Al Ghanayim Stud — An Oasis for Arabian Horses

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Front cover: Zambuka (Alixir x Abriel RCA by The Minstril), 2002 black stallion.

AL GH A NAY I M S TUD

Al Ghanayim Stud's owner Mr. Ayad Al Thuwainy with two of his black mares, Bint Bellagio (Bellagio RCA x Princess Hamamaa RCA by Thee Desperado) and Magdalenah (Bellagio RCA x Queen A Hearts RCA by Thee Desperado).

AN OASIS FOR ARABIAN HORSES

by Jeffrey Wintersteen Photography by Mohammad Aladwani and QCPTV_Kuwait

The small nation of Kuwait is nestled between the place where the Euphrates River empties into the Arabian Gulf from Iraq to the north, and Saudi Arabia in the south. This region lies near the heart of the origins of the Arabian horse. Along the southern edge of Kuwait, near the Saudi Arabian border, is the area of Al Wafrah. It is typical for this region, large expanses of shifting desert sands, dotted with the occasional camels, and crisscrossed with the occasional pipeline or highway carrying the lifeblood of the nation’s economy. Within the outcropping of an oasis of civilization is a four-hectare paradise called Al Ghanayim Stud. Behind the tall sand-colored walls is the unique vision of owner and founder Mr. Ayad Al Thuwainy that is now being revealed to the Arabian world for the first time. Over the last six years, Ayad has amassed a remarkable collection of Arabian horses.

“I have maintained quite a low profile so far about the stud,” explains Ayad, with a youthful enthusiasm that belies his experience and the business prestige he amassed rebuilding the country after the Iraqi invasion of 1990. “Not too many have seen it, but I think now we have reached a critical mass where I will tell people a little about the stud, especially our black Arabians. It is time to be a part of the international community. After six years of work we are ready to show the world what we have built.”

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Ayad’s love for Arabians is not a recent epiphany, but courses through his family’s blood. To be fully understood, however, it should be viewed in the broader historical context of Kuwait. This small desert nation underwent dynamic change when oil was discovered in 1938. Prior to this, Arabian horse breeding was fairly widespread, mostly as a practical matter for transportation, and to help with trade and agriculture. With the sudden modernization of the country, horse breeding fell by the wayside. Ayad’s uncle on his father’s side, however, continued the tradition, and ignited a passion in Ayad, which he has carried with him since his youth.

“When I was very young, my uncle had one of the largest Arabian studs in the country during the 60s, 70s and 80s, right up until 1990 and the invasion of Kuwait,” says Ayad. “I was six or seven and still remember going there with my father. His breeding program also included racing Arabians. So I Iived that life, I saw the horses, and I saw all aspects of the breeding program.

Above: Mr. Ayad Al Thuwainy.

Facing page: Bint Faith RCA and Bint Bellagio, the stud’s first black straight Egyptian U.S. imports, shortly after their arrival from Arabians Ltd. in Texas.

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October through April was when the races were held. I used to go there every Monday after school, and stay there till the last race, then go back into the stable. I would just sit, watch, and listen.

Looking back, I was absorbing all of that which is still with me today. I also loved riding, which I did until I was 16, when I left for my studies in the U.S. After that, it was work, marriage, and all that comes with life. I was very busy, but I always carried with me the love for Arabians.”

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Top left: Mr. Ayad's wife, Hanadi, and their daughter Gina.

Top right: Ghaneemah, the family’s top rider.

Bottom left: The Al Ghanayim grooms, from left to right: Moti Singh, Lokesh Kumar, and Imrn Khader.

Bottom right: The 2017 Bellagio RCA colt out of Kavetas Miracle RCA.

After a while, Ayad wanted to find a sanctuary from the hectic pace of business, and to try to return to that quiet contentment that still lingered from his childhood. “When I decided to purchase this place, it was to grow something, to be a farm,” explains Ayad. “It was to be for my family as well; a place where we could come and spend time together, perhaps dream a little. Six years ago, as I was walking around, it struck me that there was still something missing here. What could breathe life into this place? The answer was obvious, a couple of Arabians, just to see and hear them. This was the dream, but then there is the reality of handling and managing real live horses. I had not been around this since I was a child, so I began to consult my friends, top breeders of Arabians that I knew. They kindly offered me guidance on what to buy, and advice on management. My first purchase was six horses.” From these first arrivals, Al Ghanayim Stud was founded.

