*Zaghloul

*Zaghloul was a 1963 EAO-bred grey stallion, sired by Gassir (Kheir x Badia) and out of the Inshass mare, Gharbawia (a result of Hamdan bred to his own daughter, Ghorra). What's interesting in this pedigree is the higher percentage of the RAS-bred stallion, Ibn Rabdan (approx 31.25%), as Gassir was out of Badia, who like Hamdan, was sired by Ibn Rabdan. No surprise over how Ibn Rabdan is expressed in the phenotype of this particular horse, as conformationally, his overall balance and circular lines hint at the genetic presence of Ibn Rabdan. In his tail female line, *Zaghloul, who incidentally, was a very successful race horse in Egypt prior to his importation, traces to the 1924 mare, El Samraa, purchased in 1931 by King Fouad for his breeding program. *Zaghloul was imported by Gleannloch Farms in 1970, approximately 5 years after the importation of *Morafic. A year after his importation, in 1971, Ansata Ibn Sudan and *Serenity Sonbolah would be named United States National Champions. As a matter of fact, in the period of time between the mid-60's and early 80's, over 2,000 championship titles were won by Gleannloch horses, including 89 National titles, in 2 countries, in a variety of halter and performance disciplines. 1970 was an exciting time for Egyptian Arabians in America and interest for Egyptian Arabian horses was growing. *Zaghloul was bred to a variety of mares, including several *Morafic daughters, for example, the charismatic Hebet Allah. However, bred to the *Ibn Hafiza daughter, Nagliah,*Zaghloul sired a strong-bodied, substantial bay mare named Asmarr, who would become the dam of AK Amiri Asmarr by TheEgyptianPrince. It is through this breeding that *Zaghloul's influence would be assured for all time, in a most extraordinary way.  Despite the smaller opportunities that *Zaghloul may have received at stud, here we are, almost 30 years after his death and his influence was brought forward into the future through Thee Desperado, AK Amiri Asmarr's son by The Minstril,

Zahi

The EAO stallion Zahi was sired by *Ibn Hafiza and out of Bint Bukra, a full sister to Ghazal and *Ansata Bint Bukra. Like his full siblings, Zahi is Dahman by strain, tracing in tail female line to the Ali Pasha Sherif mare, El Dahma. His Blunt desert bred coefficient was lower than 5%, thanks mainly to his sire, who carried no Blunt desert blood. He sired *Bint Farha out of the Galal daughter, Farha (who was out of Fifi), the chestnut mare *Wadeaa (out of the Anter daughter Ferial), the grey stallion *Ziadd (out of the *Ramses Fayek daughter Naeema), the grey mare Mazhowa (out of the *Farazdac daughter Kalthooma). Zahi's brother, *GAF Wesam (by Waseem) was purchased and imported to America by Barbara Johanson. Zahi had very large, black eyes, set low on his short, wide head. He was a dramatic looking horse, his appearance intensified by the prominence of the facial crest bone, an important quality which the Bedouin called "asalah". He had excellent skin quality, heavily pigmented with a thicker forelock and mane intensifying his beautiful face. He was a short coupled horse, very traditional Egyptian with a smooth and strong topline. In my opinion, he combined the beauty of his dam with the conformation of his sire. His blood was represented in the Lancer Arabians, Valor Arabians, Imperial Egyptian Stud breeding programs (Imperial Al Amon Ra, Imperial Imwasama, Imperial Oreeyah) and today, to Prestige Arabians and also Rancho Bulakenyo. It is uniquely bred horses whom we lament the most, as the outcross potential that existed with Zahi, was not fully taken advantage of in American Egyptian breeding. Clearly, a lesson that must be learned and embraced, for the future health of the Egyptian Arabian horse. 

