Account of the Kuhaylan Da’jani horses of Khidr al-Ahmad al-Husayn, by Hammad al-Jaddu’ al-Jaz’ah of the tribe of Tai

This account recorded in early 2021. It reads like a testimony of the Abbas Pasha Manuscript. My translation: I, Hammad Jaddu’ al-Jaz’ah, of the tribe of Tai, clan of al-Jawwalah, I am the owner of the strain of Saqlawi Dari, the horses of Jaddu’ al-Jaz’ah, in the township of Abu Hujairah, district of al-Qahtaniyah, province of al-Qamishli, governorate of al-Hasakah:   Concerning the marbat of Da’jani Kashir, the horses of Khidr al-Ahmad al-Husayn al-Juburi, they came [to Syria] at the end of 1958 or the beginning of 1959. It was the father of Khidr who came [to Syria]; his name was Ahmad al-Ali al-Juburi (of the Jubur); he was the direct son of the daughter of Ahmad al-Taha; his maternal uncle was Ahmad al-Taha. The man came from Iraq, with blood on his hands [Edouard’s note: he had killed two men there]; That’s why he crossed into Syria. There were two mares with him, a red one (bay) and a light grey one, both of the Da’jani Kashir strain, which was the marbat of his maternal uncle Ahmad al-Taha. He settled in Syria, from the beginning of 1959 until his death. To this day, his son Khidr al-Ahmad al-Juburi is…

Ginger has a boy!

Yesterday Ginger foaled a little male, who as of this morning was still fighting for his life. He could not stand to nurse on his own, so Bev — bless her heart — has been waking up every two hours to lift him so he could nurse. I hope he pulls off. He is Ginger’s third foal in three years, after my Kinza, now two, and Bev’s Ginger Snap, a yearling. All three are by Bev’s stallion Subanet Jabbar SDA, so tracing to Fay El Dine in tail male and to Rabanna/Basilisk in tail female. When my partner Jana first saw a photo, her first reaction was: “Oh he looks like a little dog!” so I named him Kulayb. It’s Arabic for “little dog”, and it’s an old, old, Arabic Bedouin name. The Ancient Hebrews had it too, as the Biblical Caleb. In ancient pre-Islamic poetry, Kulayb son of Rab’iah was the name of a Bedouin hero from the ancient tribe of Taghlib. He was the brother of Mohalhil.

كحيلة الخدلية من مربط عضيب الوقاع السبيعي

فرس شقراء كحيلة الخدلية يعود مربطها الى عضيب الوقاع السبيعي ابوها الصقلاوي الجدراني من خيل دريعي الاحدب من عشيرة شمر ابو امها المعنقي السبيلي حصان الشويطي من خيل النجرس من عشيرة العقيدات

El Salil Paloma, a Saqlawiyah Jadraniyah of Ibn Sudan

El Salil Paloma is a 2009 Saqlawiyah Jadraniyah from the Nabilah tail female line, in South Africa, out of the mare Induba Wasifa, by the Kuhaylan al-Mimrah stallion Skarabee Picasso. Nabilah (Enzahi x Zamzam) was one of the two Egyptian mares imported in 1945 from the Royal Agricultural Society by Claude Orpen, along with the well-known Mimrahiyah Barakah. After arriving in South Africa, Nabilah was sent to Namibia, where she produced her daughter Inzam Saklabilah by the stallion Gordonville Ziyadan. All Nabilah’s descendants today trace to this one registered daughter. In addition to her status as one of the rare Nabilah line mares, El Salil Paloma is precious in South African asil breeding, as she is also one of the few Nabilah tail female descendants without Hanan or Tifla. To date she has produced two asil foals, a colt by El Salil Benjamin and a filly by Kromar Xoyatan, but the filly sadly died last month. Paloma herself nearly did not make it to adulthood, as her owner and breeder Fallon Thiele writes: When Paloma was a 3month old filly she was caught in a snare, it severed her back tendon on her right hind leg. We nearly put her…

The Living Treasures of Bahrain – Part 4

Published in July 1971 by Danah Al Khalifa. All photos by her, unless otherwise indicated. Her photo captions are included. “To the starting post!” Each Friday from November till May, a popular meeting place is His Highness Sheikh Isa’s private racetrack. Races are informal and unique in style. No betting, no prizes, nevertheless each competitor is keen to ride a winner. Every colt and filly is race trained to it’s worth! It is in racing that the good or the bad points of conformation, character and HEART come out. They start to race at three years of age if well developed, over a distance of six furlongs (1200m.) The distance is increased with age, up to two miles, and some horses are still racing when fifteen years old. Stallions and mares race in mixed groups.   “Jockeys come in all sizes!” (Photo: R. Paterson)   “A mare’s excitement at the start.”   “and a stallion’s protest!   Shawaf: “Unchanged by the years, a grand old Arab and his grand old steed take part in a festive parade.”   “And jockeys come in different styles!” Homestretch!! No whips are permitted! … But sometimes a hollow bamboo reed is used as it…

THE LIVING TREASURES OF BAHRAIN – PART 3

Published in July 1971 by Danah Al Khalifa. All photos by her, unless otherwise indicated. Her photo captions are included. HAMDANIEH: ” … how exquisite her ears, pointed as a date flower bud … ” “An Arabian beauty with a dropped veil!” During date harvest season when flies are bothersome, some favourites get a ‘rish-rash’ for eye protection – this one’s slipped down.   Grey Dahman with Arab headstall.   Grey racing mares in ‘summer flesh’.   DAHMEH: ” … her chest is power … ” (Photo: Forbis)   ‘BAY RACING MARES IN SUMMER FLESH’. Dark bays, the most prominent colour in the royal stud.   JETHENIEH: ” … her large head flexeth with ease … ” ‘On a promenade’.   MA’ANAGY: “A son of Old Bay Jellaby, young, proud and spirited, yet so gentle a young girl can handle him.” (At private stud.)   HATHBEH: ” … know that ye must bridle her with a sizeable and strong bit … ” ‘A young Sheikh on his favourite mare.’   Hamdany and Tuwaisan: “High spirited playful young stallions.”   DAHMEH. “On wings and springs.” a) The free flying trot so characteristic of a true hotblood. b) The powerful and bold…

