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n by Hans Nagel In discussing breeding subjects of large Gigi Grasso, Erwin Escher, animals, such as horses, an extensive period Polly Knoll, Rik Van Lent of time has to be examined. It takes appro- ximately nine to ten years for just one horse generation to be established. So if one wis- hes to study genetic influences, at least several generations are required to do this, and thus many, many more years must be considered.

There is no doubt that the Arabian is very old. Numbers like a thousand years or more are often mentioned, and this is possibly correct. However, when it comes to looking for data and information

Kosak

Of International influence in Breeding

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material suitable for an accurate from their voyages to the study, the reality looks different. Middle East with desert-bred The collection of Arabian horses Arabian horses. It was at this and the recording of their lineage time that written pedigrees by in a reliable form began no ear- European horsemen replaced lier than in the middle of the the Bedouin tradition of ver- 19th century and compared with bally tracing the origins and the the number of Arabian horses breeding of their horses. To a today, there were only a few that great extent, the records created came out of the Arabian coun- by early European breeders are tries into Eastern or Western the foundation of all recorded Europe. pedigrees today. Similar expedi- It all began at the end of the tions were carried out by the 19th century, when Hungarian Polish, French and Italian purchase expeditions and Lady governments, and some horses Ann Blunt from Crabbett Park were exported from Arabia to in England returned to Europe the US as well. Proper recording

KUBINEC 1987 chestnut, stallion

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Ghazal

was initiated at that time. Since ved in a very sophisticated horse then, 100 - 120 years have pas- breeding concept, partly as sheer sed and even when applying a luxury and partly with the idea to very generous consideration, create better horses for the army most of the Arabian horses of and for work. The earliest state today can only look back to a studs founded at that time were recorded history of 10 - 15 charged with the same purpose generations in total. It is this as well. Many of those early stud span of time, which can be con- farms kept hundreds of horses, sidered as the known and fairly but their majority always consi- reliable history of the Arabian sted of half-bred Arabians, and horse breed. only a small group of purebred Arabians of 10 - 20 served The circumstances of the pur- as a gene-pool for further use. chases and the purpose of these b) The second idea for choosing early acquisitions were rather horses of Arabian origin was for vague. In fact, one can consider a racing. The great success of cer- Negativ first period, from 1850 until tain Middle Eastern stallions in World War I, when those buyers England as race horses, and later from , , England, as breeding stock used on Germany and the United States English mares, had originally bought their horses for two pri- encouraged the Blunt family to mary purposes: search for such fast horses in Arabia as well. However, this a) The majority of Arabian hor- idea regrettably failed. ses were selected to improve the old European breeds. In particu- The breeding for both purposes lar, the High Society was invol- had only a short life. The Gwarny

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Nazeer

English became Around 1920 to 1930, the more and more popular as a cross Crabbett Park in England, one to improve local horses; the of the oldest Arabian studs in public and the army were asking Europe, reached its zenith. Its for bigger horses and half-bred Arabian horses conquered nearly Arabians did not have the requi- all parts of the world. Also the red body size. Only the Arabian studs in Hungarian State Stud of Poland, at Babolna in Hungary, Babolna maintained the original at Tersk in Russia and last but strategy which resulted in the not least, at the Royal development of the very well Agricultural Society in , known Shagya breed which increased their number of mares Witraz became one of the best half-bred and looked for better stallions for Arabian breeds with its own their breeding programs. In the type, its own stud recording and middle of all this activity, sud- its own studbook. No world- denly three stallions appeared class purebred Arabian sire line and caught the attention of most was created during this first of the knowledgeable breeders. period. One could only mention These stallions established a new the so called Shagya Arabians of period, a new era in the breeding Babolna, which began with a sire of Arabian horses. This named Shagya who is praised as period, plus another 50 years, the founder of this breed. one could call a “second period”. These three sires influenced this Aswan When the miserable consequen- period to a great extent. ces of the World War I vanished away and life returned back to The spectacular stallion normal, Arabian horse breeding Skowronek, a horse born in also enjoyed a new prosperity. Ukraine and later, owned by

