NADINA RAF

Nadina RAF (Shahir IASB x NF Nawrah) as photographed by Darryl Larson

Nadina RAF is a 2012 daughter of Shahir IASB (Salaa el Dine x Imperial IM Phayana) and is out of NF Nawrah, an interesting mare, as Prince Fa Moniet represents almost 40% of her pedigree! Through the tail female line of Shahir IASB, Nadina RAF traces to the EAO-bred mare, Tamria (*Tuhotmos x Kamar) who became 9 Tamria, an important broodmare for The Babolna State Stud. Tamria's great-granddam, Layla (Ibn Rabdan x Bint Sabah) was Bukra's maternal sibling, as both horses were out of Bint Sabah (Kazmeen x Sabah). Nadina RAF is part of the unique Tamria-focused breeding program of Jamie Zissis' Rosehaven Arabians.

"What was the pedigree of this ethereal young creature with the large dark eyes and beautiful face - so refined for one so young?" - Judith Forbis, upon meeting *Ansata Bint Bukra for the first time, from Born to Reign

In tail female line, Nadina RAF traces to *Ansata Bint Bukra, a Bukra daughter sired by Nazeer:

The tail female line: Nadina RAF->NF Nawrah->Ansata Neoma->Ansata Bint Halima->Ansata Delilah->*Ansata Bint Misr->*Ansata Bint Bukra

In fact, Nadina RAF has multiple lines to *Ansata Bint Bukra, approximately eight lines and a genetic influence of almost 10%, given that *Ansata Bint Bukra first appears in the 6th generation of Nadina's pedigree:

• Ansata Rosetta - 3 lines (Ansata Halim Shah)
• Ansata Delilah - 5 lines (Ansata Imperial 2x, Ansata Sudarra 2x, Ansata Bint Halima 1x)

Nadina RAF is also overwhelmingly Dahman, as 56.25% of her pedigree reflects horses of this strain.

There is a very special look or rather, an expression that some, not all, of the *Ansata Bint Bukra horses possess, as we observe in the above photo of Nadina RAF.  Carl Raswan, within an article published by Western Horseman magazine, mentioned this unique expression.  Through his experiences living amongst the Bedouin, he learned of psychic powers, passed from the dam to her daughter. These special horses were referred to as Muluq. Raswan further explained, "The gift of an intelligent spirit was bestowed upon the mare of Ishmael and an intuitive soul to dwell within her beautiful, strong and symmetrical body. Psychic powers of her animal spirit were gifts of God, but her conscious mind developed through her intimate human association."

Within the second volume of Authentic Arabian Bloodstock, Judith Forbis wrote about Ansata Delilah (grandaughter of *Ansata Bint Bukra), "an independent soul marked Delilah from the day she was born. Standing in the pasture apart from her mother, she would look off into the distance at something sensed but not seen." Carl Raswan believed that these horses often spent their time listening and meditating, giving the onlooker an impression of being deep in thought.

If what Carl Raswan wrote about the psychic gifts bestowed upon the horses is truthful, then the way in which we measure these horses and the qualities that we have held dear for so many years, pale in comparison to who these horses really are and the significance they hold for our lives, if we remain open to them. You will notice this unique expression in several of the photos published, many never seen before, in Judith Forbis' book, Born to Reign, newly published last year. Have you had the opportunity to purchase this remarkable book, Born to Reign? 

While the centerpiece of Born to Reign is the life of *Ansata Bint Bukra and the families of horses which descend from her; it is also the story of Judith Forbis and of the experiences which shaped her young life and eventually led her to the EAO. *Ansata Bint Bukra's story, so intertwined with the amazing life that Judith Forbis created will inspire you with a similar amount of courage, faith and determination. You will feel empowered to do the same and make all that you dream and believe in, a reality. I strongly encourage you to purchase a copy of Born to Reign, while the book is still available. As we head into Autumn and then, Winter, this book will become a most beloved fireside companion.

#400

Hadiya Al Kamar RB, as photographed by Christine Emmert in August, 2021

Hadiya Al Kamar RB, bred by Dr. Joseph Cruz of Rancho Bulakenyo, Los Osos, California, is a 2021 colt, sired by *Hadban Al Shaqab (Ashhal Al Rayyan x Sundar Alisayyah) and out of Nahjiyah Al Kamar RB, an *Asala Hafid Nahman daughter out of Hassanieh Al Kamar RB (Imperial Al Kamar x EAI Hassimah). You know what is interesting about this colt? The "RB" suffix, which is added to the end of his name. Dr. Cruz, in using this suffix (instead of "MH") is telling us  that there is no RDM Maar Hala (El Hilal x Maar Jumana) blood in this colt. 

