DP Aryan El Jamaal (MF Aryan El Thessa x Ella Noura (imp USA)) One of the most well known sons of MF Aryan El Thessa in Australia
I stopped in front of a stable where a grey colt was eating his hay, really not interested in me at all! I called him and he came to see me. It might sound stupid, but in his behaviour and his deep look, he had very intense big black eyes full of intelligence, I immediately saw a look I recognised! Working for Michael Byatt, I had the chance to take care of and train the mare BSA Aliya (Egyptian Event Supreme Champion Mare and All Nations Cup Champion mare), a daughter of Ruminaja Ali. This mare’s history was very special, she had suffered a lot in her past. We helped each other during our 18 months together, when nobody believed she could change and become a great show horse again. I managed to get her back on track and to achieve great wins in the USA and Europe. Aryan had this same look…I knew I could help him. I then asked for his pedigree, and wasn’t so surprised to find out he was inbred on Ali Jamaal, a half brother of BSA Aliya! That was it, he was on my mind constantly. The next day he won the 2&3 year old colt class...and I then dealt to purchase him. David Gillett: Aryan is an interesting pedigree, quite different from the mainly Russian mares you had at that time. Philippe Ascaso: When I studied Aryan’s pedigree, I saw his sire was bred by Mr Doug Dahmen (USA), the result of four
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A R A B I A N S T U D S & S TA L L I O N S
generations bred by this great American breeder. And when you know his dam is coming from the prestigious Brazilian farm Haras Meia Lua, owned by the very respected breeder Mrs Lenita Perroy...it was just an incredible chance for me to use this genetic treasure! I couldn’t dream of a better heritage, Aryan ancestors are prestigious, some of the best foundation horses of Mrs Perroy and Mr Dahmen including some legendary Egyptian horses in the USA. Aryan El Thessa has truly changed my life. I owe him so much, not just business-wise but also personally, because he totally changed my vision of the human/horse relationship. Two years in a row he has been the most used stallion within France, then when his first foals were born, the venture became international. I was very blessed as he made history in France. He has foals in all continents breeding Arabian horses, and show champions in many countries. But the living experience was even more important. To my eyes, Aryan incarnates what a stallion should be. He is the Arabian stallion by definition with his intelligence, his powerful instinct, pride and beauty. This stallion forced me to deeply respect him, he would not be an easy horse for everyone, because it takes a lot of humility, a lot of observation, a lot of thinking and trying to understand that horse. You can never think your knowledge is enough. Aryan is a very clever and intelligent
Tchaata D’Aria (MF Aryan El Thessa x ASH Donatella)
horse. Today I can say, and many visitors like yourself obviously see it and do comment on it, that Aryan is a friend. We do respect each other, I absolutely love this horse. David Gillett: Your farm is unique in that it appears you have bought females for your stallion, rather than keeping mare families. What are your thoughts on this? Philippe Ascaso: I was a trainer rather than a breeder. I only had three mares and I hardly had time to concentrate on breeding with the show seasons. I had horses in training stabled in France, in Italy and Egypt, and I used to travel all the time. I bought Aryan El Thessa, but at that time I was looking for a mare. Aryan complemented well my Russian mares to add dryness, type and refinement, but I needed other mares, as two of my mares were already old. I then looked all over Europe for mares to breed to Aryan. I only have six mares including my old Queen, Shamilah Mahatma (Nadir x Padrons Mist/Padron ) who is 24 years old. My new foundation mare is ASH Donatella (WH Justice X Dahma/Warandes Plakat), a famous Champion mare in Europe for her unique movement and attitude. I kept her daughter sired by Aryan El Thessa, Tchaata D’Aria...I have great plans and ideas with this one! She is actually leased to Spain right now. Another young mare is Tchaata Metissa (Tchaata Matisse x La Hyeesha, the ¾ sister of Aryan El Thessa). Then come the two Italian imported mares Saraabi Al