2009 Ströhen International B and C Shows

July 11-12, 2009 Ströhen, Germany

by Betty Finke Photos by Erwin Escher

Ströhen is pretty much unique, not only in Germany. For starters, it’s the only show with elephants.

Not just the championship trophies that have the shape of elephants, but also live ones that usually put in an appearance during the B show, carrying in the judges.

But it’s not just elephants; there is also a distinctly family feel about it, which is not surprising as it is of course a family affair. The Ismer family is now in its third generation of keeping one of the most popular zoos in Germany as well as one of the largest Arabian horse studs in Europe. And there is an anniversary to celebrate this year: it was exactly 50 years ago that Rolf Ismer founded both stud and zoo. The combination as such is pretty much unique, and these days it is highly unusual that a breeding program survives over three generations of owners. After Rolf Ismer retired, his son Holger took over; he is now retired himself with his sons Nils and Mark taking on the heritage. From modest beginnings the stud developed into the largest in Germany, and it is originally based on horses from the oldest German stud farms, Achental and Marbach. These foundation bloodlines have also survived to today, with an addition of mostly Polish and Egyptian stock. The latter are bred straight as well as crossed with each other.

To mark the occasion, exhibitors and visitors who arrived the day before the show were treated to a showing of the stud’s sires and their foals the evening before, followed by drinks.

There was a fine selection of foals on display, with a particularly

FINKE PHOTO

interesting group sired by the young Polish champion Altis by WH Justice, who joined the stud last year. Altis himself was not there to see, as he is co-owned with Turban Stud in Denmark and is spending the 2009 season there.

The C show for German horses only was as usual quite small, but of good quality. This show was held according to the new ECAHO ruling, so that there is no longer a champion and a reserve, but gold, silver, and bronze medal winners. The gold medal winner of the fillies was the winner of the strong TwoYear-Old Fillies class, Birkhof Stud’s straight Egyptian DF Maha by the young sire DF Malik Jamil out of Mavia Bint Bint Kis Mahiba, a daughter of the recently deceased Classic Shadwan.

She is as typey as her breeding would indicate and won her class over the black Bellanna Estopa SLM, an Al Lahab daughter bred by Om El Arab International, but foaled in Germany. The winner of the three-year-old class, Brigitte Sprave’s WH Justice daughter Asia BM, got the silver medal, and the yearling filly

2 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b SEPTEMBER 2008

National C Silver Senior Stallion Shakaar Ibn Sanadiva (Kubinec x Om el Sanadiva), owned by Ralf Heckenbücker, Germany.

National C Gold Senior Stallion El Thay Melek (Ansata Selman x El Thay Maheera), owned by Cornelia Tauschke, Germany.

National C Bronze Senior Stallion Lareedoh (Laman HVP x Nika II), owned by Melanie Salmen, Germany.

Ströhen National C Show Judges: Leon Botha, South Africa; Karen McCrea, Saudi Arabia

See more show results and photos at www.arabianhorseworld.com winner, Christian Kesseböhmer’s AB Volge, the third. AB Volge is by the Psytadel son E Amin out of the straight Russian mare Volga.

As there was no class for three-year-old colts, the two-year-olds and yearlings were among themselves. Gold went to the two-year-old winner Jason S, bred and owned by Jürgen Schäfer. He is one of several very successful colts sired by the premium stallion Major, and out of Jakaranda T who is by Kubinec out of the straight Egyptian Ansata Faye Jamila. The silver medal winner was the yearling Alikar, who was a champion foal last year and has been doing well this season as well. He is a son of Alishaar El Bri, an El Shaklan grandson by the U.S.-bred CH El Brillo. Alikar’s dam is Nakarta by Narym (by Balaton). Bronze went to another previous foal winner, two-year-old straight Egyptian Authentic Mahab, an Al Lahab son who won at the Asil Cup last year. Despite the handicap of having been born late in the year, he has been doing well against colts nearly a year older than he.

