One Breeder’s Journey — Thoughts on the Horses of an Era

th Kheserabi oying a ride wi Jim Panek enj ab by Rakafix) in Bidwell Ser (Khemosabi x lifornia, in the 1980s.

Ca Park, Chico,

One Breeder’s Journey —

“It is your longterm

Thoughts on the Horses of an Era

staying power, your

by Jim Panek

confidence in what you aspire to accomplish, and your love for what you are doing that will make you a success.”

Fifty-five years of breeding Arabian horses has been an experience that I will cherish forever. I have always loved the Arabian for its beauty, quality, refinement, sensitivity, and intelligence. The journey as a breeder has enriched my life deeply, primarily through my relationship with my horses, but also through the countless experiences I have had creating these wondrous creatures as the years have passed.

Since 1955 we have been located at the same address on El Monte Avenue in Chico, California. We have bred over 100 foals, and many horses have entered and exited our front gate during that time. Our farm is located adjacent to Bidwell Park, a 2,400-acre haven with giant oak and sycamore trees, which served as a backdrop for the movies “Gone With The Wind” and “Robin Hood,” and where I have ridden my Arabian horses almost daily.

There have been many changes in all aspects of breeding Arabians during these 50 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b JULY 2011

with Kheserabi joying a ride Jim Panek en rab by Rakafix) in Bidwell Se (Khemosabi x ifornia, in the 1980s.

Cal Park, Chico,

One Breeder’s Journey —

“It is your longterm

Thoughts on the Horses of an Era

staying power, your

by Jim Panek

confidence in what you aspire to accomplish, and your love for what you are doing that will make you a success.”

Fifty-five years of breeding Arabian horses has been an experience that I will cherish forever. I have always loved the Arabian for its beauty, quality, refinement, sensitivity, and intelligence. The journey as a breeder has enriched my life deeply, primarily through my relationship with my horses, but also through the countless experiences I have had creating these wondrous creatures as the years have passed.

Since 1955 we have been located at the same address on El Monte Avenue in Chico, California. We have bred over 100 foals, and many horses have entered and exited our front gate during that time. Our farm is located adjacent to Bidwell Park, a 2,400-acre haven with giant oak and sycamore trees, which served as a backdrop for the movies “Gone With The Wind” and “Robin Hood,” and where I have ridden my Arabian horses almost daily.

There have been many changes in all aspects of breeding Arabians during these 50 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b JULY 2011

years: improvement in the Arabian itself, advanced methods of reproduction, husbandry, showing, marketing, and promotion of the breed in general.

As a breeder, I have always had two major goals: to improve the horses I bred with each succeeding generation, and to breed horses with which others can be successful as breeders. We have consistently linebred to our foundation horses, but have never been hesitant to go outside of our program to breed to or acquire horses that would enable us to improve. Although we have enjoyed a degree of success with each, show wins or financial gain have not been motivating factors. The success and level of personal satisfaction achieved by those who have participated in our program through breeding to our stallions or acquiring breeding stock are the most meaningful rewards.

I became a judge of Arabian horses in l970, and was privileged to judge major shows in the U.S., including the Egyptian Event, and national shows in Europe, South America, and Australia. This continued for 25 years. In 1986 I was invited to judge the Salon du Cheval in Paris, and was one of the first American judges to do so. The horses were wonderful, and were presented naturally with an opportunity to express their individual joi de vivre. The show was beautifully choreographed by William Richardot de Choisey and was truly a celebration of the Arabian horse. It was a great pleasure to judge with Dani Barbary, Dr. Ibrahim Zaghloul, Hossny Khaled, Dr. Wolfgang Cranz, and the others on the panel. I remember in particular the outstanding showmanship of a young exhibitor — Frank Spönle, who has now become one of the most sought-after worldwide handlers of Arabians today. I came back to judge Paris a number of times, and it was always a very special experience.

The opportunity to evaluate a wide range of horses of different bloodlines and from many different locales strengthened my goal to become a breeder of excellence and enabled me to become capable of evaluating the bloodstock we produced critically.

