Ahir at Sahiby Stud, South Africa, in 1975
Below is a photograph of the young Morafic son Ahir (out of Deenaa), aged two.
The photo, taken by Zelda Welgemoed, and shared by Wilton Burger, was taken at the Sahiby Stud in Tokai.
Ahir was bred by Gleannloch, and imported to South Africa by Dr Valérie Noli-Marais, who used him on Sahiby Bint Baraka, the daughter of the Egyptian mare Barakah and the Bahraini stallion Tuwaisan. Ahir and Sahiby Bint Baraka had three foals, two of which were colts – Sahiby Asham and Sahiby Tuwaisan – and one filly, Sahiby Noura. Sahiby Noura was then bred back to her own sire twice, producing one colt, Sahiby Rifki, and the celebrated broodmare, Sahiby Juleemah, from whom all the asil al-Mimrah horses in South Africa descend.
Ahir left other asil offspring, besides the Barakah descendants. Dr Noli-Marais also imported the Straight Egyptian mare AK Bint Gamilaa (Ibn Moniet El Nefous x Gamilaa); she produced three colts – Sahiby Al Hasni, Sahiby Al Jiwan, and Sahiby Gamaal El Arab – and one filly – Sahibi Bint Ahir – by him. Subsequently, Mr Maritz imported another Straight Egyptian mare Lar Malika (Al Fattah x Talara), who produced the filly Sidi Morafica by Ahir, and the colt Sidi Rabdan by Ahir’s son Sahiby Gamaal El Arab.
Looks like Shaik al Badi ( sp), only with perhaps a bit more heart girth. From the camera angle he also appears to have non- calf kneed front legs to.
best
Bruce Peek
He was a very solid horse with good underpinnings, from what I have seen of him in photos. He’s very much appreciated in endurance breeding here, I have been told.
Thanks Kate for this post. I had only seen mature pictures of Ahir. In winter of 1982, I took riding lessons on a bright chestnut gelding named AK Al Ahram (Ibn Moniet El Nefous x Narimaan). His dam Narimaan, is a full sister to Ahir. AK Al Ahram was a correct solid horse. He was very agile and sensitive which taught me a great deal about centered riding.