In depth In depth contact Maria Paz Murga, the Secretary of Estopa from nose to tail, ears to hoof and the Grunewald, the forests around Berlin. * the Spanish Registry. Maria then introduced then they asked us to turn her loose. Estopa Estopa was the most beautiful horse in the us to her niece, HRH Teresa de Laula danced and floated and, with neck held high stable. When a delegation from Animex, de Bourbon. Teresa was kind enough to and tail over her back, she cast a spell on her the horse sale organisation in Poland, organise and accompany us on a visit to inspectors. It was on that day that the legend came to the stable during a visit to Berlin, the farms of several Arabian horse breeders. of Estopa first began. Estopa was shown, captivating another Before we arrived on the group of experts. Estopa farm of Don Miguel Osuna In the fall, Heinz and I travelled Escalera, she explained that he to Egypt with the goal of was a very difficult person, but adding some straight Egyptian a wonderful breeder. It was on blood to our new herd. There The Om El Arab Story that day that I met Estopa. She we purchased the *Morafic son was dirty, full of scars and very Shaker (ex Zebeda) and five Words by Sigi Constanti thin. She had some wounds mares. When Shaker arrived photography om el arab on her legs from the hobbles in Germany we renamed archives unless stated she wore daily to keep her him Shaker El Masri, which from escaping the unfenced translates from Arabic as fields. But there was a special thankful to Egypt. radiation about Estopa, even In 1971, Heinz and I married. We y feelings about *Estopa in that condition. On Teresa’s took over my parents business and El Shaklan run deep, recommendation and with and formed a partnership with to the core of my being. her help with negotiations them for their horses. I named Both have had a profound because Miguel didn’t want our new horse business Om Meffect on my life. Both left to sell her, we were able to El Arab, which means Mother an indelible imprint on my heart. Both purchase Estopa. of Arabians in Arabic. In the have given me the inspiration and passion On that trip we purchased meanwhile, we had moved to make the breeding of Arabian horses my 18 mares from five different Estopa from the riding stable life’s ambition. El Shaklan, born the same farms. When these mares in Berlin to one of the stalls year as my daughter, was always like a son. arrived in Germany, we were at my parents place at Rastatt. I feel an overwhelming sense of pride when Estopa in Santa Ynez. scoffed at by other breeders for To give all of our horses and I think of him, like the parent of a child who university with my boyfriend, Heinz Merz. scattered. Breeders were sceptical to buy buying the “Spanish Armada”; our new breeding programme has risen to prominence. I am immeasurably The Arabian horses being bred in Germany these Arabians for fear that WAHO might we knew we were taking a a proper home, my parents proud of El Shaklan’s achievements, both as at that time were few and quite expensive. not eventually approve the reconstructed risk in buying so many horses bought a charming, romantic a show horse and a sire. Mostly breeders were using Crabbet, Polish records and refuse to endorse their pure- because WAHO had not yet farm in the nestled in the dense My feelings about *Estopa are equally and Egyptian bloodlines. We were aware bred status. approved the Spanish Registry. woods of the Black Forest. My intense, but different. She enriched my life that there were Shortly after the mares arrived, parents lived there and enjoyed in ways beyond what my words can describe. several Arabian five were quickly purchased by managing the farm. Heinz and I credit: April Visel Her personality is woven inextricably breeders in Spain my parents. One mare, Mecca spent our time working on the into the fabric of my life. She inspired and and that their V, went into my ownership. Om El Beneera (Sharem El Sheikh x Estopa) Last foal of Estopa. business in Rastatt during the enchanted countless breeders and admirers marketing had Our mares went to be boarded on a farm Later that year we went to Poland to see week, travelling 75 minutes every weekend around the world. She gave selflessly, been hampered in Schwaebische Alp owned by the family what was available for our new-found to be with the horses on the farm. protected fiercely, and fully appreciated a over recent years Schule, about 2½ hours from where we breeding programme. We purchased the Estopa was bred in the spring of 1972 on scratch and a soft word as a gift grander with an outbreak lived. My parents kept their mares at home *Naborr son Laos and the two mares Zbroja her new farm to Shaker El Masri. We were than all else. In the December 1999 issue of African horse in their remodelled garage in the town of and Campina. delighted when we received the news of Arabian Horse World, *Estopa was selected sickness closing Rastatt, where I grew up and my father In the spring of 1971, Estopa was transported that she was in foal. Estopa quickly rose by writer/researcher Bette Finke as one of Spain’s borders would lead them to neighbouring pastures to the farm of Carl-Heinz and Constanze to become the alpha mare of the herd, at Europe’s Top 10 Most Influential Mares of to exportation. to graze during the day. Doemken in Northern Germany for times behaving like a stallion, challenging the Century. I would have liked to convey Breeders across We wanted to breed Estopa (Tabal x Uyaima breeding to their Nazeer son, Ghazal (by and teasing the other mares. My father to *Estopa, in our own private way of Europe were also by Barquillo), but before we could do so she Bukra). Three months later, Estopa lost her thought that this behaviour might trigger communicating, the profound significance aware that the had to be evaluated by the authorities of the foal so we decided to bring her to Berlin, hormones that could affect her pregnancy, of that wonderful honour. But, she probably Arabian horses German Registry. We bathed her for her first where we were at university. We found a so he brought her out of the herd and into wouldn’t have given it more than a moment’s being bred in debut in Germany and transported her to riding stable and enrolled her in dressage the barn. He rode her every day out into the thought. That was *Estopa. Spain had not Shaker El Masri. the location of her official inspection. It was training. I rode Estopa nearly every day. forest – my father was an excellent rider and *Estopa and I met in 1970. I was 19 and yet been approved by WAHO. During The trip to Spain that pivotal summer for our impression that these inspectors were She was a hot mare and I an inexperienced Estopa enjoyed the rides as much as he did. Estopa was five. I was in Spain on an Arabian the Spanish Civil War, registrations and my life was inspired by the famous writer Egyptian breeders who were sceptical of rider; when she felt like it, she bucked me As everything was moving smoothly with horse buying trip during summer break from records were lost or burned and horses Erica Schiele, who recommended that we Spanish-bred Arabians. First they evaluated off. Despite my fears, I loved to ride her into Estopa and her pregnancy, I received a gut- Estopa62 • The Arabian Magazine • May 2010 May 2010 • The Arabian Magazine • 63 In depth In depth wrenching shock. A German businessman my heart. Just as important, whatever caused previous years seemed to have vanished. enjoyed the experience, Shaker El Masri did was the most beautiful colt I had ever seen. seductive. Her eyes were large, round and offered Heinz a huge sum to purchase Estopa’s reproductive difficulties during With Estasha at side, Estopa went quickly not and that was his one and only show. Estopa had created another masterpiece. I soft black. Her character was a contradiction Estopa. The amount was many back into foal with Shaker El Masri. Estopa’s second foal was of terms. She could times more than was paid for her In the fall of 1973 we took Estopa, another filly even more have, at times, the and WAHO had not yet made a final Shaker El Masri and eight other exotic than Estasha. nature of a nurturing decision about the purity of the Arabians to the first horse show held When she was born, I babysitter or the Arabians bred in Spain, so Heinz was in Germany, held in Verden/Aller. We thought that she had fierce demeanour of ready to agree to the sale. I argued were total novices to showing, washing the most beautiful face credit: Kimerlee Curyl a warrior. Estopa was that we should never sell Estopa and the horses at home and showing them I had ever seen. When very people oriented believed that she was our best mare. in-hand with bridles and bits; we she started moving this and loved being the I prevented the sale and to protect wore our riding pants and had two of precious little girl was centre of attention.