Our love affair with the Egyptian Arabian Horse began innocently enough. John sat next to Dr. Charles English on an airplane. Anyone who knew Charlie knows what a persuasive and passionate man he was. Charlie lived every minute of his life with vigor, and in awe of its richness. He collected everything imaginable: art, cookbooks, antiques, quilts, and even Arabian horses. I once asked him if there was anything he didn’t collect, and, after a moment’s pause, he quipped, “Money!” During this fateful plane ride, in which we would gain both a new friend and the beginnings of a new adventure, Charlie invited John to Cadron Creek Arabian’s Colt Auction in the fall of 1999.
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There were some wonderful horses at Cadron Creek at that time, including the stallions Al Baraki, Shahir IASB and Richter MH. And there were some excellent mares there as well. Two of the colts that would be shown that day were Hawkeye CC (Imperial Imdal x SES Khebria) and a very young Gatsby CC (Shahir x Miss Maggie Mae). John and I both came away with a new passion. John loves to describe how the hair stood up on the back of his neck when he watched these gracious creatures move.
We next attended a Newcomers Seminar, and purchased two mares in foal, TheMinstrils Aria (out of Aliah Halima) and Bint Maar Hala (Shaikh Al Badi x RDM Maar Hala). And during this seminar, I also met a weanling filly that I adored, Thee Debutante (out of SES Khebria). There were a couple of other mares that we saw that were standouts to me, Marjah (Imperial Imdal x SES Khebria) and Savannah CC (Thee Desperado x Miss Maggie Mae). Little did I know that I was already establishing a preference for certain dam lines, each unique, but also each very influential in today’s Egyptian horse: SES Khebria, Aliah Halima, Bint Magidaa and RDM Maar Hala.
John and I would eventually acquire two more horses, a yearling Thee Debutante and the great Miss Maggie Mae. Ten years later, our herd size has grown and dwindled, and we have sold some very fine mares and foals, plus enjoyed many great years at the Egyptian Event, and, met many new friends who are equally impassioned by the Arabian horse. We currently have five broodmares and two stallions, Magiid EQ now standing in Italy, and The Quiet Man EQ who is standing at Omni Arabians in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
The history and sense of magic that accompanies the Egyptian Arabian Horse has kept us spellbound all of these years. There is always more to learn. Each year I realize just how much more. It is an unfolding process. There is the initial beauty, charisma and grace of these horses, and then there is the realization that this goal of creating very high quality foals, is a lofty one, and it is filled with responsibility. Each of these foals has an important role in life.
We continue to be a small breeding farm that emphasizes quality and Arabian type. And, we continue studying and learning as much as we can about Egyptian pedigrees, families and strains. We feel that the mare lines are valuable tools in our quest for quality. We hope to stay true to the original standards of the Arabian Horse – the beautiful face, large nostrils, dark, wide set eyes, floating trot, glowing charisma and loving temperaments. This is what we were smitten by when we began Equinox Arabians, and it remains the horse that we seek to produce today.
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