The late General Tibor von Pettkoe-Szandtner, former Director of the Bábolna Stud in Hungary, came to Egypt at the end of 1948 as manager of the Egyptian Agricultural Organization’s El Zahraa Stud. He reorganized the farm, culled the herd and searched for better stallions than those available.
"General von Szandtner maintained handwritten herdbooks wherein he placed a conformation photograph of the horse, wrote his pedigree, strain and measurements, and concisely evaluated each individual from head to toe, including its gaits," Judith Forbis explains in her book "Authentic Arabian Bloodstock II". Shortly before his retirement in 1955 the E.A.O. requested a full accounting of his six years of activities, and he commented: "The stallions which were present in 1949, when I took over the management of the El Zahraa stud farm, were mostly old, unfit for the standard which ought to be set for breeding stallions to raise the general level of horsebreeding in Egypt. During the past six years I was able to eliminate about fifty percent of this faulty material and to replace it by young, new, better stallions of known origin." His key stallion was the Mansour son Nazeer. In a stallion depot near Cairo he had spotted the white horse and after evaluating the conformation and the pedigree of the then fivteen year old Nazeer, General von Szandtner made him the new herd sire of El Zahraa. The rest is history, as the Americans say.
Nazeer’s first foal was born in 1950, followed by another one in 1951. However, his first major foal crop arrived in 1952 when nine Nazeer foals hit the ground, among them the famous Hadban Enzahi (later the head sire at Marbach State Stud in Germany). In 1953 the EAO mares already delivered twelve Nazeer foals – seven sons and four daughters. The daughters were Fatin, Mamlouka, Kamar, and Abla (in that order). All four became cornerstones for El Zahraa and studfarms in the US and Europe but it was Kamar who founded a dynasty of her own.
Kamar’s dam was Komeira, daughter of the desert bred stallion Nabras and out of the Bint Sabah daughter Layla (by Ibn Rabdan). The RAS bred mare Bint Sabah (Kazmeen x Sabah) gave not only birth to Komeira’s dam Layla but to El Zahraa’s head stallion Sheikh El Arab (by Mansour), to the famous Babson import Bint Bint Sabbah (by Baiyad) and to the mare Bukra (by Shahloul), to whom von Szandtner referred to as "prima Stute" (German for "superior mare").
Photo: Richard Pritzlaff
A head study of Kamar
To paint a picture of Kamar we can rely on von Szandtner who described her in his herdbook as follows: "Grey. Very noble. Very noble head, lively beautiful eyes, well-set ears, well set but somewhat upside-down neck, good withers, back, loins and croup, high set on tail, normally wide and deep, weak legs, long cannons, tied in, somewhat steep pasterns, somewhat steep hoofs, somewhat toes turned out, good movement." This reads rather critical but keep in mind that the General wanted to evaluate the horses properly. His short and accurat style, typical of his military background, may sound a bit harsh today but his mission was to enhance the breeding program at El Zahraa. Therefore he needed to know the good and the bad points of each horse!
Photo: Judith Forbis, Al Rayyan Archive
Kamar in foal to Anter
Judith Forbis who saw Kamar often during her visits to El Zahraa adds the following. "At maturity, an extremely refined head and muzzle, very refined overall. Typical of the earlier asessments, but definite peaked, somewhat short croup with often goes with an extreme head."
For her first foal the General's successor Dr. Marsafi bred Kamar to the copper-bay El Sareei (Shahloul x Zareefa) who was particularly strong in the croup. The resulting filly was Hagir whose son Akhtal (by Amrulla), born in 1968, became one of the leading stallions at El Zahraa. I had the pleasure to see him and many of his get in Egypt several times. Akhtal was a small and extremely refined individual who also moved very well and sired equally good sons and daughters. Akthtal still features strongly in the pedigrees of contemporary horses in Egypt, especially via his chestnut sons Ibn Akhtal, Ibn Adaweya (Lokman), Aybac and Farag Allah.
Photo: Judith Parks
The Akhtal son Farag Allah (x Nagham) ...
Photo: Gabriele Boiselle
... and the Akhtal daughter Omnia (x Bint El Nil), who is the dam
of the influential sire ...
