Since the topic of "Imp" and some of his offspring has come up, I thought you guys might enjoy some photos.

First up, is the "classic" head shot of Imp - no matter how hard you tried to keep his forelock neat and tidy, he would always shake his head for the "au natural" look - so that became the standard and for me - this is my favorite Imp photo. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how well it scanned.

As a side note - although I'm not one to attach behavior of offspring to stallions - I will say that Imp kids (especially many of his daughters) LOVE to toss their heads and heaven forbid you be walking one of them when they decide they need to do a nice big head swing.

Beth

And - another lovely shot:

More Imp:

And a 3/4 body shot of an older Imp - I think the Pyramid Society Ref. Handbooks have a body shot of a younger Imp.

My apologies for the lack of quality on the scanning. I'll try to go back and see if I can get the resolution better - especially since these were scanned off of original photos.

Beth

The photos look ok to me. I love the au natural forelock look!!! It shows he must have had a great personality!! Was he a cheeky stallion???

What other progeny does he have???

I really like him will have to do some searching around on the net about him now!

The photos look beautiful in every way.
I always had admired Ansata Imperial for both his beautiful classical "look" and his ability to sire successful get. Although he sired just a few offspring (compared to Ibn Moniet El Nefous, The Egyptian Prince, Moniet El Sharaf, The Minstril, Thee Desperado) he is one of the great ones and the percentage of his winnig get is very high.
Here are just the few I remember:

Imperial Imdal (oh boy, what a horse)
U.S. National Reserve Champion Stallion
Egyptian Event Supreme Champion Stallion (at least twice)
Paris World Champion Stallion
Sire of countless international Champions

Imperial Im Tarib
Western Pleasure Champion
Paris International Champion Stallion (he beat Imperial Imdal)
Cannes International Champion Stallion
Sold to Morocco; passed away

Imperial Immarouf
sold to Uruguay, later to Jordan; passed away
U.S. National Top Ten Futurity Colt
National Champion Stallion of Uruguay

Imperial Impressiv
sold to Uruguay
National Champion Stallion of Uruguay and Argentina

Imperial Imperor
Scottsdale Top Ten
Class A Champion Stallion
Sire of countless Champions

Imperial Im Sirdar
Champion Stallion
Sire of Champions

Royal Jalliel
Class A Champion Stallion

Imperial Phanilah
sold to Qatar
U.S. National Top Ten Filly
Paris World Champion Filly
Paris World Champion Mare
Middle East Champion Mare
Dam of Amira Al Shaqab - Qatar International Champion Mare

Imperial Im Phayana
sold to Israel
Paris Top Five Mare
Class A Champion Mare
Dam of Shahir - Juvenile Sire and sire of Egyptian Event Junior Champion Colt, Gatsby CC

Imperial Im Pharida
sold to Qatar
Class A Champion Mare
Dam of Champion in Qatar


Imperial Im Pharida & Imperial Phanilah;
photo taken from the Pharrah article in the portraits

Imperial Im Tiarah
sold to Israel; passed away
Class A Champion Mare
Dam of Champions

There are many more...

Eileen Verdieck showed Imperial ImPhayanah in Paris. This mare carried herself with grace. She exhibited an abudance of type and charisma. She was middle-aged and looked more like a caring mother than a glamouros show girl. I think she was en-route to Israel. I never forget her eyes. They were deep and soulful. I followed her to her stall where she acted even more lovely. Ansata Imperial may have sired less foals than other stallions but what counts is quality. And quality he produced.
Beth, why was he put to sleep? I can remember this magnificent horse wasn't that old. I like the photo with the wilde forelock. He looks so full of himself on it. Was he ever bred to Serenity Sonbolah?

I like the second photo best. Ansata Imperial certainly was the true heir to his sire Ansata Ibn Sudan. No other Sudan son has accommplished what he did.

