Peter Gross is not only an architect and a collector of fine art, he also loves the Arabian horse. For more than 15 years he has been focusing his attention on the straight Egyptian horse. Click here to visit his farm!
Peter Gross does not describe himself as a perfect "horseman". He states, that he doesn’t even know ho to "present a horse correctly". Yet, like some of his extraordinary objects of art, the Arabian horse appeals to his sense of aesthetics. At his unique studfarm in Germany, which is built on the ruins of a castle, we spoke with him. Below are excerpts of the interview.
Why have you focused on the line of Moheba (Sid Abouhom x Halima)? We went to "Luetetsburg", the studfarm of the late Count Knyphausen, and when I saw the mare Moheba II (Ghazal x Malacha by El Sareei x Moheba) and her foal, I told myself, "I only want Arabians deriving from this line!" Back then I chose three horses, the mare Mahameh (Ibrahim x Mona III by Hadban Enzahi x Moheba II) and the two stallions Machmut (Ibrahim x Molesta by Hadban Enzahi x Moheba II) and Melek (Ibrahim x Moheba II). From then on I stayed in close contact with Luetetsburg and i was able to lease and eventually to buy horses from there. That’s how the entire stock finally ended up at my studfarm. How do you assess the qualities of Nazeer as a sire? For me, Nazeer was nothing more than a means to an end. He was not a prepotent stallion. He was not bad, though, on the contrary he was a perfect horse. But he could never have changed an ugly mare into a refined, elegant one. He met always with mares, who were influenced by the Shahloul-type - therefore the refinement. Nazeer was correct in any respect.	Foto: van Lent The stallion Mahfouz (Madkour I x Mahameh)
The aspect that fascinated me most about Nazeer? He had those huge, expressive eyes. He was lacking the dished face, but possessed nonetheless a high forehead.
The foundation mare Mahameh (Ibrahim x Mona III)	So, when Nazeer was bred to mares whose pedigree showed Shahloul as a progenitor, he was successful.Conclusive proof is the stallion Hadban Enzahi (Nazeer x Kamla). I believe that Hadban Enzahi is a second Nazeer, nothing else. He had the same female line and was not able to furnish further refinement either. Today Nazeer and Hadban Enzahi belong to the past. Instead, another stallion was able to assert hisself at the Gross’ studfarm. His name was Madkour I (Hadban Enzahi x Moheba II), a stallion who can be regarded as one of Europe’s greatest sires. The world-famous Jamil (Jamilll) was doubtlessly Madkour’s most successful son. Most of Madkour’s straight Egyptian daughters are not with his former owner, but at the stud of Peter Gross.
How did you got to know this stallion? When I visited Holger Ismer (Madkour’s former owner) for the first time, I saw the stallion - no, I have to explain this in a different way. At that time I saw Dr. Nagel’s Jamil. This colt was the greatest thing I had ever seen in my life. This charisma! Jamil was completely different from all the other foals I had ever seen at Dr. Nagel’s stud. He was something very, very special. Therefore, I became aware of Madkour I, I just had to take a look at that stallion. Although Madkour I was not really a pretty stallion, you liked him a lot. Or should we rather say you were only impressed with his get? He certainly was not "pretty". Matter of fact, I was disappointed when I first saw him. Starting with his head, which I would describe as "hard", his appearance did not appeal to my sense of beauty. From waht I know today I also understand why: When the beautiful Moheba II was bred to Hadban Enzahi, his straight head become visible once again. The extreme profile was lost. However, over the years Madkour I became dryer. But, what exactly was so interesting about Madkour I or rather his foals? At Dr. Nagel’s stud I remarked for the first time, that there are horses who have different eyes. I had not noticed that before. I had merely noticed that there was something about the head that somehow appealed to me. I became aware of the exact reasons for this preference much later. Those large, round eyes without a trace of white were the reason. I would say that only one breeder of egyptians was ever successful in creating a horse with such beautiful eyes, and that’s Dr. Nagel with Jamil. Unfortunately, I have not succeeded in re-breeding such an enormously large eye. Yet, it is so important for the type of a horse. However, it sounds a little bit strange to lay so much emphasis on the eyes, not even the entire head, and to elevate this criterion to the highest goal in breeding! Only very few breeders take this complicated subject into consideration. Most breeders don’t even know, that a large eye is one of the most difficult goals which can be achieved in horse breeding. Everything else can be improved in a reletively short period of time: correct legs, a good group. You even can breed beautiful long necks when you use Arabians of the Rodania-line, such as Alaa El Din for instance. On the other hand is is highly problematic to find a large, round eye. I would go as far as to say it will soon impossible to find this feature, because theses lines become more and more a rarity. Does it bother you, that you might be considered an outsider of the "Arabian scene"? Not at all! An ideal is the result of careful observation. You want to achieve a specific goal.It’s an emotional endeavor. It had also something to do with art. Either you are able to discover someting within a work of art or you lack this special sensitivity.
Many breeders do not take this into consideration at all, or they don’t even notice it. I don’t know why. On the other hand my horses have won several important European shows. My mare Saemah (Madkour I x El Samraa) is the only horse, that won the Asil Cup two times in a row. And Mohebah (El Shahwan by Machmut x Maboubah by Madkour I x Mahameh) was the Reserve Natinal Champion Mare of Germany. Why should I complain?	Mohebah´s  first steps ...
And the constant discussion about pure-bred Arabian horses...? ...that’s nonsense! You will not find one single pure-bred Arabian horse on this earth! I don’t know wheter they ever existed! Who can be absolutely sure wheter the Bedouins have ever bred "pure" Arabians? I would explain it as follows: horses, who seem to be Arabians because of their typeful get should have maintained most of their purity.