Nevada 1970

photo: Balaskhin Collection

Nevada, a chestnut mare born at Tersk Stud in 1970, exemplifies the successful integration of Egyptian and Russian Arabian bloodlines that characterized mid-20th century international breeding programs.
Nevada's sire, Aswan (originally named Raafat in Egypt), was a highly influential grey Egyptian-bred Arabian stallion who stood at the Tersk Stud in Russia. Sired by Nazeer out of Yosreia, he was given as a gift to the Soviet Union by the Egyptian government in 1963, in return for Soviet help in building the Aswan Dam. This diplomatic gesture proved to be one of the most significant contributions to international Arabian breeding in the 20th century.
Aswan introduced a more extreme dished head with large nostrils, large expressive eye, long level croup, and high tail carriage. These distinctive characteristics would become hallmarks of his offspring, including Nevada, contributing to the refinement and Arabian type that would define her progeny for decades to come.
Nevada's full-brother is Nrav Ibn Aswan who was sold to Germany where he was used as chief sire. The mare Nesnakomka by Kankan is Nevada's half-sister who was broodmare for the Maiworm Stud in Germany. As a two years old Nevada was exported to Germany where she became foundation mare of Henry Garde's Gut Alemich Stud.
Nevada's dam, Naina (born 1961) was one of only 16 foals by the Egyptian stallion Nil (Sid Abohoum x Malaka) who came to Tersk Stud in 1958 where he died 2 years later. Through her dam's side, Nevada also inherited the blood of Nomenklatura, one of the fourth 'Queens of Tersk', dam of Nabeg, the sire of Menes, Neman and Nariadni. Nomenklatura's dam was Mammona who founded one of the most treasured Russian mare families.
The dark-chestnut stallion Nego by Kilimandscharo, born 1976, was Nevada's most notable son, mostly through his show career. In 1984, he was awarded Senior Champion Stallion in Paris. Nego was exported to Spurs Arabians in the United States and re-imported to Europe (Belgium) in the early 1992 after the dispersal of Spurs Arabians.
Nevada's daughter Neschima, by Kilimandscharo, was successfully shown in halter as well and later became part of the broodmare band at Gut Alemich Stud. She produced eleven foals, all sired by Neman. Her first-born son, the bay Negorni, became a sire in Brazil, while her dark chestnut daughter Nemanda established a successful family at Sax Arabians in Germany.
However, Nevada's most renowned offspring was her first-born daughter, Neschi, a dark chestnut mare foaled in 1974, also by Kilimandscharo. Neschi proved to be an outstanding broodmare and went on to found a distinguished breeding dynasty of her own. Her sons Nadir and Nagadir became chief sires at Gut Alemich, while her daughters Nenija and Nascha founded further families at Sax Arabians including Nevada's bloodline.
Four generations—Nevada, her daughter Neschi, granddaughter Nascha, and great-granddaughter Menascha—were each awarded the German Elite Mare title. This recognition and that Menascha was dam of first female European Triple Crown Winner Essteema by Essteem speaks to the exceptional genetic consistency Nevada transmitted to her offspring.