HISTORY OF ARABIAN HORSES AT FENWICK STUD.

Dora Maclean's love of Arabian Horses was inspired by a photograph in a magazine she had discovered as a young woman. The photo was of Wilfred and Lady Anne Blunt dressed in full Arab attire, beside a tent with an Arabian mare. This particular mare became an ideal for Dora and she hoped to one day have a similar mare of her own. In May 1925 her first Arabian mare arrived at Fenwick, and she was purchased from Lady Wentworth of Crabbet Park Stud - the daughter of the Blunts.

This first mare was RAFINA (Rustem x Risala) who arrived with a colt foal at foot named RASEEL (x Nureddin II). Their trip had been quite dramatic as a freak wave had destroyed their travelling box and the sailors had to relocate them in their sleeping quarters for the remainder of the journey.

During this period Dora also set about trying to locate some of the earlier importations to Australia from Crabbet Park. This led to the purchase of the mares ZEM ZEM (Fakreddin x Saade), ALCOUZA (Khamasin x Khadijad), and DERYABAR (Khamasin x Khadijad) from the Winter Cooke stud in the early 1930s. In 1935 the stallion INDIAN LIGHT (Naseem x Nisreen) was imported from Crabbet Park along with the mare NASIRIEH (Skowronek x Nisreen). She was the only progeny of the famous Skowronek to ever come to Australia. Shortly after came NURALINA (Hazzam x Nasira) in 1936 who went on to leave a lasting impact on the stud with her "N" family.

There were no imports to the stud during World War II , however, the band of Arabians continued to grow. It was also during the war years that the tradition of female farm hands began and stayed with Fenwick. Over the years many of the women who worked at Fenwick went on to establish studs of their own that are still active today. Today the farm is run solely by the family.

The stallion RAKIB (Nax x Rythama), who was imported by Edward Hirst and was an important sire for the Australian Pony, was purchased by Dora in 1945. It was also around this time that several mares were purchased from the McDonald brothers stud in Dubbo. These mares carried the blood of some of the earliest imports from Crabbet Park stud to Australia. They were SABIYAH (Prince Nejd x Gadara), SAYIF (Prince Nejd x Salama), BARADA II (Raisuli x Gadara), YUSSEF (Raisuli x Salaam), RUALLA (Raisuli x Salaam) and RASHIDIYA (Prince Nejd x Rualla). Also amongst this 1945 consignment were some mares who died during, or just after, transit, they were- BALKIS (Shahzada x Nejdmieh), WARDA (Prince Nejd x Gadara) and YENBO (Raisuli x Salaam). Another McDonald bred mare arrived in 1948 this was ARABETTE (Raisuli x Sa-id). All of the McDonald bred mares that survived the rail trip to Fenwick went on to produce well for the stud. At Fenwick today we still have many descendants of the mares BARADA II and YUSSEF.

Not long after, in 1946, another stallion was imported. This was FAYRIAL (Fayal x Raxina). He did not stand at Fenwick for very long before being sold on as Dora was a bit disappointed in him. However, he is still well represented at the stud today through the progeny of his Grandson FABULOUS (x Riffal) who stood all his life at Fenwick.

In 1947 Dora went back to England for three months with the intention of purchasing some more stock for her Arab and Shetland studs. While there she spent time at Crabbet Park visiting with Lady Wentworth. Here she purchased the mare RIZALA (Rissam x Ghezala). She also visited the Hanstead stud of Lady Yule who bred Arabians based on Crabbet lines. Here she purchased the mare CARLINA (Rissam x Shamnar) and the stallion RIFFAL (Naufal x Razina). RIFFAL was an Internationally significant stallion and is probably best remembered for his height. He stood at 16 1/4hh which was unheard of at the time.

All of the imports to Fenwick in the 1950's and 60's were from Crabbet Park. In 1950 the stallion ELECTRIC SILVER (Raktha x Silfina) arrived. He was a magnificent dappled grey who, due to an injured hock, was never shown. When Dora told Lady Wentworth how disappointed she was at not being able to show him, Lady Wentworth offered her SILVER MOONLIGHT (Indian Magic x Silver Fire) as a replacement. He arrived in 1951 along with the mare GREY CORONET (Oran x Grey Royal). SILVER MOONLIGHT produced many foals at Fenwick before being sold to Sir Clarence Leggett of the Oxford stud in Queensland. He was later exported to the USA in 1969 where he died shortly after. GREY CORONET only produced three foals at Fenwick, all colts by ELECTRIC SILVER, before she had to be destroyed after breaking a leg.

1956 saw the arrival of the mare ROSINELLA (Oran x Rosalina) who, shortly after arrival produced a colt ROSSFENNICK (x Indian Magic). ROSINELLA proved to be a great broodmare by producing not only ROSSFENNICK but also the stallion CRYSTAL FIRE (x Dargee) as well as the mares ROSELIGHT, ROSEGREY and ROANNE all by GREYLIGHT*. ROSSFENNICK had a successful but tragically short stud career. He had to be destroyed as a 6 year old after breaking his leg. Also in 1956 came one of the more controversial imports to Fenwick. This was the stallion SHAFREYN (Royal Diamond x Sharfina). A big deep chestnut horse he is probably best remembered for his striking white leg and facial markings. Rumours were rife at the time that Dora was unaware of the extent of his white as Lady Wentworth was famous for touching up her photos. This was completely untrue and it was lucky she did import him as he went on to be one of the founding sires of top endurance horses.

The mare ROYAL RADIANCE (Royal Diamond x Silver Gilt) was imported in 1958 in foal to BRIGHT SHADOW the resulting foal was GREYLIGHT. He went on to be a successful show horse and one of Australia's leading sires through the 1970's and early 80's. He was well known for his larger than life personality and his bloodied shoulder markings. He was put down just prior to his 33rd birthday and still has a son and several daughters in use at the stud today.

The final Crabbet import to Fenwick arrived in 1961. It was the stallion SINDH (Silver Vanity x Silfina). He was a top show horse and was the leading sire in Australia through the 1970's and right up until his death in 1986. He had a huge impact on the Arabian industry in Australia and his stock became the foundations for many studs starting out. There is still one of his sons and three of his daughters at Fenwick today.

Dora Maclean died in 1978 leaving the stud to be managed by her daughter in law Heather Maclean. In 1982 the most recent import to Fenwick arrived from Canada. His name was EL SERENE (El Kasaka x CHF Serenata) and, with his combination of Crabbet and Russian breeding he crossed well with the pure Crabbet mares at Fenwick. In 1987 Heather left Fenwick to concentrate on her own stud of Arabians and Welsh Mountain Ponies at Booralie park where she stands EL SERENE. The stud was put into the hands of Dora's granddaughter Vicki Maclean. The stud today is reduced in numbers with 2 stallions standing at stud and a band of 18 mares (15 of which are pure Crabbet). The breeding aim at Fenwick remains the same as it did over 70 years ago, to breed beautiful and functional Arabians.

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