My initial acquaintance with the Arabian horse took place when I moved to Chico to attend college. I met local breeders John and Phyllis Robson, and with them began a lifelong friendship. The Robsons taught me much about all aspects of the Arabian horse — as an 18-year-old boy I attended many Arabian horse shows as their helper and groom. They had a quality breeding program based on the produce of three mares: Surrab (*Latif x Hawija by Ronek); Nabiya (Abu Farwa x Ghazeyna by *Raseyn); and Raffseyn Du (Rasraff x Riwayat by *Raseyn). On

my first visit, I was shown two weanling foals — Nafix out of Nabiya and Rakafix out of Surrab. These foals were sired by *Serafix (Raktha x *Serafina), a recent import to this country from Lady Wentworth’s Crabbet Stud in England.

At that time I had no idea how significant this visit would become to me.

My interest in the Arabian horse intensified to the degree that it was always a challenge not to neglect education as a result of involvement in acquiring knowledge and experience regarding the Arabian. I attended many shows, visited breeding farms, and read every word printed about the Arabian horse. I met and became acquainted with many interesting and knowledgeable individuals involved in the Arabian, and felt my own breadth of knowledge and experience continually expanding.

In 1958 I was ready to begin my breeding program, and acquired a lovely bay three-year-old filly, Patricia (Bezaleel x Ghazali), so named because her birthday was Saint Patrick’s Day. Patricia was started under saddle, and we spent many hours together schooling at home and riding in Bidwell Park. Patricia had a wonderful disposition, was a tractable riding horse, and we became great friends and constant companions. Patricia was bred to Nafix (*Serafix x Nabiya by Abu Farwa), and produced two fillies in succession, the bay Patrina and the chestnut Nafina. I exhibited these fillies with success, and began to enjoy the pride of ownership and “breedership” immensely. The sales of Patrina and Nafina were my first sales of horses of my breeding to other breeders, and each became very good producers for their new owners.

While attending a show in Northern California, I admired a beautiful filly that had won her class, and immediately contacted her owners. The filly was a gorgeous chestnut named Rakkasa by Rakafix (*Serafix x Surrab) and out of an Abu Farwa daughter who was out of a Ferseyn daughter. Her owners had also owned Rakafix and had recently sold him to a family in Indiana. Rakkasa was their last Rakafix foal. I soon became Rakkasa’s owner, and felt that I had the most beautiful Arabian filly that had ever been born. I was so proud of Rakkasa that I contacted the owners of Rakafix, and learned that he was once again available.

Soon Rakafix was on his way back to his place of birth here in Chico, where he spent the rest of his life.

51 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b JULY 2011

One Breeder’s Journey The Rakafix Years *Serafix, the sire of Rakafix, was an outstanding individual, and after his importation in 1954, he eventually held the record as a sire of champions in this country. *Serafix was balanced, with excellent conformation including a high-set neck, fine throatlatch, excellent topline, and wonderful shoulder angle. He was a very charismatic horse with tiny ears, large eyes, and a fine, iridescent chestnut coat. *Serafix’s sire was Raktha by Naseem (Skowronek x Nasra) out of Razina (Rasim x Riyala). His dam *Serafina was

by Indian Gold (Ferhan x Nisreen) out of Sharfina (Rytham x Sharima). These were purported to be the epitome of Crabbet horses post-World War II, and were considered to be the finest yet from this world-renowned Arabian stud.

Rakafix’s dam Surrab was also a very charismatic Arabian. Dark bay, refined with an abundance of type and obvious quality, Surrab was an excellent producing mare, being the dam of popular stallions Shahzada and Abu Baha

by Abu Farwa, Haji Murad by Ferseyn, Rakafix by *Serafix, and the mare Bint Surrab by Royal Grey. Her sire Latif (Antez x Lassa) was a Polish-bred stallion, and her dam Hawija (Ronek x Ghazil) was of predominantly Crabbet breeding.

When Rakafix came to our farm in 1963, Patricia was our only mare.

