Over a century ago, an inexplicable set of circumstances merged in the land of Egypt, sparking a phenomena that would shape the future of the Arabian breed. Seven seemingly unrelated individuals followed a personal calling, all drawn to the same place at the same time — pursuing the same passion. Their backgrounds were quite different, some were Egyptian Royalty or warrior descendants of Egyptian royalty, others were of European nobility, scholars and skilled professionals. Each had come to realize that the unparalleled physical and spiritual character of the Arabian horse had been cultivated over thousands of years subject to the specific breeding philosophies of the Bedouin breeders. Likewise, each understood that to separate the breed from that philosophy was to weaken the very fibers of its unique character over time. Neither motivated by the procurement of wealth nor by power, these individuals put aside their obvious differences to fulfill one common goal; the perpetuation of the original, authentic Arabian Horse in its finest form. They became students and disciples of the Bedouin horsebreeding practices, steadfast purists by today’s standards. United by their common aspirations, their purpose transcended racial, political, and cultural divides. There were many hardships, many sacrifices, but the legacy they left is at the very core of the modern Arabian breed. Miraculously, it has been maintained through like-minded breeders of succeeding generations, who have seen through the vision of those 7 original breeders.

In 1987, a group of long time Arabian horse breeders and historians in the United States of America, once again experienced a simultaneous calling. Like their predecessors, they had each made a personal journey, leading to a singular destination. After conducting extensive research, they recognized that there still existed a small nucleus of Arabian horses who’s lineage could be traced exclusively to ancestors introduced into the genetic stream by those 7 original breeders of Egypt more than a century ago. With only about 800 such horses still existing worldwide, clearly there was no time to waste. They came together in their mutual recognition of this priceless genepool, in an effort to safeguard the legacy both in philosophy and in flesh. An organization was created for this purpose and it was given a very symbolic and meaningful name — The Sheykh Obeyd Foundation.


How It All Began

The Nile Valley has been a rich resource for horses since before the time of King Solomon, a thousand years before the birth of Christ. However, there came a time in Egypt when the humble Arabian desert horse became the focus of a great International epiphany. It began in the first half of the 19th Century with the reign of Mohamed Ali The Great, succeeded by his son Ibrahim Pasha, who together ruled Egypt for forty years. During that time they amassed an enormous herd of desert bred horses, taken as the spoils of war from the kingdoms of Arabia. While passionate about their horses, neither of these rulers truly understood their exclusive heritage, nor did they regard them with the the level of dignity practiced by the Bedouin breeders. While many of their horses were exquisitely bred, they suffered severely from neglect and by the end of that reign in 1848, a vast number were lost.

But a young warrior prince, known as Abbas Pasha, had the gift of greater insight. His own experiences with Arabian horses had left him with a deep and abiding appreciation for the breed, and strong alliances forged with Arabian chiefs put him in a position to acquire some of those most coveted in the desert. With the assistance of his father, Prince Toussan Pasha (second son of Muhamed Ali The Great) he began to assemble a formidable herd. By 1848 Abbas Pasha became Viceroy of Egypt, and the “Golden Age” of Egyptian breeding was under way.


An Expanding Circle

In his wisdom, Abbas Pasha recognized that the nature of this breed was inherent in the unique culture of its native heritage. Knowing this, he placed great emphasis on the ancient breeding philosophies which had formed the Arabian horse over thousands of years. His magnificent stables were skillfully managed by carefully chosen Bedouin horsemen, who scrupulously authenticated each precious pedigree. Under these caring eyes, the horses were bred and nurtured according to strict Bedouin practices — the mares drank from water hauled daily from the River Nile, the foals were hand fed on camel’s milk. In time, the stables of Abbas Pasha became famous throughout the world, eventually housing nearly 1,000 pure desert bred Arabians. Visitors came from all parts of the Middle East and Europe to view this priceless collection. But the glory of this spectacular treasury would end much too soon. In 1854 Abbas Pasha was assassinated. The royal herd was disbursed at a tremendous auction in Cairo, extending over a period of three weeks and attended by Arabian horse enthusiasts from all over the world. The treasures of Abbas Pasha were sold off to buyers from Germany, Australia, France, and to numerous private individuals in Egypt.

One of those private individuals was a young man, not altogether unlike Abbas Pasha himself. His name was Ali Pasha Sherif, and he was the son of El Sayed, Governor of Arabia under the reign of Muhamed Ali the Great. Educated in France, Ali Pasha Sherif entered the Egyptian military where he gained notable status. Like Abbas Pasha, he also developed a great appreciation and desire for fine Arabian horses. He had already begun his own collection of desert breds when he learned of the great auction. He seized this opportunity to expand his treasury, acquiring 40 horses from the sale and re-purchasing many of the horses which had already been sold to others. Like Abbas Pasha before him, Ali Pasha Sherif eventually assembled a world renowned collection of approximately 400 pure Arabian horses, managed and bred according to strict Bedouin practices.

