Laheeb: The Flame Still Burns

This week, between the floods, the heat and the wildfires, on top of the war in Ukraine, the rising costs of just about everything and the spread of the monkeypox virus, the evening news broadcast can crush the joy right out of a man's heart. It's very difficult to be happy when so many people around the world are suffering. And then, when all hope seems lost, out of nowhere, the Arabian "dream horse" materializes and through his unbelievable beauty, the problems of this world are temporarily forgotten. So it is for me today and an Arabian Insider video of the 16-year old stallion, Kabsztad (Poganin x Kwestura), one of the lots consigned to the 2022 Pride of Poland sale, to be held in two weeks (August 14th and 15th).  I was surprised to find a mature, proven stallion of his quality offered in the sale. To me, this is the kind of horse a breeder keeps, having spent decades just trying to create him.

Bred and owned by Michalow Stud, Kabsztad is a Laheeb grandson and 25% of his almost 33% Egyptian blood comes via Laheeb. Through Kwestura, there are two lines to Aswan and one line to Nil. Also through *Kwestura, the matriline goes back to Gazella, one of four desert-bred mares purchased by Count Julius Dzieduszycki for his Jarczowce Stud. Gazella founded one of the most influential families in Poland. A horse like Kabsztad underscores her continuing influence in Polish breeding programs.

As wonderful as the Gazella matriline is, in phenotype, it is my belief that Kabsztad is strongly influenced by his sire, Poganin and therefore, his grandsire, Laheeb. Like his sire, he is strong of body, close-coupled, with a smooth topline. His chest is broad, his heart girth is deep and the ratio of a long forearm to a short cannon is almost perfect. However, I would be amiss if I didn't point out that Kabsztad has a little more stretch, a little more length in his flowing lines (that neck, oh my), as compared to his sire and that stretchiness has to come from somewhere, perhaps the impact from the fabulous chestnut mare, *Kwestura, a Monogramm daughter and paternal sibling of the recently deceased stallion, Ekstern.

Many people over the years have also been enchanted by Kabsztad's strong, correct conformation in addition to his overall classic beauty, as the stallion has earned an impressive show record, over the course of 12 years, with many Championships in several countries across Europe, as well as in the Middle East. He was shown at the Salon du Cheval in three World Championships: 2011, 2012 and 2017, earning  a top ten in the Senior Stallion Championships each year. 

Recently, I came across a poem by Chief Tecumseh, a great Warrior Chief of the Shawnee nation. He commands us to be the hero in our lives, to live in a way that brings beauty to all we do. Horses like Kabsztad, if we let them, open up our minds and hearts to what is really possible in life, when we free ourselves from the self-inhibiting limits we impose on just about everything, even breeding horses. A beautiful horse, approaching a level of perfection previously believed to be impossible, is a horse to be celebrated, for we have bred, as breeders, the very best horse our breed has to offer. It is the breeders of the Arabian horse who really, are the every day heroes that Chief Tecumseh alludes to in his poem and whom, for people like me, have bred horses who have the power to pull us out of our darkest moments, to inspire us with their beauty. It is for them, that this blog is dedicated. 

***Many thanks to Arabian Insider for the video of Kabsztad, uploaded to your YouTube channel.***

Wadad Zamani

My favorite horse at this year's Menton show was the Laheeb daughter, Wadad Zamani. I was so impressed with her quality, that  I wrote a blog about the mare. 

Imperial Imdal+ is one of the more important horses in her pedigree. He represents almost 40% of the pedigree, as he is the sire of Laheeb, Al Maraam and Luiba. Ansata Imperial (Ansata Ibn Sudan x Ansata Delilah), the sire of Imperial Imdal+ is also the sire of Imperial-Alamonra, increasing his influence to almost the equivalent percentage that a grandsire would contribute. We can say something similar about *Ansata Ibn Halima, who represents 12.5% of the pedigree, about that of a great-grandsire. However, *Morafic appears with more frequency than any other horse, approximately 17 times and 18% influence, which is significant, as his position in the pedigree fluctuates between the 6th generation and the 10th generation. 

