Essteema

photo: Betty Finke

In the competitive world of Arabian horse breeding, certain individuals stand out not only for their accomplishments but also for the influence they exert on breeding programs and future generations. One such mare is Essteema, a chestnut mare bred and born at Sax Arabians in Germany. Sired by the first European Triple Crown Winner Essteem and out of the Russian-bred mare Menascha, Essteema became a key figure in the breeding program at Sax Arabians.
Most notably, she holds the distinction of being the first female to win the coveted European Triple Crown, capturing titles at the All Nations Cup, the European Championships, and the World Championships in Paris—all in the same year, 1999.
Her dam, Menascha, was bred from Russian lines, being sired by the renowned Russian stallion Menes, and out of the mare Nascha (by Neman out of Neschi). Menes, exported to the US in 1983 and later back to Europe, was one of the most influential Russian sires in the 1970's and 1980's, known for passing on size, substance, and the 'Menes'-type. Menascha herself was a strong-bodied, correct and an excellent broodmare. In addition to producing Essteema, Menascha was the dam of Krushinka (by Nrav Ibn Aswan), a foundation broodmare at Sax Arabians, as well as the stallions Esstashan (by Essteem) and Meshan Ibn Kubinec (by Kubinec), both of whom contributed to the breeding program as sires at Sax Arabians.
Essteema's sire, Essteem (by Fame VF out of Espressa), brought in a different type of influence: refined type from his maternal grandsire El Shaklan, presence from his sire Fame VF, and a highly successful show record. His appeal was such that, despite Sax Arabians’ previous focus on Russian horses, they chose to incorporate him into their program—marking a key moment of transition.
The decision paid off. The result, Essteema, demonstrated the potential of blending Russian depth with modern show type. Her birth in May 1998 marked not only the beginning of a successful show career but also the expansion of the Sax breeding program beyond its earlier parameters.
Following her show career, Essteema transitioned into the broodmare band at Sax Arabians, where she proved to be an influential producer.
Essteema’s production record is both extensive and significant. Her first three foals were colts, sired respectively by FS Bengali, Kubinec, and Psytadel. These were followed by five foals—one colt and four fillies—by Khidar (Ansata Sinan x Elizja). Among these, two stand out as her most notable offspring. The colt, Europe Al Khidar, was named Senior Bronze Champion Stallion at the German Nationals in 2014 and has since served as a chief sire at Sax Arabians. One of the fillies, Esskhija Bint Essteema, achieved Senior Gold Champion Mare at the same event. Esskhija has produced 8 foals by herself and secures the bloodline of Essteema at Sax Arabians. Her daughter, Lamandra, born in 2018 and sired by Lamandro (EKS Alihandro x Lamana), carries Essteema’s influence into the third generation of Sax breeding.
Another of the Khidar-sired offspring, the mare Essdreama, was sold to Saudi Arabia in 2022, where she continues to represent and expand Essteema’s legacy on an international scale.
Following the Khidar offspring, Essteema produced an additional seven foals. Among them, Aahir Ibn Essteema, a colt by Baahir El Marwan, deserves special mention. He served as chief sire at Adjuvense Arabians in Austria, where he was also trained successfully in dressage before his untimely passing in 2022.
Her last foal, a filly by Lamandro named Essteea Bint Essteema, born in 2021, will also continue Essteema's legacy at Sax Arabians.
Although Essteema experienced the loss of several foals—one due to an accident and another as the result of a veterinary error—these were isolated events and do not reflect her overall reliability as a broodmare. In total, she produced sixteen foals, a noteworthy accomplishment. Sax Arabians highlights the consistent quality and type of the foals Essteema raised, reinforcing her value as a producer of both show and breeding stock.
With 27 years of age, Essteema - German WAHO Trophy winner of 2024 - is retired from broodmare duties, enjoying a peaceful and well-earned life on the pastures of Sax Arabians in Germany. She remains closely connected to her breeder and lifelong owner, Reinhard Sax, with whom she shares a lasting and personal bond. More than just a successful show and broodmare, Essteema represents the foundation of a defining era in the Sax breeding program.