Photo: Carola Toischel
... Gad Allah (Adeeb x Omnia), who served for many years
as a head stallion of El Zahraa
The Hagir daughters Gazbeya (by Nasralla) and Hegrah (by Alaa El Din) were imported to the USA but had very limited influence. However, Gazbeya’s bay son El Barraka (by Tuhotmos) quickly made a name for himself in the showring and garnered many titles. He was widely known as an excellent performance horse and was made U.S. National Champion Trail Horse in 1982.
Photo: Yarc
Saab (Anter x Kamar)
Kamar was bred to the Hamdan son Anter four times in a row and produced some of her finest foals by him. Three of them became household names in Arabian circles: Saab, Wahag, and Kahramana.
First came Saab who hit the ground in 1963. How can words describe this classic, alabaster white athlete? Masculine. Powerful. Energetic. Yes, these are the words that come to mind. Saab moved like a locomotive and he knew how to use his hocks. He was famous for his action. It was sheer joy to see him move so effortless and steadily. Saab was a personality – so proud and always eager to perform but not always easy to handle. As soon as he saw people around his paddock, his tail went up and he'd start trotting, snorting, blowing, and showing off. In 1976 he was exported to Great Britain but made a stopover in Germany where he was licensed and awarded a premium. He matured very slowly and never looked more beautiful than in his later years.
In Britain he sired some very successful offspring (mainly Egyptian bred). In 1983, the Austrian breeder Gustl Eutermoser bought Saab and exported the twenty year old stallion to his new farm in Spain. Eutermoser was a performance oriented breeder and Saab’s solid conformation, coupled with his action and stamina thrilled him. "He was all horse," he said. "Saab was a perfectly balanced horse, no doubt about it!" In Spain the old gentleman settled in very well and sired some very nice daughters out of straight Egyptian mares. He was kept outside day and night and had his own hill from which he could survey the mares and foals. Finally he possessed his own kingdom! In 1986 he passed away in his paddock.
His younger full brother Wahag, born in 1964, did not disappoint either. He went on to sire almost seventy foals for El Zahraa and quite a few of them made a name of their own. In conformation Wahag was quite his sire’s son and displayed the same powerful action like Saab! He was somewhat heavy, not a coarse horse but certainly not a Saklawy type. However, he was a reliable source for good conformation and even today some of Egypt’s best-moving horses trace back to him. Wahag’s first-born daughter was the grey Nabda, born in 1974, who was exported to the United States and gave birth to the powerhouse Makhsous (by Sultann) who formed the Kehilan program. His foremost sons today are Marquis I and Makhnificent KA who again are known for their athletic skills and powerful movement.
Photo: Siegfried Kübe
Wahag (Anter x Kamar)
Wahag’s successor at El Zahraa was the bay Hafeed Anter (x Basima by Alaa El Din), born in 1975. This flamboyant red stallion was used not only at El Zahraa but was one of the favourite stallions of the private breeders. Like his sire he was known for his good action along with a very smooth body and upright carriage. However, in his later years he developed a sway back which detracted many breeders to send him their mares.
Photo: Gabriele Boiselle
Wahag's successor at El Zahraa was his
flamboyant bay son Hafeed Anter
Another Wahag son becoming quite popular in Egypt was the famous chestnut Misk (x Nazeema by Alaa El Din) at Wegdan El Barbary’s Shams El Assil Stud, who sired the National Champion Stallion of Egypt, SEA Sukkar Maaoud.
Photo: Gabriele Boiselle
Misk (Wahag x Nazeema) was the leading man
at Shams El Assil Stud
Sukkar Maaoud, who unfortunately died too young, presented his owner and breeder Wegdan El Barbary with some very beautiful daughters of which the chestnut Bahdadah, born in 1999, is certainly one of the best. Like her family tadition dictates, she is an effortless mover.
