By Jim Robbins
As featured in the Winter 2025 issue of Arabian Horse World
The Stallion Issue. Three simple words sum up what breeders worldwide look forward to seeing every year. The future of our breed lies in breeding foals that are good, correct, well-minded, and potentially useful individuals and improving upon both sire and dam. That’s when the genetic roll of the dice gives us the best possible results. So here’s a look back at the history of some of the great stallions of the past by decade from 1960 on and their contributions to our breed. If you look closely, these stallions show up in the bloodlines of horses showing, winning, and breeding today.
1960s
*Bask++
The Polish invasion of the 1960s started with Dr. LaCroix, his son, Gene, and Dr. Kale, with his son, Howie Jr., making a trip to Great Britain and Poland. Several stallions came home on this trip, including *Silver Drift (Raktha x Serafina by Indian Gold) to the Kales and *Naborr (Negatiw x Lagodna by Posejdon) to Anne McCormick’s in Scottsdale, the early home of the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. Dr. LaCroix and Gene acquired two Polish stallions for Lasma. The first (and most expensive of their purchases) was *Bajram (Pietuszok x Bandola by Witraz), later named Canadian National Champion Stallion. The second was the stallion who changed Arabian breeding in the US for several decades, *Bask++ (Witraz x Balalajka by Amurath-Sahib). No way inclusive to just *Bask++, the Polish invasion continued with National’s winners *El Paso, *Aramus, *Elkin++, *Meczet, *Orzel++, *Muzulmanin++ and more recently *Emanor and *Ecaho, to scratch the surface.
Summing up *Bask++’s influence on our breed is no small task. From the moment he stepped into the Scottsdale Show arena in 1964, where he was named Champion Stallion and Champion Park Horse, to his Nationals wins in Halter, Park, Formal Driving, and Formal Combination, the only thing better than the way *Bask++ looked and moved was the way he sired. He was the first significant stallion in our breed to sire over 1,000 foals. His National-winning daughters, of which there were many with frequent wins in performance, included Fame++, Basquina++, Dancing Flame++, Fire Music++, Amurath Bandeira, Fire Flame++, Mi Fire Dream, Bask Melody, Scarlet Lace, and Silhoulette to name a few. His sons did equally well in the show ring and the breeding barn, winning many National awards, particularly in the English Pleasure and Park Horse divisions. His only US National Champion Stallion son was MS Santana (x SW Saruchna by *Sambor++), who was pure Polish and won in 1986, three years after he won in Canada. *Bask++’s other great sons included Tornado, The Judge, Hask, La Basque+++/, Gdansk+, Pro-Fire, Zodiac Matador+, Baske-Tu, Red Tape+//, GG Jabask+/, Ariston, Brass and Le Fire. What *Bask++ also set in motion was the importation of hundreds of Polish stallions and mares, which contributed much to our breed in quality, correctness, and athleticism, which is still seen today.
The importation of the Egyptian Agricultural Organization’s (EAO) herd-sire *Morafic (Nazeer x Mabrouka by Sid Abouhom) by Doug and Margaret Marshall for their Gleannloch Farms in Texas opened a new door for Straight Egyptian breeding in the US. The Marshalls also imported numerous stunning mares by the EAO stallions Nazeer, Sameh, and Anter, as well as the stallions *Ibn Hafiza (Sameh x Hafiza by Hamdan) and *Soufian (Alaa El Dine x Moniet El Nefous by Shahloul), rounding out a breeding program whose influence was felt worldwide. The *Morafic daughters were stunning show mares and, for many years, dominated the US Futurities under the training and presentation of Tom and Rhita McNair. The most notable *Morafic sons included The Egyptian Prince (x *Bint Mona by Nazeer), Shaikh Al Badi (x *Bint Maisa El Saghira++ by Nazeer), Ibn Morafic+++ (x *Kahramana by Anter) and Dalul (x *Dawlat by Anter). *Morafic’s influence can be felt worldwide today as the sire-line of Ruminaja Ali, who sired US and Canadian National Champion Stallion Ali Jamaal (x Heritage Memory by El Magato) and Anaza El Farid (x Bint Deena by *Ansata Ibn Halima++), two stallions who sired National and International winners.