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Lady Wentworth at Crabbett about 140 cm. But for the majo- Park, created a new and exciting rity, he was the greatest sire of look in Arabian horse breeding, that time. particularly through his two sons, Naseem and . The The next important stallion was first son, Naseem, was bought by the Polish-bred Amurath-Sahib, the , and the second born in 1932. He was the late son, Raffles, found his new place offspring of the famous Bairactar in the US. Together they proved sire line, originating from the the exceptional quality of Marbach Stud of Weil, Skowronek as a sire. At Tersk, Germany. Again, the weakest Naseem created his own sire point for Amurath-Sahib was lines, mainly through his son size and for a long time the Hadban Enzahi Negativ who is still influential Polish authorities were divided today. People in the US nearly in their opinions of if and when got the “Raffles-fever”, even to use this horse. However, though this horse was highly cri- Amurath-Sahib became a stal- ticized due to his height of only lion with a great future and tre-

PADRONS PSYCHE 1988 chestnut, stallion

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mendous influence. His son the Royal Agricultural Society in Arax, who represented him in Cairo, Egypt. Nazeer and several Russian breeding, and Gwarny of his sons gained world wide in Poland were the direct off- fame and today are still conside- spring of this family. At this red highly respected sires of the point, it is highly recommended breed. The first Nazeer son, to turn the page to a most Aswan, out of Yosreia, had the instructive document, written as unique chance to become one of an introduction to the 9th the chief sires at the Tersk Stud Edition of the Tersk Studbook. for more than twenty years. In this book, the great influence While the other stallions men- of these two horses is perfectly tioned here were known for demonstrated through current adding type and elegance to the times as is documented by the Arabian breed, Aswan contribu- following sequence of genera- ted these characteristics to an tions:. even greater level. He stamped his offspring with his own extre- First: Amurath-Sahib - Arax - me Arabian type. People like to Nabeg - Menes (or maybe any criticize and look for problems; other known Nabeg son), four many only search for the negati- generations as a spectacular band ve and forget the positive. This of sires. stallion also had his faults. He Shaikh Al Badi had a short neck, not the best Second: Skowronek - Naseem - front legs, a soft back and even Negativ - Salon - Muscat, again the angle of his hind legs was with all the potential to succes- rather insufficient. However, sfully continue their line for fur- overall he looked like a true ther generations. Arabian horse, one that came from another region of this Before the third sire is discussed, world which had created its own a different looking horse should types of desert animals and won- be mentioned. He is Kuhailan ders. The stud director believed Haifi, a stallion that is very clo- in him, he passed the tests and sely associated with historic they used Aswan more than any Polish Arabian breeding. When other horse during his life. He naming the horses forming this just seemed to fit into the line, the great importance of this Russian breeding programme sire line becomes clear for ever- together with the previously yone who knows the high skill of mentioned two sire lines. The Polish horse breeders. His sire Tersk Stud produced its best Maysoun line is Kuhailan Haifi - Ofir - Arabians in applying this three- Witraz - Bask - Negatraz - fold combination of sires. The Monogramm. well known stallions Kubinec and Padrons Psyche are just two And finally, the last sire who pro- examples. A pedigree study of ved to be the most brilliant one these two horses shows the in all modern day Arabian horse power of all three of these sires in breeding. This horse is the conjunction, one of the keys for famous stallion Nazeer, bred by the success in Russian breeding.

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Ali Jamaal

Ruminaja Ali

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In straight Egyptian breeding, winner of shows. Madkour I Nazeer's position of excellence sired Jamil, a proud, well-balan- was never contested. Including ced stallion. Jamil left his mark Aswan, he can present six sons of of influence in the United States, equal quality and breeding when he was leased by Ansata power. Regrettably, not all of Arabians. Ansata used him inten- them were given a good chance. sely and also took him to the These five additional eminent show ring where he was a US stallions, besides Aswan, were National Top Ten Stallion in Hadban Enzahi, Ghazal, 1984. But none of Jamil's sons Morafic, Ibn Halima, and Alaa made it as a top sire. The same el Din. Only Alaa el Din remai- could be said for the second ned in Egypt all his life. He had, Hadban Enzahi son, Malik, more than other, the ability to whose only real outstanding son, produce the most wonderful the stallion Asfour owned by the females, yet as a sire producer he Simeon Stud in Australia, produ- was not successful. Therefore, ced females of excellent quality, there is no sire line of Alaa el Din but a sire of world-class stature of any lasting importance. has not yet presented himself.

