Hadban Enzahi
Among the most influential stallions to ever stand at Marbach State Stud, Hadban Enzahi brought the timeless elegance, strength, and nobility of the desert Arabian to the hills of Swabia. Foaled in 1952 in Egypt, this grey stallion by Nazeer out of Kamla was bred by the Egyptian Agricultural Organization at El Zahraa, a stud that had already begun capturing global attention for the refinement and authenticity of its Arabian breeding program.
Hadban Enzahi’s pedigree reads like a roll call of Egyptian Arabian royalty. His sire, Nazeer, was perhaps the most iconic stallion of 20th-century Egyptian breeding. Foaled in 1934, Nazeer was sired by Mansour and out of Bint Samiha, both bred at the Royal Agricultural Society. Nazeer was a stallion of tremendous prepotency—his offspring became the backbone of Egyptian Arabian breeding programs both at home and abroad. Known for producing horses of beauty, presence, balance, and a distinctly classic Arabian type, Nazeer remains a cornerstone in the pedigrees of countless champions.
Hadban Enzahi’s dam Kamla, a daughter of Sheikh el Arab out of Samha, came from similarly treasured lines. Kamla belonged to the Hadban Enzahi sire line through her damline, tracing back to foundational desert-bred stock. Her name, meaning 'perfect' in Arabic, suited her well—she transmitted elegance and strength to her son, anchoring him firmly in the traditions of Bedouin breeding values: utility, loyalty, and refinement.
In 1955, Hadban Enzahi was imported by the Marbach State Stud in Germany as part of a strategic revival of purebred Arabian bloodlines. He was selected by Landstallmeister Dr. Wenzler, who identified the colt’s exceptional conformation, expression, and noble bearing at El Zahraa. With him, the proud heritage of the Egyptian Arabian returned to a German program rooted in traditional fullblood breeding. His arrival marked a turning point—Marbach's Arabian program, once famed under the Weiler dynasty and home to sires such as Bairactar and Amurath, was in need of renewal.
Hadban Enzahi proved a sensation from the start. Visitors to Marbach were captivated by his desert flair—he quickly became a guest favorite and the stud’s figurehead.
Hadban Enzahi was a stallion of dry elegance and refined strength. A correct, well-laid shoulder, a deep chest, and strong coupling gave him both scope and utility. His dry head was classically Arabian: a finely straight profile, large expressive eyes, and an arched neck that rose gracefully from the withers. Though moderate in height, he impressed with his presence, fluid movement, and the harmony of proportions. During his active years from 1956 to 1975 he sired many influential sons and daughters. During that time the majority of Marbadh broodmares were his daughters. But he was also used for private breeding. In 1981 alone, he still had 17 licensed sons in private breeding programs.
Among his earliest and most treasured daughters was Sahmet (1957), out of the aged mare Jatta. She also produced two important stallions: Saher, who rose to become a chief sire at Marbach, and Sindbad, who contributed notably to private breeding programs.
His sons included a long list of elegant, typey stallions known for their Arabian expression and performance aptitude. Names such as Mali (x Malacha), full-brothers Mahomed and Malik (both out of Malikah), Mameluk (x Moheba II), Monrad (x Molawa), Nabil (x Nadja) and Sharaf (x Hathor) became familiar across Germany. Among them, Madkour I (x Moheba II) stood out as Hadban’s most influential sons. Madkour I was bred at Ismer Stud where he became chief sire and left the stallions Madkours Impuls and Mahadin who in turn where used on Marbach bred mares to continue the legacy of Hadban Enazhi.
Hadban’s daughters were no less significant. He sired mares such as Dagi, Darsi, Magda, Mahari, Maymoonah, Molesta, Shari, Damirah, and Sanacht, to name a few.
Damirah laid the foundation for a lasting legacy at Simeon Stud in Australia, becoming the matriarch of one of that country’s most celebrated Egyptian-related mare families.
Sanacht, acquired by the Loeber family of Plum Grove Stud in Illinois, became a cornerstone of their breeding. She produced a dynasty that included Amurath Baikal, Amurath Bakonur, Amurath Bandeira, Amurath Sandsniper, and many more—spreading Hadban Enzahi’s influence across North America.
