The Cross of Enayah and Ikhnatoon

“Adaweya produced the grey filly Enayah, a mare of exceptional quality and motion."-Dr.Ibrahim Zaghloul

Enayah (Nawaf x Adaweya)

During the 1980's, the stallion Ikhnatoon (*Farazdac x Bint Om el Saad) became an important sire for the EAO.

"...an impressive white stallion used heavily by the EAO as a sire. He had a very refined head with somewhat high eye placement, long foreface nicely tapered and a refined muzzle; good mitbah and good length of neck, good depth of shoulder and high withers, soft back and rather long underline, decent croup and good tails set, good carriage and good movement."" - Judith Forbis

The cross of Ikhantoon with Enayah, a daughter of Adaweya, proved to be a wise cross, producing the stallion Adl.

"Enayah was bred to Ikhnatoon (*Farazdac x Bint Om el Saad) for a 1982 foal, Adl, a superior foal of high quality.”-Dr.Ibrahim Zaghloul

Adl (Ikhnatoon x Enayah)

Adl, who matured into an important breeding stallion for the EAO, sired more like his "uncles," Adawy, Mohab and Omayr, all of whom sired a larger percentage of female horses, who became influential broodmares. Anter combined with Abla, as expressed maternally through Adaweya, and from there to Enayah, continues to exert a very significant and far reaching genetic influence. For example, take it one generation further and Adl's daughter, Tee, an unforgettable mare, whose beauty was legendary, produced the charismatic stallion, Tagweed, yet another important breeding stallion for the EAO. Zaghroudat Albadeia, an Adl daugher out of Kamar Albadeia, a Kayed daughter, was bred to the Imperial Madori son, Gaafar Albadeia, producing the wonderful champion show mare for Al Badeia, Isaad Albadeia. A National Champion Mare of Egypt, Isaad eventually was shown at the Salon du Cheval in 2003, where she was named a Top 10 World Champion Mare. Enayah also produced Enayat Allah, Ebada and *Nageia, full siblings to Adl. Both *Nageia and her full sister, Enayat Allah, were sold and exported to the United States; Nageia purchased by Mourad El Cassabgui and Enayat Allah by Dr. M. E. Nasr of Antioch, Illinois. Enayat Allah was bred to the Nabiel son, Khaill, to produce a son in 1989 named SF Esmat.

*Nageia (Ikhnatoon x Enayah)

Mourad El Cassabgui's son-in-law, Nabil Hallak had met Judi Forbis and like many people, became impressed with the success of the Ansata breeding program and the most wonderful horses Ansata was producing. This was the time period of the great Ansata Halim Shah and the Ansata horse became a model for him of classic type. Nabil desired to create a program which produced similar results as Ansata's program, using the horses that his father-in-law had purchased, crossed with the Ansata stallions. *Nageia, whom Dr. Hans Nagel referred to as,

"a substantial broodmare of typical Dahman type"

was bred to Ansata Halim Shah, to produce El Mourad in 1989 and El Sherine in 1990. In 1992, bred to Shemees, *Nageia produced El Cassabgui. Judi Forbis leased *Nageia for the 1996 breeding season and she foaled Ansata Najiba, by Ansata Hejazi. *Nageia was then sold to Al Abbasiyah, in foal to Ansata Hejazi and she produces the mare, Nehmedoh in 1997, who was eventually sold to Panama. In 2000, *Nageia produced Nazeef, an Ahsen el Serag son, who was sold to American endurance rider, Joan Eastman Woods. *Nageia was eventually sold by Al Abbasiyah to a breeder in Belgium, with the hope that she would be bred to the new EAO imports in Europe.

She Let Me Look Deep: The Story of El Hallany

Apple Hill Ani (Ibn Sirecho x Bint Ballanni)

When Lynn and Ginny Garrett visited Rudalaro Ranch, they were already familiar with the Hallany Mistanny horses, having bred their general-list Arabian mares to the Rudalaro-bred stallion, Ru Anton. They were also enamored with *Turfa, a desert mare recognized for possessing powerful movement and for passing this action to her progeny. Rudalaro at the time, maintained distinct breeding groups which included the Babson-Turfa horses, however, every horse that Lynn noticed was not a Babson-Turfa...it was a Hallany Mistanny-bred horse. Somewhere into that visit, Darrell Perdue said to Lynn,

"you thought you wanted Babson-Turfas but I don't think you do. I think you want a Hallany Mistanny instead."

Lynn was impressed with the Hallany Mistanny horses’ overall balance, strength and beauty. 

“The Hallany Mistanny horses to me seemed to be the standouts in the large herd that Rudalaro had. They looked so beautiful and strong with the bone needed to be a working horse. They were just what I wanted for a working ranch. Also, their beauty could be something I could show off.”

