2018 NZ National Show
It never ceases to amaze me how one or two days at a horse show can be so exhausting! Thank you to the judges, show organisers, competitors, sponsors and everyone who makes it happen. I always enjoy catching up with people at the shows and this year was no exception.
I have to thank my wonderful friends for getting to the Nationals at all. Barbara Poulter for giving “Harry” (Santino DH) his first float lesson and stand up lesson and who encouraged me to enter the show at the last minute. Chris Enstrom & Ursula Keenan (Enstrom Performance Horses) for coming to the rescue and transporting Harry, caring for him, educating him, and everything else (the list is long – all while preparing their own four horses and two children for the show!). Angela Rogers for picking up the lead (very gracious of her considering she did not know him, and he was pretty feral not long ago!). Harry blew me away with his cruisy attitude. Apart from his now famous Houdini-streak, he took everything in his stride, and came away with the NZ National Champion Junior Gelding sash and trophy (and $50 prize money sponsored by Kiva Arabians); a big learning experience for him that will set him up for a bright future.
Then on to “Pippa” (Jym-Aud Mahogany Sunrise) the beautiful little Arabian x Welsh mare that my daughter had the opportunity to ride. Bred and owned my dear friend Fiona Gemmell, Pippa is only four and was so good with Brianna on board (her first outing with a child riding her) winning the Best Presented and Best Combination in the Leadrein section. Thank you Fiona for the opportunity and Amanda Waddell (of Moorelands Livery & Riding School) for leading Pippa and Bri on the day; and over the past few weeks, the riding lessons, your humour and patience. Bri’s smile said it all. Those looking for a future top pony: Pippa is for sale (contact Fiona 03 308 1441).
Sharifa DH and the expanding SS Shula/Shaheen Al Saba family
Featured image above: Sharifa DH as a foal with her dam SS Shula. Below: Sharifa DH as a four year old.
One of the best things about breeding is watching the youngsters grow up. It is a pleasure to see the four year old mare Sharifa DH progress. Beautifully started under saddle by Russell Higgins (click HERE to watch a video), she is now back home at Classic Arabians. Like her sire Shaheen Al Saba, Sharifa is one very smart cookie, has a HUGE walk and loves to be ridden. She also has the arched tail carriage and easy going nature of her dam SS Shula.
Riders and showies should take a serious look at Sharifa DH’s younger brother, the yearling Santino DH – he is tall, strong and intelligent just like his sister – only he is chestnut! He is also ridiculously good-looking… no photo does him justice (photo below taken last Autumn).
Or, we have waiting in the wings, a three-quarter brother in blood, Marco DH (pending) who is by Shaheen and out of Shula’s Simeon Sapar daughter, Suha DH (the one that I always believed would make the grittiest Endurance horse, if not for breaking her leg). Marco seems to have a happy outlook on life and he can groove with the best of them.
Here is a short video of Marco DH (pending):
Last but not least is Shameless DH (deceased), the eldest of the direct Shaheen Al Saba/SS Shula progeny. Although he is no longer with us, you can see he shows what a great cross this is – three siblings, all of a good height (taller than their parents), with great movement, substance and type.
New foals & Shaheen an Open Endurance horse
Shaheen Al Saba has completed the Novice Endurance system with a 40km at Southbridge and then 84km at Mayfield earlier this season, and has qualified at his first Open 80km ride down at MacRaes Flat. Shaheen is in his happy place when going the distance.
His trainers/riders, Chris and Ursula, have bred the first Anglo Arab foal by Shaheen, a spectacular chestnut colt out of Arahi Silhouette called Contraband EPH (pending). He is tall, elegant and powerful. Destined to be a performance horse he is most definitely handsome enough to also be a show horse!
Our stud is thrilled to have finally bred another Shaheen Al Saba filly after a few years of colts. Thaqiba DH (pending) is out of the glorious old mare Fairview Shakla’s Shania and will probably be her last foal. “Brattley” as she is known, has heaps of attitude, is powerful and pretty and will be grey.
Our second foal is out of the precious SS Shula daughter Suha DH, “the broken legged mare”. Marco DH (pending) is elegant and can move like a dream. He will also go grey (a bit sad in this case as he really is the most beautiful rich bay).
On the sales front, Tornado DH has been sold as a gelding to a new home up Nelson way. We look forward to hearing all about his new adventures.
The year of the colt
SS Shula gave birth to a tall chestnut colt by Shaheen Al Saba on the 10th October, and the day before our client’s mare also had a colt – so that’s four Shaheen colts from four mares this season! Great news for the Endurance and Performance folk – there will be some good quality geldings coming through the ranks.
Shula’s foal, Santino DH (pending) will be available for sale at weaning.
Another boy!
Another new son of Shaheen Al Saba was born on the 27th September, out of the Ali Jamaal granddaughter, Esscort’s Kiss From A Rose (bred/owned by Deb Bamber, leased by Desert Heritage Arabians for this foal). He is tall and handsome with what appears to be a tremendous shoulder and good eye set at this stage. This lad will be for sale at weaning – he is named Rococo DH (pending).
