Desert Heritage n.51 | Middle East - January edition

D E S E RT H E R I TA G E

Magazine

Desert Heritage Magazine n.51 iscr. trib. di Milano n. 466 del 20/09/02 Expedition in A.P. 70% Milano

Alim Editrice s.n.c. via Ressi, 22 - 20125 Milano (Italy) e-mail: info@tuttoarabi.it www.desertheritagemagazine.com Publisher Simone Leo mobile: +39 348 5640190 leo.simon@tiscali.it Editor Fabio Brianzoni fabiobrianzoni56@gmail.com Account Office/Subscription Office Barbara Belloni amministrazione@alimeditrice.it Writers Domenico Bergero Joe Ferriss Kamila Kozlowska Giorgia Mauri Cynthia Préfontaine Monika Savier Judith Wich-Wenning Digital Artwork Viviana Castiglioni Printed by AGF Spa San Giuliano Milanese Milano (Italy) Advertising Alim Editrice s.n.c. via Ressi, 22 - 20125 Milano (Italy) tel. +39 02 36762850 e-mail: info@tuttoarabi.it instagram: tuttoarabi_magazine www.desertheritagemagazine.com © www.desertheritagemagazine.com

Pag. 04 Naseem Al Rashediah. Path to Glory Pag. 33 Harem Stud Pag. 42 Al Jabal Arabians Pag. 50 Amoun Egyptian Arabians Pag. 65 Sharjah Arabian Horse Festival Pag. 82

Katja Sauer

Pag. 92

Ali Alhawaj photogallery

Pag. 110 Peter Smith Pag. 114 Simone Bergamaschi photogallery Pag. 122 Zaafarana. A Saqlawi Queen Pag. 132 SEWC Pag. 154 Agricon Logistic Pag. 159 Clays for Horses

In the cover D E S E RT H E R I TA G E

Magazine

NASEEM AL RASHEDIAH AL ADEED AL SHAQAB | NABAWEYAH EZZAIN photo by Alessio Azzali

Standing at

Director: Ms. Eileen Verdieck eileen@alrashediahstud.com Phone: +1 720 369 0640

General manager: Mr. Franck Boetto franck@alrashediahstud.com Phone: +973 6693 3839

www.alrashediahstud.com

NASEEM AL RASHEDIAH PATH TO GLORY

by Kamila Kozlowska photos by Alessio Azzali, Gigi Grasso, Simone Bergamaschi, Sunny, Glenn Jacobs, Gregor Aymar, Stuart Vesty, Al Rashediah Stud archive

Are there any breeders of Arabian horses in the world

stamping his offspring with the most desirable of his

that do not dream about breeding a Show Horse

own traits. For some, breeding such a horse is just a

Supreme? This question often leads to another: which

dream, while for others, it becomes reality.

attributes are necessary for an Arabian horse to achieve greatness? Is it the exquisite Arabian type, aristocratic

The determination, engagement and passion of the

refinement, noble presence, commanding charisma,

whole team at the world-famous Al Rashediah Stud in

correct conformation or powerful movement? There is

Bahrain, founded by Mr. Abdulrahman AJjasmi and

one simple answer: a perfectly balanced combination

skilfully supervised by Rashed Abdulrahman Al Jasmi,

of all these is zthe recipe for success inStuart the Vesty, have resulted breeding an outstanding byqualities Simone Leo photos

by Gregor Aymar, Glenn Jacobsin and Al Rashediah Stud archive individual showring. However, achieving greatness may be

who is on a good path to become a living legend. At the

much more challenging than it seems, especially for

age of six, Naseem Al Rashediah is much more than

a breeding stallion. Not only does he need to become

a promising young stallion. With his extraordinary

a recognised show champion, but he is also required

record of accomplishment, both in the showring and in

to prove himself in a breeding barn by repeatedly

the breeding barn, he has already gained a reputation

4 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Desert Heritage Magazine • 5

of one of the most sensational and successful young stallions in the Straight Egyptian breeding world.

A world that undoubtedly has its challenges and limitations due to a fairly restricted number of existing SE bloodlines.

According to the vision of his breeder and owner, Mr. Abdulrahman AJjasmi, Mr. Rashed Abdulrahman Al Jasmi tell us: “Naseem has several very important and desirable characteristics that are much needed in the Arabian horse world, particularly in the Straight Egyptian horse. He is a balanced, correct and complete horse with a heart-stopping charisma, a refined, almost perfectly shaped head and astonishing black skin”. It would be difficult not to agree with Rashed. This strikingly handsome young stallion has it all: an authentic Arabian type that goes hand in hand with a harmonious, well-balanced build and an alluring magnetism that captivates both the spectators and the judges. As if it was not enough, Naseem has been blessed with an exotic, perfectly proportioned head with small, beautifully shaped ears, black intelligent eyes, deep round jowls and dark vascular muzzle, which combined with a long elegant neck, set highly on a well-muscled shoulder, short back and impressive upright tail carriage create a picture of an Arabian stallion that is close to perfection.

All these superb qualities Naseem exhibited from the day he was born. This is how Rashed remembers this special moment: “I was so excited when I saw Naseem for the first time! He was one of our first foals

by Al Adeed Al Shaqab. More importantly, he possessed

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all the qualities and conformational traits that we were hoping to get from crossing his sire with his dam. These two beautiful but very different types of SE horses in both conformation and pedigree produced a young colt that not only exhibited the best features of both his sire and dam, but also represented much needed diversity of bloodlines.

He seemed to realize from birth that he was destined for greatness and he proudly showed off his beautiful head with extremely large black eyes and a remarkably refined muzzle.

He had an excellent sloping shoulder with a neck that was wonderfully set and shaped. His back was short and he possessed a deep loin and excellent strong hip and croup, topped off with a tail that he held up high and straight. He also possessed all the charisma that could be packed into such a young colt. We could not have been more delighted!�

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ANSATA IBN HALIMA

ANSATA HALIM SHAH ANSATA ROSETTA

AL ADEED AL SHAQAB SUNDAR ALISAYYAH

NASEEM

RUMINAJA ALI

IMPERIAL SAYYAH

AL RASHEDIAH

ANSATA HEJAZI

ANSATA ALMURTAJIZ ANSATA SAMSARA

NABAWEYAH EZZAIN NK NAKEEBYA

NK HAFID JAMIL

NK NABEELAH

NAZEER HALIMA ANSATA SHAH ZAMAN ANSATA BINT BUKRA SHAIKH AL BADI BINT MAGIDAA KAYED MALEKAT EL GAMAL

ANSATA HALIM SHAH ANSATA SUDARRA PRINCE FA MONIET ANSATA SAMANTHA IBN NEJDY HELALA NAHAMAN NASHUA

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Mr. Abdulrahman AJjasmi owner of Al Rashediah Stud and Rashed, Milan SEWC 2017

Just one look at Naseem’s impressive pedigree is enough to understand where his classic Arabian type and distinct desert beauty come from. Without a doubt, his greatness stems from the concentration of legendary individuals in his bloodlines as well as the genetic diversity of his sire and dam. Being a direct descendant of the legendary Nazeer, Naseem proudly carries on the legacy of Saklawi I 1886, the most significant and successful sire line of today. Sired by the World Champion Stallion Al Adeed Al Shaqab and out of a beautiful bay Ansata Hejazi granddaughter Nabaweyyah Ezzain, Naseem combines the most desirable traits of both bloodlines. Even though his sire and dam were genotypically and phenotypically different, the final outcome in the form of a gorgeous grey colt proved that this combination was a match made in heaven. Naseem’s unforgettable sire, Al Adeed Al Shaqab, himself the embodiment of an excellent Arabian stallion, was a very successful show horse and a sire of great significance. Many times national and international champion, in 2003 Al Adeed reached

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Unanimous Golden SEWC Stallion: 2020 Champion Stallion

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for the well-deserved World Champion Stallion title, the most prestigious trophy in his spectacular career.

His influence as a breeding stallion should not be underestimated. As the last and, at the same time, the most prominent son of Ansata Halim Shah, he was widely used across SE and non-SE breeding programmes in the Middle East, Europe and in the USA. Every inch his father’s son, Naseem exhibits many traits that Al Adeed Al Shaqab inherited from his own outstanding sire. Ansata Halim Shah, who is considered one the most influential Straight Egyptian Arabians of the 20th century, was highly admired for his abundant Arabian type and perfectly balanced conformation. An even closer look at Naseem’s lineages reveals the extent of Nazeer’s incomparable influence on both his genotype and phenotype. Ansata Ibn Halima and Morafic, who

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AYAH AL FALA Naseem Al Rashediah | Zumorroda Al Waab. Bred & owned by Al Fala Stud Gold Medal Champion Yearling Fillies - SEWC 2020

are considered the cornerstones of the breed as well

brother Al Ghazi Al Rashediah (by Jamil Al Rayyan)

as Nazeer’s most prominent sons, appear in Naseem’s

became Gold Junior Champion Colt.

pedigree six and nine times respectively. With all the unpredictability of breeding, such a concentration

Naseem’s illustrious show career bears a striking

of priceless genes must have resulted in a superior

resemblance to his sire’s amazing achievements. He

individual. The excellence of Saklawi I sire line in

clearly follows in Al Adeed Al Shaqab’s footsteps

Naseem’s genotype and phenotype is further enhanced

and he definitely did not say his final word as a show

by his exceptional dam, the reigning queen of the Al

champion. As a two-year-old colt, he already reached

Rashediah Stud - Nabaweyyah Ezzain. This priceless

for the highest trophy at the 2016 Straight Egyptian

pearl of Bahrain once again confirmed her value as a

World Championships. He won his class with a very

broodmare during the 2020 Straight Egyptian World

high score of 93.38 points and became unanimous

Championships, where Naseem’s maternal half-

Gold Junior Champion Colt. Only a year after his

16 • Desert Heritage Magazine

SALAM AKMAL Naseem Al Rashediah | Salmma BKV. Bred & owned by Akmal Stud Gold Medal Champion Yearling Colts - SEWC 2020 triumph at the SE World Championships, he proved

but he also reinforced his leading position with the

that he can compete with non-SE Arabians too

unanimous Best in Show Male title.

and achieve amazing success. At the 2017 Menton show, Naseem again stood on the podium as a Silver

Rashed seemed very pleased but not overly surprised with the

Junior Champion Colt. However, it was his most

wonderful victory of his stallion: “Overall, Naseem has a sense

recent win during the 2020 Straight Egyptian World

of confidence about himself and he easily shows it. He is easy to

Championships in Milan that established him as a

manage and handle, but in a blink of an eye he turns into a fiery

showring phenomenon. With a spectacular score of

and beautiful show horse that demands everyone’s attention!

93.88 points, including maximum notes for type, head

He is a natural born ruler!” His most recent presentation

and neck and 2x20 for movement, Naseem remained

confirmed that he is the unquestionable King of the Ring!

undefeated throughout the whole show. Not only

And he knows it! He carries himself with such confidence and

did he become unanimous Gold Champion Stallion,

dignity that all eyes are on him when he enters the showring.

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PROGENY IN AL RASHEDIAH STUD

HIYAM AL RASHEDIAH

ADALLAH AL RASHEDIAH

AMIRAL AL RASHEDIAH

GJ AMIRA DEENAA

Naseem Al Rashediah | Hala Al Rashediah

Naseem Al Rashediah | Moniet Al Rashediah

18 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Naseem Al Rashediah | Aroub Al Rashediah

Naseem Al Rashediah | Pashmina

NASHMI AL RASHEDIAH

SLASHA AL RASHEDIAH

PALERMO AT

NAZAR AL RASHEDIAH

NAHALA O

Naseem Al Rashediah | Al Jazi Al Nasser filly bred and owned by Al Nasser Stud

Naseem Al Rashediah | Maghribia

Naseem Al Rashediah | Penelope KA

Naseem Al Rashediah | Nowara S Glam.

Bred by Sweden Arabian Stud

Naseem Al Rashediah | Sherifa El Gabry

Naseem Al Rashediah | NK Naeema

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20 • Desert Heritage Magazine

As befits a fully accomplished stallion, Naseem rules not only in the showring, but also in the breeding barn. His progeny is the living proof of their sire’s great genetic prepotency. His fantastic foals follow his lead as show champions, repeatedly winning the highest trophies at some of the most prestigious shows. It is enough to mention the most recent SE World Championships, where two outstanding yearlings by Naseem, an exotic grey filly Ayah Al Fala and a handsome grey colt Salam Akmal, became unanimous Gold Champion Yearling Filly and Gold Champion Yearling Colt respectively.

There is no better way to demonstrate the value of a sire than to have his two foals reaching for Gold Champion titles in the yearling sections at the same time as their father becomes Gold Champion as a senior stallion.

When I asked Rashed about his favourite offspring by Naseem, this is what he told me: “Well, this is a difficult question as my favourite foal by him changes constantly. I am often amazed at the shows when each of his foals ends up beating the next. I will not be surprised if tomorrow my opinion will change again. I shall leave it to the breeders to decide which cross with Naseem works best in their opinion.”

Naseem surely is a remarkable representative of the breed. What is the best word to describe him?

According to his breeder and owner it is “Extraordinary!

There is nothing every-day or ordinary about this stallion.

He possesses that rare combination of a spectacular classic pedigree with excellent conformation and extreme type that he consistently passes onto his offspring. In my opinion, there could not be a more relevant SE stallion in the world today.

