Reference Dams:
A Tribute to Honor Maternal Ancestors
The following photos and informational highlights are to serve as a pictorial tribute in honor of the maternal ancestors whose influence in our horses is immeasurable. Some of the greatest dames in the history of our breed founded a lasting dynasty of fabulous horses within only one or two generations of ancestry! The following are but some of my personal favorites and to save space I've only included horses that are featured in the pedigrees of my own foundation stock. There are some prominent mares whose photos and information may be hard to come by... as I obtain information and photos I'll post it here. I also strive to honor the photographers who had the opportunity to create a pictorial history of the breed through their lens, for without their art, we would have lost a valuable asset in pedigree research and remembrance.
Ansata Bint Bukra
The granddame of "Fina", AK Shezara is sired by Ansata El Sherif, a son of the lovely foundation mare, Ansata Bint Bukra (Nazeer x Bukra), tail female Dahmah Shahwaniyah (El Dahmah).
Photo credit: Unknown
Photo credit: Unknown
Ansata Rosetta (Ansata Shah Zaman x Ansata Bint Bukra)
Ansata Rosetta is in my opinion one of the prettiest mares of her time and an exceptional daughter of Ansata Bint Bukra. Crossed with Ansata Ibn Halima, Rosetta produced one of the most treasured stallions of all time, Ansata Halim Shah.
Photo Credit: Wibihal Archive
Photo Credit: Wibihal Archive
Bukra (Shahloul x Bint Sabah)
The lovely mother of Ansata Bint Bukra, Bukra (Shahloul x Bint Sabah) needs no introduction to enthusiasts of desert foundation bloodstock. She is one of the most beloved broodmares of all time with breeders across the globe clamouring for her precious bloodline to both improve and preserve their stock.
Tail Female: El Dahma
Photo Credit: Unknown
Tail Female: El Dahma
Photo Credit: Unknown
Ansata Delilah (Ansata Shah Zaman x Ansata Bint Misr)
The beautiful Ansata Delilah was crossed with Ansata Ibn Sudan to produce Ansata Imperial who in turn produced legendary Imperial Imdal, paternal great-grandsire of our own Bashyr Ali Safeen.
Photo: Judi Forbis
Photo: Judi Forbis
Mona III (Hadban Enzahi x Moheba II)
Another mare I would love to highlight from the top side of our stallion's pedigree is Mona III by Hadban Enzahi x Moheba II. Mona III has a wonderful production record including a son, El Thay Mesaoud and daughter Mahameh both by Ibrahim.
Photo Credit: Unknown
Photo Credit: Unknown
Bint Magidaa (Khofo x Magidaa)
Ali's Zaafinah mentioned above is sired by the Ruminaja Ali son, Achaean Ali. Ruminaja Ali's mother Bint Magidaa has left a lasting influence on the breed. Through Achaean Ali's dam line we also obtain the influence of RDM Maar Hala, dam of Prince Ibn Shaikh and Moniet el Nefous through Rawayeh by Ibn Moniet el Nefous. Rawayeh's dam *Thawra traces to Bint Rissala, a Kuhaylah Rodania mare.
Photo Credit: Polly Knoll
Photo Credit: Polly Knoll
RDM Maar Hala (El Hilal x Maar Jumana)
This mare's influence can be seen throughout many diverse breeding programs in the United States and around the world today. From her ethereal beauty springs the phrase "Those Maar Hala Eyes..." a play on words from the famous song lyrics, "those Betty Davis eyes". As shown in this Jeff Little photo, RDM Maar Hala has the most beautiful eyes! But her ultimate beauty springs from within as anyone who knew this mare would attest. She was known not just for her surface beauty but also for her exceptional grace and gentle, noble character.
Photo: Jeff Little
Photo: Jeff Little
Moniet el Nefous (Shahloul x Wanisa)
Moniet el Nefous is another favorite of mine, and a very prominent mare with worldwide recognition to her name, mostly through her son Ibn Moniet el Nefous and also through the daughter Bint Moniet el Nefous and granddaughter Bint Bint Moniet, all very beautiful offspring who were consistent producers of beautiful type, character, and athleticsm.
Bint Maisa el Saghira++ (Nazeer x Maisa)
Bint Maisa el Saghira is most known for producing Shaikh al Badi (sire of Ruminaja Ali) and Nefairtiti and Radia, all by Morafic as well as Shamruk by *Ibn Hafiza and Dahmah Shahwaniyah by Ansata Ibn Halima. Bint Maisa el Saghira was bred by the Egyptian Agricultural Society (EAO) and owned by Gleannloch Farms Arabians.
Photo Credit: Unknown
Photo Credit: Unknown
Safinaz (Alaa el Din x Ramza by El Sareei)
Safinaz was bred to Seef and produced her most well-known offspring *Ibn Safinaz who was then bred to Abitibi Madeena by Imperial Madheen to produce the stunning son Safeen.
Photo Credit: Unknown
Photo Credit: Unknown
Zareefa (Kazmeen x Durra)
Pyramid Society Straight Egyptian, Sheykh Obeyd Foundation
Unfortunately the photos I have come across of this mare aren't the best, but I couldn't omit her from my tribute page of maternal ancestors. Her progeny are notable in and of themselves but it's especially intriguing how well this mare produced when bred to different stallions. For example when bred to Balance she produced the lovely Bint Zareefa as well both El Sareei and Maisa by Shahloul. When she was bred to Sid Abouhom she produced the treasured mare Elwya and again produced well when bred to Ibn Rabdan in producing Badia. The EAO used this mare on a variety of stallions. It seemed that no matter the cross, Zareefa produced exceptional sons and daughters that went on to be excellent producers in their own right. Very few horses can carry that claim to fame.
