Photo of the day: El Iat, 1966 Kuhaylan stallion, USA
A good photo of the stallion El Iat (Ibn Fadl x Bint Turfara by Sirecho), a Kuhaylan stallion tracing to the desert-bred mare *Turfa of Ibn Saud, “imported in 1937 to England as a gift to the royal family, imported to Canada c1941, and imported in 1941 to the USA by Henry Babson”. He is survived by a son out of a mare of very similar pedigree: Ibn El Iat, born in 1992, when his sire was 26.
A dream of George Searle? His horse were
really something, as was his ranch in Arizona. I was told they roped bear’s with those Turfa horses.
The Ott horses there as well.
Did you ever visit them Jackson?
All the time, their daughter Nancy would spend the summers here in Taos.
The Ott’s, Mrs. Ott and Jane lived on the Searle Ranch. Later they moved their horse’s to Texas. Then later back East.
George and his wife were very special, they raised quite a family of nine children.
IBN Fadl was quite the stallion, he only got more extreme with age. The one
mare Bint Turfara was the most extreme mare I ever saw! Her head was similar to Bint Moniet but more extreme.
Nothing like the Davenports in looks.
George once said to me about a particular
Stallion who would not breed. “he is busy saving the breed.” A very strong person as to likes and dislikes, his horses for the most part were very even. Sad to realize that their numbers have disappeared.
It has been a lot of years. Many stories that happened there and here with the Searles, later Don Hartzell was around here with his Searle Horses.
Yes, I knew the Searles, Edouard
Jackson
Can you tell us more about some of their other mares and stallions? and about why they sold their horses?
Do you know where Ibn el lat is, and if he’s standing at stud?
Thanks
bruce Peek
Ibn El Iat is with Elta Cook. She divides her time between Illinois and Florida (and takes her horses with her). I was lucky to see this stallion back in about 1996. He is one of those horses that loves to play with and seduce his human admirers. Terrific charisma.
Elta is a wonderful horsewoman and a most gracious lady. When the Institute acquired the two tail-female *Samirah mares a few months ago, it seemed that one (Jadah Kerasun) would make a great nick with Ibn El Iat, based on pedigree and phenotype. I got in contact with Elta, and we hope that, next spring, we will be able to breed the mare to Ibn El Iat. Elta handles her horses entirely herself, so I don’t know if one could say she really stands him at stud. Rather, as with many dedicated conservation breeders, she does what she can to facilitate breedings.
Anita
It was in the early seventies that George and Mary sold most, or gifted to their kids.
The original Al Khamsa Directory, 1976, shows Della Bales having the most in Arizona, and Don Hartzell having many in Illinios. There were a lot scattered through out the country. There were many tail female Turfa’s at the Ranch when I visited in the beginning. The farm ended rather fast with the timing of the Ott,s departure. I saw George and Mary only twice after they left the ranch, once at a Art show in Scottsdale, another here. I kept up via relatives and Don Hartzell.
I never took notes or Photos, but at one time I had a Museum filled with original
papers, letters, skulls, photo’s, and research. I realized I knew just enough to get myself into many problems. So I ended my need to save. I destroyed everything, saying losing one friend, over ego of ownership was unworthy. I also left any and all dealings with Al Khamsa, 1977, other then a few paid adds. 1977 was my last Al Khamsa convention.
Far afield from names of horses, The mare
I remembered most was Bint Turfara, the Stallion was IBN Fadl. there was so many including;
Bint Bint Turfara, alot of Fadl, Sirecho,
Turfa mares and colts. The mare Bint Turfara and IBN Fadl were not really simular in many ways, yet both very extreme, IBN looked to be very Abayyan in type. Bint was just very Saqlawiah. What I did notice most was they, Turfa’s differed as to their color. Seems to be a pattern in most of the groups found. (also those with loud white markings!)
Realizing now strain and type are no longer a reality. I said the above to
simply share what was once my own as well as others reality.
Edouard there are other farms and names. But I do not have their locations and names available at the moment. Perhaps Joe has a file on what was then? I destroyed
all photos and records many years ago,1989. Same time when my wife of many years died. (Thirty years, died at an age of forty seven.) Her favorite Mare to ride was Bint Bint Turfara. She would use a ladder to get on and off!
needless, Jackson
Maur Dar Arabians – 2961 E. 650 N. Roberts.Id 83444
Had a wonderful Stallion! Arrogaance
There was a bay in Texas, perhaps I have the
records in an old Khamsat? They were just as good as any Stallions being bred at that time of the Sirecho, Fadl, Turfa’s.
