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.