Other "Imp" get that come to mind are the "fabulous four" full siblings Imperial Imalaa, Imperial Intaada, Imperial Im Jasim, and Imperial Imalana. They all won big at shows in their prime.

IMPERIAL IM JASIM

Here is Imperial Im Sirdar by Ansata Imperial x Imperial Sonbesjul by Hossny x *Serenity Sonbolah

... and the Ansata Imperial grandson Imperial Al Kareem (Imperial Al Kamar x Imperial Imtiaree), who was fisrt sold to Marocco and then to Belgium where he stands at Jadem Arabians.

To everyone - thanks for adding such great photos of his offspring. I'll also try to scan some more this evening to add up.

Re: why he was put down - Imp had foundered very badly and even with having had hoof resections and a tenotomy(?) it got to the point where he couldn't continue to bear his weight anymore - so the decision had to be made. It was very sad!

I don't think he was ever bred to Sonbolah and if memory serves me correctly - several weeks before he was put down, there was a final attempt to try to breed him to a Moniet El Nafis daugher (I think it was Imperial Naffata) for what would have been the only Imp cross on a Nafis daughter.

I hadn't realized Al Kareem had left Morocco - from the day he was born, he was special - so was Kaliya, the other foal from Kamar's first foal crop. But, Kamar has sired so many great foals, I've lost count over time.

Beth

Wow!

Thanks for posting all the great pictures of a truly legendary sire. I saw him in the mid '80's at Imperial and of course love the sequences of him on Imperial's unforgettable video, "To Fly Without Wings."

Imperial has the type of head I find most pleasing and I've always admired his strong, balanced structure. He was an extremely prepotent stallion.

Thanks for sharing the great photos. Yes, I read before about him not allowing his forelock to remain well groomed for longer than a second! Funny guy!

--Susan

If he had sired just Imperial Imdal he would be a giant. But he sired a whole lot more impressiv horses. he is one of the mighty kings of the breed.

I was wondering if I could ask a favour of someone who has successfully posted pictures on this thread? I have two pictures of a great grandson of Ansata Imperial I'd like to post but no matter how hard I try the pictures simply will not post for me. I keep getting an error message that say "you cannot upload that type of file". The files ARE jpegs and are clean (I virus scanned them). I would email them to you.

Thanks! I appreciate it.

Deb C

Just mail them to me.
Will try it.
Oliver@straightEgyptians.de

I love to read about this line, as it is obviously my favorite. We had Imperial Imdal on our farm for 3 years, and I have 2 lovely fillies and 2 incredible young stallions to remind me daily of the strength of this blood, as well as the wonderful personalities they all have. That horse meant so much to me; I treasure the thoughts of his loving nature. We are so fortunate to be leasing Imperial Imsirdar (Ansata Imperial x imperial Sonbesjul), and he has that same regal personality as Imdal. What horses!! It is hard to find stallions that leave you breathless, but both of these stallions make my heart stop! Imsirdar has that Hossny powerhouse movement, and I love to watch him blast away when I turn him out every day.

Here are Deb's pictures.
Number One:

Number Two:

Oliver,
thanks for posting Deb' s photos.

Deb, this foal is absolutely a marvel! Congratulations.

Paola

Thanks Oliver for posting these for me! And thanks Paola for your comments. I am thrilled with him!

Ansata Imperial is one of my all time favourite stallions. I am proud to own an Egyptian-related Great Grandson of his by Imperial Baarez (who is by PVA Kaarim who is by Imperial Imdal who is by Ansata Imperial!). When I was researching bloodlines I was constantly drawn to pictures of Ansata Imperial. I wish I could have seen him but I was not into Arabians at that time.

The above pictures are of Baalheem (Imperial Baarez x ES Prominence (Bask/Khemosabi/El Paso) at one month old. This is the first Arabian I have ever bred or owned and I am very proud of him! He is now 9 months old and is a joy to be around. He has inheirted his sire's extreme head, type, shapely neck and sweet temperament. From his mom he retained her smooth body, hip and substance and incredible movement. This is what my vision was in breeding the two and I still cannot believe my good fortune! Especially in light of the fact that I booked to Baarez in April of 2001 and they announced they were closing his book at the June 2001 Egyptian Event. Soooooo close....................

