A blog on desert arabian horses, past, present and future
Not Botticelli’s, Rubens’ or Canova’s Three Graces, but Danah Al Khalifa’s: Diva, Danika, Daniah. Photos by Jenny Lees. Daniah with the pretty face and the dark mane is the youngest, and is now with Lyman Doyle in Oregon. Diva, the oldest, now dead, is the fleabitten (marshoosha) with the good bone, large eye and broad … Read more
Video by Christelle Seranne who keeps them for me. As Christelle put it, an Iran versus Bahrain showdown, with an electric fence rather than a Gulf in between.
The best surprise was Monologue CF who is 25 years old this year, and looks very good for his age. He is now fully owned by Darlene Summers. Strain: Hamdani Simri.
Jens Sannek again shared with me a photo of the stallion Haddad (Selim x Arezoo), an important sire in Iran, and the full brother of Khamseh that went to Europe. Haddad and Khamseh are of the Hamdani strain of the Sh. Hajat of the Al Katheer Bedouin tribe.
Jens Sannek has been kindly supplying me with a lot of new-to-me information about the horses of Gustl Eutermoser and Ulrike Marcik. He tells me that they were good friends of Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz Al Sa’ud, then governor of the Hail province, and that they imported two desert-bred Saudi mares through him from … Read more
Jens Sannek continues to gratify me with photos of desert Arabian imports to Europe and their progeny. This photo came to him from the late Austrian breeder Anton Tucek. It shows Anton’s 1991 bay stallion Jezar, by the Bahraini stallion Sarhan out of the black Iranian mare Jezabel. He had obtained Sarhan (Maanaghi Saghir x … Read more
Quoting from her article on the Asil Horse of Khuzestan (full article here on the WAHO website), a good starting point for information on this topic: Of the tribes mentioned by Layard in the first quotation, branches of the Al Khamees, Al Kathir and the Bani Lam are existent today in Khuzestan. The Bani Lam … Read more
The following on the desert-bred stallion Dynamite II is an excerpt from a typed text in my archives, “Les Chevaux de Pur Sang Arabe de Sidi Thabet — Tunisie 1931”. The text looks like it was copied from an anonymous 1931 book the details for which are available online, here. The text cites Dynamite II … Read more
The photo below comes from James Fleming’s 1992 booklet, The Courthouse Arabian Stud of Bill Musgrave Clark, published by Alexander Heriot. Solomon was the first foal of his dam. In 1952, he was exported to Italy along with his half-brother Sennacherib, by Joseph. Neither horse left offspring at the Courthouse Stud. Solomon’s sire Atesh was a … Read more
I really like this horse, Saif Al Daraan, a Hamdani Ibn Ghurab from the marbat of Ibn Ghurab. This is my kind of horse. He is reminiscent of his paternal grandsire Al-Ashhab, a.k.a. Krush Al Naem. I don’t know who took the picture. The Facebook page I took it from rarely give photo credits, unfortunately.
Very proud of Darak, one of three Diva sons to come to France. Diva was one of Danah Al Khalifah’s best mares.
She was bred to Hamdaany Dafuq. In the background, her full sister Dhahabiah, whose loss two weeks ago was a real blunder.
Two photos of Darak upon departure from his old home and arrival to this new one. Top photo by Marion Wassilewski, bottom photo by Jeanne Crousaud. Darak, bred by Danah stud is so rich in the Kuhaylan Jallabi blood, even by Bahraini standards. His sire is Jellaby Radad, his dam’s sire is Jellaby Mojaahid M151, … Read more
Beautiful Dhahabiah (Rabdaan Muttaawi x Deede by Ibn Sitah) died a sudden death a few days ago. Diarrhea in the morning, then again in the afternoon, spasms and then gone. All in twelve hours. She had been with me 20 days only.
Jens Sannek shared this photo of Sitah D1 which Erika Schiele had given him in 1976. The photo was taken earlier. Note the huge eye, and the body and overall quality reminiscent of another desert mare, *Turfa.
