was older?

  2. I really want to see those pictures, too! Please! I have a daughter of Sabiq, Sassy. She was born in 86, bred by Coates!! I hope I’m not too late to get in on this! She was/is a beauty.

  3. Sabiq was used as a stallion at least one time- I have here a registration certificate with his name as sire (AHR#126935) bred to Myrah Tron ( a half-Arab herself IAHA #1A 203585) by Wilbur Coats. Poor Sassy got a year older when I read it, I thought she was born in ’87, but it says ’86.

  4. Sabiq was used quite a lot, but I don’t believe he sired a purebred. Wilbur bred him to many mares of other breeding, often to half- or three-quarters-Arabians sired by his Davenport stallion, Cycletron. He got Sabiq when Cycletron died. When Sabiq died, he got another young Davenport stallion, Mosaic CF, from us, and continued on a much smaller scale. He had some Haflinger mares (driving team), and raised half-Arabians with Mosaic. They were quite lovely little horses. Wilbur is gone now, and his horses dispersed.

  5. Thank you, Jeanne. I’ll check into Sassy’s mom’s background; see if her grandsire was Cycletron. She is 3/4 Arab, not full, as you say. But wow, she’s been a great horse, love her, and it’s fun learning about her heritage. Maybe my next horse will be a Davenport- she looks just like them. I don’t think I can upload a pic.

  6. That checked out! My mare, Sassafrass Fields had a mother by name Myrna Tron. Myrna’s sire was indeed Cycletron, and her dam was a mare ‘of Arabian breeding’ named Nancy. I dug out papers, and there it was. So, Sassy is more Arab than I thought, at least 7/8. Probably. Does anyone have pictures of Cycletron or Myrna, Nancy…anything? Again, thanks, loving this.

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