Breeding Horses: It's Complicated

Princeton Maarena (Serr Maariner x Princeton Gamila)

You know, I have never really been the same, since both of my mares died. I wasn't expecting either horse to die, especially within a year of each other. Wait, can I rephrase that sentence? I understood that an end-of-life event could happen, sooner, rather than later, because both mares were mature mares, in their mid-twenties but I was determined, no, committed, to keeping them both healthy, with all the resources available to me. I fooled myself into believing that both mares would see their thirty-year old birthdays and of the two, because she had been in my care for a longer time, that Rosie's life would extend far into her thirties like many of the amazing horses I had read about in Equus magazine.   

Although I met Princeton Maarena when she was a yearling, she did not enter my life again until she was 18 years old.  From the time that she arrived, it just felt right. I know that sounds cheesy but as she stepped off the trailer, I was overwhelmed with gratefulness, more than I have ever experienced. A few years later, she had choked on her feed and while waiting for the veterinarian, she had laid down in the thick bed of shavings that I had prepared for her, with her legs tucked under her. She was visibly in distress, sweating profusely and in my best suit and overcoat, I kneeled right next to her and put my arm over her back, for reassurance. "I'm here for you Mimi, whatever it takes." She turned her head and made eye contact with me and from that point on, the connection that I shared with this mare was unbelievable, unlike any relationship that I have ever had with a horse. When I say that I loved this mare, with apologies to Rosie whom I also loved,  I deeply loved Princeton Maarena. I wish that I could have bred a replacement foal from her, in preparation for the day when she would not be here anymore. To have done so, would have been the crowning achievement of a horse breeding life, well-lived. 

I'm a fan of an independent streaming series created by Dallas Jenkins, called The Chosen. It's a dramatization of the ministry of Jesus, after choosing his disciples. Now, in its third season, this particular episode focused upon a woman, Veronica, who had been plagued by illness for 12 years. Her faith was so strong, she believed that just by touching the fringe of Jesus' garments, she would be instantly cured. I thought about my mares and maybe, the breeze stirred up by Jesus walking past them, would have been enough to keep them from dying and in the process, fix the red hot mess that I am. 

Ansata Ali Abbas (*Ansata Ibn Halima x Faye Roufa), as photograped by Judith Wich

In the previous blog post, I shared Barbara Griffith's breeding commandments and if you study the list carefully, you come to the realization that as a breeder, Barbara was laser-focused on mare quality. Many years ago, I had the opportunity to purchase an *Ibn Hafiza daughter, out of Masada Bellesabah. In those days, prior to home computers and the internet, videos were sent on VHS tape, through the mail, to be played in a VCR. I couldn't wait to play the video and finally, it arrived to reveal a powerfully moving mare, unbelievably electric, with ground covering strides very similar to the Sameh daughters at Imperial: *Sonbolah, *Fawkia and *Sabra. Barbara would be proud of my selection, as this mare redefined the word "best" in Barbara's first commandment:

"Acquire and retain the best mares possible."

I negotiated a price that I could afford to pay and waited for the sales contract to arrive. In the meantime, I went to see Ansata Ali Abbas, who was at Hope Farm, then located in Mendham, NJ, owned by the late Joan Skeels and Sue Burnham. Hope Farm was home to two Ansata stallions: the impressive, Ansata Shah Zahir and Ansata Ali Abbas, who reminded me more of the type of horse that Prince Mohamed Aly Tewfik would have bred. He was EXACTLY what I was looking for,  sired by *Ansata Ibn Halima and out of Faye Roufa, an Ansata Abbas Pasha daughter. I was convinced, after meeting Ansata Ali Abbas that he was the "outside stallion" that Barbara referred to, in commandment #5:

"Use outside stallions if you think they will improve upon your mares." 

Days turned into weeks and weeks, turned into a month and the sales contract never came. Finally, I reached the seller by phone, only to learn that the mare had been "sold" to an artist, in exchange for artwork. I wasn't surprised, as I suspected this outcome but I was thoroughly discouraged. 

Thinking about how close I came to breeding my very own Ansata Ali Abbas-sired foal underscores the challenges involved in breeding horses. Judith Forbis has said many times that it's not for the faint of heart. Although, I'm not sure why becoming a breeder has been so elusive for me. You would think of all the people involved in this community, it would be a cake walk for me, right? It's complicated. While the financial resources can be a bit daunting; maybe if I lived a little more boldly, a little less fearfully, not so afraid of taking risks, even failing, the outcome may have been different. Now, having reached a mature age, it doesn't seem morally right to create a new life, who may live a longer life, than the time I have left in this world. Who will take care of my horse, when I am no longer here?

***This blog is lovingly dedicated to my friend Marilyn Lang. While life has thrown some curve balls at me, a friendship with Marilyn has been not only a gift, it has been a huge blessing in my life, for which I am forever grateful. Love you Marilyn.***

Once Upon a Time...

