The
story of “Qamar el Dine” of course begins with
his beautiful dam “Raqqisa” (Gamal al Arab x Rahmaa
- Straight Egyptian) who amongst many other awards for halter,
hunter pleasure, show hack and dressage in America, was named
1991 Egyptian Event Reserve Senior Champion Mare.
Photo: Sweet
Photography |
She was bred by Gleanloch Farms (MORAFIC
lines). She became famous for her beauty and talents
in this country, and also in Europe - Second to Atlantica
at the British Nationals and also at Menton European
Championships.
She was twelve when I bought her from
my friend Joan de Mulder and came with foal in utero
by Joan's lovely stallion “Farouk”. Since
then she has been treasured and much-loved, and is Queen
of my stud, here in the beautiful Conwy Valley, North
Wales. |
| My
friend Linda Al Nakeeb, then living in Jordan, on hearing
that I had just acquired my first straight Egyptian
mare, Raqqisa, emailed her good friend Dr. Hans Nagel.
She asked him if he could kindly recommend the best
stallion to compliment Raqqisas' bloodlines for me.
I
had seen that very same morning the advertisement about
MAYSOUN standing at stud at the Jones’, and was
very taken - especially with the photographs of his
young stock … just the type I was interested
in, elegant and typey with the Ansata characteristics. I
immediately ‘phoned Sue Jones and said that I
should like to come and see him.
|
Champion Mare With Foal at Foot,
UK Egyptian Event 2001.
Photo: Sweet
Photography |
Imagine
my surprise and delight when Linda phoned that evening
and told me that Dr. Hans recommended MAYSOUN for Raqqisa
- it seemed meant to be! I got in touch
with the Jones straight away to book her in - with someone as kind and special
as Dr. Hans, I had no need to see him first!!
When
I had booked Raqqisa in to Maysoun, Sue Jones said “Raqqisa is a mare of
rare quality, and Maysoun is also of rare quality, so we are expecting something
special here.” She asked me to telephone as soon as the foal was born so
that they could make an early visit. I did this, and Ryan very kindly drove a
long way to see the new born Qamar el Dine.
Photo: Sweet
Photography
When
he was born, he was certainly different. He had an extremely
exotic head, which was the Egyptian type, I guessed - not
having had a foal quite like him before! (mind you, he WAS
only my third foal …!). I wouldn't’t have called
him exactly “pretty”, rather crumpled and bony,
but that all changed very quickly, and it was his
elegance and his extremely light, elevated movement which
impressed me the most. It was a joy to lead him out in
the mornings, with his mum - just like taking a balloon
for a
walk, he was so light … the same feeling as walking
a Saluki or Afghan Hound.
Photo: Pam Cooper
Ryan's’ first
words were “He’s awesome, he has eyes larger
than Raqqisa’s (and she has lovely dark eyes!), and
a neck like a snake”. The Jones asked me
two or three times if I would sell him, or even a share
in him - but, although I appreciated the compliment, this
is
one horse which is very special to me and a dream realized,
already. He certainly hasn't’t let me down.
Qamar el Dine winning the Supreme
Foal Championship at the Egyptian
Event 2001
Photo: Sweet
Photography
In
2001 came the UK International Egyptian event - Qamar’s
first experience of the show world. Qamar el Dine went on to
be the 2001 Supreme Foal Champion and virtually stopped the
show. I was invited to go into the ring to have photos taken and
as I was kissing Qamar’s nose (as I would
do at home) the Egyptian judge, Dr. Marei, said “Is he
yours? He’s beautiful”. The greatest
compliment of all came from my dear friend Dr. Hans Nagel,
who beckoned me over to say that he had just received a ‘phone
call from Hassanain (Al Nakeeb) who couldn't’t be at the
show - he had asked Dr. Hans “Who is your favourite horse
at the show, and which horse would you like to take home with
you?” Dr. Hans said “I told him without a doubt,
Pam’s foal!”. Congratulations came thick and fast.
I felt so proud of my boy " A day to remember!"
Qamar winning the Overall Supreme Male and Reserve Overall Champion, Bath and
West Show 2002
Qamar’s
first show in 2002 was at the Bath and West which, unfortunately,
I couldn't go to.
Ryan ‘phoned to
say that he had done brilliantly and that he “moved
like a train” through rain and mud (well, he is very
used to that here in Wales!), and was “Supreme Male
and Reserve Overall Champion” - a great start.
