CHAMPION LINES , courtesy Drinkers of the Wind It all began long ago when Lady Wentworth first saw SKOWRONECK and just had to have him in her wellknown Crabbet Park Arabians Stud.She knew her biggest rival,Mr Clark would never concider selling Skowroneck to her,so she used a go-between who convinced Mr.Clark that Skowroneck was off to America.Much to poor Mr.Clark surprise Skowroneck became the stallion to turn the Crabbet Arabian from just another Arab into much saught after - to the very day.Today Skowroneck is widely concidered to be of English or better known Crabbet breeding,but he is actually of pure Polish breeding. It is now very interresting to note that 4 of the top 5 stallions on the All-Time Leading Sire list of America is of predominent Polish breeding.Khemosabi 1st,Aladdinn 2nd,Bask 3rd,Bey Shah 5th,Fadjur 8th,Port Bask 12th(one of the most well known Bask son),Kaiyoum 75th (the most popular Khemosabi son).It is also very interresting to know that most of these stallions were bred by small,backyard breeders that turned them into American heroes,immortals of the Arabian breed. BASK On February 9 in 1956 Bask was born at the Albigowa State Stud in Poland.Bask arrives in an age when Poland was still rebuilding after the devastating effects of World War II and while Arabian breeding, as a state fund project, was still being debated in that country.His dam , Balalajka,was the only survivor left from the entire Krasnica Stud breeding program.After the war Balalajka and her daughter,Arfa was taken to the Albigowa Stud .Balalajka was the most beautiful and most valued broodmare at the Albigowa Stud.Basks sire Witraz was a war baby, who managed to survive not only the war, but captured by other nations who were ready to take any horse they could catch and take back to their borders. Bask began his race training in Poland at the age of two.Bask was raced for four full season.He raced 40 races in which we was 1st 8 times,2nd 7 times and 3rd 7 times.Bask was not a top racer but it kept him form being sold to a circus,or going to a farm were he would be used to upgrade the local farm horses.At the age of six he was send back to stud to be evaluated.The Albigowa State Stud had been disbanded and Bask was sent to Janow instead. That move nearly spelled the end for Bask.Janow already had many good sons of Witraz and sons of Wielki Szlem.The poles considered that Wielki Szlems offsprings to be far better looking than that of Witraz.Bask was viewed by the officials as having a large but pretty head,long legs but a shallow chest and a rather immature air about him.Bask had plenty of animation and spirit,but was it enough to allow him to continue at the stud as a stallion to be used on purebred mares? Fortunately this question was never answered by the Janow officials.Dr.LaCroix and his son Gene ,along with Mr.Kale and his son were the first Americans to visit Poland studs since the war.Dr.LaCroix wanted some of the famed Polish stock for his own breeding program back home. One look at Bask was all it took and so Dr.LaCroix put Bask 18th on this list of 20 or so horses in an effort to hide his choice,since other in America was interested in purchasing.The Poles were more than willing to sell.The deal was quickly completed.Bask left Poland without siring any foals there.What Poland lost was Americans gain.It took a few months before the horses would arrived.Despited the delayes and the anxiety,one thing remained in DR.LaCroix mind - that Bask would be arriving.The transatlantic trip was made by cargo ship which encountered some of the worst weather imaginable,with 80 foot waves crashing agains the ship for days on end.For at leased ten day the horses that made the trip were neither fed nor watered.Other than a case of colic Bask came through it fine. Despite the long journey and a weight loss of 100 pounds he was charge up and ready to go.After he was quarantine and a train trip to Scottsdale ,Bask finally was home in mid March 1963. Within days he was being put to mares,and the following year Basks first foals hit America by storm.The LaCroixs were excstatic over the quality of Basks first foals.His first foal was Fireband. In 1964 Bask began his show career,Scottsdale being his first show.Bask has a long list of show records which include: 1964 Scottsdale Champion stallion 1964 Scottsdale Champion Park Horse 1964 US National Top Ten Park Horse 1965 Spokane Reserve Champion Park 1965 US National Legion of Merit 1966 Scottsdale Champion Park horse 1967 US National Reserve Champion Formal Driving 1967 US National Reserve Champion Formal Combination With that long list of impressive wins behind him, Bask retired from the show ring and concentrated on the serious business of putting foals on the ground.Bask stud fee went from $500 