The month of May was a whirl-wind to say the least. With the breeding season in full swing and many new website projects in the works — makes for a very hectic time with my mobile office when I’m on the road. At the beginning of May, I found myself at Manny Lawrence’s Jade Creek Arabians in Santa Ynez, California. Manny had called just before the Las Vegas Show and told me he had the Arabian Horse Times June 2015 Cover and needed some help – of course there was no hesitation on my end and a few days later and a plane ride over to the Santa Ynez Valley, and the rest they say is history. An incredibly successful shoot of Multi-National Champion Brandon Bey JCA+ along with some other JCA bred and owned horses and it was a magical several days soaking in the beautiful California sun and of course witnessing beautiful horses. During my visit to Santa Ynez, I also had the grateful opportunity to visit the famed Varian Arabians in Arroyo Grande, California – the home of Sheila Varian’s world-renowned farm and breeding program. My thanks and gratitude to Ms. Sheila for giving me a personal tour of her farm, showing me her 2015 foal collection and walking me through the many Varian pastures and barns. One of my first introductions to the “V” prefixed horses was that of Endeavor V (owned by the Pinecrest Arabians in Peterborough, Ontario). Endeavor V was by Huckleberry Bey and out of the Bay-Abi daughter Bayela. Endeavor V sired many beautiful and successful Arabian horses throughout the Ottawa Valley including the mare that made me fall in love with Arabians – Endeavormore, also known as “Becky”. It was for sure an amazing walk down memory lane to think that the “V” influence traveled across the country from California to Ontario and back again – and perhaps the very first introduction I had with Arabian horses. It’s fascinating to think about how things and life events sometimes come full circle. To say my trip to Varian Arabians and my visit with Sheila Varian was incredible is saying it very lightly. It’s a memory I will forever hold on to.

Back home for a few days to process images and footage and I was re-packing my suitcase to begin my travels overseas. My first stop was in Amman, Jordan – home to the NK Arabians and my dear friends Nofal & Muntaha Kahook. I spent ten days in Jordan visiting with the Kahook’s and seeing their ever evolving Arabian horse breeding program, including the amazing (and I mean AMAZING) foals sired by the young international rising star Nofal NK (a son of Ever After NA and out of the Ajman Moniscione daughter Ajdora). Nofal NK has been breeding an amazing group of mares here in Canada and also in the United States as well as in the Middle East and Europe. He is currently standing at Christine Jamar’s Jadem Arabians in Belgium for the 2015 breeding season. Nofal NK is a very promising young stallion and is siring exceptionally well. I am very much looking forward to seeing more foal crops in the coming years and seeing just what exactly the impact Nofal NK will have. My time in Jordan is also so wonderful. It is without argument that it’s my most favourite countries in the world. The people, the history, the culture – it’s simply amazing. If you’ve never had the chance to visit Jordan, I highly recommend you put it at the top of your “places to visit” list.

I boarded my plane in Amman bound for Frankfurt, Germany and once landed in Frankfurt I hopped on a train that was heading to Brussels, Belgium. Once in Belgium, I made a stop at the Privilege SFQ Training Center and had a nice visit with Mr. Raphael Curti and Mr. Philip Looyens. It was also a pleasure to see the multi-champion Abha Qatar looking ever so beautiful. From there it was direction Balen, the home of Jadem Arabians. A check-in to one of the most beautiful and charming Bed & Breakfasts and the next few days were laid out.  A visit to Jadem Arabians is always a treat… especially in May when you’re able to walk the farm enjoying the beautiful landscape and of course the exquisite collection of foals frolicking in the pastures with their world-renowned dams. Christine Jamar is a visionary, thoughtfully breeding each year and selecting the finest of stallions to compliment her already outstanding collection of broodmares.

I had the privilege of photographing some of the beautiful horses that call Jadem Arabian home and I’m looking very much forward to returning late summer. My thanks also to Mr. Frederik Van Sas, the resident trainer at Jadem, and his team, for the outstanding conditioning and turnout of the horses… it was really a very successful shoot to say the least, and it always helps when the horses look in tip top condition.

From Belgium, it was off to Rome, Italy for a few days of sight seeing and then on to Montagano to visit with my dear friend Marikate & Mark Matthews at their beautiful Villa Belsogno. It was a short, but a very sweet and enjoyable visit. Marikate is a very successful rider who has amassed many National Championships in a multitude of disciplines. From Montagano, it was back to Rome to fly back to Brussels where I was able to visit with my dear friends Dick & Francina Besseling of the Bessewacht Arabians in Holland. I enjoyed very much my visit with Dick & Francina and seeing their beautiful collection of white diamonds who most are in foal to the beautiful Nofal NK. We can’t wait to see the results of these matings next year. The Bruge Arabian Horse Event was also going on while I was visiting and so I made a trip over on the Sunday and was able to see a beautiful group of horses showing. Albeit a little rainy, the show was well attended with some of Europe’s finest showing.

Of course, my time overseas always goes so quickly and there isn’t enough time to fit everything in, but that just means I need to come back for another tour. Until next time, I take with me memories of seeing very beautiful horses, experiences of new cities, new friends, and the continuance of wonderful friendships.

Another tour awaits,

– Braden Davidson
braden@arabiancentric.com