A Candle for Laheeb

Bar Hajaj Photography took this photo of Laheeb last year, for his 25th birthday

“Laheeb is a dream horse. His disposition is unbelievable. I have never seen a stallion as gentle and as peaceful as Laheeb, all without losing a bit of any of the traits that you want in a stallion.” - the late Nasr Marei, from Tzviah Idan's Laheeb article, published by Desert Heritage Magazine

On March 4th, Laheeb, a 1996 son of Imperial Imdal+, out of the Bentwood-bred mare, AK Latifa (*Ibn Moniet el Nefous x Siralima), died. He was 26 years old, having celebrated his birthday two months earlier, on January 2nd. The news of his passing this past week was a shock, as Laheeb was a most beloved horse and the closest equivalent we had today to Nazeer. Like most straight Egyptian horses, Laheeb carried multiple lines to Nazeer (9), however, he was more like Nazeer than most, as he sired a high degree of quality with impressive consistency, across a wide variety of bloodlines. Just as Nazeer changed the course of the RAS/EAO breeding program, Laheeb's influence changed the course of the Polish breeding programs too. He was the first straight Egyptian stallion to stand at stud in Poland, chosen for Michalow in 1999 and then, Janow Podlaski in 2000. Maybe today, we are more accepting of combined bloodlines and don't really understand the fuss, but at the time that Laheeb was chosen for breeding by the Polish State Studs, this was huge news, a landmark decision, albeit a controversial one.

"In Laheeb, they had found an almost perfect representative of the Saklawi I sire line, one who both exemplified and could reproduce the Polish ideal of all that an Arabian horse should be-typey and elegant, with long harmonious lines and good movement." - Tzviah Idan, from her Laheeb article, published by Desert Heritage magazine

Over time, the decision to use Laheeb with the best of the Polish mares has proven to be historically significant, as his daughters have matured to become valuable broodmares for both state studs, while establishing a new standard of excellence in Arabian Horse breeding throughout the world. 

Laheeb's pedigree represents a concentration of Moniet el Nefous blood (primarily through her Sid Abouhom daughter, Mabrouka) combined  with that of *Ansata Ibn Halima, plus smaller percentages of the stallion Sameh and the mare, Bint Sabah (through her daughters: Bukra and *Bint Bint Sabbah). The "outcross" blood in the pedigree comes by way of the mare, Nazeera (Nazeer x Malaka) and the stallion Sirecho (*Nasr x *Exochorda). While Dahman by matriline, Laheeb's pedigree is overwhelmingly Saqlawi, as more of his ancestors (double the number of Dahman ancestors) are of this strain. The profound Saqlawi influence helps to explain the longer lines we see in Laheeb's phenotype.

There have been wonderful articles written about Laheeb, citing the achievements he realized as an individual in the show ring, as a beloved companion for those people who knew him intimately and as a proven sire. However, on a deeply personal level, Laheeb inspired me through his unbelievable courage. When Laheeb was four years old, he suffered a tragic accident, breaking a bone in his right foreleg. Initially, the prognosis for his survival was not very good. He underwent two surgeries and a very long recovery, followed by an intense period of physical therapy. Throughout his treatment, there were disappointing setbacks, as well as periods of great challenges, pain, suffering and doubt. Despite the poor prognosis, Laheeb persevered and it was through these small victories, that Laheeb encouraged everyone. His character and amazing depth of soul, inspired the team of people supporting him, to keep trying. In the days following the accident, no one asked for much. However, what people did not realize was that they loved a horse who wanted, and asked for, more from life than they could ever imagine. In those days and months, when it didn't seem likely that Laheeb would survive, who would have believed that three years later, Laheeb would be sound and named the judges unanimous Israeli National Champion Stallion? Now, in hindsight, can we see this as a miracle that Laheeb not only survived an injury that for another horse, would prove fatal; he lived a longer, full life! That's a credit to Chen Kedar and the standard of care that she gave to Laheeb over the course of his life. 

Horses like Laheeb are rare, when you meet one, he affects you so profoundly, he is never to be forgotten. Laheeb, in the life that he lived, pushed me out of my comfort zone to consider what is really possible, when life is lived more courageously. Laheeb, despite the hard times that really tested his spirit,  remained steadfast and loyal to his character, and was always joyful. He trusted the people closest to him, to provide the best care for his injury and then, he let it go. Imagine if I lived my life like Laheeb lived his - he didn't  let anyone or anything, not even anxiety (if horses experience anxiety like humans do) steal his joy. And now, that's why Laheeb's death hits me harder, as compared to the death of other beloved horses. Laheeb was larger than life itself and super heroes are not supposed to die. Death is conquered, just like any other villain. I just was not ready for my super hero's candle to be blown out and now,  life, will be just that little bit harder, knowing that he is no longer part of this world.  Godspeed Laheeb, until that day that finds me enveloped by the great and shiny light of your flame.

***This blog post is lovingly dedicated to Chen Kedar, in whose hands, the living flame we knew as Laheeb, was placed. Chen's love for her beloved Laheeb, in the same way that the brightest candle illuminates what once was a darkened room, has made it possible for the world to know and also love Laheeb***