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On
the second last day of March 2004 a beautiful white stallion
calmly and confidently took his first steps on Australian
soil, concluding an epic ten-week journey from his birthplace,
Qatar. Thaqib Al Nasser had truly seen the world; he had
travelled through Dubai, Germany, Holland, England, Denmark
and Singapore before finally reaching his new home.
Ironically, the story of Thaqib Al Nasser starts with a similar historic
journey: that of his sire Ansata Halim Shah (Ansata Ibn Halima x
Ansata Rosetta) some years earlier. Halim Shah had been quite a world
traveller, and his well-documented 18-month visit to the farm of
Dr Nagel in Germany created a revolution in straight Egyptian breeding
throughout Europe that has never been repeated.
When Ansata Halim Shah returned home to Ansata Arabians in America,
a new dynasty was finding its beginnings in the Middle East. A passion
had been rekindled within the Arabian Peninsula for the classical
Arabian horse of generations past. As time went on this passion became
a project; to return to the Gulf the truest and most classical Arabian
horses.
Thaqib Al Nasser’s breeder, Sheikh Nawaf Bin Nasser Al-Thani
of Qatar was one of the first to import horses back into the Middle
East in the early 1980s. He eventually selected Imperial Madheen
as his main source of this classical type and imported numerous horses
of Imperial breeding.
Soon after, H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, now the Emir
of Qatar began collecting horses for his Al Shaqab Stud, as did Sheikh
Abdul Aziz Bin Khaled Al-Thani for what would later became Al Rayyan
Farm. The Sheikhs took great care and interest in studying the horses
and their pedigrees, selecting only those they considered to be the
best representatives of the breed.
It was on a visit by Sheikh Abdulaziz to Germany that Ansata Halim
Shah was to make his historic impression. In the mark of a great
sire, it was his progeny that the Sheikh first fell in love with.
Halim Shah had become the founder of a type of his own, “type” being
the operative word; the “Halim Shah look” was the epitome
of type. The experience led to a trip to the United States to visit
the great horse.
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Sheikh
Abdulaziz recalls:“When I first saw Ansata Halim
Shah in photographs I had high expectations. When a few
months later visiting the Ansata Arabian Stud, I realised
this stallion was still more special! Halim Shah has
made such an impression on me that from that day I gladly
have dedicated my own breeding program towards him, hoping
that one day I will be honoured with a colt foal possessing
his incomparable Arabian horse type, quality and charm.”
It was ultimately as a result of Sheikh Abdulaziz’s ever increasing
collection of beautiful Halim Shah-related horses, that Sheikh Hamad Bin
Khalifa Al-Thani of Al Shaqab Stud made his own trip to Ansata. During
this visit, it was decided that Ansata Halim Shah would travel back to
the original homeland of the Arabian horse, to take up residence as head
sire of Al Shaqab.
Judith Forbis recalls: “Much thought was given to the pros and cons
of letting Halim Shah leave the States again, but it seemed a wonderful
opportunity for him to become the ‘light on the hill’ that
could help spark an Arabian horse renaissance in the Arab world.”
Ansata Halim Shah’s journey to the Middle East was to be the final
chapter in what was well on its way to becoming a legendary life’s
work. At only 14 and after a brief time in his new home of Qatar, Ansata
Halim Shah tragically died. Despite his short time there he had accomplished
his mission and achieved the impossible for the second time in his life.
He truly had started a revolution as he had done years earlier in Europe.
During his time in Qatar, Halim Shah left two sons to carry his flame:
Qatar National Champion and current World Champion Stallion, Al Adeed Al
Shaqab, and Qatar National Champion Stallion, Thaqib Al Nasser.
Born in March 1995, Thaqib Al Nasser was the only Halim Shah foal born
in the Middle East to result from the insightful combination of Ansata
Halim Shah and Imperial Madheen blood. A blend of two of the greatest Egyptian
sires of recent times, Thaqib was destined to be unique from the beginning.
His dam, the elegant and refined Imperial Madheen daughter, Imperial Madanah,
was judged most classic at the Middle East Championships for four consecutive
years. Her pedigree reflects the same classic elements that she does as
an individual. Her dam, Imperial Naffata was a daughter of Moniet El Nafis
(Ibn Moniet El Nefous x Hoyeda) and out of one of Imperial Egyptian Stud’s
matriarchs, Imperial Fanniya (Faleh x Deenaa). |
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Although
Ansata Halim Shah had already established himself as
an extraordinary sire, Imperial Madanah ensured that
she would be remembered as a broodmare supreme. To her
son, Thaqib she gifted her best attributes: a chiselled
exotic face, huge black eyes and her outstanding neck.
