Love is in the Air

Valentines day reminds me of the greatest equine love story that I know. 

Love Is In the Air 

Everywhere I look around (I look around...) 

Love Is In The Air 

Every sight and every sound (and every sound...) - lyrics from Love is in the Air, written by Harry Vanda & George Young

In the mid-60's, *Ansata Ibn Halima went to Gleannloch Farms to be shown and also, to breed the mares that the Marshalls had already imported from Egypt, before the arrival of *Morafic. In Judith Forbis' charming book, The Gift; she writes in the voice of her horse, touching upon the relationship that *Ansata Ibn Halima shared with one of the imported Gleannloch mares, *Bint Maisa El Saghira (Nazeer x Maisa): 

"My favorite traveling companion was Bint Maisa El Saghira, who often told me to calm down and relax. She became a very stabilizing influence during my show career. A tall bay mare beloved for her beauty and charm, she won admirers wherever she went. She too collected many halter championships as well as performance championships in English pleasure. Together we were wonderful ambassadors for the Egyptian Arabian horse because we were kind, handsome and athletic." 

Dahmah Shahwaniah was the result of the affection that both horses shared for each other. I don't think a greater love story exists in any breed, let alone the Arabian breed, across all bloodlines. 

 ***originally posted in February of 2023 and brought forward in celebration of Valentines day. Enjoy with my best wishes***

Pashas, Princes & Kings

NK Qaswarah (NK Hafid Jamil x NK Nariman) as photographed by Alaa Youssef Jr.   

This time of the year always reminds me of Ezzain and it still hurts like hell to know that NK Qaswarah is no longer alive but I can express the same sentiment for his owner, Mr. Usamah Alkazemi.  I wish it were not so in either case.

 13 years ago, Ezzain was home to 45 or so horses.  Approximately half of those horses were sired by NK Qaswarah and additionally, 12 horses were sired by a Qaswarah son like Aneesilnefous (x NK Momtaza) and Yaasoob (x NK Nada). If I had not fully understood the critical role that NK Qaswarah held at Ezzain prior to my visit, I was overwhelmed when faced with the reality of his importance in Kuwait. 

In Dr. Nagel's book, The Arabian Horse: Nature's Creation and The Art of Breeding, he wrote the following about NK Qaswarah, 

"NK Qaswarah is producing a very distinctive type with stunning expression and is among those stallions which are strong in producing excellent males and females."

Monika Savier in a Tutto Arabi article written at the time of NK Hafid Jamil's death, mentions NK Qaswarah too,

"This NK Hafid Jamil son was an eye catcher from birth on and left as a young colt for Ezzain Stud in Kuwait. All his life he was surrounded mostly by NK daughters who were, however, of different mare lines‐a unique situation. NK Qaswarah created his own kingdom; nowhere can you see finer Arabians and prettier heads than in this stud."

I went to Kuwait having seen many photos of Qaswarah that Usamah Alkazemi shared with me, but it is really different to see the horse, in real life, standing before you, as compared to seeing the horse in the photo. Such was the experience I had with Qaswarah. I was overwhelmed by him despite being familiar with the horse and understanding the significance of all that had been written about him by people I admire, including his breeder.  He was stronger-bodied and more robust than he appeared in photos. That surprised me, he was no toy horse. In his presence, you felt the strength of his character and, immediately, felt compelled to honor him with respect. He enjoyed to be scratched on his back, especially by the wither and I appreciated the opportunity to engage with him, to touch the living, real horse, the "smilemaker," as Usamah referred to him. I remember that his back was significantly wider and stronger than many horses I had met; I could feel the immense power emanating from every muscle in his body. And yes, he was balanced, as if every part of his body was made, only for him. 

