First published in The Arabian Breeders’ Magazine Volume I Issue I September 2016.
Celebrating the Champions – Tehama Ballalina.
Owned by HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Thani of Al Zobair Stud, located in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates, Tehama Ballalina is an ethereally beautiful mare that has just unanimously claimed the Gold Senior Female Championship at the AHO World Cup in Chantilly.
Foaled in 2002, Tehama Ballalina was bred in Zimbabwe by Tehama Arabians. Her predominantly Egyptian bloodlines include an exotic mixture of Spanish, Crabbet, Polish and also an irresistible blend of homebred South African beauties. Now 14 years of age, Tehama Ballalina is a very beautiful fleabitten grey with a natural show attitude.
An incredibly feminine mare, Tehama Ballalina is sired by the vibrant stallion Tehama Na Sidaqa (Thee Cyclone x Banghor Darica by Niyashin El Shaklan) and out of JJ Shai Majestic Queen (Laddinn x Sidi Escondida by WD Majesty). Exported from South Africa to the UK, Tehama Ballalina took the Reserve Junior Female Championship at the All Nations’ Cup in Aachen and then, as an eight-year-old, joined the beautiful herd of mares at Al Zobair Stud.
Tehama Ballalina. Credit Ricard Cunill.
In January 2011, Tehama Ballalina began her year by taking the Gold Senior Female Championship at the Ajman Show and ending it by not only being awarded the Gold Senior Female Championship at the UAE National Championships, but also named Best in Show, repeating both Gold success once more in 2013.
In 2014, now a 12-year-old mare, this graceful mare took the Bronze Senior Female Championship at the Abu Dhabi International Arabian Horse Show and Silver Senior Female Champion at the Sharjah International Show. Later that year, Tehama Ballalina, who has been backed and is ridden regularly, placed third at her first ridden show. She followed this up with a win in the ridden class at the Sharjah Local Show two months later. Just a few months later, at the 2015 Sharjah International Show, Tehama Ballalina won her seventh title in the Middle East as she took the Gold Senior Female Championship, and finished her season as Silver Senior Female Champion at the Dubai International Arabian Horse Championships.
Tehama Ballalina has also been a successful broodmare around her show-ring wins. In 2015, she produced a beautiful filly by Al Zobair’s chief stallion SMA Magic One (Psytadel x Majidah Bint Pacha by AS Sinans Pacha), a stallion that has been a sensation the world over. The filly, Belbelah Al Zobair, remains at Al Zobair Stud and we can expect to see her out in the coming months. This year, Tehama Ballalina foaled another beautiful filly, the grey Dawoudiyah Al Zobair. Sired by World Champion Stallion Kahil Al Shaqab (Marwan Al Shaqab x OFW Mishaahl by Mishaah), all at Al Zobair have high hopes for this lovely filly.
Earlier this year, Tehama Ballalina made her way back to Europe once more, to compete in selected shows. At the AHO World Cup in Chantilly, she scored straight 20s for type to win her class with a huge score of 94 points, well ahead of her nearest rival. Come the championship, all the judges voted for her to win Gold.
At 14 years of age, Tehama Ballalina is in her prime, and I look forward to seeing her dance around the show-rings once more as the season reaches its exciting climax.
First printed in The Arabian Breeders’ Magazine Volume I Issue I September 2016. To enjoy further content such as this, please visit The Arabian Magazine Shop.