We had bred Patricia to Nafix (*Serafix x Nabiya), and had acquired Rakkasa (Rakafix x Farwaseyna). Rakkasa’s first foal was also by Nafix, a double *Serafix 52 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b JULY 2011

Left: Jim Panek astride the stallion Rakafix (*Serafix x Surrab).

Top right: The Rakafix daughter Rakkasa (x Farwaseyna by Abu Farwa).

Below: The colts Fixation (Nafix x Rakkasa by Rakafix), left, and Rakabie (Rakafix x Na Bebie

by Nafix).

colt we named Fixation. I had been successfully showing Rakkasa and Nafina, and when it was discovered that Rakafix was here, the interest in Rakafix as a breeding stallion was intense. One of the first mares booked to Rakafix was the Robsons’ lovely Nabiya (Abu Farwa x Ghazeyena by *Raseyn). When Nabiya foaled an exquisite bay filly, we acquired her within a few weeks. She was named Biya, and as the years progressed, Biya became a signature individual in our breeding program. I rarely took Biya into the showring when she didn’t win her class, and anyone who ever saw Biya never forgot her quality and overall exquisiteness.

The quality of Biya and Rakkasa and their success both as show horses and breeding animals provided to us an indication of a potential path. Both of these individuals were by Rakafix and out of daughters of Abu Farwa who had *Raseyn dam lines. Consequently, they were linebred to two of the greats of Crabbet — Naseem and Mesaoud.

We began a quest to acquire mares that would provide Rakafix with his best opportunity as a sire, and as a result, Farwaseyna (Abu Farwa x Tsavana by

Ferseyn), Rizarwa (Abu Farwa x Ahariz), Fascination (*Serafix x Nabiya), and Basedi (Abu Baha x Sedi Sedjur) and her daughter El Sedi (El Brillante x Basedi) became members of Rakafix’s harem.

Basedi and El Sedi were interesting acquisitions in that Basedi’s sire Abu Baha and Rakafix were half brothers out of Surrab, and Basedi’s dam Sedi Sedjur was a full sister to the renowned Bint Sahara. Her daughter El Sedi’s sire was El Brillante (Alyf x Abu Gamwa

by Abu Farwa). This group of mares was bred to Rakafix a number of times and in each case, the results met, or exceeded our expectations. Through his ancestors Rakafix also had direct lines to Naseem and Mesaoud, so the offspring we were producing from this formula were saturated with these noteworthy bloodlines. Many of the resulting foals went to other breeders as potential breeding stock, and I always kept my special favorites to show and a filly from each mare for the future.

Top right: The mare Biya (Rakafix x Nabiya) became a signature individual in the breeding program.

Eleuzis (Aquinor x Ellenai)

Below: U.S. National Top Ten Stallion Serazon (Ferdine x Biya).

As Rakafix and his bloodlines became more well known and appreciated, Ron Palelek from Vantage Point Farm in Washington visited our farm and began negotiations to lease Rakafix. This arrangement progressed to the degree that during breeding season he would spend three months here and then travel to Washington for breeding at Vantage Point. Continuing for three years, this provided Rakafix with an opportunity to sire foals out of fine mares in another locale. The owners and staff at Vantage Point loved Rakafix, and he always came home fit and happy.

Rakafix was much more to us than a breeding animal. He was a study in equine quality and had a kind, inquisitive, delightful personality. A beautiful dark bay with an abundant mane and tail, large dark eyes, and an air of confidence, “Raki” as he was known here, made a lasting impression.

When visitors came, he was always standing ready with ears forward to greet everyone. Rakafix and I had many wonderful rides in Bidwell Park, and there too he was an eye-catching sight. A wonderful mount — sensible, confident, fearless, and always a perfect gentleman.

One of the bridle trails borders a lengthy residential street, and cars would stop as Rakafix trotted brilliantly down the trail

with his very proud owner aboard.

He always knew when he was being watched and enjoyed putting on a show.

Rakafix brought great joy to our lives for 20 years.