As Dr. Nagel already has said, NK Qaswarah was a consistent sire, equally siring memorable horses of both genders who possess his quality, for example, the full sisters: Badrilbdoor and Shamsilshmous (both out of Azhaar), Dorrah and her full brother Aneesilnefous (both out of NK Momtaza), Ekramilbari (out of NK Yasmin), Alttafilbari (out of Ajmal Ibtihaj) and Thettwa (out of Albaheiah). These were my personal favorites. NK Qaswarah defined the Ezzain breeding program with a very unique look that can not be found anywhere else in the world. Over his lifetime, NK Qaswarah has proven to be the type of horse that at one time, inspired Pashas, Princes and Kings with his beauty and the ability to pass it on. I am none of these men but still, equally inspired as these men were. It is only now, in this season of my life that I am able to understand Usamah's bold appreciation for his stallion. I am grateful for the opportunity he provided to me, that is, to go beyond the photo and experience how the dream of one man, became the cornerstone for yet another man's dream and from Ezzain, Qaswarah became the source of many, more dreams, in the hearts of Arabian horse lovers all over the world.

*Wafiza's Story

Polly Knoll photo of *Wafiza, circa 1980

*Waheeba was imported to America in utero, meaning, she had been bred and checked in foal to *Ibn Hafiza. Within a few months of her importation in 1970, *Waheeba foaled a bay filly, who was named *Wafiza, a feminine name of Arabic origin, meaning to protect or guard by someone who possesses a presence so refreshing, it is like someone opened a window to let the fresh air in. 

*Wafiza is a maternal sibling of Shaheeb but it is through the sires that the siblings are uniquely different, Shaheeb is sired by Ansata El Sherif, who carries 2 crosses to Nazeer, about 25%. While Shaheeb is low percentage Nazeer, *Wafiza has no Nazeer blood, as *Ibn Hafiza is a Sameh (El Moez x Samira) son out of Hafiza, sired by Hamdan, out of Mahfouza, a Hamdan daughter. What's also interesting about *Wafiza is that she carries a very low percentage of the Blunt desert horses, less than 3%.  

*Wafiza produced 3 fillies and 6 colts:

• Khepri, a 1974 grey stallion, by Ansata El Sherif
• Contentment Badra, a 1976 grey mare by Mohssen
• Chafa Sherfiza, a 1977 grey mare by Ansata El Sherif
• Chafa Al Bukra, a 1978 grey mare by Ansata El Sherif
• Chafa Hafiz Halim, a 1979 grey stallion by *Ansata Ibn Halima
• CES Sherif Feisal, a 1980 grey stallion by Ansata El Sherif'
• Chafa Halim Bey, a 1981 grey stallion by Halim Pasha
• Chafa Shah Walim, a 1984 grey stallion by Ansata Ibn Shah
• CES Anwar, a 1985 bay stallion by *Jamil

It's almost like you want to jump in her photo and invoke the full meaning of her name, to insure the perpetuation of an outcross line we would have today with no Nazeer influence and a lower percentage of the Blunt desert horses, i.e. the Gleannloch stallion, *Zaghloul (Gassir x Gharbawia), who also carried a low percentage of the Blunt desert horses: 2.3%. It's hard to believe that this opportunity existed 40 years ago and no one thought this may be good for the future of a healthy gene pool.

The Story of Shaheeb

Shaheeb (Ansata El Sherif x  *Waheeba) as photographed by Jerry Sparagowski 

Foaled in January 1975, Shaheeb, a straight Egyptian stallion, offered breeders a unique pedigree, as bred by El Sherif Arabians. His dam, *Waheeba, an EAO mare imported in 1970, was a complete outcross to Ansata El Sherif, a combination of blood that you just didn't find so easily in the eighties.  What's really interesting about the EAO-bred mare, *Waheeba, is the absence of Nazeer in her pedigree, not a single drop. Nada. While Ansata El Sherif is double Nazeer, approx 25%, *Waheeba has Nasralla, Balance, Shahloul, El Sareei, Sid Abouhom, Ibn Rabdan as the sires in the first 5 generations of her pedigree. If anything, *Waheeba shares common ground via the sires of the foundational broodmares in Ansata El Sherif's pedigree, i.e. Sheikh El Arab, the sire of Halima and Rouda, the maternal granddam of Zebeda (also the dam of Shaker El Masri by *Morafic) and Shahloul, the sire of Bukra and El Sareei.

