We love Throwback Thursday here at TheArabianMagazine.Com – and our stats show that you do, too! We are going back to 1945 for this next feature, looking at the influential Crabbet sire, General Grant. First written in 2012, this feature was first published in The Arabian Breeders’ Magazine in summer 2019. Parts two and three will follow over the coming weeks.
General Grant was born at the Hanstead Stud in 1945, the year the Second World War ended. This is significant, as horse breeding had been severely affected during the war due to the shortage of feed and farm labour. The return to peace brought opportunities for more people to take up the breeding of Arabian horses, and they often went to the Hanstead and Crabbet Studs to buy foundation stock. Hanstead Stud, owned by Lady Yule, was founded on horses from Crabbet.
General Grant was sired by Raktha, a magnificent grey stallion bred by Lady Yule out of her foundation mare Razina (Rasim x Riyala), and by Naseem (Skowronek x Nasra). Raktha had been bought as a four-year old by Lady Wentworth in 1939, as part of the exchange of horses between Hanstead and Crabbet that also included the use of each other’s stallions. Eventually, relations broke down and General Grant was one of the last horses to be bred as part of the arrangement.
General Grant was a very correct horse and this quote from Lady Anne Lytton in his obituary says it all: “His conformation was faultless, and he had perfect legs which he handed down to every one of his foals.”
General Grant’s dam was Samsie, a bay mare by Riffal (Naufal x Razina) out of Naxina (Skowronek x Nessima). Samsie was a very good mare who traced in the tail female line to Narghileh (Mesaoud x Nefisa), who possessed the ability of so many in the ‘N’ line – to produce great stallions. Naxina had four excellent daughters and two outstanding sons, Naseel (by Raftan) and Grey Owl (by Raseem). Samsie had six foals, of which General Grant was the only one by Raktha. All Samsie’s other foals were by Rissalix (Faris x Rissla) or his sons, including Samson by Count Dorsaz (Rissalix x Shamnar), who has lines breeding today through his son Prince Saraph (Samson x Princess Alia) and Samaveda (Blue Domino x Samsie), who produced the exquisite mare Amaveda (by Count Rapello).
South Africa
General Grant was used quite extensively at Hanstead, as well as by a few outside mares. Twenty-six purebred foals were registered up to 1957 when Gladys Yule, Lady Yule’s daughter, died and many of the horses were sold. The Sabino stallion Chief Kasalo (ex Rikitea) became the Junior Male Champion at the Arab Horse Show in the UK in 1953 before being exported to South Africa in 1954, where he was to have a huge impact on the breeding of Arabians. He sired an amazing 117 purebred foals. Space does not permit a full description of his successes, but worthy of mention are Chez Nous Cassandra (ex Misma), dam of many successful horses with the ‘Eibna’ prefix including Eibna Sorrento (by Quimran Sorrento), Jerico Sherifa (ex Irexia), Chez Nous Silver Owl (ex Chellala), Agha Nezmet (ex Timarie Masala), and Timarie Major Dick (ex Kumara). Other very influential General Grant male descendants were Grantchester (ex Rafeena) and Timarie Major Grant (iiu ex Rafeena). General Grant daughters exported to South Africa that were also influential were Endora (ex Elvira), Lanisa (ex Shamnar) and Rinessa (ex Rikitea). The latter two were important for the Quimran Stud in the 1950s and 1960s for Mr W P du Toit.
UK – early General Grant daughters
One of General Grant’s early foals was El Attary (ex Al Akhira), a chestnut mare bred by Mrs I M Yeomans and foaled 1951. She is principally known for producing the pretty little stallion El Attorlando (by Count Orlando). He was bought by Mrs E M Thomas and used on some of her mares, producing Elinda (ex Indira). Ambarla (El Attorlando x Magic Amber) had a descendant, Marlak Magic Aura (Ben Marlak x Rosa Aura) in the parade at the 2002 UK Crabbet Convention. He has another cross to General Grant through Ginetta (General Grant x Minetta). Prince Kharambeau (Prince Doro x Al Kahira) is a descendant of El Attorlando worthy of mention as an endurance horse ridden by the Hawes family. El Attorlando was latterly owned and used extensively by the Haywards on their mares, but there don’t appear to be any lines breeding in Crabbet form.
