Abu Farwa Arabian Stallion Photo Gallery

Sired by Rabiyas (Rahas x Rabiyat)
Out of *Rissletta (Naseem x Risslina)
AHR #1960
1940 Chestnut Arabian (May 22, 1940 - July 22, 1972)
Historical Stallion
Bred by W.K. Kellogg Institute. Owned by Herbert H. Reese, then Charles H. Doner, Elsinore Arabian Stud.
Sire of 277 purebred foals.
High percentage (90.625%) Crabbet, 100% Kellogg, CMK

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Markings

Blaze between both eyes and down nostrils to lower lip. Left front sock/stocking.

Pedigree Percentages (Bloodline Breakdown)

90.625% Crabbet/Blunt
100% GSB (incl. Crabbet)
12.5% Polish
43.1641% Egyptian
100% WK Kellogg
100% CMK
38.8672% Abbas Pasha Source
50% WR Brown/Maynesboro Stud
41.4063% Abbas Pasha/Ali Pasha Sherif Source
84.7656% BAHC Source (Blue List or BLUE STAR)
64.8438% BLUE STAR Source
100% Early American Foundation (vol V)
100% American (thru vol VIII)
100% American Foundation (thru vol X)
100% American (thru vol XV)
.78125% Old English (pre-WW II; AHS only, not incl. GSB)
.78125% El Emir
22.6563% Mesaoud
3.125% Ghazala
12.5% Skowronek
36.7188% Blunt AK Ancestral Element
1.5625% Borden AK Ancestral Element
41.4063% Egypt I AK Ancestral Element
6.25% Huntington AK Ancestral Element
Zobeyni (Abbas Pasha) sire line thru Mesaoud ~
Rodania (Blunt) dam line ~
A Kuhaylan Rudan (Kuhaylan 'Ajuz of Ibn Rudan)
CMK
Straight GSB with non-Crabbet blood
Early American Foundation
Percentages and Research by Eva Dano

🐎 Biography

Few horses in the history of the American Arabian breed embody classic beauty, athletic substance, and generational influence quite like the legendary Abu Farwa (Rabiyas x *Rissletta).

Foaled on May 22, 1940, at the renowned W.K. Kellogg Institute in Pomona, California, this striking copper chestnut stallion would grow to become one of the most prolific and celebrated sires of the CMK (Crabbet/Maynesboro/Kellogg) lineage.

A champion himself at halter and in Park, Abu Farwa is the sire of 10 champions; and along with *Witez II has the unique distinction of being the only stallion on the Leading Sire Lines." from the 1971 El Capitan Ranch Arabian Fiesta Sale Catalog

The Masterpiece of CMK Heritage

Abu Farwa stands as a textbook illustration of the Arabian breed; literally so, having been selected to represent the Arabian horse visually within the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Genetically, he was 100% CMK and possessed an exceptionally high percentage of Crabbet blood. The fine-tuned nuances of his pedigree trace back to a masterful blend of legendary foundation stock:

The Crabbet Foundation: The vast majority of his lineage stems from the famed Crabbet Arabian Stud of England.
The Sidi Exception: The only non-Crabbet elements in his family tree came via the desert-bred ancestors of the 1917 stallion Sidi (specifically *Kismet, *Maidan, Naomi, Yataghan, and Haidee), alongside ancestors of Sidi's maternal grandsire, Imamzada (1891).
The Influence of Rose of Sharon: Sidi's granddam was the remarkable *Rose of Sharon (1885), a 100% Crabbet mare bred by Lady Anne Blunt and imported to the United States in 1905 at 20 years old by Randolph Huntington. Her daughter, Rosa Rugosa (1907), passed this powerful genetic blueprint down through Sidi, cementing a line of incredible substance and prepotency.

"Father of Chestnuts"

The naming of this legendary stallion carries its own bit of ranch lore, courtesy of Gladys Brown Edwards, the famed equine artist, who served as the secretary for the Kellogg Ranch in the 1930s and 1940s.

Tasked with naming the annual foal crops, Edwards found inspiration directly in the young colt's gleaming coat:

Choosing Abu Farwa's name was easy. He was a chestnut himself, and even then showing promise of eventually being worthy of use as a sire, so I combined 'Abu' (father of) and 'Farwa' (chestnut), which, with some poetic license, should mean 'Father of Chestnuts.'"

It proved to be a prophetic choice. Abu Farwa grew into a striking, vibrant copper chestnut and went on to pass his brilliant coloring and exceptional traits to an immense number of his offspring.

Conformation, Presence, and Performance

Standing 15-1 ½ hands high and weighing 1,075 pounds, Abu Farwa perfectly balanced elegance with robust utility. In his book The Kellogg Arabians, Their Background and Influence, Herbert H. Reese famously described him as a horse of "magnificent presence and classic beauty," noting his clean-chiseled head, fine throatlatch, long, arched neck, and excellent flat bone structure that showed absolutely no hint of coarseness.

Though he was not campaigned heavily on the traditional show circuit, he won nearly every class he ever entered. Instead, much of his public fame was cemented as a star performer in the historic Kellogg Ranch Sunday Shows, where his dramatic presence captivated thousands of visitors.

A Lasting Global Legacy

Abu Farwa lived a long, remarkable life, spending his final 12 years at the Doner Ranch before passing away on July 27, 1972, at the age of 32. Over his breeding career, he sired 277 purebred foals, establishing a dominant sire line that continues to excel in halter, performance, and endurance disciplines worldwide.

His influence even crossed over into mid-century pop culture: his beautiful daughter, Wahana, achieved widespread fame as the equine star of the classic television series My Friend Flicka.

Beyond North America, his descendants helped shape the foundation of modern Arabian breeding programs across the globe, leaving an indelible mark on the fields of Australia, New Zealand, and beyond.