Facing page, top: The Thuwainys’ new farm home overlooks the green pastures and mare stables.

Facing page, bottom: Bint Faith RCA (Thee Desperado x RSL Faith), 2008 black mare.

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Al Ghanayim is the plural of the name of Ghaneemah, and in Arabic it means the “treasure or spoils of war,” referring the to booty won from warring Bedouin tribes. “This is my mother’s name. It is also my mother-in-law’s name, God bless her soul,” he says. “My eldest daughter is also Ghaneemah, so it’s not only the meaning in Arabic, but it has a deep personal meaning as well.”

With the first treasures of Al Ghanayim arriving at the stud, Ayad made another self-discovery that would have a direct impact on the future stud. “During the 70s, there were television series called, “Black Beauty,” “Zorro,” and “The Black Stallion;” all of those featured black horses. I didn’t realize at the time the impact this had on me,” remarks Ayad with a chuckle. “But I prefer black horses and I wanted them at my stud. I began my search for this, but they are very hard to find in this color with the beauty I desired. Of all Arabians, only two percent are black, so to find high quality in that two percent is rare indeed. After the first blacks arrived, I realized that I love blacks more than any other color. I never thought it would grow to what it is, but it is slowly growing year by year.” Currently 27 horses of the 53 at the stud are black.

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Above: Samir Ali (Bellagio RCA x Barakis Gem by Al Baraki), 2012 black stallion, bred by Rose of Cairo Arabians.

Facing page, top: TB Mansour (DF Nashwan x Mia Mouna), 2012 black stallion.

Facing page, bottom: Thee Masada DB (Thee Desperado x Makeda DB), 2014 black stallion.

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Above: Safina RCA (Thee Desperado x MB Isheena), 2008 grey mare, pictured with Shawn Crews.

Facing page, top: Bint Bellagio (Bellagio RCA x Princess Hamamaa RCA), 2015 black filly, who, along with Safina RCA and Bint Faith RCA, were the first from Arabians Ltd. to travel to Al Ghanayim Stud.

Facing page, bottom: Arabians Ltd. owner Judy Sirbasku, left, with manager Shawn Crews.

Thee Desperado Daughters at Al Ghanayim Stud

Mishaal HP Daughters at Al Ghanayim Stud

Bellagio RCA Daughters at Al Ghanayim Stud

KAVETAS MIRACLE RCA ( x Kaveta)

HANA MAGIDAA LDA (x Illa Magidaa LDA)

MAGDALENAH (x Queen A Hearts RCA)

SAFINA RCA (x MB Isheena)

LILY MISHAALA RCA (x Desperados Lily RCA)

BINT BELLAGIO RCA (x Princes Hamamaa RCA)

BINT FAITH RCA (x RSL Faith)

MISHAALA BELLE RCA (x Desperados Belle RCA)

AMEERA BINT BELLAGIO (x Queen A Hearts RCA)

THEE BINT LOTUS CAPRI (x Lotus Capri) 10 b AL GHANAYIM STUD b WORLD

JAMEELA BINT BELLAGIO (x Binte Nafila RCA)

Ayad’s decision to seek the very best black Arabians led him to an important connection half a world away in Waco, Texas. He contacted Shawn Crews, manager of Judy Sirbasku’s Arabians Ltd., after visiting their website. “After a number of emails back and forth, I asked if we could spend five minutes on the phone,” remembers Ayad. “Shawn and Judy are warm, extremely knowledgeable, and they take everyone seriously. They didn’t dismiss me as ‘an unknown so and so from Kuwait.’”

From this first interaction, the relationship between Al Ghanayim Stud and Arabians Ltd. grew; Judy encouraged me and Shawn was instrumental in helping me select the foundation horses for the stud. “I asked her to help me find the highest quality blacks. She said, ‘Ayad, it is very hard; we will find them, but it will take time.’” Gradually, Ayad and Shawn found one quality horse after another.