SENIOR STALLION Gold: El Thay Melek (Ansata Selman x El Thay Maheera), Cornelia Tauschke, Germany Silver: Shakaar Ibn Sanadiva (Kubinec x Om el Sanadiva), Ralf Heckenbücker, Germany Bronze: Lareedoh (Laman HVP x Nika II), Melanie Salmen, Germany SENIOR MARE Gold: Shajaraa (CH El Brillo x Om El Sanadiva), Ralf Heckenbücker, Germany Silver: Authentic Monisa (Nabeel II x Monisa Halima), Rosemarie Kolster, Germany Bronze: Kenelm Angelina (AS Natsir Apal x Anastacia), Brigitte Sprave, Germany JUNIOR COLT Gold: Jason S (Major x Jakaranda T), Jürgen Schäfer, Germany Silver: Alikar (Alishaar El Bri x Nakarta), Arabico Partnership, Germany Bronze: Authentic Mahab (Al Lahab x Authentic Monisa), Bobrzyk & Wagner, Germany JUNIOR FILLY Gold: DF Maha (DF Malik Jamil x Mavia Bint Bint Kis Mahiba), Birkhof Stud, Germany Silver: Asia BM (WH Justice x Farah Takiba), Brigitte Sprave, Germany Bronze: AB Volge (El Amin x Volga), Christian Kesseböhmer, Germany

3 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b SEPTEMBER 2008

National C Silver Senior Mare Authentic Monisa (Nabeel II x Monisa Halima), owned by Rosemarie Kolster, Germany.

National C Gold Senior Mare Shajaraa (CH El Brillo x Om El Sanadiva), owned by Ralf Heckenbücker, Germany.

National C Bronze Senior Mare Kenelm Angelina (AS Natsir Apal x Anastacia AA), owned by Brigitte Sprave, Germany.

Authentic Mahab’s dam Authentic Monisa also captured a medal, the silver one in the mare championship. Top honors went to Ralf Heckenbücker’s Shajaraa, a typey mare by CH El Brillo out of his World Champion foundation mare Om El Sanadiva by Sanadik El Shaklan. Shajaraa is closely linebred to El Shaklan in other words, and it shows. Bronze went to Brigitte Sprave’s imported French mare Kenelm Angelina, who was second in the senior class; she is by AS Natsir Apal out of a Russian dam.

As there was only one stallion class, the first three automatically got the medals. The gold winner was Cornelia Tauschke’s homebred El Thay Melek, a straight Egyptian by Ansata Selman out of El Thay Maheera, an Elite mare and noted stallion producer. Silver was former National Champion Shakaar Ibn Sanadiva, full brother to FS Bengali. The nice thing here is that both stallions are also doing well under saddle.

Bronze was Lareedoh, a son of Brazilian-bred Laman HVP out of Koronec daughter Nika II. The night before the B show, to celebrate the anniversary, there was a special showing of the Ismer Stud’s famous liberty

act with its group of homebred grey stallions. The liberty act has been shown to great acclaim at major equestrian events all across the country and never fails to amaze. This was the extended version, called “Arabian Fascination,” which is shown daily to zoo visitors and recounts the development of the Arabian horse, involving a stallion jumping over fire, a group of young camels, and — for a change of pace — a magnificent black Friesian stallion performing dressage on long reins. I wonder how many young children who see this show during their zoo visit, afterwards dream of owning an Arabian! This was followed by an open-end party and buffet provided by the family’s own restaurant, with many people probably not getting much sleep that night.

While the weather had been mostly kind during the C show — there was just one extremely heavy shower, fortunately during the lunch break, which was especially extended to wait for the rain to pass — the B show was not so lucky, being plagued by showers almost all the time until finally during the championships the rain got going in earnest, so the championships turned into a wet affair.

At least it disproved the persistent myth that Arabians can’t deal with water, as it didn’t seem to worry the horses much.

The foals were lucky in coming first when it was still dry, a small but superb class headed by the charming JCJ Maharany,

by Marajj out of JCJ Tiara by Ekstern, bred and owned by Josef Rüsenberg of Germany. This was understandably an all-German class.

4 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b SEPTEMBER 2008

It got a lot more international in the yearling fillies, which featured an impressive intenational lineup.