The Rudalaro visit was an unexpected surprise, as both Lynn and Ginny saw so much they liked, not only in the horses they saw but also, they were favorably impressed with how Rudalaro was managed by the Perdues. After a few more conversations with Darrell Perdue, the Garretts decided on Ru Saad Malik. He was a chestnut straight Egyptian horse, sired by the syndicated Babson stallion, Fa Saad and out of the Ansata Abbas Pasha grand-daughter, Ru Melika Sabbah. 

However, it would be a last minute, impulsive purchase named Ru Misti, a Rudalaro-bred filly, who would set the course of the Garrett’s breeding program. Ru Misti's sire was a son of San Luis Marc Antony, who was by Mista-Bin, a son of Hallany Mistanny and out of San Luis Bint Dorzah, a Hallany Mistanny daughter. On the dam side, Ru Mist Mida was also a daughter of San Luis Marc Antony but out of Mistara, a Hallany Mistanny daughter. That's 5 lines to Hallany Mistanny, all in the 5th generation of Ru Misti's pedigree. While it is important to point out the role that this filly, Ru Misti, played not only as an important foundation broodmare for El Hallany, producing 3 stallions and 3 broodmares; she was also the Garrett’s first Al Khamsa, Blue List Hallany Mistanny mare, making it possible for others bred like her, to become part of the Garrett’s breeding program. Ru Misti led Ginny on a search to find other high percentage Hallany Mistanny horses.

That search, led them to April Johnson of Apple Hill Arabians and two full sisters sired by Ibn Sirecho (Sirecho x Turfara), out of Bint Ballanni (Hallany Mistanny x HMR Ballanni, a Hallany Mistanny daughter). Both mares combined many of the Al Khamsa ancestral elements like Davenport, Blunt, Sa'ud, Hamidie and Egyptian. In the pedigrees of these two mares we find a rich source of Bedouin breeding, through a variety of different sources, reflecting the contributions of several important foundational breeders. April was willing to sell one of the two mares but not both.

The Garretts had to choose between Zelebanni or Apple Hill Ani. While Zelebanni was a beautiful, proven broodmare, Apple Hill Ani had only produced 3 foals: the filly, Apple Hill Afeena by Apple Hill Azal in 1981, the stallion, Apple Hill Amaodooa by Ansata El Nisr in 1982 and the gelding, Apple Hill Night Sun by HMR Haltak in 1983. For another breeder, this may have been a difficult decision; however for Ginny, one look into Ani’s eyes and her heart spoke loudly and claimed the mare as her own. There was something really special about Ani, which captured both of the Garrett’s attention.

“She let me look deep. I felt a connection with her the minute I looked there…in her eyes and that horse was always my rock.”

When the Garretts purchased Apple Hill Ani, she was in foal to Apple Hill Azal for a second time. Apple Hill Ani possessed a 37.5% concentration of Hallany Mistanny blood. She was one of six mares, living in America, with this high percentage of Hallany Mistanny breeding. She became an influential mare for the Garretts, producing six colts (including the colt sired by Apple Hill Azal, ELH Zallany, which she foaled shortly after arriving at the Garrett’s ranch) and one filly, named ELH Nafaa by Ru Ibn Roda, who is pictured above with her dam and her daughter by ELH Mabrouk, ELH Yamama. You can say that Ani helped the Garretts to maintain a higher percentage of Hallany Mistanny blood in their herd, as all her foals carried percentages of 31.25% or greater. Three of her colts, ELH Tariq, ELH Qumiz and ELH Hassan are still in the breeding group today and carry a percentage of 34.38% Hallany Mistanny blood. Ginny says,

“Ani produced what her bloodlines were…exquisite foals, no matter which of our stallions were used.”

Later on, the Garretts were able to purchase a daughter and grand-daughter of Apple Hill Ani from Jim Hibbard of Ohio: Apple Hill Afeena and KLH Lady Anne. It is interesting to note that Ani’s full sister, Zelebanni was also in foal to Apple Hill Azal and foaled a colt, ELH Ibn Azal, whom the Garretts also purchased for their breeding program. Ginny described this colt, “as powerful, kind and trustworthy.”

As Ru Misti was significant for setting the direction of the Garrett's breeding program towards Hallany Mistanny, Apple Hill Ani was significant because she fueled their desire to concentrate solely on higher percentage Hallany Mistanny bloodlines. Because of Ru Misti and Apple Hill Ani, the Garretts went to Mardax Arabians in California, where they obtained the mare, San Luis Hamida. Unfortunately, this mare never produced for the Garretts. At Rudalaro, the Garretts were able to purchase the mares Ru Mist Mida (the dam of Ru Misti) and Ru Mis Antony, however, both mares produced colts that didn’t live for very long and the mares were never able to settle again. Of the six mares that Ginny had identified with a 37.5% concentration of Hallany Mistanny blood, at this point, they were able to purchase four of them, all thanks to Ru Misti, whose strong  attributes conveyed to Lynn that the horse he saw in his mind, really did exist in the real world and his name was Hallany Mistanny.