Teresita (ex Garance), also foaled 1951, bred six foals for Margaret Greely, whose Well House Stud was largely based on Hanstead bloodlines. Teresita had a very good show career including taking the Supreme Female Championship at the Arab Horse Show as a three-year old. Her daughter Dominita (by Blue Domino) was exported to Australia where she had great success in the show-ring. Teresita then foaled the chestnut filly Esther II (by Greatheart) in 1960, who was a very successful broodmare for several different breeders; Mrs Thomas, the Kydds and Mrs Munday. Her daughter Jambalaya (by Blue Domino) had much success in-hand and was a key mare at the Monclare Stud, where she produced well with their stallion Risslan (Oran x Rissalma). Esther II crossed particularly well with Indian King (Oran x Indian Pride), including Delilah (1968), who was Reserve Junior Female Champion at the Arab Horse Show in 1969, Empress Josephine (1970), Indian Royal (1971), and Jonquil (1972). Delilah’s daughter Shodina (1979) by Indian Treasure (The Shah x Golden Treasure), was Mare Champion at the Arab Horse Show and also at the All Nations’ Cup in 1983.
Ambria, bred by Miss Yule in 1952, was a daughter of Asma (Grey Owl x Shamnar). Ambria produced Count Ambrino, a pretty stallion by Count Dorsaz who, like his sire, excelled under saddle, winning at the Royal International Horse Show. Count Ambrino was used at stud by Mrs Roberts, and his son Sir Lancelot (ex Marinella) sired 40 foals, mainly for Mrs Bowditch. Ambria is notable for being the dam of Blue Diamond (by Blue Domino), who was exported to Belgium and sired many horses for Mr Peeters. A line from Ambria continues in 75%+ form through Brighten Up (Sir Lancelot x Flare-Up), her daughter Bright and Breezy (by Kactus), and granddaughter Bright Hannah (by Istafahan), foaled 2009.
Eloia (ex Elvira), also foaled in 1952 and bred by Miss Yule, was bought by Margaret Evans. Eloia was Supreme Female Champion in 1960 and her daughter Elara (by Stargard) was Junior Female Champion in 1965. Elara was successful under saddle before being exported to Australia as a twelve-year old.
Another 1952 foal was Bashida, bred by Dr Houtappel in Holland and out of the beautiful mare Tehoura (Radi x Niseyra). Her first foal was the bay mare Hadassa (by Rythal), brought to the UK as a two-year old to join the Fairfield Arabian Stud. There, she bred the striking stallion Hassani of Fairfield (by Rissani), who did a lot to shatter the myth that Arabians couldn’t perform. He was very versatile appearing in Arabian native costume, western tack and conventional English attire. He sired 21 purebred foals and many top quality Anglo and part-bred Arabians. Hadassa then had an influential daughter by Indian Magic, Soumana of Fairfield. She produced Dark Angel (by Naxif) who had Marillion Platinum Wings (by Platinum Domino), a lovely mare who did well under saddle. Soumana also produced a number of offspring that helped Crabbet breeders keeping bloodlines alive while avoiding too much in-breeding. These horses were Silver Silk (by Silver Scimitar), Bright Cavalier (by Bright Crown) and Achim’s Silver Magic (by Silver Fahd). Silver Silk gave us Shabash (by Golden Silver), a grey stallion foaled 1989, who bred some beautiful horses for Geoffrey Plaister.
Imperial Silver Lace (Shabash x Mur Es Sams) already has three foals and Silver Zaanif (by Lufti Pasha) is carrying on the line with a fine bay colt from Australian Crabbet import Palma Benay (Pevensey Safari x Petra Benay), owned by Anne Brown. Imperial Silk (Shabash x Imperial Rietta) also bred three foals by performance stars PHA Silvern Risalm (Silvern Sceptre x Rislina), Silva Dollar (Dorian x Silvaflare) and Silvern Prince (Prince Sadik x Silvern Image). Bright Cavalier has bred two lovely fillies for Anne Brown, Bright Star (ex Nishtar) and Bright Dawn (ex Zaharina). Achim’s Silver Magic line carries on through Templars Magic Pearl (ex Hadida Pearl). Silver Seranade (St John x Silver Silk) has a 100% Crabbet colt, Silver Djinn (by Shaded Silver). Silver Silk’s great-granddaughter Shayna Maydel (by Zircon Nazeer) was Ridden Arab Mare of the Year at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in 2005. The pretty grey mare Silver Brocade (Winged Saint x Silver Silk) has done very well under saddle, so all in all, the Soumana of Fairfield lines are continuing strongly, and often provide good performance horses.