In the lead by a mere half point was the beautiful chestnut Nafiesa Malaika, owned by Esther Besselink of the Netherlands. She is by the WH Justice son Ajman Moniscione, who is doing extremely well as a sire himself, out of Kenelm Mona Ghalia by Monogramm, and she looks just like you would expect a combination between Padron and Monogramm to look. Second place went to an American-bred filly, Marhnika by the Marwan Al Shaqab son Marhaabah out of Ladi Veronika by Versace, an elegant grey filly with simply enormous eyes who is now owned by Ajman Stud. In the championships these two fillies placed exactly the other way around, as a result of the new system, with National C Gold Junior Colt Jason S (Major x Jakaranda T), owned by Jürgen Marhnika taking the silver and Nafiesa Malaika the Schäfer, Germany. bronze medal. The third place in the class went to an interesting entry from Jordan, Hhoor, a daughter of the Psytadel son Mornarcos DD out of a daughter of Hlayyil Ramadan, a refined filly with a very extreme head.

The huge and extremely high-quality class for two-year-old fillies had the eventual gold medal winner, Fedora RG, an Italian-bred WH Justice daughter now owned by Athba Stud of Saudi Arabia. Her dam is by World Champion Hadidi out of a Padrons Psyche mare, so Fedora is linebred to Padrons Psyche, and it shows. She could easily be a direct daughter.

Second place went to Austrian Aaliyana Psy, by Psytadel, a Psyche granddaughter more reminiscent of her double Bey Shah breeding, and third to last year’s filly champion, Anna Nicole NWA by WH Justice from National C Silver Junior Colt Alikar (Alishaar El Bri x Nakarta), Northwest Arabians in Denmark. owned by Arabico Partnership, Germany.

Scores in the three-year-old filly class were not as high, but it was still a good class, the win going to one of three Ekstern daughters, the showy pure Polish Suzanna from D.B. Arabians of Belgium, beating Italian entry Amira FP of mainly Egyptian lines, and Dutch entry Fysio Arabians’ Jawharah of mainly Russian breeding.

The three colt classes were quite small, but very good. In the yearling class, the two colts appeared that are this year’s main rivals on the circuit — they keep appearing in the same class at the shows and take turns winning. Both happen to be straight Egyptian. In this case the class win went to the very pretty Al Ayal AA, the Israeli-bred son of the recently deceased Al Ayad, last year’s Asil Cup winner.

His dam is the illustrious The Vision HG, who has produced so many stallions of National C Bronze Junior Colt Authentic Mahab note, and he is currently on lease to a partnership in Germany. Second in class was (Al Lahab x Authentic Monisa), owned by Bobrzyk and Wagner, Germany.

Al Mohamadia’s elegant Salman Al Mohamadia, by the German-bred GR Amaretto out of Thee Scheherezade by Thee Desperado. Both colts had the identical score, 91 points, with Al Ayal having a slight edge in type. However, like the yearling fillies, their order was reversed in the finals, Salman taking the silver and Al Ayal the bronze medal.

5 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b SEPTEMBER 2008

MARES TEN AND OVER (3): 1. Evita (Siam x Elwanga), Wolf Heitmann, Germany; 2. White Diamond (Shahin x Jade Princess), Christian Kesseböhmer, Germany; 3.

Maddelena Bint Masran (Masran El Shaklan x Malina Bint Masran), C. Littmann, Germany SIX- TO NINE-YEAR-OLD MARES (4): 1. Authentic Monisa (Nabeel II x Monisa Halima), Rosemarie Kolster, Germany; 2.

Kenelm Angelina (AS Natsir Apal x Anastacia), Brigitte Sprave, Germany; 3. Passions Paige (Mashours Memory x Al Adiyat Passion), Matthias Scholz, Germany FOUR- TO NINE-YEAR-OLD STALLIONS (5): 1. El Thay Melek (Ansata Selman x El Thay Maheera), Cornelia Tauschke, Germany; 2. Shakaar Ibn Sanadiva (Kubinec x Om el Sanadiva), Ralf Heckenbücker, Germany; 3. Lareedoh (Laman HVP x Nika II), Melanie Salmen, Germany FOUR- TO FIVE-YEAR-OLD MARES (3): 1. Shajaraa (CH El Brillo x Om El Sanadiva), Ralf Heckenbücker, Germany; 2. FS Mona Lisa (Shakaar Ibn Sanadiva x Sherruka Al Roban), Brigitte Sprave, Germany; 3. GS Shaitani (Kyros II x Shima II), Matthias Scholz, Germany THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLIES (5): 1. Asia BM (WH Justice x Farah Takiba), Brigitte Sprave, Germany; 2. Malaga J (Ekstern x Starlight), Bernd Zimmermann, Germany; 3. BK Eksterna (Ekstern x Cza-Cza), Becker Arabians, Germany TWO-YEAR-OLD COLTS (3): 1. Jason S (Major x Jakaranda T), Jürgen Schäfer, Germany; 2. Authentic Mahab (Al Lahab x Authentic Monisa), Bobrzyk & Wagner, Germany; 3. Bourhani Montashar (Simeon Sharav x De Sharvarll Montanah), Hannelore Bordeaux, Germany TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLIES (12): 1. DF Maha (DF Malik Jamil x Mavia Bint Bint Kis Mahiba), Birkhof Stud, Germany: 2.

