The world-renowned stallion WH Justice turned 27 years of age on 16 May. The impact that this stallion has had on the world of the Arabian horse simply cannot be underestimated. He changed show-rings around the world, and created a new standard for ‘type’ that exists to this day. As WH Justice, now owned by Hanaya Stud in Switzerland in his retirement, turns 26, we share this feature from The Arabian Breeders’ Magazine 2020, which focused on this legend’s 21st birthday. WH Justice, we salute you!
Click here for part one.
Click here for part two.
This year [2020], the stallion WH Justice turned 21 years of age. For so many, a life without Justice seems impossible – he has been a hugely significant sire, and his progeny have gone on to win around the world. As this giant of the breeding barn celebrates this milestone birthday, we look back at the influence of WH Justice, and just how one foal born in the United States has changed the look of show-rings across the globe.
Back to the US
From there, the fame of WH Justice spread and it wasn’t long before the whole world sat up and took notice. In 2011, following a conversation with Equid System at the Paris World Championships, Sheikh Jassim Bin Khalifa Al Thani of Aljassimya Farm arranged for a one-year lease of WH Justice, where he would stand at Om El Arab in the picturesque Santa Ynez Valley in California. However, another year and then another were added, resulting in WH Justice being in the Valley for three years.
“WH Justice was the first stallion chosen to be herd sire by Sheikh Jassim Bin Khalifa Al Thani and after three years of production has laid the foundation of the farm,” says Emma Maxwell for Aljassimya Farm. “His daughters are exquisite in themselves, such as World and US National Champion Mare CR Jasmeenah – who now lives at the farm in Qatar where Sheikh Jassim can enjoy her every day. They are also amazing producers in their own right, none more so than RP Miss Surprise, now dam of fifteen champions in the USA, by ten different stallions. Om El Aisha Aljassimya (ex Om El Aliha by Om El Al Azeem), our World Silver Champion Mare, has also made a spectacular start being dam of the colt Arraab Aljassimya (by Al Ayal AA by Al Ayad), who will be a stallion of the future. Other mares we are delighted with include Jadhabah Aljassimya (ex Redwood Lodge Saffiqua by Redwood Lodge Artique) and Jourait Aljassimya (ex Om El Soraya by Om El Bellissimo) – two mares in the classic Justice mould.
“Aljassimya Farm is making available three sons of WH Justice to breeders worldwide: World Silver Champion Jaal Aljassimya (ex Annaiss by Ansata Nile Echo) is in Qatar; his full brother Jalal Aljassimya is in the US; and Sahm El Arab (ex Om El Excella by Al Lahab) is in Italy. Sahm was already chosen to stand at Michałów Stud, where he was sire of last years’ Polish National Champion Filly, Florissima (ex Forgissima by Vitorio TO).
“Additionally, WH Justice has produced national level performance horses for Aljassimya Farm including National Champion and Reserve National Champion Jazzaa Aljassimya (ex Toscana PGA by Khadraj NA) and Jaweesh Aljassimya (ex LR Valita by DA Valentino) in Western Pleasure. Three of last year’s Arabian Hunter Pleasure Association Hunter Pleasure National Futurity Top Ten were from the farm – the WH Justice daughter Just Love Aljassimya (ex Lady Love BSF by Marajj), son Jens AJF (ex Toscana PGA), and grandson Misrah Aljassimya (Om El Bellissimo x RP Miss Surprise).”
For the first part of his time in the US, WH Justice stood at Om El Arab, crossing brilliantly with the Om El Arab horses, producing stars such as the aforementioned Om El Aisha Aljassimya and the amazing stallion Om El Sinon (ex Om El Shadiva by Sanadik el Shaklan), the 2019 Supreme Gold World Cup Stallion Champion who is already making a name for himself as a sire in his own right. Also of note during this time are the mares Om El Justadorable (by Om El Shahmaandura by Om El Shahmaan) and Om El Sultanah (ex Om El Sofia by Al Lahab), who represents six generations of Om El Arab breeding. They also bred the stallion Om El Benicio (ex Om El Benecia by Om El Shahmaan), named unanimous 2018 US National Champion AOTH Stallion and now owned by Antheia Arabians, also based in the Valley.
