Minor Musings on 2024 Musafir Almubarak Foals

I am much more used to breeding heavily Sameh, Ibn Hafiza, and Gassir bred horses, all of which trace back to Ibn Rabdan, a stallion known for producing substance in his get and through generation after generation. The El Deree type stallion Musafir Almubarak is a new endeavor, but luckily, seems to meet the Ibn Rabdan types in the middle. Phillipe Paraskevas in Egyptian Alternative Vol. 2 aka “the Bible” encourages these pairings to “widen chests” and increase substance while “keeping pretty curves” in the picture.

Lots of times as breeders, we have to consider the horse in front of us vs. what gems may be hidden in a pedigree, waiting to be unlocked. Sometimes, we get exactly what we are predicting, and other times, we are surprised by certain traits in the get of certain pairings. Even the most picked-apart, well-researched breeding can leave us scratching our heads once a foal arrives. Breeding horses is as much a science as it is an art, frankly, probably more of an art/experience based endeavor until more genetic research on horses comes to light in the future.

So now that mares are bred at DHA for next year, I am anxiously awaiting their arrival, and also diving deep into the pairings I’ve chosen on the hidden gems that may await.

Musafir Almubarak x Treff-Haven Savana
This pairing phenotypically was a no-brainer. Both individuals are leggy, Savana providing substance, a solid wide chest, beautiful dished head, and curves. Musafir doubles up on the big joints and legginess/raciness, less so on the substance through his body, and a traditional “deserty” head, refined yet masculine (sadly, a trait I see more and more Arabian stallions without).
By strain, Savana is a Saklawiyah Jidran, a strain known for it’s easily-achieved refinement, and the gorgeous head of Savana fits the bill, given to her by her dam Alidance. Alidance has heavy Saklawi type influences through both sire and dam lines, and Nagsous adds the power in the cross that created such a “best of both worlds” mare, Savana. Nagsous is a whopping 25% Sameh, Sameh get being noted for their strong, excellent and flowing movement, size, and substance. Some diminish Sameh horses for their lack of “type,” a dog-whistle for dish. Arguments can be made for what exactly “type” is when referring to Arabians, but I have yet to see any Sameh horse that doesn’t have authentic desert Arabian head, good proportions, and correct movement. Nagsous also has 2 crosses to Anter, known for adding nice curves and substance to his offspring. Using Nagsous with Alidance combines refinement while keeping the powerful traits without too much Saklawi stretch.

Musafir Almubarak x Ankara Z
Ankara Z aka “Annie” is a big, robust, and round mare. She sports a wide barrel and compact 3-circle frame. One of my favorite features of hers is her impressive jibbah complimented with her big, kind eye. Annie is true to her Hadban Enzahi strain in color, which is known for it’s chestnuts. Hadban types are generous mares and can be crossed well and at breeder’s discretion to a stallion of any strain or type with the union producing pleasing offspring, never veering too off course, which cannot be said with crossing other types together indiscriminately. My hopes are that Annie’s Koheilan influence and her Hadban flexibility will suit Musafir’s racey type well, meanwhile doubling up on curves, to produce a round and robust foal.
Similarly to Savana, Annie inherits strong Ibn Rabdan influence, 7 times through her sire *Zaydoon alone, who traces to Gassir in the sire line which is a powerful influence for strong frames. Ibn Rabdan also shines through on her dam’s side through crosses to Shaloul, Gassir, Seef El Arab, and Sherifa (twice).

Nagsous