Left to right: Dalia, *Fawkia, AK Monareena & * Malekat El Gamal, photographed by the late Johnny Johnston

Someone recently posted this photo on a popular social media site. It has been a while since I last saw the photo and all of my wonderful Imperial memories flooded my mind. That's a good thing. The photo is a visual placeholder, not only for straight Egyptian breeding but also, for our combined breed history, as it captures a time that was, that will never be again. For me personally, it's also a strong visual reminder of an opportunity lost. I had met AK Monareena at Dr. Newcomer's farm and fell absolutely in love with the mare. For me, she was perfect. My immediate plan was to breed her to Serr Maariner, her maternal sibling. Unfortunately, that did not happen for me.  Thinking about this special time again, makes me happy but also, sad. Thirty years later, the thought of a double Maarena foal still haunts me. What is that feeling called? 

Happy memories, of precious time spent in the company of the beautiful mares pictured above but also, a reminder that these horses are no longer alive. And beyond that, there were other horses, equally beautiful, who are also gone. And people, whose voice I will never hear again. The world has really changed, like I have. And somehow, through all of this, I never became the breeder that I once believed I would be. 

"You drew memories in my mind

I could never erase

You painted colors in my heart

I could never replace."

    - Bethany A. Perry, Perry Poems: A Collection

What does it take to become a breeder of Arabian horses? Barbara Griffith once shared her Ten Commandments for breeding Arabian Horses, published as part of a special feature within Arabian Horse World magazine. The mares in the photo also remind me of how strongly Barbara felt about mare quality and her ability to cull, if a particular mare wasn't producing to her expectations. 

At the time that this photo was taken, Imperial Egyptian Stud had close to 40 mares, weaving together the bloodlines that Barbara cherished most: Moniet el Nefous, Nazeer, Halima and Sameh. Of the 4 mares pictured above, AK Monareena would be consigned to and sold at Bentwood's Blue Bonnet Sale, ending up with Dr. David Newcomer at Conestoga Run Farm in Pennsylvania. Her sons and daughters were also sold, like her Hossny daughter, Imperial Moniq, who became part of Count Federico Zichy-Thyssen's breeding herd and Imperial Monfisah, AK Monareena's daughter by Moniet el Nafis who went to Flaxman's Arabians. Only *Fawkia, *Malekat el Gamal and Dalia would remain at Imperial. From these mares, we enjoyed legendary stallions like Imperial Imdal and Al Adeed Al Shaqab. That's the longevity of the Imperial blood, hard at work, to create spectacular horses, embodying all of the characteristics that were important to Barbara. She was an amazing breeder of Arabian horses. 

I study the 2nd half of commandment number 7 as I think of AK Monareena a little more:

"Mares may not produce what you're looking for with your stallions but a buyer could cross them successfully with another stallion."

It's like an endorsement from a master breeder of what I desired to do. How did I miss it back then? What I wouldn't give to go back in time, for another chance to breed that once-in-a-lifetime foal.

COURAGE: A LIFE LESSON

"In horse's eyes shine stars of wisdom and courage to guide men to the heavens." - Jodie Mitchell 

The Open House at Imperial Egyptian Stud had already begun and I was late; the drive had been much longer than I had planned. If only I had left earlier! As I made my way to the indoor arena, I passed a mature chestnut mare who was being led towards the same place I was going. I noticed the labored way in which the mare was walking. I didn't recognize her and she sure didn't look like the mare pictured in any of the photos from her 1971 US National Championship win. Imagine my surprise, when later in the day, the young girl led the same chestnut mare to the ring, unclipped the lead and Barbara Griffith, after introducing *Serenity Sonbolah, asked the audience to share their enthusiasm and appreciation, as the mare was responsive to this type of vocal adulation. "What?" I thought, "she must be kidding" but it was no joke. And just as Barbara Griffith said it would happen; I saw a transformation slowly take place. You might even call it a miracle. With every clap and shout, this mare's powerful trot grew bigger and bigger, as she collected herself, tail curled over her back, her hocks driving her forward in ground-covering strides. With nostrils dilated, a deep snort rumbled from deep within her, like a herald, announcing what would be, an unforgettable performance for all. Suspended in the air, she floated this way and a quick change of lead and, she floated that way. She was like a prima ballerina, delivering the most important ballet of her life.  The mare that I had barely noticed, as I walked past her, metamorphosed into the most beautiful mare on planet earth. A tear rolled down my cheek, as Sonbolah "flew" around the arena, enjoying every form of appreciation we gave her. How did I miss this? I quickly surveyed the audience and observed a variety of reactions, smiles, tears, while others were too stunned to even show any emotion. It was obvious that they were feeling what I was feeling too. I wondered, how is it even possible for this mare to move like this? The look on *Serenity Sonbolah's face was not like the face of the struggling horse from the morning.  Sonbolah's joy, like a raging fire that burned deeply within her chestnut-colored body, threatened to consume us all and from the ashes, we would emerge as new people, having witnessed what we believed to be impossible.  *Serenity Sonbolah gave us everything she had but she gave me more, so much more, at a time in my life that I really needed to learn to go deeper, to find something more real than I have ever known. She taught me a vitally important lesson about real beauty, way beyond all the hallmarks, the breed type, the classic look.  Sonbolah's beauty was found in her courage, more than I had ever seen in a human being or felt within myself. She still inspires me to live life joyfully, boldly and courageously as she once did. It's a lesson of a lifetime, taught by a horse, to whom I am forever grateful. 