Ansata Abu Sudan

Ansata Abu Sudan (*Ansata Ibn Halima x *Ansata Bint Misuna)

*Ansata Bint Misuna was a Nazeer daughter out of Maysouna. Both of the tail female lines, through the sire and dam go all the way back to Venus, a chestnut mare foaled in 1890 who became a part of the stud farm belonging to Khedive Abbas II. The Khedive bred Venus to the Ali Pasha Sherif stallion, Saklawi I, to produce the mare Hadba, the dam of Bint Hadba el Saghira. Fast-forward in time to the grand daughter of Bint Hadba el Saghira, Bint Samiha, who appears as both a paternal grand dam and a maternal great grand dam in the pedigree of *Ansata Bint Misuna. When bred to the 1971 National Champion Stallion, Ansata Ibn Sudan, things become interesting. Why, you ask? You see, the additional lines to Nazeer, in the pedigree of Ansata Ibn Sudan (through *Ansata Ibn Halima and * Ansata Bint Mabrouka) brings in more crosses to Bint Samiha, intensifying the pedigree for the influence of this particular mare. Now, through a long ago ancestor like Bint Samiha, we can understand better, the genetic power that made a stallion like Ansata Abu Sudan possible. Although he did not breed many mares at Ansata, as other senior sires were still living, he contributed a remarkable legacy. Not only was he an extremely classic stallion, but he was the best moving horse that Ansata had bred for many years, as captured in the Ansata film: Ansata the Key of Life. Had he done no more than sire Ansata Sudarra, his contribution was assured.  

Zaafarana

Zaafarana (Balance x Samira), a 1946 mare, bred by the RAS. Her dam Samira (Ibn Rabdan x Bint Radia) was a full sister to the important stallion Shahloul and Hamdan, chief sire for Inshass. In tail female, she traces to the mare Bint Helwa, whom Lady Anne Blunt had purchased from Ali Pasha Sherif. Zaafarana is a Saqlawiyah Jedraniyah of Ibn Sudan, one of the most loved strains of all Arabian horses, going all the way back to Abbas Pasha, who had obtained the Saqlawi horses from the Ruala Bedouin. Zaafarana was celebrated in her time for her brilliant action and presence. She must have been electrifying, when moving. She captivated all who watched her, including Judith Forbis who said, "she was a mare of exceptional quality and brilliant action." Judi had imported Zaafarana's daughter by Nazeer, *Ansata Bint Zaafarana, who became an important broodmare for Ansata. Zaafarana was an excellent producer, passing on her athleticism to her sons *Talal (by Nazeer) and Amrulla (by Sid Abouhom), who became champions and much loved racehorses in Egypt. 

Serrasab

Shortly after Floyd and Margaret Reid married, they visited a friend who happened to own purebred Arabian horses. There are many ways to contract Arabitis and Floyd found the most potent way...to meet the horses in person, to touch them, talk to them and engage with them.  So, no surprise that after meeting the couple's horses, Floyd got "it" really bad and so, two years later, after attending many Arabian horse shows, they purchased Rahym (Kahar x Faiza) who was named a National Top Ten Stallion in 1961, under Floyd's ownership.  Four years later, having moved from Colorado to Oklahoma, Floyd made a springtime visit to Ansata Arabian Stud, where he met horses like *Ansata Ibn Halima, who impressed Floyd significantly with his very classic Arabian type.  Floyd was inspired by the Ansata horses and decided to sell his horses, including Rahym, in order to purchase an Egyptian mare of his very own. Fast forward three years, to the summer of 1968 and what would hopefully be for Floyd, a shopping trip to the Babson Farm. Floyd saw many horses who impressed him, however, none of the mares he really liked were for sale and Floyd left the farm feeling frustrated, and really disappointed, as he felt that there was no hope of ever owning a straight Babson Egyptian mare. A year later, Homer Watson offered Floyd the opportunity to buy that much desired Babson mare. Her name was Serrasab, a Fa-Serr daughter out of Fay-Sabbah.

"Serrasab was probably 14.3 1/2 hh, solid build, muscular and well-rounded. She was very responsive and easily trained. She had a good head, with straight profile."

The sale was consummated and arrangements were made to trailer the mare to the US Nationals, in Oklahoma, where Floyd would pick her up. She was in foal to Ansata Abbas Pasha and eventually she foaled Serr Zeer, in 1970. Floyd was disappointed with Serr Zeer and decided to leave Serrasab open the following year, eventually breeding her in 1972 to *Ansata Ibn Halima.  However, it would be a foal that Floyd would not enjoy as his very own, as Robert Cowling (he owned her daughter, Sabrah, whom he bred to *Ansata Ibn Halima, to produce Fa Halima) was interested in purchasing Serrasab. For Floyd and his young family, the money from the sale of Serrasab was too much money to turn down. The following year, Serrrasab foaled the very lovely mare, Serr Halima, for Robert Cowling, who decided to breed her back to *Ansata Ibn Halima to produce a full brother, aptly named, Serr Halim.

