General Grant was born at the Hanstead Stud in 1945, the year the Second World War ended. This is significant, as horse breeding had been severely affected during the war due to the shortage of feed and farm labour. The return to peace brought opportunities for more people to take up the breeding of Arabians, and they often went to the Hanstead and Crabbet Studs, to buy foundation stock. Hanstead Stud owned by Lady Yule, was founded on horses from Crabbet.
General Grant was sired by Raktha, a magnificent grey stallion bred by Lady Yule out of her foundation mare Razina, and by Naseem. Raktha had been bought by Lady Wentworth in 1939, as a four year old, as part of the exchange of horses between Hanstead and Crabbet, which also included the use of each other’s stallions. Eventually, relations broke down and General Grant was one of the last horses to be bred as part of the arrangement. General Grant was a very correct horse and this quote form Lady Anne Lytton in his obituary says it all
“ His conformation was faultless and he had perfect legs which he handed down to everyone of his foals.”
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General Grant’s dam was Samsie, a bay mare by Riffal out of Naxina. Samsie was a very good mare who traced in the tail female line to Narghileh, who possessed the ability of so many ‘N’ line – to produce great stallions. Naxina (Skowronek – Nessima) had four excellent daughters and two outstanding sons – Naseel and Grey Owl. Samsie had 6 foals, of which General Grant was the only one by Raktha. All Samsie’s other foals were by Rissalix or his sons, including Samson by Count D’orsaz , who has lines breeding today through his son Prince Saraph and Samaveda by Blue Domino, who produced the exquisite mare Amaveda by Count Rapello.
South Africa
General Grant was used quite extensively at Hanstead, as well as by a few outside mares. Twenty-six pure-bred foals were registered up to 1957, when Gladys Yule (Lady Yule’s daughter) died and many of the horses were sold.
Grantchester, Ch1952
(General Grant x Rafeena)
Bred by Gladys Yule at the Hanstead Stud
Chief Kasalo, Ch1950
(General Grant x Rikitea)
Bred by Gladys Yule at the Hanstead Stud
Of the six stallions standing at Hanstead, the others being:
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Grey Owl,
Rissalix,
Count Doraz,
Colorados
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General Grant commanded the highest stud fee at 40 Guineas
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Chief Kasalo (ex Rikitea) from his foal crop, became the Junior Male Champion at the Arab Horse Show (UK) in 1953 before being exported to South Africa in 1954, where he was to have a huge impact on the breeding of Arabians. He sired an amazing 117 pure-bred foals. Space does not permit a full description of his successes, but worthy of mention are Chez Nous Cassandra (ex Misma) who was the dam of many successful horses with the Eibna prefix including Eibna Sorrento 1976 (ex Quimran Sorrento), Jerico Pollyana, Jerico Sherifa (ex Irexia), Chez Nous Silver Owl, Agha Nezmet, and Timarie Major Dick. Other very influential General Grant male descendants were; Grantchester ex Rafeena,Timarie Major Grant (imported in utero ex Rafeena). General Grant daughters exported to South Africa that were also influential were Endora (ex Elvira), Lanisa (ex Shamnar) and Rinessa (ex Rikitea). The latter two were important for the Quimran Stud in the 1950s and 1960s for Mr W P du Toit.
UK – Early General Grant daughters
One of General Grant’s early foals was El Attary, a chestnut mare (1951) ex Al Akhira, who is principally known for producing the pretty little stallion El Attorlando by Count Orlando, who was bred by Mrs I M Yeomans. He was bought by Mrs E.M Thomas and used on some of her mares, producing Elinda ex Indira. Ambarla (El Attorlando – Magic Amber) had a descendant, Marlak Magic Aura (Ben Marlak – Rosa Aura) in the parade at the Crabbet Convention 2002. He has another cross to General Grant through Ginetta. Prince Kharambeau, is a descendant of El Attorlando worthy of mention as an endurance horse ridden by the Hawes family. El Attorlando was latterly owned by used extensively by the Haywards on their mares but there do appear to be any lines breeding in Crabbet form.
