You may be wondering about the reason for the series of recent blog entries on the Iranian Arabian horses. That’s because of Jasminah, a 2017 Wadhnat al-Khursan mare from the breeding program of the late Ulrike Marcik in Spain. Wilton had already written about Jasminah on this blog, a few years back. Jasminah traces twice (including in the tf) to Jezabel, perhaps the most beautiful Iranian mare to come to Europe.
Thanks to Kina Murray for reminding me of this wonderful documentary, “Migrate to Survive”, about the Iranian asil horses of Mary Gharagozlou. Some really nice mares and stallions are featured, including the black one Mary is seen riding into the mountains in the screenshot below, and a couple of noticeable grey and chestnut mares.
Quoting from her article on the Asil Horse of Khuzestan (full article here on the WAHO website), a good starting point for information on this topic: Of the tribes mentioned by Layard in the first quotation, branches of the Al Khamees, Al Kathir and the Bani Lam are existent today in Khuzestan. The Bani Lam and the Al Kathir are known for the foundation of certain strains, the former for the Saglawi Djadrani, and Nesman (branch of the Koheilan), the latter for the Hamdani Semri, Saglawi Djadran, Wadne and a Wadne branch known as the Zaghieh. The Kaab, under whose name General Tweedie recognizes the Arab of Iran, are a large tribe divided into sub-tribes. Those best known for certain strains are the Jassemi for the Hetli (a Koheilan derivative) and the Sofferieh (a Saglawi sub-strain); the Mojadami known for a branch of the Hamdani, the Sobeili and Beaiyreh (Wadne Koheili). There are the Bani Khalid famous for Soffeirieh and Djelfe (Julfa to Layard); the Seyyids of Hosseini with the Maanghieh (Maneghi); the Seyyids of Tefagh with the Koheilan Adjuz, the Nesman and the Djelfe; and the Ziareh are best known for their Saglawis. However, the strain whose stallion is…
book “Breeding of Pure Bred Arab Horses: “Some Europeans make a big distinction between a Syrian, or desert and Najd horse; etc. All these horses are from the same origin ….. I am often amused to read about horse lovers who have had to deal with Arab horses; they seem to be quite convinced that the best horses are from this or that tribe. But I say this: There are good horses in all the tribes; Arabs are neighbours and warriors, they fight often between themselves and the conqueror takes all the best stock from the other. In this way good horses are taken from one tribe to another, and it is, therefore, more accurate to say that the strongest tribe gets the best.”