Wadad Zamani, via the mares in her matriline, like Ramses Nagdia, Om el Saad and Yashmak, goes back to one of the most powerful and enduring dam lines in our breed: Rodania, by way of her great-great grandaughter, Bint Rissala, one of two Rodania line mares purchased from Crabbet. However, Wadad Zamani is grey in her coat color and the Rodania matriline exerts itself a little differently than it would if the mare were chestnut.

The blood of Imperial Imdal+, brought forward by Laheeb and further intensified with  the multiple lines to *Morafic, only to be combined with the strongest mare line in all of Arabian horse breeding - Rodania, helps to explain her strong, correct body. While the video captures her as a much younger mare (8 years ago), she has only grown more beautiful with age, enhanced with that classic, dry elegance which identifies her as a living daughter of the desert.

Ansata - The Key of Life

*Ansata Ibn Halima (Nazeer x Halima) as he appears in the video production, Ansata - The Key of Life

The famous video, produced by Bill Stokes Associates for Ansata Arabian Stud, circa 1981, The Key of Life has been archived by Texas Archive of the Moving Image . If you look to the sidebar, on the right side of the blog web (not mobile) page, all the way at the bottom, you will find the video embedded for you to watch or, you can watch it on the Texas Archive of the Moving Image website. All these years after the death of *Ansata Ibn Halima, *Ansata Bint Bukra and Ansata Abu Sudan, it is a real blessing to be able to watch video footage of these horses. Thanks Texas Archive of the Moving Image!

Imperial Baedrah

Imperial Baedrah as photographed by Christine Emmert

Imperial Baedrah is a 2002 rosewater-coloured mare, a daughter of Imperial Baarez (PVA Karim x BB Ora Kalilah) and out of Imperial Safama (*Ibn Safinaz x Imperial Imwasama). In her matriline, she traces to the celebrated 1946 RAS mare, Zaafarana (Balance x Samira) through the Albadeia breeding program: *Wadeea (by Zahi)-> Ferial (by Anter)-> El Ameera (by Nazeer). However, the matriline to Zaafarana keeps going all the way back to Bint Helwa, whom Lady Anne Blunt had purchased from Ali Pasha Sherif. Zaafarana was celebrated in her time for her brilliant action and presence. She must have been electrifying, when moving. She captivated all who watched her, including Judith Forbis who said, "she was a mare of exceptional quality and brilliant action."

As treasured as the line of Zaafarana is, Imperial Baedrah's pedigree also combines ancestral elements in a very unique way. For example, she has two lines to Ansata Imperial (Ansata Ibn Sudan x Ansata Delilah), one line on the paternal side (6.25%) and the other on the maternal side (12.5%). However, what is interesting about these two crosses is that the matriline of Ansata Imperial runs back to Bukra, through the Sameh daughter, *Ansata Bint Misr. On the other hand, *Wadeea, the dam of Imperial Imwasama, is sired by Zahi, a Sameh grandson, out of the maternal sibling of *Ansata Bint Misr, Bint Bukra, a 1957 Bukra daughter by Nazeer (not to be confused with *Ansata Bint Bukra). This is one of several crosses which I find interesting, that is,  to combine different sources of Bukra in one horse, in combination with also different sources of Sameh blood (through *Ibn Hafiza and *Ansata Bint Misr), which helps to balance the multiple lines of Nazeer blood, as does the sources of Gassir (Kheir & Badia) and Seef (Mashour x Elwya).