“Ayad is a breeder who clearly does his research and has an eye for quality,” explains Shawn.

“Almost all of the mares that that he inquired about have never been for sale. The first one Ayad asked about was a black Thee Desperado daughter out of Bellagio RCA’s full sister. I thought, ‘Judy is not going to sell that mare.’ But, after getting a sense of Ayad’s genuine love for the horses, hearing about his children and his vision for the future, Judy sensed that here was a man who could be trusted with some of her most cherished mares, and who, along with his young family, would be an important protector of the breed for generations to come.”

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Above: GR Faleeh (Madallan-Madheen x Fasinah El Chamsin), 2002 black stallion.

Right and facing page: Annette Escher, pictured with GR Faleeh, right.

GR Lahab (Al Lahab x GR Nashidah), 2008 grey stallion, pictured on facing page.

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In the end, 19 horses, including a number of exceptional youngsters bred by Arabians Ltd. clients, came to Al Ghanayim Stud. While this added world-class bloodstock to the stud, it created another issue for Ayad. He now needed to look for outcross blood for his Arabians Ltd. stallions and mares. “A friend of mine knew I was looking for

Senior Stallions at Al Ghanayim Stud

black horses, and he knew a lady in Germany who had some high quality horses. come and visit her and see the horses. It was never about the sale price with her;

TB MANSOUR (DF Nashwan x Mia Mouna)

her biggest concern was the care of the horses. Since then we have developed a very

GR FALEEH

good relationship and she knows what I like. So I am really lucky to have two of the

(Madallan-Madheen x Fasinah El Chamsin)

I contacted Annette Escher of Rothenberg Stud. She immediately suggested that I

industry’s top breeders, Arabians Ltd. and Rothenberg, as friends.”

Annette concurs with Ayad’s assessment, “Our relationship has always been straightforward and very comfortable — it was never about selling horses. It was about finding the perfect loving home for them with the best possible care and where they will continue their careers as sires. I visited Al Ghanayim for the first time this November, and I am more than pleased with my decision to part with my horses. This is a fantastic horse paradise, my horses could not have a better home and I have a close

ZAMBUKA (Alixir x Abriel RCA) GR LAHAB (Al Lahab x GR Nashidah) SAMIR ALI (Bellagio RCA x Barakis Gem)

friend in Ayad.”

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Thee Masada DB (Thee Desperado x Makeda DB), 2014 black stallion, bred by Dreamco Arabians.

Ayad is quick to point out that his love for Arabians, particularly blacks, has led to some unusual choices.

“Usually in a stud you have two or three stallions, in my case I have 16 stallions,” laughs Ayad. “This is not normal, I understand, but many of these males I will not be using in my breeding program. I just like the stallions, how they are masculine, their movement. Most of my stallions are under saddle. It is nice to see them being ridden, because stallions need exercise. Some of the mares are ridden too, but mostly I prefer them to just be broodmares.

“With regard to stallions, I can’t pick one favorite, it is very hard,” continues Ayad, “but some of my favorites, are: Samir Ali (Bellagio RCA x Barakis Gem), TB Monsour (DF Nashwan x Mia Mouna), and GR Faleeh (Madallan Madheen x Fasinah El Chamsin). I purchased Faleeh from Annette to bring in another bloodline, which Shawn recommended as complementary to the Arabians Ltd./Thee Desperado-bred mares. With great anticipation, we look forward to the arrival of five foals of that cross in 2018.”

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Above: Attimo (Bellagio RCA x Desperados Fatinah), 2012 black stallion, bred

by Desperados Fatinah Partnership.

Junior Stallions at Al Ghanayim Stud

Left: GR Nashad (GR Faleeh x GR Nashidah), 2012 black stallion.