The Babson Farm consistently experienced success by blending the blood of Fabah with that of Fa-Serr, which is exactly how four full siblings were produced by Serrasab, prior to her sale to Floyd Reid: the stallion Bah Sab in 1963 and the full sisters: Sabrah in 1964, Serasabba in 1965 and Serasaab in 1968. All four of these horses were extremely concentrated in the blood of *Bint Bint Sabbah, as they traced to this critical Babson foundation mare in both tail female lines; through the sire  and also, through the dam. As a matter of fact, when you look at the pedigree, you will soon realize that it is made up of only three horses: *Bint Bint Sabbah, *Fadl and *Bint Serra I. The prepotency of this blood, close as it was to the original source horses, influenced these mares and stallions to become the strong and prolific breeding horses that they turned out to be, producing equally outstanding sons and daughters, who have gone on to become influential in both straight Egyptian and straight Babson Egyptian breeding programs. Of the four full siblings, I feel that Sabrah was her most successful offspring. If Sabrah had only produced Fa Halima by *Ansata Ibn Halima, we would still celebrate this single accomplishment and rate her as an elite broodmare.  However, Sabrah also produced Ansata Sabiha, who became an important foundation mare for Mike and Kiki Case's Glorieta Ranch and the charismatic stallion, SAR Fadl Halim, both horses sired also by *Ansata Ibn Halima. When she was bred to the *Ansata Ibn Halima son, Ansata El Sherif, she produced the mare, SF Khala Zahra, an important broodmare for both Walter Schimanski of Masada Arabians and Marilyn Lang of Fantasia Arabians, who incidentally, has bred deeply within this family of horses, more so  than any other breeder, through her foundation mare, Fa Bukra, SF Khala Zahra's daughter by Fa Asar, whose dam by the way is Serasabba, a full sister to Sabrah.  However, to focus solely on the progeny of Sabrah, to the exclusion of the other horses who are part of the Serrasab family of horses would be a terrible injustice to what is, a dynamic and vibrant family of horses. Who are the other horses, you may ask? Well, think of horses like the previously mentioned (and prolific) straight Babson Egyptian stallion Fa Asar, the most successful of all the Babson-Sirecho cross stallions: KH Seral Sireff, the trio of breeding stallions sired by Ansata Abbas Pasha: Serr Fadl, Sab el Dine and Serr Pasha; in addition to producing daughters like Jusera, Tamie and the AK-prefixed mares of which there are many: AK Maalima, AK Rafah and AK Bint Serasaab to name only a few mares.

When Floyd Reid visited the Babson Farm in 1968, he still remembers what Homer Watson told him, "Mr. Reid, you can't buy the quality you are looking for. You have to buy one of these and produce what you are wanting." It is interesting, all these years later, to understand that this is exactly what Floyd Reid accomplished...he bred the quality of horse he desired but Homer always knew that given a chance, Floyd could do that.

Sayo Sahran SMF

Makhnificent KA (Makhsous x Star Bint Hafiza) is recognized for siring horses with a strong and smooth topline, particularly, an outstanding length of hip and croup with super tail carriage. I'm not surprised, as genetically, Makhnificent's pedigree includes individuals like Sameh and his son, *Sultann, who were well-conformed horses, evidenced by their strong bodies and superior structure. Sayo Sahran SMF, a Mahknificent KA son out of Bint Bint Sayo (Ali Saroukh x Samura) is equally strong of body but yet, there is something more, that at first glance, may be missed. In reading about Sayo Sahran SMF on line, I appreciate the similarities he shares with mares like Star Bint Hafiza and Bint Deena, however, I present a different perspective directly observed from his tail female line via the grey mare Ansata Sabiha and the four strong-bodied colorful mares behind her: Sabrah, Serrasab, Fay-Sabbah and *Bint Bint Sabbah. If you believe that coat color influences phenotype, then the curvey, circular body we observe in Sayo Sahran SMF, is really, a throwback to his Babson ancestry and particularly, this long line of voluptuous bay mares. These straight Babson Egyptian mares were substantial but balanced mares, inspiring people like Carl Raswan, who coined the term "three-circle horses" to describe the phenotype of horses similar in body shape to the Babson mares. The Babson influence, carried forward through the tail female line is unmistakable and so many years later, is expressed in the body of this splendid bay stallion, bred by Silver Maple Farm in California. 