Deb Charnuski
Proud Mum to "Beau"

Dear DebC,

he is beautiful!! Congratulations!!

Shalom from Israel
You mentioned Imperial Naffata, now with us at Idan Atiq Arabians, and, hopefully, to be bred later today - to our knowledge she never produced a
foal by Ansata Imperial. That would have been something.
Thanks for posting all those wonderful photos.
All the best,
Tzviah

Dear Beth/Phanilah--saw this old thread and was struck by your mention of Imp throwing his head. My Ansata Ibn Sudan son Macho REA (out of Ann, triple Fadjur lines) did that as well, but we contributed it to his dam, who did that also. My 30 year old Fadjur daughter also does that circular roll of the head and neck.
How fascinating......if it is environmental or hereditary. Mostly when in the big arena at the long walk, just a big slow roll of the head and neck, like "come on". Not under saddle, and rarely at another gait.

Macho I think resembled this brother more than others I have seen in the flesh or in pictures. I lost him last year at the age of 27. He was an awesome horse and I am proud to have had him since he was 3. The good ones are so hard to replace. Marilee in Las Vegas

My gelding Shamal (great grandson of A. Imperial) always gives that special head toss, which results in part of his forelock over his ears. I understand that is a trait of A. Imperial. We quit trying to staighten out his forelock, when he shows. As soon as it was smoothed down, he would toss it back over his ears. It was his own special inheritance from Imp.
Cheryl

Hi all,
Ansata Imperial certainly was a giant in the breed and is responsible for a fantastic line of horses, and what I really like is the way that he was bred, when you take a look at his pedigree it is really a very strong point.
Ansata Imperial is sired by Ansata Ibn Sudan his dam being the import * Ansata Bint Mabrouka.
Ansata Imperials dam is Ansata Delilah, this is the key point she being sired by Ansata Sha Zaman who's dam is once again * Ansata Bint Mabrouka, and ShaZamans sire being Morafic full brother to Ansata Bint Mabrouka.
Then add the Tail Female * Ansata Bint Bukra, what great breeding
done by Judi Forbis of Ansata Arabian Stud.
I never got to see Ansata Imperial but, I did see his son Imperial Imdal many times, a very beautiful stallion.
Robert,
Echo Hill Arabians

Also, does anyone know how many A. Imperial daughters are still left and who might have pixs to post of them? What a treasure! Any pictures/movies of him under saddle?

Hi Robert
Your observations are very interesting. I had often wondererd why Ansata Imperial looked like he looked. I don't know it. All ancestors you describe and with the double Ansata Bint Mabrouka and the link to Morafic and Ansata Shah Zaman close up in his pedigree, I had expected a horse with much more scope and stretch. I mean Ansata Shah Zaman was very lean and had scope and was long-legged but Ansata Imperial was very stocky and short-legged and missed the ground-covering trot. I don't like to cut him down but in comparison to his stablemate Moniet El Nafis, who was such an elegant athlete with long legs and tremendous shoulder and a perfectly shaped neck and a fabulous top line, Ansata Imperial looked more like a Pony but with an ultra-refined and classic head indeed. But bred to stretchy and athletic mares like the Morafic daughter Dalia or the elegant Pahrrah he worked wonders and created such wonderful horses like Imperial Imdal and Imperial Phanilah. Sometimes the outer appearance of a stallion can hide his genetic make-up.

Imperial Phanilah is in the United States and I have heard they try to get her in foal to Al Adeed Al Shaqab.

