The Arabian Breeders’ Magazine Cover Star: Basmah Albidayer

Gracing the front cover of The Arabian Breeders’ Magazine Collectors’ Edition 2023 is the beautiful mare, Basmah Albidayer. Bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Saud Al Qasimi at his Albidayer Stud in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, Basmah Albidayer is a complete package, oozing ethereal beauty, Arabian type, and sheer personality. This eight-year-old mare will be competing at the inaugural Katara World Arabian Horse Championships, where she is sure to captivate.

Part of what makes Basmah Albidayer so special is her dam. She is out of the incredible Bidayer, who is the heart of Albidayer Stud. Sheikh Mohammed based his breeding programme around this incredible Emigrant (Ararat x Emigrantka by Eukaliptus) daughter. Bidayer is out of the famed mare, Eskalopka (Monogramm x Egzotyka by Probat), bred at Michałow State Stud, and part of a highly celebrated group of champion horses from these lines. Both sire and dam have a host of titles to their names, and Bidayer added to this success. Bidayer was imported in utero with her dam, and from the moment she was born, she made her mark.

Foaled in 2005, Bidayer was named Junior Female Champion at the 2006 Ajman Ramadan Show, beating the older fillies while still a yearling. While undeniably beautiful and a very complete show horse, with all the Polish panache one could want from such a pedigree, it was in the breeding barn that Bidayer made the biggest impact – most notably through her daughter, our cover star, the feminine Basmah Albidayer.

Basmah Albidayer was foaled in 2015 and is by the highly acclaimed Al Shaqab stallion, Fadi al Shaqab, bred by Michael Byatt and Orrion Farms. Named World Champion Stallion in 2013, Fadi al Shaqab is an irresistible mix of some of the most recognised bloodlines in the world, being sired by Besson Carol (Parys el Jamaal x Classic Krystall by Simeon Shor) and out of the Marwan al Shaqab (Gazal al Shaqab x Little Liza Fame by Fame VF) daughter, Abha Myra (ex ZT Ludjkalba by Ludjin el Jamaal out of ZT Shakalba). The blend of the Jamaal blood with the Gazal lines and the ethereal Polish beauty of Bidayer resulted in Basmah Albidayer – a very complete, very correct mare who continues to shine time and time again in the show-ring.

In 2017, Basmah Albidayer was named Silver Junior Female Champion at the Fujairah National Show before returning in 2021 to the same event, adding the Silver Senior Female Championship at the Fujairah Arabian Horse Championships to her name.

In 2022, Basmah Albidayer was named Gold Senior Female Champion at the Sharjah International Show, winning her class with a huge score of 93.37 points. Later that year, she won at the Dubai International Arabian Horse Championships and the All Nations’ Cup in Aachen, taking home the Bronze Senior Female title at both shows.

Besides her show-ring successes, Basmah Albidayer has also produced two foals for Albidayer Stud – the 2019 colt Samer Albidayer (by Dominic M by Da Vinci FM out of Rosa la Valentina) and the 2020 filly Lana Albidayer, sired by Albidayer’s own Wahaj Albidayer (Versace x Baila de Djoon OS by Ajman Moniscione).

In 2023, Basmah Albidayer foaled a colt by Sinmar Albidayer (Shanghai EA x Salwa Albidayer by Marwan al Shaqab), Albidayer Stud’s 2023 Abu Dhabi International Arabian Horse Championships Champion Stallion who has just been sold to China.

Albidayer Stud, managed by Dawn Martin, remains one of the leading breeding farms in the Middle East. From homebred superstars Mozn Albidayer (SMA Magic One x Mattaharii by Magnum Chall HVP), now owned by Al Wajba Stud, and her paternal half-brother Raoud Albidayer (ex DL Marielle by Marwan al Shaqab) to Lahab Albidayer (Vervaldee x FS Madeline by Magnum Psyche), now in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Albidayer Stud has bred some of the most significant horses in the current generation. Add in their now-retired and first global superstar, World Champion Marajj (Marwan al Shaqab x RGA Kouress by Kouvay Bey), Pitonisa AS (Ever After NA x Psyches Amber Dream by Padrons Psyche) and A Vision MI (Allegiance MI x Always Valentine MI by DA Valentino), who this year foaled an incredible filly by Jyar Meia Lua (RFI Maktub x Jiullya el Jamaal by Ali Jamaal, Durrat Albidayer, and it is clear that Albidayer Stud continues to lead the way as world-class breeders of significance.

As for Basmah Albidayer, this ethereal fleabitten grey is set to take the stage in Qatar, where her many outstanding qualities – true Arabian type, powerful movement, good limbs, and that extra ‘something’ – will ensure that she truly shines underneath the spotlights.

All photography credit Alessio Azzali.

To find out more about Albidayer Stud, click here.

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