Egyptians In Action: *Badr - Creating the Standard in Egyptian Performance by Robert D. Mock M.D.
*Badr, known as "Egypt's Native Son" underlines the concept of porcelain beauty combined with hardiness and athleticism so often associated with Egyptian Arabians. Born in Hamdan Stables at the country estate of Pasha Ahmed Hamza near Cairo, *Badr resulted from the collective efforts of both the EAO (Egyptian Agricultural Organization) and Hamdan Stables, one of the EAO's approved private breeding farms. For four decades, the Pasha Ahmed Hamza developed a breeding program with emphasis on "ethereal beauty of Egyptian Arabian type, conformation, temperament, and proven performance through racing ability."
To achieve this goal he purchased, in 1944, three pure desert-bred Tahawi mares from Sheikh Abdul Hamid Rabeh El-Tahawi, recognized as one of the best known and reputable of all the Tahawi breeders. Bint Barakat, Folla, and Futna represented "the speed, endurance, tenacity of spirit, intelligence combined with desert beauty, and the purity of pedigree so jealously guarded by the Tahawi Bedouin tribes." The Tahawijah Bedouin tribes resided in the Sharquiya Province in the Egyptian delta for three hundred years. They were recognized as "true Arabs" by tracing their decent to the Hanadi branch of the Beni Suleim tribe in central Arabia.
*Badr's dam, Sameeha, depicted the masterful blending of Bint Barakat, her grandma, with Hamdan, the crown favorite of King Farouk. This elegant white stallion was admired by dignitaries from around the world who plotted the political future of the Middle East after World War II.
*Badr's sire, Iknatoon by *Farazdac, was the bold and beautiful lead sire at the EAO for many years. *Badr sports a pedigree of Egypt's racing giants: Alaa El Din 6(1-1-1-3), Nazeer 20(4-6-1-4), Sid Abouham 28(13-9-67-0), Ibn Rabdan 16 (4-2-0-0), *Farazdac 16 (3-5-8-0), and the Nazeer son Ibn Farki (Korayem), winner of four races.
*Badr himself has continued this legacy of extreme athletic ability. During the 25th Silver Jubilee U.S. National Champions, *Badr won two National Championships, the first in Arabian Country English Pleasure. Then, bedecked in a black velvet and gold embroidered native costume trimmed with medieval green, maroon, gold, and blue tassels, *Badr swept away the competition again and set a new National record for the Egyptian Arabians. *Badr became the ONLY Straight Egyptian Arabian to win two National Championships in one year, and both Championships in performance classes. After a total of seven National wins, *Badr stands next to *Sakr as the winningest and most illustrious straight Egyptian performance Arabian. It can be honestly stated that "Badr DID add to the legacy of his ancestors and to the Egyptian Arabians in general.
Imported to America as a yearling, *Badr was raised in Penn. at Hasan Arabians, owned by Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Leaser. In six years, he sired eighteen foals, including: Winbridge Alybadr Ramma, (*Badr x Countess Miranne), winner in Endurance, Cross Country and Competitive Driving; Badr-Ramma, (*Badr x Antu Ra-Mista), winner of championships in Halter, Western Pleasure, English Pleasure, and Native Costume; and CV Alyse (*Badr x Bint Raseyn Linda), multi-champion in Arabian Native Costume and National contender in Arabian Country English Pleasure. Dressage champion EH Baruch (*Badr x Hy-Wynne Amreih), with owner Kim Orr, recently brought national recognition to *Badr and the Arabian industry. They won the coveted 1995 IBM/USET Festival of Champions Endurance Race at Gladstone, N.J., on June 25,1995, against a field of international endurance winners.
Egyptian Arabian breeders have been diligent in preserving the romantic heritage of the desert-bred Arabians. Yet, the Egyptian horse has much more to offer than its vivid history and universally acknowledged beauty. It was the desert-bred Arabian who was expected to bring stamina and endurance to the Polish Calvary. It was the English breeders who consistently turned to the pure genetic pool of desert-bred Arabians to revitalize their local breeding programs. *Badr's National performance wins, along with the accomplishments of his gifted performance offspring, have once again illustrated the strength, stamina, and athletic talent of the straight Egyptian to modern Arabian horse breeders.
*Badr's "family," Robert, Cherry and Rhea Mock, of Almaz Aseel Arabians, have become passionate in preserving a genetic legacy of *Badr for future breeding generations. With renewed interest in the "Sport" Arabian and in Arabian racing, the future for performance-bred Arabians looks bright. The Mocks believe mainstream Egyptian breeders may find great rewards in these markets for their talented straight Egyptians.