Basharah Al Kamar MH, as photographed by Christine Emmert

Another unique example would be the use of the revered strain of Kuhaylan Kurush. Through both *Ibn Safinaz's and Sabeel's (Lancer Sahm's sire) matriline, the strain  is brought forward in Imperial Baedrah, only to be intensified with Dr. Joseph "Jody" Cruz's breeding program, who, over the years, incorporated this highly sought after strain through the blood of the mare, BintAzizaPrincess, whom Jody had purchased from Azali Arabians. Both stallions, Bashar Al Kamar MH and Nour Al Kamar MH  combine the strain (through their dam, Binte Aziza MH), while intensifying the influence of *Ibn Hafiza through his son, Abenhetep. Additionally, the lines to Maar Hala complement the multiple sources of *Ansata Ibn Halima (through his grandson, Ansata Imperial), as well as the Babson sources through both Fa Noufas and Aroufina. In 2015, bred to Nour Al Kamar MH, Imperial Baedrah produced a gorgeous grey filly aptly named Nourah Al Kamar MH and the following year, 2016, Imperial Baedrah produced my favorite, an exquisite bay filly, Basharah Al Kamar MH by Bashar Al Kamar MH.

I found the use of Moniet el Nefous also interesting, through her son: *Ibn Moniet el Nefous  and daughters: Mabrouka, Bint Mona and *Bint Moniet el Nefous. Most of these crosses appear in the 6th, 7th and 8th generations of Imperial Baedrah's pedigree, so it is impressive to consider that as far back as these horses are, the percentage of influence of the bloodline, combined,  is approximately 22%! I want to believe that the refined elegance that we observe in Imperial Baedrah and her daughters is due to the presence of Moniet el Nefous; while her spirit, that charismatic joy which is a vibrant part of Imperial Baedrah, a living memorial to the memory of Zaafarana!

*Pharrah

*Pharrah's iconic photograph, taken by the late Johnny Johnston

*Pharrah, who was also known as 21 Farag, was the first born Farag foal of 1972 (she was also known as Farag-1) and matured into an extraordinary Tamria daughter, bringing so much fame in America to her dam. I don't believe that many breeders in America were familiar with Tamria, prior to *Pharrah. So, one must also credit *Pharrah with the awareness she created for her bloodline. In Authentic Arabian Bloodstock II, noted author, Judith Forbis said of *Pharrah, 

"Of royal demeanor, she carried herself with grace, dignity and pride, her beauty, refinement and sweet character endearing her to everyone. One was drawn immediately to her extreme head with very long shapely foreface and teacup muzzle, a trait probably inherited from the double Shahloul through *Tuhotmos up close in her pedigree. Some of her granddam's physical characteristics were also evident, but *Pharrah was better conformed." 

An important broodmare for Imperial Egyptian Stud and today, a cornerstone of the Rosehaven Farm Tamria focused breeding program; *Pharrah was imported to America as a 5-year old mare and began producing foals almost immediately:

• Imperial Phanadah by *Ibn Moniet el Nefous 
• Imperial Napharr by Moniet el Nafis 
• Imperial Na Pharo by Moniet el Nafis 
• ImperialPharalima by *Ansata Ibn Halima 
• ImperialImPhudala by Ansata Imperial 

*Pharrah was consigned by Imperial Egyptian Stud in the second Pyramid Society Breeders Sale, held in 1983. 

*Pharrah was purchased by Vincent and Diane Fortuna of Royal Arabians in Santa Barbara, California. Bred to Ansata Imperial, *Pharrah produced Royal Jalliel and Royal BintPharrah. When bred to Nabiel, *Pharrah produced Royal Mikhiel and Royal Pharriel. Her last foal, Royal Farrah, was sired by El Halimaar. *Pharrah died in 1991. 

*Gokart

*Gokart (Partner x Gomora) as photographed by Jerry Sparagowski

*Gokart, a 1975 grey stallion, was bred by Janow Podlaski stud. He was a son of the prolific stallion, Partner (Eleuzis x Parma), who sired influential stallions and mares equally, with an amazing consistency. Who can forget *Gokart's paternal sibling, the Dunromin' Arabians' stallion, *Penitent? In terms of Partner's continuing legacy, *Penitent was the sire of Eldon, who sired the 2005 Polish National Champion Stallion, *Piaff (out of Pipi). Sadly, *Piaff, who was foaled in 1997, died earlier this week.

