Words by Becky Ross
Photography unless stated by Sweet Photography www.sweetphotography.com
Lead Photograph: At the British National Championships in Malvern
Once in a generation, a horse comes along that is destined for great things. Maiad was to be such a horse. Her father was WAHO Trophy winner Imad (Golden Cavalier x Ivory Wings), a legend in his own lifetime, and so it was to be with Maiad.
She was born in 1993, out of Myah (Militaire x Safina). Maiad had two crosses to the Heavenly Twin Dancing Sunlight (Dargee x Shades of Night) – one through Aria (by General Grant), the daughter of Champion Tarentella (Indian King x Dancing Sunlight), and one through Safina (by General Grant), a daughter of Andante and full sister to Tarentella.
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Maiad competing at the North |
Maiad actually had three crosses to General Grant (Raktha x Samsie), who was a great mare producer. There was also plenty of Rissalix (Faris x Rissla) blood in Maiad’s pedigree through Silver Blue (Azrak x Silver Sheen), Silent Dove (Ludo x Yemama), General Gold (General Grant x Golden Treasure), Crystal Gold (Fari II x Gleaming Gold) and Militaire (King Cotton Gold x Aria). Rissalix offspring were known for their great action, coming from his dam, Rissla (Berk x Risala). Finally, there is Indian Magic (Raktha x Indian Crown) blood via Yemama (Indian Magic x Silent Wings), which contributes to the size and look of Maiaid.
Maiad was owned and bred by Peter and Elaine Whitlow. She was shown lightly in-hand as a youngster, and was claimed by their daughter Emma as her future riding horse. Emma backed Maiad as a six-year old, hacked her out with friends, and rode her around the family farm. She competed in some clear round show-jumping events, proving the doubters who said Arabs can’t jump wrong, by flying around the courses!
In 2004, Maiad took time off from riding to have her first and only foal. This was the Crabbet-related Psalm, a grey colt by Psynergy (Padrons Psyche x Balenina). Incidentally, Psynergy brings in a few interesting Crabbet lines including Bright Wings (Bright Shadow x Silent Wings) and Serinda (Seradin x Cinders). Psalm has been used very successfully by Diana Whittome on her Imad daughters. His progeny include Sarafan (ex Sarafiah), Incandescent (ex Illaria), Sarafinah (ex Sarafiah) and Illiana (ex Illuminate). He has also sired Rose Romance (ex Rose in Ivory) and Serenissima (ex Sunnah) for the Whitlows. So even though Maiad had only one foal, she has left a wonderful legacy through her grandchildren. Interestingly, Maiad is the only horse that the Whitlows have bred to date who had the prophet’s thumb print, a dent in the neck muscle.
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| Maiad at the UK International Arabian Horse Championhips. |
In 2006, Maiad suffered an injury in the field which resulted in her having to have major surgery to her fetlock joint twice. It was touch and go but she fought back. The vets said she would probably not be ridden again, so she was turned away for a couple of years to heal.
This obviously worked as in 2008, Emma started riding her again and took her to the Warrington Show. Emma felt her riding was not really up to showing standards, so her work colleague and friend Sophie Meredith agreed to ride her at a couple of shows. One of these was the Bolton Arab Show where, judged by Joy Mclean, she went Reserve Supreme Ridden Champion. This result made the Whitlows think that maybe she could go to the top, so they decided to aim for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) classes. This was to be the following year, when Maiad would be 16 years old. Maiad was sent to Kirsty Brown, something that proved to be a perfect partnership.
In 2009, Maiad had an incredible year. She was unbeaten in ridden Arabian mare classes, winning at no less than five regional C shows and qualifying for HOYS. At the Arab Horse Society National Show, she was British National Champion Ridden Mare, Open Ridden Champion, and Supreme Ridden Champion. Maiad followed this up by achieving Reserve Champion at the UK International Arabian Horse Show. No one was really surprised when she finished the year with the ultimate accolade of being the HOYS Ridden Pure-bred Arabian Mare of the Year. She was even listed in the national Horse and Hound magazine on the ‘one to watch’ list for HOYS!
One month after HOYS, Maiad unfortunately developed a foot abscess that required surgical intervention and half her foot was removed. Luckily, the vets were successful and after a lot of remedial farriery, she was fit enough to enter the ring again, this time in-hand at the British Nationals in 2010. Here, she gained four titles at the one show – Crabbet National Champion Mare, Supreme Crabbet National Champion, Veteran In-hand Champion and Bronze Senior Female Champion – an extraordinary achievement! Maiad certainly flew the flag for Crabbet Arabians in-hand and under saddle.
In 2012, Maiad was ambassador for the breed at HOYS, this time as the representative on the Arab Horse Society stand. She charmed the masses for the full five days, gaining lots of fans and admirers and relishing all the attention!
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| At the British National Championships in Malvern |
In 2013, the family decided to have a bit of fun in the ring again as Maiad looked so well, and they entered the veteran classes at a few shows. They chose Katie Gore as her handler, and this proved another great partnership. Their successes included first in-hand veterans at the North West Group C Show, third in a strong class of grey veteran mares at the British National Championships, National Crabbet Mare Champion, and first in the veteran mares at the UK International Arabian Horse Show. After this last hurrah, Maiad was retired at home and was occasionally nanny to weaned foals.
Maiad will always be remembered by all the family and anyone who knew her. They have lots of treasured memories and were truly touched by how many people remembered and adored her. We will all miss her serene beauty combined with athleticism and correctness. In the show-ring, she powered along in trot, effortlessly covering the ground and then would stand calmly, surveying the scene, with her huge expressive eyes.
Reproduced courtesy of The Crabbet Organisation
