Rare, never seen before photo of *Turfa
Keels Mol gave me this unique photo of *Turfa, likely taken in Jeddah prior to her export to the UK, Ias a royal gift from King Abd al-Aziz Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia to King George VI, in return for the hospitality shown his son when the Saudi prince attended the British King’s coronation. I then donated the photo, along with several others, to the Arabian Horse Archives, which published it here in high resolution, with an explanation of its provenance.
Wonderful!
Al Khamsa-related lists on Facebook ought to link to this photo here, or on the Archives website at https://arabianarchives.org/portals/photos/item/turfa. *Turfa is an important foundation mare in the US.
I’ve compared the photos, and I’m comfortable that the image above, and the photo of *Turfa in stud book volume V (1944), and the photo identified as *Turfa (Fig. 133) in Peter Upton’s _The Arab Horse_, all three show the same horse.
Quick question and inquiry: Has there been a “gifted” Arabian horse since (to my knowledge) President Reagan? Just asking…
Would like to know how many other countries honor the gesture. Thanks in advance-
Kim,
My knowledge of that subject is limited, and I will work to expand this since I didn’t realize it was a topic I knew so little about – but in answer to your question, that I am aware of: Yes.
In 2013, Queen Elizabeth II of England was gifted two stallions from Bahrain by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the chestnut MLOLSHAAN MAHROUS and the grey TUWAISAAN THA’ATHA’A’TA. I believe they still live with Jenny Lees at Pearl Island Arabians, but I am not 100% sure if that’s still their current arrangement.
And then in 2017 HRM Queen Elizabeth II (with Jenny!) presented the stallion HAMDAANY AL RA’AD to Bahrain.
Thanks so much for answering my question, Moira. Nice to know this practice is still happening & recognized, Thanks!
Hey Kim, just wanted to follow up on this again – another stallion was gifted by Bahrain in 2014 to Poland, the bay KUHAILAN AFAS MAIDAN. 🙂
Hello every body my name is Mesfer Fowzan Almesfer and my grand father Mr. abdullah almesfer is the saudi official man whome acompanied an arabian horse from saudia arabia to USA, as a gift from S.A. king abdullaziz between 1928-1933 could any one help me where to find archieves or documentation about this matter, as we do not have any documents related to this mission , at that time my father was not born and it was very basic poor developing country you can reach me with my cell phone
+966504437328
or alternatively
Mr. Almesfer: there have been several importations to the US from King Abdul Aziz. Charles Crane, Ameen Rihani, Albert Harris.
Ameen Rihani imported 3 horses from Saudi in 1928, through England: *Saoud, *Noura and *Muha.
If it was a single horse, it might have been the Crane stallion *Mohalhil, in 1929, but he was a gift from Shaykh Fawzan al-Sabig, who was the Saudi Minister in Cairo. Crane imported *La Tisa and *Mahsudha (2 year old fillies) as gifts from King Abdul Aziz in 1931.
That same year, Albert Harris imported *Nufoud (with *Sunshine in utero), *Tairah, *Samirah and *Dahma.
Do any of these names sound familiar?