Bashida’s next foal was Nishida (by Nizzam), who bred many top show horses for the Wrights. Her 1965 daughter Lishida (by Ludo) was responsible for a whole dynasty of horses with the Weatheroak prefix, via her son Indian Blizzard (by Indian Magic). Many were successful in ridden showing. Very few horses remain from this branch except through the 100% Crabbet Grey Sparkle, a daughter of Kildimo (Greggan x Ghadaffa) and out of Leya of Weatheroak (Indian Blizzard x Cuan Lindra). She has four Crabbet offspring to carry on the line. Nishida’s daughter Nazif (by Ludo) bred some beautiful horses, and Carrik Aviva (by Indian Magic) is the granddam of Ariosto (by Imad). Carrik Crystif is another of Nazif’s offspring who was an excellent ridden show stallion, as well as being the sire of fairy tale stallion El Crysto (ex Mariposa). Nishida’s next foal of note was Ludmilla (by Ludo) and she proved to be an exceptional broodmare producing 11 foals including Dancing Moondust and Dancing Queen, both by Dancing King (Indian King Dancing Sunlight). Dancing Queen was a truly outstanding mare, achieving great success in the show-ring and through her foals; Queen’s Topaz (by Midnight Gold) and Daas (by Imad) were examples of the quality she produced. Nishida’s son El Santo (by Ludo) was a performance stallion as well as a good sire. Considering the number of horses bred by the Wrights, it is sobering to see how few descendants now remain in Crabbet form. Luckily, El Santo’s lines continue through his 100% Crabbet son Winged Saint (ex Silver Blue Wings), who is with the Atkinsons in Cumbria. Another line comes through El Santo’s daughter Rose Star (ex Rose Flame). Caroline Sussex has daughter Binley Rose Gold (by Grecian Idyll) and bred Prince Santros (by Prince Sadik). Other good horses from Nishida include Ludovic and Moulton Ludyana, both by Ludo (Blue Domino x Rithyana), and Dancing Emperor, Dancing Nizzam and Bint Nishida, all by Dancing King. Of these, only Bint Nishida seems to have an active breeding line in Crabbet form through Nishtar (by Jubilee Star), bred by Anne Brown. Dancing Ruzala (Manzala x Dancing Nizzorah) also deserves a mention as a top endurance horse for Karen Jones.
General Dorsaz, foaled 1957, was out of Azella (Count Dorsaz x Umatella) and is notable as the sire of Farosa, out of the famous Farette (Rifari x Shabrette). Farosa had several foals by Crystal Magician including Crystal Farifi (by Crystal Magician), dam of Fazleta (by Gai Gaspacho), Junior Female Champion at the Nationals in 1987; Spey Crystal, a full sister to Crystal Farifi, was National Junior Female Champion in 1985; full brother Fabberge, sired Cacharel (ex Farah’s Fantasy) who has produced Crabbet stars Storm Fantasy (by Silent Storm), and Dark Prince and Dark Shah by Imad (Golden Cavalier x Ivory Wings). Storm Fantasy is the dam of Stormlite Royal (by Istfahan), the 2010 National Crabbet Youngstock Champion.
General Dorsaz continued to sire good stock and the other line that continues today in Crabbet form is through the 1998 mare Krystal Missella (ex Sindherella) by Crystal Dandy (Crystal Magician x Danif), a great-grandson of General Dorsaz. Krsytal Missella had a filly by Halal (Hanif x Sherilla) in 2008, so the line is continuing.
Come back next week for part two of our General Grant feature.
