Stallions at Stud at Pearl Island
We do not breed a large number of foals per year and if we breed a pure Bahraini then it will be kept here at the stud or possibly returned to its homeland. Our breeding programme has been so exciting as we try the different combinations; Bahraini x Crabbet, Bahraini x Polish etc. When asked what I am trying to achieve my response is always the same, "At Pearl Island we breed good tempered horses that are tough, sound and good all rounders." A word that is often thrown at me and which I will never quite understand is "typey". Whatever this means it seems my horses don't fall into this category. But the horses of Bahrain, and therefore my horses, are of a "type" that fought battles with their masters, carried them for hundreds of miles soundly and in comfort, played gently with their master’s children around the campsite and lay down by their side at night. That’s the "type" of horse I want to breed and if you look at some of our photographs you will agree we are on the right track. Many of the vets at Endurance rides have examined our horses and only at the last 'glance' noticed they were handling a stallion. For 2008 we have decided to stand six of Pearl Island's stallions at stud and to offer A.I.
During 2005 our stallions were successful in Endurance, Dressage and Showjumping. Ridden by Amanda, Pearl Island Stallion, Al Reeh Janoob has just completed the 2005 AHS Marathon in 1 hour 47 mins, achieving 13th place. Forty-four horses were entered for the Marathon and thirty-four started but only eighteen horses completed the course. Race riding is new to us and as a crew we could have got Al Reeh Janoob away slightly quicker than we did at the half way vet gate! We just did not believe his pulse recovery rate, it dropped so rapidly that we hesitated to present just in case it went back up...........we will know better next time! His vetting out pulse after completing the 26 miles at speed was 50. Al Reeh Janoob is out of Bahraini desert mare Shuwaimeh Bint Warda and his sire is the tough Endurance horse Chatanz.
Jenny & Tony Lees, Mill Farm, Preston-on-Wye, Herefordshire, UK, HR2 9JU
Phone: 01981 500225