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Due to his diverse bloodlines and excellent refinement and

reaches far beyond the Straight Egyptian breeding

type, he is a sight for sore eyes for breeders that are looking

world. Are we going to hear about Naseem soon?

for ways to move their breeding programmes forward.�

Without a doubt, the reigning Straight Egyptian World Champion Stallion continues to grow more

Is Naseem an ideal Arabian horse? If we ever get to

beautiful each year while also becoming invaluable as

the point where we breed an Arabian horse that has

a sire. Naseem Al Rashediah definitely did not say his

no flaws, the whole idea of breeding will no longer

last word as a show champion, nor did his offspring

make sense. Is Naseem close to perfection? Both his

rest on their laurels, so watch this magnificent stallion

impressive show career and his successes as a breeding

grow into a legend and be the witness of his path to

stallion leave no doubt that he sets a standard which

glory. q

22 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Standing at GIACOMO

CAPACCI

ARABIANS

Director: Ms. Eileen Verdieck eileen@alrashediahstud.com Phone: +1 720 369 0640

General manager: Mr. Franck Boetto franck@alrashediahstud.com Phone: +973 6693 3839

www.alrashediahstud.com

Desert Heritage Magazine • 23

La Frasera

Collection

FRASERA MAGNIFICO

(Frasera Shaqab x Frasera Magnifica) Dahama Shawan

www.desertheritagemagazine.com

Š

La Frasera Arabian Horse Stud

La Frasera - Francesco Santoro via Borneo, 25 - 00144 Roma - Italy ph.: +39 06 5913526 - mobile: +39 349 5906607 - e-mail: santorof@lafrasera.it

FRASERA MASHALL (Phaaros x Frasera Mashara) Dahamah Shahwan

FRASERA MASHAR

(Majd al Rayyan x Frasera Mashara) Dahmah Shahwan

FRASERA NESHAR

(Frasera Mashar x Frasera bint Nefisa) Hadban Enzahi

FRASERA SHAHIR

(Nabel al Rayyan x Frasera Mia) Saqlawi Jedran ibn Sudan

FRASERA CARINA

(Frasera Mashall x Frasera Magica) Dahamah Shahwan

FRASERA FANTASTICA (Frasera Mashar x Frasera Futura) Dahamah Shawan

FRASERA MIA

(Frasera Ramses Shah x Frasera Shahira) Saqlawi Jedran ibn Sudan

FRASERA KAMARA (Shahil x Frasera Negida) Hadban Enzahi

FRASERA MADRA

(Frasera Mashall x Frasera Madara) Dahamah Shahwan

FRASERA HADYRA

(Majd al Rayyan x Frasera Hadiyeh) Saqlawj Jedrani ibn Sudan

FRASERA MASHA

(Frasera Dubai x Frasera Mashalla) Dahamah Shawan

FRASERA SHAHIRA

(Majd al Rayyan x Frasera Shahilla) Saqlawi Jedran ibn Sudan

FRASERA MASHARRA

(Frasera Mashar x Frasera bint Nefisa) Hadban Enzahi

FRASERA MAGICA

(Majd al Rayyan x Frasera Futura) Dahamah Shawan

FRASERA RASHIRA

(Frasera Ramses Shah x Frasera Shahira) Saqlawi Jedran ibn Sudan

FRASERA NESHAR

(Frasera Mashar x Frasera bint Nefisa) Hadban Enzahi

La Frasera Arabian Horse Stud

La Frasera - Francesco Santoro via Borneo, 25 - 00144 Roma - Italy ph.: +39 06 5913526 - mobile: +39 349 5906607 - e-mail: santorof@lafrasera.it

Š

www.desertheritagemagazine.com

Noble Arabian Horses in Switzerland

H Geyser

(H Glamours x Gazelle)

Today my life is entirely dedicated to horses.

I would say that they are the ones who manage my life Manuela Lucini

n by Monika Savier, photos by Gigi Grasso, Joanna Jonientz

The “Fattoria Collina d’Oro “(Golden Hill Farm) is located on the Golden Hill by the Lake of Lugano. The owner is Manuela Lucini - who is more than just the owner, actually, as it was her who created this small oasis, commenting today: „The farm is part of my DNA by now. I cannot even imagine a life without my animals anymore.“ Almost 70km north of Milan, in a small village near Lugano in the Swiss Alps region of Tessin – this is where she started her stud for Arabian horses in 1997. Manuela Lucini breeds Purebred Arabians as well as Straight Egyptians there. Today, 17 horses are stabled on the farm, two of them AngloArabians and all of them accompanied by a lot of other animals such as two donkeys, more than a dozen Tibetan goats, and numerous other species and pets. Beautiful premises framed by green pastures and woodlands offer the animals even more than an enormously high quality of living: they also get a premium view of the lake. Manuela succeeded in making her ambitious plan of a horse center for show and sport come true by decisive action. She does almost everything by herself: show preparation, breaking in and training, equine physiotherapy, and rehabilitation of horses with physical and psychological problems.

When I asked her for an interview, she answered: “Please have some patience with me... I don’t know if it’s good to put in the article that I have to manage everything at 360 degrees around me from the water pipe connections, to which nails to buy, to organizing the tractor overhaul; to horse management, training, and breeding; to property management, finances etc etc etc; and I know it’s not the right thing to do, but unfortunately it’s better not to delegate anything. And for a woman it is not easy anyway, even with employees.”

Monika: Do you have a distinct concept in mind, an idea that guides you in your horse breeding?

Manuela: As far as Egyptian horses are concerned, I must tell you that I am not a great expert of lines. I rather work according to what I see, although I do not even choose the color. By pure chance, my five Egyptians are black. For my mares, I feel a bit like a mother who chooses the ideal husband :-) I look at their characteristics in general, with strong points and weak points included, and try to give them a stallion who can improve their progeny. Regardless of color, I prefer type and charisma. I am not prejudiced against particular Egyptian lines. I get my orientation from the official definitions of Straight Egyptians by the Egyptian State Stud and the Pyramid Society.

Monika: Your black Egyptians are highly impressive.

Royal Colour has transmitted extreme type plus the black color more often than not, which is quite a rare

34 • Desert Heritage Magazine

combination actually.

Manuela: I am quite proud to have bred some black offspring that earn excellent scores in shows and are successful otherwise too; which is because they have a lightness overall, and short and rather modern heads. But I don’t have Egyptians only, I have several Egyptian-related Arab horses, and two Anglo Arabians that I care a lot about, offspring of my great love HAREM. I like all my horses very much, regardless of the success they have in the show or under the saddle.

Monika: There are lots of work for you here, how do you manage to get it all done?

Manuela: I always took care of everything: starting with my two foundation mares TUAREG DREAM-CHA (Shahil x LF Chantilly) and GALILA (Coaltown x UP Bint Montaha). When I got them, they were still fillies. I raised them myself, broke them in, trained them, mated them with my stallion, was present when they gave birth, raised the

GALILA (Coaltown x UP Bint Montaha)

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H GEYSER (H Glamours x Gazelle) foals, trained them, broke them in, and so on. It’s just the line of work you chose when you breed for generations in a stud.

Monika: How important is ridden work with your horses here on your farm?

Manuela: For me it’s essential that every single horse is trained to the saddle, in addition to the show work. The mares here are broken in for riding before they are covered for the first time. The same is true for the stallions before they are allowed to mate. In my opinion, that’s a bit like school for children and young people, which serves to create a certain discipline, as well as some extra motivation in their lives. I find that for a horse to be alone in the pasture, or their box stall, or to run their circles on the lounging line – it’s got to be terribly boring. However, training takes experience and competence, of course.

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Monika: So what’s your point of view about the show training within the frame of educating your horses?

Manuela: A show horse who is or was also ridden needs to be trained in a correct manner and outline, meaning we can’t lounge him with his head in the air. We would ruin his back muscles that way, and not only that, the neck would also change in a negative way, a ewe neck will easily form.

I’m sure you understand why it’s not easy to just hand a horse over to somebody for show training, without applying certain standards of quality.

Monika: It’s really good of you to look out for your horses.

At the same time, I can see you have fun in the shows.

Beauty is one of the passions in your life, and also in the lives of your horses. I happen to know that you also sell beauy paraphernalia for shows.

H GINGERGLAM (H Glamours x Gazelle)

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H GLAMOURS (Royal Colours x Galila)

Manuela: Yes, for several years I have been offering my excellent products for show horses. Many show handlers order them from me, but private breeders will also often look out for beautiful and professional show halters and all the items you need for successful grooming and training of horses.

Monika: However, the horses are what your work concentrates on, aren’t they?

Manuela: We used to run a photography shop, but since the time when we closed that, my life has changed enormously.

Because from that time on, I applied myself to horse breeding and training full time. Today my life is entirely dedicated to horses. I would say that they are the ones who manage my life.

I am quite precise and thorough, so there is always plenty to do, for the horses as well as for external maintenance. It’s not easy for me and not even for those who work alongside me, but the welfare and cleanliness of the horses are the priorities for me. I really want them not to lack anything. I would say they are all pretty spoiled, but in the end, they do

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GALILA e GAZELLE

everything I ask them to do. Working with them gives me a lot of satisfaction. I couldn’t imagine my life without horses, they are part of my DNA now.

Monika: What part do the Straight Egyptians play in your life?

Manuela: GALILA was love at first sight, I got her when she was just a yearling, and she is my personal mare. I never found the ideal black stallion for her, but still I got some excellent offspring out of her, blacks and others, unfortunately only a few.

TUAREG DREAM-CHA was the basis of my breeding, not only because of the quality of her foals, but she was the essence of the harmony that a mare must have. She was a great loss to my breeding and to my heart when she died.

From her I had excellent Egyptian-related offspring that are still active in breeding today. They are irreplaceable to me.

Monika: Do you prefer to use your home-bred stallions in breeding, or do you also consider matings with outside

40 • Desert Heritage Magazine

stallions?

Manuela: I find it nice to be able to choose between many stallions nowadays, without the problem that long distances bring, since I can order transportable frozen semen. Certainly for a small breeder, like me, it is increasingly difficult not to succumb to competition. But I am satisfied with the kind of Egyptians I created, almost casually. Basically it’s not easy to breed blacks who are elegant and typey. Mine turned out quite well, however: they have beautiful small heads with a well-expressed dish, they have strong bodies, and both of them are great movers. H GLAMOURS is my protégé. I simply adore him!!

Monika: What are your plans for the future?

Manuela: I don’t know if the future will be rosy... it’s getting more and more difficult. At the moment I can’t breed more than I do, because I don’t have any more box stalls available.

Sounds odd, maybe, but it’s true. I would have to sell horses, but that’s a challenge for me emotionally, as I need to be entirely convinced they will get a good new home. For the

GAZELLE

(Classic Shadwan x Galila)

future, I hope for some positive change. I’ve taken horses to shows and they had very good results, but it seems to me that this doesn’t have a positive effect on the price of the horse.

Also I am not very good at selling a horse, I can screw it all up if the person or the new place doesn’t convince me. So I live on passion as long as I can.

emphasize that great demands are made on the qualities of Arabian horses under saddle, ignoring their proper intrinsic qualities. This is not good news for those who try to breed good offspring, but perhaps the really good thing about it is that those who choose Arabian horses, choose them simply as their bestlife companions. q

Monika: What is the market like for Arabian horses in Switzerland?

Manuela: Unfortunately here in Switzerland, I tried in many ways to promote Arabian Horses, with interviews in television programs etc, but most people here have a false picture of Arabian horses. They have a reputation for being difficult to ride, and to be too small for many people – to sum things up in two keywords. Luckily, among us fans of Arabian horses, we understand each other and laugh because we know that the warmblood riders don’t know what they are missing. I tried to breed quality offspring, but even so few people know how to distinguish between a typey and a nontypey head. Maybe they are more color-oriented. But I must

www.haremstud.com www.hglamours.com www.fattoriacollinadoro.ch SWITZERLAND

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“…Even the Smallest Breeders, Like Myself, can be the Backbone of the Arabian Breed…”

Al Jabal Arabians in Switzerland: An Example of Preservation Breeding

Stallion HAR Baarez overlooking the Valley down below

The Queen of Al Jabal Arabians: the homebred Rheemah al Jabal - a Salaa El Dine granddaughter

42 • Desert Heritage Magazine

n text and interview Monika Savier All Photos, unless otherwise stated, by Joanna Jonientz

Living at almost 1000 meters above sea level, on a mountain in the Alps, is not easy. The way up there is hard going. However, once you arrived, you enjoy a good overview and know why you left the valley behind. That is about what must have gone on in the creative life of Maya Jones, a successful Swiss lady breeder and founder of Al Jabal Arabians. She was one of the first women to decide, as early as the late 1970ies, to extend her hobby, which was riding Arabian horses, into an Arabian horse breeding operation. For her, this was not about any Purebred Arabians, but about Straight Egyptians, an Arabian breeding line that is often considered closest to the original Arabians, as they may have looked in their Arabian countries of origin. At that time, Arabian shows were rare. Anybody who owned and rode Purebred Arabians would do so out of passion and as a hobby.

“Al Jabal Stud offers an incredible view of the Mountains, but even better is the view inside Al Jabal Arabians’ breeding barn” Maya says with a twinkle in her eyes. We have been knowing each other for 30 years, and I very much respect her active enthusiasm for natural proceedings in breeding. Some of her horses are related to mine via their pedigrees, so it’s usually quite fascinating to talk about successes and failures with her, reflecting what happened. Among our topics, there is often the role and the difficulties that European horse breeding has been seeing since the markets got globalized. How did we benefit from that? What did we lose? Where are we today, and which strategies are useful for improving the horses without losing the positive traits and aspects of the original breed?

Find here the interesting interview with Maya Jones.

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© Four year old mares of Al Jabal Arabians: Masida Halima, Jumanah Al Jabal, Rayyanah Al Jabal

adequate endurance. I believe they are the original jewels of the desert. And because history has shown that the Abayyan cross well with other strains, especially the Saklawi strain, I started about ten years ago to outcross my mares with mostly Saklawi stallions. I would like to remind everybody of the three most influential broodmares of the last century who were of the Abayyan Om Jurays strain: Magidaa (Alaa el Din x Maysa by Anter), Hanan (Alaa el Din x Mona by Badr) and Marah (Galal x Maysa by Anter).

Latifa by M. Groger - Al Jabal Arabians Foundation mare

Monika: When did Arabian horse breeding start for you?

Maya: I first fell in love with straight Egyptians back in 1979 - he was a son of Ibn Galal (Galal x Mohga by El Sareei) named Sher-Gall (Sherifa by Mahomed out of Marah), and he was an Abayyan stallion. He had the sweetest character and was both a lovely riding horse and a family horse. He really captured my heart with his spirit and loyalty. I was a young girl, and things changed forever the day that Sher-Gall came into my life.

Monika: How did you get to like the Straight Egyptians, and why the horses of the Abayyan Om Juray strain in particular?

