Starting from the mid 19th century Mohammed bin Khalifa started sending many horses as tribute to Abbas Pasha of Egypt and the Sultan of Turkey. So numerous were the horses that left Bahrain as gifts to various personalities in the Arab countries they numbered in the hundreds. This tradition is maintained right up to the present day.

Only a few of the horses that have left to the Western world are known through documentation in their new countries. These horses are referred to in the table of the Al–Khalifa family tree. Many other horses still remembered locally to have left to the U.K. and the U.S.A. have vanished into obscurity.

Arabian horses from Bahrain have had a considerable effect on breeding programs worldwide.

Listed hereunder are some horses that have been most famous and their influence is widespread right up to today.

                   JELLABIEH FEISUL                      - in Egypt

                   DAHMEH (BINT EL BAHREIN)    - in Egypt

                        KUHEILAAN AAFAS                     - in Poland

                        WADHNA (NUHRA)                      - in U.K

                        TUWAISAH (THORAYYAH)         - in U.S.A

                        DAHMEH (SAVANNAH)                - in Canada

                        TUWAISAAN                                   - in South Africa

 

JELLABIEH FEISUL – EGYPT

As legend goes the Viceroy of Egypt Abbas Pasha befriended a Wahabi prince Feisul Bin Turki (Ibn Saud) the Amir of Riyadh who was interned in the Cairo citadel. Abbas helped the prince to escape and facilitated his return to Riyadh. In gratitude Feisul sent Abbas a Jellabieh mare which he had acquired from the Sheikh of Bahrain.

This mare became known in Egypt as Jellabie’t Feisul and attained legendary status.

 

DAHMEH (BINT EL BAHRAIN) – EGYPT

A bay Dahmeh mare was sent in 1903 to the then Khedive of Egypt Abbas Hilmi.

This mare became part of the foundation stock in Egypt and was later sold to Lady Ann Blunt and  her influence on the breed is well known worldwide.

 

KUHEILAAN AAFAS – POLAND

By far one of the largest influences on the international scene was Kuheilaan Aafas a bay 2 year old colt which went from Bahrain in 1931 to Prince Roman Sanguszko in Poland. Kuheilaan Aafas' achievements are all the more commendable considering the fact that nearly all this offspring were lost during World War II.

So famous is Kuheilaan Aafas even today that the Polish Prestige organisers had a “Kuheilaan Aafas Parade” to showcase his descendants at their Summer Festival in 1998.

 

 WADHNA (NUHRA) – ENGLAND

Nuhra a bay Wadhna mare was presented to the Earl of Athlone in 1938. She became the foundation mare at Barton Lodge in England, the stud of Sir Henry and Lady May Abel Smith.

A daughter of Nuhra’s was sent to New Zealand and was responsible for the spread of Bahrain breeding lines in Australia and New Zealand.

 

 TUWAISAH (THORAYYAH) – USA

In 1950 a magnificent Tuwaisah mare was presented to Mr. John Rogers from the U.S.A, in Dhahran (Saudi Arabia). This mare was named Thorayyah and shipped to America. She produced 9 foals, 5 of which went on to become show champions.

 

DAHMEH (SAVANNAH) – CANADA

A chestnut Dahmeh mare was also presented to an American in Dhahran (Saudi Arabia). She was named Savannah, shipped to the USA and then later to Canada.

She had only one registered daughter Hadriyah. This mare had several foals and thus facilitated the proliferation of the Dahmeh strain in North America.

 

TUWAISAAN – SOUTH AFRICA

Tuwaisaan was another influence from Bahrain in the Southern Hemisphere. Dr. Valerie Noli – Marais admired him as an outstanding specimen of an Arabian horse during her visit to Bahrain in 1968. He was then sent South Africa as a gift to her.

Tuwaisaan produced only 7 foals during his very short breeding career at Sahibi Arabian Stud.