More Hallany Mistanny horses were obtained by the Garretts. Ru Misti had a sister named Ru Mistalina, who became Lynn’s most favorite and cherished broodmare. Ru Mis Roda was also purchased from Rudalaro, in foal to Ru Mista Mar. She foaled ELH Mabrouk, a colt who matured into a stallion of great significance for the Garretts. He was exquisite, a Hallany Mistanny look-alike and much loved by Lynn. Tragically, this stallion died in a freak accident at only 11 years of age. Ru Mis Roda, a prolific mare at Rudalaro, only produced once more for the Garretts: a filly sired by Zelebanni’s son, ELH Ibn Azal. Two more mares, Ru Mar Mida and Ru Maarmida were purchased from Ruth Fogg in New Hampshire, along with the stallion, Chyann. This stallion had a lower percentage of Hallany Mistanny blood, as compared to the other horses that the Garretts had purchased from other breeders. However, Chyann brought in a bit of diversity into the Garretts program and he sired two foals for the Garretts who are still represented in the breeding group: ELH Maraa and ELH Ibn Chyann.

El Hallany produced a total of 53 Al Khamsa horses, all carrying a high percentage of Hallany Mistanny blood. In 2007, due to the advancing age of the Garretts, the decision was made to disperse the breeding program of El Hallany. The horses were sold to breeders in Canada, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Missouri and Utah.

“I almost always cry when one leaves…It is a chunk of our lives and our hearts.”-Ginny Garrett

Ginny Garrett remains active in guiding the new breeders of the El Hallany horses, making breeding decisions and insuring the perpetuation of this bloodline within Al Khamsa.

***This blog post is lovingly dedicated to the memory of Lynn Garrett, who together with his wife Ginny, created the program we now know as El Hallany****

***you can read this article, in its entirety, within The Arabian Breeders' Magazine, Volume I, Issue III***

ANSATA SAMANTHA

Ansata Samantha (*Ansata Ibn Halima x Ansata Delilah)

Besides producing Imperial Egyptian Stud's Ansata Imperial by Ansata Ibn Sudan; Ansata Delilah also produced the chestnut-colored super elite broodmare, Ansata Samantha. Like her maternal grandmother, *Ansata Bint Misr, Ansata Samantha was substantial of body, with an ideal topline that was as smooth, as it was strong. And she passed this wonderful topline on to her progeny, as her son, Ansata Sokar, also had a fabulous topline, made even more wonderful by his superb tail carriage. *Ansata Bint Bukra was recognized for her large, dark, expressive eyes which radiated an inner energy of kindness upon all whom she met. Ansata Samantha also possessed a spirit of sweetness which was magnified through her beautiful, large, dark eyes, which were so reminiscent of *Ansata Bint Bukra, as well as *Ansata Ibn Halima and Ansata Shah Zaman. We can talk about Samantha for pages upon pages and still, we would fall short of fully describing her beauty or her critical importance, not only within the Ansata breeding programme but also, all over the world. The consistency which she had for producing horses who mature into influential horses is amazing. The progeny list for Samantha reads like a "WHO's WHO" in Egyptian Arabian breeding, as she produced the chestnut stallions Ansata El Salaam and the previously-mentioned Ansata Sokar, plus the mares Ansata Samaria, Ansata Samarra, Ansata Samiha, Ansata Samsara, Ansata Shalimar and Ansata Sharifa.

In the next generation, Ansata Samarra produced by Ansata Halim Shah, one year after the other, the full sisters Ansata Selket and Ansata Sekhmet, who have matured like many of their relatives, into broodmares of influence. Also, let us not forget the son of Ansata Samsara, the late Ansata AlMurtajiz. Bred and used by Ezzain Arabians and later, the chief sire for Rayah Al Sharq Farm in Kuwait, Ansata AlMurtajiz’s influence is felt more powerfully throughout the Middle East, mainly through his many fabulous daughters and the multi-international champion stallion, EzzEzzain.  Many of the horses that are more memorable to me in the Ezzain breeding program are the horses that have Ansata AlMurtajiz somewhere in the pedigree, whether as sire, grand sire and in some cases, as a maternal great grand sire.  Also noteworthy is Ansata Sheikh Halim, the son of Ansata Samiha, who is the current chief sire at Bait Al Arab in Kuwait. It will be interesting to determine the extent of his personal dominance and influence relating to his strong lineage on both his sire and dam’s side to the noble and "prima stute", Bukra.

