~ Strains, the Khamsat ~ KEHILAN, fem. Kehileh
(or Kehilet before a vowel).
This strain is most numerous, and, taken generally, the most exteemed. It contains a greater proportion, I think, of bays than any other strain. The Kehilans are the fastest, though not perhaps the hardiest horses, and bear a closer resemblance than the rest to English thoroughbreds, to whom indeed they are more nearly related. The Darley Arabian, perhaps the only thoroughbred Anazeh horse in our stud book, was a Kehilan. The Kehilan is not by any means the most beautiful of the strains. Its subdivisions ae very numerous, and will be given, in the list at the end of this chapter. The favourite substains are the Kehilan Ajuz, the Kehilan Nowag, the Kehilan Abu Argub, Abu Jenub, and Ras-el-Fedawi.
SEGLAWI, fem. Seglawieh One stain of this blood, the Seglawi Jedran, is considered the best of all in the desert; and the Seglawis generally are held in high repute. They are, however, comparatively rare, and exist only in a few families of the Anazeh. Among the Shammar there are Seglawis, but no Seglawi Jedrains, the last mares of this breed having been bought up at fabulous prices by Abbas Pasha. The four strains, Jedrain, Obeyran, Arjebi and el-Abd are identical in origin, being descended from four Seglawi mares, sisters--but only the first has been kept absolutely pure. Even the Seglawi Jedrain is to be found pure in the families of Ibn Nederi and Ibn Sbeni only. The Seglawi Obeyran has been crossed with the Kehilans and other strains, and the El Abd though purer than the Obeyran is yet not absolutely so even in the family of Ibn Shaalan, where it is at its best. The Seglawi Jedran of Ibn Nederi is powerful and fast, but not particularly handsome. Ibn Sbeni's strain is more perfect in appearance, and of equal purity.
The Dahman are reputed to
be from the horses of King Solomon. Primarily bred by the Khalifahs of Bahrain
in the late 1700's and mid-1800's, this strain still exists on that
island. Mohammed Ali and Abbas Pasha obtained choice individuals
of this strain, as did Ali Pasha Sherif. Modern Dahman horses (Egyptian)
descend from these. The Dahman are listed first in the Abbas Pasha
manuscript. NECK: Harmoniously balanced with the body. Throats are well shaped and clean. Good poll setting. GENERAL CONFORMATION: Strong toplines, relatively short backs in comparison to Saqlawi and Hadban. Level croups of good length, good hips. Legs are clean and fine-boned.
HADBAN, fem. Hadbbeh, Also uncommon among the Anazeh, the best having formerly been possessed by the Roala. Hadban Enzekhi is the best substrain, and to it belonged a remarkable mare owned by Mohammed Jirro at Deyr. She stood about fourteen hands two and a-half inches, was a bay with black points, carried her tail very high, and was full of fire. She looked like a racehorse, though not an English one. The two other substains, Mshetib and El Furrd, are not so much esteemed as the Enzekhi. Besides these five great breeds, which are called the Khamsa, there are sixteen other breeds, all more or less esteemed, and most of them with one or more strains of blood, accounted equal to the Khamsa.
ABEYAN, fem. Abeyeh. The Abeyan is generally the handsomest breed, but is small and has less resemblance to the English thoroughbred than either of the preceding. The Abeyan Sherrak is the substrain most appreciated, and an Abeyan Sherrak we saw at Aleppo, bred by the Gomussa, could not have been surpassed in good looks. He was not however of a racing type. Again an Abeyeh Sherrak mare belonging to Beteyen ibn Mershid was the most perfect mare we saw. But her sire was a Kehilan Ajuz. The pure Abeyan Sherrak strain is only found in the family of Abu Jereys of the Meseka, and in a single family of the Jelaas.
HAMDANI, fem. Hamdanieh, Is not a common breed either among the Anazeh or Shammar. Most of the animals of this breed I have seen have been grey, but a very handsome brown horse was shown us by the Gomussa. This was a Hamdani Simri, which is the only substain recognised as hadud. The very beautiful white mare, Sherifa, which we had with us on the latter part of our journey, was a Hamdanieh Simri. She was bred in Nejd, and had been in the possession of Ibn Saoud. Her head is the most perfect of any I have seen. She stands fourteen hands two inches, and is pure white in colour, with the kohl patches round the eyes and nose very strongly and blackly marked. Her ears are long like a hind's, and her eyes as full and soft. She was admired all over the desert. In shape, head apart, she is more like an English hunter than a racehorse. All inquiries contact Coralie sinoan.arabians@gmail.com or call 0033 608 754 712 Sinoan Arabians |
