Al Shaqab Stud, Al Wajba Stud, Al Jumail Stud, Al Nasser Stud, Al Khor Stud and Al Shahania Stud
In a few days, another year will begin, which means a new breeding and show season. Let us return for a moment to sunny Qatar, where we were invited not only to the World Championships, but also to the open days of Qatar stud farms.
The day after the show, i.e. December 10th, 2023, we started visiting the legendary Al Shaqab. This is a stud-brand that produced such stars as Gazal Al Shaqab, Marwan Al Shaqab, Wadee Al Shaqab, Kahil Al Shaqab, Hariry Al Shaqab. These stallions appear in many pedigrees and are a strong genetic pillar of world breeding.
The horse presentation started at 10:00. Already at the entrance, guests could admire the trophies and decorated Arabian saddles. A very modern, well-thought-out and refined place. 18 horses (16 mares and two stallions) were presented, first in hand, then loose. The most interesting were the bay son of the stallion Haash OSB – Mushwash Al Shaqab (won his class at the National Show in Qatar), then the grey filly Khood Al Shaqab (Jyar Meia Lua – White Silkk by Dakar El Jamaal), this year’s gold medalist of the yearling mares championship at the National Show in Qatar. The beautiful, eye-catching Al Wazna Al Shaqab (SMA Magic One – Bushrah Al Shaqab by Hariry Al Shaqab), a mare with a phenomenal type and a beautiful head with big eyes, known from such shows as Menton 2022 (second in her class and silver medal in the junior mares championship), KIAHF bronze medal and Qatar National Show silver medal. Another phenomenal mare was the flea-bitten Safiat Al Shaqab (Kahil Al Shaqab – Shalimar Prestige by Nablus), winner of many medals at title shows, including: this year’s silver medalist of the senior mares’ championship at the All Nations Cup in Aachen, gold medalist in the same category of the show in Menton 2022.
A beautiful place, horses in excellent condition and of very high quality. Al Shaqab is a legend that has been going on for many years and still in the making; a place on the map that every lover of pure-bred Arabian horses should visit at least once.
The next stud farm we visited was Al Wajba Stud. A blooming place, full of greenery and very atmospheric. An air-conditioned tent was prepared for the guests, from which they could admire the horses presented in hand. The first to be shown was the pure Egyptian filly Zaina Al Wajba (Egaab Al Ryaan – Zahra Al Rayyan by Hilal Al Nakeeb) – the gold medalist of the Peninsula Arabian Horse Show yearling mares championship. The guests’ attention was drawn by the brilliant milky Yamama Al Nasser (Nasser Al Rayyan – Jurie Al Rayyan by Ansata Sokar), who is the champion of many shows, including: Peninsula Arabian Horse Show 2022. The outstanding colt LR Anselmo (RFI Unique – LL Almudena by Bey Shahdow TGS), silver medalist of this year’s world championships and silver medalist of this year’s Prague Intercup and Menton shows. Also presented was TM Ipanema (TM Itaipu – TM Haidee by Al Hadiyah AA), a filly with a very interesting pedigree, silver medalist of the Brazilian National Show. The next star we could admire was the daughter of FA El Rasheem, the filly D Thariah, known from many international shows, also in Europe.
The last three horses were the most awaited, namely: Excalibur E.A. (Shanghai E.A. – Essence of Marwan E.A. by Marwan Al Shaqab) – who was ultimately not presented. His absence was compensated by two phenomenal mares owned by Al Wajba Stud, well known to everyone, Baviera HVP (Marwan Al Shaqab – HB Bessolea by Besson Carol) and Mozn Albidayer (SMA Magic One – Mattaharii by Magnum Chall HVP), beautiful, close to perfect, two world champions . A wonderful place with an incredible collection of horses that many breeders would like to have in their stable.
We ended the first, extremely intense day of presentations on farms at Al Jumail Stud. A wonderful stud farm with buildings in sandy colors – yellow and brown, surrounded by a surprising amount of greenery, in the middle of the desert. Even though it was night, it was as bright as day because the entire facility was perfectly lit.