By this time, modes of travel had improved significantly, and the wealthy class of England and Europe were lured by the exotic, rugged beauty of the Middle East. Among these travelers were Wilfred and Lady Anne Blunt, granddaughter of Lord Byron. The Blunts had created a Thoroughbred breeding farm in England, called Carbbet Park. In 1877 they began visiting the Arabian desert in order to procure additional Arabian blood to improve the quality of their Thoroughbred foundation stock. During one such visit in 1880, they found themselves in Cairo, attending the Theater. As fate would have it, Ali Pasha Sherif was attending the same Theater that evening and an introduction was made between himself and the Blunts. In retrospect, it would appear that at that very moment, a connection was created which would seal the future of the Arabian breed in Egypt and beyond.


The Namesake

Having spent so much time in the Middle East over the past years, the Blunts had fallen in love with this stunning country and her people, and began searching for a permanent residence in Egypt. About a mile and a half outside of Cairo, they found a 37 acre walled garden, once owned by Abbas Pasha’s uncle Ibrahim. It was called “Sheykh Obeyd”, the name of a saint and companion of the holy Prophet Mohammed. The small, unimpressive house was of of pink clay, graced with three arches in the front. It was well cultivated land, adorned with pomegranate gardens and requiring 16 full time caretakers. As symbols of their shared interests, gifts were sent to Sheykh Obeyd by other members of this breeding community. Prince Ahmed Pasha Kemal. sent a pair of white turkeys. Ali Pasha Sherif sent rose bushes and vines. The Blunts would settle at Sheykh Obeyd, and indeed it would remain Lady Anne’s beloved home until her death, finally seen as an enduring monument to the preservation of Egyptian Arabian horses.


The Circle Completed

The Blunt’s travels through the desert over the preceding years had provided close contacts with the Bedouin tribes, and had taught them much about their ancient breeding practices. Lady Anne, a scholar by all accounts, became acutely aware of the importance of insuring the authenticity of Arabian bloodstock. She vigilantly pursued pedigree studies, readily adopting the Bedouin purist philosophies. Through their contacts, the Blunts acquired some excellent desert bred Arabians, retaining some at Sheykh Obeyd in Egypt while sending others on to Crabbet Park in England. But as Lady Anne became more exposed to the particular type of Arabians bred by Ali Pasha Sherif, she cultivated a more refined “eye” and her personal ideal evolved to reflect that influence. She made supreme efforts to acquire some of the best of the Ali Pasha Sherif stock, and succeeded. The combination of the Blunt’s original desertbreds with their Ali Pasha Sherif acquisitions resulted in some of the finest horses they ever produced.

During this time, this breeding circle in Egypt continued to grow. Several other private breeders took up the cause to perpetuate the exquisite legacy of Abbas Pasha and Ali Pasha Sherif. These included: Ahmed Bey Sennari, Prince Ahmed Pasha Kemal, and Khedive Abbas Hilme II. In 1908 the government of Egypt created the Royal Agricultural Society, intended to preserve the Egyptian Arabian horse. The private breeding community donated horses of their own breeding to help build the rootstock of the RAS. These gifts came from such breeders as Prince Kemal El Dine, Prince Mohamed Ali, and Lady Anne Blunt. While the RAS was a government project, it was run by the renowned Scottish Veterinarian and ardent purist Dr. Branch. A contemporary of Lady Anne, Branch was integrally connected to the Royal breeders, particularly Prince Kemal El Dine and Prince Mohamed Ali who consulted him closely on their breeding, He was said to know more about the bloodlines of Arabian horses in Egypt at the time than most anyone, including the Prince. Together, these seven devoted breeders created a breeders circle of like-minded preservationists never before known in Egypt. The inheritance of the modern Sheykh Obeyd Arabian is their gift to us.


Vital Links

The root stock of Sheykh Obeyd breeding is composed of 66 Arabian ancestors who were bred by, acquired by, or introduced into the gene pool by these 7 original breeders: Abbas Pasha, Ali Pasha Sherif, Ahmed Bey Sennari, Prince Ahmed Pasha Kemal, Khedive Abbas Hilme II, the Blunts and of the RAS (under the auspices of Dr. Branch). Sheykh Obeyd Arabians descend in all lines from any combination of those 66 original ancestors, and are identified by Al Khamsa as Egypt (1 & II) / Blunt ancestral elements. In addition to being Al Khamsa, all Sheykh Obeyd Arabians are Asil Club qualified, as well as Pyramid Society qualified (with the exception of the descendants of Kars).

