20 October, 2012

POWER & PRESENCE


"...you'll be whispering my name, as if sorrow were your friend and this world so alien, But life will call with daffodils and morning glorious blue skies. You'll think of me - some memory, and softly smile to your surprise."-from the song, When I'm Gone, written by Sandy Emory Lawrence and performed by Joey + Rory Feek

CH Michael Kariim, a 2000 straight Egyptian Arabian stalllion bred by Cheryl Horton, was a son of the Walter Schimanski-bred stallion, Masada Aheb, a Fa Asar son out of the Ansata el Sherif daughter, SF Khala Zahra. His dam was the Jay Gormley-bred JA Nirvana Halima, a Ra'adin Inshalla daughter out of Serouba, a Sirhabba grand-daughter. Primarily a heavily Babson-influenced horse, the blood of the new Egyptian stallion and Nazeer son, *Ansata Ibn Halima appears on both sides of the pedigree, as does the Nazeer daughter, *Ansata Bint Bukra. His pedigree represents the philosophies, dreams and the appreciation felt for older Egyptian bloodlines, by breeders who are no longer alive in this world. He was purchased by Laurence Perceval of Laurence of Arabians, Saint-Arçons-D'Allier, Auvergne, France who loved him deeply. 

"I remember driving 9 hours to Belgium just to "see"  Kariim...Love at first sight....the owner was amazed...I didn't travel with any buying intention at all ...and he wasn't for sale either... his owner was in shock..and so was I. The boy gave me goose bumps...his offspring even more...I even asked to also take one of his fillies, AG Hatsipsut. He is the only horse who triggered in me the desire to ride again...It is so hard for me to talk about him without tears...I see him in every of his offspring daily, I talk to him through his sister Li...how can I explain the unexplainable? He is my best, my gone treasure, my dad and my son..."-Laurence Perceval

It was Laurence's dream to further the influence of CH Michael Kariim in this world and pay tribute to the vision of the people, whose sacrifices made it possible for a horse like him to exist. CH Michael Kariim sired a small amount of progeny overseas. In May of 2011, this brilliant black horse was killed in a tragic traffic accident. He has a left a hole in the heart of his loving owner, who continues to miss the presence of her very special horse. At Laurence's farm, CH Michael Kariim's full sister, Mahrus Li Nirvana, provides some consolation; as does the promise, the legacy of his get.

As she pulled into the driveway, she looked across his field and noticed the fog, heavy and thick, like a smoky curtain hanging at the far back of the pasture. It was dark out, about an hour before the sun would rise and shine her warm light upon the earth. The fog would disappear in the warm morning light, as the temperature moved up from the mid-50's. She shivered. It was cold and damp in her heart. She paused for a moment, savoring the mysterious, almost sinister appearance of the fog in the dark. She could barely make out the silhouettes of the horses, as they continued to graze in the cool morning air, oblivious to her arrival. The blackness of the night enveloped her completely and reached deep inside, squeezing her heart and .releasing an intense wave of sadness that threatened to drown her, right there, on the  wet grass she was standing upon.  She heard her voice call out to him, as if the sound of his name could bring him back to her, from wherever death had taken him. Her heart had not yet gotten used to the fact that he was no longer here, he was no longer alive. She still looked for him, even on this dark and gloomy morning. How she missed him...still! On a morning like this, he would have been waiting for her at the gate, anxious to poke his muzzle into her jacket pockets, searching for a piece of something sweet and special, as her hands caressed his velvety face.  She had loved this horse deeply. She smiled through her tears as in her mind, she saw him and knew that one day, she would see him again.

"I feel privileged to be able to carry on his blood. I have already 7 offspring from him...His son Bukra is cherished as a spitting image and I just hope he produces as well as his daddy."-Laurence Perceval
It never stops from amazing me, the power that horses have upon our emotions. They quickly become part of us and although we, as individuals, choose horses for reasons other than self-empowerment, horses do help us to become better people. For many, horses have been our "constant" in a life that keeps evolving, keeps changing, a bit of security in an unstable world. I am reminded of  a quote from the biomechanics-focused riding teacher about this power.
"Whether you regard the horse with awe or love, it is impossible to escape the sheer power of his presence."-Mary Wanless 
In speaking with Laurence, that power is what impressed me the most in her story. That even though CH Michael Kariim had died, the power of his essence is still, very much alive. I can't think of a more honorable way to pay this wonderful horse homage, than by recognizing the power of his presence. 

Back at you with some JOY,
Ralph