Jordan

Member Report from Jordan

REPORT MADE AT THE 2025 WAHO CONFERENCE:

Mr. Aref Alzyod, Jordan: In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate, and blessings upon his messengers. On behalf of Princess Alia Al Hussein, Delegate from Jordan and myself, Aref Alzyod, co delegate for Jordan, I wish to thank His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, patron of this event, and the Emirates Arabian Horse Society for their warm welcome and hospitality, and wonderful organization.

The main focus on Arabian horses in Jordan is breeding along with in hand shows. We have held a yearly National Championship Show and also a title show, the Middle East Championships, since 1991.

Also popular is endurance riding. There are several organized yearly, including the Al Hussein F.E.I. ride in Wadi Rum. The newest popular sport for civilians is Tent Pegging. This has long been practiced by the mounted police in force in Jordan, who regularly participate in competitions with outstandingly good results. More recently the Royal Guard also took up this sport but it has recently become popular in Jordan with civilians as well. This January we held an international event in Aqaba in which seven countries participated under the umbrella of the ITPF International Tent Pegging Federation and it was a great success.

The number of horses imported to Jordan in 2023 was 26 and in 2024, 16 horses. Horses exported in 2023 numbered 20 and in 2024, 23 horses. In 2023 we registered 233 foals and in 2024, 148 foals.

In closing, our appreciation and thanks go to the noble Arabian horse, which is the reason we are all here, for bringing us all together. And again, our thanks to our hosts for organizing this marvellous event. Thank you.

REPORT MADE AT THE 2019 WAHO CONFERENCE:

Christina Abu-Dayyeh, Jordan: Mr. President, Member of the Executive Committee, Colleagues. I am happy to be here with you all representing the Royal Jordanian Stud Book Authority.

Over the past three years we have witnessed an increase in the number of foal registrations in Jordan, with the number climbing from 86 foals registered in 2016 to 175 foals registered in 2018. Our most popular activities in Jordan for Arabian horses are the halter shows and endurance rides, which are both organised by the Royal Jordanian Equestrian Federation. We do see some Arabians jumping the smaller classes, some in dressage, polo, the police force and displays by the Royal Guard. As for halter shows, the number of entries in both our national shows and our ECAHO title show is increasing steadily, with entries ranging from 140 to 170 entries per show.

Our endurance rides are growing. In 2016 we have 26 horses registered and today we have 73. We hold 8 national rides and 3 international rides per year and we stress the importance of horse welfare in our endurance rides by always awarding the horse with the Best Condition. The WAHO trophy was awarded to Halawet Sereza, a mare foaled in 2008 currently owned by Mr. Barakat Al Natour. She placed first in the 120 km endurance ride in Wadi Rum and was also awarded Best Condition.

We are happy to report that we are up to date with our stud book, volume 8 is out in print and in .pdf and we are working on creating an online stud book, hoping to have it completed before the end of the year. Wishing you all a successful Conference, thank you to our hosts, thank you.

REPORT MADE AT 2017 WAHO CONFERENCE:

HH Sharifa Sara Ghazi, Jordan: Good afternoon everyone. In Jordan we have had a slight delay with the release of the next stud book, however, hopefully later on this year the new stud book will be published. We do not have an online edition but it is something that we are looking into, the possibility of creating that. The number of Arabian foals registered in 2015 was 92. In 2016, 55 foals were registered. The number of Arabian horses imported and exported in 2015, 13 horses were imported to Jordan and 11 were exported. In 2016, 7 horses were imported, 10 horses were exported.

We have a number of different equestrian activities going on. In endurance rides in 2015, 20 registered horses participated in the endurance rides and in 2016, 26 registered horses. We hold 2 shows during the year in Jordan, we have the National Championships and the International Middle East Championship every year. In 2015 we also had 6 National endurance races and we had 7 National endurance races in 2016. We also had 3 International endurance races in 2015, and 3 International endurance races in 2016.

