Farana, 1929 asil Ma’naqi Sbayli stallion in the USA
A handsome horse of old Blunt lines, the 1929 Ma’naqi Sbayli stallion Farana (Nasik x Farasin by Rasim) stood at the Kellogg Ranch in California. He was a popular sire, but is barely represented in modern asil breeding today. I know Rebecca Quick has a line to him through the 1944 Kuhaylat Rodan mare Suebe (Feyd by Farana, x Gisela by Akil x Shemseh by Nasik x Rifla by Rasim), who was double Nasik. There is also a line to him through Milanne (Feyd x Kishta by Akil). The line still goes in tail female, through Milanne who also goes back to Ferida, but I feel it’s lost its type as a result of being diluted in an ocean of Egyptian blood.
I feel that the Blunts could have made a better use of this Ma’naqi Sbayli line to Ferida while the line was still at Crabbet and before to migrated to the US. If I am not mistaken, the first stallion from this line at Crabbet was Faris (Nureddin II x Fejr).
From what I can see he sure looks good, straight legs with lots of bone. Can’t say the same for the rider- asking for direct flexion with a spade bit in the horses mouth. apparently demonstrating just how kind and tolerant the Kellog horses really were. In the new Buck Brannaman movie the film shows him taking a breif direct flexion into a couple of movements, and then releasing. The guy riding Farana above is apparently mindful of the severity of the bit- note the unclenched hands. But there is no release indicated.
best wishes
Bruce Peek
Farana, a horse a rider dreams of riding!
Written by H.H. Reese in his book The Kellogg Arabians, and we quote:
“Never up to that time had an Arab shown such speed and precision, such dizzying spins or electrifying response to the rein. A spectacular worker, Farana was especially good at spinning, a type of showmanship demanded of Stockhorses in those days to indicate their reining ability, and he could whirl so fast that he occasionally ‘spun’ right out from under his rider. Farana slid to the straight ‘figure eleven’ stops as well as any low-headed Quarter Horse, with instant take-off into a run when so indicated. Stockhorses in those days also had to work with the rope and he held the ‘calf’ with a taut rope at all times. Although he was too stylish to please the average cowboy, carrying his neck arched and tail high, Farana could out-perform all exhibition Stockhorses of his day. He also could back faster than the average horse can trot, and would back uphill out of the arena at Kellogg’s at a fast clip as finale to his performance. Although shown for over ten years, twice each Sunday, occasionally worked during the week, and often on exhibitions at fairs and other shows, Farana remained sound and clean-legged until he was an aged horse. Nor did he ever go sour, anticipating stops, as so many horses eventually do.” (pp. 126-127)
Edouard, don’t forget Wilfrid Blunt’s 1897 memorandum, in which he wrote, “Ferida’s stock though excellent should not give sires to the stud, Ferida’s pedigree having been insufficiently ascertained.” When this statement was published, it was pointed out, however, that when the Blunts partitioned the Crabbet Stud in 1906, Wilfrid himself chose Ferida’s daughter Feluka for his half and bred Fejr and *Ferda from her. See Archer, Pearson, Covey: The Crabbet Arabian Stud (1978) at page 227.
After Lady Wentworth took over the Crabbet Stud in 1920, her daughter chose *Ferda for her own mare, and Lady Wentworth bought back Fejr in 1922 and bred the filly Fasila from her, along with the colts Faris, Ferhan, and Fayal. She used all three Fejr sons for breeding.
Ferhan’s first foal was Rasin in 1930, followed by Indian Gold in 1934.
Fayal was bred in 1931 to Nadiya and Nejmia, but his first named foal seems to be Starillo in 1939.
The earliest record I can find of breeding from Faris is his offspring Rissalix and Ghezala in 1934.
Yes, I now recall reading that sentence, although I had forgotten about the attribution to Wilfrid. What do we know for sure about Ferida’s pedigree?
Ma’naqiyah Sbailiyah bred by the Shammar and purchased from them by Mohammad Khudr Jamal al-Din, who brought her from Deyr to Egypt and then sold her to the Blunts on January 21, 1891, when she was coming 5.
Hmmm! What can we find out about M K J al-Din?
He is mentioned many times in the J&C of LAB.