Sharps
It’s no secret that the asil lines in the West are increasingly tightly bred, so much that many equine scientists believe this is a major concern for the sustainability of the breed in the medium and long terms.
More than ninety five percent (and maybe more!) of asil horses in the West (the USA, Europe, Australia, etc) are Straight Egyptian or Egyptian related.
All Straight Egyptian and Egyptian related horses carry a non-trivial measure of Blunt blood from the Crabbet and Sheykh Obeyd Studs. The influence of the Blunt’s breeding program is arguably the most pervasive of any Arabian horse breeding program so far.
All “New Egyptian” horses carry Blunt blood through Rustem (Astraled x Ridaa), Kazmeen (Sottam x Kasima) who is Nazeer’s grandsire, Hamran (Berk x Hamasa), Bint Rissala (Ibn Yashmak x Rissala), Bint Riyala (Nadir x Riyala) and others. “Old Egyptian” (i.e., “Babson”) horses carry it through Bint Serra I (Sottam x Serra). “Babson-Browns” carry it through Gulastra (Astraled x Gulnare), and so do “Doyle” horses, which are the only 100% Blunt horses in existence. In short, Blunt blood is all over the place.
There is a tiny group of asil Arabian horses in North America that does not trace to Blunt horses. They include the “Davenport” horses, the “BLUE STAR” horses (descendants of horses that came from Saudi Arabia to the USA mainly through ARAMCO employees and their families, sometimes in combination with *Fadl, *Turfa and Sirecho) and a handful other horses. In total, they don’t amount to more than 5% to 10% of the asil Arabian population in the USA.
The late Carol Lyons was the first to identify the value of these “non-Blunt” asil Arabians as a group worthy of preserving in its own right, and as a potential future outcross for the asil Arabian down line. In a cleaver play on words, she labeled these non-Blunt horses “Sharps”, which is the opposite of “Blunt”. Thanks to her foresight and dedication, the “Sharp” still exist as a group today, even though it can be argued that they have suffered more than others from the recent economic downturn.
The overwhelming majority of “Sharps” are Davenport and BLUE STAR Arabian horses, but there is a handful of others, maybe less than 10 or 15 horses all in all. These include some of the descendants of the mares Haraka and Bint Hamida (both by *Kenur x *H.H. Mohamed Ali’s Hamida by *Nasr), some of those of the mare Shar Moliah (Fa-Turf x Schiba by Hanad), and some of those of the mare LD Rubic (Plantagenet x Tarrla by Tarff) combined with Davenport and BLUE STAR lines.
Most of these horses are owned by Randall and Mary Sue Harris of Jadah Arabian in Peoria, IL. If Randall and Mary Sue’s program goes bust, so will one of the best chances for preserving the genetic potential of the Arabian horse in America for future generations. It’s as simple as that.
As you know Jane Ott made this same call years ago. Later Dianne Marston, then Carol Lyons, and now you. Somehow these lines continue and some do not. Most everyone I know is still trying. Very difficult times, yet I feel what is being done is lasting. As small farms stay immune to government programs. Craver Farms did very well, and now many farms are hard at work saving sources.
Perhaps these series of projects is this blogs greatest service. In the past few years you have featured many farms and groups. Revisiting, those Sharps breeders around this country and beyond, is your best gift.
Your mare discussed today in Egypt, whats is her role
in your thinking? The Davenports, Charles Craver’s role now in promoting and revisited prior goals.
A feature on Jane Ott discussing the years of efforts. Both hers and her mothers, supported by her Dad. Then a revisit to Dianne, Carol, and others. Writtings by some very intelligent people, not only who write for Al Khamsa. But, Bahrain, Syria, and other desert stock, etc.
I realize you, Edouard, have been doing this! Try using
Al Khamsa to feature this blog, and all the other groups
World wide. You are are at a cross roads, your efforts with these horses and this blog, forever growing.
You have the advantage of family, history, and language. The ability to travel and will. Use Joe as a aid to this language of horses, RJ and Michael, what a resource of abilities and studies.
This is what you have been doing! Thanks, from the world of horses, the heritage of the Desert and the Bedouin.
Is something wrong? A changing World and a leadership that refuses to connect and build bridges. Changing by control, not by inviting input. Learning from the very least in thinking. The idea power is from a gift, yours and all others.
Jackson/Bedouin Arabians
Salil Ibn Iliad(Iliad x LD Rubic)1991 bs is a wonderful example of the “Sharps” group. He is a rich blood bay, with iridescent sheen to his coat, wonderful conformation, and disposition for children to ride. He is offered for stud service at JaPaa Arabians with Pam Baker in Conway, SC near Myrtle Beach, SC. Salil’s 1993 sister, MSF Rubie, also a “Sharp” by EA Salute out of LD Rubic is also with her there, but has only had one 1997 colt by Ibn Serr Echo, who was gelded and is winning many championships with his owner in open hunter & game shows. There is one other “Sharps” daughter out of LD Rubic, 1988 Bint Rubic CHF, also by EA Salute, bred by Eileen Sass, who lives close by & might be brought back into a breeding program to have another foal or ET. There are not many in this group, that’s for sure.
…and you are just doing a wonderful, amazing, and admirable job preserving them.. If you have pictures of Salil or the others to share: ealdahdah@hotmail.com