Maya: I was fascinated by the history of the Egyptian Horse and decided to concentrate on breeding Abayyan straight Egyptian Arabians. I knew that there were only a few hundred breeding horses of this traditional Bedouin strain, the Abayyan Om Jurays, left in the world and I believe the horses of this line are the modern embodiment of their warhorse ancestors. They all descend from an Abayyah Um Jurays of Muhammad Ibrahim al-Hajj of Cairo, Egypt, who was purchased in 1931 by King Fuad. There are three sub-strains of the Abayyan line, most of them bred by the Shammar and Tahawi Bedouins. They are the Abayyan Seheyli, Abayyan Sherrak, and Abayyan Um Jurays, sometimes spelled Abayyan Om Grees or also called Obayan Om Grees.

In the writings of the Orient experts of a few hundred years ago, there are comments about the Abayyans to be found: they were described as being similar to the Saqlawi; beautiful, elegant and showy with a high head and very good tail carriage, the legs of a racehorse and a wonderful shoulder with enormous ribcage and with great speed, agility and 44 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Monika: How did you finally arrive at the idea of a stud of your own with this clear-cut breeding goal?

Maya: It was my cousin’s husband Felix who introduced me to straight Egyptian Arabians. I loved all horses from the time when I was a young girl, but the moment I saw the straight Egyptians for the first time, I fell in love. Felix and I would just sit together for hours; talking about the bloodlines and putting together handwritten pedigrees, going right back to the desert-bred foundations. We would print A3 sheets and write each strain in a different colour.

I became so fascinated with this, and this led to an interest in the heritage of the straight Egyptian. I guess it almost became an obsession, analysing pedigrees.

Professionally speaking, I studied economy (trust me, I was never able to apply that knowledge with the horses…) and added a Master of Science to my academic career. With this, I was able to travel the world as a consultant in supply chain management for a very big company. In every Country I spent time in, I would always look for Arabian Horses whenever possible. After settling down, I found this place here in the Swiss mountains, and started my straight Egyptian breeding program in earnest. I used to live in a traditional Swiss chalet until not long ago, a fire caused by a malfunctioning power cord completely destroyed my home. Luckily, me and all the animals (horses, dogs and cats) survived with no injuries, but I lost all my material things. As I had always desired to live closer to my horses anyway, I placed a mobile home right on the paddock to live in until the new house will be built.

Monika: After this dramatic and existential experience, I can imagine the horses have become even more important to you. Tell us which horses you choose for your present breeding activities.

Maya: The mare I started with was the lovely chestnut mare, Latifa by Teymur B x Nadira V, an Ibn Nejdy granddaughter who was bred by the late Sigi Manz in Germany. At the same time as her, I was able to acquire a beautiful Salaa El Dine son in Italy, and the first daughter

Maya and her precious mare Rheemah al Jabal and her 2020 colt Rasheek al Jabal - an eight-month-old colt

by Hanine al Shahania x Rheemah al Jabal

of the two was a filly named Rheemah al Jabal. Rheemah was the only filly I got out of Latifa before she died of a colic.

Luckily, Rheemah turned into a beautiful fleabitten mare who is still with me and is continuing the legacy of her dam Latifa. Her get is in Switzerland, Germany, and Egypt and recently she has been awarded the label premium mare of our breeding society. Rheemah is the most motherly, loving mare that I could ever think of. She is incredibly special to me – she raised her own foal and adopted another one who had been rejected. Rheemah is this wonderful combination of King of the Mountains: homozygeous black stallion HAR Baarez

intelligence, power, stamina, love, and dedication to humans and she is a great riding horse too. Rheemah has a pretty 2020 colt – Rasheek al Jabal – by the multiple champion stallion Hanine al Shahania (Al Adeed al Shaqab x Shomos al Nasser) and she is pregnant for a 2021 foal from the black pearl HAR Baarez (NK Ibn Leyl x HAR Basara – an Anaza El Farid great granddaughter).

The almost four-year-old mare Jumanah al Jabal is a precious daughter of Rheemah al Jabal and my beloved stallion NK Abbas El Dins (see below). She will begin her Maya Jones and her Stallion HAR Baarez

Desert Heritage Magazine • 45

the homebred young mare Jumanah al Jabal

Nile Pasha Halim (Ansata Nile Pharao x Nagda Halima)

career as a broodmare next year, with the lovely Nile Pasha Halim (Ansata Nile Pharao x Nagda Halima). Two more almost four-years-old mares join the group of young mares at Al Jabal Arabians: Rayyanah al Jabal (Sharif Ibn Sheikh al Jabal x Layla Bint Ghazira al Jabal), and Masida Halima (Ansata Nile Pharao x Mabrouka Halima, a MaydanMadheen daughter).

The true queen of Al Jabal, however, is the soon 24-year-old Fay Sabeena (Fay Sabun x Matala Bint Marah by Jamil), a Marah / EAO granddaughter and the last living Matala Bint Marah daughter. She is the most gentle and sweet mare and if she looks at you with her beautiful large black eye it feels like she was looking deep into your soul.

With the addition of the black homozygous mare AR Yosreya (AR Shandiz x AR Sheykha Bint Maymoun) last year, I closed the gap to the beginnings of almost 30 years ago in an instant, as she is tracing back to exactly the same mare as Sher-Gall, my first ever straight Egyptian Horse. She will always stay here with me, as she is one of the few homozygous black Abayyans in Europe. Yosreya is now, in 2020, in foal from NK Abbas El Dine (NK Jamal El Dine x NK Asila), bred by Dr. Hans Nagel of Katharinenhof Stud. Abbas is very typey with a compact body, with lovely eyes, and I am proud of his heritage. He carries the El Din legacy and instils a lot of the famous “Nagel refinement” into my program.

The homebred young Rayyanah al Jabal 46 • Desert Heritage Magazine

NK Abbas El Dine, bred by Dr. Nagel, Katharinenhof - chief sire of Al Jabal Arabians

Monika: In your breeding, how important is type to you in relation to functionality?

Maya: My aim is to breed refined horses with good, solid bodies. It is just my type, I guess. I like horses that I can ride.

None of my horses are garden ornaments. Once my babies are sufficiently grown up, I have them trained to be great future riding horses until I find a wonderful 5-star-home for one or the other. Functionality is just as important as type in my opinion, and I don’t breed mainstream show horses. That doesn’t mean that my homebred horses can’t be shown – but I don’t like the so-called industry with mostly horses who look all the same. I love individuality, I love being a bit different.

So I prefer to attend shows like the Noble Straight Egyptian Breeders Festival, which Mahmoud Anzarouti initiated 2017. That’s an event that brings together breeders, Arabian Horse lovers, and enthusiasts from all over the world to present their Straight Egyptian breeding programs. These presentations are held in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere, without judgement but with a lot of passion. Most breeders will even present their horses themselves… something you rarely find at mainstream shows nowadays because they are all in the hands of professionals - which is not always an advantage for the horses. This is why I am proud to be a member of the Honorary Board of the Noble Festival and Masida Halima, Maya’s precious Maydan-Madheen granddaughter Desert Heritage Magazine • 47

young mares of Al Jabal Arabians - Masida Halima, Rayyanah al Jabal and Jumanah al Jabal

strongly support this kind of event. I hope that similar initiatives for horse presentation will soon emerge in other countries as well. We did our successful first step already, which may serve as a model for others.

Monika: What about your new stallions on your farm?

Maya: I have added two very exciting boys of the Saklawi strain to my stallion barn: With Nabiel Halim, by Sabeh al Salhia and out of Nile Halima (a PVA Kariim daughter), it’s not only that I have a future sire with an excellent pedigree in my stable – with Nabiel Halim, I have a potential sire who will transmit the strong bodies that I like so much in my breeding.

The second future sire of Al Jabal Arabians is DF Nafis, a homozygeous tested solid black colt sired by DF Siraj and out of DF Nadeemah by Miad al Shaqab. I adore his small typey ears and his big dark eyes, certainly a trait which is often difficult to find within black SEs. On top of all that he is a great mover and I love to do ground work with this smart young fellow.

Both of them represent my hopes and dreams for the future of my breeding program, and I am very excited to have some of their progeny at Al Jabal Arabians soon. Not just to be able to see their foals’ hopefully top-quality appearance, but mainly to eventually know for sure if they are the sires who can advance my breeding program.

Monika: How to you plan to go on, living your life as a breeder up here in your alpine surroundings?

Maya: I have always chosen to do things „my way“ – I have to finance my horses myself, so I take the liberty to decide what I want and how I Nabiel Halim, young Ansata Nile Echo grandson 48 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Maya with her beloved stallion NK Abbas El Dine by NK Jamal El Dine

want it… no matter what other people might say. I am not using famous show stallions to breed with – I’m using the right ones for my mares and these may be “no name” stallions.

Besides, I am convinced that embryo transfer on the massive

scale that it was done, did damage to Arabian horse breeding overall. I don’t use embryo transfer at all. I want foals to grow up with their Arabian dams, benefiting from their Arabian character and their way of educating their foals.

We need to put effort into improving the quality of the breed, not the quantity. I am glad I’m self-sufficient and independent, meaning I can take my decisions based on what’s in my horses’ best interests.

Like so many fellow breeders, I am strong, determined and passionate about what I believe in. And I have learned that even the smallest breeders, like myself, can be the backbone of the Arabian breed, especially during such difficult times as we are all going through right now. q

AL JABAL ARABIANS Maya Jones info@aljabalarabians.com www.aljabalarabians.com DF Nafis – the future of Al Jabal Arabians Desert Heritage Magazine • 49

© www.desertheritagemagazine.com

“A STUD’S MOST IMPORTANT ASSET IS THEIR MARES" Amoun Egyptian Arabians celebrating 25 YEARS of horse breeding An Interview with Heike Hain

Heike and Manfred Hain n by Monika Savier photos by Joanna Jonientz and Amoun Egyptian Arabians archive

Breeding Arabian Horses is more than just a pastime today. It has become a challenge, as the times of plenty, when the globalization of markets resulted in a whole number of studs being founded in Western Europe, are over. The Gulf states have too many horses now after all the purchasing they did during the 1980ies and 1990ies. Restrictions of mobility because of the Corona pandemic are an additional factor in bringing to light these structural problems. Quality, however, is hard to crush. This is true for, among others, the long-established studs in Germany such as Amoun Egyptian Arabians. Because anybody who breeds these horses out of his or her joy in horses, anybody who loves to ride, or who

50 • Desert Heritage Magazine

AMOUN HALISHA

2014 (Farhoud Al Shaqab x Amoun Halima)

likes to use the communication within breeders’ social networks for cultivating their friendships across borders – anybody who does that won’t be impressed by crises. Heike and Manfred Hain have a history of developing and cultivating a number of activities centered on horse breeding under their belts, and while many breeders are lamenting, or even closing their studs, the two of them have never been lacking ideas for exploring new avenues for themselves and for others.

Amoun Egyptian stud is located in Northern Germany, between Berlin and Rostock, in a thinly populated area with rolling green hills, a lot of lakes, juicy grass on the pastures, and cows and sheep and horses turned out on the grass – the Nebeltal valley, named for the small Nebel river. This is where Heike and Manfred Hain founded their stud of noble Egyptian Arabians 25 years ago. The beautifully kept premises of the Hain family are not located at the bottom of the valley, but up on a slope. How important their horses are to the Hain family I saw when Heike once opened her house’s door to me. In through the door, you would be standing in the living room if you turned left, but you would be right in the middle of the mare’s stable if you turned right. So horses and people are living under the same roof there, just as it was traditionally done in the Northern German farmsteads of the last centuries.

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INTERVIEW Monika: Amoun Egyptian Arabians brings to mind a quarter of a century of breeding, riding, taking part in shows, organizing shows, judging in shows – that’s a brilliant performance within the frame of international Arabian horse breeding. Looking back, which were your highlights during that time?

Heike: Looking back on the past 25 years, I can say that despite all of our individual successes, the most important asset of a stud is their mares – and we were delighted when, in the mid-1990ies, we were able to acquire three very good Straight Egyptian mares. The first of them was Khediva Rodaniyah (Montasar x Kuhaylah Rudanya), then we got Talia Halima who is a daughter of Ruminaja Ali out of Charm of Halima, and the third one we were able to purchase was Mattea M (Maysoun x Messoudah M). All three of these mares are no longer alive now; however, all of them got to be almost 25 years old in our stud and we still

Trekking around Castel Basedow

52 • Desert Heritage Magazine

have their offspring, the fifth generation now.

The most beautiful time of the year, for us, has always been spring, when the foals are born. There are not very many foals born on our premises, no more than three to five per year, and they will grow up within their mare family and be very precious to us – more in the non-material sense, I suppose.

Monika: Are the horses ridden on your farm?

Heike: I never ceased to remain faithful to riding, which is my great passion, even when it was hard to do with three small children to care for. I was also busy managing my own farm. Still, I like to be up in the saddle even today, taking part in horse trekking tours here in our scenic surroundings with the rolling hills and the many lakes and castles of our Mecklenburg - Western Pomerania area.

Manfred stopped riding at some time in the past, he runs a not-so-small business of his own and has lots to do, but it

TAYSOUNA

born in1996 (Maysoun x Talia Halima), a VZAP association premium mare, steps up as her dam’s successor

was important to him to go on working with horses, and as a veterinarian by training, he greatly values a sound conformation in a horse, of course. That is why he decided to take up training as a show judge according to ECAHO rules; he took all the exams successfully and has been traveling the world as an ECAHO A judge for some years now.

Monika: How did the two of you come up with the idea of participating in shows? They evoke horror in many riders in Germany, after all.

Heike: Here in Northeastern Germany, we are about the only ones of our kind with our highly specialized breeding orientation. Which is why 25 years ago, hardly anybody knew us. So we decided to present our first foal crops at shows, to be able to learn from other breeders and to go public

TALIA HALIMA

Foundation mare wborn in 1990 (Ruminaja Ali x Charm of Halima) with Manfred Hain, about 20 years ago

Desert Heritage Magazine • 53

AMOUN THORAYAH 2013 (Farhoud Al Shaqab x Taysouna)

with our horses. We were quite active in shows from 1997 to 2005. We were also lucky there, as in 1999, our Ansata Sinan son out of our Khediva Rodaniyah, Kamil Ibn Sinan, became Junior Champion Colt of the Egyptian Event in Kaub and Overall Champion of the Licensed Stallion Show in Aachen, where 150 horses participated. Later we sold him to the stud of the Royal House of Saudi Arabia.

