Myth-ology

During the beginning of Secondary School, wandering through the school library in search for any horse books, anything would be a treat, two very important books stood out, Naadirah – The Arabian Dream and The Arabian Horse in Australia Book Volume 2, these were read from front to back many times, the first book had photos of Hadban Enzahi, I could never get him out of my mind, being a classic ideal and how related horses could breed, extremely well. There were many important horses in those books and a dream of having Arabian Horses became a firm goal for the future. Also important was purchasing all of the Arabian Magazines which were available each few months and my bedroom being lines with posters of Arabian Horses. Never in my wildest dreams would I think one of my horses and photos would be on the front cover of this extraordinary Australian series of books so many years later, Stavs Syrican (pictured right) on the cover of The Arabian Horse in Australia & New Zealand - Volume VI.
The admiration of Crabbet and Egyptian Arabians consumed me, it was there for all Arabians of all labels, as long as they looked like they had super movement, type, good structure and balance I was rapt with them. The people I was riding racehorses for thought me to be crazy for wanting an Arabian and discouraged, yet for me it felt like a fire of love and passion as this was going to be my life, I could feel this was going to be my contribution for the future. (pictured left - Santa Padova Lynett)
One day at our local Pony Club, a teenager a few years older than myself, trotted past on a real life Arabian mare. A few years later when I started working as an Apprentice Gardener, this little grey mare, Santa Padova Karzam (pictured right) became my first Arabian, another mare from the same breeder followed Santa Padova Lynett, both had beautiful faces, good structure and super movement, we won many prizes together at local shows in led and saddle classes but the best fun I had was the relationships with them and pleasure riding with friends. Kara's Spirit also made a wonderful impact with a number of beautiful fillies.
A reduction sale at Simeon Stud bought the opportunity I tought would be fun, seeing a very attractive yearling colt in the stable, it was love, it was a connection I had never experienced, this extraordinary being standing right in front of me, young, regal and like nothing I had seen before. His pedigree showed all these famous horses I had seen in magazines and books, Asfour, Simeon Shai, Simeon Safanad, Ramses Fayek, Hadban Enzahi, I had no money but soon learnt if you want something so bad you will make it happen. Within a week Simeon Safsal (pictured left) became one of the most important things in my life. Safsal started a journey one can only be incredibly grateful for, he became a horse who set a benchmark on many levels, ideal type, movement, show ability and a temperament which was cheeky yet respectful. It was like the expectation was set, they must all have to ability to be incredibly functional, carry a saddle and rider for whatever discipline such as dressage, pleasure riding, racing, to stay sound in mind and body. And beautiful to look at like this incredible horse.
In the earlier years some of the horses were shown with good success, with myself being completely non-competitive it is not something which gave me incredible joy. The beautiful Arabians of Myth Haven gave me more joy on the farm, breeding, handling, riding were the things I loved and were joyful for me. Riding the stallions or young mares at the beautiful various beaches around the Shire give me the fun I always desired. Enjoying the foaling seasons each year and seeing dreams unfold before me fulfilled everything I loved about having these extraordinary beings in my life. (Stavs Syrican pictured right)
Pearsons View Arabians, owned by Don & Carmel Rowley in Queensland, now retired from breeding, have been important mentors, classed as family, I am incredibly thankful for them being a part of the history and the progression of Myth Haven. Breeding plans were discussed, horses were discussed, experiences were discussed openly and honestly. The first visit to their farm back nearly 20 years ago confirmed a type and standard of horses. Their stallion Simeon Stav (Asfour x Simeon Safanad), (pictured left), was the first foal of this extraordinary cross proved he was not only an exceptionally beautiful individual, he was a magnificent being and sire, having his beautiful daughters was to have mares of the highest calibre.
Excitingly the program grew including some of the best daughters from Simeon Stav, Asfour, Salaa Sihr (imp USA), Thaqib Al Nasser (imp Qatar). The Straight Egyptian stallions Ashquar Sihr (Salaa Sihr x Simeon Shaina) (pictured right with Greg and Carmel Rowley) and Simeon Sadakah (Asfour x Simeon Saada) are excellent stallions, both with brilliant movement, good shape and stunning type, they breed the look we love as the mares do. Maarhir (Salaa Sihr x Maardassa) and Gazardiel El Dine (Salaa El Dine x AR Bint Ghazala), both incredible males were a part of the farm. Note: Carmel Rowley is a sensational Australian Author of fabulous books with Arabian Horses, you can find her website by clicking here.