Photo: Gigi Grasso
Bahdadah (Sukkar Maaoud x Nirvana)
Kahramana (Anter x Kamar), the only mare of this trio of successful full siblings, was born in 1966 and exported as a two-year-old filly by Douglas B. Marshall, owner of Gleannloch Farms, into the United States. She matured into a deep bodied mare, much more refined than Wahag but again with superb movement. She had inherited the wonderful head and the elegant, long neck of her dam but overcame Kamar’s poor rearend.
Photo: Rhita McNair
Kahramana (Anter x Kamar) was exported to the USA
Kahramana produced eleven foals: Five champions, three champion producers, two national winner producers. Kahramana delivered her most important foals by the Nazeer son Morafic. The three full brothers Fehris, Ibn Morafic and Shah Nishan were campaigned actively and all three collected numerous championships.
Photo: Polly Knoll
Ibn Morafic (Morafic x Kahramana) was named
U.S. National Champion Futurity Colt in 1976
Ibn Morafic, born in 1973, was one of four Gleannloch bred Supreme Merit Award winners. He earned the necessary points in 27 shows, and the majority of his championships were in performance: five in English pleasure and three in western pleasure. Ibn Morafic’s first public appearance was at the 1975 Arabian Horse Fair. The next year he was named U.S. National Champion Futurity Stallion. Because of his heavy breeding schedule, Ibn Morafic was shown very little until late 1978, when he was named U.S. Top Ten in English Pleasure and Canadian Top Ten Stallion. He also won numerous Most Classic classes. Besides his showring accolades, Ibn Morafic simply had great disposition and was known for his calm demeanor. A wonderful horse to work with every day but all "snort and blow" in the showring. After Morafic’s death in 1974 Gleannloch Farms was much in need of a Morafic son who could fill the gap. Though much after his dam in body and conformation and shorter legged than his sire, Douglas B. Marshall chose Ibn Morafic as Morafic’s successor. In the breeding barn, Ibn Morafic quickly rewarded Marshall’s faith and sired some very impressive foals. This year his son Ibn Morafic II (x Aslah by Soufian) was exported to Egypt. He is the first horse to bring the precious blood of Kamar back to the desert... After Gleannloch Farms closed its doors, Ibn Morafic was sold to Thistlewood Farm where he held court to his many admirers until his untimely death in 1997.
Photo: Jerry Sparagowski
Ibn Morafic won numerous championships
in halter and performance
The chestnut Shah Nishan was a totally different horse than Ibn Morafic. More elegant, taller and longer legged than his full brother, the fiery stallion was his father’s son. He was herd sire for Andrew and Dorian Weil’s Dorian Farm and later was sold to Zahara Arabian Stud where he passed away in 1990.
Photo: Judith Wagner
Ibn Morafic's full brother Shah Nishan
Kahramana’s daughters Khaleela (by Faleh), Shirzada (by Amaal) and Kamaara (by Al Metrabbi) went on to become fine and respected broodmares in their own right.
Photo: Jerry Sparagowski
Shirzada (Amaal x Kahramana) as a promising filly
In October 1967 Kamar gave birth to another filly. She would be named Tamria. Her sire was Tuhotmos (El Sareei x Moniet El Nefous) and Tamria inherited her grandmother’s refined and longish face. "Many breeders always claim they had a mare which looked like Moniet El Nefous," says German breeder Dr. Nagel in an interview with the American writer Cynthia Culbertson. Dr. Nagel was the one who selected Tamria for the Bábolna Stud in Hungary. "And while some of them may have come close, Tamria, with her longish face, fine nostrils, and wide upper head with a concave shape, was truly reminiscent of the old Moniet El Nefous!" Other breeders who saw her at Bábolna described her as a long-legged, balanced mare with a very nicely shaped neck and a fine throatlatch. In comparison to her dam she was even more refined in overall appearance. "The desert had claimed this mare," said one German breeder after he had seen her in Hungary.
Photo: Hans Reinhard
Kamar's most beautiful daughter Tamria (by Tuhotmos)
Initially Dr. Nagel had chosen her half-sister Kahramana for Bábolna but after he had discovered the weanling Tamria in the paddock he switched to her. Like all Bábolna horses Tamria was trained to pull a carriage as a two-year old and later was broken in as well. As long as she lived she was admired for her own beauty but truly adored for her ability as a broodmare. Her first foal was the ethereal Pharrah (by Farag) who was sold to the US and became the cornerstone of the Imperial Egyptian Stud.