The number of breeders and owners of Arabian horses is increasing every year in Jordan. We now have 14 local breeders and owners and the number, as I said, is increasing every year which is very encouraging for everyone in Jordan. The horses also participate across the board in show jumping as well at the junior level, showing the true versatility of the Arab horse. Thank you very much.

In 2011 the Royal Jordanian Stud Book Authority reported 61 registered foals, and recorded 14 exports and 16 imports. There were 2 Shows, one National and one International, and 9 Endurance events in 2011. Artificial Insemination is permitted, Embryo Transfer is not. In 2010 the RJSB reported 70 registered foals, and in 2009 they registered 66 foals.

In 2008 The Royal Jordanian Stud Book Authority reported the publication and distribution of their latest Stud Book Volume 6/7. 60 foals were reported as registered in the year 2008, together with 75 imports. 10 horses were exported in the same year.

REPORT MADE AT 2007 WAHO CONFERENCE:

Our last published stud book Volume 5 goes up to 1999, Volume 6 is nearly ready, it includes horses up to 2004, and we hope Volume 7 will be out in 2008. The Registering Authority is based at the Royal Jordanian Equestrian Federation.

In 2005 we had approximately 65 foals registered, and 53 in the year 2006, a good number for us. Imports numbered 21 during the past 2 years, exports numbered 52 for the same period, to and from all over the world.

There is a lot more interest and more breeders and we have more activities going on in Jordan. We have approximately 35 active breeding stallions, about 85 active breeding mares, living Arabians probably about 350. We permit Artificial Insemination and the use of Transported Semen both imported and exported. Embryo transfer is permitted. We don’t use microchipping.

Our main events are halter classes, in-hand Shows, of which we have 3 a year now. We have a National Championship Show, a smaller National show, and the Middle East Championships. Endurance is extremely popular, we have 6 actual events but these incorporate several different distances so we have a lot of endurance rides a year, including an FEI CI 120 in Wadi Rum which is very popular. Arabian horses are also used for dressage, show jumping, tent pegging and polo. They are also used by the mounted police. Our endurance team participated in Aachen and in the Asian Games in 2006, successfully. Almost all the registered Arab horses in Jordan that are of an age to participate do participate in something, some of them do many different disciplines.

In 2007, Jordan registered 42 foals, and processed 29 exports and 14 imports.

Trophy Winners

SAHWAT AL WAHHAB AH – 2022 WAHO Trophy winner – Jordan

SAHWAT AL WAHHAB AH. Dark Bay Mare, 2013. (Najem Hala / Al Hoda). Breeder: H.E. Sheikh Anwar Al Sha’laan. Owner: Mr. Tareq Mohamed Daoud Al Muhtaseb. Strain: Kehaileh Rodanieh (Rodania, 1879)

Sahwat Al Wahhab AH. with trainer Shadi AlZain

The Royal Jordanian Equestrian Federation is pleased to announce that their 2022 WAHO Trophy winner is the lovely and athletic mare Sahwat Al Wahhab AH. Bred by one of the long-standing private breeders in Jordan, she is the second endurance mare by the same sire to be awarded the WAHO Trophy in her country. Her pedigree is an interesting combination of Crabbet, Iraqi, Old English, Russian, and Polish lines.

Sahwat Al Wahhab AH at an endurance event

The award is made in recognition of the fact that she has proved her abilities in F.E.I. endurance competitions, trained by Shadi AlZain, as she has risen through the rankings and competed over longer distances under different riders. Apart from competing in National rides, she has taken part successfully in several F.E.I. events in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Between 2019 and 2022 she completed 1 ride at 80kms, 2 at 120 kms and, in 2022, she achieved an excellent 2nd place in the CEI3* 160km event in Jordan.

Sahwat Al Wahhab AH with Left to right
Nour Al Refai, Ali Subhi Abed Abu Rabi’e, Peter Pond & Shadi AlZain

AREEJ – 2011 WAHO Trophy Winner – Jordan

AREEJ, Grey mare, *1995 (Jood / Atarah).
Breeder and owner: Royal Jordanian State Stud.
Strain: Hamdanieh Samerieh (Selwa I)

The charming 16 year old mare Areej is the well-deserved recipient of Jordan’s 2011 WAHO Trophy. The presentation was made during the 2011 Middle East Championships Show in Amman.