In 1998, we took the opportunity once more and mated Khediva Rodaniyah to Ansata Sinan again, which resulted in the birth of Kamsin Rodan in 1999. This second Sinan son was even more refined and entirely corresponded to our breeding goal. So we decided to bring him up for our stud and kept him there for years.

These two self-bred stallions gave us wings, so to speak – they inspired us. Their type and character were just what we expect of an elegant, refined, and gentle Straight Egyptian stallion.

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AMOUN HALIMA

2009 (Frasera Ramses Shah x Taysouna)

Participating in shows meant a lot of effort and expenses even then. Manfred and I spent thousands of kilometers on the road in a car pulling a trailer loaded with horses, as most of the shows took place far away from our stud.

Monika: From participating in shows to organizing them, that is a bold step actually. How did that come about, the two of you deciding to do it?

Heike: In 2012, I had the opportunity to organize an interesting event for our Egyptian Arabian breeders, a show coupled with the Breeders Cup in Berlin which went on to take place there for four years altogether. Shows had been my long-standing pastime anyway. And whether I was there with our home-bred horses or because I was accompanying Manfred in his work as a show judge all over the world – I was able to gain experience at every location, or meet with breeders, and I knew from my own experience the kind of

Desert Heritage Magazine • 55

Heike Hain with Ellanga, she is a daughter of Al Maraam

difficulties participants and organizers are often faced with. I just imagined how I would, when organizing a show myself, try to create the best possible conditions for the breeders and their horses, as well as for the handlers. Something that was also close to my heart was to offer high-class events, combining them with clinics for further education, or with cultural highlights that might serve to create closer connections within the international breeders’ family.

Monika: You have been a board member of Pyramid Society Europe for a long time, eventually taking on the task of organizing the international title show EGYPTIAN EVENT EUROPE. This event was highly successful indeed, and an integrative factor for all visitors.

Still, I heard that next year, you would only want to be involved in a supporting function. Why that?

Heike: I mostly enjoyed the whole thing very much, and

56 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Generation

AMOUN MOUNA BINT HALIMA 2020 ( Jaffal Al Rayyan x Amoun Halima)

AMOUN HILAL

2020 ( Jaffal Al Rayyan x Amoun Halisha)

our family has been much attached to the Pyramid Society Europe and Professor Siegfried Paufler for many years. After all, the Egyptian breeders were something like a family circle, as all of our horses are somehow related, so everybody is like kindred, not least because there is not an excessive number of members. However, I do not want to go on perceiving my own role as that of the front woman for events. At the same time, I promise that for the next Egyptian Event Europe, which will take place in Kauber Platte stud on the Rhine River in Germany, I will be on hand for the team, supporting and advising them. And I will definitely continue to actively support all issues and important activities centered around our breeding activities for Egyptian Arabian horses, in our association and beyond it.

Monika: The team of Desert Heritage magazine wishes you lots of success and joy in your work.� q

AMOUN EGYPTIAN ARABIANS

Heike & Manfred Hain Nebeltal 36 - D-18292 Koppelow - Germany phone: +49 (0) 38451 - 70884 - fax: +49 (0) 38451 - 77884 heike.hain@t-online.de www.amoun-egyptian-arabians.com

Desert Heritage Magazine • 57

“the exquisite”

-William Shakespeare

-William Shakespeare

-William Shakespeare

Sharjah

Arabian Horse Festival Straight Egyptian

2020 photos by: media@serc.ae

Desert Heritage Magazine • 65

Fillies Championship

Gold

D AMEEREYYAH DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD

66 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Fillies Championship

Sharjah Arabian Horse Festival Straight Egyptian

Silver D AFAYEF

DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD

Bronze

KAHEELAH ALBIDAYER SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN SAOUD AL QASSEMI Desert Heritage Magazine • 67

Colts Championship

Gold

D SUKKAR DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD

68 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Colts Championship

Sharjah Arabian Horse Festival Straight Egyptian

Silver

FARUND AL REMAS AL REMAS ARABIAN HORSE STUD

Bronze

RIEAN AL REMAS AL REMAS ARABIAN HORSE STUD Desert Heritage Magazine • 69

Mares Championship

Gold

OUMNIA AL HAITHAM HAITHAM MOHAMED SAEED BINFRAISH ALKINDI

70 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Mares Championship

Sharjah Arabian Horse Festival Straight Egyptian

Silver

AL ARYAM INAYAH AL ARYAM ARABIANS STABLES

Bronze

RASHIDA AL ZOBAIR SHEIKH ABDULLA BIN MOHAMMED ALI AL THANI Desert Heritage Magazine • 71

Stallions Championship

Gold

D HAYDAR DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD

72 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Stallions Championship

Sharjah Arabian Horse Festival Straight Egyptian

Silver

NASSER FANA AL JOHRAH ARABIAN HORSE STUD

Bronze

R.A.K. ALWALEED RAS ALKHAIMAH ARABIAN HORSE STUD Desert Heritage Magazine • 73

People & Atmosphere

74 • Desert Heritage Magazine

People & Atmosphere

Desert Heritage Magazine • 75

Sharjah Arabian Horse Festival Straight Egyptian

People & Atmosphere 76 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Sharjah Arabian Horse Festival Straight Egyptian

People & Atmosphere Desert Heritage Magazine • 77

Sharjah Arabian Horse Festival Straight Egyptian

People & Atmosphere 78 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Sharjah Arabian Horse Festival Straight Egyptian

People & Atmosphere Desert Heritage Magazine • 79

Sharjah Arabian Horse Festival Straight Egyptian

People & Atmosphere 80 • Desert Heritage Magazine

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Katja Sauer CAPTURING THE INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER n by Judith Wich-Wenning

Exclusive Arabian horse art is the specialty of equine painter Katja Sauer. This charming and very positive young lady is a relative newcomer to the scene and certainly has a long career ahead of her. Her artwork is very realistic in style and captures the essence and character of the portrayed horse.

Katja Sauer is a German freelance artist who lives and works

gives me such great pleasure. I love horses since my early

near the attractive spa town Baden-Baden, close to the Black

childhood. I used every opportunity to draw them. Even my

Forest. In her childhood she discovered a passion for drawing

exercise books were full of horse sketches! As a child, I read all

animals, especially horses. “Animals have always played an

horse books I could get, watched every horse film and never

important role in my life”, she explains, “And to draw them

missed a TV episode of Fury or Black Beauty. Moreover, I

82 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Estopa

Desert Heritage Magazine • 83

was fascinated by desert movies – Bedouins, camels and of

and overlay the colours and work out details.” Katja explains

course horses mesmerised me. At school my favourite subject

passionately. “With pastel pencils you can also apply light

was always art.” After school Katja Sauer first went into a

colours above dark colours and highlight light reflections.”

completely different direction. She did an apprenticeship and

In the future Katja Sauer would like to experiment more.

was then 11 years active in the field of media analysis.

Photographing animals and landscapes has become another passion for Katja Sauer.

However, art has not let go of her and was to determine her life a little later on. Besides of the art education at school,

The All Nations Cup in Aachen is a very important event

Katja Sauer is an autodidact. Since around 2005, she has read

for Katja. “In 2012 I attended for the first time as a visitor”,

numerous art books and taught herself various techniques.

Katja Sauer remembers. “I enjoyed it so much!” Since 2016

Over the years she has experimented with different kinds

Katja Sauer was commissioned to draw the “Horse of the

of art, always driven by her deep passion for painting and

Year” for the yearly Lifetime Award at the All Nations Cup

equines. Afterwards she started to draw and portray animals

in Aachen. The portrayed legends were Al Lahab, Estopa,

after photos. Her goal was always to immortalize animals as

Gazal Al Shaqab and Padrons Psyche. Katja Sauer owed

true to nature as possible. Showing the individual character

this prestigious job to a dear friend of her, Mr Wolfgang

of each animal she portrays is very important for Katja. Her

Eberhardt (chairman of the German registry VZAP) who

favourite techniques are today charcoal, pencil and pastels. “I

was a great admirer of Katja Sauer’s art. Sadly he passed

love these drawing techniques because they allow you to blur

away last year.

Presenting the painting “Al Lahab” at the All Nations Cup in Aachen

84 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Al Lahab

Desert Heritage Magazine • 85

Saala El Dine

Furthermore, Katja’s work was already shown at several

and I try to capture that in my pictures. The eyes are always

national exhibitions and she has contributed to calendars

the last part for me to draw. They bring the artwork to life.”

with her art. Since 2011 she has started to create individual commissioned works of the beloved family members for

Katja Sauer finds the inspiration for her work through photos

customers from all over the world. Each painting requires an

and films about Arabian horses. “And of course I am inspired

enormous amount of working hours. Katja Sauer ponders:

by my mother’s Arabian horse ‘Shahin’. She owns him since

“Ever since I have started to do commissioned art, I was

around twenty years. It is important for me to study his

moved by the stories behind the photographs I receive for

movements and posture closely”, Katja Sauer relates.

drawing. This shows me how important animals are to our modern lives and how they can make us more ‘human’. This

When talking about Old Masters, Katja Sauer remarks that

is also one of the reasons why I enjoy my work thoroughly.

besides of Albrecht Duerer she very much admires Horace

Horses and art play a very big role in my life. It gives me

Vernet. “He was a genius I think!”, Katja points out. “And

great pleasure to immortalise them on paper, to carve out

of course I love the Polish painters Juliusz Kossak and his

the characteristics and their beauty. Every horse is unique

son Wojciech Kossak. Generally speaking, I have always been

86 • Desert Heritage Magazine

El Thay Mashour

Desert Heritage Magazine • 87

Gazal Al Shaqab

With Gazal Al Shaqab at the All Nations Cup in Aachen

Rabbit Emma

Cat Matzi

fascinated by photorealistic art.” Then she continues with a smile: “I am very thankful to the photographers who allow me to work after their pictures. Without them my art would not be possible. I especially have to thank Martin Kubat, Julia Moll, Gregor Aymar, Gigi Grasso, Rik van Lent Jr., Stuart Vesty and Betty Finke.”

Regarding her hopes for the future, Katja Sauer ponders: ”I would like to immortalise many, many more Arabian horses on paper. My plans for the future are to make many more people happy with my drawings and paintings.

In addition, I hope that someday everybody will respect animals for what they are: living beings!” q

Cat Slayer Desert Heritage Magazine • 89

Creating the pastel painting of Ansata Hejazi

90 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Debowa Wola

NK Hafid Jamil

Desert Heritage Magazine • 91

Photo taken at La Frasera Stud Open Farm 2014 - Italy

FLYING HORSES IN THE DESERT A PORTRAIT OF HORSE PHOTOGRAPHER

Ali AlHawaj n by Monika Savier

Horse Photography has a key function today, as the digital world cannot be without it and vice versa. The online pictures of our horses are what catapulted the analogous/real world of horse breeding from its reality into the digital world of wishes, dreams, and business. We owe the globalization of the market to it, while at the same time, digital photography is somewhat suspect for exerting the smart “dictatorship of beauty” – a dictatorship much discussed among horse breeders. The modern means of photo refinement bear some resemblance to the use 92 • Desert Heritage Magazine

“

Hattim Al Nasser (Mujahid x Imperial Madanah)

of overstating adjectives in descriptive advertising texts. Pictures, however, profit from their perceived aura of being objective documents; and most breeders perceive digitalizing available information on Arabian horses, as an opportunity for growth. Intercontinental markets are based on good advertisement pictures – which often do some re-explaining of reality, however.

With this backdrop in mind, it is not easy to find good photographers who will capture a real appearance of a horse’s beauty, doing it without manipulative finishing processes.

Dr Ali Alhawaj, a young surgical doctor from Saudi Arabia, a photographer, painter, and rider, has given us a fascinating interview making us take part in his role as a horse photographer.

“

“Arabian Horses have been a known source of inspiration for artists, whether they are painters, poets, or more recently photographers - as I consider photography to be a branch of Art”, he says.

“

With that, he defines his function in the style of the world of Arabian horse breeding as it was 200 years ago, when painters employed by the Royal court would create analogous portraits of noble Arabian cavalry horses for their noble owners. His pictures mirror his passion for the beauty of the horses. He succeeds in optimum handling of light and backlight and in capturing horses in the best possible instant of their movements. His fascination with horse portrayal has now also motivated him to take up brush and an artist’s palette and start painting horses, linking himself even more firmly to time-proven traditions.

Desert Heritage Magazine • 93

www.desertheritagemagazine.com

Peter Lindbergh, Photographer

©

“ The way to create an icon is through pictures in the media

BIOGRAPHY BIOGRAPHY

Photographer Ali Alhawaj is actually a surgical doctor and Saudi Arabian citizen. The 35-year-old works as senior plastic surgery resident in the Kingdom of Bahrain and is approaching the end year of his specialization in Plastic Surgery.

The self-taught photographer was introduced to the Straight Egyptian Arabian horse by his family in 1998, as a breeder and dressage rider.

He says his family “value the Arabian horse, and consider it not only a tradition, but a heritage and a treasure that has to be taken care of ”. So he has been breeding his own horses since 2015, which is why he has traveled and visited studs in Europe and the USA as well as in the Middle East.

As his interest in photography had emerged for quite some time then, he shifted his camera towards “the best purpose of all, which is documenting the beauty of the Arabian horse”. He “learned from and got inspired by artist photographers and great breeders”. He loves to “show the strong expression of the Arabian horse” in his portraits, “believing that we should capture them in their real attitude away from artificial poses or gestures.”

His skill won him 6th place in the 2018 Bait Al Arab photo competition in Kuwait.

Currently Dr Ali is working on several projects for his love of Arabian Horses, including photography, planning a breeding program, realizing a book project, and recently painting and sculpting.

94 • Desert Heritage Magazine

INTERVIEW INTERVIEW

Monika Savier: Would you say that Beauty is the key word for your approach to Arabian horses?

Ali Alhawaj: In my opinion, “Arabian Horse” and “Beauty” are two synonymous words. If we look into descriptions of characteristics of Arabian horses, we find beauty and elegance as the top defining features. It is easy to notice that Arabian Horses have been a known source of inspiration for Artists, whether they are painters, poets, or more recently photographers - as I consider photography to be a branch of arts.

Talking more specifically about Arabian Horse Photography, I think this amazing tool has given us the opportunity to show some of their beauty and appreciate it in one look. And these few seconds of looking may bring all the happiness that I have always felt when I see them in reality.