I really wanted the Bay!
Edouard,
The bay stallion I remembered was born 1977.
Al Muhandis – 170810 (Famaje-Fa Dlara)
Not Texas, but Alabama, Buddy and Dottie Argo. Khamsat, August, 1988, page 52.
Jackson
Edouard,
Of interest; 2008 chestnut mare
H T Alahs Khzicket Bred by Susan Whitman
Has both Eliat and Al Muhandis in Pedigree!
A very well bred mare, tail female Turfa.
Jackson (no more additions)
Thank you, and yes i wish there are lots of additions, you are a well of knowlege.
..oh yes a familiar name, Famaje. I think I may have mentioned him elsewhere on this blog. He was incredible as was his son Al Muhandis. Famaje was a bit smaller and more refined than Al Muhandis but both were impressive. Al Muhandis had a bit of a show career with Buddy Argo.
Just off the top of my head without going back and dredging up old notes and movie films, on one of our visits to Jackson Hensley, 1977 I think, he was maintaining some of Don Hartzell’s horses of Searle breeding. I remember seeing these mares at Jackson’s place and I think I filmed them: Dualah 1965 grey mare (Ibn Fadl x Bint Turfara); Dlalah 1971 grey mare (Ibn Fadl x Dualah); and Sulbbara 1975 grey mare (Sulka x Bint Bint Turfara). There were some others also but I don’t recall just now who. Dualah was a very good mare. Seeing her led us to later lease the stallion Du Fadl (Ibn Fadl x Dualah) from George Searle’s daughter (Mary Pat) in Illinois. I am out of time just now but will comment more later.
I have many many photos of the Searles horses. Some I can identify, others I just don’t remember their names. I went to Patagonia, Arizona, which was somewhat at the ends of the earth, and it was amazing that the family could keep up with all these horses in such a remote area.
They had several of the non-Fadl Blue Stars of the Ott’s, program, and, personally I found these horses to have been animals loved for their intrinsic value, as their extrinsic appearance was such that only a mother could love, in many cases.
The *Fadl, Sireco, *Turfa crosses and the *Fadl x *Turfa crosses were the most eye catching. Several years ago, I attended one of the Desert Institute’s Seminars in Arizona. Several horses were presented, but one stallion, was definitely eye catching. I approached the owner and asked if this horse had any croses to *Ibn Fadl. She did not know, later found an extended pedigree and and brought it to me. The old horse had five crosses to *Ibn Fadl.
The going, going, gone loss of these lines, is another one of the short-sighted results of labeling groups and holding the label to be more important than the horse, in re: Straight Egyptian.
Lorriee, those photos (and your recollections!) are a treasure. Would you be interested in working on a feature in the Khamsat about the Searles? Charles did not visit in Arizona, but did when they were still in Illinois. Jackson has memories (and photos?). Blue Star folks no doubt have much to add. This could be really interesting to many people!
It would be fantastic if you could agree to do such a feature in the Khamsat Lorriee.
It would have to be small, since you are responding to a woman, who sometime stands looking inside the open refrigerator, and can’t remember why. Also, I just don’t remember who a lot of the horses were. Some of the photos, I put the names on the back, others, I just don’t have any recall. But, then, I often have to ask a friend what the first names of my children are.
Believe me, we won’t just dump it on you and your refrigerator! Bless you!
Jeanne: The refrigerator and I have talked it over, and it has recommended that I talk to you privately about an article. I know it is hard to believe, but many people claim that kitchen fixtures are inanimate objects – that’s just because they haven’t spent an inordinate amount of their lives in that room.
Edouard,
I wonder, did you contact Susan Whitman as to what she is
doing with her horses? I think she must have photo’s and her breedings are recent, as well as in the past years.
As to the comments of the Ott’s horses. Some were in poor
health, I remember Jane saying, “if you can not see them for what they really are, the condition and health will not really matter in realizing what one see’s.”
