ArabianLines.Com Forum

Cherif Pyramid Stud - Silent Fire

Printed from: ArabianLines.Com Forum
Topic URL: http://www.arabianlines.com/forum1/topic_new.asp?TOPIC_ID=19788
Printed on: 05 May 2024

Topic:

Topic author: saddlebred
Subject: Cherif Pyramid Stud - Silent Fire
Posted on: 09 Jul 2007 11:30:17 PM
Message:

Hi folks
Feeling a bit nostalgic looking through old photo's of my first (and actually only!!!) horsey holiday in the Black Mountains in Wales. I cant remember the ladies name who ran the Cherif Pyramid Stud but they were advertised as the "Dancing Horses of Wales".

When I went they had the lovely 5 year old chestnut stallion Silent Fire (Naxif x Silent Dove)who I read was still alive up until a couple of years ago.

Also remember a bay stallion Dhakar (by Amaziah Shah??) and loads of youngsters Bint Amazima, Sherazahd, Helawi.

Just wondered if anyone on here had the privilege of holidaying there or whether anyone ended up buying any of the lovely horses.

Debbie

Replies:

Reply author: bridie
Replied on: 11 Jul 2007 09:02:54 AM
Message:

Hi Debbie. Silent Fire was PTS last year, he had been at Asoka Stud in Manchester, I believe Mrs Lytton purchased him from Cherif Pyramid Stud.......Nat who posts on here could tell you more as she works at Asoka, I do know that he wasnt used much to cover mares which seems a shame with his lovely bloodlines, I had the pleasure of meeting him a few times and he was really stunning, such a proad looking boy.
Perhaps Tomos (Mandy) who also posts on here can tell you a bit about Bint Amazima as she owned her up until her passing(I own one of Zima`s children and he is amazing). I only met her once but she was a pretty little mare.
Hope this helps......isnt nostalgia great

Mandy

Reply author: saddlebred
Replied on: 12 Jul 2007 11:44:21 PM
Message:

Hi Mandy
Yes it is great.... but makes me feel really old! And the worst thing is I can remember nearly every horse I have ever met but I cant for the life of me remember the names of their owners!

I thought I had read somewhere on the internet about Fire passing. He was a lovely boy and yes he knew it.

How lovely that you have got one of Zima's offspring. The week that I went to the stud they had the "Horse and Pony" magazine there and they did an article. I kept my head down for that one - dont like pictures of myself! If I remember correctly Silent Fire was a half brother to Silent King who used to the Horse and Pony magazines horse. He was lost at a young age following a tragic accident in the lorry and I remember being devastated as a child. It sounded horrific and makes me paranoid about trailer/lorry floors.
Happy riding
Debbie

Reply author: Annette
Replied on: 12 Jul 2007 11:56:54 PM
Message:

Hi Debbie

You certainly brought some memories flooding back for me! a friend and myself had a lovely hoiday with these horses probably the best part of 30years ago. At that time they were based in Drybrook Glos in the Forest of Dean. Val Woodall was the owner. I rode Helawi and Kefir and Val at the time had her super old stallion Indian Magician. Amaziah Shah was there, and I will never forget him being shown at Ascot. What a fantastic mover he was! Dhakar was there also, although I thought he was by The Shah. Memory might be wrong though! At the time he was proving unbackable although I believe Val did manage to break him to saddle eventually. My friend rode Sherazahd. Cant remember herhaving Silent Fire at the time though.

I know that Val had a very bad accident in later years, does anyone know where she is now and if she is still in the Arab world. I haven't heard anything of her for 10 years or more now. But I do know that there must be very many people out there who must have such marvelous memories of holidays spent with Val's beautiful Arabian horses. Thank you Val wherever you are.

Annette

Reply author: saddlebred
Replied on: 13 Jul 2007 12:47:03 AM
Message:

Hi Annette
I must have gone a few years later than you - mid eighties probably. They were in Wales then. Sherazahd, Kefir and Helawi were all there though and I rode a lovely chestnut called Askaire.