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Teresita (1951) ex Garance, bred 6 foals for Margaret Greely, whose Well House Stud was largely based on Hanstead bloodlines. Teresita had a very good show career including taking the Supreme Female Championship at the Arab Horse Show as a 3 year old. Her daughter Dominita (by Blue Domino) was exported to Australia where she had great success in the show-ring. Teresita then foaled Esther II (1960), a chestnut filly by Greatheart, who was a very successful brood mare for several different breeders; Mrs Thomas, the Kydds and Mrs Munday . Her daughter Jambalaya (Blue Domino) had much success in-hand and was a key mare at the Monclare Stud, where she produced well with their stallion Risslan (Oran – Rissalma). Esther II crossed particularly well with Indian King, including Delilah (1968), who was Reserve Junior Female Champion at the Arab Horse Show in 1969, Empress Josephine (1970), Indian Royal (1971), and Jonquil (1972). Delilah’s daughter Shodina (1979) by Indian Treasure, was Mare Champion at the Arab Horse Show and Mare Champion in the Nations Cup in 1983.
Eloia Ch1952
(General Grant x Elvira)
Bred by Gladys Yule at the Hanstead Stud
Eloia (1952) (General Grant – Elvira), was bred by Miss Yule and bought by Margaret Evans. Eloia was Supreme Female Champion in 1960 and her daughter Elara, by Stargard, was Junior Female Champion in 1965. Elara was successful under saddle before being exported to Australia as a 12 year old.
Elara Ch1962
(Stargard x Eloia)
Bred by Mrs M Evans
Bashida (1952) was bred by Dr Houtappel in Holland out of the beautiful mare Tehoura (Radi – Niseyra). Her first foal was Hadassa a bay mare by Rythal, she was brought to the UK as a 2 year old and joined the Fairfield Arabian Stud. There, she bred the striking stallion Hassani of Fairfield (by Rissani), who did a lot to shatter the myth that Arabians couldn’t perform. He was very versatile appearing in Arabian native costume, western tack and conventional English attire. He sired 21 pure-bred foals and many top quality Anglo-Arabs and Part-Breds. Next, Hadassa had an influential daughter by Indian Magic - Soumana of Fairfield. She produced Dark Angel (by Naxif) who had Marillion Platinum Wings, a lovely mare who did well under saddle.
A new era at Briery Close Stud
After the death of Gladys Yule, General Grant was purchased by Major and Mrs Hedley, for their Briery Close Stud in Windermere. The Hedleys had originally bred show ponies but it wasn’t long before they had one of the largest studs breeding pure-bred Arabians, in the UK. The Hedleys valued the blood of Raktha, Oran and Rissalix, and their choice of breeding stock reflected this. They also introduced blood from overseas, and had a great many successes with these crosses.
The Hedley’s choice of General Grant was fortuitous, given that a great many stallions from the Crabbet and Hanstead Studs, were sold abroad at the dispersal and reduction sales. Not only did he breed many great horses for the Hedleys, he was available at stud to the increasing number of new breeders.
Amorella, was the first of a superb family that helped her grand-dam, Umatella (Oran-Namilla), win the Princess Muna Saddle of Honour on three occasions. Amorella was out of Domatella (Blue Domino –Umatella), and demonstrated perfectly the wonderful Raktha/Oran/ Rissalix cross. She was Junior Female Champion at the Arab Horse Show in 1967. Many of her descendants were crossed with the fashionable stallions of the time – often Spanish or Eqyptian, or were exported and thus were lost to Crabbet. Amorella’s full sister Chantarella, was even more successful in the show ring. She was Reserve Mare Champion and Brood Mare Champion at the AHS Show 1972. Her best foal was probably Mikaela, a very typey filly by Mikeno. She was very successful in the show ring including Junior Female Champion but she had only one Crabbet foal that did not breed on. Chantarella had four good foals by the Crabbet stallion Orion (Oran – Dancing Diamond), again re-inforcing the success of the Raktha/Oran/Rissalix cross.
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Cydella was the next full sister, and she was also very successful in the show ring. She produced the stallion Mikonos (Mikeno), who sired prize-winner Blue Sapphire (Blue Rhapsody). Cydella’s daughter Farrella by Fari II , had a successful show career and her daughter Refella (Count Roland) did very well under saddle. She is the dam of Sindherella (see General D’orsaz section).
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Ziree El Wada (Naseel – Rose du Sable) was a very beautiful mare that the Hedleys had acquired from Mrs Nicholson. When crossed with General Grant, she produced consistently top quality horses. Zayda (1967) was exported to Holland, but she was followed by Zulka, a dark chestnut with a great expression. Zulka did very well in the show ring, whilst often competing against other superb fillies from Briery Close. Zulka proved to be a very good brood mare and her grand-daughter Zaharina (Ludomino – Zarah ex Zulka) bred some beautiful horses for Ann Brown. Fortunately, this line is secure through Zaharina’s two fillies – Bright Dawn (Bright Cavalier) and Azarine (Shaded Silver). Sadly, the endurance mare Zaha (Hachim), was lost recently. Zenith , a full brother to Zulka and Zayda, was exported to Australia where he sired 71 foals. Zelda Bint Samurai 1984) (Golden Samurai – Zulka) has two crosses to General Grant, and she has two daughters by Golden Scimitar.