Thaqib as he matured became a unique combination of both sides of
his pedigree. Elements from each of his parents can be seen, but
now as a mature stallion, he too defines a look of his own. The epitome
of refinement, type and beauty are words used time and time again
by those who see him. For many years I have been enchanted by the
ethereal creatures depicted in paintings by Mary Haggard, Thaqib
could be one of these fanciful images brought to life.
In 2000 Thaqib Al Nasser attended the Qatar National Show. The little
black colt that many had remembered from years earlier had grown
into an alabaster beauty. Thaqib became National Champion of Qatar
and had the honour of doing so in the company of another great stallion
of the breed, Reserve Champion Alidaar (Shaikh Al Badi x Bint Magidaa).
Qatar by this stage had surpassed their earlier standing as mere
collectors of the world’s finest horses, and was now being
recognised as a major power in the breeding of world-class Arabians.
In 2001 the four farms of Qatar united to send a team of horses to
the World Championships in Paris. A beautiful book showcasing the
horses from Qatar was compiled to offer as a gift to other competitors.
The competition took home the book and the Qataris amazingly took
home every major championship of the show. Qatar had officially staked
its claim; the Arabian horse had returned to its homeland and was
thriving once again in the desert, as it had done in centuries past.
I have been asked many times how I was fortunate enough to be able
to bring Thaqib to Australia. The answer is luck, persistence and
probably that it was just meant to be. A visit to Qatar was initially
made possible with thanks to Glenn North, who had been training horses
there. Glenn had frequently spoken of their quality and having already
made enquiries about what was available in America and Europe, a
trip to Qatar was immediately organised. Ironically, like his father
before him, Thaqib’s international move resulted from the discovery
of his progeny first, rather than himself.
While visiting Al Nasser Stud an imposing colt was paraded; he was
correct with wonderful movement and a long, elegant neck. I immediately
asked the obvious question, “What is his breeding?” to
which the answer was, “He’s by our Halim Shah son, Thaqib
Al Nasser”. As the purpose of the trip had been to look at
colts, I was quite unaware at this stage of Thaqib’s existence.
Always excited by the prospect of seeing any progeny of Halim Shah,
I asked if it would be possible to see the stallion.
The instant I saw him I clearly remember the first and only thought
that came to my mind: “That’s the horse!” The inevitable
question was asked, “Would Sheikh Nawaf sell him,” to
which the predictable answer was given, “No – Thaqib
would never leave the Middle East”.
After the initial disappointment of having found such a beautiful
stallion that I could not have, it was either fate or sheer stubbornness
that took over. I knew that somehow our encounter was meant to be
and I decided that no matter what, Thaqib would come to Australia.
Some six months later after much persistence, patience and red tape,
on December 14 2003, I received a message from Maria Bishop, long
time manager of Al Nasser Stud. It read, “Hearts are beating,
nails are being chewed. It’s all over! Congratulations.” It
was official: Thaqib Al Nasser was to become the “light on
the hill” in his new country and start a dynasty as his father
before him had done.
As with any attempt to achieve the impossible, there are several
people I will be forever grateful to when it comes to Thaqib: Glenn
for helping me find him, Maria Bishop for helping me secure him,
Sheikh Nawaf for being generous enough to agree to sell him and my
father, John, who constantly supported me.
Throughout Thaqib’s long journey he managed to win the hearts
of all he encountered. I received phone calls and messages from many
who met him telling me of this special horse. Perhaps the one thing
I had not counted on was that Thaqib would have the same impact on
others as he had on me. When he finally arrived at Saba, inquisitive
visitors came to see the horse that fascinated me. It became apparent
that they were saying the same thing, there was just ‘something’ about
Thaqib.
International judge Gloria Lanigan was one of the first to see Thaqib
after his arrival and she recalls: “Thaqib has such an overpowering
spirit and ethereal beauty that it is difficult to describe. His
conformation is excellent and he gives the overall picture of the
true Arabian standard. Thaqib not only epitomises the required attributes
of the Arabian as an individual, but just as importantly, his pedigree
is extremely interesting, tracing back to some of the most famous
sires and dams that have influenced the Egyptian Arabian. Australia
is very fortunate to have what I believe is a world class stallion
regardless of any bloodlines and possibly the best straight Egyptian
stallion I have seen anywhere in the world.”
Judith Forbis, after her recent visit to Australia, sent the following
message: “Thaqib has matured into a most beautiful stallion.
You are fortunate to have him and he should be a welcome addition
to Australia.”
Over the many months that it took to bring Thaqib to Australia, I
always believed that fate had brought me this special horse for a
reason. In Arabic Thaqib means ‘shooting star’. When
I look at him I see all that his name promised he would be, a shining
star bringing hope, fulfilling dreams and leading the way to a bright
future.
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©2009
Saba Arabians |
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