*Gokart's dam was the Comet daughter, Gomora, who was out of Gastronomia (Marabut x Ofirka). In tail female line, she traces to the critically important mare Gazella, one of four desert-bred mares purchased by Count Julius Dzieduszycki for his Jarczowce Stud. Gazella founded one of the most influential families in Poland. In addition to the matriline, *Gokart posesses eleven additional lines to Gazella. What is also interesting is that all of the Jarczowe desert-bred mares like Mlecha, Zulejma and Sahara appear in his pedigree.

*Gokart's sire line traces to the stallion, Ilderim. Like Gazella, there are multiple sources of Ilderim blood, including a repeat of the Ilderim sire line via the stallion Marabut, the sire of *Gokart's maternal granddam. Marabut, a 1942 stallion, is a paternal sibling to Aquinor, the sire of Eleuzis, the sire of Partner. Ilderim, an 1896 stallion, was imported from Istanbul in 1900 by the Slawuta Stud. Saqlawi by strain, he was considered to be the most beautiful stallion purchased by Prince Roman Sanguszko. The Ilderim sire line is noted for producing horses who possess great beauty, type and overall quality like *Gokart. 

*Ansata Ibn Halima (Nazeer x Halima) as photographed by Jerry Sparagowski

As significant as the many lines of Ilderim and Gazella are, *Gokart's sire, Partner, provides the only source of Egyptian blood (12.5%), via his dam, the mare Parma, an Aswan daughter. The phenotype of *Gokart suggests that he carried more Egyptian blood than he actually possessed.  While I am being careful to not discount the impact that the multiple sources of  Ilderim and Gazella made upon *Gokart;  there is something to say about Aswan, who resulted from the cross of Nazeer with a Sheikh el Arab daughter (Yosreia), herself out of an Ibn Rabdan daughter (Hind). *Ansata Ibn Halima, also a Nazeer son and prolific stallion, was also out of a Sheikh el Arab daughter (Halima), who in turn was out of an Ibn Rabdan daughter (Ragia). The power of these 3 horses (Nazeer x Sheikh el Arab x Ibn Rabdan), a "triumvirate" if you will,  consistently proved to be an excellent breeding "formula" at the EAO, yielding some pretty spectacular horses. No surprise that it would exert an impact upon the phenotype of *Gokart, as both he and *Ansata Ibn Halima, also photographed by Jerry Sparagowski, are more similar than they are different, despite the majority of their pedigrees which are populated by horses who are unique to their country of origin. While some may discount the similarity as nothing more than the artistry and talent of the photographer, which is very true; I want to believe that the common ground that exists genetically between these horses is powerfully expressed in their phenotype too. 

Poetry-in-Motion

Alessio Azzali took this photo of the 2006 mare, Sundos Al Rayyan (Ansata Hejazi x RN Sultana), with all 4 feet off the ground! That moment of suspension, when the horse strikes off the ground and for a fraction of a second is airborne, remains fascinating to me, no matter how many times I see it. For me, this is a visual definition of the term, "poetry-in-motion". In a weekend of new-found favorites, this is another favored photo. 

Nawaal: in Black & White

 

Ahmed Taha took this photo of Nawaal Al Rayyan at this year's Katara Festival, held in early February. I absolutely fell in love with this photo, when I saw it on Al Rayyan's Facebook page and instantly, became a favorite. Well done Ahmed!

Nawaal Al Rayyan is sired by Ansata Sokar (Imperial Madheen x Ansata Samantha) and out of Nadrah Al Rayyan (Ashhal Al Rayyan x Ansata Nefer Isis). In studying Nawaal's tail female line (which is the same tail female line of Nabeel Al Rayyan, who was shown in the 7 - 10 year old stallion class), you will find Ansata Nefertiti by Ansata Halim Shah and out of Ansata Sudarra. She is not only Nawaal's great granddam; she is also Ansata Hejazi's full sister. She was bred to Prince Fa Moniet to produce the beloved mare, Ansata Nefer Isis, who in turn was bred to Ashhal Al Rayyan (Safir x Ansata Majesta) which resulted in Nawaal's dam, Nadrah Al Rayyan. Sheikh Hamad said, 

"The Ashhal Al Rayyan daughters inherit his classic aura and have proven to be excellent producers."