Amorella Ch1964
(General Grant x Domatella)
Bred by Brierly Close Stud
Cydella Ch1968
(General Grant x Domatella)
Bred by Brierly Close Stud
Although General Grant had the reputation of producing very good daughters, he did in fact produce a number of good sons. Grenadier (Blue Rhapsody) was very successful under saddle and although he only sired 6 foals, amazingly, one line survives to him through Bint Zaehebi (Autumn Royal – Richelle by Grenadier). She has produced a lovely filly for Rowena Bertram – Anna Aurelia by Marcus Aurelius.
Well House breeding
Pearl Maiden (1968) was a grey mare bred by Margaret Greely who used the General Grant crossed on Rissalix mares very successfully, producing Chief Kasalo, Rinessa and Teresita from Rikitea, and Sikander Shah from Rikitea’s daughter Garance, and Pearl Maiden from Perle D’or (Count D’orsaz – Garance). Pearl Maiden was bought by Mrs Linney and was successful in the show ring at National level. But it was her amazing success in producing consecutive year’s champion foals by Mikeno, that she is most remembered. First was Mikeno’s Pearl(1972), a grey filly who went on to produce the impressive stallion Orontes by Orion. Mikeno’s Treasure followed (1975) and she had a Mikeela (Manex) who did well under saddle. Another filly and a colt of this breeding followed, and all of good quality. Two further foals were bred from El Meluk, Mikeno’ son, but sadly, there are no lines continuing in Crabbet form today.
Angelica at Harwood
Harwood Stud had been in existence from the early days of Crabbet with its owner Miss Lyon. When she died, the Calverts inherited the horses and used mainly Crabbet horses in the early days. Sending Consuella (Magnet - Misery) to General Grant resulted in the very influential Angelica (1966). She produced the very good stallion Taqah (1971) by Indian Flame II. He in turn sired Kasadi (ex Anna Rose), who was the cornerstone of the stud for his long life, producing many good performance horses, and stamped his stock with the ‘Kasadi look’. Fairwinds Jedi (ex Silvered Rosebud) is a good example of the the Kasadi sort, with many Championships to his name, partnered by owner/rider, Lorna Ewin. Taqah also sired Amboselli (ex Saera), who whilst not having the opportunities at stud that Kasadi had, nevertheless, produced the very pretty El Sharluke who sired so many of the Marbon horses and many with that prefix carry his blood. Marbon horses are really coming to the fore in recent years, as Crabbet supporters realise the importance of the bloodlines. Marbon Mastarpiece, is a strikingly marked chestnut colt by Marbon Mastarifah out of Marbon Mead by El Sharluke. He was Reserve Overall Champion at the Welsh Crabbet Show 2010 for the Flowers. This is one area of Crabbet breeding that seems to be safe for the moment.
Taqah Ch1971
(Indian Flame II x Angelica)
Bred by R.H Calvert
General Gold
General Gold was in General Grant’s last foal crop and he was his outstanding son in the UK. He had an exceptional showing career and was Supreme Male Champion in 1979 at the Nationals. He was bred by Mrs Carline Murray from her very successful Golden Treasure, who won in-hand at the highest level. Once again the cross of General Grant on Blue Domino gave a superb result. General Gold had his sire’s very correct conformation and great shoulder, and Golden Treasure’s style. He had outstanding movement, which probably accounts for the performance success of many of his descendants. General Gold did what his sire struggled to do (in the UK at least) – to consistently produce top class stallions. General Gold’s best known sons were; Golden Cavalier 1977 (ex Crystal Gold), Golden Samurai 1978 (ex Amaveda), Valiant Gold 1979 (ex Dreaming Gold), General Lee Gold 1980 (ex Leda), Golden Sunfire 1984 (ex Sunset), exported to the USA and Elegant Gold 1987 (ex Bright Marina).
General Gold Ch1973
(General Grant x Golden Treasure)
Bred by Mrs P.A.M. Murray
General Grant had long lasting influence on the breeding of Arabians both here and abroad. He proved an outstanding sire of broodmares, and later in life produced a once in lifetime son, who has made an incalculable contribution to the success of the Crabbet horse.
We are very grateful to Becky Ross for providing us with this comprehensive article on this amazing horse.
You can download the full article in pdf format here. © Becky Ross