The stallion Hadban Enzahi At this time, it is worthwhile to arrived at the German Stud of mention Frederico Tesio within Marbach in 1955. Immediately this context. Mr. Tesio presents he became for many German in his enjoyable book “Making breeders an example of oriental The Race Horse”, a study of type and excellence. Very soon a great interest. In it he has shown herd of grey mares, all of them that the influence of a stallion, Hadban Enzahi daughters, were with respect to the heritability of grazing on Marbach's hilly speed, almost completely vanis- pastures. They were a delight and hes within three generations. The Egyptian Prince symbol of oriental beauty, far Most sire lines in Thoroughbred away from their country of ori- racing lose their importance gin. Hadban Enzahi's offspring during such a period. It seems included good males and fema- this theory applies to other les, some of which remained in breeds and other breeding pur- Germany. Several others were poses as well. exported as far away as South Africa and Australia where they Ghazal, a Nazeer son out of the definitely influenced Arabian Bukra, came to the breeding in those countries. Marbach Stud at the same time However, a strong, long-lasting as Hadban Enzahi. Ghazal's sire line by Hadban Enzahi is dam, Bukra, was possibly the not yet visible either in Germany prettiest mare in Egyptian bree- or elsewhere. Perhaps the most ding at that time and was a promising prospect would be the brood mare of first class. Ghazal stallion Madkour I. This is mentioned here as an example Hadban Enzahi son was cer- of how even experienced horse- tainly the most striking one. He men can be wrong and misjudge was a very presentable horse and the breeding quality of a stallion.

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mous potential as a sire. Apparently they underestimated the value and strength of his dam, Bukra. At least, they produced one stallion, Zaher - a perfect sire for Marbach, but since his mother was not a straight Egyptian, Zaher's career was limited too. Only the few straight Egyptian daughters sired by Ghazal in Europe Ansata Imperial kept his blood alive. Ansata Ibn Halima

The directors of Marbach rejected What a different future opened up Margaret Marshall, just loved this him because of faults in his physical for the stallion Morafic, the fourth horse and apparently Morafic retur- structure or phenotype. Ghazal was stallion of the famous group of ned this attention by being a real sire almost completely discarded from Nazeer sons. Morafic could have not of stallions. the Marbach breeding program due found a better place than the gene- to his low back. However, the few rously governed Gleannloch Farms Morafic sired the stallions Dalul and offspring he left showed his enor- in the US. His owners, Douglas and The Egyptian Prince, both with so

Ansata Halim Shah

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many good offspring - males and USA will see just how many hor- females. Another strongly built ses of this origin are presented. Morafic son was Shaikh Al Badi In addition, there is the unique who stood at Bentwood Farms in stallion Ali Jamaal, owned by Texas. These stallions became Lenita Perroy of Haras Meia some of the most popular stal- Lua in Brazil. Ali Jamaal, by lions in the US. In examining Ruminaja Ali and out of the our current situation, it looks as mare Heritage Memory, has if Shaikh Al Badi, through his built his own empire. His sons son Ruminaja Ali, out of the excel in the show rings of South Alaa el Din granddaughter Bint America, the US and Europe. Magidaa, seems to be the one to They also excel as breeding stal- continue the Morafic sire line in lions which confirms their good the US. The Ruminaja Ali son, genetic background. The passage The Minstral, produced Thee of time has not been long enough Morafic Desperado, and anybody visiting to see which one, or even two or an Arabian show ring in the three, of these sires will be the real