Though, as a breeder and horse lover, I feel nothing is more beautiful than spending some real quality time next to this precious creature and watching its expressions and spirit in reality.

Nonetheless, I would like to clarify that beauty doesn’t necessarily mean softness and delicacy. Strength, vigor and refined power are hallmarks of the Arabian horse beauty. Personally, I’m more attracted to showing the beauty of stallions with their sharp expressions and gorgeous attitudes.

The charisma emanating from the features of Arabian Horses proves the type and identity of such a breed.

Hence, I think it is difficult to separate the two terms, and I definitely aim to show this beauty in my photographs; among all those features, the exquisite head, the large black eyes, and the high tail carriage are what inspires me the most.

MS: Good pictures of the horses have a teaser function in the globalized sales world. As a photographer, how do you deal with this aspect of your task?

AA: I never faced a situation where the owner asked me to enhance type or make their horses nicer than they look.

They just ask me to photograph their horses. And it is my challenge to find that correct angle or moment. That is why I might ask to photo-shoot the horse in several sessions if I was unhappy with the initial results. On the opposite hand, for some horses, I might finish their photo sessions in just a few minutes.

The Art of photography and observation skills, when combined with the ability to use the camera in our

favor, enable a photographer to capture the unseen angle that might be hidden or undiscovered for the more inexperienced viewer..

I think that a photographer should never feel pressured to get the best photo of a certain horse in just one session.

After all, horses are creatures who have emotions. They might not be ready or might not be in their best condition or mood to be photographed at that very moment.

It is a shared interest between me and the owner, and that basis will build the trust in my photography and eventually lead to beautiful outcomes. What drives me to take photos, in the first place, is my love and admiration for the Arabian horse.

MS: Still, in modern times, pictures are intended to attract people’s interest for a horse. Then, to be sure, to see and evaluate the horse in real life, they will want to see a video.

AA: I don’t think videography is replacing photography by any means. In my opinion, a photograph captures one (special) moment that the photographer wants to show to his audience, where he or she puts all their effort into presenting that one idea. A photograph enables us to

NK Nizam (NK Hafid Jamil x NK Nadirah) Desert Heritage Magazine • 95

Photo presented in Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahayan Arabian Horse Photography Contest 2019 Gallery and Book

appreciate all the tiny details presented, it’s like a portrait drawing, it captures a certain moment in a single image.

Moreover, as you probably noticed, even video clips mostly contain both videos and photographs in their montage. Therefore, in my opinion, videography is complementary to photography in the world of digital presentation. I would describe both of them as types of digital arts.

A simple analogy is to imagine you love and enjoy having books versus having a CD / DVD or hard drive in your personal library. You choose the way you want to keep your valuable memories.

Personally, I believe there is no better method than a picture in a book. And even if I should choose to start shooting videos, I will definitely make sure to have my special and personal approach and touch.

MS: It probably takes many observational skills to do photography as you are doing. What did you do to achieve that kind of observation power, and your photographic skills in your chosen field?

AA: The power of observation is one of most essential skills any artist must have. Being able to notice the smallest of details, and capture the beauty of any object, 96 • Desert Heritage Magazine

especially when working with (Arabian) horses, requires a great deal of knowledge of both what is considered beautiful and what is not.

This kind of knowledge might be acquired by reading about the anatomy and aesthetics of the Arabian horse, whether through old descriptions from historical books, Arabian horse tales, or studying the old paintings and photographs. Another important way, in my opinion, is visiting and talking to people who appreciate the beauty of the Arabian horse. WHEN I TALK TO SOMEONE WHO IS DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH THEIR ARABIAN, and he or she describes their horse to me, I start to see the horse through their eyes and by their words. Talking to so many people helped me so much to appreciate all these tiny details.

I never hesitate to ask breeders to criticize my photos.

They always come up with great ideas and different views, and this is how I believe we should all learn.

I still remember what a person very dear to my heart, my uncle Usamah Alkazemi, God rest his soul, told me once after I had shown him some photos, asking him for his opinion. He answered me with words I will never forget: “I started seeing the beauty of my horses through your eyes!”

6th Place Winner Photo of Bait Alarab 9th International Photography Contest 2018.

Photo of Tasneim Ezzain (Mohhareb Ezzain x Hebatilbari Ezzain) Desert Heritage Magazine • 97

Aamrah Ezzain (NK Qaswarah x Qamar Ezzain)

98 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Allazzaz Ezzain (Thettwa Ezzain x Saneiah Ezzain)

Another important aspect is, of course, experience and continuous practice. Hence, I think that when an artist works hard on improving his or her knowledge, combined with experience, then their observation skills will improve dramatically.

MS: What role do the horse shows play in your work as photographer?

AA: Honestly speaking, horse shows don’t serve my main purpose of Arabian Horse Photography. I admire Arabian Horses and consider them a source of inspiration for creating immortal photographic memories that form a kind of complete Work of Art. Hence, I never much enjoyed photo shooting during shows and competitions. I feel so restrained with the angles and the crowded atmosphere, which contradicts my ideas for creating beautiful pictures that depict a whole. However, I have done it for some time, for the purpose of keeping references and capturing some special moments for myself as archives.

MS: I take it that you prefer to have private photo shootings at the farms.

AA: Yes - actually, my main interest is photo shooting Saneiah Ezzain and Tasneim Ezzain at Ezzain Arabians – Kuwait.

Kareemat Kenana (Taleeth Al Naif x Samha Al Nakeeb)

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At Bait Al Arab - Kuwait 100 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Qaswarah Ezzain (Doaabob Ezzain x Saneiah Ezzain)

Zahia Eladiyat (NK Jamal El Dine x Zubaida El Adiyat)

Arabian horses away from any artificial atmosphere.

That includes photographing privately in farms or in certain natural environments, as this not only allows the horses to be in their more natural states, but also helps me to create complete works of art.

As a photographer, I aim to produce a complete and unforgettable picture that has all the elements of a masterpiece, hopefully. Sometimes it takes me a lot of thinking, planning, adjusting the proper environment, instruments - a lot of other work overall - to finally get a couple of great photographs. With time, I became very particular and sometimes I discard so many pictures before reaching that one single picture that is engraved in my memory to learn from and get inspired by. There is more to some of my photos than meets the eye, they often took me a lot of effort and thinking.

MS: Speaking of breeding farms: What differences do you see between the breeding approaches of the USA, Europe, and the Gulf States?

AA: It is very difficult for me to answer this question.

Because it is a matter of taste. Taste is not exclusive or determined by region or geographical location. It is a very Ahmar Eladiyat (NK Nabhan x Amal El Adiyat) Desert Heritage Magazine • 101

personal preference. And during this era of globalization, all geographical barriers are eliminated. The whole world is interconnected, and we are all immensely influenced by each other. Myself, as a breeder, have a certain taste, which might be very similar to another breeder’s in a totally different continent. After all, the world of Arabian Horse breeding is not influenced or restricted by geographical borders. And that’s part of the beauty of breeding Arabians. However, I believe that there might be certain preferences that are more concentrated in certain areas, somewhat determining the general taste of breeders there, and that of course is affected by culture and backgrounds.

Ultimately, we are all united and agree on the main principles that have been written of and described hundreds of years ago. Â MS: You are also a rider, so are you as well involved in photographing horse sports events?

AA: I was a horse rider even before I learned how to hold a camera. Horse riding is actually what has introduced me to Arabian Horses in the first place. My father used to take me with him to learn the principles of riding his Arabian since the age of six.

Nevertheless, right now I have no experience in photographing horse sports. It sounds interesting though Saqr Kenana (Montasir Al Rayyan x Alia Al Rayyan)

Najdi Al Shakhoura (Naif Al Rayyan x Falha Al Rayyan)

Tasneim Ezzain (Mohhareb Ezzain x Hebatilbari Ezzain)

NK Qaswarah (NK Hafid Jamil x NK Nariman)

Qamar Ezzain (Noorreddine Ezzain x Ajmal Ibtihaj)

and I look forward for these kinds of new challenges. I believe that these improve the photographer’s technique and help to refine talent.

MS: You described Photography as a branch of Art. Do you aim to achieve more in the photography field, or to become even more of an artist?

AA: I believe that art conveys a message, creates memories, makes sources of inspiration, and emphasizes certain features of an object. Photography is no different from any other type of art for achieving that.

I’d like to quote a definition of Art from the Oxford Dictionaries: “Art is a diverse range of human activities in creating visual, auditory or performing artifacts (artworks), expressing the author’s imaginative, conceptual ideas, or technical skill, intended to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power.”

Modern forms of fine art include photography, video productions, designs, etc. All of these kinds of arts meet on common grounds, which is to show the aesthetics in Safir Al Shakhoura (Naif Al Rayyan x Dana Al Shaqab) Desert Heritage Magazine • 103

Safir Al Shakhoura (Naif Al Rayyan x Dana Al Shaqab)

NK Qaswarah (NK Hafid Jamil x NK Nariman)

Safir Al Shakhoura (Naif Al Rayyan x Dana Al Shaqab)

nature. Since we are talking here about photographing the Arabian Horse, I can’t find a greater symbol of nobility and beauty for creating that kind of art.

I think there is nothing better than when different types of art meet to produce great works. Here I would like to give a great example: my dearest friend Paola Marinangeli. I am proud that my photos have inspired her and continue to inspire such a great artist to produce amazing paintings. Our conversations, sharing my art with her, open lots of discussions, opportunities, and wonderful memories.

MS: Is there something you would like to point out, that you have learned throughout your photographer’s journey?

AA: I learned that we have to use every opportunity given to us. We should never stop learning and exploring new things. Arabian Horse Photography is not only about being an expert in using the camera, or knowing angles and ways of lighting. It is about the ability to create great photos during difficult moments and circumstances, sometimes in a very short time.

There is art and there is experience. And if you combine both, amazing results will definitely come to reality. q Doaabob Ezzain (Thettwa Ezzain x Mardheiah Ezzain) Desert Heritage Magazine • 105

Photo: Judith Wich-Wenning

www.desertheritagemagazine.com

Š

Orienta Arabians presents...

Ansata Malik Bey (Ansata Malik Shah x MB Moneena by Safeen) Straight Egyptian Stallion born 2006, Saklawi Jedran Bint Mona - Moniet El Nefous line

Photo: Judith Wich-Wenning

Orienta Adnan

(Fahad Al Rayyan x Orienta Aysha by Al Adeed Al Shaqab), Straight Egyptian Colt, born 2018, Kohailan Rodan, Riyala Malaka Family

Orienta Arabians Judith Wich-Wenning Eichenbuehl 26, 96352 Wilhelmsthal, Germany Tel.: ++49 (0) 9260 9639022 - E-mail: JudithWich@t-online.de www.OrientaArabians.com - Straight Egyptians -

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GALLERY

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© www.desertheritagemagazine.com

Simone Bergamaschi I’m Simone Bergamaschi, I’m 38 years old and I’m a freelance photographer and photojournalist since 2014.

I followed my passion in photography attending the Photography Master of Mohole School, after my graduation in Literature.

I work as a contributor for different International photojournalist agency like Parallelozero, Nurphoto and Ansa.

I am strongly fascinated in foreign cultures, with particular interest in Asia and Middle East.In 2015 I published a photographic book documenting the earthquake disaster in Nepal.I published on different magazines like News Week, Marie Claire, Panorama, Oggi, La Repubblica, La Gazzetta dello Sport, La Stampa and other Italian and international newspapers.

I have been assistant photographer of Fabio Petroni, Photographer and Founder of Equestrian Time, photographer who passed me down the passion for horses and horse portrait.

My first encounter with the world of Arabian horses was three years ago at the Straight Egyptian World Championship in Vermezzo and I immediately fell in love with this fabulous animal.

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Legend has always had wonderful things to say about the strain of Saqlawi Jidran of Ibn Sudan.

I recall as a young man hearing the story of how Abbas Pasha, ruler of Egypt was so enamored with this strain that he paid a fortune for just one crippled old mare of this strain and had her transported back to his stables in a special cart.

Zaafarana a Saqlawi Queen

122 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Horses of the Desert by Harrington Bird courtesy of the Forbis collection

© Joe Ferriss z photos by Jerry Sparagowski, Gigi Grasso, Jeff Little, Johnny Johnston, Javan Schaller, Polly Knoll.

Other photos courtesy of Judith Forbis collection unless otherwise noted.

A

s it turns out the lovely white, swift running mare Zaafarana (Balance x Samira) was of this strain and in fact she traces to the mare Ghazieh, one of Abbas Pasha’s beloved Saqlawi Jidran of Ibn Sudan mares.

The manner in which her illustrious family is handed down is interesting. Ghazieh was obtained from the Bedouin tribes for Abbas Pasha prior to his untimely death. Sometime there after she bore a daughter Horra about 1870 by the Saqlawi Jidran stallion Zobeyni who was also at one time in the stud of Abbas Pasha. Horra was then a producing mare for the great Egyptian breeder Ali Pasha Sherif who was one of the

main buyers of stock from the Abbas Pasha studs. Horra was then mated to Ali Pasha Sherif ’s stallion Shueyman, resulting in the grey mare Helwa foaled 1875. Helwa then produced in 1887 the lovely grey mare Bint Helwa sired by Ali Pasha Sherif ’s chestnut Dahman Shahwan stallion Aziz, who also sired the famed stallion Mesaoud. Wilfrid and Lady Anne Blunt had established their Sheykh Obeyd stud in Egypt and also their Crabbet stud in England. When the time of dispersal came for most of Ali Pasha Sherif ’s stock the Blunts had taken particular interest in the Saqlawi Jidrans of Ali Pasha and wanted very much to have the lovely Bint Helwa

Desert Heritage Magazine • 123

among others. She arrived at Sheykh Obeyd with her filly Ghazala (x Ibn Sherara). Later on Bint Helwa would be shipped to Crabbet in England to be a brood mare for that stud. Shortly after being at Crabbet, there was a running incident where a group of mares rushed through a fence area and Bint Helwa broke her front legs. A special sling was created and she was saved.

She was always referred to thereafter as the “broken legged mare.” Photos show her to be a very beautiful mare even with her wrapped front legs. Looking at the photos, I cannot help but be reminded of the legend of the old crippled Saqlawi mare for which Abbas Pasha paid a fortune.

Bint Helwa The “broken legged mare” Bint Helwa, female line of Zaafarana.

