Tributes to Horses We've Owned @ Mashallah Stud in Washington

The Story of Mashallah

It's here! As I looked out the barn door I could see that indeed the semi was here. My anticipation was evident. The long awaited day had finally arrived—Mashallah was here! Waiting for the truck to park, doors to open, ramp to be placed, felt to be placed on the floor so he wouldn't slip took forever. Finally, out stepped the brightest, biggest chestnut horse I had ever seen! I had never seen this horse before this moment—and what a moment! We both stood there looking at each other. He on the top of the ramp looking out over his new kingdom and me looking up at him in awe. He trumpets and it seemed the world stood still. Yes, Mashallah had arrived!

Putting him in his stall proved to be an experience also. The horse didn't lead! After getting him in his stall I returned with his food and he reared.

Suprised and stunned all I could say was, "Oh, you've also got body spots!"

Paying the haulers they remarked that I certainly had my hands full as the horse had never been trailered and didn't tie and was a very unruly 2 yr. old. That was just the beginning.

The next several years were spent getting to know this horse and teaching him his manners. My fellow breeders and Arabian enthusiasts were not impressed with this horse as his disposition and unruliness had preceded him. No one would breed to him. Never did anyone think it could be anything other than the horse had a bad disposition. All of this was untrue!

In 1995 I decided to breed most of my mares to him and to start showing the world this wonderful horse. His manners were perfect. He was under saddle and doing great. He could be ridden even with just a halter and lead rope. Action—did he have action—natural action. We were now ready, so get ready world here we come. Everything was on schedule, so in December, having shown him to people that morning, reblanketing and putting him in his stall I thought about how lucky I had been to have acquired him. How thankful I was to have this horse in my barn. That was at noon, and just seven hours later he would be dead.

At 3 p.m. passing by his stall I noticed that he was circling and had beads of sweat on his neck. Taking him out of his stall and removing his blanket I thought that he had some gas so took him into the arena where he appeared to feel better, trotting off and talking to the horses outside the windows. He never offered to lay down or to look like he was more than just a little uncomfortable, so I decided to just leave him out in the arena for awhile as there was a terrible storm coming in with wind and rain. It had started to get cold, so with all of my work done and darkness descending I left him in the arena and went to my home for dinner.

Upon returning to the barn at 7p.m. he appeared to be feeling better but was cold and shivering. I went to retrieve his blanket as the storm was now raging outside and it really was cold with the temperature dropping. Getting the blanket I entered the arena and walked over to where he was standing next to the window. He had no sweat on him but was trembling and looking at me in a way I had never seen before. As I lifted the blanket to put it over his head he fell over dead! Looking down at him I saw his spirit leave his body and then the lights went out! I was hysterical and screaming, wanting to get out of the arena, but it was pitch black and I didn't want to step on him. I didn't want to move.

This must be a dream, I thought. How could he be dead?

Getting up my courage, I crawled out of the arena and felt my way to the phone where I called the vet telling him Mashallah was dying. I then called my friend, Debbie Gordon. Both got to my barn at the same time with flashlights. We all walked back into the arena with the flashlights and were circling his body when the lights magically came back on.

I expected him to get up and said, "Look, he is still dead!"

The vet tried to be comforting, yet matter-of-factual, and said, "Yes, he is. You need to find out what happened; why he died."

With that in mind, we did the necropsy the next day and discovered that he had twisted a gut. Mashallah died that cold winter night in '95, but Mashallah Stud was born that next day. To honor this stallion that was able to bring me joy, my farm and breeding business were named after him. I will always remember him fondly.

Mashallah is the horse you see in the painting on the front page and in the upper corners of the site. You can also see real photos of him in his gallery.

San El Abdaya (aka "Danny") was our premier breeding sire for a number of years and now his son, Light Of Daya, will be taking his place in that capacity. Danny has recently moved from our farm to Sagehill Arabians in Salmon, Idaho, where he will live out his remaining years. He is still available for breedings through Sage Hill, and will have a legacy of foals and grandfoals on our farm for a long time to come.

"Nara" has gone to a premier stable to be a lesson horse and continue with teaching children to ride. She will be living out her life working with disadvantaged children.

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