*Morafic
Frank and Helen McCoy were already established breeders by 1952 when they had not one but two exceptional colts foaled. Technically the younger colt wasn’t bred by them, but his dam, Bint Sahara, foaled out the “Fabulous Fadjur” at the McCoy’s just two months after their other superstar colt, Ferzon (Ferneyn x Fersara, a maternal sister to Fadjur) arrived. Fadjur went on to the Jack and Margie Tone family of Stockton and founded a dynasty of show and breeding horses at their Jack Tone Ranch, in addition to twice being named US Reserve National Champion Stallion. Ferzon, grey and very much his multi-champion mother’s son, was purchased for the “then price” of $10,000 by the long-time Arabian Horse Registry president and breeder, Dan Gainey Sr., for his Gainey Fountainhead Arabians. Shown lightly as a youngster, Ferzon always did well but his value to Gaineys was as a breeding stallion. His sons were some of the nation’s most sought-after colts, and his daughters were both great show mares and breeding mares. The most notable of the Ferzon sons was Gai Parada+++/ (x Azleta by Azraff), who long held the distinction of being the first US National Champion Stallion who had already been named a US and Canadian National Champion in performance as a Pleasure Driving Horse.
Ferzon
Other notable Ferzon sons included Comar Raffdazon+ (x Raffda by *Raffles), Guzon++ (x Gadina by Fay-El-Dine), Hi Fashion Imperial+++ (x Ala-Arabi Razali by Julep) and his full brother, Ga-Ferzon++/, Gamuzon (x Amunet by Tut Ankh Amen), Shar Mar Ferzyy (x Lewisfield Magnolia by Imaraff), Gaffizon++ (x Gaffi by Raffi) and Gazon (x Scheraff by Indraff). The Ferzon daughters out of Gajala (*Raffles x Rageyma by *Mirage) were known as the “four sisters” Gavrelle, Ga-Rageyma, Gafferra, and Ga-Gajala) and were some of the most sought-after shows and breeding mares of their time. Special mention also goes to the Ferzon daughter, Gay-Rose (x Gali-Rose by Galimar), who produced US National Champion Stallion Galizon, Canadian Top Ten Stallion Gay-Rouge, and twice US Top Ten Mare Gai-Gay-Rose+, all by Azraff, as well as the great broodmare sire Gamaar (by Niga).
1970s
Bay El Bey++
As we moved into the 70s, two family-owned breeding programs dominated the scene. Sheila Varian and the Bert and Ruth Husband family left a lasting legacy through their home-bred stallions, Bay El Bey++ (Bay-Abi++ x *Naganka by Bad Afas) and Khemosabi++++// ( Amerigo x Jurneeka++ by Fadjur). Bay El Bey++ was the “King Maker” at Varian Arabians for years. In addition to his many National wins in halter, including Canadian National Champion and twice US Reserve National Champion, he sired excellent colts. His first major son was Barbary+++ (x Balalinka by *Bask++), who was purchased from Varians as a colt by the Academy Award-winning director and horse breeder Mike Nichols as a youngster. Barbary+++ won several Top Tens and a Reserve Championship in Park, Halter, English Pleasure, and Pleasure driving before siring some of the breed’s best-minded and athletic sons and daughters. Next came Bey Shah+ (x Star Of Ofir by *Bask++), and the third was Huckleberry Bey (x Taffona by Raffon++), bred, owned & managed his entire life by Sheila Varian. “Huck” won Reserve National Championships and Top Tens in Halter and English Pleasure for Sheila before retiring to stud. He was an equally prolific sire of halter and performance horses in virtually all disciplines.
Khemosabi++++//
Khemosabi++++// and the Husband family need little introduction as he was truly an American-bred, loved, and promoted stallion. Fun fact: he was leased as a two-year-old by Sheila Varian and sired his first foal crop in 1970 at Varian. His show record was rarely duplicated as Khemo was US National Champion Stallion, twice Canadian National Champion Stallion, US & Canadian National Champion Western Pleasure, and Canadian National Champion Pleasure Driving—versatility, which was also the trademark of his offspring. The Khemosabi++++// sons were great show horses and sires, winning through the National level in the US and Canada. His daughters duplicated their brother’s wins in the show ring and were amazing producers of halter and performance horses in every category, from Working Western to Pleasure Driving to English to Park. One of my favorite parts of growing up with Arabians were the Khemosabi++++// cartoons, that featured his most loyal fan and person, Ruth Husband. They were truly a great memory during a golden time in our breed.
1980s
*Muscat
The 1980s brought a new era to the breed, and a new bloodline group came to the forefront with Howie Kale’s love and determination to import and breed the best Russian-influenced horses in the world. Howie and *Muscat (Salon x Malpia by Priboj) won the Triple Crown of North America in 1980, going Scottsdale, Canadian and US National Champion Stallion. Then, the daughters started showing. To name a few, Amber Silk, Amber Satin, My Mavika, Crown Amber, Satin Mist, and Satin Muscata. The best part about the *Muscat offspring is that those bred by Dr. Kale and Howie Jr. came from generations of Kale breeding, Tornado daughters who were out of *Silver Drift daughters who were out of *Naborr and Ga’zi daughters with consistency in their pedigrees and type that came through foal after foal.