The imports from Egypt into the United States of America between the 1920s and the 1960s were heavily composed of Sheykh Obeyd Arabians, including all of the Babson imports, many of the Brown imports, all of the Pritzlaff imports, and many of the Ansata imports. Sheykh Obeyd Arabians were also well represented in the Glenloch imports, the Serenity imports and numerous others. Sheykh Obeyd Arabians include some of the most illustrious ancestors we have ever known, including :
*Ansata Ibn Halima, *Bint Moniet El Nefous, Nazeer, Fa Serr, *Ansata Bint Bukra, Fa Halima, El Hilal, Maar Ree, *Tuhotmos, Ansata El Sherif, Talal, Zarife, Sirecho, *Maaroufa, Gulastra, Hadban Enzahi, Hallany Mistanny, *Ansata El Nisr, RDM Maar Hala, *Fakher El Din, *Soufian, Alaa El Din, Ghadaf, *Bint Nefisaa, *Bint Maisa El Saghira *Rashad Ibn Nazeer, Aswan, Zaafarana, Rabanna, Moniet El Nefous, *Fadl, Ghazal, *Hekmet, *Dawlat, *Ghazalahh, *Bint El Bataa, Negmaa, *Serenity Shahra, *Adhem, *Exochorda, *Ansata Bint Nazeer, *Bint Shaams, *Serag, *GAF Waseem, *Bint Jehan, *Bint Bint Sabbah... just to name a few.


Concerns For The Future

While their impact has been tremendous, Sheykh Obeyd Arabians are now dangerously close to being lost. The current breeding population has fallen below 1,000 individuals world wide, qualifying this as an endangered group according to criteria established by The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. However, the significance of this genepool does not lie solely in its rare status, but in the unique beauty and authentic character which these horses have exhibited throughout history. They are the only living animals who descend entirely from those Arabians who captured the hearts of the 7 foundation breeders of Egypt over a century ago. When they are gone, they are gone forever.

Does this imply that Sheykh Obeyd Arabians are somehow better than non-Sheykh Obeyd Arabians? No, most certainly not. What it clearly implies is that they provide an extraordinarily concentrated genetic resource for the most prized Arabian blood which has ever existed. Why is this important to modern breeders? Recent scientific discoveries indicate that every cell in the body has a memory of sorts, and that memory is transmitted along with the DNA material of preceding generations. An argument can be made that it was the environment of a rugged desert life which honed the character of the Bedouin bred horse, and therefore such character will be eventually lost as the original environment ceases to exist. However, that theory loses wind when applied to an animal who has inherited exclusive memories of the desert existence through every ancestor, in every cell in his body. I have owned and bred Arabians of many bloodlines, and I have treasured them all. My own observation is that the ancestral memory does exist, and that it is more powerful and accessible in Arabians who descend exclusively from Bedouin bred origins than in any others. Within Sheykh Obeyd lines, the additional impact of specific selection and qualification by like-minded breeders who were strict disciples of the Bedouin breeding philosophies is notable.

The Passing Of The Torch

The original Sheykh Obeyd Foundation created in 1987, has now been expanded to respond to the ever shrinking world we live in. Soundly rooted in the tenets of SOF, a new organization has been established called the Sheykh Obeyd Foundation International — SOFI. Once again, like-minded breeders have heard the call, and have answered. Through the gift of instant, global communication, far greater education is now possible. Sheykh Obeyd Arabians currently exist in many countries around the world, a wonderful testimony to the efforts of the founders of SOF. But the ultimate legacy of Sheykh Obeyd must not be the preservation of a few antique type horses existing in isolation, but in the perpetual infusion of outstanding Arabian blood in the breeding population at large. SOFI will actively seek to reach out across all divides, uniting breeders in one purpose — to improve the Arabian breed.

Today, we lament the loss of the original Arabian qualities, both physical and spiritual, which have inspired artists and poets for centuries and obsessed the souls of princes and paupers alike — lost to the folly of fad and passing fashion. Every new generation of Sheykh Obeyd foals is a gift to the future, for these are the descendants of your beloved Arabians finest ancestors. Throughout time, they have been the tent horses of the desert, the lords of the show ring, the masters of the breeding barn and the captors of our hearts. They bring forth the essence of all that an Arabian Horse must be, today and tomorrow and always.