The Living Treasures of Bahrain – Part 2

Published in July 1971 by Danah Al Khalifa. All photos by her, unless otherwise indicated. Her photo captions are included. Shuwaimeh & Shawafah.  Two expectant mothers. (Photo: Forbis)   Hamdany. A new born colt, four hours old. In future will become a dark bay.   Hamdany Ibn Krushan. Three weeks old, was born black but on reaching maturity will become silver grey.   Hamdany. A dark grey weanling colt pictured when six months old. Hamdany was born dark brown, his second coat dark grey, however on reaching maturity he will be a pure white horse. To accustom the horse to being chained by the legth first lesson is to tie a thick rope around the front pastern for a few days, as shown in this photograph.   Hamdanieh. Weanling filly pictured at 7 months of age. Born brown, second coat roan. She is a future speckled grey.   “Jellaby Ibn Krushan, a two year old colt. Born black but a future silver grey. Arabs often compare their best horses with the Saluki, the Arabian greyhound, in good points.” At this time the colt is broken to rider and halter, to stand still when mounted and to walk, turn and stop.…

The Living Treasures of Bahrain – Part 1

Published in July 1971 by Danah Al Khalifa. All photos by her, unless otherwise indicated. Her photo captions are included. Bahrain’s mounted police leaving the Guest Palace Old Speckled Jellaby, pictured at 34 years of age, sired his last foal the same year. Born 1930, died 1968.  (a note in pencil reads: “Tuwaisan’s sire of dam” – Wilton) Photo: M. Shakib Tuwaisan: A treasured racing stallion of Bahrain, was a royal gift to a private stud in South Africa. (Photo: Dr. Valérie Noli-Marais) Old Bay Dahman, in his shady teasing cage, photographed at the age of 30 years while he was still at stud. Born 1938 died 1970. A mare exploding in high spirits.  Old Bay Jellaby, at the age of 28 years, still at stud. Sire Old Bay Dahman. (Photo: F. Alqusaibi) Krushan, son of Old Speckled Jellaby, pictured at 18 years of age. Born 1952 died 1970. Young Bay Jellaby now at stud, aged 16 years, is full brother to Old Bay Jellaby. Young Bay Dahman, pictured at 8 years, was sired by Old Bay Jellaby and now replaces Old Bay Dahman at stud.  Hamdany aged 7 years, one of the last sons of Old Speckled Jellaby, replaced…

Associated Studs – The Amiri Arabian Stud of Bahrain Vol. 1

All photos by Danah Al Khalifa unless otherwise indicated. Sheikh Mohammed bin Sulman Shawaf sired a breeding mare for Sheikh Mohammed bin Sulman’s stud out of Jellabieh No. M1. Bred by the Royal Stud, served as breeding stallion for the Mounted Police.     Hamdany Riadh (top); Ma’anagieh Marshoosha (bottom) – photo: Dr. Valérie Noli-Marais. Neither are listed as belonging to any particular stud.    Danah Farm Danah Al Khalifa writes: The breeding program at Danah Farm is centered around the foundation mare SITAH, ‘Hamdaniah Feisul’ and her offspring. Sitah’s history is documented from the time she was acquired as a two year old filly in 1964, at the Najd encampment of Emir Abdulla bin Saud. It was stated by the caretaker of the horse herd that Sitah was bred by Crown Prince Feisal bin Abdul Aziz, and was out of a Hamdaniah Ghiam mare of the horses of Al Saud, and by stud stallion Saqlawy El Njemy from the horses of Al Rasheed. Sitah No. D1 (Saqlawi El Njemy x Hamdanieh Ghiam) – mare b. 1961 photo: Dr. Valérie Noli-Marais   Dhiab No. D4 – stallion b. 1972 (Ma’anagy El Saghir No. 300 x Sitah No. D1) (top); Burkaan…

The Amiri Arabian Stud of Bahrain – Vol. 1

Published by Danah al Khalifa in 1980. Photos listed in the same order with pedigree info provided. All photos by Danah al Khalifa, unless otherwise indicated. Shawafa 264 b. 1975 (Ma’anaghi El Kebir x Shawafa Nr. 160) Dahman II   Jellaby Sakhir – after 30 in 1980  Old Dahman (photo: Dr. Valérie Noli-Marais)   Jellaby Wazmiah in old age    Dahman 296 – stallion b. 1970 (Ma’anaghi El Saghir No. 300 x Dahmeh El Hamra No. 23)   Dameh 23 & Colt. Dameh El Hamra No. 23 – mare b. 1965 (Old Dahman I x Bint Dahmeh El Shagara)   Dahman El Ahmar No. 196 – stallion, 2yr (top) (Ma’anagy El Saghir No. 300 x Dahmeh El Hamra No. 23). Hadfan No. 298 – stallion, 2yr, (bottom) b. 1978 (Ma’anagy El Saghir No. 300 x Hadfah No. 159)   Hamdany bin Um Shamy No. 81 – stallion b. 1973 (top) (Dahman II x Hamdanieh Um Shamy No. 119). Hamdanieh Bint Um Shamy No. 257 – mare b. 1975 (Hamdany No. 75 x Hamdanieh Um Shamy No. 119)   Shuwaimah Nr. 48 – mare b. 1973 (Hamdany Nr. 71 x Shuwaimah No. 47) (left); Hamdanieh Johara No. 305 – mare b.…

Shaykh Abd al-Jalil al-Naqashbandi of Deyr on a Nawwaqiyah

A rare photo of Abd al-Jalil al-Naqashbandi, one of the preeminent Sufis of the Euphrates Valley, and the owner of a famous marbat of Kuhaylan al-Nawwaq that is now 110 years old. He is pictured here on one of his Nawwaqiyah mares. He was a partner of Fanghash al-Nawwaq, who was the last member of the Nawwaq family to own horses they gave their name to. A precious photo.