According to the citation which explains the reason that Areej won this prestigious award, she has been the most constantly patient and loving of the Arabian horses in the Growing Together project. This initiative started by the Princess Alia Foundation in Amman offers equine therapy for children on the autistic spectrum and for others with special needs. Areej, who is of predominantly ‘old Jordanian’ bloodlines with added Spanish lines, is never impatient or grumpy with the children, she has done so much not only for them and their families but also for the Arabian breed in general. Despite no special training herself she has taken to her new responsibilities with the generosity of spirit and inherent kindness that should be the hallmark of the true Arabian mare, with amazing results. She is not only helping the children, but also spreading the word of how horses can be great healers, and it is for this role as a superb representative of all that is best about the Arabian breed that she has been awarded the WAHO Trophy.

Areej, 2011 WAHO Trophy winner, Jordan with Mr. Akbar,
Stud Groom at the Royal Jordanian State Stud.

Areej with Mrs. Suha Eid, Secretary General, Royal Jordanian Equestrian Federation

DALIA – 2009 WAHO Trophy Winner – Jordan

DALIA, Grey mare, *1997 (Scudsly/Karmah).
Breeder/Owner: Mr. Said Khair, Said Khair Stables.
Strain: Kehaileh Rodanieh (Rodania, 1869).

The 2009 WAHO Trophy for Jordan has been awarded to the lovely mare Dalia, bred and owned by Mr. Said Khair, one of Jordan’s most important private breeders whose stud farm has been in existence for very many years. Dalia was awarded the Trophy because both she and her offspring have been consistently successful in the show ring, she is an excellent broodmare and an asset to the breeding of Arabian horses in Jordan. Her grand-sires and grand-dams which have a blend of international bloodlines were all imported to Jordan from the UK in the 1980s, and she is the result of 2 generations of Mr. Said Khair’s breeding programme.

The Trophy was presented by HRH Princess Alia Al Hussein Al Saleh in a well received public ceremony during the Middle East Championships International Arabian Show which took place in Amman in October 2009.

L-R: Mr. Said Khair, owner, Mr. Bashir Khair, H.R.H. Princess Alia Al Hussein Al Saleh,
Mr. Taleb Al Nahar, Mr. Abu Salameh.
Photo Credit: Reindert Jansen

AL HAMAAMA – 2008 WAHO Trophy Winner – Jordan

AL HAMAAMA, Dark Bay Mare, *1990 (Golden Decimus/Halima).
Bred and owned by The Royal Jordanian State Stud.
Strain: Kehailet Umm Argub (Nasseb).

Al Hamaama, now aged 18, was selected as this year’s WAHO Trophy winner in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the breed in Jordan as well as to Jordan’s reputation abroad.

Al Hamaama represents the Jordanian and quite rare strain of Umm Argub. Her dam line traces to Sabal II who was a brilliant racehorse over all distances, while her sire Golden Decimus (GB) was a very successful endurance competitor as well as sire.

Victorious in the show ring in her own right, Al Hamaama won the Reserve Best Head title at the Mediterranean & Arab Countries Championships in Menton, France, in the 1990’s. She and her daughter Al Yamaamah (by Abakan) have frequently shared the winner and reserve placing in that category at the Jordan Nationals as well as at the Middle East Championships in Amman.

She has also both won herself, and contributed to her dam Halima, winning Best Mare Produce Group, or Reserve, several times at the Jordan Nationals and the Middle East Championships. Her progeny and descendants have represented Jordan at shows in Paris, Holland, Austria and Belgium, as well as at the Jordan Nationals and Middle East Championships – where they have garnered many titles, some of them repeatedly, including Reserve National Champion, Middle East Top Ten, and the four separate Highest Points categories for Jordanian born, for Middle East born, for a horse with Sire and Dam born in Jordan, and for a horse with Sire and Dam born in the Middle East.