Futna

Futna, the dam of *Ansata Bint Sameh, was born in 1943, sired by the great Shahloul (Ibn Rabdan x Bint Radia) and out of the influential mare Farida (Saklawi II x Nadra el Saghira). Farida was the result of breeding an El Dahma son to an El Dahma grand-daughter. As a Farida daughter, Futna was concentrated in the blood of the horse we consider to be the birth mother of the Dahman Shahwan strain. Futna's siblings, sired by different stallions, were also influential horses like Ragia (by Ibn Rabdan), Balance (by Ibn Samhan) and Bint Farida (by Mansour). All of these horses share common ground, by producing horses who have gone on to have a significant impact in the world-wide community of straight Egyptian Arabian horse breeding.

A Story of Ibrahim, Lagodna & Nabor

*Naborr (Negatiw x Lagodna)

Much has been written about the stallion *Naborr (Negatiw x Lagodna) and it is not my intention to repeat the volume of information that has already been published about him. There are a couple of great articles which are still available online and I encourage you to read Mary Jane Parkinson's Nabor: The Life of a Legend and Cassie Parker-Charbonneau's *Naborr - Saga of the Silver Stallion. With that said, I learned a long time ago that there's a unique story hidden in the life of every horse and sometimes, you have to dig a little to find it. In a previous blog about the EAO-bred stallion, *Ansata Ibn Halima, I had written that the name of his dam, Halima, means “gentle mare.” Well, imagine the surprise I felt when I learned that the name of *Naborr's dam,  Lagodna, also means "gentle." Even though *Naborr was born in Russia and *Ansata Ibn Halima was born in Egypt, the parallels in both stallions' lives are really amazing, as both horses, having immigrated to the United States, generated alot of interest for their respective country's breeding programs and physically, evolved to become living standards for their strain type: *Ansata Ibn Halima for the Dahman Shahwan strain, while *Naborr was representative of the Saqlawi strain. In the article written by Mary Jane Parkinson, she said,

"The Poles loved him, for they found in *Naborr a resemblance to the Arabian horses painted by Juliusz Kossak, considered the best painter of oriental horses. *Naborr's remarkable Arabian type, dry fine head, swan-like neck and milk-white hair (unusual for his age) all related to the Poles ideal Arabian."