Dahjani Al Arab for 2022

This year I will be using for the first time frozen semen from one of the Syrian stallions now in France. I chose Arnault Decroix’s Dahjani Al Arab (same prefix as my horses, by chance). He is a Kuhaylan Da’jaani from the old Syrian desert bloodlines I have known and loved for three decades (sheesh!). He traces directly to the Kuhaylan Da’jaani marbat of Ahmad al-Taha, the Shaykh of the large Juhaysh tribe in Northern Iraq. This is the same breeder as El Nasser’s, the Kuhaylan Da’jani which Egypt’s Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) used in the 1940s. These bloodlines are quite prized for racing in Syria today. Just look at the striking similarity between El Nasser and Dahjani Al Arab, 80 years apart.  

Little Bassma

A quick snapshot of little Bassma from two weeks ago. She is unfolding slowly. I will be back in the USA in July and will take good pictures. I just love the combination of bloodlines this filly brings. A Saudi tail female to *Nufoud with a cross to *Turfa in the bottom, a female line to *Wadduda on her sire’s side, plenty of Davenport blood all over (11/16), and a dose of Doyle lines (3.5/16) for good measure. So proud to have been able to continue this wonderful *Nufoud line, walking in the footsteps of the late Carol Lyons.

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.

Mlolshaan Mutaab at Saruk Arabians yesterday

Yesterday, Jana and I spent a lovely afternoon in the company of Pienaar, Pauline and Gerhard Du Plessis at Saruk Arabians outside Albertinia in the Western Cape. We came for lunch on Easter Sunday and spent a lot of time chatting so time flew by. They run a successful endurance racing operation mainly oriented towards a Gulf audience. They have two very impressive sons of Tuwaisaan 406 (he died in 2011),  built like tanks, out of old South Africa dam lines. I also saw and took some photos (iPhone 8…) of Mlolshaan Mutaab, who put on a show in his paddock. He reminded up of the Davenport stallion Vice-Regent CF in pictures I have seen. Mutaab is 22 years old but does not look it. He is quite small for a Bahraini horse — Pauline believes he was raised as an orphan — but is well balanced. Round croup, broad chest, hig tail carriage, good shoulder, deep jowls, small expressive ears. He has that big, bulky Mlolshaan head, not unlike Mlolshaan Hager Solomon’s in the USA. When he moves, he looks transformed. I also saw one of his daughters out of a mare of Egyptian lines. Videos in the next…

On the transmission of Arabian horse strains and the notion of authenticity

In Arabian horses, strains are traditionally transmitted by the dam. This is how Bedouins did it for about half a millennium, for reasons I discussed elsewhere. Strains, and their transmissions are intimately connected to the concepts of asil/atiq (roughly, authentic) in an Arabian horse. In other words, the daughter of an asil/atiq Hamdaniyah Simriyah and an English Thoroughbred is not a Hamdaniyah Simriyah. She is a hajin, a part-bred, not an Arabian horse. I think there is a universal consensus on that. Now let us assume that this half-Arabian part-bred daughter of the asil/atiq Hamdaniyah Simriyah is bred to an asil/atiq Arabian for one more generation. You still don’t have a Hamdaniyah Simiriyah. You’d still have a hajin, a partbred with 25% Engligh Thoroughbred blood and 75% Arabian blood. One more generation of breeding of this line to an asil/atiq Arabian horse will not get you your Hamdani Simri label back. You’d still have a hajin on your hands, this time with 12.5% Engligh Thoroughbred blood and 87.5% Arabian blood. The consensus on this horse not being an Arabian horse still holds, pretty much across the spectrum of the Arabian horse world. Where the consensus falls apart is on how…

Jezabel – Die Wüstenstute/The Desert Mare

From the article written by Betty Finke for “Araber Journal”:  In early 1980, Jezabel shared the fate of many of her two-legged countrymen and had to leave the country in a hurry. Being owned by the Royal Horse Society, she was technically the property of Shah Reza Pahlevi, who’s reign was abruptly ended by the return of the Ayatolla Khomeini, who called out the Islamic Republic of Iran and opposed everything from the West. The Shah’s horses with their connection to the US-based WAHO were in acute danger of their lives. Jezabel and other horses from the Royal Stud owed their life to the efforts of Gustl Eutermoser and Ulrike Marcik from Austria, who with the help of Mary Gharazoglou brought them out of the country to their own stud farm in Austria. On 1 March 1981 received her WAHO papers and was entered in Vol. 1 of the Asil Club. Jezabel (Arras x Atlass, by Ajdar) age 18 with her son sired by Inta  (Ibn Insiatur x Sabah, by Arras) Inta and Jezabel at Birgitte Degn’s farm in Austria. Jezabel, age 25 with her last foal Juna     Jezabel and Inta’s 1992 daughter, Jello.  