***Don't miss a wonderful article about the Bukra horses within The Arabian Breeders Magazine, Volume II, Issue II is The Dawning of a New Tomorrow: The Bukra Story***

ANSATA BINT MISR

*Ansata Bint Misr (Sameh X Ansata Bint Bukra)

*Ansata Bint Misr, born in 1966, was a big-bodied bay mare with a smooth and strong topline, close-coupled, with a powerfully-built hind end. Smooth over the croup with a nice hip, she was strong where the Bukra horses without the influence of Sameh are weak. Sameh added much substance and power to the line of Bukra, improving the croup and hind quarter of *Ansata Bint Misr. What I like most about the Sameh influence, is the ability that these mares have for reaching way underneath themselves, using the muscles in their relaxed backs (not hollow and stiff) to engage both the front and hind ends and harness the energy to drive their bodies forward. The driving power and elasticity in the Sameh daughters’ hocks remains a treasured memory! The Sameh daughters were also very charismatic mares, with an outward bold expression of joy manifested through the deep snorting that emerged from their expanded nostrils, tails curled over their backs, ears pricked forward and eyes twinkling. They never disappointed and always presented a beautiful image in movement. *Ansata Bint Misr, like her paternal half-sisters *Serenity Sonbolah, *Fawkia, *Deena and *Serenity Sabra, was a living, breathing example of the term often used in horse circles to describe electrifying movement as “poetry-in-motion”.

In Authentic Arabian Bloodstock II, Judith Forbis wrote, "Ansata Bint Misr (by Sameh) imported in utero, arrived as a bay wearing a large white star that illumined her broad forehead and accentuated her big dark eyes. Her head was shorter and squarer than her dam's, but better than her sire and she inherited her sire's excellent body structure and topline. *Ansata Bint Misr (which means daughter of Egypt) didn't have her dam's refinement, but Sameh ironed out the short peaky croup typical of that line, and good toplines carried on through most of her descendants. She became a keystone in the Ansata program, and lines to her have produced some of the most beautiful horses in the Bukra family." Ansata Bint Misr has the substance which I so often find lacking in today's horses. No horse is perfect and while strong of body, her neck was somewhat short, straight and heavy at the base and a stallion like Ansata Shah Zaman was the ideal choice for the next generation.

In light of the new DNA study conducted by Dr. William Hudson, indicating a familial relationship between the mares El Dahma and Roga El Beida; can we look at Sid Abouhom and Moniet El Nefous differently, in terms of concentrating the influence of one family, as Moniet El Nefous traces to Roga El Beida and Sid Abouhom traces to El Dahma? In the horses that were sired by Ansata Shah Zaman, one can see very clearly the qualities of improvement that he contributed (i.e., a longer neck with added length in the throatlatch) while retaining the strong, circular and smooth bodies that the Sameh horses are recognized for having, and not to forget, the very pretty, expressive hallmarks of a noble mare like Bukra.

***Don't miss a wonderful article about the Bukra horses within The Arabian Breeders Magazine, Volume II, Issue II is The Dawning of a New Tomorrow: The Bukra Story***

*Ansata Bint Bukra

*Ansata Bint Bukra (Nazeer x Bukra)

In 1965, Judith and Donald Forbis imported a Bukra daughter by Nazeer named Husnia, in foal to the stallion, Sameh. Once Husnia arrived in America, she was registered with a new name: *Ansata Bint Bukra. Do you know what the word "Bukra" means? It is an Arabic word meaning "tomorrow". I find it hair-raising insightful that "Ansata Bint Bukra" translates to mean "Ansata's daughter of tomorrow". While her Egyptian givrn name of "Husnia" means "beauty", one needs to consider the influence which *Ansata Bint Bukra has had not only within the Ansata breeding program but all over the world! Her name could not be any more perfect, as the name heralds the significance she would have "tomorrow" or, in the future. The families influenced by *Ansata Bint Bukra remain remarkably consistent for producing individuals who generation-to-generation, express their unique quality and identity prolifically, through the creation of vibrant and dynamic family branches that are different, as compared to the other families within the greater family of Bukra.  For example, the stallion Ghazal (by Nazeer), who was exported to Germany and Nagwa (Sameh x Bint Bukra), a full sister in blood to *Ansata Bint Misr. Nagwa’s granddaughter, the George Olms-bred Hamasa Tarifa by Farag, when bred to Hamasa Khazzan (Kasr el Nil x Nafteta) produced Latiefa, an important mare for Bait Al Arab Kuwait State Stud in Kuwait. Bint Bukra, a full sister to *Ansata Bint Bukra, remained in Egypt at the EAO and in addition to the mare Nagwa, produced horses like *GAF Wesam by Waseem, imported to America by Barbara Johansen, the EAO stallion, Zahi, by *Ibn Hafiza, Fanar by Nasralla, who went on to influence the stud of Shams el Asil in Egypt and the stallion, El Moutawakil, a full blood brother of Nagwa and *Ansata Bint Misr. The diversity of phenotype, reflecting the variety of influences introduced into the Bukra family, mirrors the diversity we also find across our breed. Even within the produce of one mare like *Ansata Bint Bukra, we find siblings who not only look differently from each other but also, reproduced differently from each other. 