THEE MASADA DB (Thee Desperado x Makeda DB) GR NASHAD OX (GR Faleeh x GR Nashidah) ATTIMO (Bellagio RCA x Deseprados Fatinah)

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“As for my favorite mares, they are the black daughters of Bellagio RCA: Jameela Bint Bellagio

Purebred Arabians at Al Ghanayim Stud

(out of Binte Nafila RCA), Magdalenah, and Ameera Bint Bellagio (both out of Queen Of Hearts RCA). Aside from my black mares, of course, is the *Mishaal HP daughter Mishaala Belle RCA (out of Desperados Belle RCA). She is amazing, even though she is not black,” Ayad says with

GEORGANNE CG Mare, sired by Georgio LCA BRULE PA Mare, sired by Magnum Chall HVP MARREKECH HDM Stallion, sired by Ajman Moniscione MAGIC BLACK Stallion, sired by Windsprees Mirage

Georganne CG, top right, and Brule PA, top left, two of the children’s favorites, represent the small but impressive purebred breeding program.

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a laugh.

"While a majority of the herd are Straight Egyptians, Ayad has an appreciation for all Arabian horses. He explains, “There are two camps in Kuwait: Straight Egyptians and non straights, or international Arabians as they are called here. As I have developed my taste as a breeder, and gained more knowledge, I feel even stronger about my original belief that be it Straight Egyptian or International, every breeder should breed what they like and have a passion for. I am proud to have brought some of the finest of Thee Desperado’s get and grandget to Kuwait. And I love my international Arabians. At the end of the day, they all trace back to the desert. In my experience the highest quality black Arabian horses are straight Egyptians, but I am open to all strains.”

Ayad is equally philosophical about the current show scene, and holds a different view than many other breeders in the industry. “We have started participating in the shows in Kuwait,” says Ayad, “but we want to do it in a rather low profile manner. So maybe a horse or two will be shown, but for me, it is not about winning championships. I know what I have and I believe in what I have.

Most of the horses that I have purchased are champions already, so I don’t feel the need to enter them again. If a horse participated once and has won, I think you can stop there. I think it is better to give others a chance. This is what I believe, after all, I come every weekend and do a private show for my friends and myself,” says Ayad with a laugh. “Maybe this will change, of course, as our foals

Mishaala Belle RCA (*Mishaal HP x Desperados Belle RCA), bred by the Mishaala Belle RCA Syndicate.

grow up over the next year or two. As they have never been tested in competition, we may send some of them to a show abroad to be seen outside the stud.”

(Continued on page 21)

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Facing page, top: Kareena Kamala SA (Kamal Ibn Adeed x Kareena RCA by Thee Desperado), bred

by Sharmel Arabians, 2016 Egyptian Event Reserve Champion Futurity Finals Yearling Filly.

Top left: Lily Mishaala RCA (*Mishaal HP x Desperados Lily RCA by Thee Desperado), 2016 Arabian National Breeder Finals Silver Champion Straight Egyptian Mare.

Top right: Samir Ali (Bellagio RCA x Barakis Gem), 2013 Egyptian Event Reserve Champion Futurity Finals Yearling Colt with Lora Gilbert and Brenda Dumas.

Bottom left: Thee Bint Lotus Capri (Thee Desperado x Lotus Capri), pictured with breeders, Marci and Larry Kirby.

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Facing page, bottom right: Mishaala Belle RCA with Judy Sirbasku, handler Frank SpÜnle and Mishaala Belle’s enthusiastic owners.

Facing page, bottom left: Thee Masada DB, 2015 Egyptian Event Reserve Champion EBC Colts ATH with, from left to right: Ruel Gober, Bella Delaney, Virginia Gober, Nicole Gober, handler David Reissig, Jake Reissig, Judy Sirbasku, and Shawn Crews.

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“There is one beautiful mare after another on the farm from some of the most historically significant bloodlines worldwide.”

— Shawn Crews

Above: Maghrebiah Aljazira (El Thay Mameluk x Mezneh AlJazira), 2010 grey mare.

Right: Oryetta (Orashaan x Al Yetta), 2000 grey mare.

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Top left: Dr. Kalamegam, DVM, veterinarian and breeding and farm manager.

Top right: SL Jamila (Raisuli LF x Ayla Dheen), 2007 grey mare.

Bottom: The Garden Barn. “In all my travels I have never seen anything like it, nor happier horses in their sunny, open environment.” says Shawn.