A good part of *Naborr's early life happened before I was even born. He was foaled in Russia, in 1950 (*Ansata Ibn Halima was born in 1958, so both horses are peers, members of the same generation). His impressive early career included racing (he won two of his eight races), showing (earning a Certificate of the First Class, a prize equivalent to the American National Reserve Championship in Halter) and finally breeding (siring six colts and three fillies for Tersk Stud). By the time he was a five year old, the opportunity for Poland to purchase the horse became very real, as Poland, at the time, was rebuilding their breeding program from the devastation caused by World War II, as well as the destructive losses from the preceding world war and conflicts, like the Bolshevik Revolution. Thankfully, the celebrated Antoniny Stud stallion, Ibrahim had sired a son, Skowronek, who was exported to England and was ultimately purchased by Lady Wentworth of the Crabbet Stud in England, becoming an influential stallion not only at Crabbet Stud but all over the world, while preserving the blood of Ibrahim for future use. His son Naseem was purchased by the Russians in 1936. In 1945, the Naseem son, Negatiw, who was out of the captured Janow Podlaski-bred mare, Taraszcza (Enwer Bey x Gazella II) was born and he would play a crucial role in this story, in restoring the Ibrahim sire line for Poland. The Polish breeders knew that both Naseem and Negatiw were highly successful breeding horses in Russia and wanted a horse that incorporated the blood of both stallions in their program. When finally, the opportunity materialized, *Naborr went to the Albigowa State Stud but eventually, he made his way to the newly-established Michalow State Stud, attracting  the attention of Ignacy Jaworoski, the stud farm's director, who developed a lifelong admiration for *Naborr, born out of his interaction with a horse who was as sweet, as he was beautiful. Reading of the feeling that Ignacy Jaworoski had for *Naborr, I am reminded of Dr. Mohamed Marsafi of El Zahraa  and the relationship he enjoyed with a very sweet *Ansata Ibn Halima. However, what makes *Naborr an interesting choice for Poland was that in addition to the Ibrahim sire line through Negatiw-Naseem-Skowronek, his dam Lagodna brings in an additional two lines to Ibrahim: through the stallion Posejdon and through Elstera, a 1913 grey Ibrahim daughter out of Lezginka. The interesting twist in the story of *Naborr happened somewhere in the late 1930s-to-mid-1940s. The dam of Lagodna was a 1933 Janow Podlaski-bred mare named Obra by Hardy (a Gazella II son) and out of Ikwa (Elstera's daughter). She was purchased by a private breeder named Stanislaw Magielski, who bred Arabian horses at his Jablonka Stud. It was there that Obra was bred to Posejdon and foaled the grey filly named Lagodna in 1939. And this is where the mystery begins, as both Obra and Lagodna disappeared, without leaving a trace as to who had them and where they had gone. Lagodna was at the German Trakehner State Stud, where she was incorporated into the breeding program as "Odilgard". It wasn't until 1946, when Lagodna, in foal to a Trakehner stallion, was captured by the Russians, with her Trakehner filly at side. Eventually, her 1946 and 1947 Trakehner foals were sent to the Stavropol Stud Farm and Lagodna was incorporated into the purebred breeding program at Tersk.  In 1949, the catalyst of our story, the ultimate event, occurred and that was that Lagodna was bred to Negatiw, to produce the colt named Nabor (this is the spelling of his name, prior to his American registration, as it was the name given to him in Russia, when he was foaled) in 1950. Imagine what the world of Arabian breeding would be like if the Russians had not captured Lagodna  from the German Trakehner Stud farm and she remained a Trakehner broodmare for the rest of her life? How much poorer would we be without *Naborr and all of the horses that descend from him! Have you thought of this? Think of the horses we dearly love like Equator and the most beautiful mare, Pianissima. The genetic fiber of these two horses includes Kajora, a daughter of the stallion Kaborr, a *Naborr son. THAT! is the significance of Lagodna, as she symbolizes in a very real way, the nature or rather, the essence of Arabian horse breeding in Poland and how it not only survived, despite the greatest of adversities but unbelievably prospered, to emerge better and stronger, as evidenced by the quality of horses produced. And yet, at the very nucleus of this story resides miraculous lessons we can all embrace, about living life with courage, faith and hope, just as our Polish brothers and sisters have done in their lives.

Bint Radia

More than just a name in a pedigree, Shahloul's dam, Bint Radia, was a gorgeous, ultra-feminine 1920 RAS-bred mare, out of Ghadia, an important mare for not only the Royal Agricultural Society but also for the Inshass Stud of King Farouk. In THE CLASSIC ARABIAN HORSE, Judith Forbis shared that Radia traced to the mare Ghazala, a line known for producing elegant racehorses, horses that had substance, balance, long necks and extreme heads. What I find most interesting in Bint Radia, are the sources of established Egyptian blood in her pedigree. Her sire, Mabrouk Manial was bred by Prince Mohamed Aly. Although her dam was bred by Lady Anne Blunt, both her sire, Feysul and dam, Ghazala, were by Ali Pasha Sherif-bred horses, whose horses came from Abbas Pasha!

Ibn Rabdan

More than just a name in a pedigree, Shahloul's sire was a celebrated horse in his day. You see, Shahloul was a son of the 1917 chestnut stallion, Ibn Rabdan. In his day, Ibn Rabdan must have been one of those horses who exert an unforgettable impression on people. You know, the type of horse that comes into your life, turns everything upside down and you never really feel the same way about horses, after meeting him. You only know that you want to have more horses that only look like him. Period. Carl Raswan remarked that he was a "World Champion type". World Champion? Think of how we feel for beloved present day superstar horses like Equator, Al Ayal AA, Marwan Al Shaqab or WH Justice and you will start to understand the kind of esteem that people felt for Ibn Rabdan. Prince Mohamed Aly Tewfik admired the prepotency of this horse; who passed on his dark chestnut color and longer neck consistently onto the foals he sired, because he never really met a mare who was his genetic match. Ibn Rabdan was used in the studs of Prince Kemal al-Dine, Prince Mohamed Aly Tewfik, the RAS and Inshass. He was the most important stallion, in Egypt, of his day.