Al Hamaama’s daughters have proved to be very important broodmares in their own right at her maternal Stud, and her descendants also grace the Royal Stables of Bahrain (daughter Al Hasna by Abakan) and the stud of HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahayan in Abu Dhabi (great grand-daughter, Hilwah by Hlayyil Ramadan).

This year her grand-daughter Yusra won all four categories for Highest Points mentioned above at the Middle East Championships and had the 6th highest points of the whole show, while her great grand-daughter Hoor won the title of Filly Foal Champion and Best Female Head, with her maternal aunt Al Yamaamah as Reserve. (MaShaAllah to all of the above).

Very much treasured at the Royal Jordanian State Stud, it is clear from all the above that Al Hamaama truly earned her WAHO Trophy and Princess Alia Al Hussein Al Saleh, who personally presented the award, felt that Al Hamaama seemed pleased as she accepted it with – as you can see in the photograph – her customary aplomb and dignity!

Jordan 2008 WAHO Trophy winner Al Hamaama;
Photos by Reindert Jansen

SULAYMAN – 2007 WAHO Trophy Winner – Jordan

SULAYMAN, Grey stallion, *1999 (Zaa’ir /Saba’)
Breeder: The Royal Stables, Jordan Owner: Mr. Barakat Al Natoor, Jordan.
Strain: Kubeyshan (Al Hamama).

2007 Liberty Class winner, Middle East Championships Show. Endurance winner.

(Awaiting further information.)

Jordan 2007 WAHO Trophy winner Sulayman

HLAYYIL RAMADAN – 2006 WAHO Trophy Winner – Jordan

HLAYYIL RAMADAN, Grey Stallion, *1996 (Kamar El Zaman / Haboub).
Owner/Breeder: Royal Jordanian State Stud.
Strain: Kehailan Ajuz (Freiha).

The Royal Jordanian Equestrian Federation has selected the outstanding World Champion stallion Hlayyil Ramadan as their winner of the 2006 WAHO Trophy for Jordan.

A happy blend of Egyptian and rare old Jordanian lines, with several generations on his female line all bred at the Royal Jordanian State Stud, Hlayyil Ramadan has represented Jordan at the 2002 and 2004 World Championships, he was 2004 European Champion Stallion and is a multi champion stallion in the Middle East and in Europe. Perhaps more importantly, he has won the prestigious Sire Produce award in Jordan and is the sire of quality winning offspring, and his daughters are now themselves proving to be excellent broodmares.

His connections decided to show him in a natural and unstressed way at the 2006 Middle East Championships Show in Amman, thereby making an important statement regarding modern show trends.

Jordan 2006 WAHO Trophy winner Hlayyil Ramadan
Photo Credit: Reindert Jansen.

Samiha (born 1961), great-grand-dam of Hlayyil Ramadan.

SCUDSLY – 2005 WAHO Trophy Winner – Jordan

SCUDSLY, Grey stallion, *1991 (Hamadahn / Shela).
Breeder and owner: Mr. Said Khair.
Strain: Seglawi Jedran of Ibn Soudan (Ghazieh).

Scudsly has represented Jordan in the international show ring in Qatar, at the World Championships in Paris (achieving 2nd place in his class and Top Ten ranking) and as a yearling he won his class at the Mediterranean and Arab Countries Championships in Menton. Closer to home, he is a multiple National and International (Middle East) Champion.

In 2005 Scudsly was awarded the highest points for a Jordanian bred horse at the International Middle East Championships Show in Amman, he is also on the ECAHO list of “star” horses (one of only two Jordanian horses to reach this accolade). An excellent and prepotent sire, he has won the prestigious Sire Produce award in Jordan at the National and Middle East Championships several times in the past. His progeny have also done well at the Jordanian shows, so The Royal Jordanian Stud Book Authority considered him to be an excellent representative of the Arabian horses bred in Jordan and a deserving winner of the 2005 WAHO Trophy.