Seanderich

photo: archive

The grey stallion Seanderich was born in 1902 and of Saklawi strain. Bred in the desert he was given to the Turkish Wali of Baghdad. From there, Seanderich, known only as the 'White Saklawi' at that time, was sent to Istanbul where he was discovered in 1908 by the prominent horse dealer Alfred Ismailion. Ismailion was sourcing Arabian horses on behalf of various European governments. Tasked specifically with finding an exceptional desert stallion for the Spanish National Stud, the Yeguada Militar, Ismailion sent word after locating Seanderich that he had found 'the right horse'. A commission was dispatched to Baghdad to evaluate the stallion. Upon their approval, Seanderich was brought to Spain, where he would become one of the most pivotal foundation sires of the Spanish Arabian breeding program.
His influence, while numerically limited, proved pivotal through a select group of offspring that would shape the Spanish phenotype and extend their legacy far beyond Iberian borders.
Seanderich was described as a tall stallion of classic desert type: dry, balanced, and refined, with a clean topline and a harmonious frame. His head was straight with large, dark eyes. His neck was long and arched, smoothly joined into a well-laid shoulder. His body was strong and well-muscled. His deep chest, strong back, and correct legs—attributes prized for military and endurance use.
At Yeguada Militar, Seanderich was used selectively but effectively. His best-known sons were Eco and Ilustre, both retained for breeding within the program. Eco helped solidify a type that blended utility with refinement. His son Barquillo contributed to the breed by siring the stallions Jaecero and Orive (the sire of Garbo) and the mare Uyaima. Uyaima would become the dam of Estopa, the legendary Spanish mare whose influence has spanned continents and decades. Estopa’s beauty, balance, and charisma laid the foundation for the world-renowned Estopa dynasty, and through Uyaima, Seanderich’s legacy is carried on maternally. Ilustre, Seanderich’s other key son, sired Congo who sired Tabal, the sire of Estopa—making Seanderich present on both sides of Estopa’s pedigree, an exceptional example of concentrated desert ancestry funneled through Spanish breeding. Congo also sired the chestnut stallion Zancudo, a very influential Spanish sire at Yeguada Militar.
Seanderich stood at Yeguada Militar until his death in 1923. Though only a handful of direct descendants carried his name forward, his blood runs deep in the Spanish Arabian gene pool. Through Congo, Tabal, Barquillo, Uyaima, Zancudo and ultimately Estopa, Seanderich's desert legacy has echoed through some of the most important lines in modern Arabian horse history.