I remember now the lady was Val and I have just found the old brochures. Some bad stuff happened at the Forest Dean and she and her horses were injured in attacks. I remember her saying that Amaziah Shah had to be PTS because someone got into his stable, slashed him with a knife and poured acid over his back. It all sounded very scary and so tragic.

You are probably right about Dhakar - I think he was by The Shah. He was a lovely boy.

I second your thoughts about the holiday - it was a magical experience.

Reply author: Tomos
Replied on: 13 Jul 2007 11:11:12 AM
Message:

Hello Debbie, I haven't had much time over the last few days so have only just seen this. I was blessed to have owned Bint Amazima from the age of 5 until I lost her in 2005.
She was by Amaziah Shah out of a mare by Dhakar so carried a large amount of Shah blood, she was my all time favourite horse and I still miss her dreadfully, she was very beautiful but as tough as old boots, but most of all she was the gentlest of mares who did everything you asked with exceptionally good grace.

She was a joy to ride as she was so light and responsive and was incredibly easy to back, sadly she never gave me a filly to continue her female line.
As well as being my riding horse she produced 5 colts, Kalacairo by Kalabar Mistanny, Jebel Musa by Ibn Marino Marini now owned by Mandy( Bridie) Karini also by Ibn Marino Marini owned by a local saddler.
Desperado Hispano Arabe stallion by Balconero, and El Bandito full brother, both still with us at the stud.

I can safely say that everyone of them has inherited her exceptional temperament.

If you look on our website and look at the photo album there is a photo of Zima with Hari and Cairo, there are also photos of Desperado and El Bandito on the stallion page.

Interestingly though I am Welsh, I bought her in Yorkshire when I was living up there and it was only when I looked at her papers saw that she was from my part of the world, I think it was meant to be.

I'll try and dig out a few more photos of her and post them for you, can you remember how old she was when you met her ?

Mandy

Reply author: saddlebred
Replied on: 13 Jul 2007 8:05:05 PM
Message:

Hi Mandy
Have just pulled out my old photo album and I can confirm that I was at the stud in Easter 1985. I have got a picture of Dahkar's Nazima who I believe was Bint Amazima's mother. Zima was 3yrs old and I have a couple of pictures of her. They are really poor quality though because it was an old kodak jobby - no digital wizardry then! - I will try to scan them in later and post them for you.

The other horses I have pictures of are:
Indians Eastern Enchantress, Melodora (age 4)
Indians Eastern Sapphire (foal) by Silent Fire out of Enchantress
Ibn Sherif of the Pyramids (foal) Silent Fire x Dahkars Nazima
Reida 11 years (Indrani x Ideleilah bint Rafi)
Sherazahd (11 years) - she was LOVELY
Kefire
Indians Askaire (by Indian Magician)- MY FAVOURITE
Dakhar - GORGEOUS
Indians Helawi
.... and Fluffy the cat for good measure!!!

Your description of Amazima reminds me so much of my old girl who is 24 now. When you find a really special one it is so scary to think of losing them.

They are very lucky horses though to have had a relatively long life with people who love them and are prepared to keep them to the end. It breaks my heart to see them sold on repeatedly.

I will have a look on your website now. Hope to bump in to you one day on the circuit.
Best wishes
Debbie

Reply author: Annette
Replied on: 13 Jul 2007 11:18:53 PM
Message:

Hi Debbie

I have to say that I found that so upsetting about Amaziah Shah.although it was many years ago. He was such a beautiful little horse and has stayed in my mind all these years. That someone could do something so dreadful to any animal just beggars belief. The warped minds of the monsters who commit these cruel and callous acts are beyond the comprehension of us all. I suppose it was someone with some sort of grudge against Val and these peoplealways know how to hit where it hurts most.

Reply author: saddlebred
Replied on: 14 Jul 2007 1:02:28 PM
Message:

Hi Annette

Yes I know, Annette. Even though I had never met him the description of what happened chilled me to the bone. You are right in your presumption and that is why they had to move away. Many more "accidents" happened to other stock and to Val herself/threats to family. It does beggar belief that anyone could do such a thing to another living being.

