Ansata El Sherif

"El Sherif  was a very classic, short-coupled stallion with a beautiful short face and large dark eyes." - Judith Forbis, his breeder

Some photos, like this Polly Knoll photo of *Ansata El Sherif, are deeply etched in my memory, never to forget. It's a favorite, as was the trend to photograph these horses portrait-style, against a dark background. No matter how many years may pass, one look and I immediately remember that long-ago summer day at Bentwood, meeting horses that I never believed I would meet in my lifetime. 

Ansata Rhodora

Ansata El Sherif, an *Ansata Ibn Halima son out of *Ansata Bint Bukra, was a full brother to Ansata Rhodora. As a young colt, he was sold to Dr. Clarence Hardin and his wife, Daisy of Placerville, California. Do you know that the Hardins loved Ansata El Sherif so much, they named their farm after him, El Sherif Arabians? Ansata El Sherif spent most of his life with the Hardins. He was purchased as a mature horse by Bentwood Farm. 

Do you know that "El Sherif" is more like a title or surname and less like a first name? Think of the word "El" as the Arabic equivalent of the determiner, "The" and "Sharif" as "Honorable", "Distinguished" or even, "Noble". 

Cynthia Culbertson, a beloved author, historian, straight Egyptian breeder and former Pyramid Society President, once said of Ansata El Sherif, 
"He was quite a 'fairytale' type of white stallion -- very true to his Dahman strain, compact with a lovely head and eye."

Overall, in terms of a particular horse who combined the best qualities of Bukra with the best qualities of *Ansata Ibn Halima; Ansata El Sherif was that beautiful horse. His strong topline, short-coupling, well-sprung ribs and generous heart girth enabled Ansata El Sherif to enjoy an athletic career. There was not much that this champion horse could and would not do. He was talented under saddle, winning many prizes in Native Costume, English Pleasure and Western Pleasure. Unfotunately, in the time period that Ansata El Sherif lived, there was more demand for straight Egyptian mares, than actual mares to purchase. Despite the short supply of Egyptian mares, Ansata El Sherif did cover Egyptian mares but he was popular with non-SE breeders too, as he crossed well with mares of all bloodlines but in particular, mares of Spanish blood. He sired approximately 167 purebred Arabian Horses who in turn, have produced grand-progeny that are spectacular too.