*Aladdinn
Sharing the stage with *Muscat was Lasma’s pure Polish import *Aladdinn (Nureddin x Lalage by Gerwazy). Bred by Erik Erlandsson in Sweden and named Swedish National Champion in 1978, *Aladdinn ushered in a new era of Polish breeding with the passing of Bask++ in 1979. In the breeding shed, US and Scottsdale Champion Stallion, *Aladdinn, was almost a “flip” of Bask++. *Bask++ had sired National Champion Mare after National Champion Mare and only one US National Champion Stallion. *Aladdinn sired four US National Champion Stallions; Strike (x Gwyndalyn by *Bask++), AAF Kaset (x *Kaseta by Negatiw), Exceladdinn (x Jortaala by *Exelsjor) and Almaden (x La Ambir by *Bask++). The lone but stunning US National Champion Mare, Canadian Reserve Champion, and Futurity Filly Champion was SS Follow Me (*Aladdinn x Contessa-B+++ by *Bask++). While he spent much of his early life at Lasma and Lasma East, *Aladdinn went home to Taylor Arabians, who also had *Muscat and *Nariadni in their golden years.
Bey Shah++
Bey Shah+ (Bay El Bey++ x Star Of Ofir by Bask++) was a stallion that almost never was, except for the fact that Lester and Jennie Walton got lost while taking their prized Bask++ daughter to be bred to a different stallion. Arriving at Varian’s to ask for directions, Sheila was taken by Star Of Ofir, and the Bey Shah+ legacy began. I remember seeing him on a trip in 1977 to Walton’s with Bill Little and Bill Kimball. There was Jeannie Walton, this tiny little lady out in a paddock with this tall, gangly bay colt bouncing all over the place with enough snort and blow for ten show horses. That, was Bey Shah+. From the Walton’s, he went on to be named 1980 US National Reserve Champion Stallion to *Muscat, and his breeding career still influences our breed today. Had Bey Shah+ only covered one mare, Ralph Sessa and Cory Soltau’s TW Forteyna (*Fortel x Tapiola by Sur-Grande), he would have gone down in history with *Bask++ and Imaraff as having sired two US National Champion Mares, Shahteyna and Bey Teyna. But Bey Shah+ was also a sire of great stallions, giving us the 1987 US National Champion Stallion Fame VF+ (x Raffoleta-Rose by Raffon++), who became another great sire of halter and performance horses. Shah Azim (x Juda by *Bask++), JK Amadeus (x Katahza by Aza Destiny), NV Elite (x IA Bay Countess by Bay Rouge) and RSD Dark Victory (x Kamasi Sabaha+/ by Khemosabi++++//) left a legacy in Brazil and the US, along with Shahllenger (x Wind Feature by Fire Wind) who was one of the leading sires in Brazil. Adding Bob and Janene Boggs’ Bint Bey Shah (x Musks Angel Eyes by Sir Musk) and Lucy Whittier’s Bey Shahs Lady (x Elegance Of Taask by Taask), as both mares have produced innumerable champions around the world.
1990s
Afire Bey V
Into the 1990s and beyond, English Pleasure, Park Horse, and Pleasure Driving (as well as halter!) were dominated by the new kid in town, Afire Bey V (Huckleberry Bey++ x Autumn Fire by *Bask++), bred by Sheila Varian and owned nearly all of his life by the Liniger’s of Maroon Fire Arabians. We can’t discuss Afire Bey V’s impact without highlighting his management team, trainers, and number one fans, Tim and Marty Shea of Shea Stables. Over Afire Bey V’s extraordinary career as a sire, he was awarded the WAHO Horse of the Year award in 2008 and the APAHA Overall Sire of the Year in 2016. He was only as great as the management of the Shea’s. Nearly a decade after his passing, Afire Bey V is the sire of nearly 1,400 Arabian and Half-Arabians and nearly 500 National winners. A few of his best sons are Afires Heir (x Brassmis by Brass), Justafire DGL (x Mc Justa Kate by The Chief Justice++/), DS Major Afire (x SS Magnolia by AN Magno+++/), Baske Afire (x Mac Baske by Baskevich), Navajo Moun+++/ (x Mounlighting by Pask), Diamonds Afire++++// (x FF Windsong Bey by Barbary+++). His most notable daughters include 3 times National Champion at halter and twice Top Ten in English Pleasure Afire Storrm++/ (x Brassmis by Brass), Bonita Afire (x Bacharah by Barbary), 3 times National Pleasure Driving Champion Afires Lullaby+ (x Flames Lullaby by Bask Flame), Felicia Afire and her sister Foxy Afire (x Flame Dancer by Barbary+++), Rumina Afire (x HL Raisa by The Chief Justice++/) and Can Can Dancer (x Canadette by Al-Marah Canadius++/). Even though Can Can Dancer passed quite young, she was truly everything a young English Pleasure mare should be.
