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.