Barakah photos

Here is a side-on photo of Barakah (Ibn Manial x Gamalat, by Ibn Samhan) and 2 headshots. This photo was taken at the Kingswills’ Gordonville Stud by Ian Thompson. I’m not sure how old Barakah is in the photo, but her full-grown daughter Gordonville Zahara (1956 – 1966) was also pictured that day. Sadly, Zahara left no registered purebred offspring. This photo was taken at Dr. Valérie Noli-Marais’ Sahiby Stud. It shows Barakah with the Bahraini stallion Tuwaisan. A memorial photo published by Ian Thompson.  On the left is Barakah’s son, Gordonville Ziyadan, by Zahir (Ibn Fayda x Zahra, by Gamil Manial). Ziyadan is a full brother to Gordonville Zahara mentioned earlier.

Clarification: Ibn El Chaarssa — Kuhaylan al-Kharas of Tahawi Bedouin lines

These are photos that accompanied two articles written by Kirsten and Bernd Radtke when they helped to document the Tahawy horses. If you allow for the odd typo, this could be the same stallion, but the photos tell a different story. The photo captions are as they appeared in the articles. Can anybody shed some light on who these horses are? “SHEIKH SULMAN’s breeding stallion IBN EL CHAAESSA” THE TAHAWY HORSES By Bernd Radtke Photo: Wolfgang Bitterle NordArab April 1988 “The stallion Ibn el Chaarssa of the Barakat line, owned by Sheik Soliman.” The Tahawys and their Horses by Kirsten & Bernd Radtke Photo: Radtke AHS News Summer ’88

Dahjani Al Arab, asil Kuhaylan Da’jani stallion in Syria

Yesterday Arnault Decroix sent me this photo of his Syrian stallion Dahjani al-Arab, a Kuhaylan Da’jani born in the Syrian Jazirah (Upper Mesopotomia) in 2008. Dahjani al-Arab was part of the same batch of Syrian imports to France in 2009. The lot also included the stallions Mahboub Halep (a Shuwayman Sabbah); Dahess Hassaka (a Kuhaylan Nawwaq); Nimr Shabareq (a Ma’naqi Sbayli); Shahm (a Ubayyan Sharrak, who sadly died soon after the importation and was the best of the lot, in my opinion); and Meliar Halab (a Kuhaylan Krush), as well as the mare Rafikat al-Darb (a Shuwaymah Sabbah). For years I overlooked Dahjani al-Arab on this blog, and highlighted other imports like Mahboub, Dahess and Nimr, because I had some doubts about his Kuhaylan Da’jani tail female. Today, after a decade of follow up, I was able to access first-hand evidence of the authenticity of this strain. I will elaborate further in a next entry. Dahjani al-Arab is and always was, an asil Arabian horse    

Haurram II & Skowronek – What if?

In the 1975 article “Famous Arabian Horses of Argentina”, Verónica Medda wrote: “The first arabian horse importation to Argentina was in the nineteen-hundreds. The most important importation was in the year 1892 when Mr. Hernán Ayerza personally travelled to the Middle East to select Arabian stock for his own stud. These horses were the anestors of the famous stallion Haurram II. On September 30, 1912 Haurram II is born in “El Aduar” (Mr. Ayerza’s stud), by Racid, bred also at “El Aduar” and out of Haydee, a mare imported from Siria who at foaling was 20 years old. This great stallion was grand champion of the Argentine Rural Society’s exposition in the years 1915, 1916, 1920 and 1924. In 1916 the exposition was international since horses from all over the world were present. This was Haurram II’s greatest victory since the competition was not only between argentine stock but from other parts of the world. A very knowledgable judge of Arabian horses considered him to be perfect. He was so impressed by this horse that he went to England and told the owner of England’s most famous stud about Haurram II. They negotiated on leasing Haurram II to England for…

The Arabian Horse Manifesto – A Draft for Discussion

Several productive discussions have recently taken place in public and in private about the proposed draft of the Arabian Horse Manifesto. Earlier this year, I started a series of posts on this blog under the title “Toward a New Manifesto of the Arabian Breed“. After receiving plenty of feedback, and discussions with Arab and non-Arab figures active in the Arabian horse sphere, I am happy to share a more solid draft, with values, principles, and definitions, for more discussions and comments: The Introduction Vision Our vision is a new era of the Arabian Horse that is based on the acknowledgment of its original qualities, more understanding and learning of its historical background, higher respect of its cultural values and context, better cooperation between the East and West, and the adoption of modern science in drawing the future of the breed. Mission  The Arabian Horse Manifesto aims at setting a common direction for the community of the Arabian Horse at large, including breeders, researchers, registration bodies, and academia, to unite and align our endeavors for sustaining and prospering the Asil Arabian Horse, and maintaining its authenticity and quality. Introducing the Manifesto The highly famed and distinguished Arabian breed is at a…

Barakah tail female line – Southern Africa

Here is a photo of another member of the Barakah[imp] tail female line, the stallion Sidi Egyptian Storm. The line almost died with Baraka as a number of the imports contracted strangles. Here is the full story of the importation. Breeder: A.W.A. (Jack) Maritz Owner: Sanniesguns Boerdery Trust Photo provided by Raymond Schierschmidt Another photo. Sidi Bint Maistro, maternal granddam to Sanniesguns Sahara. Sidi Bint Maistro Breeder: A.W.A. (Jack) Maritz Owner: Raymond Schierschmidt (photo)

Anastas al-Karmali’s treatise on the Arab horse republished

Kuwaiti researcher Yahia al-Kandari edited a treatise on Arab horses by Father Anastas al-Karmali (1866-1947), the Lebanese Carmelite priest and linguist.  The treatise “al-Khayl al-‘Irab 3inda al-Arab wa al-A3raab” was published by Bait al-Arab. Interestingly, the title of the book features three difference uses of the term ‘Arab’.