in 1963 to $ 10 000 in 1975.He sired 1045 purebred foals.Some mares produced more than five foals by Bask. Bask was the heyday of Arabian breeding,showing and selling.His daughters,Gardenia sold for $1.5 million and Sccarlet Lace sold for $1 million dollars.It is known that Bask alone was responsible for putting Lasma Arabians on the map.Bask get and grand get were coveted like precious gems. Bask died at home in Scottsdale on July 24 1979 during the Canadian Nationals.His daughter Ambra won the Canadian National Park Horse championship the next day.Gene LaCroix who rode Ambra said "We did it for Bask." His stall at Lasma Arabians remained empty.No other horse could ever take his place. More than 40 years after his importation into America Bask still remains the statistical Hero of Arabian Horse Breeding in America and the rest of the world.In 1999,20 year after his death,trainers,owners and fanciers still count the crosses to Bask in a pedigree and owners of 2863 horses in the American registry(presumably all descendants)have paid tribute to Bask by incorporating Bask into their horses names.He left behind an impressive siring record that includes close to 500 champions of which nearly 200 are National winner.25% of all purebred Arabians registered in the US trace back to Bask KHEMOSABI Before Khemosabi was born,Jurneeka foaled a bay filly,full sister to Khemosabi,who died at birth.Again Jurneeka was bred to Amerigo and this time the Husband Family thought now they are going to have a foal.They never thought of a mare absorbing a foal in those days.On the Salem show they discovered that Jurneeka was not in foal,but rather in season,so after the show Jeff Wonnell took Amerigoto her again. In the early hours of May 14,1967 Jurneeka foaled the very type bay colt,who was to be the legend,who was to be Khemosabi.Khemosabi was born a people-lover.The naming of this lovable occupied the Husband family for several weeks.There could just not came to an agreement.Finally a neighbour,suggested Khemosabi a name that means faithful friend. As a yearling Khemosabi was entered in a very large yearling colt class of 27 at the Santa Barara,and he won.Sheila Varian saw Khemo and liked him.The Following spring she bred four of her mares to him and out of a total of seven foals were born,five became champions.Khemo has sired over 320 champions and 88 National winners in halter and performance.Khemosabi get have won National Championships in many different divisions. Khemo has over 50 sons who have sired champions,23 of whom have sired National winners.Over 100 Khemosabi daughters have produced champions and 62 have produced National winners. Jurneeka, Khemos dam is the dam of 5 champions.Just think what the breed would be like today if there was two more Khemos.Khemosabi is a remedy for succsess. Khemosabi won in every arena divise by man,in the showring,in the breeding barn,on the Action Floor and in our hearts. ALADDINN Life has been golden for Aladdinn.His genetic continues to dominate the North American show ring as few have done before.In fact,only two other sires Khemosabi and Bask have shaped the breed as much in modern times as have Aladdinn.Aladdinns uniqe influence is unprecedented. Born in Sweden 1975,he is of pure Polish lineage.Aladdinn was sired by Nureddin and out of Lalage by Gerwazy.He was bred by Erik Erlandsson and imported to the U.S by Dr.Eugene LaCroix in 1978(the some person to have imported the immortal Bask). Aladdinn was named the 1979 Scottsdale Champion Stallion and was unanimously crowned the U.S National Champion that some year.The only National Champion of those years to have also lay claim to a Europian country - in his case Sweden. Aladdinn was syndicated for an impressive seven-figures,with 42 share holders eager to participate in the stallions future. Aladdinn has sired well over 1000 foals,a feat matched only by Khemosabi and Bask.Aladdinn is the leading Pure Polish sire of champions with Bask behind him. Aladdinn is the only stallion ever to sire four U.S National Champion Stallion,AAF Kaset,Strike,Almaden,Exceladdinn.Another son Alada Baskin was twice U.S National Reserve Champion Stallion. Amazingly Aladdinn has even more National champion offspring in performance than he does in halter. Aladdinn is the sire of Strike,AAF Kaset,Alada Baskin,Amragnac,Aladdinn Echo,Aladdinn 1,Exceladdinn,Laddinns Fire,Firelord,Ladie Love,SS Follow Me,Ombra Rose,Afrodite. Not only has he sired champion offspring,its even more impressive that his grandget are aslo doing so well. Facts and figures prove the wisdom of breeding to Aladdinn,but a trip to a breeding farms and show arena to see his offspring in the flesh is more than worth the effort.His decendants virtually dominate todays competition-Incredible Aladdinn BEY SHAH Everybody know the name Bey Shah,but not many knows how Bey Shah came to be the stallion that would sire champions after champion. On March 3,1976 the bay colt Bey Shah was born.His Breeder Jennie Walton was on watch that night,and as she told the story later,she got tired of waiting for the event.She walked down to the house had dinner,and a while later remembered her duty.Off she went to the barn where,in all his glory stood Bey Shah.Jennies first words were OH SHUCKS,its a colt. As Bey Shah grew in stature and spunk the Waltons set about the task of showing him.No easy chore-you can ask anybody.His charisma together with is attitude was overpowering. 