“Apart from conformation and soundness, the most important criteria for a riding horse are character, heart, and willingness to please,” continues Philippe. “These are the sine qua non characteristics of a true Arabian of the desert, and I will only ride such horses. My favorite horse will not only gladly obey me in any circumstance, he will also anticipate my wishes and be my full partner in the desert. I confess to liking horses with power and ample reserves of endurance. I like a horse that will come back fresh and still prancing after a threehour trek in the desert. Our terrain varies between deep sandy dunes, excessively strenuous to climb, and rocky plateaus, which are treacherous and trying for any horse. In my estimate, an hour in the desert is more demanding than two hours in any other terrain.” When contemplating horses not owned by him, and breeding programs that have impressed him, Philippe says, “Generally speaking, what impresses me the most is a purposeful breeding program. Behind any impressive horse, I like to see the hand of a breeder, using bloodlines of his own. I am never impressed by look-alikes, or by modern-day inbred horses, no matter how pretty they may be.
Facing page and top inset: “A Hadban Enzahi stallion sired by Ghallab, the young Quaher El Dhalam is used for his well-laid-back shoulder, and when we want Saklawi ‘stretch,’ with not too much length in the back. Of course, he is not Saklawi in everything, the muzzle is square, and he is notably robust. Quaher El Dhalam means ‘The Piercer of Darkness.’” Facing page, bottom left: “Adventurous in her first steps, Eitr El Leil (Quaher El Dhalam x Razane EAO) is a black Krusheya filly. We expect her to grow into a good mover. Her dam, a bay, never gave us a progeny that disappointed us, and this is her second black.” Right top and bottom: “Faress El Ahlam is a full brother to Ateya. He is a year younger, very different in build, wider in the chest and perhaps stronger. We are waiting to see how he develops before deciding on his use. He’s a work in progress.” 19 ▪ PARASKEVAS ▪ WORLD