What is also interesting about this tail female line (which goes back to *Ansata Bint Bukra through her Sameh daughter, *Ansata Bint Misr) is that it is doubled, meaning, it is the same tail female line for the sire, as it is for the dam. Ansata Sudarra and Ansata Samantha were maternal siblings, both mares are daughters of Ansata Delilah (Ansata Shah Zaman x Ansata Bint Misr), sired by different stallions. Ansata Samantha is by *Ansata Ibn Halima, while Ansata Sudarra is by Ansata Abu Sudan.  

Imperial Madheen, the sire of Ansata Sokar, is a son of the German-bred stallion, Messaoud (Madkour x Maymoonah), while Ashhal Al Rayyan is a maternal great grandson of JKB Masouda, who incidentally, is a full sister of Messaoud! This influence represents 30% of the pedigree!

There's an old saying, which says, "the third time's the charm." And in this case, it is the doubling of Ansata Halim Shah (*Ansata Ibn Halimaar x Ansata Rosetta), the sire of Ansata Majesta (x Ansata Malika) and Ansata Nefertiti (x Ansata Sudarra). Both mares appear on the maternal side of the pedigree, as great granddams.

Nawaal is a seriously beautiful mare and this black and white photo intensifies the dramatic quality of her classic look. She is strong of body,  and correct, with an equal distribution of her body mass, meaning, she has a powerful front end and an equally powerful hind end. She has an impressive shoulder and her neck is well-set, flowing out of the wither and when it meets her head, it forms a very nice mitbah. She is not exotic or extreme, just clean and dry, a horse born of the desert and further proof of the continuing impact of the Ansata influence in today's world of Egyptian breeding.

Serj Al Rayyan: A Powerful Reminder

Serj Al Rayyan (Ansata Nile Echo x Naifah Al Rayyan) as photographed by Alessio Azzali

Serj Al Rayyan is a 2016 stallion and a paternal sibling to Egaab Al Rayyan. While Serj's dam, Naifah, is a daughter of Al Adeed Al Shaqab and RN Farida; Egaab's dam, Nadrah, is a daughter of Ashhal Al Rayyan and Ansata Nefer Isis. Maternally, Serj is related to Fahad Al Rayyan, as Fahad's dam, Noof, is a maternal sibling to Naifah, Serj's dam. I really like Serj's pedigree for a few reasons. 

• Although bred by Al Rayyan Farm (as was his dam), Serj Al Rayyan's pedigree reflects 70% of the Ansata Arabian Stud breeding program and of that percentage, Ansata Halim Shah's influence is almost half that number! 
• He only has one line to Prince Fa Moniet, which means that more of his Ansata ancestral elements are the foundational horses of the program. 
• Prince Fa Moniet has a Babson line through his maternal granddam, Fada, which complements the 2nd Babson line through Ansata Nile Gift (Fa-Habba). Think outcross (non-Nazeer) blood which is distantly related (Bint Sabah).
• Serj has one line to Hanan, through Salaa el Dine, which is important today, given the demand for horses from Dr. Nagel's breeding program. 
• Through Noha, the dam of RN Farida, we find a solitary line to Hadban Enzahi, who introduces a different "Nazeer flavor" to the pedigree, as compared to the other sources of Nazeer blood in the pedigree. What makes Noha a little more interesting is that through her dam, she traces in her dam line to Farida, which complements the multiple sources of *Ansata Ibn Halima found in Serj Al Rayyan's pedigree. 

