Why Crabbet?

"Why Crabbet" is a collection of answers to this question originally published in Arabian Visions magazine March/April1993 issue.

Many Arabian breeders in America and around the world have made a conscious decision to base their programs firmly on the Crabbet tradition. Do they know something? To gain insight we asked a number of breeders and owners of Crabbet-derived horses to answer the question, "Why Crabbet?".

Interpretations of the question varied, but everyone had strong convictions.

Michael and Ann Bowling, The New Albion Stud, Davis, California:
At New Albion "Why Crabbet?" seems an unnecessary question, these horses are so central to our lives; perhaps they chose us. The Crabbet Arabian Stud was founded in 1878 by Wilfred and Lady Anne Blunt after their desert journeys.

Foundation horses from the bedouin tribes were later blended with animals descended from the legendary collection of Abbas Pasha I through those of his student Ali Pasha Sherif. Crabbet breeding was continued by the daughter of the Blunts, Lady Wentworth, and then by C.G. Covey.

Although the Crabbet Stud no longer exists as a physical entity the Crabbet heritage prospers in the hands of dedicated breeders. Virtually every Arab breeding country obtained significant foundation stock from Crabbet, whether directly or indirectly.

The influence exerted by the Blunts and Lady Wentworth through their writings is a unifying theme in world Arabian breeding.

North America posesses a rich and diversified Crabbet tradition, thanks especially to the early imports of Spencer Borden, W.R. Brown, W.K. Kellogg, and Roger Selby. Farsighted breeders have been adding important Crabbet elements to North America's gene pool ever since.

Virtually every Crabbet foundation animal still represented today in world pedigrees can be found in the background of North American Arabians.

Maynesboro, the New Hampshire establishment of W.R. Brown, and the Pomona, California ranch of W.K. Kellogg played key roles in transmitting the Crabbet heritage to today's Arabians. At the same time, Brown and Kellogg and their successors used Arabians from other sources compatible with the Blunt foundation.

Their goal: combining Arabian quality and breed character with riding types and performance ability. This increasingly being recognized by the use of the designation "CMK" ("Crabbet/Maynesboro/Kellogg") for this vigorous, eclectic North American branch of the Crabbet tradition.

At New Albion we believe we are working in the tradition of the Blunts, Brown, and Kellogg; our horses are all predominantly Crabbet by pedigree (individuals range from 60% - 100%), but we recognize the influences of Randolph Huntington's and Spencer Borden's Old English stock which chiefly descend through Maynesboro breeding; of W.R. Brown's own imports from France and Egypt; of the Davenport and Hamidie Society desert breds and the Tahawia mare *Malouma, all of which come to us via Kellogg Lines; of the final CMK founder element, the 1947 Hearst imports.

Most importantly, our breeding program is aimed at the production of beautiful, companionable horses with real performace ability. This was the vision the Blunts brought home to Crabbet from the desert; this was Brown's reason for having the Maynesboro horses take part in the Army endurance competitions, retiring the Mounted Service Cup; this was what W.K. Kellogg had in mind when he presented his ranch and horses to the U.S. Remount.

This is the central idea of the Crabbet/Maynesboro/Kellogg tradition as we view it at New Albion.

Dick and Sandy Warren, Warren Park Stud, Sanger, California:
We use the word "Crabbet" as a portmanteau and take it to include all animals whose pedigrees trace, wholly or substantially, to horses bred or owned by the Blunts or Lady Wentworth. The Crabbet Arabian Stud was founded in 1878 from the purest authenticated stock in the desert, imported by Wilfred and Lady Anne Blunt.

It was carried on with the strictest attention to excelllence in blood, and can be relied on as some of the best and most specialized pedigree stock in existence. Crabbet was always meticulous in its attention to the history of every horse used in the stud. Lady Anne Blunt's private stud books are priceless references for Arabian historians.

It is too often forgotten that Crabbet's influence on Arabian breeding around the world was greater than any other single stud farm in history. Crabbet Arabians have formed some part of the foundation of Egyptian, Spanish, Polish, Russian, Australian, and of course North and South American breeding.

We have been line breeding Arabian horses of Crabbet/Kellogg bloodlines for the past 20 years. Our goal is to produce outstanding individuals while maintaining Arabian type and correct conformation with good bone, body type and substance, with the beautiful, free-flowing action found in Aurab stock.

They are kind and intelligent, yet with the fire and brilliance to succeed in the show ring.

Bill & Kathy Root, Manorhouse Farm Arabians, Port Byron, New York:
The title of this is "Why Crabbet?" or "How A Short Trip To England Changed Everything For One Farm." Our small breeding farm was firmly entrenched in another Arab persuasion when we stumbled upon the British National Arab Show during a trip to England a few years back.

As we watched the horses being shown naturally, we had a sense that perhaps this was how things equine really should be. Once we recovered from that shock, we realized that these horses filled the picture in our mind's eye of what a true Arabian should be

Beauty, consistency, disposistion, and tradition are their hallmarks.

Along the Crabbet way we have been fortunate enough to meet some very knowledgeable and experienced people who have never hesitated to help us with their experience - people like Rosemary Archer and H.G. the Duchess of Rutland in England, as well as Gari Dill-Marlow and Michael and Ann Bowling here in America, have shared their love of these special horses, and the precious blood which runs in the veins of so many of our champions.