*Ansata Bint Sameh

*Ansata Bint Sameh (Sameh x Futna) had a strong body, with much substance. You can feel her power just by looking at her. The ratio of the length of her forearms versus the length of her cannons is fantastic. As a Farida granddaughter, you will notice the strong and smooth topline plus, the connection of her hip, croup and loin is deep and powerful. And, as a Sameh daughter, *Ansata Bint Sameh has many of the attributes of this fine stallion, like her well-muscled hind end, including her gaskin and hock, which allowed this mare to reach farther underneath her, using the muscling in her back, sparing the wear and tear on her joints. You can just imagine the powerful drive that she had behind, when trotting at liberty. *Ansata Bint Sameh was the dam of 3 foals before she died: Ansata El Wazir, Ansata Jezebel and Ansata Jamila and it is through these horses that we enjoy the great legacy that her pedigree promised she would establish.

Moniet Ezzain

Moniet Ezzain, a daughter of NK Momtaza by Salaa el Dine, secures the place of reverence that we have for NK Momtaza, as one of the most influential mares in the Ezzain breeding program. She has produced three daughters for the breeding program, the full sisters, Nasseyrah Ezzain and Omneyah Ezzain, both sired by Nooreddine Ezzain and the up-and-coming filly, Najeiah Ezzain by NK Qaswarah. Her daughters, Nasseyrah and Omneyah are spreading the influence of the Momtaza family further into the future with their progeny. Nasseyrah has produced two daughters, the most beautiful Mardeiah by Aneesilnefous and Hhawra by Yaasoob. It is important to say that Mardeiah is a pure-in-the-strain Saqlawiyah, as both her sire and dam trace to Momtaza in the tail female line. Omneyah produced  a spectacular filly named Amaani Ezzain by NK Qaswarah. This beautiful mare, Moniet Ezzain, physically embodies the very essence that defines Saqlawi type in the authentic Arabian horse.

*Omayma

*Omayma was a 1964 EAO mare sired by Sameh and out of Nazeera (Nazeer x Malaka). *Omayma was imported to America but eventually was purchased and exported to Australia, where she was named an Australian National Champion Mare. She produced some very nice daughters, for example, her 1974 Mohssen daughter, Bint Omayma, who in turn, propelled the influence of this family forward into the future, through daughters who matured into influential broodmares like Bint Bint Omayma, Kaleel, *Essens Lillith, Flaby Bint Sharaf, Wanisa and The Essens Lady White. *Omayma shared common ground with her paternal sisters, as these Sameh-sired daughters were consistently, powerful-moving horses. Their very elastic hocks gave them the ability to get up under themselves, fully engaging their backs and driving their bodies forward. They did this with so much style, with tails curled over their backs and nostrils fully dilated and always, a very deep and powerful snort, as if they were pulling great amounts of air from way, way, way down in their hooves but then, I can't think of a better way to grab the attention of an admirer, can you?

Ferial

Ferial (Anter x El Ameera)

The 1961 mare, Ferial, was an Anter daughter out of the Zaafarana (Balance x Samira) daughter, El Ameera, by Nazeer. This photo, published in Arabian Horse World Magazine, which is not a very good photo of her and did not accurately portray her as she appeared in real life, especially when she was freely moving, full of Arabian horse presence with her nostrils dilated, eyes opened wide and tail held high. Instead, the photo (which is only a captured moment in time) generated unfair criticism, even though she outproduced herself many times over! Ferial's photo reminds me of a story I recently read about a young woman, who was asked to go on a dinner date with a young man she had not met before. She got all dressed up, went to the restaurant to meet him and waited and waited and waited for her date to arrive. Finally, she decides to leave, figuring that her date saw her from a distance, thought she was ugly and and left.  Not only was she disappointed; she did not have a good self-image of herself. On her way out, she overheard a little boy ask his mother if she were a princess! That little boy changed her life and saved her from a night of self-hate! I have always believed that a great mare is one who produces offspring that are consistently equal to or better than her level of quality, which by-the-way, is the case with this chestnut colored mare! She really was a princess, an elite mare, a dam of distinction, as she was an extremely prolific broodmare for the Albadeia breeding program. You know what I found really interesting about her? In her breeding career, she produced an overwhelming amount of fillies - over 70% and yet, the way in which Ferial remains relevant in the modern-day American SE gene pool is primarily through the male gender! One of her daughters, a gorgeous grey mare named *Haniya, sired by the *Morafic son, Kayed, was imported to America by Les & Lois St. Clair. *Haniya was bred to *Ibn Moniet El Nefous, Shaikh Al Badi and *El Mareekh, however, when bred to the *Ansata Ibn Halima son, Halimm, *Haniya produced the mare, Jaliya, who would take the influence of Ferial farther than anyone ever imagined, for Jaliya is the dam of The Elixir, who sired the extremely influential sire for Arabians LTD, Alixir, who is now owned by Al Jood Stud in Qatar. Alixir is the sire of many wonderful horses at Arabians LTD, including one of the most visually striking stallions of our day, Bellagio RCA, a Prince among horses.