Forbis collection photo.

Forbis collection photo.

Bint Helwa left some influence at Crabbet but her daughter Ghazala who remained in Egypt at Sheykh Obeyd produced two daughters, Jemla and Ghadia [Radia]. Later Ghazala was exported to the U.S. The result of this is that the line of the “broken legged mare” is strongest in Egyptian and American lines. Jemla produced the lovely Serra who established a strong line of her own via Mr. Babson’s import Bint Serra [See Desert Heritage n. 14/2008: Serra The Beautiful White Mare]. Radia produced two daughters, Zareefa [1911] who was important in the Inshass stud, and Bint Radia, the dam of Hamdan, Shahloul, and Samira. Samira then produced Zaafarana (x Balance) in 1946. Though not as prolific as the celebrated Saqlawi Moniet El Nefous line, the Zaafarana family is nonetheless a wonderful one. I often think of many of the greys of this family looking very much like their far distant female ancestors such as Radia, Bint Radia and so forth.

This family now comes in all colors but it still seems to have a tenacious hold on the admired qualities of its roots.

What was Zaafarana like? Fortunately she was photographed on numerous occasions by Judi Forbis who imported her daughter Ansata Bint Zaafarana in 1959.

In her book Authentic Arabian Bloodstock II, Judi offers some insight on Zaafarana with descriptions by stud manager General Petko Von Szandtner and also her own relfections. To quote Von Szandtner’s notes: “Zaafarana... Grey, noble. Noble head, large lively eyes, well set on ears, well set on but not very long neck, good withers, sufficiently good back, moderately strong loins, good nice croup, tail set on high, unequal hooves, a little bit weak legs, cannons tied in under the knee, wide and deep, moderately turned out hocks, very slightly toed in, good

124 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Bint Radia The lovely Bint Radia (Mabrouk Manial x Radia out of Ghazala out of Bint Helwa).

Bint Radia is the grand dam of Zaafarana.

Forbis collection photo.

Zaafarana (Balance x Samira out of Bint Radia) at the EAO. Forbis photo.

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ground covering gait.”

Judi Forbis notes her impressions: “At maturity, an attractive and refined mare, long rather ordinary head with good expressive eyes, long well-set neck, long lines, good tail carriage, excellent movement and prideful carriage.”

Zaafarana “good tail carriage, excellent movement and prideful carriage.”

Judi Forbis photo.

By any standards Zaafarana proved to be a great broodmare. Out of eight foals, three daughters and two sons bred on in Egyptian breeding. What is remembered of her produce is that they were classic Arabians, often of better quality than her and some were great athletes. Her two breeding sons Amrulla (x Sid Abouhom) and Talal (x Nazeer) both enjoyed successful racing careers. Amrulla is sire of the great and beautiful EAO sire Akhtal (x Hagir). Talal was imported to the U.S. and as an aged stallion and remarkably won U.S. National Top Ten. Zaafarana’s three producing daughters, El Ameera, Ansata Bint Zaafarana (both by Nazeer) and Nahid (x Sid Abouhom) have continuing familes.

Talal was preceded to the U.S. by eight years in the form of his full sister Ansata Bint Zaafarana, imported by Don and Judi Forbis. Everyone who knew Ansata Bint Zaafarana remarked on her beauty and quality. She was one of Don Forbis’s favorites and she was a very good

Ansata Bint Zaafarana

(Nazeer x Zaafarana) imported to the U.S. from Egypt in 1959, a beautifully proportioned mare and an excellent producer.

Jerry Sparagowski photo.

126 • Desert Heritage Magazine

producing mare. She produced ten foals all sired by Ansata Ibn Halima (Nazeer x Halima). Most were quite similar in type proving the consistency of Ansata Bint Zaafarana’s influence. Unfortunately a few of her produce died young before having a chance to add to her legacy. But several daughters and sons deserve mention.

Ansata Aziza was a beautiful mare in the tradition of her Radia female line and was very successful in the show ring in both halter and performance. She was also a producer of champions. Her handsome son Ansata Ibn Aziza (x Ansata Halima Son) became an important sire for Zandai Arabians. Her daughter GA Moon Taj Mahal (x Imperial Imperor) was a celebrated show mare. Not be be outdone, Taj Mahal’s full sister the beautiful chestnut GA Moon Taj Halima produced the famed Egyptian Event Supreme Champion stallion Farid Nile Moon (x Anaza El Farid) exported to the Ruler of Sharjah. His full sister Emeraldd Moon became an important broodmare in the Arabian Horse Center of Kuwait.

Ansata Aziza’s full sister Ansata Zariefa was also a beautiful mare. However she was not blessed with the bounty of many foals. Her only daughter Ansata Azalia (x Maard) fortunately had a number of daughters and sons. Azalia’s daughter Ansata Zaafina (x Ansata Mourad Bey) became a broodmare for Zandai Arabians, while Azalia’s daughter Ansata Zahra (x Ansata Halim Shah) went to Nejd Stud in Saudi Arabia. Her son Razal Ibn Azalia (x Raadin Inshalla) doubles the Halima blood and also brings in the other Bint Helwa female line via Bint Serra.

Ansata Bint Zaafarana’s sons were all classic typy individuals. All were full brothers sired

by Ansata Ibn Halima. Ansata El Nisr was shown to U.S. National Top Ten by Don Forbis and became a respected sire. Ansata Abu Nazeer became a sire at Glorieta Ranch and his daughters quickly gained admiration as great producing mares resulting in his blood found in many countries now including the Middle East.

Ansata Ali Pasha was a very beautiful young

Ansata Aziza (Ansata Ibn Halima x Ansata Bint Zaafarana) everyone fell in love with her.

Jerry Sparagowski photo.

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Ansata Zariefa

The lovely Ansata Zariefa, full sister to Ansata Aziza.

Jerry Sparagowski photo.

Farid Nile Moon

The magnificent Farid Nile Moon (Anaza El Farid x GA Moon Taj Halima).

Javan Schaller photo.

128 • Desert Heritage Magazine

GA Moon Taj Halima

The stylish GA Moon Taj Halima (Imperial Imperor x Ansata Aziza) pictured one month before foaling Farid Nile Moon.

Johnny Johnston photo.

Ansata El Nisr L Ansata El Alim R

Pictured at left is Ansata El Nisr and at right is Ansata El Alim, full brothers by Ansata Ibn Halima and out of Ansata Bint Zaafarana.

Forbis archive.

stallion with a promising career at Glenglade Arabians.

Unfortunately he died young without leaving Egyptian get. Ansata El Alim lived a long life in Arizona. Though he was not available to a large number of mares, he sired some beautiful Egyptians.

In Egypt remained two other daughters of Zaafarana, El Ameera (Nazeer x Zaafarana) and Nahid (Sid Abouhom x Zaafarana). Nahid produced a son and daughter that came to the U.S. Her daughter Nathela (x Nasralla) was a classic mare with beautiful action owned by American actress Jennifer O’Neill. Nahid’s son Mazin was imported to the U.S. by Lancer’s Arabians as a young horse. I saw him shortly after importation and I was struck by his classic type and very fine skin and clean bone. He was later exported to Morocco. Nahid’s other daughter Kalthoom was sired by the ethereal Farazdac, sire of Ikhnatoon, and she remained a good broodmare at the EAO. El Ameera became a foundation mare for Al Badeia Stud in Egypt. She was very prolific with 10 foals, nine of them were

daughers and only one son. Such a large family extends from her that a separate article could be written about her extended family. She was a full sister to Ansata Bint Zaafarana but was chestnut in color instead of grey and produced all colors.

Because she was bred to a diversity of stallions such as Anter, Alaa El Din, El Araby, Abdoun, Kayed and Seef, she has a more diverse representation. Some of her daughters, such as Ferial (x Anter), also had many foals. El Ameera’s daugther Sabra (x Alaa El Din) was exported to Germany producing 14 foals.

Perhaps it is El Ameera’s last daughter that has regenerated this family world wide. Hasna El Badia was foaled when El Ameera was 26 years old. She came to the U.S. as a yearling and from her daughters added considerable recognition to the Zaafarana line. Her daughter Alia-Zenobia (x Imperial Imdal) was exported to Morocco. Her daughter Alia-Aenor (x The Egyptian Prince) produced Lilly Langtry HG (x The Minstril) dam of BJ Thee Arabella (x Thee Desperado) U.S. National Top Ten and Egyptian Event Supreme Champion mare. Alia-Aenor also produced the full sisters Cheyenne HG

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Ansata Abu Nazeer the classic Ansata Abu Nazeer (Ansata Ibn Halima x Ansata Bint Zaafarana).

Polly Knoll photo.

(x The Minstril) and Belle Staar. Belle Staar is the dam of Isabella HG (x Hadidi) multi-Egyptian Event champion and Egyptian Event Supreme Champion. Belle Staar will be forever remembered for her magnificent daughter The Vision HG (x Thee Desperado), dam of international champion stallions Al Lahab (x Laheeb) and Al Maraam (x Imperial Imdal).

It is remarkable really that all the way from the middle of the 1800’s to the present day, one man’s passion for the Saqlawi Jidran of Ibn Sudan strain has spread to so many who continue to enjoy this long legacy carried forward by the mare whose name begins with the last letter of the alphabet “Z”, but is first in so many hearts, Zaafarana. q

El Ameera

(Nazeer x Zaafarana) pictured as a very old mare at Al Badeia.

She and her daughters are the most prolific branch of Zaafarana’s line.

Forbis photo.

130 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Belle Staar

The lovely Belle Staar (The Minstril x Alia-Aenor) dam of The Vision HG. Jeff Little photo.

Al Lahab Multi-international Champion and sire of champions Al Lahab (Laheeb x The Vision HG).

Gigi Grasso photo.

Isabella HG Egyptian Event Supreme Champion mare Isabella HG (Hadidi x Belle Staar).

Gigi Grasso photo.

Desert Heritage Magazine • 131

“history needs future”

Over 300 original “Khuzestan Asils” now also registrable in the international Asil Club e.V. – Expansion of asil gene pool and conservation efforts to Straight-Irani Asils

OverFollowing 300 original “Khuzestan Asils” now also registrable in the internatonal Asil Club e.V. – Expansion of asil gene the Syrian, Saudi and Bahraini Asil Arabian bloodlines, the international Asil Club now also registers over 300 poolstraight-Irani and conservaton eforts to Straight-Irani Asils as “asil” according to the Asil Club definition, thus including them Asil Arabian (Khuzestan Asils) bloodlines in the Club’s preservation efforts. Corresponding applications for registration had been submitted years ago, but could not

Following the Syrian, and Bahraini Asil Arabian bloodlines, internatonal Club now registers over be confirmed due toSaudi lack of documented lineage and, thus, WAHOthe recognition, whichAsil is important foralso studbook accep300 tance straight-Irani AsilA Arabian (Khuzestan Asils) as “asil” the Asil Club defniton, worldwide. new application now led to abloodlines re-examination and according to intensiveto research including in the datathus base of pedigree expert HansiCorresponding Heck-Melnyk, an original script Mary Gharagozlou – the Grand including them in the Club's preservaton eforts. applicatons forby registraton had been submited Dame of the Iranian Asil Association – and reports by experts who had visited breeding sitesis years ago, but could not be confrmed due to lack of documented lineage and, thus, WAHO recogniton, which in Iran. Following the recommendation of Hansi Heck, who confirmed these horses as Asil important for studbook acceptance worldwide. A new applicaton now led to a re-examinaton and to intensive according to Asil Club standards, the Board now unanimously voted to register 300 original research including in the dataStraight-Irani base of pedigree expert Heck-Melnyk, an original script by Mary Gharagozlou – Asils and theirHansi asil offspring. the Grand Dame of the IranianThus, Asil Associaton and reportsAsil by experts had visited breeding sites Iran. the gene pool– of authentic Arabianswho is not only extended by very rareinfamilies (Strains), but also by an original group of Asil Arabians, which can score with strong conforFollowing the recommendaton of Hansi Heck, who confrmed these horses as Asil according to Asil Club standards, mation, athletic potential, riding horse points and much praised character and disposition. the Board now unanimously voted to register 300 original Straight-Irani Asils and their asil ofspring.

Straight-Irani Asils lived or live in Austria and Germany, in the Netherlands and in Spain Thus, the gene pool of authentc Arabians not only extended very rare (Strains), also by an (AsilAsil Club memberisSchieferegg Stud). In by Spain they arefamilies successfully bred tobut Asil-Egyptian original group of Asil Arabians, which score with strong conformaton, potental, riding horse lines and can are successful under saddle in enduranceathletc sports. Adventurous Arabian horsepoints enthusiasts can get to know these special Asil Arabians in Iran on trail rides (when travelling and much praised character and dispositon. Straight-Irani Asils lived or live in Austria and Germany, in the is again). Schieferegg Stud). In Spain they are successfully bred to Asil-Egyptan Netherlands and in Spain (Asilpossible Club member The breeding of Straight Irani Asils to other asil lines such as Bahraini, Saudi, Al Khamsa linesMary andGharagozlou are successful under saddle in endurance sports. Adventurous Arabian horse enthusiasts can get to know Arabians with Syrian descent or straight-Egyptian blood will produce asil progeny according these special Asil Arabians in Iran onClub trail standards rides (when is possible to Asil and travelling will hopefully combineagain). the best features of the respective groups The breeding of Straight Irani Asils to other asil lines as Bahraini, Al Khamsa Arabians with descent (after all they share a common history).

However, greatsuch importance shouldSaudi, be attached to the preservation andSyrian promotion of the Straight-Irani asil bloodlines, to save their strains and genes.

Mary Gharagozlou’s life’s work to research the asil roots or straight-Egyptan blood will produce asil progeny according to Asil Club standards and will hopefully combine the these horses andrespectve to achieve WAHO is receiving attention.However, (More about Straight-Irani Asils will be bestoffeatures of the groups recognition (afer all they share ainternational common history). great importance should be available soon at www.asilclub.org.) atached to the preservaton and promoton of the Straight-Irani asil bloodlines, to save their strains and genes.

MaryThe Gharagozlou’s Board, Asil Clublife’s e.V. work to research the asil roots of these horses and to achieve WAHO recogniton is receiving internatonal atenton. (More about Straight-Irani Asils will be available soon at www.asilclub.org.)

The Board, Asil Club e.V.