I can understand any one seeing Bint Turfara and then looking at the other horses there and wondering. Yet, Bel Gordas was there as ways Zarlan. The mare Zahlya was there as well. Then there was Muhairon, who sired Hattu, as well as others for George. The last time I saw Ibn Fadl, he was fragile, but was still a vision!
Some of the Ott’s horses there, their parents were also seen in the Raswan Index.
Oh well, I have said what is needed, Jane and her mother
moved the herd often. Yet, they always were supportive of
the interest of saving the Bedouin source. Dianne was the
eyes and research for Jane in later years. She was always
there for them as well as many others, I always felt at ease with her, Dianne.
Needless, Bel Gordas came here to Taos, as did Zahlya.
Yes, Don and I worked together with his horses, shared foals. Just as did Don and Sandy Conway. Blue Star Turfa’s.
Some friends now dead also worked with Don, as did the Kaufmans. Mrs Ott was an avid writer, I once had several hundred letters, maybe many more, from her or Jane. Oddly, we disagreed about Basilisk. Judy Forbis sent me the orginal statements surrounding Basilisk. She was always helpful in sharing.
Your writing about Basilisk was interesting, as is the DNA findings of Michael.
My guess is, this blog could find several of the Turfa
breeders and feature what they are doing. They the horses
with critical review might give a great boost to their preservation. They were a great ride!
A bad photo can destroy many times over the effects of one really good one! Just as comments.
Jackson
No Jackson, I never was in touch with D. Susan Whitman. But that idea about the Turfa horses remaining is a good one, so I will implement it and seek help from others, who know more..
I want you to help with this feature, Jackson. Your memories will be very useful!
The only thing useful in representing these horses is the remaining horses them self! Perhaps, knowing the Searle’s
is useful as to they as breeders and their love for what they were all about.
They were simple head strong in their beliefs, and acted on those beliefs.
As to being a part of an Article, no.
Edouard
I was at Searles frequently in 1964 through 1971 when he moved to Patagonia. George Searle introduced me to Bill and Sally Bond. Bill and I traveled about when our wives were willing to become weekend widows. George wanted Bill to look at some of the “programs” he had sold or was involved in promoting his FT programs. As a result we ended up at Maxwells, Haberleins (to look at an Amiraa daughter and Al Felluje)and Gilhams (to look at Esperanza Asil Fanifara and ) a few places I cannot remember. I think it was 1964 when we made a journey to Davis’ farm in Reeds Spring Mo. I had not seen such continuity in a group of horses. I believe Esperanzo Sir Turf was still there. When the Otts got him they changed his name to Ibn Sirecho. Until I met Diana Marston the name change did not register. On another trip we stopped to see an imported stallion named Jalam Al Ubayyan and meet the Cobbs.
When the Searles move to AZ a friend and I hooked a trailer to our station wagon and hauled Al Asmar and Muhaira for George. I believe Muhaira was in foal and Al Asmar was in no condition to put on a semi trailer load during hot weather. Al Asmar was a nice looking mare . If you looked at her near side she looked in sad shape. I think Searle said she had a stroke at a very young age. The stroke atrophied left side. On her right side was a body that flowed together almost perfectly. Obviously she had few foals because of the stroke damage. The Bonds bought her son Rakbah whose body had that same flowing effect. I believe I have a couple of nice pictures of him. If any of her foals were a “clone” it was Rakbah.
Muhaira and her daugther Bint Muhaira at Searles were pretty high on my favorite list. Since I grew up on a Morgan horse farm in Maine,George never let me forget it when I made my preference known about the mares.
At one point in time the Bonds ended up with most if not all of the Haberlein horses ( I think on lease) including Al Felluje, Dhihbeh and the Amiraa daughter Felliraa.
Reading these posts triggered some very fond memories. Du Fadl and Rakbah were also at Bonds. Made me chuckle what Jackson said about a stallion at Searles who wasn’t much interested in breeding. For what it’s worth, it took forever for both Du Fadl and Rakbah get interested and ready to breed a mare. Bill and I would go to the barn with a pot of coffee, we knew we would be a while.
In reference to Susan Whitman, I believe she has the highest concentration of Turfa blood in the country. Susan has dial up in the boondocks where she lives so she seldom goes on line. I have copied and pasted some comments from Daughters of the Wind to her.