Bellagio RCA

*Soheir II

*Soheir II (Fagir x Tifla) was bred by Sayed Marei of Al Badeia Stud in Egypt and was purchased and imported to America by Gleannloch Farm. Her dam,Tifla, is a Nazeer daughter and a maternal granddaughter of Zareefa. The story of Zareefa very powerfully illustrates the rich and vibrant desert heritage of our foundation Egyptian horses. Cynthia Culbertson once said, “What we can say about the Straight Egyptian Arabian, very reliably, is that they are so close to that desert source, the only way one could get closer is with a desert bred that stayed in the homeland.” Almost half of Zareefa's ancestral elements are desert-bred horses, bred by different tribes of Bedouin people. While this is not the platform to study *Soheir's entire production record; we can highlight some of her brightest progeny. For Gleannloch Farm, *Soheir II produced the charismatic mare, Hebet Allah by *Morafic. Not only was this mare physically captivating, she was an extraordinary broodmare, producing World Champion Hadidi. For Imperial Egyptian Stud, *Soheir II produced the mare, Imperial Al Ahbab by Amaal, who in turn produced the champion racehorse and sire, ZT Ali Baba. By Amaal, *Soheir II produced AK Amheir, who produced a beautiful chestnut mare by Nabiel named RA Aneesa. Bred to *Ibn Moniet El Nefous, *Soheir II produced AK Mahlaha, who produced the stallion, Donatello KA by Mahknificent KA. Therefore, one can say confidently that the greatest influence exerted by *Soheir II, would be felt through her daughters and the vibrant family of horses who trace back to her.

Mah Deluque

Mahrouf (Fabah x Aaroufa)

Mah Deluque, a 1982 grey stallion, was sired by the chestnut-colored Fabah son, Mahrouf. In 1981, with Carolyn Gardner in the saddle, Mahrouf, then a 10-year old stallion, was Region 11's Champion Park Horse, in addition to his Class A Championships in Formal Combination and Formal Driving. In that time period, John Vogel, a Cal Poly graduate, had been employed by the Babson Farm as a trainer, showing the Babson horses in halter, while Carolyn Gardner was showing the Babson horses in performance. His son, Mah Deluque, would grow to become a special favorite of John Vogel. In 1982, the year in which Mah Deluque was foaled, the Babson Farm stood "the mighty four": Mahrouf, Ibn Fa-Serr (Fa Serr x Fa Deene), Amir Ibn FaSerr (Ibn Fa Serr x Serr Beth) and Serr Rou (Ibn Fa-Serr x Bahrou). Mah Deluque's dam, Bah Habba, was a paternal sister to Mahrouf, as both horses were sired by Fabah. Bah Habba was a solid, powerfully-built mare with long forearms and short cannon bones. Her shoulder was heavily-muscled and set at a comfortable angle and her neck was remarkably different from other Babson mares of her day; not short in length and proportionately balanced to the rest of her strong body. It is important to highlight these points, to show you, the reader, where Mah Deluque inherited his "look", as Mah Deluque physically, was very different from the stereotypical image that most people have of the  Babson horse. The majority of Mah Deluque's pedigree traces to the Dahmah Shahwaniyah mare, *Bint Bint Sabbah (about 3/4 of his pedigree) and his phenotype confirmed her significant influence upon him.