Photo: Fortuna
Pharrah (Farag x Tamria)
Pharrah’s influence is mainly felt through her daughters and granddaughters. Imperial Phanilah (Ansata Imperial x Imperial Phanadah by Ibn Moniet El Nefous x Pharrah) was World Champion Mare in Paris and in turn produced the Qatar International Champion Mare Amirat Al Shaqab (by Al Adeed Al Shaqab).
Photo: www.ErwinEscher.com
Amirat Al Shaqab (Al Adeed Al Shaqab x Imperial Phanilah),
a great granddaughter of Pharrah
Pharrah had set the standard by which all other foals of Tamria were measured. Her chestnut full-sister 28 Farag was similar in type and had the same long and chiseled face. Her claim to fame was her ultra-refined daughter 211 Zohair (by Zohair) who was imported to Switzerland b Nayla Hayek at the age of nineteen in 1997. She has produced (among others) two daughters of unparalleled beauty: Tamria II (by Ansata Halim Shah) and Abbas Pasha I-12 (by Abbas Pasha I).
Photo: private
211 Zohair (Zohair x 28 Farag) is the dam of ...
Photo: Carola Toischel
... Tamria II (by Ansata Halim Shah)
Tamria II reigns supreme at Christine and Dr. Hans Wettke’s Hammerhof Stud in Germany. She is one of the most beautiful and gentle mares ever. For those who know her, Tamria’s soul is exposed through her kindly eyes. She is living proof that "the beauty of the universe is unfolding, as it should." She left one son in Bábolna, the multi champion Teyszir B (by the Russian stallion Magdan). Her most well-known daughter to date should be Tabanya (by Hamasa Nabih by Farag) who gained the Senior Championship at the 2000 Classic Egyptian Show in Holland.
Photo: Carola Toischel
Tamria II shows off her beauty and grace
The foundation mare of Al Zamet Stud in Germany is Abbas Pasha I-12. She is the epitome of the versatile Arabian horse. In her youth she was used as a performance horse for her owner, was shown successfully at international events around Europe and later went on to become a wonderful broodmatron. Her children can be found in Saudi Arabia, Spain, Kuwait, and Germany of course. Her first-born daughter Muniah (by Halim Shah I, who also stems from the Tamria line) followed in her dam’s hoofprints and garnered may show wins. She was awarded the title of a "premium mare" from the German Arab Horse Society for her exceptional quality. At the moment Muniah and her son Al Aaqib Al Zamet (by Ashhal Al Rayyan) are on-lease to the Al Zobair Stud in Sharjah.
Photo: Gigi Grasso
Abbas Pasha I-12 (Abbas Pasha I x 211 Zohair),
the foundation mare of Al Zamet Stud in Germany
Besides Pharrah and her full sister 28 Farag, the Tamria daughter 214 Ibn Galal I (by Ibn Galal I) proved to be a success as a broodmare. She produced the well-known sires Halim Shah I (by Ansata Halim Shah), who was on-lease to Ariela Arabians in Israel in 2001 and Teymur B (by Assad). The latter was exported to Germany where he was awarded a gold medal at the annual German Stallion Show and won several titles at halter shows.
Photo: www.animal-art.org
214 Ibn Galal I (Ibn Galal I x Tamria) is the dam of ...
Photo: Chen Kedar
... Halim Shah I (by Ansata Halim Shah) who in turn is the
sire of successful show winners like ...
Photo: www.yegershira.com
... Al Amal (Halim Shah I x The Vision HG), bred and owned by
Ariela Arabians in Iasrael
...
Photo: www.ErwinEscher.com
... and Halim Shah I-1 (x 227 Ibn Galal I ) who is living at
Ajam Stud/United Arab Emirates
In Hungary the lovely Tamria foundered as a young mare and therefore was kept in very lean condition all of her life. Later she could not rise anymore. When Judith Forbis saw her for the first time at Bábolna she was already suffering from laminities. "Beauty crowned her sculptured face", she wrote in her book "Authentic Arabian Bloodstock II". "Her big black eyes gave only a hint of the pain she bore with dignity." Tamria was put to sleep in 1984.
