A highlight of WAHO is the opportunity to visit different Arabian horse breeding farms and presentations in the country you are visiting. This visits give us the opportunity to witness first-hand how Arabian horses in that country are evolving, often setting a benchmark for you to assess your own horses against. Unusually – and disappointingly – there was only one official Arabian show horse presentation in Abu Dhabi for a variety of reasons. That presentation was at Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, and they put on an afternoon that those there will never forget.
Dubai Arabian Horse Stud became heroes in many people’s eyes. The fact they went ahead with their presentation made quite the impression on visitors, who were hungry to see some purebred Arabian show horses, and Dubai Stud certainly put on quite the show! They showed great courtesy to over 200 guests, putting on a parade of over 60 horses, plus foals, followed by a sumptuous dinner.
Vet Federico Jordan compered the event, with Thomas Merlin and Dustin Weir handling the horses. The parade was slick and yet gave people ample time to enjoy each horse – and there were some true superstars shown, along with a couple of surprises at the end!
Federico explained that Dubai Arabian Stud prides itself on breeding, and that we would see horses here today who were not necessarily destined for the show-ring but who were significant for their breeding vision. The mares were all shown in family groups – which is always a favourite of mine – and without further ado, the parade began.
D Afaf family
The first group was the D Afaf family, with D Afaf herself leading the way. Foaled in 2013, this straight Egyptian mare is sired by Frasera Mashar (Majd al Rayyan x Frasera Mashara) and out of ESA Arieanna Express (RZA Orientexpress x REA Sabina). Full of snort and blow, this beautiful fleabitten grey instantly captivated. She was full of herself and showed off to an appreciative audience. A truly beautiful way to open the afternoon.
Her beautiful black seven-year-old daughter D Kahayel followed, sired by Dubai Arabian Stud’s supreme straight Egyptian stallion, and Platinum World Champion, Royal Colours (True Colours x Xtreme Wonder). This stallion has been key to Dubai Stud’s vision, and his progeny remain at the heart of the stud.
The yearling filly D Yasminah followed, a daughter of D Kahayel and by D Memzer, sired by Asfoor al Waab (Barraq el Aliya x Sara Aljazira) and out of Xtreme Wonder (The Elixir x Lenore Moniet), another foundation mare for Dubai Arabian Stud and whom we would see later. Overawed by the huge number of people in front of her, D Yasminah showed beautifully, and she is a lovely example of this family line.
D Kahayel’s full sister, D Afayef, followed. Five years old, this feminine, pretty chestnut mare charmed the audience. There was much to admire about this young mare, and she left a great impression.
The final mare in this group was the four-year-old D Afaf daughter, D A’Beer, who came powering into the ring and proving that straight Egyptians can move! This incredibly feminine and beautiful mare wowed us all. She is sired by Safeer al Wadi (Majd al Rayyan x Shawq al Zobair), who has proven to be such a good cross over the Dubai Stud straight Egyptian mares that they brought him back for another season. Certainly, D A’Beer captivated, and was a glorious reminder of the quality of this wonderful damline.
Xtreme Wonder family
Opening this group was the foundation mare of this line, Xtreme Wonder herself. At twenty-six-years old, it was a joy to see this mare in the flesh. Now retired and enjoying a wonderful life at Dubai Arabian Stud, the handlers presented Xtreme Wonder in a manner worthy of her regal status. She is sired by The Elixir (Hi-Fashion Mreekh x Jaliya) and out of Lenore Moniet, by Thee Desperado (The Minstril x AK Amiri Asmarr) and out of Minmoniet (The Minstril x RAB Moniet), combining some of the most beloved straight Egyptian lines in North American breeding.
Her eighteen-year-old daughter Royal Emira followed, a full sister to Royal Colours being by True Colours (Thee Desperado x Daheda) and out of Xtreme Wonder. Royal Emira is an important mare for Dubai Arabian Stud, and they do one or two embryo transfers a year from her to continue this line. Like her dam, it was lovely to see her in the parade.
A younger mare from the Xtreme Wonder damline followed, D Aristocrateyyah, sired by their lead non-straight Egyptian stallion FA el Rasheem (FA el Shawan x Virtuosa MLR) and out of Xtreme Wonder herself. Foaled in 2018, D Aristocrateyyah is feminine and beautiful, a pure dark bay with just a small white snip, offering a great legacy from this line for the future of the programme.
Her three-quarter sister, D Leena, followed, a daughter of Xtreme Wonder and by Frasera Mashar, by Majd al Rayyan (Marwan al Shaqab x Foxbriar Shakita) and out of Virtuosa MLR (Versace x MB Madora). Now twelve-years-old, D Leena is a very complete horse, and she flagged her tail and purred her way around the arena. She was a lovely example of the straight Egyptian outcross that Dubai Arabian Stud is breeding.
