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:
My friend Julie's favorite depiction of a classic Arab is in this painting of Eustachy Sanguszko by Juliusz Kossak:
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?
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 :-)
Ok *sigh*, back to reality. Thanks for sharing my dream :-)
2 comments:
Hello. Thank you for considering my stallions. Natalie here, and Kings Trillomar says "I'm ready for the ladies!". Unfortunately we lost Gai Trillo+++/ on July 3.
Feel free to pop me an email! I do have one non-grey stud who is out of my Azraff granddaughter (he is by a Padrons Psyche son) if that peaks any interest.
Hi Natalie! I'm very sorry to hear about Gai Trillo's passing, although he had a very long, healthy life. He was fortunate to have someone as caring as you to see him through the rest of his days.
I will email you sometime. I had hoped I'd be able to breed this year, but things haven't worked out. I still have a house to sell and some other things to take care of before I can support my mare through a pregnancy and raise a foal the way I feel it should be done. I do hope you enjoy my blog :-)
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