The rest is history…
WH Justice then returned to Europe where he continued to delight his admirers and bred more progeny who helped truly secure his name, ‘the champion maker’. At this time, his progeny were doing the talking for him, such as the 2013 stallion GT Shardh (ex TF Shahraaz by Botswana), Gold Senior Male Champion at the Prague Intercup, and his full sister GT Shinaya foaled in 2020, bred and owned by GT Arabians in Sweden. Then there is Kanz Al Nasser (ex Ftoon al Shaqab by Al Adeed al Shaqab), bred and owned by Al Nasser Stud in Qatar and foaled in 2012, who has been a superlative show horse and sire, including winning the Bronze Junior Male Paris World Championship.
Al Aryam Aleena (ex Gwyneth by Magic Dream CAHR), foaled in 2009, produced the stallion Al Aryam Amgaad (by RFI Farid by RFI Maktub) in 2014, and he won Gold in Ajman, Sharjah and at the Emirates Arabian Horse Breeders Championships as well as the UKIAHS to name but a few. Both are bred and owned by Al Aryam Arabians in the UAE.
Flaxman Stud in the Netherlands has a wonderful infusion of WH Justice blood through their stallions FA Napoli (ex Accona Shael FF by Shael Dream Desert), Jeryan Aljassimya (ex Psierra by Padrons Psyche), and MM Sergio (ex Sarah el Bey by Bey el Jamaal). All three are notable sires and show winners, passing on their qualities to the next generation of Helen and Kay Hennekens’ breeding programme.
Other stallions who have shone in both the show-ring and breeding barn sired by WH Justice include the 2006 Polish-bred Altis (ex Albia by Pers), RP Burj al Arab (ex Pamira bint Psytadel by Psytadel), Sabea al Muward (ex Falcon Song BHF by Falcon BHF), Rohara Extrem Justice (ex Van Alyssa by Don el Chall) and LA Karat (ex LA Kalahari by Shaklan ibn Bengali) – who stands with Travis Hansen, son of Wendell, proving that some stories do go full circle.
And so the list goes on. This incredible stallion keeps on siring amazing foal after amazing foal. Since his return to Europe, WH Justice was leased by Al Shaqab Stud in Qatar between October 2016 and May 2017, and since June 2017, he has called Knocke Arabians in Belgium home, where he has been bred over QR Marc (Marwan al Shaqab x Swete Dreams by Magic Dream CAHR) daughters with amazing results.
There is no doubt that WH Justice has had access to some of the best mares in the world to be bred to and the results of his progeny have shown this. But there have also been so many astute breeders who, early on, recognised the potential of WH Justice and his siring abilities. Without them, horses such as Panarea by Palawan or CR Jasmeenah would not have been the trailblazers for what was to follow. The world over, pockets of breeders have utilised the Justice blood within their programme and there are so many famous Arabian horses with this giant’s name to be found somewhere within their pedigree.
WH Justice has more than cemented his place in history. His descendants have a great character about them, with beautiful heads and a showy attitude – as well as a propensity for the greys to go totally white while still very young. But most importantly, WH Justice is just a lovely horse. His owners say that: “He has a wonderful character, and he likes to be with humans, often playing in the field with somebody. Justice is an exceptionally kind horse, and you can ask anything of him. Mix this with his charisma and his wonderful showy attitude and you have a great horse.
“We are very proud that he is adding to the story of the Arabian horse; to see him in the pedigrees of many good horses, now and in the future, all around the world is like a dream. We try our best to give him every opportunity to prove himself – but for us, he doesn’t need to. He is still our Justice.”
Postscript: WH Justice now lives in luxury with Frank and Elisa Spönle in Germany, under the ownership of Nayla Hayek’s Hanaya Stud. It is wonderful that this stallion has this love and respect in his retirement years – just as all horses should.
For part one, click here.
For part two, click here.