The Rakafix daughters that we either acquired or bred soon became of breeding age. These included Biya (x Nabiya), Razarka (x Rizarwa), Serab and Miss Rakafix (x Farwaseyna), Serafine (x Fascination), Nadiya (x Basedi), and Hadiyah (x Na Bebie by Nafix). In an effort to continue to improve the quality of our program, serious thought had to be expended in order to make appropriate decisions. Any resulting colt produced would be a potential stallion to be bred back in to our line, so there was much to consider in making choices.

Ferdine (Ferzon x Gadina) was a lovely, refined, and very typey stallion who was only distantly related to our mares, and he was a logical choice for what we wanted to accomplish. Biya was bred to Ferdine, and a gorgeous grey colt we named Serazon was the result.

Before he was a year old, Serazon was discovered by the Schaeffer family and moved to Wisconsin. He became a U.S. National Top Ten Stallion (and one point away from National Reserve Champion).

Parting with Serazon was difficult, but as fledgling breeders we would not provide the opportunities he enjoyed, and we felt also that the identity we would acquire as a result of his promotion would be beneficial in the long term.

53 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b JULY 2011

* , a full brother to U.S. National Champion *Elkin, was imported from Poland by Award Arabians. The Aquinor line was known for their quality of movement and *Eleuzis was successfully raced before his importation. He was an athletic and very appealing horse, and was a choice we made for Biya in order to achieve a stallion-quality colt to retain. When the bay Raquinor was born we knew we had something very special, and vowed not to let this colt get away. I showed Raquinor at halter successfully, and he also became one of my most enjoyable mounts in Bidwell Park. To advance our program and still retain our acquired identity, Raquinor was bred with marvelous results to the Rakafix daughters out of our foundation mares that we had retained. Two of his most outstanding offspring were Concert (x Serafine) and Afternoon Delite (x Hadiyah).

When Raquinor was thirteen years old he was discovered by trainer Rob Bick, and under Rob’s capable tutelage Raquinor became a Champion Park Horse in three regions, and was qualified for U.S. Nationals. Biya was bred to

Champion Park Horse Raquinor (*Eleuzis x Biya) with trainer Rob Bick up.

One Breeder’s Journey

1977 U.S. National Reserve Champion Western Pleasure Leucretia (*Eleuzis x El Sedi) with Jim Garvison up.

*Eleuzis two more times, producing the fillies Eleka and Eleuzka. We also bred El Sedi (El Brillante x Basedi) to *Eleuzis.

Her daughter Leucretia became a halter champion and Reserve U.S. National Champion Western Pleasure in 1977, and was always shown by Jim Garvison under the ownership of Walter and Betty Haynes.

the next step in our endeavor. I wanted to infuse type and refinement in to our program, but did not want to lose the structure and good movement we had bred to acquire. Maurice was impressed with a two-year-old *Morafic son at Gleannloch and felt he matched perfectly what I felt we needed, and was bred to pass on those qualities. I went to Texas to see Ibn Morafic, and the next spring both Biya and Serafine were bred to Ibn Morafic. The results were two outstanding individuals Serafic (x Serafine) and La Biya (x Biya). This was a significant milestone in our career as breeders, for both individuals influenced heavily many of the decisions we made from that point forward. We used Serafic as a breeding stallion, and La Biya produced a dynasty of foals, many of which proved to be a natural progression of our program toward the breeding of some very outstanding Arabians.

Ibn Morafic In 1976, a respected trainer from Houston, Texas, Maurice Wingo, purchased from us the lovely double *Serafix bay colt Seragrand (Rakafix x Fascination) for use as his herd sire.

Maurice had recently shown Ansata Ibn Sudan to his U.S. National Championship, and being from Houston was well acquainted with the original Gleannloch Farm. When he came after Seragrand we discussed what could be

The mare La Biya (Ibn Morafic x Biya).

54 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b JULY 2011

Canadian Top Ten Mare Kheserabi (Khemosabi x Serab by Rakafix).