Tahawi lines in Austria

I found these photos in the first edition of the Austrian stud book. Not the best quality, but at least it’s not an artist’s interpretation. Tohfa (Emam x Folla, by Ibn Barakat) 1962 arabian mare Breeder: Ahmed Hamza, Hamdan Stables Owner: Fatma Hamza, Cairo / Gustl Eutermoser, Arabergestüt Schieferegg Tail Male: Jamil El Kebir (APK) Tail Female: Folla (TAH) Ancestral Elements Tahawi, 50.0% Egypt I, 36.3% Egypt II, 12.5% Blunt, 1.2% Ghada (Emam x Bint Folla, by Hamdan) 1969 arabian mare Imported to Austria 15/05/1970 Breeder: Ahmed Hamza, Hamdan Stables Measurements (adult): 150 – 171 -18 Owner: Gustl Eutermoser, Arabergestüt Schieferegg Also known as *Ghadaa (imp. 1982) Photo: Henry Garde Tail Male: Jamil El Kebir (APK) Tail Female: Folla (TAH) Ancestral Elements Egypt I, 61.3% Tahawi, 25.0% Egypt II, 12.5% Blunt, 1.2%  

Hadbdan Enzahi tail male in Namibia

Eugene Geyser of Nabilah stud informed me that our stallion, Gülilah Sawwan (Mahib imp] x Gülilah Saraqa, by Shari-Silic Abkar), is the last living son of Mahib. Sawwan is a blend of Gülilah and Nabilah stud’s bloodlines as the two have been intertwined for decades. Here’s more information about the Nabilah stud. Gülilah Sawwan , 2001 stallion. Photo courtesy of Maretha Garbers Coetzee Mahib[imp] (Ibrahim x Mahabba, by Madkour) 1982 stallion. Imported by Mrs. Helga Aschenborn. Sawwan’s case becomes even more interesting when you consider that he is the sole SE, tail male representative of the Ibrahim branch of the Hadban Enzahi descendants in Southern Africa. Mahib did, however, have a maternal half-brother Malesh, that was imported. Ibrahim (Mahomed x Mahiba, by Alaa el Din) Ibrahim was photographed in his stall, shortly after his arrival in Kuwait by W. George Olms. (“Zuruck unter Allah’s Sonne”, Arabische Pferde Nr. 1 ’89) Now we’re making a concerted effort to preserve the Mahib line in Asil arabian breeding, perhaps even his sire line. There’s interest for two mares to visit, one SE, one Asil with a Courthouse damline (One for the list Kate!). The logistics is an absolute nightmare. Throw in the drought, COVID…

It’s a small world after all

I was on the trail of offspring of the Bábolna bred Hadban I (Hadban Inzihi x 24 Gazlan, by Gazlan), a stallion imported to Namibia in 1910. I got stuck into a stack of magazines and I found something unexpected. In the March 1958 edition of the Sankt Georg magazine is an article written by Dr. F. Pilawka after a recent visit to Sidi Thabet, Tunisia. There are three photos that I’ve never seen before and I thought you guys might be interested. I’ve taken the liberty of adding a translation. The desert stallion “Tabriz” from the domain of Maknassy, eight years old, raced before he came to Sidi Thabet. The desert stallion “Ibn” from breeding that is the domain of “Bir Chaïba, fourteen years old, former, successful racer, currently a senior stallion. “Aissauê” an up and coming stallion in Arabian breeding, recently ended his racing career, 5 years old.

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,…

“The Manifesto of the Arabian Breed” – Part II: The Definition الإعلان العام للجواد العربي – الجزء الثاني: التعريف

These two previous posts are part of this series:  هذين المنشورين السابقين هما جزء من هذه السلسلة TOWARD A NEW MANIFESTO OF THE ARABIAN BREED (Here) نحو بيان عام جديد للحصان العربي THE MANIFESTO OF THE ARABIAN BREED – PART I (Here) الإعلان العام للجواد العربي – الجزء الأول The following post provides PART II of the proposed Manifesto. The goals is to reach a globally agreed definition of the Asil Arabian Horse that can serve as a clear and actionable basis for any future organized effort to list and/or register the Asil Arabian. هذا المنشور يمثل الجزء الثاني من الإعلان العام المقترح. والهدف هو الوصول إلى تعريف عالمي متفق عليه للحصان العربي الأصيل بحيث يقدم أساساً عملياً قابلاً للاستخدام لأي عمل تنظيمي مستقبلي يتضمن قاعدة بيانات أو سجل للجواد العربي. The definition builds on previous work by the Asil organizations such as Al Khamsa and Asil Club. It consists of two sections; the definition statement, and definition notes. The definition notes is what makes it an actionable and working definition. They provide a practical mechanism for applying the definition within any organizational framework such a database or a registry. التعريف مبني على مجهودات سابقة من المنظمات المعنية بالأصالة مثل…

Another photo of SAFRAN (*Shahwan x Safra), Hamdani Simri

          An 1893 grey Hamdani Simri stallion. His dam, Safra, was by the Ali Pasha Sharif stallion Shueyman and out of the Mahmud Bey-Ghezireh mare Sobha. His sire, *Shahwan, has been featured on this blog before, and you can read about him here. Safran was used by the Blunts for breeding, although his influence ended up being pretty much negligible, and he was sold at the 1898 Crabbet Park sale. He had actually been bred to his 2nd dam, Sobha, who produced a grey colt in 1899, “…died immediately, a loss as [Safran] had been sold in 1898.” A description of him, Country Life Illustrated, 7 August 1897: “…but the pick of the basket was a really beautiful four year old named Safran, by Shahwan – Safra (Hamdani Simri). He is quite a pony, only 14h., I think , but a perfect little gentleman, with wonderful power and substance for his size, on the shortest of legs, with long sloping shoulders, short powerful back and loins, the most bloodlike head and neck imaginable, and all quality. He is a perfect little picture, and worth a big price, if only to look at, though I was told…

