Ben Rabba: An Exceptional Influence on the British Arabian

By Alexia Ross. Ben Rabba’s visible debt to the Nasik son Rifnas appealed to many of the breeders of Crabbet lines at the time. It reintroduced a factor for extreme shoulder and front structure that was hard to find within the surviving Crabbet gene pool in the UK. Less obvious to the English eye was his debt to other early American influences, notably the Davenport importation. It is to this influence that Ben Rabba owed his good hindquarter and exceptionally well muscled loin, the latter a trait often overlooked by Arabian breeders for the show ring but essential to genuine athleticism in any horse of any breed.

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Ben Rabba 1964-1990

By Jewell Cantrell. August 6, 1990, was perhaps the saddest day of my life; it was the day I had to have my dear old friend of many years put to rest forever. BEN RABBA, who lived to be 26 years old, was a charismatic stallion who became a legend in his own time. He was the most magnificent, arrogant, loving and gentle horse I have ever had the privilege of knowing. He touched the lives of many people and everyone who ever came in contact with this great horse was absolutely captivated by him and loved him. BEN RABBA was responsible for many people becoming involved with Arabians.

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The Original Crabbet – Maynesboro – Kellogg Mare Families

By Rick Synowski. While CMK Arabian horses have come to represent a minority breeding group today, CMK foundation mare lines hold fast to their international domination of lists of leading dams of champions. Their production records, some accomplished by mares now deceased, may never be equaled. The character, type and breeding of such celebrated mares must inevitably be diminished and disappear when out crossing to stallions of other breeding groups predominates.

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Kellogg Bloodlines Return to Cal Poly

By Sharon Byford-Ruth. A recent study revealed that less than a handful of broodmares at Cal Poly University (Pomona), former home of the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Ranch, had any Kellogg blood at all. “Since this was the place that started the Kellogg bloodlines, and the oldest breeding herd on the continent, those bloodlines belong at Cal Poly,” says Dr. Cal Kobluk, Director of the Arabian Horse Department at Cal Poly Pomona, California. Dr. John Schelle, Director of the Arabian Horse Department at Michigan State University agrees. “It’s extremely important that we go back and maintain some of these genetics.”

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Ben Rabba, photo provided by Jewell Cantrell.

Cantrell Arabs and the ‘Ben Rabba Collection’

By Pamela Biery. Many years ago, between appointments and errands, I went by Cantrell Arabians hoping to see the latest foal crop. Standing by the fence with Jewell Cantrell chatting about this and that, I suddenly felt a chill. We were surveying some fifteen to twenty Ben Rabba daughters, granddaughters and old-line Crabbet mares. I looked again at the pasture dotted with exquisite mares and back to Jewell, shaking my head. I was astounded not only by the beauty of the scene, but by the potential impact of the ‘Ben Rabba Collection’ on Crabbet breeding.

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Warren Park Stud: Years with Aulrab and GA Topaz

By Carol Mingst. More than twenty years ago, Sandy Warren was interested in breeding athletic, English style horses. Her young ranch, Warren Park Stud, already had seen some good animals, but she knew what she wanted. There was a mare named Alarieha (by Galahas) who was exactly what Sandy wanted to cross with Grace Baker’s stallion Aurab.

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