Kheserabi became a Regional Champion, Scottsdale, and Star World Top Ten, and Canadian National Top Ten Mare. When retired from the showring, Kheserabi had two foals, and then became my very special riding horse. Serab was bred to Khemosabi three more times producing Khesirabi, a stallion-quality colt that was purchased by a local breeder, and two more colts. We also bred Afternoon Delite (Raquinor x Hadiyah by Rakafix) to Khemosabi, producing a lovely daughter, Khemagnifique.

Aza Destiny The stallion Serafic (Ibn Morafic x Serafine).

Khemosabi Khemosabi’s tremendous show record, and his record as a sire, coupled with the fact that many of his best offspring were from *Serafix-bred mares inspired us to send two Rakafix daughters, Serab and Miss Rakafix to Khemo. The results were two bay fillies, Kheserabi and Khenita. We retained Kheserabi, who was one of the best horses we had bred to date, and with Dick Adams and Rick Moser showing,

Aza Destiny was a beautiful, very charismatic solid bay stallion that amassed a significant show record, most often shown by his then owner Glenn Ash in the l970s. He was heavily linebred to Skowronek through his sire Azraff, and dam Bint Bass Hisan, and because of our success breeding Biya (Rakafix x Nabiya) into this line through Ferdine (Ferzon x Gadina), which produced Serazon (Ferdine x Biya), Aza Destiny with his type, refinement, and overall quality, impressed us to the degree that Biya was bred to Aza Destiny in 1979. The result was a lovely bay colt, Dezperado. To give Dezperado as many options as possible to excel as a sire, we acquired three Ferdine-

*Padron

The stallion Dezperado (Aza Destiny x Biya).

bred mares and used Dezperado on that line as well as the descendants of our original foundation stock. Dezperado was very refined, typey, and solid bay, and his foals were always images of their sire.

Fadjurs Prophecy Fadjurs Prophecy came to our farm from the Jack Tone Ranch in 1980.

Being by Fadjur and out of the Ibn Fadjur daughter Ibna, Fadjurs Prophecy was very similar to his sire in many ways, perhaps a smaller and refined version, but with the same aliveness, charisma, and extreme type that made Fadjur one of the most popular stallions in the history of our breed. I had always been impressed with the Tone breeding program and their devotion to Fadjur, and felt that he could contribute his qualities to our endeavor through his look-alike son.

Fadjurs Prophecy was an excellent sire, who gifted us with many colts. One of his most outstanding offspring was Prophecys Sera, a lovely dark chestnut mare out of Serafine (Rakafix by *Serafix x Fascination by *Serafix).

Fadjurs Prophecy (Fadjur x Ibna).

In 1981 when La Biya was of breeding age, I had shown her at halter a number of times, and she always attracted the attention of judges and spectators alike. She was a wellconstructed mare with refinement, a neck beautifully set-on, excellent conformation, balance, and a lovely facial expression. La Biya was definitely a stride forward in our goal toward excellence, and became the catalyst for much of the success as breeders that we enjoyed henceforth. *Padron, with all of his greatness both as an individual and a show horse, has influenced the Arabian breed beyond measure, and we were so impressed with what La Biya had become that we felt she deserved the best possible opportunity to excel as a breeding animal. The result of this mating was JJ Parone, a stunning and charismatic individual from birth until he left us at age 23.

JJ Parone was shown to a Regional Reserve Championship and Scottsdale Top Ten Stallion by Rick Moser. When he came home from being shown, he

The stallion JJ Parone (*Padron x La Biya).

55 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b JULY 2011

was bred to the daughters of Rakafix, Raquinor, Khemosabi, and Dezperado that we had retained. Much like his sire in character, JJ Parone was an assertive horse who was keenly intelligent and a quick learner as long as he was managed with intelligence and respect. He was one of the most easily trained horses I had ridden, and once again I consistently rode a very special and eye-catching Arabian stallion in Bidwell Park. As a sire, JJ Parone excelled, and we were content to utilize him as our primary breeding stallion for many years. Many of his foals were from three generations of our breeding program, and were fine examples of the progression of our efforts to linebreed Arabians of exceptional merit who had the capacity to breed on.

