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.