Leaving on a jet plane…
Fiera DH (Shaheen Al Saba x CA Melika Silver Fire by SK Shakla Khan) has been sold and will go into quarantine shortly, to head to her new home overseas. Congratulations to her new owner!
Much like Sharifa DH (my other 2013 filly by Shaheen Al Saba), I never intended to sell this filly, but the opportunity for my stud was too good to pass up. I am now left with only one precious Shaheen daughter, Yanah Bint Shaheen, owned in partnership. I have to say how wonderfully Shaheen is breeding on for me, with his daughters selling solely due to people meeting them and falling in love (they were not for sale!).
Fiera is a lovely filly and given time will mature into a beautiful mare; but more than this, she is just such a sweet friendly little girl who will do anything for you once she knows you. Not only will she be a great breeding mare in the future, but her new owner will simply enjoy every moment with her; whether riding, showing, or just going to visit her in the stable.
Bon voyage Fiera, I will miss you.
Thank you to Caitlin and Carmen of Paparazzi On Tour Photography, for again providing me with beautiful images, and to Robyn & Angela, for facilitating this sale.
Fiera DH – North Island Reserve Champion Junior
Fiera DH (Shaheen Al Saba x CA Melika Silver Fire by SK Shakla Khan) recently traveled up to stay with Angela Rogers of Total Show Training to be prepared for the major North Island Arabian shows. She caught a cold on the trip up, delaying her arrival, and Angela has been battling it for the past couple of weeks. Therefore I felt rather relieved that she made it to the show today, let alone winning North Island Reserve Champion Junior Purebred. This is her first time out in the North Island, and the weather was atrocious! Greg Andrews did a good job with her and I am looking forward to him handling her again at future shows where hopefully her confidence will grow. The class was very strong with no tail enders so I was more than happy with the result.
During November, Sharifa DH (Shaheen Al Saba x SS Shula) was sold to Classic Arabians. I never intended to sell her, but sometimes the right people come along at the right time. The fact that I still own both sire and dam made the decision easier. Congratulations Sandy and Tony, we wish you all the best.
Destino DH travels to his new home
Destino DH left for his new home in Milton early this morning. He arrived around mid day, and his new owner says he is settled and that he is beautiful, which is music to an anxious breeder’s ears! We’re looking forward to hearing about his future adventures.
Stud Tour
Desert Heritage Arabians and Jym-Aud Arabians co-hosted the NZ Arab Horse Breeders Society AGM Stud Tour on the 11th May. Horses from Caitlin Dalton’s Riverchant Arabians were also presented – it was a two hour trip for Caitlin and we were grateful to her for adding her beautiful mares to the display. We were very lucky to have perfect Canterbury Autumn weather – crisp and sunny, considering the preceding month was wet, wet, wet!
Thirty-five or more people visited, more than we expected and we appreciated the interest and support. Fortunately Fiona and her daughter Anita are accomplished caterers and managed to feed the masses! Clayton Bazeley lead the horses out, with help from Freya. Deb Bamber and Carmen Tuite also helped us get horses ready as well as lending moral support. Thank you everyone.
List of horses presented (not all are pictured):
Jym-Aud Arabians – Saruman, JA Serene, Jym-Aud Syriana, Jym-Aud Dew Drop Mahogany, Jym-Aud Mahogany Sun Rise
Riverchant Arabians – Exspresa’ah RCA, DTA Extreem Destiny
Desert Heritage Arabians – SS Shula, Suha DH, Euralea Fire N Desire, Sanat Khair DH, Sharifa DH, Destino DH, Fiera DH. Unfortunately Shaheen Al Saba could not attend as he was away being started under saddle.
NZ Arab Horse Breeders Society (Inc) AGM
Jym-Aud Arabians and Desert Heritage Arabians are hosting the NZ Arab Horse Breeders Society AGM in Ashburton. Horses from Riverchant Arabians will also be presented. The AGM is on Saturday 10th May at 1pm, Hotel Ashburton, followed by a social dinner and drinks; and a stud tour will be held on Sunday 11th May at 9am. Everyone (including non-members!) is welcome – please contact the NZAHBS office for further details and booking forms.
We will have a number of horses for sale, so this is a good opportunity for potential buyers to look at several animals in one day. We have a weanling purebred colt/gelding to mature over 15hh, a 2 yo Anglo to mature at 15.2hh-16hh (shown successfully), two Welsh/Arab pony fillies to mature at approx. 13.2hh (one extensively and successfully shown), a purebred broodmare approx. 15hh (a dam of champions), one ridden purebred mare 14.3-15hh (multi-champion). In addition, breeding stock and youngstock (not for sale) will be presented in a casual manner. It will be a fun weekend, mingling with like-minded Arabian enthusiasts.
Desert Heritage Arabian Stud 
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