1892 Crabbet Sale: Safran and Moallaka

Scans of an article published July 30th, 1898 for “A Weekly Illustrated Record and Review” popped up recently, revealing photos of Safran (*Shahwan x Safra) and Moallaka (Mesaoud x Meroe). The publication itself was a British illustrated weekly periodical founded in 1891 by Charles Norris Williamson, and was known for printing fairly high-quality photos within its pages. SAFRAN – more on him later. MOALLAKA (If there is another photo of this mare in circulation, I do not know of it.) R.J. Cadranell reports of Moallaka and her dam, Meroe: Moallaka (by Mesaoud) was sold as a two-year-old at the 10th Crabbet sale on July 23, 1898, to George Grey, Esq., if Tunbridge Wells for 147 gs. with her full sister Munfyeh. Their dam was Meroe, an 1885 mare by Kars x Meshura. On Meroe: “In the summer of 1897 Meroe showed symptoms of failing health. Between the beginning of May & the beginning of July she was driven in the team, chiefly as wheeler, and went even long distances, such as from Newbuildings to Wootton one day, & the next morning on to Dorking station & back to Wootton then on home to Newbuildings, but she never seemed herself, and…

“The Manifesto of the Arabian Breed” – Part I الإعلان العام للجواد العربي – الجزء الأول

In my previous post I wrote an introduction (here) on what I am proposing in this post and the next. في منشوري السابق كتبت مقدمة (هنا) حول ما أقترحه في هذا المنشور وما يليه. In this first part, I am suggesting a set of guiding VALUES and PRINCIPLES to govern any future efforts for preserving the Asil/Atiq Arabian Horse. In the next part I will suggest a DEFINITION of the Asil Arabian Horse and some additional notes that build on top of the current definitions by the different Asil organizations. في هذا الجزء الأول أقترح مجموعة من القيم والمبادئ الحاكمة، لضبط أي جهود مستقبلية متعلقة بالمحافظة على الحصان العربي الأصيل\العتيق. وفي الجزء التالي بإذن الله سأقوم باقتراح تعريف للحصان العربي الأصيل ومعه مجموعة من الملاحظات التوضيحية، والتي تبني على التعريفات الحالية من طرف المنظمات المعنية بالأصالة. My framework of thoughts is based on three tiers: [1] Values & Principles, [2] Definition, [3] Criteria & Processes. The proposed Manifesto covers [1] and [2], and it lays the groundwork for future efforts on [3]. يقوم الإطار العام للفكرة على ثلاث مستويات: (1) القيم والمبادئ، (2) التعريف، (3) المعايير والإجراءات. يستوعب الإعلان المقترح النقاط (1) و (2)، بينما يمهد الطريق ويضع الأساس لأي…

Toward a New Manifesto of the Arabian Breed نحو بيان عام جديد للحصان العربي

A lot of discussion has been going on lately by Arabian horse lovers and enthusiasts from the six contents about the future of the Arabian breed. Maintaining the breed purity of blood (the Asil concept), preserving the original qualities and characteristics of the Arabian Horse, the genetic diversity and integrity of the breed, the status of the unregistered desert-bred Asil horses, are all among the concerns of the community. كثير من النقاشات تدور مؤخرا بين محبي الحصان العربي من القارات الست حول مستقبل السلالة العربية. المحافظة على نقاء الدم ومفهوم الأصالة، استدامة الصفات ومقومات الجودة الأصلية للحصان العربي، التنوع والسلامة الجينية للحصان العربي، وضع الخيول البدوية غير المسجلة، كل هذا من ضمن ما يشغل المهتمين. There is a kind of consensus that something has to be done. A new era has to begin that is based on more acknowledgement of the breed original qualities and characteristics, more understanding and learning of its historical background, more respect of its cultural values and context, more cooperation between the West and East including those of Arab descent who still carry the cultural values and knowledge, and nevertheless, more adoption of the scientific tools, specifically the genetic science, in setting a new solid scientific…

Anita Baldwin and *Ibn Mahruss

This photo was found on the website for the City of Arcadia, located within their Arcadia History Collection. In it, Anita Baldwin can be see holding the reins of *Ibn Mahruss (Mahruss II x Bushra). His sire, Mahruss II, did not have a particularly exceptional breeding career, and his is probably best felt in bloodlines through his sons *Ibn Mahruss and Rijm, both of whom were born in 1901. *Ibn Mahruss was imported in-utero along with his dam, *Bushra, where both found their way to Homer Davenport. He had at least two breeding seasons with Davenport before being sold to Eleanor Gates Tully, a playwright in California who owned, among other horses,  the stallions *Obeyran and *Nedjran. He enjoyed several years as a breeding stallion, with a limited foal crop spanning 1910-14. 1914 is also the year that Gates divorced from her husband, Richard Tully, which is likely when the horses were dispersed. From there, he found his way to Arcadia, California, under the ownership of Anita Baldwin.  From her obituary, 25 October 1939, published in Madera Tribune, Volume LXXIV, Number 150: “Mrs. Anita M. Baldwin, daughter of the late E. J. (Lucky) Baldwin, colorful mining and turf figure of…