His daughter Dschadaah (out of Hamdi) must be highlighted as his most notable daughter. She achieved a historic milestone as the first and only World Champion Mare bred at Marbach State Stud, a title that placed her—and her sire—firmly in the international spotlight.
Hadban Enzahi remained the pillar of Marbach's Arabian program throughout his life. He not only restored the program’s international standing but helped establish a distinctive German-Egyptian type. In later years, his influence was augmented through careful linebreeding and by using his paternal half-brother Ghazal producing outstanding mares such as Wega, Moheba II, Mamsahi and Shiwa; but also the stallion Darius (x Darsi) who became foundation stallion at Vidiko Arabian Stud in South Africa.
Hadban Enzahi's death on August 9, 1975, was widely mourned. He had become more than just a breeding stallion—he was the symbol of a reborn tradition, and of the bridge between old desert lines and modern European breeding.
Kars
Kars was a bay Saklawi Jedran bred by Ibn Subayni of the Fedaan born in 1874. He was purchased by a Kurdish Chief as a two years old who rode him during the war in Armenia in 1877. 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 1878 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.
Mabrouk Manial
Mabrouk Manial was a grey stallion by Saklawi II, born in 1912 at the Manial stables of Prince Mohammed Ali in Egypt.
Mabrouk Manial's dam was Tarfa, a grey Koheylah Mimriyeh who traced to Freiha El Hamra, a desert bred mare of bay color. Freiha El Hamra was imported to Egypt by Prince Ahmad Kamal in the late 1880's.
Tarfa also produced Hadban, a half-brother to Mabrouk Manial. Through Tarfa, Mabrouk Manial came from the same strain than Mansour who sired the legendary Nazeer.
Although Mabrouk Manial sired only handful of foals, especially his daughters were exceptional breeding individuals.
His daughters included Bint Radia, Sabah, Saada and Mahroussa, one of the most photographed mares of her time.
Bint Radia produced the stallions Hamdan and Shahloul and the mares Zamzam and Samira.
The daughter Sabah was well-known by her daughter Bint Sabah and her daughters Bint Bint Sabah and Bukra who founded their own families in and outside Egypt.
The grey Mahroussa was the most influential of all Mabrouk Manial daughters outside Egypt. She was the dam of Fadl and Zarife and dam of Maaroufa anf HH Mohammed Ali's Hamama.
Fadl and Maaroufa became foundation stock at Babson Farms in the United States while Zarife and HH Mohammed Ali's Hamama became part of the WR Brown breeding program, also in the U.S.
Although his daughters were very profilic, Mabrouk Manial sons should also be named.
With Negma, he produced the stallions Zafifan and Jasir. Latter was foundation stallion at German State Stud of Marbach. Both were full-brothers to previously mentioned Mahroussa.
Mabrouk Manial also sired the stallions Awad and Baiyad.
Awad was the great-grandsire of Moniet El Nefous while Baiyad was an excellent broodmare sire producing Bint Binr Sabah and Samha.
Mabrouk Manial's last foals were born in 1925 when he was 13 years old. In 1927, he was tranferred to R.A.S.
Mabrouk Manial died at the age of 21 in 1933.
Sheikh El Arab
In March 1933 the bay Kazmeen daughter Bint Sabah gave birth to a grey colt on the Egyptian soil of Kafr Farouk, the stud of Abbas Pascha I. The colt was named Sheikh El Arab, the 'Arabian leader'. Sheikh El Arab matured into a noble grey stallion with silver grey mane and tail who turned totally white in his later years.
Sheikh El Arab's dam Bint Sabah was a daughter out of Sabah, a chestnut daughter by Mabrouk Manial out of Bint Obeya who traced to El Dahma, a Dahmah Shahwaniyah.
His sire was the grey Mansour. Mansour was well known for siring Nazeer, the legendary Egyptian sire at Inshass Stud and El Zahraa.