Ansata Hejazi

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Salaa El Dine

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Al Adeed Al Shaqab

heir of the Nazeer - Morafic - Shaikh Shah - all four of excellent stallion in a pedigree because they increase Al Badi - Ruminaja Ali sire line. quality. the value of each horse when related to them. The last and prettiest of all the Ansata Ibn Sudan remained at his Nazeer sons was Ibn Halima. Don home stud and added his value and Ansata Halim Shah became an inter- and Judi Forbis bought this horse as beauty to the herd of mares at Ansata national traveler. He started his career a yearling from El Zahara Stud in Arabians. very early as a 3- year- old when he Cairo, Egypt in 1959 and brought was leased to Katharinenhof Stud in him to the US. This horse made the Ansata Imperial is considered as a sire Germany. Thirty well selected mares now world-famous Ansata Arabian who made a great contribution to the were prepared and waited for him. Stud known to every horse breeder Imperial Egyptian Stud in Maryland, They were mostly daughters or involved in Egyptian breeding. USA. It became a famous place for granddaughters of Alaa el Din and Ansata Ibn Halima, as he was regi- having some of the best Egyptian daughters or granddaughters of the stered in the US, was in phenotype horses. However, Ansata Imperial's Marbach-owned Mohebaa dam line. and genotype a stallion of excellence influence remained mostly in This close - beautiful all over - a living painting American, at least when he is compa- choice was a risk, but the calculation - with the most delightful spirit. In red with other sons of Ansata Ibn proved right. addition, he was a very prepotent Halima. The same applies to El Hilal. sire. Again, he could do both, sire This son of Ansata Ibn Halima was It did not happen frequently in the sons and daughters of exceptional an American-bred horse of straight stallion license system in Germany at quality. His most well known sons Egyptian lines, and if his name that time, that several offspring of were Ansata Imperial, Ansata Ibn appears in a pedigree, the heart beats one licensed stallion would also be Sudan, El Hilal and Ansata Halim faster. Such sires breeders like to see licensed and admitted for breeding

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again. The majority of all licen- line, neither in Egypt or anywhe- sed stallions in Germany never re else. One or the other may pos- produced a licensed son. Out of sibly have produced one good son hundreds of licensed stallions, or grandson, but already in the only a handful were able to do same or in the next generation, that. However, they produced not the influence became weak and more than two or three in total in was unable to gain importance all their lives. Ansata Halim Shah again in the great scenery of worked a miracle in one single Arabian horse breeding. breeding year. Nine of his seven born sons were chosen to be In summary, the Nazeer sire line licensed for breeding. Such a is spreading many fold, but the result had never happened before following have to be named as and has never happened since. the clearest and most obvious Ansata Halim Shah had his grea- stallions to continue this valua- test success during this young age. ble line: After his return to the US, Ansata Nazeer - Aswan - Patron - Halim Shah continued to sire Padron - Padrons Psyche some outstanding stallions at Nazeer - Morafic - Shaikh Al Ansata Arabians until he was sold Badi - Ruminaja Ali, plus two to the Al Shaqab Stud in potential sons Doha,Qatar where he died much Nazeer - Ansata Ibn Halima - too early. Considering all these Ansata Halim Shah, plus four three areas of his breeding career, potential sons the following stallions present themselves as possible representa- It is very interesting to note that tives to continue the famous the three sires which were men- Nazeer line via Ansata Ibn tioned in the beginning of this Halima and Ansata Halim Shah discussion; Skowronek, in Egyptian breeding. These are, Amurath-Sahib and Nazeer, had according to their age, Salaa el three things in common. All three Dine and Maysoun in Germany, of them were grey, all three of Ansata Hejazi in Kuwait and Al them were of small size - all well Adeed Al Shaqab in Qatar. Time under 150 cm. - and, all three of will tell which one of them will them were considered to be the have the greatest influence in prettiest ones in their herd at that future. Already Maysoun through time, but compared to the criteria his son Orayan, Salaa el Dine of today they lacked a lot. through his son Safir in Qatar Nevertheless, they produced, with and Ansata Hejazi through seve- certain females, sons of extreme ral beautiful colts born in Kuwait Arabian type. These facts might have made their first steps on this then show us just how important ladder of success. and influential the dam lines are when striving to improve the All the other important stallions breed. Perhaps the traditional in Egyptian breeding during the quotation or theory that, “The heyday of El Zahara, the so-cal- females maintain the breed and led “Nazeer-free” ones, were not the stallions improve it.”, might able to create their own strong sire need a certain correction.

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