Padrons Psyche
Foaled in 1988 and named US Reserve National Champion Stallion in 1991, Padrons Psyche (*Padron x Kilika by *Tamerlane) has left a mark worldwide in the halter community that is still felt today. “Psyche” was the perfect cross for both the Bey Shah+ daughters and mares of Wayne Newton breeding, and the best of these foals were nothing short of magical. Owned and/or managed during his life by Walter Mishek, Lyle Bertch, Larry Lengacher, and Joey and Cathy Zehrr, no one loved Padrons Psyche more than his final US owners, Bob and Dixie North. Psyche was “Dixie’s Boy” and lived a royal life at North Arabians prior to his final years with Paul Gheysens in Belgium. As a sire, Psyche sired extraordinary sons and daughters, a rare feat in breeding horses. His best sons list, which includes National winners around the world, includes Magnum Psyche (x A Fancy Miracle by *Sasaki), Enzo (x RD Bey Shahmpagne by Bey Shah+), Psymadre (x Tomorrows Dream by *Aladdinn), ML Mostly Padron (x HS Mostly by *Padron), Psytadel (x Bint Bey Shah by Bey Shah+) in Europe and Pscore (x Bey Shahs Lady by Bey Shah+) in Brazil. The Psyche daughters of note are four-time US National Champion NW Siena Psyche (x NV Shanteuse by Bey Shah+), Estoriah (x RB Gitana by El Haskim), World Champion WN Fawn Obsession (x WN Obession by Blue Spruce Tanzeer), Multi-National Champion FS Mystique Lady (x HS Mostly by *Padron), World Champion Psyches Amber Gem (x AK Zabiya by Na Ibn Moniet) and US National Champion JBK Mystic Fawn (x Tanzeers Supreme by Blue Spruce Tanzeer).
2000s
Magnum Psyche
Magnum Psyche added to the look of halter and performance horses with a smoothness, elegance, and disposition that made him a leading sire for over 20 years. I was fortunate enough to watch him win a considerable Region 4 class in Salem, OR, as a yearling, and he was about as perfect in that class as any colt could ever be. He was the King of Midwest Training Center his entire life, shown to virtually all of his wins and managed by David Boggs for the Santibanes family of Argentina. Magnum went on to three US National Championships, one Canadian Championship, and Scottsdale Champion Stallion. His most notable sons are international powerhouse sire WH Justice, Scottsdale, Brazilian, Canadian, and US National Champion *Magnum Chall HVP (x Tamara HVP by Don El Chall), National Champion Ames Charisma (x Ames Mirage by Brass), AB Magnum (x Echos Love Son by Aladdinn Echo), Affirmmed (x Shimmering Star B by *Sharem El Sheikh), MCA Magnum Gold (x Litique by Litigator+++) and seven-time National Champion LD Pistal (x Halana by Hal Gibby). Magnum’s daughters were just as illustrious in the show ring and as broodmares, including Amelia B (x Amety B by Eternety+), Maggdalina (x Zolina by Andrzejevo), JJ La Estrella (x WA Marlaina Lee by Bey Shah+), *JJ Polaca (x Sol Magic by Solstice) and Bay Oaks Psyignet (x Kishaj by MS Santana).
*Gazal Al Shaqab
From the moment he was foaled in 1995 in Qatar, the world knew that US National Champion Mare Kajora’s colt by Anaza El Farid was something special. And, he indeed was. *Gazal Al Shaqab has taken the world stage in the new millennium as the sire of extraordinary mares and great sons who sired just as quality of mares. With his management by Michael Byatt and the Al Shaqab group, *Gazal Al Shaqab has earned his place as an international sire of the best. His daughters from Poland alone have set records that may not be outdone in the future. *Pianissima (x Pianosa by Eukaliptus), *Pinga (x Pilar by Fawor), Etnologia (x Etatlanta by Europejczyk) and Belgica (x Belladona by Europejczyk), both acquired by Shirley Watts for Halsdon Stud, Pistoria (x Palmira by *Monogramm) and one of the most beautiful grey mares ever, *Emandoria (x Emanda by *Ecaho), from the same family that gave us *Elkana++, are just a few of the *Gazal Al Shaqab daughters to set records in the show ring and on the auction block. His sons have done exceptionally well in the US and abroad, with SF Veraz (x Veronica GA by Versace), Stival (x Paloma De Jamaal by *Soho Carol, PA Gazsi (x Memphis NA by Fame VF+), WC Ali Gazal (x JE Ali Selene by Ali Jamaal) and *Lawrence El Gazal (x Lara El Ludjin by Ludjin El Jamaal) in Europe. Did I forget anyone, let me think. Oh, yes, our next sire is the incomparable *Marwan Al Shaqab (x Little Liza Fame by Fame VF+), the horse who re-wrote history.