Photo: Rik van Lent
Rihan (Aseel x Hakima) was a successful sire
at Nayla Hayek's Hanaya Stud in Switzerland
Hakima (Fayek x Kamar) was born in November 1970 at El Zahraa. She was one of the very few daughters of the stallion Fayek (Nazeer x Fayza II), who like his sire, spent his early years at an EAO stallion station and was later exported to the USA, where he was named "Ramses Fayek". In 1969 the American breeder Martin Loeber had made his first trip to Egypt to buy horses. He had chosen the mare Bint Ghazallah (Sid Abouhom x Ghazallah). She had been bred to Fayek in Egypt and her foal was born in the United States: Ramses Nefertari. "After seeing her I decided to buy her sire", Martin Loeber said. During the months of negotiation with the EAO, Fayek was bred to some El Zahraa mares; one of the resulting foals was the grey Hakima out of Kamar. She rose to international importance with her small but very exotic son, Rihan (by Aseel) who was exported to Nayla Hayek’s beautiful farm in Switzerland where he lived his life as a respected sire and beloved friend.
Photo: Klaus Denart
Shadwan (Shaarawi x Kamar) left behind some
exquisite daughters...
Photo: Rik van Lent Jr.
... like the National Champion Mare of Switzerland,
Kodwa (x Alifa), owned by Hanaya Arabian Stud
The stallions Shadwan (by Shaarawi) and Al Aneed (by Alaa El Din) were the last sons of Kamar that could gain some regognition. Both were nice stallions with ground-covering trot and smooth bodies but both failed to make a huge contribution to the breed. However, both sired some outstanding individuals. Especially Shadwan managed to sire very lovely daughters, among them Shagia Bint Shadwan and Kodwa. The latter was imported to Switzerland by Nayla Hayek in 1980. She had a stellar sow career and gave birth to sixteen foals! With the afore mentioned Kamar grandson Rihan she produced (among others) the stallion Hanaya Rafek who was named Junior National Champion Colt of Switzerland as a yearling in 1986. Besides his success in halter he has won several championships in performance classes and is used as a sire at Hanaya Arabian Stud.
Shagia Bint Shadwan came to France where she was bred to Alidaar and delivered the stallion Classic Shadwan (by Alidaar) who is herd sire at the German Rothenberg Stud. His foals have won numerous championships so far and are spread around the globe. To the eye of every horse lover, Classic Shadwan is a sight to behold! Every now and then a stallion comes along that fires your imagination and certainly Classic Shadwan is such an individual.
Photo: www.ErwinEscher.com
The famous stallion Classic Shadwan (Alidaar x Shagia Bint Shadwan)
is owned by the Rothenberg Stud in Germany
Over the course of her life, Kamar delivered 13 foals by nine different stallions. Seven sons and daughters gained an enormous impact, which is quite an amazing average. Kamar herself inspired many breeders from around the world with her type, dignity and grace. Even by today’s standard she still remains a beauty. For me she will always be one of the wonders of the Arabian breed as the pyramids of Egypt are to mankind. Let us hope that her legacy lives on for many years to come...
Photo: Dabrock
Kamar's last son Al Aneed (by Alaa El Din)
Kamar's Offspring:
1957 Hagir (by El Sareei), mare
1959 Ibn Kamar (by Mashhour), stallion
1960 Moneer (by Anter), stallion
1963 Saab (by Anter), stallion, exported to Great Britain, later sold to Spain
1964 Wahag (by Anter), stallion
1966 Kahramana (by Anter), mare, exported to USA
1967 Tamria (by Tuhotmos), mare, exported to Hungary
1969 Asal (by Ibn Hafiza), stallion
1970 Hakima (by Ramses Fayek), mare
1972 Shadwan (by Shaarawi), stallion
1973 Safwat (by Seef), stallion
1974 Ghandi (by Seef), stallion
1975 Al Aneed (by Alaa El Din), stallion