Although his paternal half-brother was the most influential son by Mansour, RAS chief sire Sheikh El Arab produced excellent foals that resembled him amazingly. Especially his daughters were of significance.
First of all there was his grey daughter Yosreia who produced the grey stallion Aswan. He became the most influential sire in modern Russia. Yosreia also produced the black mare Mogha by El Sareei (dam of U.S. Reserve National Champion Mare Nahlah) and the grey Farasha by Sid Abouhom (dam of Farazadac and Galal).
Another grey daughter of his was Kamla. Kamla was the dam of Hadban Enzahi (or also called Kamel) who was exported to Germany to become the chief sire at Marbach State Stud.
Then there was his bay daughter Halima who was the dam of Ansata Ibn Halima, foundation stallion of Ansata Arabians in the U.S.
And of course Sheikh El Arab sired the chestnut mare Wanisa who made him the maternal grandsire of the 'Queen of the Nile', the beautiful Egyptian mare Moniet El Nefous.
Sheik El Arab who was considered by General von Szandtner as exceptional sire that marked his offspring died at the age of 12 in 1945.
photo: Melanie Groger - ZPShop.de
Perfinka
In 2011 the mare Perfirka gave birth to a filly by Esparto at Bialka Stud in Poland. She was named Perfinka. Perfinka is from the P-family founded by Piewica. The P-family delivers were valued broodmares like Pilarka (great granddam of Pianissima), Pipi or the US National Champion Mare Penicylina. The family also brought good sires like European Reserve Champion Stallion Piechur and Poganin (sire of Kabsztad).
Perfinka's sire Esparto is an Ekstern son. Esparto was very successful at halter shows. He was Polish National Reserve Junior Champion Stallion in 2003 and 2004. In his later years, he suffered from laminitis from which he did not recover. He was put down in 2015.
Perfinka is a dignified descendant of her sire in the show ring. Turning into a beautiful flea-bitten grey mare, she was named All Nations Cup Gold Junior Champion Mare and Silver Junior Female World Champion Mare in 2013 and Scottsdale Senior Champion Mare in 2020.
And also as broodmare she follows her dam's footprints. She produced 4 fillies and 2 colts (2021).
Seanderich
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.
Coming soon
- ANSATA SELMAN (July, 20th)
- GASPAR 1998 (July, 22nd)
- NISREEN (July, 24th)
- OM EL SAIYID (July, 26th)
- NAGA (July, 28th)
Latest Addition
| NAME | SIRE | DAM | Created |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eco | Seanderich | Varsovia | 2025-07-04 |
| Amouage Kossack | RFI Farid | Ariel 2006 | 2025-06-07 |
| Polska 1960 | Schlem | Goplana | 2025-06-05 |
| Dulka | Gedymin | Druzyna | 2025-06-05 |
| Ansiba Joumanah | Shaikh Al Jiwan | Menaifah | 2025-06-01 |
| El Aswad | Ibn Galal | Hosna | 2025-06-01 |
| Podruga | Priboj | Dikarka | 2025-05-30 |
| Kareemah Saqr | El Habil | Maha Sakr | 2025-05-30 |
| Jamil Al Rayyan | Ansata Hejazi | Dana Al Rayyan | 2025-05-30 |
| Kenz Al Baydaa | Jamil Al Rayyan | Kareemah Saqr | 2025-05-30 |
| Hanaya Layla | Kenz Al Baydaa | Hanaya Habibtee | 2025-05-30 |
| Hanaya Habibtee | El Khaled | Elf Layla Walayla | 2025-05-30 |
| Shanfara | Seyal | Shieha | 2025-05-30 |
| Helwan | Mesaoud | Hilmyeh | 2025-05-30 |
| Horra | Zobeyni | Ghazieh | 2025-05-30 |
| Helwa | Shueyman | Horra | 2025-05-30 |
| Bint Helwa | Aziz | Helwa | 2025-05-30 |
| Hilmyeh | Ahmar | Bint Helwa | 2025-05-30 |
| Tabari | Ansata Sinan | Talia Halima | 2025-05-28 |
| RO Abdulah | Wagram | Fezzuna | 2025-05-28 |
