Photography by Kelly Keneally, Michelle Kelly and Anne Christine
Great coffee, bright sunshine and glorious mountain vistas all made it another perfect day in California at the Aljassimya Farm Open House! Thank you to all the guests from nearby and from far afield who came to see the breeding program at 100 Oaks Ranch in Santa Ynez.
The presentation included the reigning unanimous Las Vegas and Scottsdale International Champion Stallion Equator (QR Marc x Ekliptika) on lease from Michalów Stud in Poland. Equator has been as incredibly popular in the US as he is in Europe and was presented by Ashlee Alfreds, who prepares him the show-ring. From the other end of the bloodline spectrum is the equally lovely Al Ayal AA (Al Ayad x The Vision HG), on lease from Ariela Arabians and also a 2016 Scottsdale Champion in the Straight Egyptian section. Al Ayal will be leaving for home and his breeders, Ariela Arabians, at the end of the summer. Also on show were Aljassimya Farm’s homebred 2016 Champions from Vegas, Maysah Aljassimya (Monther Al Nasser x RA Marwans Elygance) and Misrah Aljassimya (Om El Bellissimo x RP Miss Surprise).
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| ALJASSIMYA FARM TEAM | MISS SURPRISE |
Two mare families were presented; firstly RP Miss Surprise (WH Justice x Nefertarji), who has made a brave recovery from a broken pastern and been rescued for the breeding programme by embryo transfer. Proudly presented by Debra Schliem, Aljassimya Farm’s breeding manager who keeps the show on the road, RP Miss Surprise was followed by a group of daughters that only be called the ‘amazing greys’ , each different and yet reminiscent of her. Their sires are Monther Al Nasser, Al Ayal AA, SMA Magic One(Psytadel x Majidah Bint Pacha), Om El Bellisimo (Om El Shahmaan x Om El Benedict) and Brandon Bey JCA (Versace x Hushahby Bey). Her oldest daughter Mai Aljassimya (by FA El Rasheem), a bay this time, could not be present, as she in Europe for the show season. Secondly, Scottsdale Silver Champion Mare Om El Soraya (Om El Bellissimo x Om El Sariyana) and her daughters this year by Al Ayal AA and SMA Magic One. Her third daughter, Jouriat Aljassimya (by WH Justice), is in Europe heading to debut in Menton. After that came the opportunity to walk around the pastures to see yearlings and older get by WH Justice as well as more of the incredible 2016 foal crop by Monther Al Nasser, Al Ayal AA and other select sires.
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| MONTHER AL NASSER and Nester Gonzalez |
Horses were also presented under saddle including Monther Al Nasser (Ansata Hejazi x Aliah Al Nasser) in western tack with young trainer Nester Gonzalez, and three of the 2016 winners that Nestor has ridden for the farm; Aurora Aljassimya (Marwan Al Shaqab x Diammond Lil), Oula Aljassimya (Marwan Al Shaqab x El Sanadika IA) and Jafar AJF (WH Justice x Psierra).
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| AL AYALAA |
Finally, a fantastic day was rounded off with dinner in the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum for friends of the Arabian horse to talk about the breed they love most. As friend and neighbour Carol Steppe of Daydream Arabians commented: “to listen to Bart discuss the breeding philosophy of the farm, their goals, their solutions and their expectations is like listening to a great professor at a top university. A brilliant day, not to be missed by anyone who loves Arabian horses!”
We hope to see you next year, old faces and new!
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| MISRAH ALJASSIMYA | EQUATOR Ashlee Alfreds |
