by Janina Merz
We at Om El Arab International, along with many people all around the world, are mourning the loss of one of the greatest stallions of the Arabian breed. *Sanadik El Shaklan (*El Shaklan x Mohena) died at his home, surrounded by family and friends, in the early morning hours of August 24, 2008. He left this world with his usual grace and dignity. The days that followed his death were painful, so much so that we left his stall, which at an earlier time belonged to*El Shaklan, empty while we mourned.
*Sanadik’s life was rich and cheerful. He began his life at our farm in Germany’s Black Forest in April of 1983. Sigi immediately knew that a very special horse had come into our lives. He had the most exquisite head, wonderful confirmation, straight legs, and overall beauty. He also embodied the “Golden Cross” because both his sire and dam were equally Spanish and Egyptian. That year, he was World Champion colt at the Salon du Cheval. In 1984, he traveled to the United States to Om El Arab’s new facility in Santa Ynez, California. This incredible colt attracted many visitors. Needless to say, countless offers were turned away until Sheila Varian of Varian Arabians was offered to buy fifty percent of him. Sanadik was introduced to large crowds at Sheila’s annual fall Open House, where she detailed the attributes that would contribute to her longstanding program of breeding athletic horses. To this day, Sheila Varian has three gorgeous *Sanadik daughters. Crossing these mares with her stallions, Sheila has produced numerous halter and performance winners, including two National Champion Western Pleasure mares.
After many years of dual ownership, where he had alternated homes between Om El Arab and Varian Arabians, *Sanadik came to stay permanently in Santa Ynez. He went on to win the Supreme Championship at the Egyptian Event, along with several Regional Top 5 wins. Twice, *Sanadik was Top Ten at the Scottsdale Show. Once he was permanently home, his true potential as a sire flourished. He blossomed under our care, and we were excited that he would spend the rest of his life on our farm. I’m happy to say that we were able to keep our word.
*Sanadik was the steadiest riding horse imaginable. He was sure footed, smart, athletic, and had endurance. Most people reading this article probably don’t know this about him. They would know that he has sired countless National and International halter Champions, but he also is the sire of wonderful performance horses. His children, like their father, are smart and willing to work. This has given them quite a fan base with people that enjoy riding not only talented, but also beautiful, horses.
*Sanadik El Shaklan’s get have included innumerable show winners in nearly every country that Arabians are bred. Among the most successful is his daughter El Dorada PASB (x Emigrantka), 2000 Polish National Junior Champion Mare, 2002 Polish National Senior Champion mare, 2002 All Nations Cup Champion Mare, 2004 Salon du Cheval Reserve Champion Mare, and 2006 U.S. National Champion Mare.
His son, Om El Shahmaan (xOm El Shaina by Carmargue x *Estopa), who stands in his sire’s illustrious footsteps as the herd sire at Om El Arab, was 2004 U.S. National Champion stallion AAOTH, 2003 U.S. National Reserve Champion AAOTH and Top Ten in Junior Stallions, where he placed third in the class. He also was Pacific Slopes Reserve Champion Futurity Hunter in 2004, which is a highly competitive riding class. Shahmaan, much like his sire, has the ability to have many jobs at once and to do them all well. He can breed heavily, perform under saddle, and win in hand all in one season.
Another son, Kameron Bey (x Katrina Bey), was Canadian and U.S. National Champion Gelding (1993 and 1994). His daughter Om El Jimala, (x Om El Jazira) was 2003 and 2004 U.S. National Reserve Senior Champion mare, and Om El Shadina (x Om El Shaina) was 2004 Top Ten mare and Elran Cup Reserve Champion Mare. His son Om El Extreem (x Om El Bint Shaina) was 2008 Arabica Show Frankfurt Champion Stallion, National Champion Stallion of Spain, Elran Cup Junior Champion stallion, World Champion Most Classic Head; and Eagle Ridge Passionata (x River Oak Dimity) was 2008 Qatar International Show Reserve Champion Mare and Elran Cup Champion Mare.
Other international show winners by *Sanadik El Shaklan include: Sandrian (x China Moon), 1999 Baden‐Baden Show Junior Champion Colt; Om El Shaheen (x Om El Shaina), 2004 U.K. Gold Arabian Horse Show Champion Stallion; Ffatal Attraction (x Falling in Love), 2004 Brittish National Champion Show Champion Stallion whose son was Reserve National Champion; Sirocco (x Ziti), 2004 Finnish National Champion Stallion; DA Sandala (x The Grand Passion), 2004 Egyptian Event U.K. International Champion Mare; and Om El Tanam (x Aabacus Shacara), 2004 Swedish Naitonal Champion Stallion.
*Sanadik’s grandchildren by his son Om El Shahmaan include Om El Bernadette (x Om El Benedict), 2007 Las Vegas World Cup Junior Champion filly, 2008 Sharjah Junior Champion Mare; Om El Beshaan (x Om El Benedict), 2008 Las Vegas World Cup Champion Stallion Four Years Old and Older ATH.
I wanted this article to be a commemoration of *Sanadik’s magical life. One of our dear friends, Johanna Ullstrom, may have summed him up best in a text message she sent when she heard of *Sanadik’s passing. She wrote: “So many of the world’s best horses would never have been born without you and fantastic *Sanadik. His four daughters living with me, Rosie, Quiriz, Shaklina, and Evita are treasures in my life. *Sanadik is not gone, it’s just that we cannot see him. But he is looking out through the eyes of all of his sons and daughters, everyone that has met *Sanadik can see that! It’s a look that no other horse has, with pride, gentleness, intelligence and strength at the same time. Nobody can take that away from a horse with the blood of *Sanadik. You were the absolute right people to care for a stallion like him, to let him keep his magic way of looking in to the world! He has touched the hearts of everyone he met and I will never forget his gentle, calm, beautiful face, still with lots of fire and temperament. He stands out whoever you compare him to...”
I walk around the farm now with several months of healing time behind me and I can see *Sanadik everywhere. I can see him in the six beautiful fillies that were born this year by him; his last present, I’m sure. I can see him in the ever growing belly of the one mare that will have a foal by him next year. I can see him in his sons and daughters and grandchildren that are frolicking about in the cheery pastures at Om El Arab.
We didn’t leave his stall empty for too long. One morning it felt like the most natural thing in the world to move Om El Shahmaan into his father’s big stall. It was strange at first to walk around the corner and not see *Sanadik, but as Johanna put it, we see him in Shahmaan’s eyes. Shahmaan is the next step in the legacy of Om El Arab stallions that began with *El Shaklan, was then passed down to *Sanadik El Shaklan, and currently rests with Om El Shahmaan. One day, this legacy will be handed over to a special youngster named Om El Bellissimo.