Primary Outcross Mares

Ayad’s vision for Al Ghanayim Stud, despite its current world-class infrastructure, is still in the building phase of the master plan. Yet to be built is a state-of-the-art equine reproduction facility with the ability to handle frozen semen from anywhere in the world, as well as embryo transfer.

Already the stud uses frozen semen, but Ayad wants it to be all done in house, especially embryo transfer with six or seven of his best mares. “The simple thought behind this was to gain time,” explains Ayad. “Many of my friends have been breeding for 20 to 25 years. At my age, I don’t have those 25 years, and I don’t want to wait. We are allowed by the international rules to have two embryos and one carried foal. This allows us to speed up three years at a time while we are waiting for that super filly or super colt; the multiplier is great. Finding and buying is one thing, but breeding is quite another. I want to be able to say that this is something I produced; I chose the sire and dam.” Already the in the second season of a full breeding operation, Al Ghanayim is expecting 17 foals this spring.

ALIA GALAL RCA (Alixir x Kiyasa RCA) BINT KAMAL (Kamal Ibn Adeed x Scarlet Madinah RCA) KAREENA KAMALA SA (Kamal Ibn Adeed x Kareena RCA) BS NAJLA (BS Echnaton x BS Hakima) TABASHEER AL WAFY (Sofyan Al Mobarky x Hasna Madheen) GHARAM ASSLAN (Sadah Al Shaqab x Mevry) ORYETTA (Orashaan x Alyetta) JAZSARA (AA-Dream x SH Sabia Barake) EBONIE STAR (Justynn x Amer Baasma) KADI AL FALAH (Dahes Al Rayyan x AL Jawharah) MAGHREBIAH ALJAZIRA (El Thay Mameluk x Mezneh Aljazira) MADAWAE AL WAFY (EZ Ezzain x Ajmal Nariman) SL JAMILA (Raisuli LF x Ayla Dheen)

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The stud has become a weekend gathering place for family, friends and fellow breeders which has pleased Ayad. “Our two younger daughters and my youngest son are riders, and passionate about horses. When we go on holiday, the kids pack their riding gear and look for the nearest

A Bedouin Horse Master

riding schools. They love to see the newborn foals and new horses arriving. Watching my children

Ali Al Ameri is a Bedouin horse master

important horses have been in my life,” Ayad says with a warm smile.

with our horses, brings my vivid childhood memories flooding back with the realization of how

from the United Arab Emirates. Ali has trained horses for movies like the

“I am very proud of the group of Arabian horses that we have quietly been gathering for the stud.

Young Black Stallion and the opening

In the same way kind breeders helped us start at the very top, I look forward to Al Ghanayim-bred

ceremony of the Dubai World Cup.

Arabians giving young breeders of the future the same opportunity. One thing is for sure, these

“I first saw him on the internet,”

amazing animals are meant to be shared.”

explains Ayad, “and I was amazed by this gentlemen from Abu Dhabi. He is truly a worldwide horse master.

He goes all over the world and fixes problem horses. I got in touch with him and told him I wanted to come visit his stud. That was three years ago, and we became very good friends. Ali has always said, ‘You have to train the people first before the horses. If they know how to handle the horses, then they can do everything very easily.’ If you don’t, you just make it harder for you and the horse. As I got to know him, he agreed to come and help me at least three times a year, just to check on the horses and help me with the general management. I am thankful for his friendship and help.”

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Top: A special lunch prepared by Ayad’s mother at her home.

Middle left: Weekends at the farm are always special.

Pictured is Ayad with international guests from three continents.

Middle right: Ayad Al Thuwainy.

Bottom left: Shawn and trainer Mohamed Metwally.

Bottom right: Ayad and Shawn visiting with longtime friend and breeder Mohammed Al Marzouk.

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Ayad Abdul Mohsen Al Thuwainy Shuwaikh B · St 55 Area 5 Villa 66 · P.O. Box 446 · Safat 13005 · Kuwait

Al Ghanayim website under construction — to be available soon.

Ayad Abdul Mohsen Al Thuwainy Shuwaikh B · St 55 Area 5 Villa 66 · PO Box 446 · Safat 13005 · Kuwait

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