Om El Arab have a knack of breeding amazing horses and our cover horse for March is their upcoming star, Om El Shawan. This three-year old colt is bred by Om El Arab and owned with Greg and Nancy Gallún. With his first foals due this season, this colt is definitely one to watch.
Om El Shawan has a rich pedigree, and he is notable for being one of the first leading Om El colts in recent years not by one of the farm’s own stallions. Instead, his sire is the international giant FA El Shawan (Marwan Al Shaqab x Foxbriar Shakita), a multi-garlanded champion stallion who passed too soon. Om El Shawan’s dam is full of Om El Arab greats, being Om El Beladeena by Al Lahab (Laheeb x The Vision HG) and out of Om El Benedict (Sanadik El Shaklan x Om El Beneera), making Om El Shawan fourth generation Om El Arab breeding. Om El Beladeena has been a star in both the show-ring and breeding barn, including being dam of Titan AS (by El Nabila B).
Om El Shawan as a yearling. Credit Stuart Vesty
At his show-ring debut, Om El Shawan was Champion at Region 1 and last year, he was Region 2 Champion Two-year Old Colt. He was also lightly bred as to test his potency, and he has seven foals due this year.
Janina Merz, owner of Om El Arab, says: “The interest by breeders around the world in this stallion has been overwhelming. Om El Shawan appeals to people who have long been Om El Arab fans, but he is also a cross-over stallion for people that have bred bloodlines different to ours.
“Om El Shawan is structurally so complete. I am so excited to see his babies and to watch his impact on our breeding programme unfold.”
Om El Shawan. Credit Stuart Vesty
Om El Shawan comes from a long line of remarkable Arabian horses, each generation of which have had an impact on a global stage. All the signs are there that this colt will reach his potential and more, making his the next big name to watch from this beautiful part of the Santa Ynez Valley.
Wow!! He is looking fabulous. Been really fun watching this one grow up ?