Serj appears to have a beautifully shaped neck, well-set and meeting at an angle which affords him a fine throatlatch (mitbah). He's willowy or maybe better said, stretchy. His jowls are prominent and of a larger size, spaced well enough apart to comfortably fit a man's fist between them. He has a shorter, broader head, which is clean and dry, plus, I am happy to discover a muzzle which has some substance and not fine and tapered.  I prefer the muzzle like Serj's muzzle, which becomes important when bitting the horse for under saddle training. Try and find a French link loose ring snaffle bit to comfortably fit a "teacup" muzzle and you will understand.

Finally, what impresses me the most in these post-Ansata years is the continuing influence of the breeding program that Judith Forbis, together with her late husband, Don, created. Along comes a horse like Serj Al Rayyan, who powerfully reminds us of the enduring relevancy of the Ansata program. 

An Al Rayyan Story

Nasser Al Rayyan (Sinan Al Rayyan x Nadrah Al Rayyan) as photographed by Alessio Azzali

Did you get the Tutto Arabi email for the new issue of Desert Heritage? This particular publication is one of my favorite magazines and the email blasts announcing the new arrival of each issue are not only welcomed, they are eagerly awaited notifications. As soon as you open issue #58, you will find an impressive 17-page spread for Al Rayyan Farm, with 11 of those pages presenting the current offering of the farm's stallions:

• Nasser Al Rayyan (Sinan Al Rayyan x Nadrah Al Rayyan)
• Fahad Al Rayyan (Sinan Al Rayyan x Noof Al Rayyan)
• Efreen Al Rayyan (Al Adeed Al Shaqab x Sahla Al Rayyan)
• Mueer Al Rayyan (Al Adeed Al Shaqab x Sundos Al Rayyan)
• Egaab Al Rayyan (Ansata Nile Echo  x Nadrah Al Rayyan)
• Dukhan Al Rayyan (Sabeh Al Salhiyah x Serene Ciai Dii)
• Yazeed Al Rayyan (Farhoud Al Shaqab x Murjanah Elayla)
• Afas Al Rayyan (Ezz Aldanat x Sulima Al Rayyan)

I think the Al Rayyan advertising spread is my favorite part of the current issue! The offering of stallions is impressive, as well as interesting, as there are 2 sets of paternal siblings (Sinan Al Rayyan & Al Adeed Al Shaqab) and one set of maternal siblings (Nadrah Al Rayyan). How to choose one stallion over another? Initially, my eyes gravitated towards the two Sinan Al Rayyan sons: Nasser & Fahad, whose dams are the reverse combination of each other. Nasser is out of Nadrah, who is out of an Ansata-bred mare, while Fahad is out of Noof, who is by an Ansata-bred stallion. 

Sundos Al Rayyan (Ansata Hejazi x RN Sultana) as photographed by Alessio Azzali

At first glance, I misjudged Mueer Al Rayyan as having too much white in his eye but upon closer study, I realized that my first impression was wrong. That's not white in his eye, those are his eyelashes, which are white! 

In 2013, when I was last in Kuwait, one of the things that impressed me the most was the reverence which the Kuwaiti breeders have for Al Rayyan in everything they feel or say. You hear this in the sound of their voices whenever the conversation focuses on a horse bred by the farm. All these years later, I have not forgotten. Its very similar to the reverence that Americans have, when speaking of Gleannloch Farm or Ansata Arabian Stud. 

The interesting thing (for me) about Mueer is his dam, Sundos Al Rayyan, an Ansata Hejazi daughter out of RN Sultana, who is by Ansata Halim Shah and out of Dr. Nagel's Ameena, by *Jamil and out of KEN Amal (Mohafez x Hanan). With 50% of her pedigree influenced by Ansata Halim Shah and 12.5% representing the double dose of Hanan, you would believe that one of these two horses made the most impact upon Sundos Al Nasser. I think it is a natural conclusion to assume that. However, Sundos Al Rayyan's body is reminiscent of the phenotype associated with Saqlawi strain horses, so, I started to look for those horses in her pedigree and it is at that precise moment when I realized the impact that Ansata Shah Zaman (*Morafic x Ansata Bint Mabrouka) is exerting upon his 3-time great-great grand-daughter! You will find this stallion twice through Ansata Rosetta, the dam of Ansata Halim Shah and through Ansata Delilah, the dam of Ansata Sudarra. The influence of Ansata Shah Zaman is deepened through the additional line to his dam through Ansata Ibn Sudan and to his sire, through *Ibn Moniet el Nefous.  Approximately 25% of the pedigree is influenced by son, sire and dam! 

