"Follow your dreams!" This is the motto printed on Michael Ponnath’s stud brochure – and it is exactly what he is doing. When you look at his broodmare band you’ll notice immediately what his dreams are made of: horses combining classic beauty with airy movement. Nothing more, nothing less. He’s not willing to sacrifice type for movement or vice versa. His goal remains what it has always been: to produce beautifully refined, elegant and well-balanced horses that move with ease.

Interesting enough Moufisa Halima’s dam, the ultra-refined chestnut mare Mofisa (Nizam x Mona II) was a half-sister to Imperial Madheen’s dam Madinah (Ibn Galal x Mona II). With the purchase of the Imperial Madheen son Ansata Sokar two years ago, Michael Ponnath is able to double up the rare and precious blood of Mona II.

The Dahman Shahwan stallion Ansata Sokar (Imperial Madheen x Ansata Samantha, *1995) is the true son of his famous mother. He inherited her chestnut coat, white star on the forhead and her exceptionally level topline but above all her broad forehead, dark exppressive eyes, deep jowls and shape of neck. His tail comes right out and up like a fountain. His strong loins and croup are a perfect match for Michael Ponnath’s mares. The overall impression he gives is that of a very masculine and powerful horse.

The core of Michael Ponnath’s breeding program are the daughters and granddaughters of Moufisa Halima. The chestnut Moufisa Al Kidir (Al Kidir x Moufisa Halima, *1996) is a true Saklawi mare in body and type. She boasts eight close crosses to Moniet El Nefous – and it shows!

The "Moniet type" is more often than not connected with the colour chestnut and this mare is no exception. Her long, dry, chiselled head reminds me of pictures of the "Queen of the Nile" herself. She has a well set on and arched neck and she moves effortless. Yes, she has the typical "teacup muzzle" of this family and yes, she has four sound legs, a laid-back shoulder, prominent withers and a good topline. Her short and somewhat peaky croup leaves something to desire and therefore Michael Ponnath bred her to her own grandsire Halim Al Kadir (Ansata Ibn Halima x Illaila), who was his main sire (along with Al Kidir) for many years. The resulting foal was the grey Nasira Halima (*2000) who is more compact than her delicate dam and stronger in the croup. In opposite to her dam she is a grey and looks like a feminine version of her sire.
For 2007 Moufisa Al Kidir and her full sisters are in foal to Al Adeed Al Shaqab (by Ansata Halim Shah). The Ibn Halima blood seems to nick especially well with the Moniet El Nefous line and for sure will correct the croups.

The young filly Nashua Halima (Al Adeed Al Shaqab x Moufisa Al Kidir, *2005) is living proof that this cross can produce excellent results: While she maintains the refinement and Moniet type of her dam, Nashua inherited her sire’s flawless topline and croup, more scope and bigger eyes. A planned breeding that worked extremely well! In fact, it worked so well that many a breeder from the Middle East would love to have her in his stables. Until now Michael Ponnath has not the desire to part with Nashua Halima. Keep her Michael – this filly is more than special!

Moufisa Al Kidir’s younger full sister Monisa Halima (*2001) was presented together with her filly, Fayza Halima (by Ansata Sokar, *2006). Both mother and daughter displayed fluid and effortless movement. More compact than her dam, Fayza Halima is an extremely upright and charming filly.

Last but not least the grey full sister entered the ring – the ethereal Bint Moufisa (Al Kidir x Moufisa Halima, *1993) who is without any doubt the "queen" of this family (another full sister, Monah Halima, is owned by German breeder Christina Krumm). Elegant like her chestnut sisters but perhaps even more beautiful, Bint Moufisa easily could win in the showring. She is in perfect condition and her type and movement are near to the standard of excellence.

Tatsächlich hat sie bereits im Schauring abgeräumt – und zwar gründlich. 1993 wurde Bint Moufisa Nationale Junioren-Championesse und Reserve-e-Championesse beim Europa-Championat. Wie ihre Schwestern ist auch sie tragend von Al Adeed Al Shaqab.