***Don't miss a wonderful article about the Bukra horses within The Arabian Breeders Magazine, Volume II, Issue II is The Dawning of a New Tomorrow: The Bukra Story***

Moniet, Rashad and the Mare that Once Was

Monisa Halima

"Monisa Halima was a good mare with nice type, athletic body but very refined, a lovely mother, easy to do with every time. "-Rosi Kolster

What if the exquisite EAO-bred mare, *Bint Moniet el Nefous, was bred to *Ansata Ibn Halima? Perhaps dear reader, you have thought of this question with different horses or maybe, you and I are like-minded souls and this particular pedigree holds special significance for you? 

*Bint Moniet el Nefous

*Bint Moniet el Nefous was the only living daughter of Moniet el Nefous, sired by the great Nazeer. The late Dr. Ibrahim Zaghloul, the Director General of the EAO from 1967 to 1984, once said of *Bint Moniet el Nefous, “She was, without a doubt, the most like her dam of all of Moniet’s daughters.” In a tribute article, written shortly after her death, Marshall Partlow wrote, “Her correctness, type, beauty, graceful action, elegance, loving disposition and extreme head, endeared her to all who saw her.”

*Ansata Ibn Halima

The legendary stallion, *Ansata Ibn Halima, also a Nazeer son, single-handedly redefined the meaning of the word “classic” with his timeless beauty and became a living standard of Arabian horse type, against which, all other horses would be judged. The outline or rather, the silhouette of *Ansata Ibn Halima’s body was comprised generously of circular lines, creating an equality of body that was harmonious. He was not a horse of “bits and pieces” but a living sum of all of his parts. Nothing was too short or too long on this horse; everything worked together to create an ultimate picture of balance. 

Genetically, *Bint Moniet el Nefous and *Ansata Ibn Halima were more closely related in blood than most people realize, sharing not only Nazeer as a sire but also, their dams were similarly bred, being a blend of Sheikh el Arab with the influence of Ibn Rabdan. Breeding both horses together presented an opportunity to intensify the influence of the three super sires of Egyptian breeding: Nazeer, Shahloul and Sheikh el Arab. Most people, when thinking of Moniet el Nefous, will immediately think of an elegant, dry, desert-type Saqlawi mare, however, you will be surprised to learn that in her pedigree, she carried the blood of El Dahma multiple times, as did *Ansata Ibn Halima, who traces through Farida to El Dahma in his tail female line. Why wouldn't you want to breed these two horses together? 

In the sixties and seventies, the state of reproductive technology was vastly different. Artificial insemination was not yet available to breeders and mares had to travel long distances to be bred by natural cover to the stallion. While the distance from New Mexico to Texas may not seem far on a map; there was risk involved in shipping a valuable mare like *Bint Moniet el Nefous anywhere. I can understand the hesitancy that Richard Pritzlaff may have experienced, when he considered the logistics of getting *Bint Moniet el Nefous to Ansata, then located in Lufkin, Texas. Still, when the success of *Ansata Ibn Halima as a breeding stallion became more apparent, across a wide variety of bloodlines, one really has to wonder why Richard Pritzlaff was not more motivated to assume the risk?  Especially when you consider breeders like Norton and Millie Grow of Rafter G Arabians in Prosser, Washington who experienced spectacular results with the *Ansata Ibn Halima son, Ansata El Salim (x Maarqada) crossed on the very same horses that Richard Pritzlaff bred at Rancho San Ignacio! I have searched through books, magazines, in all the published letters written by Pritzlaff and in just about everything else that I could find, to no avail, hoping for even the smallest mention of breeding *Bint Moniet el Nefous with *Ansata Ibn Halima. I have spoken with breeders who utilized the Pritzlaff bloodlines, hoping for more insight and while some Pritzlaff devotees acted as if I had spouted heresy at the mere suggestion of going outside the programme; there were a few breeders who knew that Richard Pritzlaff admired *Ansata Ibn Halima  and desired to incorporate his blood in the programme. And finally, I scaled the “Mount Everest of my research” with one person who knew the man well and explained that Richard Pritzlaff had indeed considered the breeding, on more than one occasion. Many times, I have read about the dangers of a life, lived in hindsight, however, I only wish that I could have been someone who could have encouraged Richard Pritzlaff with what would have been an historic decision; as I very strongly believe that this cross would have impacted the course of modern straight Egyptian breeding for all time. I know that Richard Pritzlaff was angry with the definition of a straight Egyptian Arabian horse and how the definition applied to his mare, Rabanna, which seemed to influence everything he did and who knows if this also discouraged him from breeding *Bint Moniet el Nefous to *Ansata Ibn Halima? Instead, Richard Pritzlaff chose to continue breeding *Bint Moniet el Nefous to *Rashad Ibn Nazeer. I must mention that Richard Pritzlaff used three other stallions in addition to *Rashad Ibn Nazeer; however, it is important to also point out that one of the three stallions was a *Rashad Ibn Nazeer son and the other stallion was a *Rashad Ibn Nazeer grandson. While there are still horses who trace in tail female to Bint, it is not possible to find a tail female *Bint Moniet el Nefous, in straight Egyptian form, without also finding *Rashad Ibn Nazeer in the pedigree.