1978 Region 7 Reserve Champion Stallion 1978 Cow Palace Champion Stallion 1979 US National Top Ten Stallion 1980 Scottsdale Reserve Champion Stallion 1980 US National Reserve Champion Stallion 1981 Canadian National Top Ten Stallion. Bey Shah was special right from the start.Coming from a small breeding program he gave his foals that look that gave the backyard breeders confidence.Soon after, Bey Shah became one of the breeds leading sires. Bey Shah sired some of the most influential horses amongst them,Fame Vf,Shahteyna,Bey Teyna,Gaishea,Rave Vf,Shah Azim,Liberty Bey C,Bey Serenade SF,RD Shahara Bey,Bey Fireeshah,Petronella SRA,Falcon BHF,Bey Lovely,Porcelyn,Bey Affair,Bint Forteyna,RSD Dark Victory,Style SRA,Bey Radiance,Adivah,NV Gypsey Dancer,JK Amadeus,Shahna Lee,AA Bey Fantayshah,Bey Maraba,NV Natasham,Shahcago,TW Bey Fantasy,Fairest of Jamaal,Bint Bey Shah and a lot more. Michele Pheifer bought Bey Shah at age 22 at the end of this live.He lived with the Boggs family from 1992 till his death on Oktober 11,1999 and is the hero of Arabian horses breeding around the world.Bey Shah will live on through all his offspring,grandget and in the hearts and souls of many breeders around the world.Long live the legacy of the immortal Bey Shah. FADJUR Somewhere along the path of his 31 years Fadjur earned the title The Fabulous Fadjur. Fadjur was bred by Harry Linden and sold to Marge and Jack Tone for $600. Fadjur made his first showring appearance at the Cow Palace in 1953 where he placed 4th in the yearling colt class.Marge was disappointed,but she bred him to two of her mares as a two year old,as planned.When the mares foalded in 1955 she was completely convinced he was everything that she hoped for in a sire. That same year Fajur won his first Reserve Championship and he was well on his way as a sire and a show horse.Paul Polk began showing him the following year and togehter they became an eventanticipated by spectators at each show they entered.Paul was perfectly willing to let Fadjur show off his bounce and vitality in the show ring,and the crowds loved him.As a four year old,Fadjur was Cow Palace champion stallion and went on to become Pacific Coast Champion stallion.At that point,someone suggested that Fadjur be retired,but this was just the beginning of his show career as it turned out. 3 times Pacific Coast Champion Stallion Pacific Coast Reserve Champion Stallion once 5 times U.S National Top Ten Stallion 2 times Reserve National Champion 4 times Canadian Top Ten Stallion Fadjur was declared a living ledgend of the breed and was voted the Most Popular Arabian Stallion in a World poll in 1967.Fadjur died on February 8,1983, just a few months short of his actual 31st birthday. Appreciation of Fajur by foreign breeders had extended so much that 43 sons and daughters had been exported to 11 countries,including South Africa.Fourteen of these exports have won championships and have contributed to the Legend of Fadjur. PORT BASK Port Bask was one of the most influential stallions at Makeel Ranch and of the Arabian breed.Port Bask was of Polish breeding, sired by Bask out of the mare Portulaka.Portulaka is the dam of five Champions and four of her get have produced national winners.Port Bask is consider to be one of the best Bask sons ever. Though no show records were found, breeders still bred to Port Bask,for the reasons,that he bred faboulas movement,correct conformation and beautiful Arabians,his daughter are still day very sought after jewels of the Arabian breed. The Port Bask daughter,Port Love,came to South Africa.As a sire of faboulas offspring,he sired 673 foals. Port Bask may have passed on to greener patures but he will never be fogotten. KAIYOUM Kaiyoum was bred by Sheila Varian,born Febuary 3,1970 Kaiyoum is the first foal of the All Time American Hero Khemosabi. He is the leading son of Khemosabi. Kaiyoum had a long and very successful show career,both in hand and performance.Just to name a few. 1980 Canadian Reserve National Champion 1980 U.S National Top Ten Stallion Legion of Merit Kaiyoum died on May 22,1995 ,leaving the Arabian world with 229 