Haleb 1901

photo: archive

When American cartoonist Homer Davenport went on a trip to Turkey in 1906 to buy authentic Arabian horses, a seal brown stallion was presented to him by the Governor of Syria and Aleppo. This stallion -bred by the Qumusah section of the Saba'ah tribe- was from Muniqi Hedruj Ibn Sbaili strain and praised as 'Pride of the desert' due to his beauty and perfectness. His name was Haleb, born in 1901.
Impressed by his beauty and conformation, Davenport acquired Haleb and imported him together with 26 other Arabian horses to the US in 1906. There, Haleb had a lot of admirers. Although small in size, American painter George Ford Morris excelled his strong neck of medium size, his short back, his rounded quarters and well set, natural carried tail. He was also impressed by his expressive, fine head.
Haleb was not only beautiful but made a good saddle horse, too. In 1907, he caused a stir when he won the Justin Morgan Cup against 19 Morgan horses in 1907. As sire, he produced 10 registered purebreds, 3 colts and 7 fillies of whom the daughters Rhua, Meleky and Saleefy are the most influential ones. His sire line, however, is distinct today.
Haleb died under suspicious circumstances in 1909 at the age of 8 years. Rumors were spread that he was poisoned. His skull and partial skeleton were donated to the Smithsonian by Davenport where they can still researched today.