Al Jumail presented 14 horses: Assayla Al Shaqab, D Shafah, Afrodite MJ, Reem Al Jumail, Shahad Aljumail, Najlaa Aljumail, Nouf Aljumail, Aysha EV, Zayed Aljumail, Azzam Aljumail, Lady Lolita SPO, TM Bella, Bint Hazy Al Khalediah, Nomaas Al Jumail. One of the most outstanding of the entire group was the bay mare D Shafah (FA El Rasheem – D Shroud by Royal Colors), which we could see at this year’s world championships and at many other international shows, a beautiful mare with killer movement. Afrodite MJ (D IBN Rasheem – Lei My Star by Al Ayal AA) and Reem Al Jumail (SA Faez Simbad – Assayla Al Shaqab by Falah Al Shaqab) also attracted the attention of the audience, although they were only seen at shows from the Middle East. The Brazilian champion, the bay filly Aysha EV (Jyvar Meia Lua – Pietrah EV by Nuzyr HCF), turned out to be very interesting. The biggest attraction of the evening, however, was the beautiful TM Bella (TM Itaipu – TM Fahdeelah by Shanghai E.A.), a beautiful, feminine, phenomenal mare, with a stunning head and movement, champion of many title shows and bronze medalist of this year’s World Championships (she won her class, scoring as many as 93.07 points). The absolute star and probably one of the most successful mares currently in Qatar is the recently purchased from Kuwait, the milky-white Bint Hazy Al Khalediah (El Palacio VO – Hazy Al Khalediah by F Shamaal). At Al Jumail Stud that evening we saw one, but good quality stallion, Nomaas Al Jumail (Na-Mous Al Shahania x Assunta GCA by SA Faez Simbad).
After the presentation, there was a gala dinner for the guests. A place like from a thousand and one nights, a moonlit sky, sand buildings and illuminated horses. You can’t describe it in words, you have to be there and feel this amazing atmosphere.
Another day and two stud farms to visit. On December 11th, we started with a visit to Al Nasser Stud. 25 horses were prepared for the presentation, including 11 pure Egyptians. Reema Al Nasser (Al Adeed Al Shaqab – Al Jazi Al Nasser by Ansata Selman) is a two-time silver medalist of the Peninsula Arabian Horse Show, Leena Al Nasser (Naseem Al Rashediah – Nadrah Al Nasser by Shagran Al Nasser) – bronze medalist of the Peninsula Arabian Horse Show. Maisa Al Nasser (Sinan Al Rayyan – Zenubia Al Nasser by Imperial Mahzeer) is a beautiful mare with numerous titles in her show career. The Egyptian collection was finished by two stallions – the bay Fouad Al Bawady (Madheen Al Nakeeb – Feryal Athbah by Ali Valentino) and the chestnut-colored, well-known from the European show rings from a few years ago, Shagran Al Nasser (Ansata Selman – Dana Al Nasser by Mujahid).
However, pure Egyptian horses are of a different type than those we see at most shows, although they also have their own charm. In the second part of the meeting, we could see 14 pure-bred Arabian horses, and the opening belonged to the grey daughter of WH Justice – Salsabil Al Nasser, who is the silver medalist of the Qatar National Show in 2021. Two mares grabbed the eye, a bay daughter of the gold medalist of the World Championships and Menton Anood Al Nasser and the stallion Fadi Al Shaqab, the filly Arwa Al Nasser and the beautiful Rayyanah Al Nasser (Marwan Al Shaqab – Remal Al Nasser by Ashhal Al Rayyan), who this year was third in her class at the World Championships. Al Nasser Stud also presented to the audience the delightful Loulou Al Nasser (RFI Farid – Rihab Al Nasser by Marwan Al Shaqab), well known from shows in Europe, with her daughter Taima Al Nasser by Excalibur E.A. However, of all the mares, the greatest impression was made by Loulou Al Nasser’s half-sister, the grey Bshaier Al Nasser (WH Justice – Rihab Al Nasser by Marwan Al Shaqab) – this year’s bronze medalist of the senior mares at the World Championships and the Nations Cup in Aachen, and the silver medalist at this year’s Menton.