I'm not sure what I like most about Sundos Al Rayyan, whether its the long flowing line (without interruption) that runs from the poll to the dock of her tail, the deeper heart girth or the well-set neck. I think most will agree that she is an extremely pretty mare, as bred by Al Rayyan, who also bred her mother. For everyone in love with the Egyptian Arabian horse, Sundos Al Rayyan is convincing proof for the accuracy of the reverence paid to Al Rayyan, by the Kuwaiti breeders I met, 14 years ago. Al Rayyan has succeeded where others may fail; that is, taking the choicest bloodlines and repurposing them to produce a horse uniquely their own. In turn, their horses  go on to establish vibrant programs for newer breeders eager to produce their personal vision of the Arabian horse.  Now, the opportunity exists for anyone to utilize the influence of a mare worthy of the honor bestowed upon Al Rayyan Farm, through her son, Mueer Al Rayyan.

More Summer Reading

Volume VI, Issue 2 of The Arabian Breeders Magazine is out. I received mine last weekend and you will need a box of Kleenex for this latest edition. Thank you Samantha, you really hit it "out-of-the-park" with this volume! 

The issue's major focus is on Ekstern, understood through the eyes and mind of Scott Benjamin, a beloved author and authority of Polish breeding. His tribute, Farewell to the King, reminds us of just how special Ekstern was in our world. Truly, despite Ekstern's smaller size, through Scott's words, you will fully realize that Ekstern was a living giant among horses.  Scott's guest editorial and subsequent articles in the issue: The Royal Lineage of Ekstern, The Enduring Excellence of Ekstern and The Influence of Ekstern at the Polish National Show 2006 - 2021 further underscore the greatness of this horse and the impact that he continues to exert through his get and grand-get. He was, as I have said previously, EXTRAORDINARY. I have read several articles on Ekstern and Scott's latest work is the best that I have read and now, have become my personal favorite. When Ekstern died, the tributes were brief and fell short of conveying the sweeping magnificence of this horse. He brought back the splendor, the wonder and the excitement of the Arabian horse through his superstar status. He is deserving of so much from us, in repayment for all he gave to us, while present in this world. Thanks Scott, for this gift to Ekstern, through your very concise and powerfully moving articles.

So, let me tell you a story. So, here I am, reading about Ekstern, tears in my eyes and a pain in my heart, while I wondered - will there ever be another horse just like him? Ekstern was so unique in his look, his powerful movement, his character and his siring excellence, particularly through his daughters. His greatness was felt on so many levels! And then, as I turned to page 5, I found:

TA Arapaho as photographed by Wojtek Kwiatkowski 

This is TA Arapaho, an Ekstern son owned by Mystic Side Arabians and photographed by Wojtek Kwiatkowski. Isn't he just totally wonderful and this particular photo inspires you with still more awe and wonder? That mane...you can lose hands and face in all that glorious hair! 

TA Arapaho reminds us that while Ekstern was a strong broodmare sire, he did sire impressive sons like this significantly beautiful son. TA Arapaho is not only another part of Ekstern's amazing legacy but in those dark moments when we become lost in our grief, TA Arapaho reminds us that Ekstern is still a very vibrant part of our Arabian horse world. We can't see him anymore but we can still feel him.

Hope you all are enjoying the summer and if not, this is your "wake up" call to do just that, as we approach the halfway point of the summer. If there is one thing to learn about Ekstern's life, is that you don't have as much time as you think you have. Do something about it! And read this magazine!