offspring.21% of all his get are champions in halter and performance with 8 being National winners.20% is considered outstanding.Kaiyoums best friend,biggest fan and the last person who owned him Lyn Cortwright,says Kaiyoum was a terrific sire,giving type,correct conformation,exotic necks,exceptional dispositions and athleticsm.He also sired top quality broodmares,with offspring that are producing national winner in halter and performance.Long live the legacy of this beautiful stallion. It goes without saying that a combination of any two or more of the mentioned horses provide us,the breeder,the opportunity to breed true Arabian Classics that posess the profound opportunity to succsesfully bridge the halter and performance worlds.Not only does the Polish related horses provide us with much needed outcrosses,they also produce good moving,excellent conformation,size and stong legs,stamped with true Arabian type.They seem to have inherited natural goodnature,willingness to please their human companions.Although it is impossible to discuss all the Polish related horses,the above mentioned surely were some of the most influential ones. Written by MELISSA REYNOLDS, published in Drinkers of the Wind
Arabians -a breed with in a breed?,courtesy HQ To newcomers and even some old hands, the different terms with in the Arabian breed are often the cause of great confusion, easily discouraging the general public from taking an interest in the breeding of Arabian horses and often quite misleading! The truth is that all registrated Arabian horses,whether they are Polish, Crabbet, Russian , Spanish or Egyptian, are indeed all purebred!Originally their ancestors all came from the Arabic desert, some where exported to Poland , England, Russia and Spain. In their new countries the Arabian horse, known for their versatility, were bred for certain purposes with certain looks, each county almost creating their own breed, if you will, that then where the Polish, Crabbet or English, Russian, Spanish and Egyptian Arab terms comes from. All over the world certain preservation groups, like the Pyramid society, Asil club, Al Khamsa organisation, Sheik Obeyd organisation and Blue Catalogue were formed to preserve certain groups or strains within the Arabian breed and that is also all that there should be to these different groups, nothing more, nothing less ! A horses asking piece should not be determined on whether it is Asil, Straight or what ever, only the quality of the individual should determine its asking price! Whould you rather pay more for an inferior Straight or Asil, than an exceptional purebred Arabian of mixed blood, that is an Arabian with Russian, Crabbet, Straight, Spanish & Polish blood. The Straight Egyptians, as defined by the Pyramid society, has their unique looks and comes from a small gene pool, purebred Arabians which traces their heritage exclusively to horses which where bred or whose blood was used as part of the historically established breeding programs in Egypt. Here in south Africa we have more or less 200. The Asil club is German based, their definition and that of Al Khamsa, based in USA, are much the same. These are purebred Arabians who can trace back in all their lines to genuine Bedouin breeding programs. Here in South Africa we have less than 200. Al Khamsa Arabians traces back in all their lines to the 5 mares or 5 strains of the Prophet Mohamed or to the 5 strains of the Bedouin tribes. The Al Khamsa legend has it that after a long journey through the desert, a tribe of Bedouins released their mares to quench their thirst at a waterhole, but as a test of loyalty, called the mares back before reaching the water. Only 5 mares returned without drinking and became the 5 original favourite mares of the Bedouins, each given a strain name to carry on through the descendants .Just which strains these were, pretty much depended on the teller of the tale and there are actually more than 5 strains, all related and equally important. Sheik Obeyd Arabians is purebreds, tracing back in all their lines to the bloodlines of Abbas Pasha\Ali Pasha Sherif\Blunt\RAS, descending solely from 61 original desertbreds ( 49 Egyptian and 12 Blunt desert breds) , a very rare group indeed, with less than 1000 alive today, worldwide! As far as I could find out we have less than 10 here in South Africa. The Blue Catalogue was started by Miss Jane L. Ott and are divided into 2 sub-groups, the Blue List and the Blue Star. These are purebred Arabians tracing back in all their lines to genuine Bedouin breeding, or to exceptional individuals, such as Abbas Pasha and Lady Ann Blunt, who only purchased horses from these tribes. Both these groups have the same backround, but the Blue Star list do not have the Muniqi strain, where the Blue List may