© Charmaine Strydom

© www.risingphotography.co.nz

SS Shula is a beautiful mare bred by Gerzanne Stud, with an easy-going, no-fuss temperament. Her big sparkling eyes, pronounced "jibbah", large flaring nostrils, dry clean bone, overall elegance and aloof queenly demeanour lay testament to her desert heritage. We have shown her in an informal manner, where she has been described by international judges as "top class", "she has it all" and "a beautiful typey mare who breeds on". Her show ring accolades as a junior include a Top 5 and then Reserve Championship at consecutive South Island Arabian Championships, followed by 2006 Reserve Champion Mare at the ‘A’ class Canterbury All Arabian show.

SS Shula is by the Straight Egyptian stallion Simeon Shemini, who on inspection caused Princess Alia of Jordan to gasp “oh, he is exquisite”. Shemini is the sire of a record number of New Zealand National show champions, and himself a National Champion. Simeon Shemini is in turn full brother to Simeon Sharav (a National Champion of Egypt), and Simeon Shiraz (a National Champion of Australia). These full siblings are sired by the mighty Asfour, described by Peter Upton circa 1999 as “one of the top ten stallions in the world today. For me, he epitomises all that is Arabian type – quality, refinement, elegance – and he brings to life those wonderful 19th century engravings of Arabian horses by Adam and Vernet”. Shemini is out of the lovely Reserve Australian Champion mare Simeon Shuala, a daughter of World Champion, US National Champion and Scottsdale Champion Simeon Shai.

SS Shula’s dam is the superb broodmare Rula. Rula has produced 8 daughters with Simeon Shemini; all are absolutely beautiful and have been described as world class, including the likes of SS Bint Seetha (2002 National Champion filly and 2005 National Champion mare), SS Ari (2007 National Champion mare), and SS Suri (2007 National Reserve Champion filly). Rula is full sister to the great show mare Mea, and the successful endurance gelding J Taj who was exported to the Middle East. Rula's sire Simeon Shomer is a National Champion and full brother to USA Top 10 stallion Simeon Sanegor; but is perhaps better known as a sire of tall and useful riding horses, including SS Majid (multi champion under saddle) and promising endurance horses like SS Shahrayar, SS Nassada and SS Shouca.

We believe the consistent beauty in the Rula family stems from the combination of the Crabbet mare Ibanez being top bred with the Maxwell-bred Egyptian horse Fakhr El Nil, resulting in Jehani. Fakhr El Nil left very few progeny but had a classical pedigree known for producing the ethereal Egyptian type, including two crosses to Nazeer, three crosses to Bint Radia and two crosses to Bint Farida. To consolidate the look, Jehani was bred to Gai Cadet (linebred to Ferzon and Raffles, known for producing consistent classical “Abbas Pasha” Arabian type) to give Seetha. We think this family is the stand out at Gerzanne Stud and in turn our Shula is producing a new generation of Arabians as just as pretty as herself but with superior presence and movement.

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