Jens Sannek shared this wonderful historical video, taken by Anton Tucek, of the Bahraini stallion Burkaan D3. Laszlo Kiraly had already shared it with me years ago, and I may have uploaded it here. Jens added: I know that Burkaan is registered bay in the Amiri Stud Book Vol. 1 Nr. D3. The Studbook was … Read more
The late Danah Al Khalifah wrote in Volume 1 of the Amiri Arabian Studbook of Bahrain that “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 … Read more
To the right, Diva (Jellaby Mojaahid X Mabrooka by Jellaby Alasil x Sitah d.b.); in the middle, Danika (Rabdaan Muttaawi x Deede by Ibn Sitah x Mabrooka), in the background, Hamdanieh Dania (Rabdaan Farajallah x Danika). Hamdanieh Dania coming to the USA for Lyman Doyle. Marion Wassilewski
Moira Walker took these photos of Reema CF (Trilogy x Fragrance CF by Regency CF), Debbie Mackie’s beautiful milky white mare, a Hamdaniyah of Davenport bloodlines, during the latest Al Khamsa get together in Illinois, which featured a long-awaited presentation by Jeanne Craver on strain.
Not sure I published this one before. It’s from the collection of Billy Sheets, which he left me.
I have writtten about the Ubayyan strain specific of Ibn Jalawi several times before, mainly here, here and here. It is the strain of my mare Madinas Miracle, and my stallion AAS Nelyo, which trace back to the Ubayyah mare *Mahraa, a gift from Saud Ibn Jalawi, governor of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia … Read more
I have long been a fan of *Al Hamdaniah, the desert-bred mare that was imported to the USA in 1947. This “bloody-shouldered” mare bred by Saudi prince Saud ibn ‘Abdallah ibn Jalawi, governor of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia — was the subject of the first entry on this blog, more than 16 years … Read more
One of the most stunning Davenport pictures ever taken is this picture of the Davenport broodmare Bint Anta (El Alamein x Antan by Antez), the dam of Regency CF, Fiddledeedee, Orient, Reprise, Levant CF, and many others, a Hamdaniyah Simriyah. Photo by the most talented photographer, Anita Westfall. Photo courtesy of Jeanne Craver. You cannot … Read more
In the same vein as other articles on the original documentation on desert Arabians imported to the US from Saudi Arabia, this is my translation from Arabic of a hujjah about the breeding of the mare *Halwaaji of the Saud Royal Stud to the stallion Mas’ud: In the name of God the Most Merciful and … Read more
One of the earliest desert-bred Arabian horses to come to the USA from the Kindgom of Saudi Arabia was the mare *Al Hamdaniah. This grey mare with her conspicuous blood mark on the shoulder, was the subject of this blog’s first entry, some fourteen years ago. Born in 1940, by an ‘Ubayyan stallion out of … Read more
From the Arabian Horse Archives comes this beautiful photo of the 1922 desert-bred Hamdani Simri stallion *Saoud, imported by Amin Rihani to the USA in 1928.
Monologue CF still looks his same old self at 20. If anything his eyes look even more bulging with age. I like the balance on this horse so much, and I wish he was used more. Wadha is in foal to him. I think I will breed him to Barakah next. Because of his high … Read more
Jens Sannek sent me these three photos of a stallion of his breeding in Europe. The bloodlines lines are absolutely unique in Europe. Ajman (Maamoun Tarik x Bint Aja by Mirath x Aja by El Haml) is a 1996 liver chestnut of the Hamdani Simri strain that traces to the *Halwaaji, a mare of Saud … Read more
Hassan (below) was one of Count Sergei Stroganov’s homebred Arabians, foaled in 1896 out of the imported mare Hamra and by the stallion Sherrak. Hassan’s dam Hamra was foaled in 1884; she was bred by the Sba’ah Anazah and sired by a Kuhaylan Nawwaq. She was brought to Russia in 1888 for Count Stroganov by … Read more
Below is a photo of the 1879 Hamdaniyah Simriyah mare Sobha, bred in Egypt (Wazir x Selma), bought by the Blunts in 1891, and then sold to Colonel de Sdanovitch in 1899, who sent her to the Russian stud at Derkul. Photo sourced from the History of Russia in Photographs.
