Crabbet Arabian Horse Breeders Archives

RAS Bint Vanity (Silver Vanity x Blue Sal) 1977 grey mare owned by Rhodes Arabian Stud.

Long Live Crabbet: A Tour of Straight Crabbets in the American North East

September 18, 2019September 18, 2019 AngelaLeave a Comment

By Alexia Ross. The good news is that there are a small number of breeders in America who are still trying to preserve a resource of Straight Crabbet Arabians and are doing so with some very nice horses. Standards vary, as in any bloodline group, with some plain heads and rough couplings in evidence but good temperament and athleticism is pretty standard with more than enough exotic heads and smooth bodies to offer a positive future. On the whole, limbs, length of shoulder and movement are better than the norm that is accepted in the show ring these days with long ground covering strides on offer instead of the stylized, but not particularly functional, high knee action which is becoming fashionable now in Europe.

Joe and Sue Norman with Kasadi foals (l) Gavin (R) Marceline

Centenary of the Harwood Stud

September 13, 2019September 14, 2019 Angela1 Comment

By Rosemary Archer. Harwood has the distinction of being the oldest Arabian stud in Britain. It was founded in 1896 when Colonel F. Lyon of Horsham, Sussex, bought the four year-old mare Howa at the 8th Crabbet Sale. Howa was a great-granddaughter of the Blunt’s well-known mare Hagar, which they bought in Arabia and rode on their desert journeys, and her sire was Azrek, one of the Blunt’s finest imports.

Phara Farm: Golden Horses of the Sun

May 2, 2019May 3, 2019 AngelaLeave a Comment

By Faye Ahneman-Rudsenske. Their eyes met across the crowded space, his dark and liquid hot. He was young with a serene, regal air that hinted at royalty. The sunlight illuminated his golden hair and outlined the sculptured, aristocratic features of his face. His sleek, smooth body was not quite fully mature, but handsome, nevertheless, with a promise of impressive maturity.

Templars Stud, Lancashire – UK Summer 2000 Stud Tour

April 11, 2019April 11, 2019 AngelaLeave a Comment

By Georgia Cheer. Regrettably, I was unable to view Rachelle Newnham and Keith Barnes horses at Templars Stud as a foal had been ill and it was feared that I might possibly tread a germ onto another farm so it was decided for me not to visit. However, Rachelle had sent me this list of horses as of last summer 2000 and pedigrees which I have posted on the site.

Star Arabian Stud, Lincolnshire – UK Summer 2000 Stud Tour

April 11, 2019April 11, 2019 AngelaLeave a Comment

By Georgia Cheer. Daphne and Keith Gilbert began their Star Arabian Stud in 1971 when they purchased two gray mares from Crabbet. Those mares were AURORA (Oran x Shadowlight), who was foaled in 1966, and SELINA (Hanif x Dancing Diamond) foaled in 1968. Sadly, SELINA had died in 1999, AURORA the year before and their stallion INDIAN REFLECTION had passed away just a few months before my arrival in the summer of 2000. It seems my stud visit was far overdue and regrettably I had missed seeing these lovely Crabbet treasures.

Klinta Arabians, Ireland – UK Summer 2000 Stud Tour

April 11, 2019April 11, 2019 AngelaLeave a Comment

By Georgia Cheer. Fortunately for me, there is one pure Crabbet breeder in Ireland, Klinta Arabians. This was my first visit to Ireland, and I will certainly not forget the wonderful time I had with Gunilla and Geoff Hamer. Gunilla is a very interesting, lively, humorous and unique individual. Gunilla is Swedish by birth, but has traveled the world, living prior to her move to Ireland in Buch b. Frauenfeld, Switzerland, where she and Geoff kept a pet donkey named Oscar, who was raised by the Hamer’s from age nine days old through to his accidental death at age 21. Oscar was a donkey who thought he was human. Stories about Oscar could fill a small book, like his pension for gin and tonic. Sadly he passed away a few years ago so I did not ‘meet’ him. Gunilla also owns a Skye Terrier by the name of Paddy. Paddy was a champion show dog in his younger days and is her constant companion.

Highfield Stud, Wales – UK Summer 2000 Stud Tour

April 11, 2019April 11, 2019 Angela1 Comment

By Georgia Cheer. In the rolling countryside of western Wales, there is another breeder with whom I had a wonderful time getting to know. She is Susan Murphy, a humorous lady with a passion for animals. She has living on her 200 acre farm not only horses, and cows, but chickens, peacocks, numerous dogs and many cats too. I think Susan has a heart as big as Texas as she seems to rescue many creatures from fates undesired. They all thrive under her care.

Combe Farm Open House, Devon – August 5, 2001, Visit

April 7, 2019April 7, 2019 AngelaLeave a Comment

By Georgia Cheer. My first journey into Devon in early August was made expressly to attend the Combe Farm Open House and Sale, as advertised in the Arabian Link. I had wanted to attend this same event last summer when I was traveling in the UK writing farm articles for my website, but unfortunately it took place the day before my flight home to the U.S.

Coed-y-foel Arabians, Wales – UK Summer 2000 Stud Tour

April 7, 2019April 7, 2019 AngelaLeave a Comment

By Georgia Cheer. Diana Whittome does not breed pure Crabbet; instead her lines are predominantly Crabbet/Old English, with a dash of Polish, Egyptian or Russian. Her emphasis is to breed performance horses and she has done this exceedingly well. Diana is also a show judge, plus she holds several committee positions on the Arab Horse Society council. She writes articles for the AHS News and other publications and is delightfully entertaining and extremely knowledgeable on pedigrees.

Blue Moon Arabians, Essex – UK Summer 2000 Stud Tour

April 7, 2019April 7, 2019 AngelaLeave a Comment

By Georgia Cheer. It’s not often that one begins their series of farm visits by viewing a National Champion. This is how my tour began when I was invited to meet Alistair Leslie, of Blue Moon Arabians and see his mare, LALIQUE DS, who was the 1999 British National Supreme Overall Ridden Champion. Since acquiring his first Arabian horse just seven years ago, Alistair could be considered a new comer who has achieved remarkable success.