In later 2015 after disasterous life events, a decision was made to make things a little easier, our Maarhir (pictured left) (bred in partnership with Pearson View Arabians) was sold to a new breeder of Straight Egyptians in Southern NSW, it is very gratifying to hear the positive impact he is making. Gazardiel El Dine who was my beautiful, wonderful and reliable riding horse was gelded and sold as a riding horse.
I was finding more and more the connection of the horses and people had incredible healing potential. With my beautiful Arabians they showed a signifcant level of caring and connecting which one can only be incredibly grateful for. The roles Arabians Horses play in our lives makes a world of difference when we allow us and them to be completely present with each other. A lot of time is spent enjoying the horses on the farm, spending the time out in the pastures with the older mares, stallions, youngsters and foals, they are true food for the soul. We know the spiritual connection these special horses have with their humans and occasionally we allow clients and friends to hang out with the mares or youngsters to learn connection and find their vulnerability. To see people connect and enjoy these beautiful horses is a true delight. (Pictured right - Pearsons Valeeah, Safs Vavrah & Greg)
Very worthy of mention is Abiebi (imp USA), (pictured left) her family were a significant part of Myth Haven. As the other families grew it was decided to allow Abiebi and some of her family to go to another young clever breeder, Julia Garcia of Hettiah Arabians in Southern New South Wales, a lover of this beautiful breeding family. The joy of seeing the results of these beautiful mares to our stallions fulfilled every need as a breeder, their type was what we loved to see, their movement was ground covering and very beautiful to watch, their conformation remained to their beautiful sires and dams or more improved.
With the thought of winding down for a while a new opportunities arose, Simeon Sefa (Safeen x Mussallah(imp Germany)), (pictured right) was offered as a leased and it was soon realised he could never leave, a stallion of lovely shape and type joined the group as a somewhat outcross to produce fillies from the mares who could be used within the program. His foals were magnificent and presently we have daughters from Soura Sihr and GR Marja (imp Germany)
Myth Haven is at one of the most exciting times of its 25 years. The youngsters of our finest Straight Egyptian mares give so much promise for the future. The very beautiful super moving mare Stavs Simbel (Simeon Stav x Simeon Sima) is fulfilling every expectation of a special Egyptian mare, her foals always consistent, her daughters Simit MH (x Gazardiel El Dine), (pictured left) and Simmina MH (x Simeon Sefa) are heart horses. Simit’s unique type, refinement, very light yet powerful movement sets a type of her own. Mu’nisah Sihr (Salaa Sihr(imp USA) x Simeon Sima) is a brilliant mare and we look forward to her giving a daughter or two in the future.
The family of Simeon Sima (Asfour x Mohema (Kaisoon)) was one to be very passionate about and it only made sense to focus on a family where the progeny and grand progeny were horses which represented those fairytale Arabians of the past, the ones you only seen in books and historical photos. We felt to build on this special family of horses would fulfil everything set out for. After the retirement of Pearsons View Arabian, Myth Haven was incredibly fortunate and grateful to add the remaining of their mares to our special program, full sisters of the above mares, Stavs Simri and Simoonah Sihr, and Siteyah Sihr (Salaa Sihr x Stavs Siare). Pictured right - Stavs Simbel with Don Rowley.
The Simeon Shaina (Asfour x Simeon Safanad) (pictured left) family includes Soura Sihr (x Salaa Sihr) and Azzurri Al Saba (x Thaqib Al Nasser), both mares are beautiful individuals and are fantastic producers.

In 2019, walking around the farm we see the older mares who are what we see as the epitome of everything we love to see in our Straight Egyptian program. Their daughters are a delight and maturing each year and are dream females.With the generosity of Gregory & Marysia Keyes of Bluedawn Arabians in Queensland, their sensational Ashquar HM (NK Hafid Jamil x NK Asila), (pictured right) visited to breed to some of the mares. We think this exceptional quality stallion melded beautifully with our mares, we believe him to be a super sire from his amazing progeny we have had the pleasure in seeing and being the best of his breeding in Australia. He is similar in type to our other stallions, he moves powerfully, his great shape and his temperament is a pleasure to be around.
In closing I would like to say how incredibly lucky we are to have Arabian Horses in our lives, I love seeing the joy they bring to their owners and admirers, how they light up our lives and of others, it truly is something to be very grateful for. We must live life with as much joy and glory as we can and be very kind, One can never be kind enough. We always welcome visitors to our farm but with several catches: kindness, appreciation and loads of laughing.