Unfortunately
he didn’t move so well
at his next venue, the Midland Group Show, but he was still
placed second.
Next
was Merrist Wood (their second International Show) and the
competition was of a very high standard. Qamar
el Dine looked wonderful, ethereal and very typey, and moved
very well - achieving three 19s for movement - going on to
take 2nd place (top-scoring British bred and owned).
Qamar
el Dine, with Pam & Ryan Jones at the 2002 AHS National
Championships.
Photo: Sweet
Photography
I
don’t think
I have missed the AHS National Championships for 15 years
of owning Arabians, and this year was going to be very special
for Qamar el Dine and myself. He won the Overall Best
Yearling
Colt and the beautiful cup!
Qamar
el Dine, with Steve
Diamond at the 2004 AHS National
Championships.
Photo: Pam
Cooper
I
met Steve Diamond, resident manager and trainer at the
Ansata Stud, Whilst visiting for their 45th Anniversary.
Steve admired
photographs of Qamar el Dine and we discovered that he had
trained and shown Raqqisa while living with the Marshall
family at the
Gleanloch Stud!”. Steve kindly offered to come show
and both Raqqisa and Qamar at the 2004 nationals.
Raqqisa
was with Donald and Suzanne Dukes, at their Sansara Stud
following being covered
by Imperial
Kamill . Donald and
Suzanne very kindly “tidied her up” (as there wasn’t
time to prepare her as one normally would) so I could reunite
her with her former trainer Steve Diamond. Not really fair
to them - but she still finished 4th at the age of 17. Thank
you everyone.
Linda
MacFayden worked
very hard with Steve to produce him in time, he looked beautiful
and extremely elegant. Thank you both (and also Linda’s
long-suffering family)!! Steve actually showed my Qamar el Dine
in the same
show halter used to show Ansata giants such as Ansata Halim
Shah " WHAT an honour for
my boy …"
Qamar
and I are very lucky because Linda MacFayden has been
looking after
him both at her stud and mine for the past
year and has helped him to be really relaxed and happy,
which gives me peace of mind too! I am SO grateful to her.
This year
Qamar el Dine’s main priority is to be covering mares.
We welcome those of you with beautiful
mares, and
who love the “desert” type of Arabian.
So,
come on, give me a ring - special price for special mares!
This year only! Quamar will be available by AI
in April/May 2005
Photo:
Charlie Wood
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Ansata
Ibn Halima |
| 1980
Ansata Halim Shah |
|
| |
Ansata
Rosetta |
|
1985
Maysoun
(Saqlawi Jidran Ibn Sudan)
|
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|
|
Ibn
Galal (Magdi) |
| 1978
Maysouna (DE) |
|
| |
Kis
Mahiba |
|
2001 Qamar
el Dine
(Dahmah Shahwaniyah)
|
|
|
|
Ibn
Hafiza |
| 1975
Gamal al Arab |
|
| |
Gamilaa |
|
1987
Raqqisa
(Dahmah Shahwaniyah)
|
|
|
|
Morafic |
| 1971
Rahmaa |
|
| |
Dahma
il Ashekwar |
I
have been reminded to tell you how Qamar el Dine got his
name.
It was one particular night when Raqqisa
was due to foal,
that the sky was very black, and all I could see was a large,
full, white moon, and her exquisite “snow white” head
and neck over the stable door, and I phoned my friends
Linda and Hassanain, then still in Jordan, in order to ask for
the Arabic name for moon. They
were out, but their son Ali suggested “Qamar el Dine” -
it means “moon
of religion”. I was rather surprised that the young Ali
chose this … but I liked it. However, I was VERY amused
when Hassanain ‘phoned me a few nights later to joke and
say “I wish Ali hadn’t given you that name, I would
like to have used it myself, “Qamar el Dine” is a
delicious sweet in the Middle East, and it is a great name for
a horse”. Well done Ali!
Photo:
Charlie Wood
THE
LATEST STUD NEWS is that is that RAQQISA is
safely in foal to Imperial Kamill, which should be very
exciting,
and
I bought a charming straight Egyptian filly HALIMA BINT HAWAA
to be a wife for Qamar el Dine, from the lovely
couple Jeanette and Ferdinand Schwestermann. Halima is almost
a female version of Qamar and is also very elegant, rather
leggy with
great style and movement. Perhaps not the type or shape that
some others would have chosen for him, but I must follow
my heart (it hasn’t let me down yet - well, at
least not with horses!!!)..
Photo: Charlie Wood