In the May 1981 issue of Arabian Horse World, Rubio Arabians in Ukiah, California offerred the then 6-year old stallion for sale. Not only was he a proven breeding stallion; he was also trained as an English saddle horse.

In the records that I have available to me, he sired the following horses:

• Sheba Shareei, a 1989 bay mare, out of Monshareei, a Shah Nishan+ grandaughter,  out of a Gainey bred mare
• Sultans Kasadd, a 1990 grey stallion, out of AK Mohra
• Eraf Rafeek,  a 1991 black stallion, out of AKMarnah
• Eraf Shahkar, a 1991 grey stallion, out of Al Tahara

While Sheba Shareei produced a son in 1997, sired by a Prince Ibn Shaikh son, he was gelded and this line did not continue further. The 3 sons also do not appear to have sired any get, as Al Khamsa does not record any descendants.

It's bittersweet to discover horses like Shaheeb and wonder over the impact that these horses might have exerted, if only the opportunities extended to them were a little broader.

Ansata El Sherif

"El Sherif  was a very classic, short-coupled stallion with a beautiful short face and large dark eyes." - Judith Forbis, his breeder

Some photos, like this Polly Knoll photo of *Ansata El Sherif, are deeply etched in my memory, never to forget. It's a favorite, as was the trend to photograph these horses portrait-style, against a dark background. No matter how many years may pass, one look and I immediately remember that long-ago summer day at Bentwood, meeting horses that I never believed I would meet in my lifetime. 

Ansata Rhodora

Ansata El Sherif, an *Ansata Ibn Halima son out of *Ansata Bint Bukra, was a full brother to Ansata Rhodora. As a young colt, he was sold to Dr. Clarence Hardin and his wife, Daisy of Placerville, California. Do you know that the Hardins loved Ansata El Sherif so much, they named their farm after him, El Sherif Arabians? Ansata El Sherif spent most of his life with the Hardins. He was purchased as a mature horse by Bentwood Farm. 

Do you know that "El Sherif" is more like a title or surname and less like a first name? Think of the word "El" as the Arabic equivalent of the determiner, "The" and "Sharif" as "Honorable", "Distinguished" or even, "Noble". 

Cynthia Culbertson, a beloved author, historian, straight Egyptian breeder and former Pyramid Society President, once said of Ansata El Sherif, 
"He was quite a 'fairytale' type of white stallion -- very true to his Dahman strain, compact with a lovely head and eye."

Overall, in terms of a particular horse who combined the best qualities of Bukra with the best qualities of *Ansata Ibn Halima; Ansata El Sherif was that beautiful horse. His strong topline, short-coupling, well-sprung ribs and generous heart girth enabled Ansata El Sherif to enjoy an athletic career. There was not much that this champion horse could and would not do. He was talented under saddle, winning many prizes in Native Costume, English Pleasure and Western Pleasure. Unfotunately, in the time period that Ansata El Sherif lived, there was more demand for straight Egyptian mares, than actual mares to purchase. Despite the short supply of Egyptian mares, Ansata El Sherif did cover Egyptian mares but he was popular with non-SE breeders too, as he crossed well with mares of all bloodlines but in particular, mares of Spanish blood. He sired approximately 167 purebred Arabian Horses who in turn, have produced grand-progeny that are spectacular too.

Something About Nazeer

1st Nazeer portrait by Gladys Brown Edwards

Gladys Brown Edwards, a much beloved and respected artist, author and breed historian  painted a portrait of Nazeer, selected as the cover of the 1972 December issue of Arabian Horse World. The original painting was owned at one time, by the late straight Egyptian breeder, Robert E. Cowling. 

2nd Nazeer portrait by Gladys Brown Edwards

Almost 10 years later, Gladys Brown Edwards painted a second portrait of Nazeer, one in a series of 7 paintings she created for the Arabian Horse Association of Southern California, in recognition of her 50+ year career with the Arabian horse breed. 