S TRAIGHT EGYPTIAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

2020

T

text by Giorgia Mauri photos by Alessio Azzali, Simone Bergamaschi

he perfect location of Centro Ippico in Vermezzo hosted also this year the event dedicated to the straight Egyptian Arabian horses. The World Straight Egyptian Championship, at its 8th edition, is always a special event and one of the most important appointments of the year, very well promoted in all specialized magazines and also in national TV and press. Tutto Arabi and Desert Heritage were proud to be Media Partners of the event again this year.

Amazing organization in fantastic atmosphere were offered to the guests considering the moment all the world is living due to the covid sanitary emergency.

Especially this year Organizers strove to gather the best of

the best of the straight Egyptian horse breeders despite the possibilities to travel and move horses were limited.

The place was simply amazing, 5 stars boxes, perfect ring and organization, VIP helicopters for the judges, luxury scenery: this was the show offered by the Organizing Committee.

The event was perfectly organized by Special Event Srl and Barbara Morali and Morali & C. Thanks to the professional support of Mrs Christianne Chazel and Mrs Dominik Briot as Show Consultants the event went into higher level and we can confirm that World Straight Egyptian Championship in Vermezzo remains the Desert Heritage Magazine • 133

best event nowadays for Straight Egyptian Arabian horses and an event that can not be missed.

The quality of the horses was remarkable, in every class the fight was as a World Championship of Straight Egyptian deserved.

This show is the most important Straight Egyptian event in the world, peerless in Italy for the importance of the VIP area, perfectly managed, and the perfection in service.

There are not too many events dedicated to straight Egyptian Arabian horses so we encourage breeders to come to the World Straight Egyptian Championship in Vermezzo next year.

134 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Even ifthere is a small amount ofbreeders ofthis line in the world, they are capable of great passion and professionalism in maintaning these ancient and important bloodlines handed down to us through the centuries.

The show reached its goal to bring the breeders to show their beautiful horses and to exhibit their abilities, and to connect all the fans.

Enjoy the pictures by Alessio Azzali from the stunning days in Milano with all the results, medalists and special thophies.

FUTURITY FOALS

HAGIBS AL ZAI

ZAIN AL DEAN X EL ZILAL MASRIYAH BREEDER: RIZZI GERMANO OWNER: RIZZI GERMANO

SILVER

GOLD

FSYSAL EL RYAD SM BARIQ X MASDAR EL ASIL Desert Heritage Magazine • 135

YEARLING FILLIES

GOLD

136 • Desert Heritage Magazine

AYAH AL FALA

NASEEM AL RASHEDIAH X ZUMORRODA AL WAAB BREEDER: AL FALA STUD OWNER: AL FALA STUD

YEARLING FILLIES

HI D AL RAYYA

ASHHAL AL RAYYAN X OR MARJUANA BREEDER: AL RAYYAN FARM OWNER: AL RAYYAN FARM

BRONZE

SILVER

JAZEYA AL RAYYAN BAHHEI EZZAIN X HANOOF AL RAYYAN Desert Heritage Magazine • 137

YEARLING COLTS

GOLD

138 • Desert Heritage Magazine

SALAM AKMAL

NASEEM AL RASHEDIAH X SALMMA BKV BREEDER: AKMAL STUD OWNER: AKMAL STUD

YEARLING COLTS

AFAS AL RAYYA

EZZ AL DANAT X SULIMA AL RAYYAN BREEDER: AL RAYYAN FARM OWNER: AL RAYYAN FARM

BRONZE

SILVER

SHAWWAF AL SHAQAB BAHHEI EZZAIN X NOUF AL SHAQAB Desert Heritage Magazine • 139

JUNIOR FILLIES

GOLD

ASI AAT SA

SHAMS SHARAV AA X AMASI AL AYAL BREEDER: SANAD MANSOUR OWNER: ABHAA ARABIANS

140 • Desert Heritage Magazine

JUNIOR FILLIES

AB DEEM

AL AYAL AA X DALAL ZAMANI BREEDER: ABHAA ARABIANS OWNER: AL SHAQAB STUD

BRONZE

SILVER

LIAN AL QASEM JAWHAR AL QASEM X LOUBANA AL QASEM Desert Heritage Magazine • 141

JUNIOR COLTS

GOLD

AL GHAZI AL RASHEDIAH

JAMIL AL RAYYAN X NABAWEYYAH EZZAIN BREEDER: AL RASHEDIAH STUD OWNER: TFK STUD

142 • Desert Heritage Magazine

JUNIOR COLTS

AAEEM AL WAAB BARRAQ EL ALIYA X NABEELA SAQR

BREEDER: SHEIKH ABDULLA BIN KHALID AL THANI OWNER: NASSER ABDULLA NASSER A AL MANSOURI

BRONZE

SILVER

MOEZ EZZAMAN THEEB AL RAYYAN X MAJEDAH AL SHARBATLY Desert Heritage Magazine • 143

S ENIOR MARES

GOLD

144 • Desert Heritage Magazine

ARDE E AL AIF

SAHIB X JOHARA AL NAIF BREEDER: AL NAIF STUD OWNER: AL NAIF STUD

S ENIOR MARES

LOUBA A AL QASEM

AL AYAL AA X LOUBANA BREEDER: TAHA SALAH OWNER: ALSAYED STUD

BRONZE

SILVER

SAFIRA AL DOHUL SAFIR AL RAYYAN X SAJA AL SHAQAB Desert Heritage Magazine • 145

S ENIOR S TALLIONS

GOLD

ASEEM AL RASHEDIAH

AL ADEED AL SHAQAB X NABAWEYYAH EZZAIN BREEDER: AL RASHEDIAH STUD OWNER: AL RASHEDIAH STUD

146 • Desert Heritage Magazine

S ENIOR S TALLIONS

BEBARS EL FARIDA

IMPERIAL X SALMA BREEDER: ELFARIDA STUD OWNER: SALAYEL STUD

BRONZE

SILVER

SAEID AL FARIDA MADEEN AL NAKEEB X IMEILA Desert Heritage Magazine • 147

S PECIAL AWARDS

BEST IN SHOW FEMALE

ARDE E AL AIF

SAHIB X JOHARA AL NAIF BREEDER: AL NAIF STUD OWNER: AL NAIF STUD

148 • Desert Heritage Magazine

S PECIAL AWARDS

BEST IN SHOW MALE BEST SIRE & HIGHEST SCORE

ASEEM AL RASHEDIAH

AL ADEED AL SHAQAB X NABAWEYYAH EZZAIN BREEDER: AL RASHEDIAH STUD OWNER: AL RASHEDIAH STUD

Desert Heritage Magazine • 149

PEOPLE & ATMOSPHERE

150 • Desert Heritage Magazine

Rumidusah Le Soleil

© Elvis Giughera

Ezz Al Danat | Nazeera Le Soleil by Phaaros 2019 Grey Straight Egyptian Filly

LE SOLEIL STUD - Elvis Giughera Via Borgata San Rocco 26 - CERCENASCO (TO) - ITALY +39.3393680656 - www.le-soleil.org - E-mail: info@le-soleil.org

Š www.desertheritagemagazine.com

Maximum comfort and minimum t ransport t ime for your horses.

gricon-Logistic GmbH & Co. KG | International Horse Transports argloy 17 | 27793 Wildeshausen (Germany) on: +49 (0) 44 31 - 73 84 -80 | Fax: +49 (0) 44 31 - 73 84 -81 Mail: info@agricon-logistic.com

www.agricon-horsetransports.de

n by Agricon Logistic

International horse transport - Import:

Profit from our passion for horses. Win time and security with Agricon Logistic horse transport.

We take care of everything and ensure you a safe and smooth transportation of your horses! A professional and secure horse transport requires not only a lot of experience and knowhow, but also a comprehensive and competent preparation.

Before your horses arrive at the destination, you will of course receive a detailed and professional advice of the entire shipping process. That way you have a secure feeling from the start.

From the application of permits, the preparation of health certificates, the clearance and inspection by the official veterinarian, the transportation in special horse transport trucks to the airport, plus the customs clearance to load

154 • Desert Heritage Magazine

your horses into special flight containers and the airfreight to country of destination we take care and watch over everything during the horse transportation.

We assure that, throughout the whole horse transport your horses will be attended and cared by our own professional grooms. Starting with the preparations and the coordination of loading, the securing of your horses for a comfortable and safe transport through to the reception at the destination. We are there when your horse needs us. If requested, we have the capacity to prepare your horses in our own stables consisting of 25 boxes as well as a separate quarantine barn with 20 horseboxes.

INTERNATIONAL HORSETRANSPORT Horse transport - Attendance: We know what your horses feel.

The preparation for transport of course includes the professional and permanent support from the stables of departure to the final reception barn.

In addition to the employed staff of our professional flight attendants, we only work with reliable horse grooms (according to IATA Live Animals Regulations), professional

horse transport companies and specialized agents. To ensure an optimum of supply, jerry cans, buckets, hay net and bedding are of course provided. The flight attendants for our international horse transports are precisely briefed in advance to assure that your horses are in good hands during the entire flight.

International horse transport - Service: We are prepared for global horse transportation.

Profit from our ambition to find and realise the optimum for your horse transport! Profit from our passion, our experience and our highly qualified team. Profit from our worldwide network of selected partners who share our passion for highest standards in horse shipping - worlwide.

• road transport in Germany and Europe • Import and export clearance • application and preparation of all required documentation incl. health certificates according to countries of destination • pre export quarantine in our own quarantine stables • Preparation of horses for export, blood tests, official

veterinary inspection at our own stables incl. grazing.

• transport to/from airport in special horse trucks • completion of all customs formalities • stabling at airport of departure upon request • global horse shipping by airfreight • coordination and secure of the horses • flight attendance by professional grooms • preparation of import- and export documentation • application of import and export permits • import and export customs clearance • veterinary inspection and clearance at airport of destination • road transport to stables at destination

Desert Heritage Magazine • 155

International horse shipping - Export: We accompany your horse safely through all requirements.

Each country has its own laws and regulations, regarding the necessary health certificates, customs clearance and quarantine requirement. That does not make things easier.

But there is no need to worry.

of import customs and veterinary clearance in the destination country, as well as the booking of any required post-arrival quarantine.

We know the requirements and with our long-term experience with international horse transports you have an expert at your side, you can rely on. You will receive a comprehensive consultation regarding all the preparations for the export. This includes the process and implementation

Afterwards the horses are then moved in special horse transporter to reach the stable. Everything for your horse transportation is planned to the smallest detail, so that your horses arrive comfortably and safely in the country of destination.

Horse Transport:

We provide everything, to make sure your horses arrive safely at their destination.

Agricon Logistic sets up highest standards for the safe transport of your horses.

We exclusively work with reputable airlines such as Lufthansa, KLM, Martin Air, Emirates, Qatar Airways and experienced horse transporters. The horses entrusted to our care are transported safely to and from the airport by special horse-trucks. At the airlines handling terminal the animals are loaded in disinfected special horse transport containers before shipping by air. Of course the containers

156 • Desert Heritage Magazine

meet the requirement of the IATA Live Animals Regulations.

If necessary, the horses can be stabled at the airport before departure. That way the horses get the opportunity to get some rest before going on a long trip. We can assure that the monitoring and comprehensive care of the horses are guaranteed at any time during the entire horse transport.

This way it is guaranteed that your horses are safe and sound until they reach their point of destination.

Horse transportation - Worldwide:

Wherever you want your horses to go - we will make it possible.

Europe Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Istanbul, London, Liege, Luxemburg, Maastricht, Moscow, Munich, Ostend, Paris, Toulouse, Vienna, Wildeshausen Asia Amman, Bangkok, Beirut, Casablanca, Chennai, Doha, Dubai, Hongkong, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, Lahore, Mumbai, Muskat, Dehli, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, Tashkent, Tehran, Tokio, Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah Africa Accra, Cairo, Dakar, Johannesburg, Khartoum, Kapstadt, Nairobi, Tunis, Tripoli South America Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Mexiko City, Sao Paulo North America Calgary, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Toronto Australia Auckland, Melbourne, Sydney

Contact:

Agricon-Logistic GmbH & Co. KG | International Horse Transports Agricon-Logistic GmbH & Co. KG Bargloy 17 | 27793 Wildeshausen (Germany) Bargloy 17 - 27793 Wildeshausen - Germany Fon: +49 (0) 44phone: 31 - 73 84+49 -80 (0) | Fax: 44 31 44+49 31(0) - 73 84- 73 -8084--81 Fax: +49 (0) 44 31 - 73 84 -81 - E-Mail: info@agricon-logistic.com Mail: info@agricon-logistic.com

www.agricon-horsetransports.de www.agricon-horsetransports.de Desert Heritage Magazine • 157

THE POWER TO REGENERATE YOUR SKIN MADE IN SWITZERLAND

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Clays for

HORSES

by Domenico Bergero, Cynthia Préfontaine z photos by Emanuela Valle, painting by Diego Marzola

Introduction The veterinarians and the horse’s owners, indeed in their respective roles, start or continue to be interested in alternative methods to keep their horses healthy and competitive.

Oriented on horse sport medicine and care, there is a positive tendency for the conside-

ration toward nutritional factors and linked principles, including clay and herb utilisations. This consideration for nutritional factors and, in general, for the substances that can have a role in the performance horse gut’s health and - consequently - on the general horse welfare, seems to be an essential Desert Heritage Magazine • 159

point for the revaluation of an health relative concept.

Performance horse’s activities ask for a high level of metabolic rate. An adequate metabolic management in term of cares, feeding and nutrition is essential and obviously will influence performances. All competing horses live with a high stress level. The dietary supplements or “Natural” health products can be, often, very useful in horse competitions world. We include in this list: plants or vegetal derivates, bacteria and probiotics, fungi, soil textures, vitamins, amino acids, essential fatty acids and extracts or isolates of those derived substances. Clays play a role in the maintenance of an healthy gut environment in many ways, but are also used for external use in horse care. The fastest way to get this kind of products is to apply to the market: you will find a lot of products, ready to use. But a second chance is given to horse owners and lovers: to prepare your specific clay mixture for your horse. This is what already happen in most Countries.

But why clays are useful for horses? How can we prepare our own mixtures? Let’s have a quick look.

Above, you will then find some practical information concerning ways to find, prepare and use popular natural health products clay - based. Use it on your own and consciousness.

