Desert imports to Poland and Hungary: the mares of the 1931 Zientarski importation
The three mares Rabda Khuszaiba, Hadba Inzihi, and Szeikha were bought by Zientarski and Raswan in the same mission as the stallions Kuhailain Haifi, Kuhailan Zaid, Kuhailan Kruszan and Kuhailan Afas. The photos of these 3 mares are taken from Britta Fahlgren’s “The Arabian Horses Families of Poland“.
All three mares were bred by and bought from the large Muntafiq Bedouin tribe. Rabda Khuszaiba (by a Kuhailan Krush x Rabda Khuszaiba) had a small breeding record, and all her progeny seems to have been lost during World War II.
Hadba Inzihi (by a Kuhailan Krush x Hadba Inzihi) was also lost during the war with nothing left from her (neither Asil or non-Asil).
Szeikha (by a Dahman Shehwan x Kuhailat Adjouz) produced three mares by Kuhailan Kruszan OA. Only one mare, Udzda, left some non-asil progeny: that was the asil mare Ferha by Kuhailan Abu Arkub (himself by Kuhailan Zaid db).
Hi Joe:
I have been following all of your blog entries with much interest. Thank you so much for all of the research, for your time, and for the photos that you have presented here. I want to believe that I am not terribly unique in feeling gratitude for the education that you are offering for these bloodlines. Also, I want to thank you for reinforcing the crucial need for thoughtful and compassionate Asil breeding.
I keep thinking about something and wonder, as an Arab man, if you are able to tell me how the breeders of these Asil horses felt, to eventually learn that these horses were either used in a non-Asil program or were killed, in an act of war. Did anyone ever regret letting any of these horses go? Was there ever a point that Arab breeders felt that they did not want to sell horses abroad, because Europeans or Americans did not understand how to breed these horses?
My understanding through reading many books, is that an Arab will no longer consider a horse Asil, if the stallion has covered an non-Asil mare or if a mare has produced a horse sired by a horse of another breed.
When non-Arab people went to the desert to buy authentic Arab horses, did the Arab ever require that the horses be bred according to their standards?
Just thinking this morning about all these precious horses leaving their homelands and while producing influential horses/influential families that are revered and appreciated, still to the day…I wonder what incredible horses we would be discussing today if these horses were bred differently. If anything,I am overwhlmed by the sense of fragililty. Like pure water, even a spoon with a few crystals stuck on it, mixed in the pure water, ceases the water to be pure.
I don’t know if I am expressing myself well and sorry for that. Just maybe what I can only say is thanks again, for the overwhelming sense of gratitude for this wonderful horse.
First of all I wish to thank you for your kind words ,especially coming from a person like you.
As a matter of fact I enjoy very much writing and sharing these infos on Edouard’s blog ,his father being a good friend.
Do you noticed that all the replies on the blog are very smart and well informed,meaning that the quality of the readers is very high.
Exporting horses in the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century was a source of income for the Bedouin:Instead of selling theyre colts to a “Agil” (a horse merchant) who were going to send them to the Bombay market or to sell them to townsmen ,they sold them to a “Franji” who was paying more.
As for the mares ,I dont beleive that the best mares reached Europe, maybe a very few of them,in general the Europeans standard were different from the Bedouin’s.For instance Michael el Hadad was only buying tall stallions and mares (1.56/1.57m) while the standard bedouin mare was 1.48/1.49m A “High Cast” mare will never leave the desert for practical reasons ie: if you have a good rifle in a troubled country would you sell it ? it is exactly the same: a good war mare was a deadly weapon.
the good mares were exported to Europe when horses were not used anymore for Gaazu’s and war.
In my opinion the quality of the stallions exported to Europe in that period 19th/beginning of the 20th was far superior to the mares.That’s why the Polish importing some “High Cast” stallions managed to produce such nice horses ,eventough starting with very common local mares.
As for if the horses were used for any other purpose than breeding an Asil mare; or if they were going to be killed ,I think that the Bedouin did not care very much of these considerations,why? because a lot of them use to slaughter foals colts at birth if there was a draught.
As for if a mare or a stallion producing a non-asil horse were to be considered impure or non Asil anymore,I dont remember having heard anything like that.
It was a pleasure in answering your post
Hoping that I was clear enough,if not please let me know.
All the best from Beirut.
Hi Ralph
As you may know I breed train and race Arab horses in Syria.
This is an information for Straight Egyptians breeders:
Two straight Egyptians stallion are making an impact in Syrian racing:
Seif Salaheddine (Salh el Dine x Nessma)germany
Sheikh al Shaheer (Shaikh el Badi x Kohela (Mameluck x Sabbab ) germany.
Crossed with Syrian mares they are giving beautiful and very fast horses,beating horses sons of French stallions crossed with Syrian mares.