In tail female line, Hadiya Al Kamar RB traces to the mare, Bint El Bahreyn (same tail female line of Rancho Bulakenyo's Moon family); while in sire line, he is a Saklawi I:

• via his tail female line, *Hadiya Al Kamar RB is Dahman by strain: Nahjiyah Al Kamar RB->Hassanieh Al Kamar RB->EAI Hassimah->Bint Hassenah->Hassenah->Hebet Allah->*Soheir II ->Tifla->Elwya->Zareefa->Durra->Dalal->Bint el Bahreyn

• via his sire line: Hadiya Al Kamar RB traces to Saklawi I: *Hadban Al Shaqab->Ashhal Al Rayyan->Safir->Salaa El Dine->Ansata Halim Shah->*Ansata Ibn Halima->Nazeer->Mansour->Gamil Manial->Saklawi II->Saklawi I

The Gleannloch Farms breeding program exerts a significant influence in the pedigree of this colt, more than any other breeding program, at approximately 28%; while the Ansata program represents an influence of almost 15%, largely through the stallion, Ansata Halim Shah, who interestingly (and uniquely), impacts 20% of the pedigree through horses born in several countries, namely America and Germany.  

Cell phone pic of Hadiya Al Kamar RB with his dam, Nahjiyah Al Kamar RB

While the focus of this blog is Hadiya Al Kamar RB; this is also a story of how breeding programs, already hugely successful in their consistency year-after-year, remain willing to evolve, as they add to their genetic mix of bloodlines. In the case of the long-term Rancho Bulakenyo program, Dr. Cruz had been searching for an outcross stallion and specifically, a bay-colored horse of Ansata lines, blended with those of Katharinenhof. An advertisement placed by Tanja Lux of Asala Arabians in a popular Egyptian Arabian horse website at the time, caught Dr. Cruz's attention. Foaled in 2008, *Asala Hafid Nahman (DF Malik Jamil x Asra Milahaa) was the promising five-month old straight Egyptian colt described in the ad. Intrigued by both the additional conformation photos that he requested, Dr. Cruz decided to fly to Germany and see the horse in person.  The colt turned out to be everything that Dr.Cruz had been looking for and shortly before he became a yearling, *Asala Hafid Nahman arrived at his new home. In 2013, his first foals started to arrive. Bred to an Imperial Al Kamar daughter, Nahjiyah Al Kamar RB, was foaled the following year. 

Nahjiyah Al Kamar RB, the dam of Hadiya Al Kamar RB, as photographed by Christine Emmert in April, 2021

Nahjiyah Al Kamar RB is unmistakable, for the look of her sire. As a breeding stallion, Dr.Cruz could not have found a horse who sired more like an outcross than *Asala Hafid Nahman was doing. He was very prepotent and his bay-colored get look very much like him, right down to the smaller, sharper pointed ears! Tragically, he passed away while still a young horse and did not sire a large amount of get, as compared to longer-lived stallions. However, what I found impressive, is the larger amount of fillies he sired and perhaps, it will be through his daughters like Nahjiyah, that his greatest legacy will be felt.  Hadiya Al Kamar RB, whose name means "gift" may prove to be just that, *Asala Hafid Nahman's greatest gift, in return for the faith that Dr. Cruz had in him as a breeding stallion. 

Hadiya Al Kamar RB has a full sister, Aleah Naamah, bred by Robin Lee, who had leased Nahjiyah Al Kamar RB from Rancho Bulakenyo. Robin decided to breed her to *Hadban Al Shaqab, sired by Ashhal Al Rayyan (Safir x Ansata Majesta) and out of Sundar Alisayyah (Ruminaja Ali x Imperial Sayyah), a maternal brother to the late Al Adeed Al Shaqab. Ashhal Al Rayyan carries 50% of Ansata Halim Shah blood, through both of his paternal grandparents (Salaa el Dine and Aisha) in addition to his dam, Ansata Majesta. While considered "maternal siblings", the two horses are genetically closer, when you factor Ansata Halim Shah's influence within Ashhal's genetic make-up. It was the beauty of Aleah Naamah, that inspired the repeat breeding to *Hadban Al Shaqab. 

