Shaalan
March 6th, 2003 – Sept 24th, 2006

I lost my breath. With every wave of his tail and pound of his hooves the love-at-first sight became stronger and more intense. With visible impatience I followed the auction, and before I even realized what happened the auctioneer said, “Congratulations, he is yours!” I couldn’t believe he was mine! My dream had come true! I ran to him, hugged him and had a little tear in my eye. Oh, who am I fooling? I cried in happiness…

A new life started for me from this day on and soon he turned out to be my everything. I felt like newborn, I felt alive with every moment we shared.

When I bought him, they told me he could race. He was only a year and seven months when we met, so until the age of three we had plenty of time. From now on I trained him. Many of you might have read about this and our progress in the Forum of StraightEgyptians.com. It was a time of fighting, biting, kicking. Hours of patience and moments of patience lost. Eating sand, standing up again and building personality – for the both of us. We were fighting each other – and fighting life together until we finally became one. After this long period the first race was scheduled. And he did it – his name appeared in black and white in the race newspaper: Shaalan by Rashdan and Shoalah by Harras. Owned by me, Yassmin Atieh.

We raced together. He did it with his body and strength and I did it with my heart and emotions. We won, yes we did. And we lost, too. But we did it together, always. We traveled together and were there for each other. Shaalan was always there for me, giving me tears and smiles, laughter and sorrow. And love. I was always afraid of the day he would say goodbye. I knew it would come, but never thought our time together would end so soon.

Before he left, he gave me this certain look that told me, “You will always be the one.” I kissed him that last kiss and told him, “I will miss you, my boy.”

Goodbye baby hero, my son of the heart.
Shaalan – without you I feel lost. What would I give to share another short moment with you…

Click the images to enlarge!

 

Resumé
Shaalan, born March 6, 2003
Sired Rashdan (Aybac x Randah) out of Shoalah (Harras x Shafokah)
Bred by the EAO, owned by Yassmin Atieh
146 cm, grey, he wasn’t pretty

Races in Cairo
1st race: He came in 3rd
2nd race: He came in 2nd ( but took the cup because the 1st place horse was disqualified)
3rd race: He came in 1st
4th race: He came in last (it was said the jockey was the problem)

Races in Alexandria
5th race: He came in 3rd
6th race: He came in 1st (major race)
7th race: He came in 1st (major VERY HARD race)

Died September 24, 2006