These are the facts: The stud "La Frasera" ranks with the most successful breeding places of Arabian horses in Italy. National and international show successes aren’t rare but a matter of course.

In the concert of Italian breeders of Egyptian Arabians Dr. Francesco Santoro and his wife Serenella have been playing "the first violin" for years. Horses as Shahil, Ansata Nefer Isis or Frasera Futura are inseparably connected with the name of La Frasera. But the great success isn’t a coincidence. The infinite passion of the stud owners renders it possible. They were (and still are) travelling to all countries in the world to view Arabian horses. "Look and learn" is one of their priciples. Despie the strenuous professional life of Dr. Santoro – he is a pediatrician in a hospital in Rome – he has been chairman of the Italian Registry of the Arabian Horse (ANICA) for six years.
What made you decide to breed Arabian horses? I have always been fascinated by the beauty of these horses. I was dreaming of riding and possessing such a horse. Arabian horses are noble and excitable, but at the same time willing, docile and affectionate. This combination captivated me from the beginning. Breeding Arabian horses – especially straight Egyptians – isn’t easy when your aim is to pay as much attention to the character as to their body features. But it is exciting. You know, it’s a constant challenge which is repeated every year with the foals being born. There you gain kind of control and you notice whether the own experience and the knowledge were sufficient. Perhaps one human lifetime isn’t enough to achieve your aims!	Shahil as a foal
What do you associate with the term "type"? It is one of the most difficult things to define the term type clearly. You can enumerate some things: the elegance, the harmony of the body, the expression of the big, dark eyes, the high set tail, the dilated nostrils, the thin skin shining like silk... ...you start revelling... ...yes, and there is even more to it: What belongs to the type of the Arabian horse of course is the noble head with the characteristic dish, the thin bones which make the face seem like a piece of china. But all that doesn’t suffice yet to characterize the type. For type has something to do with the emotions you feel when looking at an Arabian. Emotions which tell yourself: "This is an Arabian horse!" It is the embodiment of all that you see as an ideal with your inner eye. A painting by Carl Vernet comes alive. Which horses were your "Egyptian beginnings"? We started with mares whose pedigrees seemed ideal to us to preserve the fundamental characteristics of the Arabian horse. They were Hadiya Sharaf (Moniet El Sharaf x Bint El Hadiyi), a Saqlawi Jedran Ibn Sudan and Imperial Safeeka (Ibn Safinaz x Abas Mareekah), a Koheilan Ajuz. Of course there was as well Ansata Nefer Isis (Prince Fa Moniet x Ansata Nefertiti), a Dahmah Shahwania.
Foto: Grasso Frasera Futura	Then came the second generation with mares as Frasera Madkoura (Madkour x Hadiya Sharaf), Frasera Halina (Madkour x Sharika by The Egyptian Prince), and Frasera Nefisa (Imperial AlKamar x Imperial Madayyah). And today? Today we have reached the third generation. For example, the mare Frasera Shaghira (Shahil x Frasera Madkoura). All mares are of enormous type, but as well of correct build and – very important – of beautiful movements. If you look at the horses you know about the genetic importance of the pedigree. This year, we have bred a Shahil son to a Shahil daughter for the first time. Inshallah!
You have mentioned Shahil (Maysoun x Shahila, by Ibn Galal). Let’s talk about him. What does he mean to you? After many, many experiments we have found in Shahil the stallion we had always been dreaming of. We are still so grateful to his breeders Karin and Günter Maiworm that they sold him to us when he was just two weeks old. We were fascinated by his pedigree, and at the same time his charisma was bewitching. Although he was that young, we knew that we had taken the right decision. His pedigree is the perfect combination of modern "German" lines – like Ibn Galal (three times), Kaisoon and Mahiba – and the blood of the American bred Ansata Halim Shah. What do you especially appreciate at him? His extreme type. His charisma, the expression of his black eyes and his powerful body. Besides we esteem his pigment – an important factor. We call his head literally "classical"; and the connection of head and neck is ideal. He was born black and even today – at the age of nine – he hasn’t completely become grey. He has four black hooves and black spots which are visible under the bright coat. And he sired chestnut and bay foals with grey mares. But the most important thing for us is his character: excitable but calm, intelligent, obedient and never aggressive. Qualities which he passes on to his foals as well. And what does Shahil mean for your breeding programme? Shahil gives us exactly what we want. Outstanding pedigree combined with type, elegance and correctness. If you could turn back time, which of your decisions concerning breeding would you change? I wouldn’t change the fundamental decisions. But I wish I had three more lives to see my mistakes! Describe the one horse that is closest to your ideal. Until now Frasera Futura (Shahil x Ansata Nefer Isis) personifies our dreams. She is three years old now. A perfect synthesis of our ideal. She was born black as well and her coat is still dark. Each day a new bright hair appears.
She is tall as her dam, has a profound chest, a long shoulder, an excellent topline and an unbelievable head. Whoever sees her remains spellbound. You have great success in the show ring. Which was your personally greatest win? Our horses have spoilt us inded with a lot of wins and championships. But the most important title for us was certainly the one of Reserve European Champion Mare "Nefer" won in Vichy three years ago. She came second in her class and was beaten by the Champion mare only by one point.	Foto: Silva Shahil and Dr Santoro
Finally: Where do you see the future of the Arabian horse? And what is your wish for the Arabian breed itself and for a horse leaving your stud? It is all up to the breeders. If they aren’t induced to breed only show winners – as it is fashionable -, if they learn to occupy themselves with pedigrees, if they know and really understand the pedigrees of their horses, if they exercise modesty and love their horses, then the future of the Arabian will be safe. For one of my own horses I wish owners who’ll make a life possible which is even more beautiful than the one it got to know with us. And of course, the horse should be loved just as we love its parents! Dr. Santoro, thank you very much for the conversation. Oliver Wibihal