It is good to mention to be careful with natural products. As everyone already know or start to understand, they are not a safety synonym: they can be strong and involve strong reactions. To use these substances you need to develop knowledge and experiences in the field, but feel comfortable. Asking tips to a good veterinarian is the best way, in case of doubts, to avoid complications.

Clay - Some facts Today, clay is receiving a huge attention. We used it a lot during first world war, where Russian’s militaries received 20 g per day orally. French regiments mixed clay with mustard and were protect against dysentery that was affecting other close regiments. In ethologic field, we observed many times that hurt animals will instinctively oriented themselves toward the mud. Many countries like: Antilles, Malaysia, Egypt, Mexico, India and South America use clays frequently, dried, in powder and mixed to the spices.

Where does clay come from? The terrestrial crust, a 10 km depth surface zone, is built with oxygen ions (90% of the crystal mineral volume), the lithosphere major constituent.

This area contains 80 different elements (ex: silica, aluminium, magnesium, calcium, iron, titanium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium) that can possibly be combined in, more or less, 2000 types of minerals. The physic and chemical alterations applied on the parent’s material cause the his degradation and liberate base elements. The clay structure is the key leading to the proprieties we are interest in. It has a phyllosilicate shape (phyllo=layer, silicate=silica) organized in layer composed of “elementary bricks”.

Those elementary bricks are tetrahedrons and octahedrons that have a anionic or negative charged surface built with 160 • Desert Heritage Magazine

oxygen (O2) or hydroxide (OH) and a central cavity hold by a cationic or positive charge element (Si, Al, Fe, Mg) to balance forces and stabilises the structure.

Because of the negative net charge resulting, the interstice space between two layers and also the surface layer will catch water and cations, causing an electrostatic attraction. The following cation order is generally accepted and is arranged in decreasing preference: +>Al+++>Ca++>Mg++>K+>NH4+>Na+>Li+ We name CEC (cation exchange capacity) the measure of the positive charge number that a clay matrix can hold (meq/100g dry clay). CEC is modulated by pH, temperature, structure and type of soils.

The type of clay is then characterised by a specific CEC. Bentonites have high CEC, and most zeolites (phillipsite, clinoptilolite and chabazite) have even higher! The capacity of these clays to bind some mycotoxins is very well known in animal husbandry and feeding. Moreover, zeolites are used to capture undesirable ions, as radioactive caesium: zeolites were in fact added to the diets of dairy cows to avoid the passage of radioactive caesium in the milk after the Chernobyl fallout.

Under different conditions, the situation may change. As to the research made by Perkins on clay chemistry and absorbability of mycotoxins, internal clay uses should strongly be evaluated with the CEC level if required. Using clay products having a high CEC, you can also get undesirable nutritional consequences on the animal by binding mineral

components in the diet such as trace elements, that are essential for the metabolism. Products with a low CEC show, unfortunately, low binding ability for aflatoxin and other mycotoxins. This made us remain that in terms of performance horses, the intern use of clay should be considered in proper way and based on good knowledge if needed. The use of clays in horse diets must be limited in amount (300 g/day has the effect of increasing the gut transit time and to decrease the water content of faeces: this is good in case of diarrhoea, but dangerous in case of impaction colic.

outside. When its raining, cover from the rain.

The red colour in a clay soils could indicate presence of sesquioxides that contain iron, aluminium and manganese oxides and hydroxides. This can be taken into account for the properties of the different elements. We find this oxides mostly in old soils.

Drying and conservation After the above mentioned procedure, we have to dry and stock the clay in a fresh and dried place. Leave it there in big pieces.

Utilisation When it is time to use the clay, take some big pieces and put them in a bowl and cover it all of water. Use non boiled fresh water. If your clay had been well treated, you can hear and see water sparkle when it touch the clay. It’s not necessary to brake the pieces, let the water operate. If your clay seems to be inactive, change it.

For this reason, we will concentrate much more on clay external uses.

Collection and particularities Clay collection: Its possible to collect clay by yourself if you know the place where you plan to get them is healthy in terms of fertilizers and chemical products. Clay is a toxin’s sponge, be aware.

It’s more obvious to reach clay in rivulets or/and deeply in the soil. The suggestion is to avoid the upper slice of clay coat by digging a bit. Clay’s veins can reach 20 feet down in the ground. Be aware before digging in the ground of the regulation going on in the area you are and be the nicest person you can for every collect you do in regard with the place.

There are different kinds of clay like: green (Europe), white and grey-bleu (North America) that permit different utilisations. There are also different characteristics to be considered, as the previously mentioned CEC, that depend of the type of soils.

Clay needs to be prepared before being used. It needs energy, in other words, to fill and organize the structure. Put clay in contact with water by watering it in a non-metallic bucket for example, then dry it by exposition to the sun. Repeat the procedure for some weeks. In this way, you activate your clay. When it will be in contact again with the water, the air and the sun, her work will starts again. Practice and learn with the possibilities you have. You will soon get good in identifying the good time and your good recipe for this. Do it

What is good to know when you manipulate and use clay.

Use glass, wood or terra-cotta components without paint or enamel. Never use metal except stainless metal or either plastic because as the metal, petroleum derivates sometimes react with clay.

The more your clay is exposed to the sun, water and air, the more it is active.

Cover your component with a white tissue or a cotton sheet to let the clay “breath”. It need it. Use different types of clay and clay treats can help keeping a good level of efficacy and response to the treatment. As probably in your country side, you can find clay in a natural market places, herbalists and some pharmacies. Use the closest and available one from your home.

Colour From our personal use, grey clay is strong and efficient like the green for cataplasm on leg for example. Your choice should then take in to account your geographic situation.

The cheapest price for either one or the other will often depends on this. The white clay is the one that we will use for internal cares or specific dermal cares.

Extern usage From experiences cultivated over generations or/and new scientific highlights reported, clay has exceptional qualities. It gives an invitation to the body to heal himself, to find back a good equilibrium in situations of lameness, intoxication, infection, etc. This tonification combined with adequate feeding will help maintaining good performances.

Treatments The cataplasm is the most used method in term of external Desert Heritage Magazine • 161

adding sometime water over or by keeping a wet tissue as a cover. Grey and green clay are more adapted for cataplasm as they don’t dry fast like the white clay.

application. We can also use bath, clayey water compress and dry powder. The clay paste for cataplasm is always used at the room temperature.

Proprieties and actions Antiseptic It destroys pathogenic agents without bringing off healthy tissues.

Scarf builder Silica, aluminium and zinc explain this particularity. They help in the regeneration of the tissues and galls helping by the way the cicatrisation and cleaning.

Absorbent It drains purulent infections and absorbs oedema.

Sedative It has a sedative action on local or general pains involved by traumatism or inflammation.

Haemostatic Work on coagulation time.

Remineralization Transfert in the organism essential salts and minerals.

Clay cataplasm Paste preparation Take down the clay in a proper and hollow recipient. Add non boiled and pure water and cover it all by letting run a thin trickle of cold water from the tap. Always use cold water. The paste should have a glossy, homogeneous and as humid as possible texture till it’s impossible to manipulate in the hand, like mayonnaise. Ideally, you should let the preparation rest for one hour without contact till your clay is full of water. Transparent recipient take its importance here if available. In case of emergency, like hemorrhagic situation, if we have no preparation in advance and no time to let the clay rest, use the external soak part and start immediately to prepare some other for close further moments. For those reasons, prepare in advance little bags to be able to react rapidly in case of emergency (cuts, injury, contusions).

After 2 or 3 days remaining in the bowl, if the clay is dry, put back in some water. Generally, we can kept it damp by 162 • Desert Heritage Magazine

“Packaging” Spread the clay paste on humid linen: choose a natural fibre tissue, without dyeing, like a white 100% cotton.

We can also use a clean cabbage leave to maintain the humidity of the clay paste and moreover in a irritated zone (soften the leave in hot boiled water for 1 to 2 minutes).

Meanwhile, avoid plastic bags to kept everything together.

The bandaging needs air to permit the evacuation of humidity. The coat depth can varies from 1 to 2 cm depending on the needs.

Usually, the clay is applied directly on the skin, but in case of open wounds, burns or presence of hairs, like horses, it’s important to put a sterile gaze between the clay and the skin to avoid sore and pain when will come the moment to change the bandaging.

The cataplasm size is relative to the healing surface; it always has to be a bit larger then this. It involves to choose an adapted linen size to also manage this little clay expansion after the bandaging application.

Fixation When the cataplasm has been fixed where we expected, cover up with a dry linen and fix with either: elastic bandage, cotton bandage or sticky bands in case of small bandages.

For a deep injury, let the cataplasm works for at least 2 hours till 3 or 4 hours. Don’t let the cataplasm more then 8 hours!

We can kept it there for the night in a situation of revitalisation, remineralisation (decalcification) or a long term treat.

This is obviously to avoid if the animal don’t feels comfortable with a wrap of over 4 hours.

To treat a purulent wound, you should renew the application every hour till the suppuration is ended. Then, prolong slowly the application time by adding an half hour every healing stage. With experience, you will be able to adjust yourself with the situation. Ask for help or advice when it’s needed.

If the cataplasm involve difficult sensation or warm up too fast, we must change it every half hours. This could happen in case of abscess, inflammation, furuncles or recent sprain.

If the goal is to warm or vitalise organism, we have to kept it off before it cool down.

Application frequency The application frequency depends and varies with the case to treat, the width sore, the surface, the reaction and the time.

The most important to remain is that if we can apply it one time a day, we have to do it everyday and at more or least the same time of day. Start with a 2 hours per cataplasm a day and enlarge slowly the duration till all the night if necessary. If the reaction of the animal is good, we can also increase the number of cataplasms per day always considering your animal tiredness, reactions, sensations of discomfort and indisposition.

Clayey water compress Precaution Put more water then clay in your adapted recipient to obtain a muddy water. Steep good your linen or compress in the preparation before applying on the injury.

Application case We will choose this method instead of the cataplasm when the clay has to be changed frequently as a fresh burn or wound.

In fact, where the cataplasm removal could be painful for your horse, on a hot surface zone where the cataplasm could warm too fast.

Conclusion Take the time it need to apply the treatments and complete it in a proper way. Be sure to understand the situation and the environment of the horse is involved. A good veterinarian to insure a good diagnostic on important concerns is really important, but the collaboration of everyone involve with the horses is required. We should never forget that the owner, the trainer or the horse caretaker are the ones that are mostly first in touch with the horse in almost every situations. They normally know about their horses: reactions, behaviour, work done, character. In case of emergency or in daily care, they need to be informed. The same is true for veterinarians that should have competent knowledge to answer questions on this subject. In those days, you can hear very often some owners complaining about the low offer of alternative treatments for horses, because in this field “allopathic” medicine

is still considered very often the only choice. But threats are very common: antibiotic in excess can cause gut microflora troubles; the same antibiotic injection way can cause local injuries; cortisone and other anti – inflammatory drugs are very often used to diminish pain but can also be really dangerous. On the others hand, veterinarians that would like to suggest something alternative considering questionable result obtained in some cases with traditional medicine experience a lack of knowledge in many alternative medicine fields. This led to owners apply to different people, jumping from one therapy to an other, asking themselves where they are going in this. Who says the truth? There is, then, a real need to deepen the knowledge in alternative treatment for horses illnesses.

The knowledge on herbal based cares represent a good alternative and/or combinative solution. An invitation is made for researching, learning, organizing and establishing on the natural health’s products. There is a huge interest for this and it’s unavoidable to consider it as a useful tool. The same is for clays: its long term use stands for their ability to act as health tools in many situations. To deepen the knowledge on their properties on scientific basis can offer us new ideas and help us in taking more and more care of our horses. q Desert Heritage Magazine • 163

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TRE BALZANE STUD ~ ITALY CAVALLI ARABI EGIZIANI D’AUTORE

MARES TB NEVINE

(Naseem Al Rashediah x LaDiva Noor)

TB HEBA

(NK Sharaf El Dine x TB Hasna)

TB HELWA

(Ibn El Nil x TB Hasna)

INSHA SAFRANAH

(Miad Al Shaqab x Simeon Sarice)

SELECTED STRAIGHT EGYPTIAN ARABIANS “If you have seen nothing but the beauty of their bodies, then their true beauty is hidden from you”.

AL-MUTANABBI ‫( ﺏﻱﻁﻝﺍ ﻭﺏﺃ‬915 a.C, Arab Poet)

TB MUNEERA

(TB Hafid El Nil x Mia Mouna)

TB HAYA

(Jamil Al Rayyan x TB Helwa)

TB MALAK

(Shamekh Al Danat x TB Muneera)

TRE BALZANE STUD ~ ITALY STALLIONS

Photo: Alessio Azzali

20 21

NABEEL AL KHALED Straight Egyptian - Dahman Shahwan Strain - *2010 Breeder: Al Khaled Stud, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Owned by Pieter Roos-Monika Savier-Robert Schlereth Partnership Maysoun F Shamaal chestnut, 2000 Sarameena

Ansata Halim Shah Maysouna Fa Ibn Sar Flabys Joffa Ansata Halim Shah

Ansata Hejazi Ansata Nile Pearl grey, 1997 Ansata White Nile

Ansata Sudarra Prince Fa Moniet Ansata Nile Gift

During the 2021 breeding season, the Egyptian stallion Nabeel Al Khaled will be available to our customers and friends for covering their mares.

Nabeel has a very high fertility and a history of producing beautiful foals.

He won several championships in his career. This year we are expecting three foals from him at our stud.

In addition, our upcoming young stallions NK Nassar and Ladiva Nadeem will make their first matings.

Ask for information about our convenient breeding fees.

HOME OF SELECTED STRAIGHT EGYPTIAN ARABIAN HORSES IN UMBRIA

LADIVA NADEEM

(Ansata Nile Echo x CD Anasta)

NK NASSAR

TB HAMDI

(Naseem Al Rashediah x TB Heba)

Photos: Joanna Jonietz - Graphic design: Mario Brunetti

(NK Nabhan x NK Nour)

TRE BALZANE STUD MONIKA SAVIER

I – 06044 Castel Ritaldi, ITALY Mobile: +39 335 5235135 Email: savier@arabi-egiziani.it Stud manager: Elisabeth Auer +39 346 9818427

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NasEEm al RashediaH

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