One of the things that I have learned over time is that love seems to always be at the source of life's greatest gifts. If love is missing, life, over time will confirm love's absence and in this emptiness, no one finds fulfillment or satisfaction. The love I feel for this breed has sustained me over these last fifteen years. It hasn't been easy and there have been many sacrifices, some even so challenging, that giving up, crossed my mind. With all that said, here we now are, at what is for me a special milestone, the 400th blog post.  400! Do you know dear reader that the number 400 is associated with "uniqueness", "new beginnings", "determination", "focus" and "building a foundation for the future"? I was impressed to read this, as these are also some of the descriptive things that people say when speaking of a special new-born colt and prospective breeding stallion. I can't think of a better way to mark this special moment, than with the birth of what is a truly extraordinary colt and *Asala Hafid Nahman's special gift to Rancho Bulakenyo - Hadiya Al Kamar RB.

Ar-Ra'ad

Ar-Ra'ad (Faaris x Dahma Al Zarka)

Ar-Ra'ad was a 1958 straight Babson Egyptian stallion, sired by Faaris (Fa-Serr x *Maaroufa) and out of Dahma Al Zarka (Fay-el-Dine x Habba). Do you know what is interesting about this particular horse? His name. "Ar-Ra'ad" does not reflect the naming convention practiced by the Babson Farm.  Why? Ar-Ra'ad was not bred by the Babson Farm, he was bred by Mrs. John Ekern Ott, who bestowed upon the horse the Arabic name for "thunder".  However, Ar-Ra'ad is also a deeply religious name. The Quran is composed of 114 chapters or surahs and the 13th surah, the Ar-Ra'ad, shares common ground with the book of Revelation in the Christian bible. It's the chapter that presents the concept of Judgement day and the power that is found in truth, while exposing the weakness in lies. Indeed, a very powerful name for a horse, who remains relevant and vibrant to the present day, 63 years later.

Mrs. Ott, the pioneer preservationist behind the "Blue List" and "Blue Star" movement,  had purchased the 1954 colt, Faaris, together with three Babson mares: Habba (*Fadl x *Bint Bint Sabbah), her 1952 daughter, Dahma Al Zarka by Fay-el-Dine and Fad Roufa (Faddan x Fay Roufa). What is significant about the three Babson mares is that in the hands of the Otts, each mare only produced one straight Babson Egyptian foal before becoming part of the Ott's breeding program which included the stallions: Sirecho (*Nasr x *Exochorda) and his son, Bel Gordas. Prior to Habba's sale to the Otts, she had produced Bint Habba and Fay-Habba for the Babson Farm. 

In the early 1960's, Jean Jennings of Ra'adin Arabians decided to breed her foundation mare, Khamsa (Fay-el-Dine x Khedena) to Ar-Ra'ad. This breeding resulted in the 1964 mare, Allah Ateyyah, whose name means "God's Gift" restoring the holiness of Ar-Ra'ad's name for one more generation. I believe the name to be a blessing, for only a blessed mare could produce like Allah Ateyyah did. 

It is through Allah Ateyyah that Ar-Ra'ad remains relevant within straight Egyptian breeding, namely through her sons: Ra'adin Inshalla by *Ansata Ibn Halima, Ra'adin Shetan and Serr Al Sahih, both sired by Sireff (Fa-Serr x Sirefa) and her daughter, Ra'adin Hilal, also sired by Sireff. When Ra'adin Hilal was bred to the stallion, *Tuhotmos, she produced the mare, Om Khamsa, who in turn, was bred to ET Crown Prince (TheEgyptianPrince x RDM Maar Hala) and produced Ra'adin Royal Star, the sire of Simeon Shai and Simeon Sheba, the dam of Simeon Sehavi. It is the amazing production record of Allah Ateyyah, in the hands of Jean Jennings, that commands so much awe from me today. Even the Allah Ateyyah descendants that were sold by Ra'adin Arabians and incorporated into other programs turned out to be hugely successful broodmares for other breeders. For example, an additional mare that I found interesting is Ra'adin Kamar, a Ra'adin Hilal daughter sired by *Ansata El Wazir, who became a significant broodmare for Count Federico Zichy-Thyssen, producing foals (a majority of which were fillies) sired by Moniet el Nafis, Ruminaja Bahjat, Ansata Shah Zaman and even, *El Shaklan. With 2,000+ asil descendants recorded over ten generations, Ar-Ra'ad  remains relevant in both the straight Egyptian and Al Khamsa recognized breeding communities; however, he was used so sparingly within the straight Egyptian sector, despite the spectacular horses produced by his daughter, Allah Ateyyah. While I am grateful for the horses that Ar-Ra'ad remains part of; it's challenging not to lament the missed opportunity to have also preserved his bloodline, within a straight Babson Egyptian program. 

