Madinas Miracle, December 2023
Finally I feel confident about sharing a photo of Madinas Miracle, who arrived last year in poor shape, and has taken a long time to recover. I will try a breeding to Jamr in the spring, after treating her uterine infection.
There are a lot of things to like about this mare. First, her origins: she is a direct great-granddaughter of *Muhaira, imported by Dr Esther Ames from Arabia, so she is very close to the desert. She hails from a Central Arabian lineage, of the ‘Ubayyan strain of Prince Ibn Jalawi. Second, she has prominent withers, extending long into her back. That’s a characteristic of good endurance horses. Third, the very deep jowls, a sign of asalah in Arabian horses. Fourth, the very thick tail set, also a sign of authenticity and quality. Fifth, the deep girth and round barrel. There are also things I like less: the short ears (an Arabian mare’s ears must be long); the straight hocks; the small-ish croup and short-ish hip that is typical of the *Muhaira descendants. Nothing that Jamr can’t fix, however, if she were to take.
Photo by Monica Respet.
She looks quite a solid mare in this picture. It is a little astonishing to go back four generations to the desert, AND to a horse foaled in 1938. Her pedigree looks like a time capsule, particularly the distaff side.
So nice to see a photo of her.
I suspect she will produce in a manner that will be surprisingly pleasant!
Clearly powerful, bold, and likely superbly intelligent.
So glad you retained her, Edouard!
Best of luck in your pursuit toward that!!
Madina’s breeding and care was done by Chris Mellen, before her passing. She owned Madina’s sire, though on paper Madina’s registration defaults to Susan Whitman.
I think the stress all those mares under went in the aftermath was in part due to the great bond Chris had with each of them. She fed them, before herself, more than once.
I suspect it is true of all desert-bred Arabians, but I know for certain the mares of these lines rely deeply on a connection to a caring human partner. She will come around, especially when she is settled in and can feel it.
Call me sentimental, if you wish! .
I think you’re right. She has come around already. She is a riding horse for several nearby children. Sweet mare.