JJ Parone was a popular stallion among our clients, and we are indebted to many for showing their JJ Parone offspring on a regional and national level with significant success.

*Simeon Selah The year1983 was unique and special. A scheduled vacation to Europe resulted in attendance at the Ascot show in England; a wonderful daylong conversation with Fred Rice, the handler who had exhibited all of the Crabbet horses; a visit to the thenclosed Crabbet Stud; and the acquisition and importation of the yearling filly *Simeon Selah. I had heard of *Simeon Selah, who was born in England, from Australian breeder Marion Richmond. *Simeon Selah was by Rasmoniet RSI (*Rashad Ibn Nazeer x *Bint Moniet El Nefous) and out of Nadira (Aswan x Napersnitsa). When we saw Selah, her overwhelming beauty and correctness and her outstanding Egyptian/Russian pedigree inspired us to continue to pursue those attributes in our program.

One Breeder’s Journey

The mare La Fabiola (El Naseet x *Simeon Selah).

Selah became a tall, full-bodied mare with a headpiece almost identical to that of her grandam *Bint Moniet El Nefous.

She was an important addition, and through her offspring was influential in the advancement of our goals. Selah was very generous, and produced six lovely daughters. One, La Fabiola, is one of our broodmares today.

*El Shaklan In 1984 La Biya (Ibn Morafic x Biya) was bred to *El Shaklan (Shakr El Masri x *Estopa). *El Shaklan, then owned by Om El Arab, was a smooth, correct, and typey stallion who had an excellent production record as well as a successful show career.

The resulting filly, La Shaklana, was everything we had hoped for, and further advanced our goal to infuse type and quality in to our existing program. She was a lovely individual, and although not a prolific producer, contributed immensely to our goals.

became noteworthy breeding animals. *Sharem El Sheikh was a tall, stretchy horse with excellent action and an imposing presence. La Biya was bred to *Sharem El Sheikh to produce El Sheikh D’la Biya — a 1989 colt eventually acquired by Outlaw Equestrians. El Sheikh D’la Biya began a successful halter career under our ownership shown

by Rob Bick, and after his acquisition

by Outlaw Equestrians and shown by Jeff Schall, became a U.S. National and Canadian National Top Ten Stallion. In 1998 El Sheikh D’la Biya was shown by owner Tom Mensing to Scottsdale Champion Stallion Amateur Owner.

We are grateful to the owners of El Sheikh D’la Biya for providing him with many opportunities. They built a farm, developed an outstanding broodmare band, and promoted the offspring of El Sheikh D’la Biya over a number of years. It was always with a sense of pride and gratitude that we learned from the Mensing family about the success of El Sheikh D’ la Biya and his offspring at

*Sharem El Sheikh *Sharem El Sheikh (*El Shaklan x *Samanna) was a sensation in the showring and proved to be an excellent sire of halter winners, including U.S. National Champion Eternity, who 56 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b JULY 2011

El Sheikh D’La Biya ( *Sharem El Sheikh x La Biya)

the U.S. and Canadian Nationals, the Buckeye, and the Minnesota Fall Festival.

When his first foal crop arrived I was astounded at the quality and uniformity of the seven look-alikes that El Sheikh D’la Biya had sired. To further perpetuate these bloodlines and the quality they represented, we bred La Shaklana (*El Shaklan x La Biya) to El Sheikh D’la Biya, resulting in the double *El Shaklan, double La Biya colt El Sheikh Shaklan. Today, owners of the daughters of El Sheikh D’la Biya consistently compliment us on the ability of these mares, sired by a stallion we bred, to reproduce Arabians of exceptional quality.

In the early 1990s I concluded that a significant turning point in our program took place with the breeding of Serafine and Biya, both by Rakafix, to the straight Egyptian Ibn Morafic.