Changing the World, One Horse at a Time

Moniets Regent SA (Bahir Ibn Kazmeen x Ravenwood Teyyah)

Sometime in the late spring, Pam Studebaker posted this photo of her stallion, Moniets Regent SA, whom she affectionately calls "Reggie". I was immediately drawn to the photo, enchanted by an overwhelming expression of kindness that radiated from his large, fully black and soulful eyes. I felt joyful, inspired and encouraged by this most beautiful and generously proportioned stallion, so reminiscent in his look of the beloved *Bint Moniet el Nefous. He is everything that I have ever imagined a straight Egyptian Arabian horse to be, classic and yet, strong-bodied and functional.  I had to find out more about him!

via his tail female line: Moniets Regent SA is Saqlawi by strain: Ravenwood Teyyah->JA Ateyyah Moniet->Muniet Nefous RSI->*Bint Moniet el Nefous->Moniet el Nefous->Wanisa->Medallela->Khafifa->Dalal al Zarka->Om Dalal->Bint Roga al Zarka->Roga el Beda 

via his sire line: Moniets Regent SA traces to Saklawi I: Bahir Ibn Kazmeen->Kazmeen Ibn Shiko->Shiko Ibn Sheikh->*Rashad Ibn Nazeer->Nazeer->Mansour->Gamil Manial->Saklawi II->Saklawi I

 

Ancestor-by-ancestor, within his 5th generation (great-great grandparents), Moniets Regent SA is overwhelmingly a Saqlawi horse. The strain analysis by ancestor points to 50% influence by horses who are Saqlawi by strain, while horses of the Dahman strain contribute 31.25%. The Kuhaylan Rodan strain balances the pedigree at 18.75%. In my opinion, Moniets Regent SA is one of the few straight Egyptian horses who pheotypically match the genotype established in the pedigree.

Denise Hearst, of Arabian Horse World magazine, in a 1987 interview with Richard Pritzlaff, had asked which of the EAO imports had been the most influential. 

"*Bint Moniet el Nefous has been the most important influence in my herd. Her sire Nazeer was the outstanding stallion at the RAS and her dam, Moniet el Nefous was the most famous mare. The most important influence overall should likely be Nazeer, the sire of *Bint Moniet el Nefous, *Bint El Bataa and *Rashad Ibn Nazeer. The influence of Bint Moniet el Nefous can be seen in most of the Pritzlaff Arabians. Chestnut color predominates, although Nazeer was white. Most of the horses have a shorter head than *Bint Moniet el Nefous." 

In studying the pedigree for Moniets Regent SA, a 2015 chestnut stallion, *Bint Moniet el Nefous could not be any more important than Richard said she was in his interview. Foaled in 1957, *Bint Moniet el Nefous appears five times in the pedigree, in the 5th, 6th and 7th generations, her genetic influence is measured at 20%. 

If Richard's answer to Denise can be also taken in a declining order of importance, then *Bint El Bataa, the horse Richard mentions after *Bint Moniet el Nefous (and the dam of Shiko Ibn Sheikh) would be next in importance. The pedigree is very clever, as Shiko Ibn Sheik appears four times: as the paternal grandsire of Bahir Ibn Kazmeen, in addition to siring Umi, who appears three times: as a great-great-grandsire on the paternal side of the pedigree, as well as two times the great grandsire of Ravenwood Teyyah. Every line to Umi not only includes Shiko Ibn Sheikh, it also includes *Bint El Bataa! 

*Rashad Ibn Nazeer, the last horse mentioned by Richard appears multiple times in the pedigree, more times than *Bint Moniet and *Bint El Bataa combined! He is not only the sire of Shiko Ibn Sheik but also the sire of Bint El Sarie, Sonieta, RSI Sara and Monieta, a mare that Richard was especially proud of: 

"Monieta is most like her dam. She has a shorter head than her mother. Monieta has a very affectionate, trusting dispositiion and has produced very fine, correct foals." 