*Rashad Ibn Nazeer

*Rashad Ibn Nazeer was out of the Kuhaylah Rodaniyah mare, Yashmak, a Sheikh el Arab daughter who traced in her tail female line through Bint Rissala to the war mare found in the Syrian desert by the Blunts, Rodania. Yashmak is one of the few Egyptian horses who spread the influence of Bint Rissala and that of Rodania into the Egyptian gene pool. The enormity of what Rodania actually means to the greater world of Arabian horse breeding is hugely significant, as this mare is relevant not only in Egyptian breeding but also, in Russian, Polish, Spanish and of course, Crabbet breeding. Her place in Arabian horse history is truly unique. Which brings us back to *Rashad Ibn Nazeer, who, despite having Nazeer and Sheikh el Arab in common, was more of an outcross for *Bint Moniet el Nefous because of Rodania. Even though in phenotype, *Rashad Ibn Nazeer does not resemble a Kuhaylan type horse; the Rodania family is enduring and remains powerfully vibrant, many generations later. They are extremely influential horses. Breeding a Saqlawi-type horse to a Kuhaylan type-horse will help to improve the overall strength and substance of the body, as well as the compactness of the back. In a Saqlawi type horse, the attributes of Kuhaylan type become important, counteracting the Saqlawi tendency to become longer than we would like: long legs, long neck, long back, long face. The Kuhaylan type horse, in my opinion, balances the Saqlawi type horse. The Rashad/Bint Moniet cross yielded many prized daughters, who in turn, have produced well. The 1969 mare, Monisa RSI, is one of these daughters. 

Monisa RSI

In 1973, she produced a daughter named AK Monisa Moniet by *Ibn Moniet el Nefous, who was a Moniet el Nefous son, sired by a Moniet el Nefous grandson. I needed to say it this way, as I wanted to drive home in your mind that there is a lot of Moniet el Nefous blood, packed into one mare, approximately 43.75% of her genetic make-up. While AK Monisa Moniet has a beautiful body, we can already see the tendency to become longer in the back, had she been bred to another Saqlawi-type horse. 

AK Monisa Moniet

One would say that in order to create the masterpiece that her genetics and phenotype conveyed, she needed a stallion like *Ansata Ibn Halima, to draw upon his Dahman influence, balance and strengths

Monisa Halima is not the end result of breeding *Bint Moniet el Nefous to *Ansata Ibn Halima and yet, Monisa Halima vividly reminds me that an extraordinary mare like her would not have existed, had the pattern of breeding that began with *Bint Moniet el Nefous and *Rashad Ibn Nazeer not occurred. Monisa Halima helps me to better understand the role that *Rashad Ibn Nazeer played in her creation and in fact, she helps me to dig deeper and appreciate the breeding stallion that *Rashad Ibn Nazeer was, which I think, I never really understood nor appreciated. *Ansata Ibn Halima, was an extremely close-coupled horse and as a sire, was recognized for siring horses who embodied this attribute, sometimes a little more than you would like, when bred closely within Dahman type.  Considering the amount of El Dahma blood in the pedigree of *Bint Moniet el Nefous, could the foal that would have been produced by these two horses been too thick, too short, too chunky? I turn to Walter Schimanski, who devoted his life to breeding within the Dahman Shahwan strain, utilizing the blood of *Ansata Ibn Halima, combined with Babson bloodlines. Walter recommended that the Dahman strain horse be outcrossed with the Saqlawi horse.  However, what I like most about Monisa Halima is what the Kuhaylan influence contributed to her physically, that is, she was a bigger mare, substantial, yet still Saqlawi elegant and refined. The focused intensity of the Moniet blood, the high percentage of Saqlawi blood, although somewhat diluted with the blood of the Kuhaylan Rodans, counteracts the natural tendency of the Dahman Shahwan blood to become short and thick. In Monisa Halima, you don't see an angular horse nor is she long and narrow in appearance; her physique, like her sire, is primarily made up of generously rounded lines. You see in her, a neck which is longer, higher set on the shoulders and chest, with a bit more length in the poll and a roomier throatlatch. I also like her longer forearms and well-muscled shoulder, allowing more freedom of movement in the front end. From *Ansata Ibn Halima, she has inherited smoothness and harmony. She has a lot of balance and yet, when you dig into the details, there is much to appreciate, like a larger, rounder, deeper black eye. 