صورة العفريّة العودة فرس الشيخ هاشم حمود ملحم الجربا بنت عبيان الشيخ عبد العزيز المسلط ام الفرس العودة لونها احمر بنت الصقلاوي الجدراني حصان الشيخة عنود الفارس مالكها ابراهيم العلي ام الام لونها اشعل مالكها العفري من عنزة كان مقيم في الرقة وكانت ام الام شراكة بين الشيخ ملحم فارس الجربا والعفري في الخمسينات ثم … Read more
Looking back at more than thirty years around Arabian horses, I still remember the grand old Hamdani Simri stallion al-Aawar as one of two or three desert-bred horses I have admired the most in my life. He had this way of looking at you with a hint of disdain, as if he was the king … Read more
Also from the Arabic edition of the Abbas Pasha Manuscript, my translation: Ghadir al-Simri of the Dhafeer, a white haired man, the owner of al-Simr, was asked about the marbat of the Hamdaniyah Simriyah, in the house [Bedouin house, i.e., tent] of Farhan al-Jarba, at a gathering [majliss] in the presence of Farhan al-Jarba, Khuzaym … Read more
I first met this one-of-a-kind stallion in 1991. Before Radwan acquired him, Al-Aawar was one of the herdsires of the Shammar in North Eastern Syria. His then owner was Atallah al-Battu al-Hkaysh, a descendant of the slaves of the Jarba shaykhs of the Shammar. Yesterday Radwan and I were reflecting on his legacy. We remarked … Read more
Ibn-Taamri, 1971 chestnut stallion, by *Taamri out of *Rudann, both from the stud of King Saud ibn Abd al-‘Aziz Aal S’aud at al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia. Search for their names on this blog for a translation of their original Arabic hujja document. Photo of Ibn-Taamri by Edie Booth. You can click on the arrow at the … Read more
The other day I was writing about looking for an outstanding stallion for my herd of mares. The next day Lee Oellirich sent this photo of his young Hamdani stallion Bahir (Haziz x Bahiyeh). He is the full brother of this mare. I like the heads with the protruding bones, the nostrils and the ears … Read more
Titian CF, 24 this year, by Riposte CF out of Neroli CF by Regency CF out of Nerissa CF, a Hamdani Simri tracing to Galfia. In Virginia, with Donna Breedbenner. Photo by Michael Bowling. Look at the broad chest, the short pricked ears, and the bone structure on the face.
Both taken by an unknown photographer at the old farm of Basil Jadaan. He had a lot of style, and when ridden, he would prance sideways rather than walk straight. Critics would fault his sinuous, snake-like middle of the body, but he did not transmit that.
The first one was taken at the desert festival of Palmyra in the mid-1990s, so before its destruction by ISIS. You can see Mobarak in Bedouin gear, standing by one of the tower tombs (now destroyed), next to a female performer in traditional Bedouin costume. The second photo was taken at Basil’s old farm in … Read more
The 1987 Hamdani ibn Ghurab Mobarak was Basil Jadaan’s foundation stallion. The photo was taken at Basil’s farm, and first published online by Hazaim Alwair. I first saw Mobarak at the farm of Hisham Ghrayyib in Damascus as a three year old. He had come a few days before from his native Shammar Bedouins, and … Read more
I am happy to report that Monologue CF (Riposte CF x Soliloquy CF by Regency CF), now 18 years old, has been busy pasture breeding two precious mares at Laura Fitz’s, her HH Karisma Krush and her Mi Blue Angel. Monologue has been doing so much better since going to Michigan with Laura on lease … Read more
Damascus SF (Memoir UF x Neroli CF by Regency CF) is a very smooth stallion of Davenport lines, bred and owned by Aida Schreiber in New Hamsphire. Through a close cross to Bint Ralf, he has a rare line to the Davenport desert-bred import *Farha, and most probably, the last line to *Haleb in Davenports, … Read more
Saraly El Shahin (Ansata Aly Jamil x Saree by Salaa El Dine out of Selmah by Shakhs out of Sappho by Bleinheim) is, at 24 years old, one of the most precious asil mares in Europe. She is with Laszlo Kiraly in Hungary. One of the very last asil mares of the precious strain of … Read more