Finally, we could see the stallions, Razeen Al Nasser (QR Marc – Remal Al Nasser by Ashhal Al Rayyan) and the leased from Brazil TM Itaipu (El Tino – Faizah Carol by Shael Dream Desert), the Brazilian champion, who has already proven that he is also a good sire, thanks to his daughter TM Bella, who went through title shows in Europe and in the Middle East like a storm, winning a medal in each of them.
Al Nasser Stud gave the opportunity to get to know and compare Egyptian horses with show Arabians, which was a very good experience, because it is not only the pedigree that separates them.
The next stud farm on our list was the phenomenal Al Khor Stud; flowers, gardens, greenery and a cozy stable, this is how you can describe this place in a few words. This time, over 15 horses were shown and there were Polish accents, two daughters of the Janów mare Pilar (Fawor – Pipi by Banat). Bred by Al Shaqab, the mare Methail Al Shaqab, by Marwan Al Shaqab and Janów-bred Pinta, by Ekstern. Both mares are in excellent condition despite their age and of the old Polish type that we like so much. Another Polish note was also the grey with beautiful eyes, Layali Al Anwaar, daughter of the Michałów-bred Eskarina and the stallion Borsalino K, the mare Wilma PCF (Royal Asad – Sophie ELS by PA Gazsi), who is the Junior Bronze Medalist of the World Cup in Las Vegas in 2022, was also very pleasant. Al Khor stud is the owner of the dam of the previously mentioned stallion TM Itaipu, the purchased recently from Brazil mare Faizah Carol (Shael Dream Desert – Fanny Carol by El Nabila B). A wonderful place worth visiting and which debunks the myths that aging horses live in poor conditions. Al Khor showed that even elderly horses have decent conditions and can look great.
The last day of the tour and the last stud farm was Al Shahania Stud – the icing on the cake. A fairy-tale place with numerous fountains, plants, breathtaking stables and horses that looked like works of art, the library and rooms with trophies and awards won over the years made a great impression.
Nine horses were presented – Rose Al Shahania, Yulib Al Shahania, Menwer Al Shahania, Lilac Al Shahania, Sab’ah Al Shahania, Sultanah Al Shahania, Hamza Al Shahania, Wadeeah Al Shahania and Hamamat Al Shahania. The yearlings are great, moving, with fantastic heads. The offspring of Rhan Al Shahania, the Gold Medalist of the Yearling Stallions at the World Championships in Paris in 2019, with Michael Byatt at his side, definitely stood out. The attention was drawn to the exceptionally charming colt Menwer Al Shahania (Rhan Al Shahania – Anwar Al Shahania by Kahil Al Shaqab), probably the most promising of the entire group. The presented horses included Sab’ah Al Shahania (Marwan Al Shaqab – Assilah Al Shahania by SMA Magic One) – gold medalist of yearling mares at the Qatar National Show, Sultanah Al Shahania (Sultan Al Zobara – Majolicaa by Besson Carol) – gold medalist of the Qatar National Show and sixth in class at this year’s World Championships. The last horse presented that day was a snow-white mare, with an incredibly well-groomed mane and tail, Hamamat Al Shahania (Kahil Al Shaqab – Majolicaa by Besson Carol), gold medalist of many shows in Qatar.
Al Shahania Stud is a magical, elegant place that takes you to another world. The smallest details were taken care of. The stables are clean, and all the horses stick to people and are extremely friendly. The racing stable is amazing, at the highest world level. Awards won around the world, in the show sector, but also in Arabian horse racing, are placed in special rooms and exhibition halls, thus telling the stories of this very unique place.
Open days are a moment for reflection and analysis in which direction we want to go as breeders, because each stud farm has its own unique style and breeding vision. Certainly, such experience is almost necessary for every breeder to broaden his horizons, understand breeding, gain experience, and at the same time confirm his breeding philosophy or modify his own choices. We had an exceptionally nice time, in great company, with the great hospitality of the hosts, in amazing places and with beautiful horses.
