Rik van Lent jr.
Your star will shine forever...
1984 - 2002
Rik van Lent jr.
Your star will shine forever...
1984 - 2002
|
Over
the course of his life Imperial Madheen has touched many souls in many
different countries. In Germany he was loved and cared for by his
breeder, Prof. Siegfried Paufler and his wife. In the US Imperial
Egyptian Stud’s owner Barbara Griffith, (who brought him into the
States) adored him. In South America Count Zichy-Thyssen thought higly
of him and bought him to incorporate his priceless blood into his
world-famous breeding program. In Egypt, his last home, Madheen found
peace of mind in the stables of Omar Sakr, where he ruled like a king.
These were the people who had the privilege to own him for a while.
But there are many others who just saw this stallion, fell in love
with him, bred their mare to him or own a child or grandchildren of
this great horse. They all were touched by him.
When
I close my eyes I always will see him prancing around in his paddock
at Imperial Egyptian Stud. Proud and alert, he arches his neck, and
with eyes wide open and ears bricked he trumpets his love call to
the mares who are waiting for him. He rears and then he parades in front
of me. If I could see him just one more time...
It
all began in Germany at the small studfarm of Siegfried Paufler. Madheen
was born in 1984 as the third foal of his dam Madinah
(Ibn Galal x
Mona II). His sire was Messaoud (Madkour x Maymoonah) who still is
one of the most popular sires in Germany today.
Imperial Madheen (or ”Madhin” as he was then called) was the first in a row of five full-siblings. His most prominent sister Mesoudah-M can be best described as his female counterpart as nearly all of her get won championships or – in turn - produced champion foals.
Madhin
won his first title at the side of his dam at a German regional show
where he was made Reserve Junior Champion Colt at the tender age of
barely three months. What a successful start!
The
rest of the story is history: Imperial Egyptian Stud’s then manager/trainer
Eileen Verdieck searched the world for an outcross stallion and found
two in Germany – the brothers Orashan and Madhin. As ”Imperial Madheen”
he was entered in the American showring and won some significant titles.
But his fortune was his get. Imperial Madheen sired sons that went
on to become significant breeding stallions in their own right. Be
it in Australia, Egypt, the US, Morocco or Qatar – the Madheen sons
stirred a lucky sensation on nearly every continent as they developed
into extremely prepotent sires. Imperial
Madaar (x Ansata Nile Mist) of Simeon Stud won the Australian National
title and had the privilege to sire some outstanding get for his owner,
Marion Richmond. His ultra-feminine daughter Simeon Sarice (owned
by Uwe-Juergen Wagner and Thomas Bobzryc) arrived in Germany some
months ago and is one of the few Imperial Madheen descendants here.
Her first public appearance resulted into a second place at the prestigious
Egyptian Event Europe.
At
the Royal Stables of the late King Hassan of Morocco three Imperial
Madheen sons stood side by side. One of the them was the Junior World Champion
Colt of 1993, Imperial Mashhar (x Imperial Janaabah). Black as ebony,
this elegant stallion was one of the King’s favorites and his get
can be found in many European countries.
In
Qatar the Imperial Madheen daughter Imperial Madanah (x Imperial Naffata)
is undefeated in Most Clasic Head classes while his son, Imperial Mahzeer
(x Maar Bilahh), gained much influence as an accomplished sire. Al Rayyan
(Imperial Madheen x Imperial Naffata), now in Saudi Arabia, was Reserve
Champion Stallion of the Arabian Horse Cup in Jeddah in 1999.
Even
world-famous breeders like Judith Forbis didn’t hesitate to breed
their mares to Imperial Madheen. She sent him their very best – the
lovely Samatha, founder of her own dynasty at Ansata. The resulting
foal is no other than Ansata Sokar, the ”big red stallion” with the
flawless topline who stands at stud at Ansata and quietly has achieved
a reputation as a sire of foals with those big ”Bette Davis eyes”.
Madheen’s
daughter Madinah Bint Saariyah won the title of Supreme Champion Mare
at the Egyptian Event in 1997. There are many more sons and daughters
who are the pride and joy of their owners worldwide but space does
not permit to mention them all.
Imperial
Madheen changed ownership several times. Of course, many wanted him.
But horses are like trees – they don’t want to change their homes.
Well, Imperial sold him to Montebello Farm in Canada, a rather obscure
”studfarm” whose owners bred horses just for the sake of making profit.
In 1995 Count Zichy-Thyssen bought him from Montebello (it took him
only minutes to make the deal) and relocated him to Argentina to one
of his farms where he spent a luxurious life with plenty of sun and
many lovely ladies who were waiting for him. Horse heaven for Madheen.
As Omar Sakr heard that Imperial Madheen might be on the market again, he instantly traveled to Argentina to be the first in line. Though there was strong interest in Maheen from one of the Sheikh‘s of Qatar, Omar Sakr finally got him. He brought him over to Egypt (with a stop-over in Germany at Dr. Nagel’s place where many old German friends came to greet him) which was to be Madheen’s final destination. ”It
took years for me to fulfill my dream of one day owning Madheen”,
says Omar Sakr. ”Two years ago I was walking on air when Count Zichy
accepted to sell me Madheen. It is beyond tragic to lose him so suddenly
and so soon. My breeding program is based on his bloodlines; his children,
grandchilren and great granchildren brace the farm. His legacy will
go on but his loss will be hard to endure. Unfortunately he had a
bad accident in the States just before flying back to Egypt and since
then he was never the same. He lost a lot of weight and those of you
who saw him on Dr Nagel's farm en route commented to me about that.
He improved a little but never quite made it to his old self.”
”Then
he suffered endotoxemia following a mild colic attack but was too
frail to fight back. It took us three days to see him drift away,
finally his heart couldn't take it anymore. The farm is in mourning
for he was the Lord of the Manor who had finally come home to reclaim
his rightful place. I am blessed to have two of his sons and look
forward to two mares that are in foal to him and expected to foal
by the end of the year.”
At
Omar Sakr’s place, Madheen stood side by side with his sons, Imperial
Madori (x Imperial Orianah by Orashan) and Tallahsman (x Bint Atallahby
Ruminaja Ali). Without any doubt both are among his most prominent
sons with legions of champion get. At the recent Private Breeders
Show in Egypt, Tallahsman and Imperial Madori sired four champions
and reserve champions out of six!
Imperial
Madori’s most winning daughter, Gelgelah Al Badeia, traveled to Germany
this year to compete at European shows after she literally won all
titles in Egypt. Her first outing was an instant success – she won
the Supreme Champion title of the Egyptian Event Europe against tough
competition! Judges and visitors alike were bewitched by her charm,
beauty and powerful movement. She took Germany by storm.
Farewell,
my friend and thank you for the good memories you gave so many of us.
When we now look to the heaven above we will see a bright new star shining
down on your children and grandchildren. You will always be with them
– and with those who loved you.
|