George
Edouard, In my quest for information about Hallany Ansar, I began to be interested in preservation. I now own Bint Ibn Hilweh and her condition is poor at best. I am nursing her back to health and hope to breed her in a program. I cannot say much about the plans yet without permission from George. I can say that ten preservation horses (fstm) have been recovered and brought back into preservation status. They were in poor condition. I am happy to say that the above monetioned horses will live on in their future get.
This is really, really good news, Wendy, I am so happy you have taken up the challenge of giving these horses a second chance. please keep me updated of your progress, send me pictures and let me know how we can be of help on this blog to feature this preservation effort more visibly.. what you’re doing is fantastic!
Thank you Edouard. I am in the process of getting BIHilweh healthy enough to carry a replacement foal at the moment and another fstm mare in the works. George is a wealth of knowledge and experience. I am lucky to have met him. He indeed has bred some of the nicest horses i have ever seen. His stallions are breathtaking and will sire a new generation. I am excited to join the efforts. George has done his work and now it is time for him to teach us. I will email you some pics of Hilweh past and present. I will ask George to send pics of his stallions. I believe crosses planned will be spectacular. Thank you for your outstanding blog. It is a resource i have enjoyed immensely. Oh by the way, Lily (Hallany Ansar) may be producing some 3/4 arab foals herself. Her breeding plan is double Ibn hafiza fstm. She has a cross to non AK arabs as you know from the pedigree I sent you (IAHRONA not AHR). I am anxiously awaiting foals from that beautiful little mare pf mine. She has won my heart ten times over with her gentleness, beauty, and intelligence. She is the perfect riding horse.
I am one of the 10 children of George and Mary Searle. This has been a wonderful trot down memory lane for me.
I have forwarded this site to my brothers and sister.
Respectfully,
Elizabeth
Found you guys better late than never.
I don’t know if I have the “most” FADL-TURFA around, but I have a herd of 20 horses, all of which are in excess of 60% FADL-TURFA, with the balance divided between SIRECHO and MUHAIRA. I may also have the highest concentration of SIRECHO blood. My program is now 4 generations deep, based on just those four horses.
Currently, I am in the process of updating my website with more current pictures, and pictorial pedigrees. I am seeking photos of DU FADL, AL ASMAR, FAMAJE, FABAIRA and FABBAIRA.
I know there has been a lot of controversy over “strain breeding”. And perhaps it isn’t significant for most people, now. HERE, I follow Raswan’s original statement that if you breed the same tail/female line back to itself, long enough, the “original type (strain)” will return. Based on that and a program founded in 1985, with the tail/female mare, AMMA, I will dispute the “TURFA was a Kuhaylah” to the end of my days. I told Carol Lyons (a wonderful lady whom I still miss, to this day), years ago, when she visited, that anyone looking at my herd, would know which (TURFA was a Kuhaylah vs TURFA was an Abayyah)was a fool. Are there Kuhaylan influences in my herd; of course there are, because they are equally FADL bred. However, my “Kuhaylan looking” babies always grow up to “Abayyan looking” adults.
The only sad news for my program is that I have (last fall) lost my last tail/female MUHAIRA mare. I lost EL RABIH, tail/female MUHAIRA stallion, in 2007. He had multiple produce here, but they are all tail/female TURFA. I never had a successful tail/female to tail/female MUHAIRA breeding. MAUR MALIKA, the mare, produced three fillies, here, all of which pre-deceased her.
welcome!
but fadl is a saqlawi.. also what do you make of turfa’s papers showing her as kuhaylan?
I am excited to report that Bint Ibn Hilweh is confirmed in foal to Hisani Azrek Nejem 🙂
What an amazing thread that was. I learned soo much from it.
Mom and Dad were a joy to behold! What they set out to do was tremendous! And with 10 children! Bing Turfara (Turfy) was given to me when she was a yearling and I was 14. We were inseparable. I can honestly say that to have a true Arabian horse is to have the closest pet you will ever have.
Ibn Fadl (Ibn) was a joy and a pussy cat, we kids, all 10 of us, would go through his paddock every day to see the mares and foals.
Then there was Alhamdaniah(?). Allie was so gentle and kind that every summer her mane disappeared because we all pulled it out when we rode her bareback, such a joyful youth! Truly, there is nothing that compares to an Arabian horse!
You have wonderful stories, and your personal stories also happen to be part of one of the greatest arabian breeding programs in America.