This is a very misleading statement and for people who did not have the opportunity to see Ansata Imperial, like I did, many times, they will read about a much different horse than the one I knew and loved. Ansata Imperial was very typical in his phenotype for the body type we associate as Dahman Shahwan. He was not short legged at all and he was not a "pony" looking horse. THAT made me angry to read such a careless statement. If there is one thing about Ansata Imperial is that he was a balanced horse. He was a horse that was made up of rounded lines. Very curvy. As a matter of fact, he and the mare Negmaa (*Ansata Ibn Halima x *Bint Nefisaa) were very similar in their body types. As an aside, Negmaa is a full sister to the stallion, El Hilal. When I visited Imperial the first time, a teenager whose eyes ere poppng and running out of breath to see such a collection of wonderful horses, I came away loving these two horses the most: Ansata Imperial and Negmaa, as they were so classic, so timeless, so uniquely Arabian in their looks. There was no mistaking these two horses for any other breed of horse. A while ago, I was talking to another friend who is a longtime Arabian breeder. We were wondering if anyone still preferred the look of the real live Arabian Horse.

Ralph

Click to view attachment Zandai Arabians have the lovely Ansata Imperial daughter...Imperial Imballora (Imperial Mistique)

Beautiful, beautiful mare . . .they are very fortunate indeed.

Sumerlan

Poster #29 could see the old Ansata farm video of Ansata Ibn Sudan at liberty (and *Ansata Ibn Halima too). Who could post the photo of Mr. Forbis with Sudan in hand walking forward to the camera (was it at the Fair or ?) That is a great shot, showing Sudan's presence. I have not seen A. Imperial in person, but my Ansata Ibn Sudan son had the same wonderful lightness and regal bearing, and was very athletic.

I agree with you Ralph. We have the same eye for type and movement.

JMO, but to me, comparing Imp and Nafis is comparing apples to oranges...they were not only different in physical type and movement, they also had very different personalities. But, they both had their influence come through loud and clear in their offpspring.

Imp wasn't a tall, stretchy horse with a lot of scope...but he was a nice western horse and his offspring that come to my mind were also western horses. To me, he was the classic Dahman.

Nafis had more motion (English pleasure, in his day) and he, along with his foals, reflected the difference in body type and movement.

Very different horses, very much missed!

Beth

Quite a few of them were exported...what few remain would be in their 20's now. Phanilah came back from Qatar for breeding at CSU (which I understand was successful), and as of recently, she is at Michael Byatt's.

Beth

Ah, Ballora, what a very sweet mare.

Beth

Beth,

Yes Imballora is a beauty...I was lucky enough to make a visit to Zandai in October and view all the beautiful horses ...to many to name.....Zandai is a farm with an amazing group of mares...especially the older mares like Imballora...she is such a regal beautiful lady!! I too have always been a big fan of Ansata Imperial..he was stunning.

Billy W

Beth--what did you think re my earlier post about the rolling of the head/neck?

I also got to see A. Delilah at Ansata in 1985. Let me find my notes and I will tell who I saw then too. Took some photos and some video in the pasture.

Any video/photos of A. Imperial under saddle? Thanks-Marilee

Thank you foor posting that lovely photo of Imballora. I knew her dam Imperial Mistique aka Misty. She lived out her last days here in Michigan, when Richard moved to Kentucky. She was at a friends farm and what a grand old mare she was. She had horrible arthritis and was kept as pain free as possible. On her good days she could still put on a trot, though it did not last long, it was nice. Made me wish to see her when she was young.
Cheryl

I would like to add that Australia is very fortunate to have an Ansata Imperial son coming soon.

Imperial Im Mahal out of the regally bred Malekat El Gamal( Bred by the wonderful Albadeia Stud)

This should bring some very valuable old bloodlines into Australia.

James

Really enjoyed this topic, but would like to correct the statement that Ansata Imperial was never bred to a Moniet El Nafis daughter. In fact he was bred to Imperial Nafdah and the resulting colt was our stallion Al Jahimm. Unfortunately we lost Al Jahimm in 2005, but he will always be in our heart - he was, like his father a wonderful horse, full of grace and beauty with a fabulous personality.