Kars

photo: Crabbet Archives

Kars was a bay Saklawi Jedran bred by Ibn Subayni of the Fedaan born in 1974. He was purchased by a Kurdish Chief as a two years old who rode him during the war in Armenia in 1977. It is said that Kars was the only horse that survived the campaign where every other horse perished.
When Wilfrid and Anne Blunt of Crabbet Stud made their trip to the Middle East in the 1870's, they found Kars in Aleppo and acquired him from his owner. Kars was sent to Crabbet Stud, England where he arrived in July 1978 along with five mares. The five mares and Kars became the first foundation stock of Crabbet Stud.
In England, Kars sired quite a few mares from whom Raschida (x Wild Thyme), Rose of Jericho (x Rodania) and Dahna (x Dahma) are the most notable ones. None of his sons established a remaining sire-line.
The Blunts expected from their horses not only to be used in breeding but to be useful in their daily life. Kars was a very good riding horse. He was ridden in show jumping competitions and raced on local race tracks.
In 1885, Mr MacKay purchased Kars for sending him to Australia the same year. In Australia, however, Kars produced no registered foals. His blood however is preserved in 'Down Under' by his two daughters Dahna and Rose of Jericho who were imported to Qambi Stud, Australia six years later.