I am so sorry to have upset you. Sometimes it is better not knowing these things and to imagine that they are living happily somewhere. Next time I will think before opening my big mouth!!
Best wishes
Debbie

Reply author: saddlebred
Replied on: 14 Jul 2007 1:08:49 PM
Message:

Hi Tomos
With regard to the lightness - do you remember that Val taught all her horses to stop by squeezing the knees as a half-halt rather than using the reins.

That as stuck with me forever and I have always ridden my old mare the same way. She is really really light and responsive. I wonder if it is that technique which keeps them that way. Fayre will stop from a canter, even immediately after a jump with one squeeze which has meant that I could do 27 second jump offs on her because she can stop and turn on a sixpence. Never had to gallop her in a jump off - just cut inside all the fences!

If Val broke Zima in like that it might explain whey they are so similar?

Amazing how 1 week away can change the way you ride forever!!

Your website is lovely and Zima hadnt changed from the photos I have from 1985! She was a very beautiful girl and you were very lucky to have had her.
Debbie

Reply author: saddlebred
Replied on: 14 Jul 2007 5:02:05 PM
Message:

Hi Mandy
Here are the photos I promised of Bint Amazima and Dakhars Nazima. Hope you like them. Look at those ears - beautiful.
Debbie

Reply author: Tomos
Replied on: 20 Jul 2007 1:08:38 PM
Message:

Hi Debbie, sorry its taken so long to get back to you, I don't seem to have much spare time at the moment. Thank you for posting the photos of Zima and her dam, I have never seen a photo of Dhakars Nazima before and I now know where Hari (Jebel Musa) blaze came from.
I did find it quite moving to see Zima as a yougster.

As to backing, she wasn't backed when I bought her and I backed her, I have always liked horses to go lightly, most of our horses including the stallions are ridden in sweet iron french links, but Zima never got further than a rubber snaffle.

I did talk to Val a few times on the phone to get some more info about Zima, but never actually met her, though she did mention the problems she was having with the horses being attacked, which sounded appalling.

Thanks for your comments about our website, we will be updating it soon but Zima will remain.

I will ask Judith to post some more photos of her, minus the mud !
What time of year was it ?
You can certainly tell its Wales !

Mandy

Reply author: bridie
Replied on: 20 Jul 2007 7:32:17 PM
Message:

I thought the same about Hari`s blaze too. If only I could post pictues.

Mandy

Reply author: saddlebred
Replied on: 21 Jul 2007 5:09:31 PM
Message:

Glad you liked them Mandy. I have a couple of pictures of Dakhar as well which I will scan in and post.
Debbie

Reply author: avanti
Replied on: 21 Jul 2007 5:37:40 PM
Message:

Hi all, I had a mare reportedly from Cherif Pyramid Stud and involved in the attacks, she was Nusa (the Norseman/Sitara) she came to me at about 16 and was a fantastic ride, she was difficult to catch but we forgave her that as she had apparently had acid thrown in her face , she would always come to be caught but veer off at the last minute, she eventually got over that with people she knew, Mandy.

Reply author: saddlebred
Replied on: 22 Jul 2007 12:30:28 PM
Message:

How sad that she was involved in the attacks but great that she came through her ordeal.

I am sure you gave her loads of love.

Reply author: Jingo
Replied on: 22 Jul 2007 2:37:38 PM
Message:

Mandy my foundation mare was Shireema (Shirar x Sitara) I remember the Norseman well - he was purchased from USA along with The Searcher - small world

Reply author: Rozy Rider
Replied on: 22 Jul 2007 5:22:07 PM
Message:

Jebel Musa (Hari)

and his dam Bint Amazima & foal (Jebel Musa) for Bridie.

Reply author: saddlebred
Replied on: 24 Jul 2007 9:46:18 PM
Message:

He looks so much like Dakhars Nazima. It is spooky. I have a few more photos of her which I will post for you when I get them scanned in.
Debbie

ArabianLines.Com Forum : http://www.arabianlines.com/forum1/

Close Window