have that strain in their pedigree. Strains refers to the original tribe that bred the foundation lines of these horses, all purebred Arabians. The different tribes each desired their own looks and this is how very distinct types came about. In Bedouin pedigrees the strain is passed through the dam, so a foal always carries the strain of the dam. When both the sire and dam are of the same strain the resulting offspring are called pure in strain. These different preservation groups overlaps and some purebred Arabians qualifies for more than one of these groups, however very few ever qualifies for all these groups. Within these groups are strains so extremely rare, in some cases less than 100 left alive today, the world over. Here in South Africa we have one extremely rare strain, the Keheilan Mimre , only found in South Africa, with less than 50 alive today!They all qualify as Asil, Al Khamsa and Blue List. Their original ancestor that came to South Africa, BARAKA, was the last living Keheilan Mimre in the world within Sheik Obeyd breeding. Since there was no Sheik Obeyd stallion available in South Africa at the time, she was bred to the desertbred Tuwaisan, saving the Keheilan Mimres from distinction, unfortunately no longer recognized as Sheik Obeyd. BARAKA, at the ripe old age of 28, gave birth to her last foal, Sahibi bint Baraka, by Tuwaisan. Sahibi bint Baraka in turn gave birth to Sahibi Noura, by Ahir and Sahibi Noura was bred back to her sire and produced Sahibi Juleemah. Today Sahibi Juleemah, with 15 foals, is the dam, grand dam and great grand dam of all the Keheilan Mimres, alive in the world today. Through the dedication and devotion of a handful of breeders, jealously preserving and protecting them, the Juleemahs were saved and well on their way to become a force to be reckoned with. In their small numbers, doing extremely well in the showring, much sought after, extremely highly prized and very hard to come by. With the utmost respect to the owner and the breeder and not giving any further facts, undoubtfully the most expensive South African bred Arabian horse, ever to change hands in South Africa is a mare of the Keheilan Mimre strain, Asil, Al Khamsa and Blue List recognized. All over the world there are other Keheilan Mimres, in some horses there are even more Keheilan Mimre individuals in a 5 generation pedigree than in any of the above mentioned group of horses, but they do not qualify because they are not Asil, Al Khamsa and Blue listed recognised, making the Juleemahs extremely precious! SCID on the other hand is not a strain, but a recessive gene, not restricted to one strain or group within the Arabian breed, found only in purebred and part-bred Arabian horses. Horses can be tested with a simple test and are divided into either SCID CLEAR, SCID CARRIER or SCID positive. SCID positive foals are born with severe combined immune deficiency syndrome, fatal and cannot defend themselves against any infection, dying mostly from diarrhoea or pneumonia, before the age of 6 months. SCID positive foals can only be born when 2 Carriers are bred together. SCID Carrier horses are not affected , can safely be bred to SCID clear horses, producing 50% clear and 50 % carrier foals. Mating 2 Carriers together is risky and can result in a 25% chance of a SCID positive foal, 50% SCID CARRIER foals and 25% SCID CLEAR foals. However if the stallion and mare are outstanding examples of the breed, it is well worth the risk to breed the 2 carriers, hoping for a live foal, carrier or clear, with both his/hers parents outstanding futures. Breeding is and always will be a risky business, you can breed 2 Champions, both SCID CLEAR and still end up breeding a moke! SCID CLEAR horses are not effected, at no risk and can be safely bred to Clear or Carrier horses, with no risk of breeding a SCID positive foal ever. Arabian horses are extremely unique in that they are truly purebred, not like any other breed. Most other breeds are manmade, bred by man out of a combination of different breeds, most other breeds do have purebred Arabian ancestors. Breeding Arabian horses, in a way, can be easier because they are so pure in blood, the outcome of your breeding efforts thus much more predictable and your chances of getting an undesirable throw back much smaller. Arabian horses are extremely versatile, lending much variety within the breed to satisfy just about any need for a wide variety of equestrian disiplines, like Dressage, Equitation, Endurance, Showing, Western, even just the much love family horse used for out rides. The very noble, intelligent, honest, willing and pleasing temperament of the Arabian horse makes them much loved to be around... By Zandri Reynolds, published in HQ
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