Monisa Halima

So, what happened to Monisa Halima? How is she represented today? She was bred to *Jamil, producing a daughter named Bint Jamilla, who remained in the United States and was prolific, producing a wonderfully vibrant family of horses. Her daughter MB Shaleema, by Prince Ibn Shaikh, produced a bay mare named HMK Norah, sired by Alidaar, who was named a National Champion Filly in Jordan for Al Nakeeb Arabians in England.  Eventually, Monisa Halima was sold to Ursula and Willi Poth of Classic Egyptian Arabians in Germany and France. She produced two sons for the Poth's by Alidaar: Classic Mansour in 1994 (sold to Mrs. Meike Höpfner in Germany) and Classic Arif in 1995. The Poths sold Monisa Halima to Rosi Kolster of Authentic Arabians  in 1996, in foal to Alidaar. She produced a filly, which was named Miriyah Alida, who was a foundation broodmare for Christine Krumm in Germany. Monisa produced four other horses for Rosi Kolster. A son by the name of Authentic Mabrouk by El Ahhim Shah (Ansata Halim Shah x AK Athea), who was later gelded and three daughters, all sired by the Maysoun son, Nabeel II: Authentic Madaleenah (sold to Sicily), Authentic Mona Lizha purchased by the Poths (producing two sons, Classic Majeed by Authentic Dahman and  Classic Malak by Lohim) and Authentic Monisa, who was sold to Qatar, when Rosi Kolster reorganized her breeding programme, deciding  to primarily focus on her two foundation mares: AK Nawaal (The Egyptian Prince x Dahmah Shahwaniah) and Classic Dahra (Alidaar x AK Dareeba).

For me personally, Monisa Halima finally resolved in a very meaningful way, the long running “what if” question regarding the breeding of two horses who have colored my world so brightly and like me, have inspired other enthusiasts, for many years.

***This blog entry is lovingly dedicated to Rosemarie Kolster of Authentic Arabians. Not only is she a breeder whom I greatly admire; she is also a wonderful human being. Danke Rosi! You can read the complete article, in its entirety, within The Arabian Breeders' Magazine, Volume I, Issue III***

Maarena

Maarena, a chestnut straight Babson Egyptian mare was a daughter of Fabah, out of the mare Fada.  Maarena was bred twice to Ibn Fa Serr, and from this breeding, Serr Maariner and his full sister, the chestnut AK Bint Maarena were produced. In the brochure for the Pyramid Society Breeder's Sale I, held in 1982, Homer Watson wrote:

"When we sold Maarena in 1972, they wanted to choose a mating which I felt would produce a foundation-quality mare or a stallion prospect. It took me about two seconds to decide on Ibn Fa Serr. He's been so great on Fabah daughters. Bint Maarena was the resulting foal. David Gardner took Maarena out one time, showed her to Champion Mare, and turned her back out. It didn't surprise me that she won. She was carrying Bint Maarena at the time."

In addition to the 2 full siblings (Serr Maariner and AK Bint Maarena) sired by Ibn Fa-Serr, Maarena was also bred to the new Egyptian stallion, *Ibn Moniet El Nefous  and produced the full siblings:  AK El Maalouf, a gray stallion that went to Deep Meadow Farm in Virginia, the chestnut, very Babson-like, AK El Zahra Moniet, who also went to Virginia, to Akid Arabian Stud and the grey AK Monareena whom I met on a late winter's day, in Pennsylvania at the farm of Dr. David Newcomer. I had loved this particular mare, since she was consigned by Imperial Egyptian Stud to the Bluebonnet sale in the mid-eighties.

AK Monareena

She was 18 years old when I met her, even more beautiful than I remembered. She had a most expressive head with large eyes, fully and deeply black. Her body was of good proportions, as she had the substance that Babson horses are known for and yet, she was elegant because of the refinement that *Ibn Moniet El Nefous contributed to the cross. She was harmonious because everything looked like it belonged on her body. There was a point when I handed the lead rope over, watching her walk away from me and I was overwhelmed with the view from behind. Even though she had foundered, she had such elegant movement, underscored by her tail carriage. She was one of the most beautiful mares that I ever remember meeting.