Ibn Ibn Wathnan, original stallion from Qatar

Photographer Irina Filsinger took this nice photo of the stallion Ibn Ibn Wathnan, one of the handful original horses of the state of Qatar. He was registered in Volume 1 of the Qatari studbook. Thanks to Wilton for posting it on social media, where I picked it up. He looks like the Bahraini royal stud horses  and I would not be surprised if he traced to him at least in part

صورة نادرة للامير فيصل بن الحسين قائد الثورة العربية ضد العثمانيين خلال الحرب العالمية الاولى

لاحظوا دقة اذني الفرس وعرض حنكها فهكذا كانت خيل الملوك لاحظوا ايضا اللجام العربي بالاضافة للرشمة من ارشيف مدرسة الاخوة الماريين  

Two desertbred mares at Derkul, Russia

Saadey (below) was a Sa’dah al-Tuqan, foaled in Arabia in 1892, and purchased from Abdallah el-Khamud by Prince Shcherbatov in 1900. At the state stud at Derkul, Saadey was covered by the imported stallion Sem-Khan (purchased in Cairo), but did not produce a foal. In 1902 she gave birth to a filly, Elvira, by the Kuhaylan Swayti stallion El-Kader. Seglawiey (below) was another desertbred mare at Derkul. Foaled in 1894, she was out of a Saqlawiyah Jadraniyah of Ibn Sbeyni from the Fad’aan, and sired by a Kuhaylan Abu Junub. She, like Saadey, was imported to Russia by Prince Shcherbatov for the state stud at Derkul in 1900. In 1902, Seglawiey produced a chestnut filly, Nadide, by the Crabbet-bred stallion Naaman. Photos from the History of Russia in Photographs.

Zarifa, a Sa’dah al-Tuqan mare, in Russia

Zarifa (below) was bred by Count Stroganov from his imported stallion Sherrak, out of the mare Ghazu. Zarifa’s dam Ghazu was a grey mare foaled in the desert c. 1879/1880, sired by a Dahman ‘Amer. Stroganov purchased her on his first expedition to Syria, in 1888, from the Sba’ah. She produced seven foals in Russia, sired by Emir-el-Arab, Sottamm el-Kreysh, Sherrak, and Ashgar (Emir-el-Arab x Anaze). Zarifa herself produced three foals by the time the 1903 stud book was compiled, a chestnut colt and filly by Emir-el-Arab in 1900 and 1901, and a grey filly by Sottamm el-Kreysh in 1902. Photo from the History of Russia in Photographs.

Samura, a Kuhaylat al-Jallala, in Russia

Samura (below) was the 1895 daughter of the desertbred Kuhaylat al-Jallala mare Saeeda. Samura’s dam Saeeda was foaled in 1884, bred by the Misrab tribe of the Sba’ah. Imported by Stroganov on his first joint expedition with Prince Shcherbakov in 1888, Saeeda produced eight foals between 1891 and 1902, all but one by desertbred stallions; her eighth foal was sired by Abeyan. Samura’s sire was the Krush stallion Emir-el-Arab, bred by Muhammad Ibn Smeyr of the Wuld Ali. At the time the Russian stud book was compiled, Samura had produced two colts, a chestnut colt by Sherrak in 1900, and a chestnut going grey colt by Sottamm el-Kreysh in 1902. Photo from the History of Russia in Photographs.

Manua, a desertbred ‘Ubayyah Sharrakiyah, in Russia

Manua was bought in Homs by Prince Shcherbatov in 1900, on the second trip that he and Count Stroganov made to Syria, but went to Stroganov’s stud in Russia, rather than Shcherbatov’s. Her sire was a Hadban Enzahi; her dam was from the Sba’ah and sired by a Kuhaylan al-Ajuz horse. From Abeyan sherrak strain. Bay mare imported. Born in 1891 at Hajji Mohammed Khudur, mugkhtar of Babaa Amur village, near Homsa. Sire bay stallion from Khadban Yenzekkhi strain, born at Gomussa’s Bedouin (of Sebaa Anaze) and was sold by the said Bedouin to Fellakh Ibrahim Aga from Ashaee tribe in northern Syria. Dam – bay mare from Abeyan Sherrak strain, purchased by Hajji Mohammed Khudur in 1882 from Bedouin Uakhadj Ibn-Suan from Moadja tribe (of Sebaa Anaze); its sire was from Kekhaylan Adjus strain. Purchased personally by Prince A.G.Scherbatov in Homsa city in 1900 from Hajji Mohammed Khudur and imported to Russia. While in Arabia, she foaled twice. 1900 covered by grey stallion from Dagkhman Umm-Amr strain in Homsa. The stallion was born in Bedouin tribe Gomussa (of Sebaa Anaze) and bought from them by Ibn-Faras, who lived in Homsa. Stud Book of Arabian horses with their pedigrees present…

