EUROPEAN & INTERNATIONAL Stud Review
AL DAHMAH ARABIANS


 

Al Dahmah Arabians

Somenos Riding Centre is the home of Al Dahmah Arabians, specializing in rare, desert-bred Arabian horses of the finest quality.

In September 1999 we bought our home, Stud and Riding Centre here in Duncan at the foot of the beautiful Mount Prevost. Our objectives are to breed and offer stud services from our Arabian stallion, R.N. Layal, provide Reiki and other horse healing techniques, Horse liveries/boarding, and to provide a safe and fun environment for children, adults and horses.

The *RN Layal Story

For as long as I can remember, I wanted an Arabian horse of my own, preferably a BLACK one, like Managea. She was a mare that I rode when I was 10 years old, but she belonged to the Emir, Sheikh Isa Bin Sulman Al-Khalifa, the late Ruler of Bahrain. However, when my parents moved to South Africa, all thoughts of ever owning a "true" Arabian faded …

By the time I moved back to Bahrain, I was 17 years old. Time passed, I worked for a large American Diving Company, met and married Mike, who was a "baby" Diver, and a short time later, we moved to Dubai, one of the United Arab Emirates. This is where I had my 2 children, Rhiannon and Kyle.*RN Layal Rhiannon was horse-mad, and we eventually agreed to buy her a horse of her own. I had my mind set on a pretty little 6 year old Arabian mare, Desert Dawn; very sweet, extremely pretty and well-trained by a friend who was employed by the Royal Stables to teach the young Sheikhs and Sheikha's, horsemanship.

However, this was not to be. Desert Dawn was not to be sold. She was kept as a broodmare, so our search was still on. We had heard about a bay Anglo-Arabian for sale. Well, we paid for the horse, and tried for 3 days to load him on to the Trailer - this was not meant to be. The ONLY horse we have ever had this experience with!

On the third day, we decided that this was enough, and the Owner was meeting us to return our cheque! He turned up with a Trailer of Arabians he had just imported from Qatar and was busy unloading them, when my daughter, Rhiannon spotted Yazeed Al Shaqab, a stunning grey 3 year old colt that was, as far as I was concerned, an absolute No-No!!! RN Layal

Then came the last horse off the Trailer - a STUNNING, JET BLACK, 2 Year old Egyptian Colt. My friend and I just looked at each other and she said, "No, Bev, Mike will not appreciate this!" *RN Layal was the most handsome horse I had EVER seen!

To cut a long story short, we purchased *RN Layal and Yazeed Al Shaqab - from the Dubai National owner.

*RN Layal was kept at the Dubai Royal stables of Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, where, at the age of 4, in March 1998, he was backed and joined up by Monty Roberts during one of Monty's visits to the Middle East.

Yazeed became my daughter's horse providing her with many pleasurable days of riding and training.

In June 1999 we sent *RN Layal & Yazeed Al Shaqab by air (Ahead of us) to Vancouver Island, packed a 40 ft. container with all our belongings and left the Middle East to emigrate to Canada arriving on Vancouver Island on the 8th of August 1999.

We purchased our small ranch at the foot of Mount Prevost within two weeks of arrival and moved in on the 1st of September 1999. Once the barn was prepared we brought Layal and Yazeed to the ranch after the first week of September. When Layal had settled in his stall and paddock we let him out into the fields of the property, which were quite overgrown. Layal cantered around the field and then went through a hidden stream bed at full gallop. The drop from ground level to the stream was around 2 to 3 meters and Layal broke his left foreleg (Cannon bone) in three places. We were devastated.

Our Vet informed us, after X-rays (Clearly showing the three fractures) and a check up, that there was little hope of a recovery and to prepare ourselves for the worst, subject to some specialist surgery in Washington, which was doubtful.

We took things one day at a time, bandaging, hosing and applying medications. I worked on Layal daily with my Reiki and prayers. After nearly four months of stall confinement our veterinarian again X-rayed Layal's foreleg. He was amazed - Absolutely No sign of the previous three fractures showed up from the two angles he took the X-ray's from!


*RN LAYAL 2001

*RN Layal is a highly intelligent stallion with a surprisingly tolerant and sweet nature. He has a penchant for having his tongue rubbed and sticks it out as a sign that he wants this doing when my husband or I go into his stall. This is also his 'truce' sign when he is mischievous and gets caught in the act of yanking with his teeth on a coat or sleeve! He is a horse that you can never tire of observing. He has a head turning presence and a way of looking totally different in small changes of light and position. His coat is very tight and silky with it's own naturally produced 'show sheen' type of sebaceous oil.

We intend to show Layal, as and when opportunities arise that are not too far a field - - Vancouver and Washington would be about as far as we could venture and still keep everything running on the ranch!

We shall of course be offering Layal at stud with frozen semen available to export and look forward to seeing offspring from covers of Straight Egyptian, Asil and other breeds.

PROGENY


SHAMAAL IBN *RN LAYAL and dam, 'Lily' (JC Be Curious)

Shamaal's Thoroughbred Dam : 'Lily' - JC Be Curious, is an ex racehorse with a very good track record. Lily is a Roundtable Granddaughter by Roundtable Jr. She is now a first class jumper & Brood Mare.


SHAMAAL IBN *RN LAYAL (at 10wks old)

Shamaal Ibn Layal when literally translated from Arabic means : 'North Wind son of Night'. However a 'shamaal' is colloquially known by the Bedouin as a Sandstorm or desert windstorm. Shamaal is a Classic Anglo Supreme and can be purchased for $10,000 Can. as a colt, or $7,000 Can. as a gelding. Show Home is preferred but not mandatory.

Mike and Bev Woods.

CONTACT DETAILS

Mike and Bev Woods
AL DAHMAH ARABIANS

6824 Somenos Road
Duncan

Vancouver Island
BRITISH COLUMBIA
CANADA

Telephone No (250) 748-5156 Fax no
Website:www.somenosridingcentre.com Email:mike-bevwoods@shaw.ca
© Al Dahmah Arabians 2001
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