ZT Sharuby

ZT Sharuby (ZT Sharello x ZT Bint Ruby)

"No words can describe the beauty of this fine lady! Her feminine and kind nature will make everyone that meet her fall in love."-Glenn Jacobs

The sire of ZT Sharuby is ZT Sharello, an Ansata Shah Zaman son, out of We Three Doncella (an *AN Malik daughter out of a Ferzon daughter). Her dam is a mare named ZT Bint Ruby, an Ansata El Mabrouk daughter out of a *Bask daughter named Gai Ruby (who is out of another Ferzon daughter named Gata).  Fifty percent of her pedigree is influenced by the straight Egyptian breeding program of Ansata Arabian Stud, however, the majority of the other half of her pedigree is significantly impacted by Lady Wentworth's Crabbet Arabian Stud via breeders like W.K. Kellogg, Roger Selby, James Draper, Frank McCoy and Daniel Gainey. Polish breeding, via *Bask to Witraz and Balalajka, is blended with Spanish bloodlines through horses like *AN Malik and Ghuli. Davenport breeding, via Hanad and Letan, infuses the pedigree with additional sources of desert breeding.

It is interesting to note that Ansata Shah Zaman, a result of breeding a full-brother to a full-sister, appears twice, as he is also the sire of Ansata Damietta, the dam of Ansata El Mabrouk. Ansata Shah Zaman represents more than half of the 50 percent worth of Egyptian breeding. Together with the other Egyptian horses that make up the pedigree of the Ansata horses, these horses multiply the lines to the stallion Nazeer (approximately six lines) and to the mare, Moniet el Nefous (approximately 4 lines). One can argue whether the harmony and balance seen in the body of ZT Sharuby comes from Nazeer or from another horse. However, for me, there is a familiarity in Sharuby's phenotype, which makes me think of  Nazeer. Like Ansata Shah Zaman, Ferzon appears multiple times in the pedigree, although by virtue of where he appears (great-great grand sire) his influence is approximately 12 per cent, a little less than Ansata Shah Zaman, who is closer up in the pedigree. However, his influence comes through the maternal sides of both, the sire and dam of ZT Sharuby, which historically, is a position of much influence. I guess this is the reason why most people have summarized ZT Sharuby's pedigree to be a combination of Ansata and Gainey, however, her pedigree is more than that, as her genetic influences are like a finely woven tapestry, blending the influence of prepotent stallions like Nazeer, Ofir, Zancudo, Congo and Skowronek; all of whom have individually impacted the breeding programs of their respective countries forever.

ZT Sharuby with Johanna Ullström

In a tribute to Johanna Ullström, published in an older issue of Arabian Horse World, I found a touching photo of Johanna and ZT Sharuby, which moved me to write about this extraordinary mare. The mare has her head lowered towards Johanna, nuzzling her hand. Both horse and human are turned toward each other and the exchange of energy says, "yes, I desire to be with you."
ZT Sharuby is standing in a way that gives you a full appreciation of her powerful smoothness and of course, her beauty. Her body is a flowing collection of rounded lines, giving the mare a voluptuousness in her body, which is not heavy and does not overwhelm the chiseled angles created by bone, tissue and veins. The picture is soft, almost possessing a dreamy quality, conveying the mutual affection that two living beings, of different species, have for each other. While visually,  the photo makes a very strong statement for breed type; subtly, the picture also conveys intangible qualities inherent to the Arabian breed and that is, primarily, a love of man. These horses desire a relationship with us. Horses like ZT Sharuby seek our companionship like no other. They want to be with us.

ZT Sharuby

ZT Sharuby reminds me of the many mares whose stories have immortalized books like Wudiyeh in Drinkers of the Wind and art like Peter Smith's The Favourite. What impact does a horse like ZT Sharuby have upon human beings? Mohammed Al Sulaiti, the Breeding and Show Manager at Al Shaqab was moved to say,

When Johanna welcomed Sharuby at Darby Farm with tears in her eyes, I had no doubt that this was the perfect place for Sharuby to spend the rest of her life. I've never encountered a horse with as sweet and unique a disposition as our precious Sharuby. She is the perfect companion for horses and humans alike."

Many people agree over the beauty and charm of ZT Sharuby, as this mare was named World Champion Mare in 2002, as well as a Reserve and a Champion mare in Qatar, in Germany and in America. In show ring after show ring, people were charmed by her presence, elegance and style. However, it is in the quiet of a quickly passing moment that one becomes aware of what horses can do for us:

• they humble us, 
• they inspire us, 
• they encourage us 
• they bring us joy, even when we are not feeling so joyful. 

We don't start out with horses because we are seeking a spiritual journey of enlightenment but that is something that happens along the way that changes us and makes us better people.