Portia
Also from the DAHC website, this gorgeous photo of Portia (Tripoli x Dhalana by Salan), a Kuhaylah Hayfiyah bred by Charles Craver, and the founder of a dynasty of her own at Craver Farms. I have met a couple of mares in Syria at the stud of Basil Jadaan in the early 1990s that bear a striking resemblance to her. There was in particular an old Kuhaylat Ibn Mizhir mare at Basil’s and a Saqlawiyat Ibn ‘Amud whose heads look almost exactly like Portia’s.
First, I want to say that I am a really bad photographer. Really. Second, I would like to proudly say that I accidentally took this, playing with Charles’ camera many years ago. Accidentally, but still proud.
If you took this work of art accidentally while playing with your husband’s camera, then I am going to wish for you that such accidents happen every day!
My God the Cravers bred (breed) stunning horses. They are in a class all by themselves.
Edouard, somewhere I have around here a photo of each of the Basil Jadaan mares you refer to that I took in 1996 when I visited his stud. Can’t find them just now but I recall particularly the Saqlawi Ibn Amood mare reminding me of Portia. Thanks to Jeanne for the above photo. In actuality the photo does not quite reveal a special glow in the eye that could be felt in person and even a kind of desert-bred Arabian confidence and swager about her that captivated my attention. Sharon and I also felt she was very much like our Sirbana. Portia was always one of my favorites not only for her endearing type and quality but also for the quality of her offspring and her influence for generations.
Confident. Yes. I never saw her even lay an ear back at another horse, but if she moved they got out of her way. Carol Lyons had her on lease, and she said when she arrived, they had her in a paddock next to a big Quarter Horse that kept charging the fence, threatening her. Carol said Portia ignored her for a long time, and then suddenly reached over the fence, grabbed her by the withers, and shook her. Then turned and walked away. Situation over. Wish I could have seen that. No horse we had would have tried anything! Stallions loved her, too. She apparently emitted perfume, or something!
Elena, remember, this is a first generation Craver horse, born in 1960. That is the bloodline, not something new!
@Jeanne: That may be true about the first generation and bloodline, but no one can deny that you and Charles have over the years bred some of the most beautiful horses on earth, IMHO. :))
That has to be one of the loveliest head studies I have ever seen.