I am so intrigued by these Iranian Asils. Some eight years ago, pictures of these were a fixture on my blog. I confess always having felt uneasy about the purity credentials of Iranian Arabian horses, mostly because Iran falls outside the cradle countries of the Arab horse. Pienaar Du Plessis and I were talking about … Read more
This photo, also from Kina Murray, is from the 2007 WAHO conference in Syria, from the post-conference Tour to North Eastern Syria. In Kina’s words: “[This photo] was taken when we had many horses presented to us when we were hosted by the Tai [Bedouins]. She was a lovely mare. […] I do remember that the owner … Read more
This is a photo of the 2004 Hamdani stallion Laura’s Major WA, a horse of Davenport bloodlines. A closely bred stallion by Sergeant Major CF out of Miss Laura SHF by Mimic out of Kestrel by Saluation out of Trill by Tripoli. I saw this stallion last summer at the farm of Dawn Woods in Parker, … Read more
In the same vein as this note in 2014: Fadlallah Jirjis, a Syrian Christian from the area of Wadi al-Nasara, and a close friend of Dr. Iskandar Qassis, owned a precious Hamdaniyat al-Simri mare from the Qassis herd. He would never be tired of repeating that she was from the breeding of ‘Ajaj (Ajaaaaaaj as he … Read more
Hamdany Ra´an 1294, bay stallion, born 2002, by Jellaby Hataan 945 out of Hamdanieh Khaznah 914, one of my favourite stallions in Bahrain
Kirby Drennan owns this beautiful in Virginia, IL. He is by Pageant CF out of Anthesis, and a half brother of Lexington CF, below. PS: Everything out of Anthesis CF is outstanding, including Fragrance CF at Michael Bowling’s, Chancery CF with Debbie Jessen and Firebolt CF, also with Kirby.
One of the most striking stallions bred at Craver Farms is the 2001 grey Flourishes CF (Lydian x Fragrance by Regency) with Randal Abler and Gail Wells in Georgia. Jeanne Craver, Jenny Krieg and Darlene Summers who saw him on the way back from the Al Khamsa Convention In Floriad were all taken by him. … Read more
Note the huge eye. He is leaving tonight to go to Kathryn Toth in Ohio, where he will be used on her two rare Arabian mares, a Hadbah and a Hamdaniyah. I want to thank Pamela Klein for her gift of him, and Darlene Summers for the chance to co-own him with her.
Another shot of Monologue from last weekend. Click on the picture to expand it.
He is looking really good.
This photo of the lovely 1979 Hamdaniyah Simriyah mare Virginia Deyr (Tristram x LR Double Bubble by Ar-Raad) in old age appeared in one of the Khamsat magazine issues and is courtesy of Jeanne Craver. This Hamdani strain, going back to the mare Sobha (Wazir x Selma) is one of the handful strains handed down … Read more
Early this afternoon during lunch break I was looking at some lists of Fad’aan Bedouin clans on a ‘Anazah tribal website, and while searching for something else, I stumbled on this remarkable piece of information in relation to the hujjah (original document) of the Davenport mare *Jedah imported by Homer Davenport to the USA in … Read more
Another interesting snapshot is the information Judi Forbis reports about Hamdany Riadh, a stallion at Sheykh Mohammad B. Salman (brother of the then ruling emir and uncle of the present King), during her 1970 visit to Bahrain: “Despite deep chuck holes and the rocky desert, the car succeeded in reaching Ganabia safely where Sheikh Mohamed’s … Read more
These Journals are a gold mine. There is not a single horse related entry which does not yield new information about the horses of yesterday and today. Look at this set of entries: July 17, 1911: “In the evening Teddy arrived with the (reported wonderful) bay stallion which Mr. Learmouth took to Australia and brought … Read more
Hopefully, on Sunday the Ma’naqiyah mare I recently acquired, CSA Baroness Lady will be bred to MSF Hamdani Simri (Faydin x IMF Badia Nafila by PRI Gamil Halim) of Lesley Detweiler, a stallion of very similar pedigree. It is a preservation breeding. Both have highly unusual (within Al Khamsa) Blunt/Crabbet tail females, the mare to … Read more