Bellanna Estopa SLM (Al Lahab x Om el Bediya Dream), Sandra L. Menzel, Germany: 3. El Thay Kareema (Ansata Selman x El Thay Kamla), Cornelia Tauschke, Germany

National C Gold Junior Filly DF Maha (DF Malik Jamil x Mavia Bint Bint Kis Mahiba), owned by Birkhof Stud, Germany.

Holger Ismer with his grandchild.

National C Silver Junior Filly Asia BM (WH Justice x Farah Takiba), owned by Brigitte Sprave, Germany.

YEARLING COLTS (5): 1. Alikar (Alishaar El Bri x Nakarta), Arabico Partnership, Germany; 2. Sky (El Sid x Roma) Norbert Esterbauer, Germany; 3. BS Lightning (BS Echnaton x Sivka), Thomas Mayer, Germany YEARLING FILLIES (3): 1.

AB Volge (El Amin x Volga), Christian Kesseböhmer, Germany; 2. Bourhani Psylesia (Lesmo x Psynesica) Hannelore Bordeaux, Germany; 3. DG Sahra (DF Malik Jamil x LM Sadunga) Dieter Gerbaulet, Germany FOALS (2): 1. Esparto’s First Prince (Esparto x Passions Paige), Matthias Scholz, Germany; 2. GM Al Muntaha Layla (WH Justice x Al Muntaha Jumanah), Kesseböhmer & Stöckle, Germany

National C Bronze Junior Filly AB Volge (El Amin x Volga), owned by Christian Kesseböhmer, Germany.

6 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b SEPTEMBER 2008

International B Silver Senior Stallion Monther Al Nasser (Ansata Hejazi x Aliah Al Nasser), owned by Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser Al Thani, Qatar.

International B Gold Senior Stallion Lucky Dream (Brianz Xaver x Premude), owned by Cartabia, Italy.

Also identical to the fillies, the gold medal winner was the winner of the two-year-old class: the stunning bright chestnut Abha Qatar, by Marwan Al Shaqab out of ZT Ludjkalba by Ludjin El Jamaal. Bred by Marieta Salas, he is now owned by Al Mohamadia Stud and has embarked on a very successful show career. On this occasion, he scored a terrific 92.33, which was the highest score in the entire show. Second in class was Ajman Stud’s Azeem Ibn Justice, yet another successful son of WH Justice and a very typey colt indeed, but there was no getting past Abha Qatar on this occasion. Third, and still with a score over 90, was Qatari entry Gazwan Al Nasser, a son of Gazal Al Shaqab who is also doing very well this season, regularly placing in the top section of his classes.

The tiny three-year-old colt class nevertheless had a spectacular winner with another 90 points, the straight Egyptian Mawawy Al Masaeed, a typey bay colt with superb movements.

He was an entry from Kuwait, which I think is a first at a European show. Second place went to a very different colt, Jan Calis’s homebred Sannu, of Spanish-Russian breeding, not as refined as the winner but also a brilliant mover that would look very good under saddle, as he no doubt will one day. And of course he was shown by Jan himself, Europe’s senior showman who can still run with the best of them!

The three lovely mare classes had plenty of beauty on display.

In the class for four- to five-year-olds, the C show champion Shajaraa had to take second place to another German entry, Brigitte Sprave’s EK Nathice, a WH Justice daughter who does

International B Bronze Senior Stallion Ghajariy (Khidar x Esta-Passada), owned by Becker Arabians and Ajman Stud, Germany.