Nazeer, a masculine name of Arabic origin signifies vigilance, wisdom and guidance, qualities most often attributed to a prophet. While Nazeer, as a living, breathing individual was before my time (he was foaled in 1934); paintings, like the GBE portraits and photos of Nazeer were a good introduction to him. Still, I wish that I had the opportunity to see Nazeer in real life, to stand in front of me, in all his magnificence, as he had for people like Dr. Hans Nagel and Judith Forbis. In all the photos I have seen, I never got the sense that Nazeer was smaller in stature, approximately 14.2 hands. Maybe his significance in straight Egyptian breeding created a "larger-than-life" impression that also carried over to his physicality? 

Do you also know that Nazeer was more than 12 years old, when General Tibor Pettko von Szandtner found him at a private racing stable and brought him to the EAO for breeding? 

In his wonderful book, Hanan-The Story of an Arabian Mare and of the Arabian Breed, Dr. Hans Joachim Nagel wonders why it took so long for someone to recognize Nazeer's value and include Nazeer within the EAO breeding program. Not only were his hocks poor, Nazeer had uneven front hoofs. Could this be the reason?  Dr. Nagel explains that Nazeer's neck was shorter in length than normal and in order to graze, he had to spread his front legs apart, the left front leg placed behind, while the right front leg was placed forward.  While the right front hoof remained flat on the ground; greater weight was borne by the tip of the left front hoof, giving the heel room to grow. As a consequence of this behavior, Dr. Nagel explained, a club foot develops.  So it is important to state that the club foot in Nazeer's case occurred as a behavioral defect, rather than a hereditary defect he can pass onto his get. 

I've owned the Hanan book for many years and have read it several times. It's one of my favorite books and I am sure it is yours too and if you don't own a copy, I strongly encourage you to look online for an available copy.

SYMPATHETIC

The Real McCoy++ (Aarief x Fersara)

There is just something about this photo that gets me. I mean, it really gets me, straight in the heart and all the way up to the back of my throat. I'm not a sissy but this photo pushes every emotional button I've got and yet, the very words to describe what I see and feel, escapes me. That is, until I turn to Carl Raswan for help. 

"The indwelling gentle spirit of Arabian horses finds expression in their intelligent, sympathetic features, the glory of their beautiful countenance and in their soulful eyes."  

Raswan uses the term "sympathetic" to describe the countenance of an Arabian horse, which includes their "soulful eyes." Dear reader, how many times have you read or heard another person express that the horse's eyes were like windows to its soul? A friend of mine, whose opinion I not only trust but also, value, said that Raswan was "bat-shit" crazy. Well, Raswan gets me and if that speaks to my level of mental health, well, I do like bats.

The intelligent, sympathetic features that Raswan refers to are the physical manifestations, the tangibles, those characteristics that support the intangible traits that speak of an emotional depth, unique to the breed. For example, the structure of the Arabian horse's face, which includes the large, dark, luminous eye project wisdom and serenity. A chiseled, concave profile, elastic nostrils which grow in size and shape, sharp, curved-inward ears, attentive to their surroundings and a small, delicate muzzle all work together to enable a wide range of facial expressions. Sympathetic features also suggest an emotionally-aware being, who is highly perceptive and able to read human emotion. When we are at our worst, an Arabian horse will look at you with understanding, empathy and kindness. The horse's desire is for a relationship which reciprocates kindness, cooperation, willingness and trust.

It's like a paradox of sorts because in the greater, all-breed, all-discipline equestrian world; sympathetic features usually refer to the physical and emotional signs we associate with the nervous system and the part of the brain which responds to fear and stress, via a fight-or-flight response. For a breed of horse long-recognized as "hot-blooded" or even, "spirited," much of what I am saying about sympathetic features does not correlate with most people's misunderstanding of the Arabian breed. And yet, sympathetic features are what we know to be truthful about the breed because we live those features every day. Love your breed more by refraining from the trash talk on social media and start spreading the gospel truth about what Raswan calls an "indwelling gentle spirit." Anything less is really bat-shit crazy!