Layla's future beaus?

I am in a relatively good mood right now because we've had TWO WHOLE DAYS without rain in a row!! I can't remember the last time I have seen so much sun! Certainly not this year...

Anyway, I have been dreaming again about the time I am free to breed Layla (hopefully before she is too old). Ultimately, I'd like to have a small Arab herd, primarily black, that look like what I consider the classic Arab and have the wonderful temperament I've come to know and love from my own experience with Arabs.

For those unfamiliar with the Arabian breed, here is a painting by Gladys Brown Edwards (a noted scholar of Arabians) of the breed standard. This is what I want, only in more shades than just grey:

Other artists have depicted what I consider the classic Arabian look. Here is an unfinished painting of a grey war horse by Antoine-Jean Gros:

I love the expressive, wedge-shaped face, the tiny ears, powerful hindquarter, and thick mane and tail.

My friend Julie's favorite depiction of a classic Arab is in this painting of Eustachy Sanguszko by Juliusz Kossak:

Not a happy-looking horse, but unmistakeably Arabian!

Now that you have an idea of what a classic Arabian should look like, I will present two stallions I am seriously considering as sires for the two fillies I want from my Layla.

I am not barn blind; I know Layla has some short-comings that I'm confident these two stallions can correct in her offspring. She has a longer back than I like, she is slightly toed-in, and her tail carriage could use improvement. However, these aren't insurmountable flaws. She has a lot of nice things about her or I wouldn't consider breeding her at all. She has a lovely face, a long, pretty neck, good straight legs, and a nice motor (hindquarters). She's a solid trail horse with an agreeable temperament, although she's the bottom of the pecking order wherever she goes.

Originally, I wouldn't even fathom the idea of using a grey stallion on Layla. Absolutely not! Grey is so dominant, and I didn't want to only have grey horses to show for my carefully designed breeding program. Black, on the other hand, is not as common, but it has also proven extremely difficult to find quality in black stallions.

*Warning* If you aren't as fascinated by Arabian bloodlines as I am, this next part may be a little dull for you :-)

I read a story earlier this year about two older stallions, stallions with incredible American foundation bloodlines that I absolutely love. Because of the age of these boys, they have some legends very close in their pedigrees. Here is the story from the Jan 2010 Arabian Horse Times about Gai Trillo++ and Kings Trillomar. Gai Trillo++ is a son of the elegant Ferzon, who appears several times in my Spotted Boy Wonder's pedigree (although much farther back). Kings Trillomar is by Gai Trillo++ and out of a double Azraff mare, Rose of Azraff. The Ferzon/Azraff cross has proven highly successful and led to many gorgeous horses. These bloodlines have become more diluted over the years with crosses to other popular lines that I think are nice enough--but too common and without the "look" I really want in my ponies.

So, to cut short my rambling (I could go on and on, believe me!), I recently found out that Kings Trillomar, now owned by NN Elite Arabians in TX, has been tested and found to be fertile at the ripe old age of 29! As much as I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these old bloodlines and the classic look they produce, I fervently hope I can get a filly from my cool black mare and this awesome old-type stallion. Beauty, temperament, versatility, soundness, and longevity--what more could I ask for?

He made me consider a grey stallion after all!

On to the black stallion...

I have searched and searched for a black stallion who would improve upon my mare and add a little extra "something" to the offspring. I haven't been pleased with what I've found in most black Arabs. While I could breed to a chestnut, bay or grey and hope for a black, I'd prefer a sure thing if I can find it. There are several popular black stallions out there, but they aren't to my taste (as much as I can judge from all the pictures and videos I've seen, anyway). There have been some notable black stallions who have passed now--Cass Ole+ (the original "Black" in "The Black Stallion"), El Mokhtar ("The Black Stallion Returns"), Darq+++, and Haziz Halim to name a few.

Aside from a lovely stud in Germany (Maheeb), I have been disappointed with my search. I am not importing semen from overseas! At last, though, I found a boy I am cautiously optimistic will cross well with my Layla and give me the type I want. I am only going from pictures right now, but I'm liking his pics and those of his offspring that I've seen.

Meet Ali Ajimm, currently at Wojchik Arabians in WI but listed for sale. Ali comes from a long line of beautiful Straight Egyptian Arabians and is double-bred Ruminaja Ali (his parents were both sired by this legendary stallion). I won't delve farther into his pedigree right now, much as I want to :-)

His face is so expressive!!

Ok *sigh*, back to reality. Thanks for sharing my dream :-)

A woman can dream, can't she?

very horse person has her "dream horse," or horses as the case may be. I love so many different breeds for different reasons, and I would love to own at least one of each. Oh how many horses I would have if that were the case! Some horses I think are gorgeous, but I doubt I will ever be able to afford one. Take for instance the Friesian. Who wouldn't love a gorgeous jet black horse with a long flowing mane and tail and thick feathers on each foot? Just look at this guy:

(From Rolling Ridge)

Or these beautiful horses from Camelot Farms in TN:

I could stare at pictures of them all day. However, quality Friesians come with a hefty price tag, so I don't see any of them entering my life any time soon.

Iberian horses such as the Andalusian and the Lusitano (which until not too long ago were actually one and the same breed) are also breathtaking. These are some fine examples, although I am not sure who the horses are so I can't give credit:

I'm drooling all over my keyboard!

I've always been a huge fan of one of the oldest pure breeds in the horse world, the Arabian. I have mentioned the one purebred I used to own and the two part-breds I have currently. A favorite stallion would have to be Khemosabi, one of the top sires of all time.

What a kind eye he had. Or take the Polish-bred stallion still breeding today, Emanor. Phenomenal!

I love the Arabian crosses as well, and I dream of someday owning a buckskin Morab (Morgan x Arab cross). There are some very fine Morgan stallions out there who could possibly sire the baby I want someday. *Sigh* always someday, when I have the money and the resources. Just look at this beautiful palomino Morab stallion, a wonderful example of this cross (SAX Gold Dust--Morgan sire, Arab dam):

This buckskin Morgan stallion is gorgeous (from Old Growth Oak Morgans)!! I wonder how he would do as my Morab's sire?

I'm sure I'll have more to add to this topic at a later date. There are sooooo many breeds that I just love! I haven't even touched on any of the Warmbloods, or the gaited horses, or the pony breeds, or...

Someday.