We had been breeding for 35 years, the last 10 of which demonstrated significantly through the horses we were producing, the wisdom of including Egyptian bloodlines in our program.

I had heard about a stallion who was bred by Tom and Rhita McNair and acquired as a yearling by Tish Hewitt of Friendship Farms in Illinois. He was

by Ibn Morafic out of the *Ibn Hafiza daughter Sadeekah, who was in turn out of a *Morafic daughter. El Naseet, at age 15, was a 15.1-hand grey with excellent structure, type, movement, and extreme quality. He was being used as one of Ms. Hewitt’s favorite carriage horses, and in spite of an instant friendship, she would not part with El Naseet. A year later after Ms. Hewitt’s unfortunate passing, her daughters graciously allowed for the acquisition of El Naseet, and soon a new chapter began for us.

El Naseet (Ibn Morafic x Sadeekah)

El Naseet El Naseet was bred to La Biya; La Shaklana; *Simeon Selah, a straight Egyptian mare we had leased; Bint Shammama; and the daughters of JJ Parone that we had retained. The foals were exceptional, and a living testimony to the qualities the Egyptian and Egyptian-bred Arabian were capable of reproducing. Included in our broodmares of today are the El Naseet daughters La Divina (x Bint Shamamma) and La Fabiola (x *Simeon Selah).

El Naseet went on to green pastures in 1999. I was very appreciative of the opportunity to utilize El Naseet. He was an exceptional individual and we were proud that he was significant in our venture. Along with a legacy of good memories he sired some excellent bloodstock that are included in our program today.

Through the breeding of our foundation mares to Ibn Morafic, and the acquisition of El Naseet, I continued to develop appreciation for many of the qualities that emanated from the Egyptian and Egyptian-bred Arabian.

This segment of the breed appears to be prepotent for both type and quality. They are extremely intelligent horses with a kind and sensitive nature, and if managed accordingly, are a great pleasure to teach, train, and live with. They appreciate

affection and attention immensely. The Egyptian and Egyptian-bred Arabians do not always mature at the same rate as other lines. Consequently patience is a considerable virtue in the ultimate evaluation of Egyptian and Egyptian-bred Arabians.

As a result of having judged five Egyptian Events, I became familiar with the horses, their bloodlines, and the breeders involved. I gained great appreciation for The Pyramid Society and their effort to promote and develop a showcase for the Egyptian Arabian, and to provide a wide array of member services. Because of my penchant for type, I was attracted to the Ansata program and horses and eventually participated as a presenter at an Ansata seminar, and contributed to some of the writings of Ansata founder Judi Forbis.

Into the future: Jim Panek’s herd sire Arabest Kamil (Ansata Iemhotep x RA Amber Nabiel)

Arabest Kamil Bill and Pat Trapp of Arabest Stud Farm in Wisconsin migrated to Texas to retire and be close to family in 2000. The Trapps were people of exceptional quality, lifelong breeders, and their stallion Nabiel became a legend in the annals of Egyptian Arabians.

A beautiful chestnut daughter of Nabiel, RA Amber Nabiel, with her 2000 colt, Arabest Kamil, moved to Texas with the Trapps, and with their Christmas card that year, was a photo of the outstanding weanling colt Arabest Kamil by Ansata Iemhotep (Prince Fa Moniet x Ansata Nefara) out of RA Amber Nabiel (Nabiel x Binte Fakher RA). I had looked at many colts in various venues by this time, and after seeing Arabest Kamil, had yet to see a colt that was this exceptional. Arabest Kamil came to our farm in 2001, and has been significant in the progress of our program.

The sire of Arabest Kamil, Ansata Iemhotep, became a U.S. National Futurity Top Ten, Egyptian Event Supreme Champion, and was exported to Sharjah as a mature stallion. Prior to his exportation he was utilized significantly in the Ansata program, siring exceptional offspring. RA Amber Nabiel was well-known for her production record, having produced exceptional daughters by Akid Geshan (Nabiel x 57 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b JULY 2011

One Breeder’s Journey Akid Hanalei), and a son, Arabest Samir, also by Akid Geshan, who too was an Egyptian Event Supreme Champion.

