A Personal Narrative on My Journey
through the Middle East

The official day of the A.H.H.A. meeting held at the government headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform in Damascus. Though this photo does not show it there was a large audience behind the long table to the right. A.H.H.A. attendees from U.S. and France were seated at left. Pictured at the podium left to right are Dr. Jerald Dirks, Mohammad Abdul Suleim Al-Raheel of the Tai Tribe, and Dr. Munzer Absi. Continuing right are: Mustafa Al-Jabri, Radouan Chabarek, Nedal Ahmed Al-Assa’ad, and Ahmad Sheikh Mouhammed. The primary translaters for this conference were Dr. Munzer Absi, Issam Haj Hasan and Lina Balhawan.

On November 3 the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian reform, our primary hosts, provided a wonderful day long forum at the Ministry headquarters in Damascus where noted people of Syria gave fascinating treatises on various aspects of the Arabian horse from history to its present role in Syria. This was considered the day of the official A.H.H.A. meeting. We had the honor of an audience with H.E. Asa’ad Mostafa, the Chief Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform. This would be the equivalent of having a meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. He also hosted a dinner for us at the banquet facility for dignitaries.

Throughout the day, seven dignitaries each gave their papers before the attendees. This presentation received considerable media coverage in Syria and was a stimulating forum for learning about the Arabian horse in Syria. Following my article in this issue of Khamsat is a complete section covering these presentations (papers) edited by Dr. Jerald Dirks giving the text in English. There were also question and answer periods for the free exchange of ideas and information at this conference. The content of this day was very enriching and will no doubt be the subject of other future articles. We were most grateful for the Minister, the Ministry and the speakers for this very educational experience. The conference ran well into the evening and then we retired to our hotel.
 

A beautiful Kuhaylah Jethnieh mare at the Al-Basil Center of Arabian Asil Breeding.	Shawal, a dramatic dark bay Shuwayman Sabbah stallion at the Al-Basil Center of Arabian Asil Breeding. This horse put on quite a show of action for the visitors.

An impressive group of mares and foals at the Al-Basil Center of Arabian Asil Breeding.

On November 4 we boarded the busses for a visit to Al-Basil Center of Arabian Asil Breeding on the outskirts of Damascus. This is a brand new facility still under construction and being set up for the purpose of maintaining a breeding center for the Asil Arabian horse in Syria. This is an excellent facility and well planned. Construction began in late 1993 and it is hoped to be completed in 1997. It is only for maintaining the Asil lines of Arabians in Syria. Presently there are 80 horses at this facility. 4 wells have been dug and irrigation will be set up so that the facility can raise its own feed. Some of the strains represented presently at this facility include: Saqlawi Jedran, Hamdani Ibn Ghorab, Muniqi Sbaili, Kuhaylat Ajuz, Kuhaylat Jethnieh, Kuhaylat Dajani, Kuhaylat Haifi, Kuhaylat Rabda, Hadban Enzahi, and Shuwayman Sabbah.

We met in the guest facility for tea and coffee while Dr. Mohammad Al-Wadi explained the plans for this facility after which we were taken outside to view first some mares in hand and then stallions. The mares were led out one by one, some with foals then put in a large sandy paddock. Then we were shown some of the new barns and stalls some of which housed a group of Asil horses bred in Syria and scheduled for export to the Emirates. Several stallions were brought out in hand and then later turned out at liberty in stallion paddocks for us to enjoy their action. Two senior stallions displayed were the grey Kuhaylan Mimreh, Basil, bred by Mustafa Al-Jabri and Mubarak, a chestnut Hamdani Ibn Ghorab. Both were highly prized sires. I found Basil very reminiscent of the Al Khamsa stallion Muhairon and Mubarak reminded me of the Al Khamsa stallion Plantagenet. Time had come once again to board the buses to journey to our next visit.

Awaiting us next was a visit to Hisham Ghrayeb’s stud of Arabian horses. A very long tent had been erected along a large bright green field of forage for the guests to sit and enjoy coffee and tea while the horses were presented. Mr. Ghrayeb and sons are accomplished horsemen and his sons have competed and trained horses for some time. They are very successful in racing and have a consistent herd of marked quality and athletic ability as evidenced by the horses which were presented in the field in front of the guests tent.

Two of the senior sires at the Al-Basil Center for Arabian Asil Breeding. Above left is the grey Kuyahlan Mimreh, Basil and above right is the chestnut Hamdani Ibn Ghorab, Mubarak.

Mares on parade at the stud of Hisham Ghrayeb. Prancing mare in the center is Hanayda, a Kuhaylah Nawakiyah and granddaughter of Shahlah the aged mare at the Basil Al-Assad State Stud that was a favorite of the late Basil Al-Assad.

Strains represented in the Ghrayeb presentation included: Kuhaylat Saada Togan, Kuhaylat Dajani, Kuhaylat Nawak, Muniqi Sbaili, Saqlawi Marzakani, Hamdani Simri and Hadban Inzihi. Mares were brought out first individually in hand and then paraded in the field. Some were turned loose in the field and put on a great show of dramatic, graceful action. After the mares were gathered up and taken back to their stables, the stallions were brought out one by one in hand. Two in particular drew much admiration, a young dapple grey Kuhaylan Dajani and an older white Hamdani Simri named Hassan.

Above left, the “dream” horse at Hisham Ghrayeb’s stud. The senior stallion, Hassan, a Hamdani Simri brought sighs of admiration from the audience seated in the tent so with that kind of recognition he was brought into the tent for a closer look, above right. This horse had wonderful classic Arabian character and a kind, friendly disposition.

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