Ströhen InternatioNAl B Show Number of horses present: 67 Judges: Dr. Gianmarco Aragno, Italy; Ferdinand Schwestermann, Switzerland; Mrs. Anna Stojanowska, Poland; Mrs. Marianne Tengstedt, Denmark SENIOR STALLION Gold: Lucky Dream (Brianz Xaver x Premude), Cartabia, Italy Silver: Monther Al Nasser (Ansata Hejazi x Aliah Al Nasser), Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser Al Thani, Qatar Bronze: Ghajariy (Khidar x Esta-Passada), Becker Arabians and Ajman Stud, Germany SENIOR MARE Gold: Latifah AA (Al Maraam x Imperial Kalatifa), on lease to Becker Arabians, Germany Silver: Love By Design GA (Versace x HL Infactuation), Foreman, Great Britain; Bronze: Maha Sakr (Imperial Madori x Alidaara), Sakr, Egypt JUNIOR COLT Gold: Abha Qatar (Marwan Al Shaqab x ZT Ludjkalba), Al Mohamadia Stud, Saudi Arabia Silver: Salman Al Mohamadia (GR Amaretto x Thee Scheherezade), Al Mohamadia Stud, Saudi Arabia Bronze: Al Ayal AA (Al Ayad x The Vision HG), The Al Ayal Leasing Group, Germany JUNIOR FILLY Gold: Fedora RG (WH Justice x Psyches Angel), Athba Stud, Saudi Arabia Silver: Marhnika (Marhaabah x Ladi Veronika), Ajman Stud, UAE Bronze: Nafiesa Maleika (Ajman Moniscione x Kenelm Mona Ghalia), Besselink, The Netherlands

7 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b SEPTEMBER 2008

International B Silver Senior Mare Love By Design GA (Versace x HL Infactuation), owned by Foreman, Great Britain.

International B Gold Senior Mare Latifah AA (Al Maraam x Imperial Kalatifa), on lease to Becker Arabians, Germany.

STALLIONS TEN AND OVER (2): 1. Lucky Dream (Brianz Xaver x Premude), Cartabia, Italy; 2. Emrod (Emigrant x Empressa), Siren, Denmark MARES TEN AND OVER (2): 1. Maha Sakr (Imperial Madori x Alidaara), Sakr, Egypt; 2. Redwood Lodge Odessa Estopa (Om El Abadan x Malikah Estopa), van Nes, Belgium SIX- TO NINE-YEAR-OLD STALLIONS (5): 1. Kamal (Authentic Kharazi x Shaula), Bjerke, Norway; 2. Ghajariy (Khidar x EstaPassada), Becker Arabians and Ajman Stud, Germany; 3. El Thay Melek (Ansata Selman x El Thay Maheera), Tauschke, Germany; 4.

AA Maymoun Al Aadeyat (Salaa El Dine x Madinah Bint Saariyah), Al Haddad, Saudi Arabia; 5. Mouhannas Mischa (Maysoun x Monisa Mahiba), Buchholz, Germany SIX- TO NINE-YEAR-OLD MARES (6): 1. Latifah AA (Al Maraam x Imperial Kalatifa), on lease to Becker Arabians, Germany; 2. Love By Design GA (Versace x HL Infactuation), Foreman, Great Britain; 3.

Karona (Karat x Rigona), Schutrups, The Netherlands; 4. Mounsache (Versace x Mystic Mounbey), Dunn, Great Britain; 5. Kenelm Angelina (AS Natsir Apal x Anastacia AA), Sprave, Germany FOUR- TO FIVE-YEAR-OLD STALLIONS (4): 1. Al Fakhir (Mahadin x Al Estrella), Huber, Austria; 2. Monther Al Nasser (Ansata Hejazi x Aliah Al Nasser), Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser Al Thani, Qatar; 3. Nubiec (Balaton x Neapolitanka), Tlevlesev, The Netherlands; 4. Wroclaw (Sharkassow x Wera), Wonderful Arabians, Denmark FOUR- TO FIVE-YEAR-OLD MARES (6): 1. EK Nathice (WH Justice x Donna Nathy HRT), Sprave, Germany; 2. Shajaraa (CH El Brillo x Om El Sanadiva), Heckenb端cker, Germany; 3. JCJ Tiara (Ekstern x Timala), R端senberg, Germany; 4. Al Waleska Elsmael (Shael Dream Desert x Farina van Ryad), Suskenicova, Czech Republic; 5. Metallica (Khidar x Menina), Schwarz, Germany THREE-YEAR-OLD COLTS (3): 1. Nawawy Al Masaeed (Khaled Sakr x Lolowa El Mousa), Al Masaeed, Egypt; 2. Sannu (Gasir x Saraka), Calis, The Netherlands; 3. AR Sinan Azim (AR Sivmayall x Chantals Aziza), Bogers, The Netherlands