With credentials such as these, we felt we had something unique and special in Arabest Kamil, and indeed we did. It was with considerable interest and significant pride that we watched Arabest Kamil develop from yearling age to a mature stallion. Although growth changes took place, his exquisitely carved countenance and overall correctness became more evident as he matured.

By the time Arabest Kamil became of breeding age, we had developed a breeding program around him the outcomes of which utilized linebreeding to both sides of his pedigree. The mares RAS Kateefa (Prince Fa Moniet x *Zohoor), her daughter RAS Rasma (The Desperado x RAS Kateefa), Sadeya TS (Arabest Samir x RF Summertime), and Ansata Nariyanna (Ansata Iemhotep x Ansata Nariya), were acquired so that when bred to Arabest Kamil they would produce linebred offspring of significant quality to be further utilized successfully as predictable breeding animals. In addition to these mares, the El Naseet daughters La Divina (x Bint Shammama

by Abenhetep and La Fabiola (x *Simeon Selah by Rasmoniet RSI) have been retained for breeding to Arabest Kamil.

We have retained the offspring of these combinations primarily to determine how they develop as individuals, and at what ages they look best. Without reservation, we are impressed, and once again feel that our efforts are being wellrewarded.

Thoughts on the Breed

In assessing my horses, there are basic must-haves for me, starting with a horse that can be divided equally into thirds, a high-set neck that comes out well above the point of the shoulder and flows smoothly into the withers, and good tail carriage. I have concluded 58 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b JULY 2011

through the years that set of neck influences many other aspects of what I consider correctness and has a dramatic influence on the overall appearance and freedom of movement of an Arabian horse. I do have a penchant for type, and feel that every Arabian should exemplify that aspect of our breed standard.

Jim Panek

Most horse people admire and respect our breed. The Arabian, for various reasons, may not be the horse for everyone. As breeders and owners we have a responsibility to present our Arabians in the best possible light, not just in Arabian shows, but on trail rides, cattle drives, local horse activities, and by fostering the interests of youth. By doing that we can overcome some of the biased perceptions that exist but are often not true.

I have ridden my horses for my own pleasure for years, and I am often stopped both by horse people and others attracted to the Arabian because of its beauty and charisma under saddle. It is a wonderful opportunity to describe the temperament, versatility, and quality of our Arabians to others and to invite them for a visit to your farm.

The best breeding advice anyone ever gave me was “Breed for quality, not for quantity.” My best advice for a novice breeder is to educate yourself, make decisions based on knowledge rather than the “wow factor.” Also, do not let

show wins, or the lack thereof, influence your decisions too heavily. There are a great number of variables in the showing of horses, many over which one has absolutely no control. It is your longterm staying power, your confidence in what you aspire to accomplish, and your love for what you are doing that will make you a success.

In 1996, I retired from my profession as an educator. At this point, the desire to concentrate on what brings one the most joy became important.

Without making too many life-altering changes, I decided to discontinue judging horses, and not to be as integrated in the commercial aspects of what has become the Arabian horse industry. A hands-on involvement with my horses has always been a great source of pleasure, and that, coupled with the ability to look out of any window of our home to see small pastures of beautiful Arabians, many of whom I have known all their lives, exceeds many of the thrills that heretofore seemed important. Foaling season is always a special time for me. I can sit for hours in a pasture on a warm sunny day and watch foals frolic and play together. Their antics and the emergence of their personalities have always been a great source of pleasure and laughter.

I still remember one incident years ago when we had three mares and their foals together. The foals ran and played hard, lay down to take a nap, and when they awoke, each went to a different mother other than their own for their lunch, without a sign of resistance from the “new mom.” Unforgettable!

The next planned breeding, the resulting foal, and sharing all of this with family and the special people I have met along the way does bring great joy. My dreams have come true, and as I think of the many wonderful horses that have made this happen, I could not ask for anything more than the wonderful ride I have had on this great journey.