Monieta is the dam of Almoniet RSI, the sire of Sonimoniet RSI, the sire of Ravenwood Teyyah and RG Iris, the dam of Bahir Ibn Kazmeen. 

The "outcross" blood in the pedigree comes through the two *Ansata Ibn Halima sons, paternal siblings who also share common ground in their straight Babson Egyptian dams: Maarqada (Fabah x El Maar) and Allah Atteyah (Ar-Ra'ad x Khamsa). However, "outcross" in this case can be a bit of a  misnomer, as the *Ansata Ibn Halima sons share the Nazeer ancestry with *Bint Moniet el Nefous, *Bint el Bataa and *Rashad Ibn Nazeer, helping to increase the combined Nazeer influence to over 30%! The *Ansata Ibn Halima horses are more closely related with the Pritzlaff program than you may initially think. Consider one of the mares of the 1958 importation: *Bint Dahma. 

"Bint Dahma was a small chestnut pretty mare with long flowing mane. None of her photos quite captured her lovely head which had the more undulating camel like muzzle with large eyese set low and very deep jowls with good width below. She was fine skinned and dry in facial features." - Joe Ferriss, from his article, Remembering Richard Pritzlaff, published in Desert Heritage Magazine

You will find her in Moniets Regent SA's pedigree as the dam of Bint el Sarie and Umi. *Bint Dahma was sired by El Sareei, out of Dahma II, a Futna daughter. Futna, if you will remember, is a Shahloul daughter out of Farida, who is also the dam of Ragia, the dam of Halima. Not to mention that the two Babson dams also share common ancestry through *Fadl, *Bint Bint Sabbah, *Maaroufa and *Bint Serra I. The difference between the dams is the percentage of *Bint Serra I blood, which is at a higher percentage in Allah Atteyah, than it is in Maarqada.  

It is unexpected photos like these (thanks Pam) who suddenly have the power to change a not-so-good day, into a better one, all for the love of a horse. Did I mention that I am partial to chestnut-colored horses? 

Bint Alyssa

Bint Alyssa (Thee Rebel x Ansata Alyssa)

While searching for information on both *Ansata El Wazir and *Darrag, I stumbled upon Bint Alyssa, a 1999 grey mare and a daughter of Thee Rebel, a Thee Desperado son, out of Ansata Alyssa, by Ansata Halim Shah and out of Ansata Raqessa (*Ansata Ibn Halima  x Ansata Regina). She is Dahmah by strain, tracing through the Bint Sabah (Kazmeen x Sabah) family to El Dahma in her tail female line. Her dam carries 4 lines to *Ansata Bint Bukra (Nazeer x Bukra). She is also line bred to *Ansata Ibn Halima, who appears closer up in the pedigree than *Ansata Bint Bukra does and therefore, his percentage of influence is almost 40%! Bint Alyssa was bred by John and Melinda Bacot of Mariah Arabians in Arizona, USA. The most interesting thing about Bint Alyssa? Her dam, Ansata Alyssa. Not only is she the dam of Bint Alyssa, she is also the dam of Thee Rebel! Three-quarters of the pedigree is dominated by the genetic influence of this mare! The other thing that caught my attention is *Ansata El Wazir, the maternal great-great grandsire of Thee Rebel, as well as the maternal great-grandsire of Ansata Alyssa. I also found it interesting that the 1934 stallion, Nazeer, as far back as we find him in the pedigree, still contributes approximately 34% genetic influence, despite the presence of horses like *Ansata El Wazir and Asmarr (*Zaghloul x Nagliah), who do not carry any lines to Nazeer in their genetic heritage. How is Bint Alyssa represented in the present day? In the sources that I have available to me, Bint Alyssa was bred to the Al Lahab son, Uranos, out of a Thee Desperado granddaughter named Usurei. In fact, the pedigree of this stallion is super concentrated in the blood of The Minstril (Ruminaja Ali x *Bahila), twice through Thee Desperado, as well as twice through Belle Staar. However, what is super interesting in this stallion's pedigree is Kasr El Nil, a maternal great great grandsire of Uranos, who happens to be a *Tuhotmos son! This line complements the two lines present in *Ansata El Wazir as well as the multiple lines to Moniet el Nefous through horses like *Morafic, *Ansata Bint Mabrouka, Mouna and *Ibn Moniet el Nefous. Bint Alyssa produced a daughter, LF Uriyah, by Uranos, in 2014, bred by La Fame Arabians in Germany.