2010s
*Marwan Al Shaqab
Since we’re on the topic of *Marwan, he’s next up in this story, as he dramatically influences our breed today. If Bay El Bey++ is the King Maker of yesteryear, *Marwan has assumed his place in the halter world today. From his first breeding season at Ses Planes on Mallorca, his prowess as a sire who stamps his foals was set. His first US foal crop included the Nationals winning stallions Marhabbah (x Shalina El Jamaal), NYN Hisani++/ (x NYN Imara Versace), and Marajj (x RGA Kouress, one of his best crosses) and, as a bonus, the three-time National Champion Mare, Star of Marwan (x GW Natorious Star). The following year QR Marc (x Swete Dreams) was foaled. He has won worldwide and has been an essential part of the success of the Polish State Studs. There are so, so many exceptional *Marwan Al Shaqab offspring to pick from, that if I had to choose a very few favorites, they would include *Abha Palma (x Abha Ghazali) and *Abha Myra (x ZT Ludjkalba), both bred by master-breeder Marieta Salas and *Najdah Al Zobair (x JFN Bint Ludhan) for mares. For stallions, Rhan Al Shahania (x Jwaaher Al Shahania) is about as perfect of a young stallion as one can get, showing in four classes as US Nationals and winning every title with Michael Byatt. And PA Marco (x Cassandra SS) has eight Nationals wins in Reining and Western and is hitting it out of the park as a sire. Remember, pretty is as pretty does.
WH Justice
And last, but certainly not least, is WH Justice (Magnum Psyche x Vona Sher-Renea by El Sher-Mann), a striking grey Magnum Psyche son out of an *El Shaklan/Ga’zi/Mohssen bred mare who received the best parts of all his pedigree elements. From his earliest foals born in 2003, which included his son Ajman Moniscione and daughter Panarea by Palawan (both out of Padrons Ghibli daughters), WH Justice’s path as an important sire of show and breeding horses began. His best sons include AJA Justified (x AJA Benaja by FS Bengali), Om El Sinon (x Om El Shadive by *Sanadik El Shaklan), Om El Benicio (x Om El Benicia by Om El Shahmaan), *LA Karat (x LA Kalahari by Shaklan Ibn Bengali) and AJ Dinar (x Deska HJE by Lumiar Amadeus). Shanghai EA (WH Justice x Salymah by Khidar) has founded his sire-line dynasty in Spain and around the world as the sire of Excalibur EA (x Essence Of Marwan EA by *Marwan Al Shaqab), who in turn is the sire of Exxalt and his full sister, Exxaltress (out of Vesperra by SF Veraz) here in the US. Panarea by Palawan set the standard for WH Justice daughters as show mares early on and was followed by her stablemate Bess-Faizah (x Sharon El Kendal by ASS-Kendal) at Ajman Stud, CR Jasmeenah (x Fforget Me Not by Ffatal Attraction), Jude Aljassimya (x Toscana PGA by *Khadraj NA+++/) and FM Gloriaa (x Psity of Angels by Psytadel)—all Champion mares around the world.
Starting with the early imports of General Ulysses S. Grant’s *Leopard (Desert Bred) in 1879 through the Homer Davenport imports *Hamrah (Desert Bred x *Urfah) and *Abu Zeyd (Mesaoud x Rose Diamond), W. K. Kellogg’s *Raseyn (Skowronek x Rayya) and *Ferdin (Nurredin x *Ferda) or Roger Selby’s *Mirage (Desert Bred) and *Raffles (Skowronek x *Rifala), stallions have shaped the future of our breed. From these critical stallions and breeders to the contemporary halter sires Dominic M (Da Vince FM x Rosa La Valentina) and FA El Rasheem (FA El Shawan x Virtuosa MLR), the Western sires Conquest BR (Versace x Lee Anna Psy) and PA Kid Khan (Sundance Kid V x Kharrea PGA by *Khadraj NA +++/) and the English sires Inception (IXL Noble Express+ x Bonita Afire) and Afires Heir (Afire Bey V x Brassmis), the future of our breed looks promising as we move forward on a foundation of greatness.