***Everyone has that one inspirational photo that takes your breath away, makes your heart race with excitement and leaves all your hair standing on edge. This is that photo for me. I think Scott Trees is the amazing photographer who captured Sonbolah on film, so long ago. How did he keep it all together when he saw her through his lens?***

The Importance of the Saqlawi Horse

TheEgyptianPrince (*Morafic x *Bint Mona) a pure-in-strain Saqlawi Jedran of Ibn Sudan stallion, as photographed by the late Johnny Johnston.

Dr. Joseph L. Doyle of Sigourney, Iowa began breeding Arabian horses in the early 1950's, when he acquired the mare, Gulida (Gulastra x Valida) and bred her to the Gulastra son, Nusi, producing the mare, Im Gulnar. A year after purchasing Gulida, Dr. Doyle purchased the stallion, Ghadaf (Ribal x Gulnare). Shortly thereafter, Dr. Doyle began corresponding with Carl Raswan, who reinforced the significance of using horses with only the highest concentration of Abbas Pasha/Ali Pasha Sherif blood.  The exchange of ideas between both men blossomed into a friendship founded on a common love for the Arabian horse. 

In a letter written to Dr. Doyle, 14 August 1952, Carl Raswan wrote,

"Frankly and confidentially, if you can stay away from all other blood and concentrate always and first of all on the Saqlawi Jidran of Ibn Sudan eventually you will reach such intensification that this ancient and most perfect type will cut through with any other bloodlines and strains its qualities and mark of Arabian characteristics on anything it comes in contact with. Your case should be such that with each advanced breeding you produce a still more refined animal."

How do we reconcile this powerful statement, 70 years later, given the rapid advancement of genetic science which says something completely different? Do we ignore science, using real-life horses like TheEgyptianPrince to prove the accuracy of Raswan's statement? Despite tradition, can we still believe that a matrilineal strain will exert that much influence on shaping a horse, whose pedigree may contain horses of several different strains? Especially, when modern genetic science has revealed that the horses, whom we have learned to separate into historically distinct families, have more in common genetically, than we ever believed? We now understand these relationships, thanks to Dr. William Hudson's groundbreaking mtDNA study of the EAO matrilines, published online at PLOS ONE and within the pages of the critically important 2-volume set, The Matrilines of the Egyptian Arabian Horse , however, we also understand from Dr. Hudson's study, the impact that strain has in breeding horses:

"These data confirm that modern mtDNA haplotyping does not correspond to the traditional strain designation based on Bedouin breeding traditions that depend on maternal lineage."

How did Dr. Doyle incorporate Raswan's philosophy into his breeding program? Once Dr. Doyle acquired the stallion Ghadaf, his immediate focus was to replace him, as Ghadaf was a senior-aged horse, well into his twenties and had not sired a purebred horse in a long while.  Bred to Gulida, Ghadaf sired the mares Gulnara and Bint Gulida and the stallion, Jadib. Bred back to his daughter, Gulnara, Ghadaf sired Bint Ghadaf, an important mare in Dr. Doyle's program. He incorporated other bloodlines into his program, however, he was not happy with the results and dispersed those horses. Dr. Doyle was convinced that inbreeding his foundation horses would not only prove the quality of the Abbas Pasha/Ali Pasha Sherif horses, he would also produce horses who were more pleasing to his eye, possessing the characteristics he valued most. He coined the term "forward reaching" to describe his horses, comprised of uninterrupted, longer flowing lines, "from the root of the tail to the muzzle" and even when not moving, one just knew from looking at them, that they could deliver powerful, free and  bold movement, at a moment's notice. Perhaps, these are the horses, whose beautiful movement inspired yet another term, "poetry-in-motion". Unfortunately, Dr. Doyle passed away in 1957 and his wife and family carried on with the program, which remains relevant to the present day.

***With many thanks and acknowledgement to Arabian Horse World for the article, Doyle Egyptian Breeding written by Jim Brown & Barbara Baird, published within the May 1981 issue. 

Many times, people will ask me to recommend a comprehensive book focused on the Egyptian Arabian horse. I can't imagine a more important body of work than Dr. William Hudson's The Matrilines of the Egyptian Arabian Horse. If you are a breeder, this book is a critically significant study that should be part of your library.  If you haven't purchased this 2-volume set, please, I urge you to do so, before it becomes unavailable.***