التحول الجيني للحصان العربي

هناك مرحلتان للإضرار جينيا بالحصان العربي تخطيناهما أو نكاد. أولا: مرحلة توحيد الشكل للوصول للشكل المثالي والنمط القياسي المنشود أو ما يسمى ال Type (مع التحفظ طبعا على اعتباره قياسيا ومثاليا وهذا نقاش آخر)، بحيث يتمتع كامل النتاج من الخيل بنفس النمط العام للشكل والذي يسمى علميا ال Phenotype. وثانيا: مرحلة التنافس على أقصى درجات ومعايير هذا الشكل القياسي ما بين ذلك النتاج الموحد. وحيث أن مجمل النتاج له تقريبا نفس الشكل، يصبح الصراع محتدما بين المتنافسين على الوصول لأقصى الحدود باستخدام أقصى ما تتيحه علوم الوراثة لدفع الخواص الجينية لأبعد مدى والتأثير على ما يعرف بال Genotype. الأول يقضي على التنوع الجيني للحصان العربي Genetic Diversity ويقلل ما يعرف بال SNP أو تعدد أشكال النيوكلوتويد في الحمض النووي، بما يعني اختفاء بعض الجينات وضياع الصفات المصاحبة لها بشكل لا يمكن استعادته. أما الثاني فيبدأ في إحداث طفرات جينية Mutations وظهور صفات جديدة بما فيها الأمراض الوراثية وهو ما يعرف بال Deleterious Mutation وتدمير الخواص المتوارثة منذ القدم للحصان. يمتلك الحصان 32 زوجا من الكروموسومات تحمل جينات الحصان. وتقدر أحدث الدراسات الجينية للخيل أن جينوم الخيل يحتوي على ما يزيد عن 21 ألف جين تتحكم في كل صفات الخيل عموما، ولنأخذ مثلا صفة اللون. يتحكم في لون الحصان العربي تحديدا…

Latifa, a Kuhaylah al-Sharif, and her daughter Leyla

Latifa was one of the desertbred imports of Count Sergei Stroganov. Foaled in 1883, she was bred by the Shammar, and bought by Stroganov on his trip to Syria in 1895. She produced two fillies and two colts for Stroganov, three of them by the Krush stallion Emir-el-Arab, and one – her daughter Leyla, below – by Sharrak. Leyla was foaled in 1897, the first of Latifa’s foals in Russia. In 1902, she produced a grey colt by Stroganov’s desertbred Saqlawi Jadran, Sottam el-Kreysh. Photos from the History of Russia in Photographs.

Introducing Jawharah Al Arab, Kuhaylah Khallawiyah filly

The previous post in Arabic was to introduce the daughter of my Khallawiyah mare Bint Rammah, born a couple days ago. The new filly, named Jawharah Al Arab is owned jointly between Yasser Ghanim and I, and is at his small farm in the Sharqiyah province, east of the Nile Delta. Bint Rammah was already in foal to Maward AlPetra, a Dahman stallion from lines to the Nagel’s Katharinenhof Arabians (NK) and Ansata Arabians studs, when I acquired her a few months ago. Video below.    

جوهرة العرب مهرة خلاوية جديدة

الحمدلله فرسي الخلاوية بنت رماح ولدت مهرة يوم البارحة. المهرة كبيرة الحجم وبصحة جيدة الحمدلله سميناها جوهرة العرب وهي شراكة بيني وبين ياسر غانم وموجودة عنده بمحافظة الشرقية بمصر ز الاب حصان دهمان شهوان من اصول مصرية تغلب على مشجر نسبه خطوط انساتا وناجل اسمه ماورد البتراء كانت الفرس عشار منه لما اشتريتها من صاحبها وهو من الاسرة الطحاوية الام بنت رماح من اصول بدوية بحتة معروفة مثبوتة محفظة من سلالات عرب الطحاوية القديمة غير المسجلة دوليا. ابوها رماح ابن ابن حصان السباق الاسطورة جولدن ارو الذي اكتسح ميادين السباقات في لبنان ومصر في الخمسينات والستينات من القرن الماضي واصبح فيما بعد فحل سفاد في مصر والعراق والمملكة العربية السعودية واذكر اني سالت والدي ذات يوم وانا في مطلع العمر عما اذا كانت هناك خيل سباق عراقية لا ترد بنسبها الى الفحل الهجين المعروف بالطبيب او السوري او “دهمان عامر” الذي ملأت احفاده اسطبلات مربيين وهواة خيل السباق في لبنان وسوريا وأجابني والدي انه ثمة حصان عراقي اشقر مشهور ركض في سباق بيروت كان اسمه جولدن ارو وكان معروف عنه انه لا يعود نسبه الى الطبيب وترسخ اسم جولدن اروهذا في ذهني خلال السنين التي تلت سرد والدي لهذه القصة حتى أتاحت لي ظروف سكني في مصر ان اتعرف على…

Edl Agbahr Yashma, asil Rosina-line mare in Namibia

Edl Agbahr Yashma is another of the asil horses in southern Africa with the Courthouse stallions Nimr and Atesh in her pedigree. The photos below were taken by LeeRay Photography, and shared with their permission. Edl Agbahr Yashma (foaled in 2015) is by the Straight Egyptian stallion Asala Al Khufu 2 (Ansata Aly Sherif x Sahibi Bint Ibn Minuet) out of Edl Agbahr Toirose (Sidi Ibn Halina x Sidi Erica). Yashma’s granddam Sidi Erica is a daughter of Whitehouse Yashma and Thee Cyclone, making her a full sister to Jauhar El-Zar, sire of the Mimrahiyah mare Sanniesguns Sahara previously featured on the blog.

Kehayley, a Kuhaylat al-Ajuz from the Sba’ah, in Derkul, Russia

Kehayley was foaled in 1893, and imported to Russia by Prince Shcherbatov in 1900. Kekhaylan Adjus strain. Bay mare imported, born in 1893. In 1895 was secretly bought by Akhmet Beg (citizen of Hama town) and Bedouin Simran from Kkhrissa tribe (of Fedhaan Anazeh) from Bedouin Jaetnee from Abadat tribe (of Sebaa Anaze). Sire of Dagkhman Umm-Amr strain. Bought personally by Prince A.G. Shcherbatov in Hama city from Akhmet Beg in 1900 and imported to Russia. Stud Book of Arabian horses with their pedigrees present in Russia In 1902 she foaled a colt, Dervish, by Dachman. Photo sourced from the History of Russia in Photographs.