But don't take our word for it. Visit a Crabbet breeder and see for yourself.

Rick Synowski, Rick Synowski Arabian Horses Dallas, Oregon:
The earliest image of an Arabian horse in my memory was of *Abu Zeyd's George Ford Morris photograph - this from a U.S. Department of Agriculture "Light Horse Bulletin" published in the late 40s.

The image of *Abu Zeyd epitomized what was to become the ideal Arabian of my mind's eye. Not surprisingly all the horses in my barn descend from *Abu Zeyd and his type is still to be recognized.

The Crabbet horses respresent a classical standard. I think of them individually as uncontrived in terms of quality and Arabian type. As a group they have given us a rich genetic heritage on which to build.

Perhaps Lady Wentworth herself described them best when she wrote in her 1924 stud catalog, "The high caste Arab is exceedingly rare for his carriage and beauty of form." I believe this is still true nealry 70 years later.

Sable Golden, Naar Wa Eeman Khyool Arabia, San Martin, California:
Some years and what seems like a lifetime ago, in an attempt to lend some assistance to an old man with too many horses, I brought home a little red horse. It was understood by all concerned, including the horse, that he was transient and as soon as circumstances allowed he would be moving on.

In the months that followed perhaps I was the only one who was unaware of the bond that formed and the determination of that little horse to stay. Totally focused he took every opportunity to convince me he really was part of our family.

He remains today the most optimistic person I know, two legged or four. Bright as a new penny, never looking back, always grateful, he views his glass half full rather than half empty every single day. He is an inspiration and many a grim, bleak day he has lightened the load with his sheer bouyancy and simple joy for life.

"Toot" the individual convinced me first about Crabbet horses; getting acquainted with his pedigree and the ancestors who make him who he is was the natural next step.

In returning to the roots, the Crabbet in his pedigree, I have discovered a friend in Lady Anne Blunt. She has a wealth of knowledge to give, even now, so long after her death. A lady of conviction and courage with an indomitable spirit - all the qualities of her beloved horses.

Regardless of current vogue or shiny marketing or how we individually like to see an Arabian horse, we can do no better than his origins.

Halcara Arabians, Morgan Hill, California:
What do you seek in an Arabian horse and where can it be found? I think all of us love to watch the Arabian at play. They quicken our hearts with their gaiety of swaggering, cadenced motion in celebration of themselves and the joy of life.

There is the excellence of form and structure which enables these Arabian horses to perform as they do in so many athletic fields. But the mind and spirit of these horses is what gives them the greatness and joy to their human companions when effort is made to understand them.

They offer to do what we ask of them, with an unmatched willingness to try, there is trust given once earned, and an ability to endure with minimal repayment.

I have found this kind of Arabian horse alive and well, procreated from the grand old bloodlines descended from the Crabbet foundation stock. I am grateful to those breeders who cherished these special horses and made the effort to insure these companions are here today for all of us.

Mary Atwood, San Jose, California:
Why Crabbet? Why not? Could it be the desire to be with people, the dragon snorts, the tail in the air, the grace, the carefulness, the sense of humor, the smarts (intelligence and sassiness), the lovingness?

These are only some of the characteristics that make wading through the winter muck a joy, not a chore. If we start describing the physical characteristics and the willingness to learn and please so readily pointed out by the professionals (vets, farriers, etc.) we would certainly need a book.

Dick Hasbrook, Twin Brook Arabians, Ames, Iowa:
To understand the answer to "Why Crabbet?" you must trace the thread from Abbas Pasha, Ali Pasha Sherif, Lady Anne Blunt, Lady Wentworth, and the members of the "Skowronek Club" which sprang up around the Selby and Kellogg imports of the 1920s and 30s.

Each collected the treasures of their era to bring the genetic evolution one step at a time to produce the treasures we share.

When the reins were passed to Lady Anne's daughter Judith (Lady Wentworth) her genius created the Skowronek type. What followed were the glory days of Crabbet with exports all over the world, including the early Skowronek imports to the United States.

The elite at the Selby Stud were *Kareyma, *Rose of France, *Rifala, and *Rimini. The Skowronek super stallions were *Raseyn, *Raffles, and *Raswan in the United States with Naseem going to Russia.

Times change and just as the mechanical horse changed the lives of Arabs, so has the import craze from Poland, Russia, and Spain coupled with the Great Tax Write Off of the 70s and 80s and the economic crisis of the 90s changed the family of Arabian horses in America today.

As part of the changing times, we have seen the exit of many great studs. To mention a few, the Selby Stud, Jim and Thelma Dean, Alice Payne, Alice Bracker, Mrs. Morrill, the Boyts, Gina Manion, and R.B. Field. Soon to be added to this list are Friendship Farms (Tish Hewitt) and Comar Arabians (Garth Buchanan).

Do not despair. In small pastures all over America, in groups of two or three, the seeds of the next generation are being preserved. Each of us will preserve the glories of the past with the joys of rebirth on our small acreage every spring.

The Crabbet blood will shine in the future in amateur owner shows, in equitation classes, and on the trails of every state in this great country. The zeal of Ali Pasha, Lady Anne, Lady Wentworth, Jimmie Dean, Garth Buchanan, and many others is in each new enthusiast.

2025 Update - Why Crabbet Now?

Calling all Crabbet breeders - what is your response to this question now, more than 20 years later?! Contact me with your response to be added, thanks!