Her leggy daughter Malikah Halima (by Maydan Madheen, *2002) won several shows as a yearling and has matured beautifully. She disyplays a somewhat different type inherited by her sire.
Bint Moufisa’s colt Mashar Halim (by Ansata Sokar, *2006) shows great potential – he looks like a younger carbon copy of his sire and has these huge "Samantha eyes" his granddam was famoud for.

One of the most attractive mares presented was the fleabitten grey Majidaa (Shaikh Al Badi x Magidaa, *1985) who did not show her advanced age but acted as playful as a youngster! She, like all the other mares in the broodmare band, represents the "old" type of the Egyptian horse. Let me explain what I mean: These broodmares are dry and noble and of exotic beauty yet at the same time they are functional horses! They have the conformation to go with it.

Sadly enough Majidaa has not yet produced a foal in Germany. Her companion Anaza Bint Deena (Ibn El Mareekh x Bint Deenaa, *1997) has delivered two foals already but "we did not decipher her genetic code yet," admits Michael Ponnath. Like Majidaa, she was bred by Les and Lois St. Clair in the US and imported to Germany in 2004. The bay mare with a long, well-shaped neck and a clean throatlatch, well laid back shoulder and elegant body is the result of extreme inbreeding: Her sire Ibn El Mareekh was bred to his own mother, Bint Deenaa (Ansata Ibn Halima x Deenaa by Sameh). It’s a challenge to find a match for her...

Both mares were incorporated into the breeding program for their individual quality and precious damlines (Magidaa and Deena respectively) but so far they could not live up to Michael Ponnath’s expectations. Time will tell.

Another import is the Imperial Madheen daughter MB Tareena (x Imperial Tarafah by Imperial Im Tarib, *1995). She belongs to the Hadban Enzahi strain and traces back to the Yosreia granddaughter Serenity Sabra. Her type coupled with the airy movement typical of all horses with Imperial Madheen in the pedigree make MB Tareena a very desirable addition to the broodmare band. She has size, good conformation and a lovely demeanor. Her two colts born in Germany by PVA Kariim and Al Kidir look promising.

The big surprise for me was the stallion Sterling Vision (*1994). I was mesmerized by this amazing horse. As if launched from a catapult, the fleabitten grey stallion stormed into the ring. Tail flagged, nostrils flared, he pranced with huge, bold movement across the paddock. He has real movement that comes from the hocks! This stallion has so much suspension at the trot that he moves literally a foot off the ground. Did you remember the legendary Nabiel (Sakr x Magidaa)? His grandson Sterling Vision took much after him with the exception of the head which is even more exotic and chiselled.

He is sired by Imperial Imdal out of the beautiful fleabitten grey mare Nagda, who in turn is sired by a Magidaa son (Nabiel) out of a Magidaa daughter (Bint Magidaa). Is it any wonder he can move? Is it any wonder he has substance and this tremendous shoulder and is built like an athlete? Sadly he arrived too late for this year’s breeding season. Therefore we will see his first foals in 2008.

The last horse presented was the internationally acclaimed PVA Kariim (Imperial Imdal x BKA Rakiisah, *1990), who is one of the few stallions who sired not only one but two Egyptian Event Supreme Champion Stallions! His most popular son to date is the Reserve World Champion Stallion Imperial Baarez. His daughters grace the broodmare bands of farms in Europe, USA, Brazil, and the Middle East. He is without any doubt one of Imperial Imdal’s best siring sons who passes on extreme type, laid back shoulders, good toplines and well-shaped necks. For more than three years Michael Ponnath had tried to buy PVA Kariim and finally he was successful. Follow your deams...

Due to an accident in young age he has a stiff frontleg and can’t move properly anymore. He is kept in very trim condition to avoid too much pressure on his joints and natural cover is not possible anymore.

What you still see, however, is his long and nicley arched neck, good topline, long croup with a high-set tail and a well-shaped dry head with a wonderful, soft expression. This soft expression and sweet disposition can be found in the majority of his get as well. His pedigree reflects strong lines to the Dahman and Saklawi Jedran strains, with the Saklawi most prominent in his outward appearance.