Mah Deluque (Mahrouf x Bah Habba)

To me, Mah Deluque embodied a look more like that of an "old school" (pre-Prince Fa Moniet) Ansata horse, rather than the straight Babson Egyptian horse he was. I often wonder (my big what if) what if Mah Deluque had been bred to select Ansata-bred mares? His pedigree, from strictly a paper perspective, was so complementary to the Nazeer horses who carry multiple sources of Mansour blood, because of Mah Deluque's many crosses to Ibn Rabdan. If anything, it would be the chance to concentrate the RAS foundation (pre-EAO) bloodlines as represented in the Babson Farm program, with the newer blood which resulted from the breeding practices instituted by General Pettko Von Szandtner of the EAO. While this chance may no longer exist with Mah Deluque, he did sire progeny, who can carry his influence into the future:

• 1987: Fay Abba (out of the Mahrouf daughter, Bint Serr Abba)
• 1989: Mah Serretta (gelding, out of Fa Serretta)
• 1989: Mahlisa (out of Serr Rous Amira)
• 1989: Ser Mah Habba (out of Mah Habba)
• 1989: Mah Nefous (out of Fa Hanah)
• 1990: Mahquee (gelding, out of Fa Bah Roufa, who is out of Bah Roufa, a Fabah daughter)
• 1991: Almoraima Sarita (out of LCA Bint Serabah, who contributes two more lines to Fabah)
• 1991: Delabba (full sister to Fay Abba and Mahroufs Hafid, out of Bint Serr Abba)
• 1992: Mahrouf's Hafid (out of the Mahrouf daughter, Bint Serr Abba) shown through Second Level, Georgia Dressage and Combined Training Association
• 1997: Mah Bint Roulena (out of Bint Roulena)
• 1997: Bint Regal Heir (out of Amirs Regal Heir by Amir Ibn Faserr)
• 1997: Serr Lena (gelding, out of El Bint Roulena)
• 1997: BintBint Serrabba (out of Bint Serr Abba)
• 2002: EF Salome (out of the Ra'adin Inshalla daughter, Shalimar Bedu)

Diana Johnson, a longtime breeder of Babson Arabians, remembered the following about Mah Deluque:

"...Mah Deluque is a strong moving stallion with a lofty trot. Mah Deluque's full brother, Mah Hab (represented in our herd by Bint Roulett), shared this eye-catching action."

Mah Deluque (Mahrouf x Bah Habba)

I met Mah Deluque, near the end of his life, after he had been purchased at the Babson Farm dispersal by Margaret Albertine of Belleville, NJ in 1999. He was no longer the striking dappled grey horse that I remembered from his advertisement in Arabian Horse World and the horse was limited in his movement, due to a hock injury he received in California. He had matured into a sparkling white vision, who was dry and elegant, as we know senior-aged horses to be. He really was a wonderful, sweet horse who had the most indescribable air about him. Standing approximately 15 hands, he was a harmonious individual; smooth of body and well-balanced. He was not short and chunky like a pony, possessing a bit of length about his body to give him scope, including a proportionately elegant neck which was neither thick or heavy in the throatlatch, like the kind of neck you would expect to see on a draft horse. While I delighted in his presence and the opportunity to bask in his shadow; there was just something about him that made me catch my breath. I knew that I was in the presence of a very special horse. It was like the feeling that you get when you are in the holiest of places and yet, I kept reminding myself that I was only standing in a stall, looking at a horse. How can a horse manifest this feeling in a person? Maybe, Mah Deluque helped me to understand that we are all connected, through life, whether human, horse or vegetable. Maybe, horses like Mah Deluque grab our attention and remind us of how precious and sacred life is and how hard we have to work, to fight the influences of this world, which trick us into believing that life is not the great miracle we believe it to be. Maybe, I was at a point in my life where I needed to be reminded of these things. Maybe, I was at a point in my life where I needed Mah Deluque.

"I can personally attest to how much horses can improve one's basic qualities...they taught me, sometimes painfully, to be kinder and more tolerant...they increased my awareness, my perceptivity and my compassion."-by Robert Miller, from his book: Understanding the Ancient Secrets of the Horse's Mind

While this blog is written to celebrate the life of this great horse and help to perpetuate his memory into the future; I can't help but feel sad over his ending, while I stood by and watched it all unfold. He lived his last days, unrecognized, on a Standardbred Race Horse farm in central New Jersey, while his owner waged a courageous fight with cancer, which sadly, she lost. Margaret Albertine and I shared common ground through our love for the straight Babson Egyptian horse and also, through John and Betty Fippen, having purchased horses from them. I wish so much that I had pursued (more actively) the purchase of Mah Deluque and lovingly cared for him in his mature years. Who would have thought, back in the early 80's that Mah Deluque would one day live in New Jersey and that I would be so unprepared for his arrival...if only.

EnJoy,
Ralph