ARABIAN ARCHIVES: *ANSATA IBN HALIMA
*Ansata Ibn Halima’s“harem” of Nazeer daughters, photographed in Chickasha, Oklahoma, by Jerry Sparagowski.
Halima to Texas to breed the Gleannloch mares *Maisa El Saghira, *Bint Nefisaa, *Bint Mona, *Salomy, *Samarra and *Sanaa. *Ansata Ibn Halima in Lufkin, Texas (1970s), with Judith Forbis.
“There weren’t many straight Egyptians in the country at that time, other than the Babson herd and its relatives,” Judith
producers. Ansata Abbas Pasha became a European Reserve
Forbis points out. “The decision to send *Ansata Ibn Halima to
World Champion at the Salon du Cheval with David Gardner for
Gleannloch helped change the face of Egyptian Arabian horse
Bentwood Farm, and, at 17, Abbas Pasha went to Dr. Hans
breeding — and its recognition — worldwide. The Marshalls
Nagel’s Katharinenhof Stud in Germany, where he also serviced
became our close friends, providing the opportunity for *Ansata
mares from Marbach Stud. Abbas Pasha was not *Ansata Bint
Ibn Halima to be bred to their excellent mares, and to be shown
Mabrouka’s first foal, however. His breathtaking older full
under Gleannloch’s auspices by Tom and Rhita McNair.”
brother was the consummate Egyptian Arabian torchbearer,
In The Gift, Tom McNair remembers: “Even though 1965 seems
Ansata Ibn Sudan. It was Ibn Sudan who won the title of 1971
like quite awhile ago, I remember it as if it were yesterday. That
U.S. National Champion Stallion against 83 competitors, and
was the year we leased *Ansata Ibn Halima, and the year in
went on to sire National top ten champions in both halter and
which we showed him to multiple halter, park championships
performance.
and most classic Arabian awards. I then went on to show him
*Ansata Bint Mabrouka, dam of Ibn Sudan and Abbas Pasha,
three times to top ten stallion at the U.S. Nationals. I can truly
was a full sister to *Morafic, the Nazeer son Texas breeders
say that ‘Ib’ was the easiest horse I’ve ever shown at halter. He
Douglas and Margaret Marshall imported to head the stallion
liked to snort and blow when you were trotting him, and he
roster at Gleannloch Farm. These two individuals’ productivity,
always moved in hand with a big, bold trot. It was a pleasure and
while truly remarkable, was predictable. Mabrouka (Sid Abouhom
a privilege to train and show such a horse. Obviously, *Ansata
x Moniet El Nefous), dam of *Morafic and *Ansata Bint Mabrouka,
Ibn Halima did a great deal to popularize the Egyptian Arabian
was also a full sister to Lubna, who produced *Sultann, the sire
horse.”
of beloved multiple U.S. National Champions *Asaad and
“*Bint Maisa El Saghira and *Ansata Ibn Halima were on the
*Sakr.
show road together, winning plaudits and admiration wherever
Meanwhile, the Forbises added to their collection. They were
they were presented,” Judi recalls of those days. “Their resulting
finally able to import Hosnia (renamed *Ansata Bint Bukra), who
filly, Dahma Shahwania, an exceptionally beautiful mare, was
was unavailable earlier due to African Horse Sickness quarantine
admired throughout her lifetime, and eventually was purchased
problems. *Ansata Bint Bukra arrived in the United States in foal
by Count Federico Zichy-Thyssen, a man with an eye for
to Sameh, and she and her resulting Sameh daughter *Ansata
quality.
Bint Misr joined the Ansata foundation mares. Then, in 1965,
“*Bint Nefisaa was one of the outstanding Nazeer daughters:
Douglas and Margaret Marshall arranged to bring *Ansata Ibn
small, but perfect in every way. She and*Ansata Ibn Halima
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ARABIAN HORSE TIMES • DECEMBER 1999