Pashas, Princes & Kings

NK Qaswarah (NK Hafid Jamil x NK Nariman) as photographed by Alaa Youssef Jr.   

This time of the year always reminds me of Ezzain and it still hurts like hell to know that NK Qaswarah is no longer alive but I can express the same sentiment for his owner, Mr. Usamah Alkazemi.  I wish it were not so in either case.

 13 years ago, Ezzain was home to 45 or so horses.  Approximately half of those horses were sired by NK Qaswarah and additionally, 12 horses were sired by a Qaswarah son like Aneesilnefous (x NK Momtaza) and Yaasoob (x NK Nada). If I had not fully understood the critical role that NK Qaswarah held at Ezzain prior to my visit, I was overwhelmed when faced with the reality of his importance in Kuwait. 

In Dr. Nagel's book, The Arabian Horse: Nature's Creation and The Art of Breeding, he wrote the following about NK Qaswarah, 

"NK Qaswarah is producing a very distinctive type with stunning expression and is among those stallions which are strong in producing excellent males and females."

Monika Savier in a Tutto Arabi article written at the time of NK Hafid Jamil's death, mentions NK Qaswarah too,

"This NK Hafid Jamil son was an eye catcher from birth on and left as a young colt for Ezzain Stud in Kuwait. All his life he was surrounded mostly by NK daughters who were, however, of different mare lines‐a unique situation. NK Qaswarah created his own kingdom; nowhere can you see finer Arabians and prettier heads than in this stud."

I went to Kuwait having seen many photos of Qaswarah that Usamah Alkazemi shared with me, but it is really different to see the horse, in real life, standing before you, as compared to seeing the horse in the photo. Such was the experience I had with Qaswarah. I was overwhelmed by him despite being familiar with the horse and understanding the significance of all that had been written about him by people I admire, including his breeder.  He was stronger-bodied and more robust than he appeared in photos. That surprised me, he was no toy horse. In his presence, you felt the strength of his character and, immediately, felt compelled to honor him with respect. He enjoyed to be scratched on his back, especially by the wither and I appreciated the opportunity to engage with him, to touch the living, real horse, the "smilemaker," as Usamah referred to him. I remember that his back was significantly wider and stronger than many horses I had met; I could feel the immense power emanating from every muscle in his body. And yes, he was balanced, as if every part of his body was made, only for him. 

As Dr. Nagel already has said, NK Qaswarah was a consistent sire, equally siring memorable horses of both genders who possess his quality, for example, the full sisters: Badrilbdoor and Shamsilshmous (both out of Azhaar), Dorrah and her full brother Aneesilnefous (both out of NK Momtaza), Ekramilbari (out of NK Yasmin), Alttafilbari (out of Ajmal Ibtihaj) and Thettwa (out of Albaheiah). These were my personal favorites. NK Qaswarah defined the Ezzain breeding program with a very unique look that can not be found anywhere else in the world. Over his lifetime, NK Qaswarah has proven to be the type of horse that at one time, inspired Pashas, Princes and Kings with his beauty and the ability to pass it on. I am none of these men but still, equally inspired as these men were. It is only now, in this season of my life that I am able to understand Usamah's bold appreciation for his stallion. I am grateful for the opportunity he provided to me, that is, to go beyond the photo and experience how the dream of one man, became the cornerstone for yet another man's dream and from Ezzain, Qaswarah became the source of many, more dreams, in the hearts of Arabian horse lovers all over the world.