D Omnia followed, a lovely chestnut mare who has shone in straight Egyptian showing. This thirteen-year-old mare was full of herself, and she danced before the audience, snorting and blowing her way around the arena. She, too, is sired by Frasera Mashar and is out of Royal Emira; I really did like this mare.
The group continued with another daughter of Royal Emira, D Saraya (by Excalibur EA), who was shown with a very fancy filly foal at foot. D Saraya is eight years of age, and this is her first foal; Dubai Arabian Stud does not breed their horses until they are past four years of age, giving them time to mature and enjoy just being a horse. Similarly, the stud doesn’t share information on the foals as they are the horses for their future breeding programme. D Saraya oozed quality, as did her foal, and they were a joy to watch.
D Mirat, by FA el Rasheem and out of Royal Emira, came next, a seven-year-old liver chestnut mare with a flaxen mane and tail. A regal mare, D Mirat had a colt foal at foot, and it is clear that this mare is a valuable part of the breeding programme.
Full sister D Seeneyyah was next, shown with her filly foal. This nine-year-old mare has won a lot, including Gold Championships at the Ajman Arabian Horse Show and Al Shiraa International Arabian Horse Show as a mare. Together with her foal, they made a lovely pair as they showed off to the crowd.
D Asalah, by Saif Albidayer (Excalibur EA x Nesj el Markhisa) and out of Royal Emira, was next. A very showy and beautiful six-year-old grey, D Asalah oozed quality and was another great example of the straight Egyptian outcross.
Maternal half-sister D Wasayef, by Wadee al Shaqab (Marwan al Shaqab x OFW Mishaahl) came next with her colt foal. This was a very protective mum, keeping her eye on where he was at all times, and there was a magical quality to them.
Her daughter D Samar was next, a showy yearling who represents the third generation of Xtreme Wonder breeding at Dubai Arabian stud. Sired by D Seraj (FA el Rasheem x Ladi Veronika), there was much to admire about D Samar. I liked her big liquid, soulful eye, and her attitude, and she may well be a name to note for the future.
The last mare in this large family group was D Ameereyyah, a daughter of Asoor al Waab and out of Royal Emira. This straight Egyptian mare is a huge winner in the show-ring, and she was full of snort and blow today. I must add here that all the horses were shown naturally, without make up, and it was refreshing to see. The true beauty of the horse shone through, and D Ameereyyah was a great example of that.
D Noor family
The seventeen-year-old grey mare, D Noor, is the foundation of the next family group. This beautiful fleabitten mare had a classic, old world look to her – something that comes from her damline. D Noor is out of Starshah, by WN Ultimate Star (BluespruceTanzeer x WN Forever Love) and out of BQ Déjà Vu (Bey Shah x Bouquet), and she is sired by DA Valentino (Versace x DA Love). A lovely mare.
Her daughter by FA el Rasheem followed, the typey D Nawahel who had a foal at foot. Full of snort and blow, D Nawahel is a beautiful mare and she, too, has shone in the show-ring.
D Ajyal was next, a yearling filly out of D Nawahel and sired by Exxalt (Excalibur EA x Vesperra). Exxalt stood with Dubai Arabian Stud for one season, and he has left behind some quality progeny who are sure to be the heart of the breeding programme in the future. D Ajyal is one of these daughters, and she represents the new lines that have been carefully brought into the programme.
D Jawaher, full sister to D Nawahel, was next, a ten-year-old chestnut mare who is now retired from the show-ring. I have always loved this mare – I’m a sucker for a chestnut – and it was wonderful to see her at her home. D Jawaher will now be a broodmare, producing the next exciting generation in this family line.
The three-year-old filly D Jadayel came next, who was slightly overawed by the sight of so many people in her home. This filly brings together two great damlines at Dubai Arabian Stud – FT Shaella (Shael Dream Desert x Soul Pretty TGS) through her sire, D Shuja’a (by Gazal al Shaqab), and D Noor through her dam, D Jawaher. D Jadayel is waiting in the wings for her time to shine and she is, as yet, unshown. Again, a lovely filly with much to like about her.
Another chestnut beauty followed, this time D Shareqah (D Jernas x D Jawaher), a five-year-old mare with a filly foal at foot. She, too, was not impressed with the number of people in her space, but they were a pleasing pair, and they still showed off nicely.
D Nahab (Royal Colours x D Jawaher) came next, a five-year-old chestnut mare with her first foal, a colt, at foot. Looking at her, it is clear that D Jawaher is a great producer and they were a lovely pairing.
D Nawal, a combination of Royal Colours over D Noor, was next, a thirteen-year-old grey mare. She was also shown with a colt foal at foot. D Nawal is no stranger to the show-ring, and it was nice to see her in her home environment.
Her two daughters by D Seraj completed this group, D Reemah and D Jooreyyah, one of which had a colt foal at foot. This truly is an impressive family, and they were a joy to see.
Part two will be published next week.
All photography by Sharon Meyers.