Photo Credit: RAS Book 1942
Unfortunately the photos I have come across of this mare aren't the best, but I couldn't omit her from my tribute page of maternal ancestors. Her progeny are notable in and of themselves but it's especially intriguing how well this mare produced when bred to different stallions. For example when bred to Balance she produced the lovely Bint Zareefa as well both El Sareei and Maisa by Shahloul. When she was bred to Sid Abouhom she produced the treasured mare Elwya and again produced well when bred to Ibn Rabdan in producing Badia. The EAO used this mare on a variety of stallions. It seemed that no matter the cross, Zareefa produced exceptional sons and daughters that went on to be excellent producers in their own right. Very few horses can carry that claim to fame.
Photo Credit: RAS Book 1942
Halima (Sheikh el Arab x Ragia)
Halima means "the gentle-natured or kind one" when translated from Arabic and this lovely mare was well-named. Arabian horses were named by their tribe according to their character, markings, and traits that made them unique and it was considered bad luck or a bad omen to name a foal prior to its birth. Most foals were called "Bint" daughter of, or "Ibn" son of, until that time when a befitting and proper name had been chosen. There was great ceremony within the tribe when a name was chosen and announced and in rejoicing the name the tribe would chant and shout the name while the foal was presented. I highly recommend the books "Authentic Arabian Horse Names" Vol. I and II by Bachir Bserani as they offer insights and translations for many arabic phrases and potential names.
Halima's famous son, *Ansata Ibn Halima++, was purchased as a gangly colt and imported to America by Donald and Judith Forbis and forever changed the course of the breed. *Ansata Ibn Halima++ is the paternal grandsire of our foundation broodmare, Shams Majiida MA. Halima is out of Ragia, a daughter of Farida.
Tail Female: Farida to El Dahma (D. Shahwaniyah)
Photo: Judi Forbis
Halima's famous son, *Ansata Ibn Halima++, was purchased as a gangly colt and imported to America by Donald and Judith Forbis and forever changed the course of the breed. *Ansata Ibn Halima++ is the paternal grandsire of our foundation broodmare, Shams Majiida MA. Halima is out of Ragia, a daughter of Farida.
Tail Female: Farida to El Dahma (D. Shahwaniyah)
Photo: Judi Forbis
Farida (Saklawi II x Nadra el Saghira by Samhan)
Like Bukra, Farida is a popular source of the El Dahma (desert bred) line. Such a beautiful and classic mare whose influence, like that of Bukra has had a worldwide significance on the breed.
Tail Female: D. Shahwaniyah
Photo Credit: Unknown
Tail Female: D. Shahwaniyah
Photo Credit: Unknown
*Serenity Sagda (Anter x Samia)
Our foundation broodmare Shams Majiida MA is out of AK Bint Manal, a daughter of Serenity Manal and thus granddaughter of *Serenity Sagda (Anter x Samia) Imported by Serenity Farms Arabians. Performance testing and athletic ability were paramount in the Serenity Farms breeding program as was disposition in terms of willingness to perform and trainability. This line is still prepotent in passing along these traits from generation to generation.
Photo Credit: Johnny Johnston
Tail Female: Kuhaylah Rodania through Bint Bint Riyala
Photo Credit: Johnny Johnston
Tail Female: Kuhaylah Rodania through Bint Bint Riyala
*Romanaa II (Sameh x Nazeera)
*Romanaa II was imported to the United States and covered by *Morafic to produce Dalia++, the mother of Imperial Imdal. Imperial Imdal was the product of blending Dahman Shahwan to Kuhaylah Rodania. This is a blend that I myself will replicate in my breeding program. Perhaps I'll be blessed with my own version of Imperial Imdal! *Romanaa II could be a twin of my mare Majiida. I prefer this compact and balanced body type with a deep girth and wide short back. Both *Romanaa and Shams Majiida MA are representing their tail female line well as this photo most closely resembles the Kuhaylan "type".
The Kuhaylah Rodania strain originated with the Ru-ala (Ruwala) tribe of the Arabian Desert. This tribe was known to be made up of fierce warriors whose horses were courageous in battle and loyal to their owners, while also having a very gentle, calm nature. That in effect epitomizes our K. Rodania mare, Majiida in all aspects. It comes as no surprise that *Romanaa II is one of my all time favorite mares!
Photo Credit: Johnny Johnston
The Kuhaylah Rodania strain originated with the Ru-ala (Ruwala) tribe of the Arabian Desert. This tribe was known to be made up of fierce warriors whose horses were courageous in battle and loyal to their owners, while also having a very gentle, calm nature. That in effect epitomizes our K. Rodania mare, Majiida in all aspects. It comes as no surprise that *Romanaa II is one of my all time favorite mares!
Photo Credit: Johnny Johnston
Folla (Fulla) By Ibn Barakat x A Shueymah Sabbah of Adul Hamid el Tahawi
Folla (or Fulla) was recently added to the Al Khamsa Roster after an extensive two year vetting and pedigree authentication process. The tail female line of our foundation stallion Bashyr Ali Safeen comes through this mare whose son, Hamdan II (Hamdan x Folla) was bred to Azzar to produce *Akid Danzarra, the dam of AK Shezara by Ansata el Sherif. AK Shezara was then bred to Safeen (*Ibn Safinaz x Abitibi Madeena by Imperial Madheen) and produced MB Zareena, our stallion's maternal granddame.
Photo Credit: Unknown
Tail Female: Dahmah Shahwaniyah (Bint el Bahrein)
Photo Credit: Unknown
Tail Female: Dahmah Shahwaniyah (Bint el Bahrein)