International B Bronze Senior Mare Maha Sakr (Imperial Madori x Alidaara), owned by Omar Sakr, Egypt.

well wherever she is shown. It was, however, the Six- to NineYear-Old class that had the top mares of the show in it. The class winner, and eventual gold medal winner, was the straight Egyptian Latifah AA (Al Maraam x Imperial Kalatifa), a three-quarter sister to the phenomenally successful Loubna and a very pretty, feminine mare herself. She is presently with Becker Arabians of Germany.

Second both in the class and in the championships was the U.S.bred Versace daughter Love By Design, who was British National Champion mare some years ago and is now owned by Forever Arabians, also of Great Britain. Third in the class was Karona from Holland, a daughter of Russian Derby winner Karat and a superb mover.

The bronze medal, however, went to the winner of the tiny senior mare class, the lovely, refined Maha Saqr, a fifteen-yearold Imperial Madori daughter bred and owned by Omar Saqr of Egypt.

Stallion classes were not very large, but made up for that by being quite spectacular. The dramatic winner of the class for four- to five-year-olds was the reigning Austrian Reserve National Champion, Al Fakhir, bred and owned by Alhambra Arabians.

8 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b SEPTEMBER 2008

Top right: International B Gold Junior Colt Abha Qatar (Marwan Al Shaqab x ZT Ludjkalba), owned by Al Mohamadia Stud, Saudi Arabia.

Top left: International B Silver Junior Colt Salman Al Mohamadia (GR Amaretto x Thee Scheherezade), owned by Al Mohamadia Stud, Saudi Arabia.

International B Bronze Junior Al Ayal AA (Al Ayad x The Vision HG), owned by The Al Ayal Leasing Group, Germany.

International B Silver Junior Filly Marhnika (Marhaabah x Ladi Veronika), owned by Ajman Stud, UAE.

International B Gold Junior Filly Fedora RG (WH Justice x Psyches Angel), owned by Athba Stud, Saudi Arabia.

International B Bronze Junior Filly Nafiesa Maleika (Ajman Moniscione x Kenelm Mona Ghalia), owned by Besselink, The Netherlands.

9 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b SEPTEMBER 2008

THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLIES (7): 1. Suzanna (Ekstern x Splendida), DB Arabians, Belgium; 2. Amira FAP (Arridaios Al Qusar x Thee Jamaica), Sabato, Italy; 3. Fysio Arabians Jawharah (Rih Al Tariq x Shatia), van Hees, The Netherlands; 4.

BK Eksterna (Ekstern x CzaCza), Becker, Germany; 5.

Malaga J (Ekstern x Cza-Cza), Becker Arabians, Germany TWO-YEAR-OLD COLTS (6): 1.

Abha Qatar (Marwan Al Shaqab x ZT Ludjkalba), Al Mohamadia Stud, Saudi Arabia; 2. Azeem Ibn Justice (WH Justice x Bint Sanadiva), Ajman Stud, UAE; 3. Gazwan Al Nasser (Gazal Al Shaqab x Ftoon Al Shaqab), Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser Al Thani, Qatar; 4. El Maran (Al Maraam x Ekstera), Parczewski, Poland; 5. Authentic Mahab (Al Lahab x Authentic Monisa), Exotic Egyptian Horses, Germany TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLIES (11): 1. Fedora RG (WH Justice x Psyches Angel), Athba Stud, Saudi Arabia; 2. Aaliana Psy (Psytadel x Aaliyah Bey), Rongits, Austria; 3. Anna Nicole NWA (WH Justice x Magnum Silhouette), Northwest Arabians, Denmark; 4. TF Godivah (Botswana x Gohara), Hanaya Arabians, Switzerland; 5. El Thay Kareema (Ansata Selman x El Thay Kamla), Tauschke, Germany YEARLING COLTS (6): 1. Al Ayal AA (Al Ayad x The Vision HG), The Al Ayal Leasing Group, Germany; 2. Salman Al Mohamadia (GR Amaretto x Thee Scheherezade), Al Mohamadia Stud, Saudi Arabia; 3. Meraab Athba (Sundance Kid V x DA Peace), Athba Stud, Saudi Arabia; 4. Jaffar By Ashiraf (Amir Ashiraf x Najia El Mut), Portadibassa, Italy; 5. Sky (El Sid x Roma), Esterbauer, Italy YEARLING FILLIES (9): 1. Nafiesa Maleika (Ajman Moniscione x Kenelm Mona Ghalia), Besselink, The Netherlands; 2. Marhnika (Marhaabah x Ladi Veronika), Ajman Stud, UAE; 3. Hhoor (Monarcos DD x Hasanaat Al Haneefah), Al Saleh, Jordan; 4. Dubaia SS (Dubai Pasha x Dachee), Svanemosen Stud, Denmark; 5. Mawee Athba (QR Marc x Trejor IA), Athba Stud, Saudi Arabia

