Bassma Al Arab, newborn Kuhaylat al-Ajuz filly, to *Nufoud, 2021
Bassma Al Arab was born at dawn today. She is by my stallion Jamr Al Arab (Vice Regent CF x Jadiba by Dib), a Saqlawi al-‘Abd, out of “Belle”, Jadah BelloftheBall (Invictus Al Krush x Belladonna CHF by Audobon), a Kuhaylat al-‘Ajuz tracing to the desert-bred mare *Nufoud. She is only the fifth filly alive from that strain. Monica Respet has two, and I now have three.
She has really long ears like her dam, a big sloped shoulder like her granddam Jadiba and big joints. It’s an unusual breeding: a half-Blunt stallion on a non-Blunt, mostly Davenport mare, with an old Saudi tail female.
Congratulations! I was wondering what Jadah BelleoftheBall was up to this year, and I am very very happy to see that we have a new *Nufoud filly on the ground.
Thank you, I am thrilled.
Hooray! Congratulations! What does the name Bassma mean, if I might ask? Your horses all have seem to have names chosen with care.
May little Bassma grow up strong and healthy!
Not really with care, these are regular names where I come from. Bassma means “smile” in Arabic, because I had a big smile when I got the news this morning.
I love the name! Thank you for the explanation.
I am smiling too! Congratulations, my “younger brother!” Another filly added to your herd, wonderful. Looking forward to seeing photos.
There must be a whole group of us smiling today!
You can add me to that smiling list. Hard to believe Belle is 19 this year. She is such a special mare. Love her still. I too am anxious for pictures.
She has looong ears. Me thinks, but it’s a just a hunch at this stage, that *Nufoud was part of the pool of Kuhaylat al-‘Ajuz mares at the Sharif of Mecca’s, before Mecca’s takeover by the Sauds in 1924 (or 1926? I forget).
Ditto for Turfa, who came out of a stud previously in hands of the Sharif of Mecca, at al-Khurma, and Freiha, the Kuhaylat al-Ajuz that accompanied King Abdallah I of Transjordan from Mecca to Amman during the Arab Revolt of 1916
Jeanne Craver tells me she is dismature, and needs some time to unfold, although the gestation period lasted for 11 months and 20 days.
Truly a great day for the chance to restore this rare breeding. I’m very happy for you Edouard!