Gianna II
Horse Information
- Sex: mare
- Color: chestnut
- Born: 1998-05-11
- Died: 2016-01-01
Additional Information
n/a
Breeder
About Gianna II
Gianna II was a chestnut mare born in 1998 and bred and owned by Gudrun Irtzing of Straight Blue Arabians in Germany. Straight Egyptian by pedigree and endurance horse by performance, Gianna II combined classic bloodlines with demonstrated athletic ability, earning her place as a respected riding and broodmare within a small but carefully managed breeding program. She passed away in 2016, leaving behind a limited yet meaningful legacy through both sport and offspring.
Gianna II was sired by the chestnut stallion Afuk (Morhaf x Afrah Al Badeia), a classic Egyptian Arabian descending in direct male line from El Deree through Akthal. This sire line has long been valued for refinement, balance, and riding quality—traits clearly reflected in Afuk and, through him, in Gianna II. Afuk was known as an elegant stallion with a bright, expressive presence and served for many years as a breeding stallion at Jutta Mauch’s El Samoa Arabians in Germany. He lived to the remarkable age of 30, passing away in December 2015.
Afuk’s sire, Morhaf, was bred at El Zahraa in Egypt and later imported to Germany, where he became an influential foundation stallion. Morhaf contributed significantly to the development of both the Al Sachra/Brigittenhof program and Karlstal Stud of Klaus Meyer, two important pillars of German Arabian breeding during the 1980s. Afuk was the older full brother to Moraf (1988), a grey stallion—often mistakenly confused with their sire—who became particularly well known for his success in western riding disciplines. Within this context, Afuk stood as a refined, classic representative of Egyptian breeding with strong under-saddle potential.
On the dam side, Gianna II was out of Ghajola (Maddah x Ghana), bringing together Straight Egyptian breeding with a dam line rooted in Eastern European state stud of Mangalia. Ghajola’s sire Maddah (Morafic x Maysa) was a grey Straight Egyptian stallion imported to Germany in 1971 by Siegfried and Brigitte Kube, in partnership with Gleannloch Farms of Spring, Texas. Maddah, a maternal brother to the celebrated Magidaa (Alaa El Din x Maysa), was one of four Morafic sons imported from Egypt to Germany, alongside Madkour, Shaker El Masri, and Shawky. Tall, imposing, and admired for his head and presence, Maddah left a more selective mark as a sire.
Ghajola’s dam line traces to the Mangalia State Stud in Romania, which maintained a small but significant group of purebred Arabians. Her dam Ghana was one of them who came to Germany in the early 1970's. Ghajola and her dam Ghana were later acquired by Luitpold Lochbrunner of Augsburg, Germany.
At the Lochbrunner's, Ghajola proved to be an exceptional broodmare, producing nine foals for Lochbrunner and three more for her subsequent owners, the Gudrun Irtzing of StraightBlue Arabians. Gianna II was the first foal Ghajola produced for her.
Gianna II proved herself decisively under saddle as an endurance horse. In 2008, she completed an impressive season, winning the 6th Kölau Distanz over approximately 104 km. In the same year, she placed fifth in multiple competitions: the Endurance Ride Nordschwarzwald (approx. 48 km), the demanding Hirschwald Distanz CEI* (approx. 120 km), and the Mindeltal ride (approx. 40 km). These results underscored her soundness, stamina, and mental reliability—qualities highly valued in endurance sport.
Gianna II produced only three registered foals, all daughters, each reflecting her utility as a riding horse producer. Her first foal, Guiletta (2001), a bay mare by MM Nasran, was followed by GI Galia (2004), a grey mare by Sha Oman. Her final foal, GI Ghaada (2014), a bay mare by Marjan Albidayer, has continued the endurance tradition; GI Ghaada successfully entered competition in her first endurance season in 2022.
In sum, Gianna II stands as a representative example of an Egyptian bred mare whose value extended beyond pedigree alone. Through her own endurance achievements and the proven rideability of her offspring, she embodied the enduring relevance of classic Egyptian bloodlines in modern sport.
Gianna II was sired by the chestnut stallion Afuk (Morhaf x Afrah Al Badeia), a classic Egyptian Arabian descending in direct male line from El Deree through Akthal. This sire line has long been valued for refinement, balance, and riding quality—traits clearly reflected in Afuk and, through him, in Gianna II. Afuk was known as an elegant stallion with a bright, expressive presence and served for many years as a breeding stallion at Jutta Mauch’s El Samoa Arabians in Germany. He lived to the remarkable age of 30, passing away in December 2015.
Afuk’s sire, Morhaf, was bred at El Zahraa in Egypt and later imported to Germany, where he became an influential foundation stallion. Morhaf contributed significantly to the development of both the Al Sachra/Brigittenhof program and Karlstal Stud of Klaus Meyer, two important pillars of German Arabian breeding during the 1980s. Afuk was the older full brother to Moraf (1988), a grey stallion—often mistakenly confused with their sire—who became particularly well known for his success in western riding disciplines. Within this context, Afuk stood as a refined, classic representative of Egyptian breeding with strong under-saddle potential.
On the dam side, Gianna II was out of Ghajola (Maddah x Ghana), bringing together Straight Egyptian breeding with a dam line rooted in Eastern European state stud of Mangalia. Ghajola’s sire Maddah (Morafic x Maysa) was a grey Straight Egyptian stallion imported to Germany in 1971 by Siegfried and Brigitte Kube, in partnership with Gleannloch Farms of Spring, Texas. Maddah, a maternal brother to the celebrated Magidaa (Alaa El Din x Maysa), was one of four Morafic sons imported from Egypt to Germany, alongside Madkour, Shaker El Masri, and Shawky. Tall, imposing, and admired for his head and presence, Maddah left a more selective mark as a sire.
Ghajola’s dam line traces to the Mangalia State Stud in Romania, which maintained a small but significant group of purebred Arabians. Her dam Ghana was one of them who came to Germany in the early 1970's. Ghajola and her dam Ghana were later acquired by Luitpold Lochbrunner of Augsburg, Germany.
At the Lochbrunner's, Ghajola proved to be an exceptional broodmare, producing nine foals for Lochbrunner and three more for her subsequent owners, the Gudrun Irtzing of StraightBlue Arabians. Gianna II was the first foal Ghajola produced for her.
Gianna II proved herself decisively under saddle as an endurance horse. In 2008, she completed an impressive season, winning the 6th Kölau Distanz over approximately 104 km. In the same year, she placed fifth in multiple competitions: the Endurance Ride Nordschwarzwald (approx. 48 km), the demanding Hirschwald Distanz CEI* (approx. 120 km), and the Mindeltal ride (approx. 40 km). These results underscored her soundness, stamina, and mental reliability—qualities highly valued in endurance sport.
Gianna II produced only three registered foals, all daughters, each reflecting her utility as a riding horse producer. Her first foal, Guiletta (2001), a bay mare by MM Nasran, was followed by GI Galia (2004), a grey mare by Sha Oman. Her final foal, GI Ghaada (2014), a bay mare by Marjan Albidayer, has continued the endurance tradition; GI Ghaada successfully entered competition in her first endurance season in 2022.
In sum, Gianna II stands as a representative example of an Egyptian bred mare whose value extended beyond pedigree alone. Through her own endurance achievements and the proven rideability of her offspring, she embodied the enduring relevance of classic Egyptian bloodlines in modern sport.