International B First Place Stallions Six- to-Nine-YearsOld Kamal (Authentic Kharazi x Shaula), owned by Bjerke, Norway.

International B First Place Stallions Four- to Five-YearsOld Al Fakhir (Mahadin x Al Estrella), owned by Huber, Austria.

FINKE PHOTO

He is by the straight Egyptian Mahadin, who is currently doing chief sire duties at Marbach, out of the Essteem daughter Al Estrella. Second was the straight Egyptian Monther Al Nasser, a refined and balanced Ansata Hejazi son from Qatar’s Al Nasser Stud, followed by the bright and cheerfully marked sabino Nubiec, a Balaton son from Holland. In the class for six- to nine-year-old stallions, the win went, for a change, to Norway in the shape of Kamal, a straight Egyptian stallion from German-bred parents who narrowly edged out the dramatic Khidar son Ghajariy, currently on lease to Becker Arabians in Germany. The senior class was again tiny, but it was won by the eventual gold medal winner Lucky Dream, an Italian-bred stallion who is going from strength to strength. Though bred in Italy, his roots go back to Holland and he combines Egyptian, Polish, and Russian bloodlines in a “best of all worlds” package. The silver medal went to Monther Al Nasser and the bronze to Ghajariy, both of them second in their respective classes, leaving out both Kamal and Al Fakhir, who had the highest point scores. Winning a class does not guarantee a medal, as comparative judging can lead to quite different results than point scores, especially if the top horses are so close together in quality.

Special mention must go to this show’s “number girls,” who really were a sight to behold.

A quartet of pretty girls from Sweden, all dressed identically, they had displaying of point scores down to a fine art, with perfectly synchronized, elegant movements, and a smile on their faces all the time. Needless to say, they were also very popular as dance partners on the evening of the party!

10 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b SEPTEMBER 2008

International B First Place Mares Four- to Five-YearsOld EK Nathice (WH Justice x Donna Nathy HRT), owned by Sprave, Germany.

International B First Place Three-Year-Old Colts Nawawy Al Masaeed (Khaled Sakr x Lolowa El Mousa), owned by Al Masaeed, Egypt.

International B First Place Three-Year-Old Fillies Suzanna (Ekstern x Splendida), owned by DB Arabians, Belgium.

Last but not least, there was the secret star of the show, which wasn’t a horse at all. From time to time, Almut Ismer was seen by the ringside leading something on a leash that, upon close inspection, wasn’t a dog at all, but a tiny, eight-week-old baby tiger. This is another thing you are not likely to see at any other show! Besides Arabian horses, the Ismer family also breeds tigers, as well as cheetahs and cougars (not to mention all sorts of other animals), and Almut Ismer has hand-raised, among others, the zoo’s resident huge male tiger, Akbar, who is quite a local celebrity. So is the latest addition to the family, who is called Taiga and at this point isn’t much bigger than a dachshund, and in fact a dachshund is helping to raise her.

The little family has also made appearances on German TV. Taiga invariably collected a crowd whenever she made an appearance, which wasn’t quite fair to the horses, but then you don’t see a pintsized tiger every day. She will no doubt be too big to come out and meet the public next year, but there is sure to be something around that you’re not likely to see at any other Arabian show. At the very least, there are sure to be elephants!

FINKE PHOTO

11 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b SEPTEMBER 2008