CCS Hilm Tahakkak
An Arabian stallion. A Dream Came True. A potential National Champion. All of these things describe “Hilm” – the Arabian horse of our dreams.
It started as a vision between mother and daughter: to breed horses of beauty, elegance, and disposition. Ten years later, our daughter is gone, lost in a tragic horse accident – but her – and our – dream remains.
Our search led us to the world-renowned breeding farm of Al-Marah Arabians in Tucson, AZ. Hilm’s dam, AM DreamsCote (Dreamazon+++ x Tsea Note by AM Sea Captain) – a mare of incredible beauty and gentle disposition, was leased. A daughter of the legendary Dreamazon++++, DreamsCote is a full sister to the current Al-Marah senior stallion, AM Ben Dream. Exceptional in every way, we knew we had to choose a stallion worthy of her pedigree and phenotype.
The imported pure Crabbet stallion, *Sa Ika ( Prince Saraph x Sa ‘Lilah by Silver Flame) was chosen for his excellent conformation and athleticism. Crabbet Park, founded by Sir Wilfred and Lady Anne Blunt in 1878, was the foundation for every major Arabian breeder outside of Egypt. In the last part of the 19th century and early 20th century, the Blunts and their daughter, Lady Wentworth, explored the orient and the desert to import the purest and best Arabian horses to England. There, the breeding program was refined and perfected, until breeders from around the world were seeking Crabbet blood to found their own programs. With the death of Lady Wentworth, the last of the Crabbet Park Arabians were dispersed. Sa’Ika is a result of these bloodlines.
Bred by Anne Archer and imported from England at 18 month’s, *Sa Ika is the epitome of the Crabbet Arabian. Large boned, superb disposition, and unparalleled rideability - he is a performer at the Arabian Nights in Orlando, Florida, USA. Called the “Dancing Horse” for his exceptional mastery of upper level Dressage movements - he has appeared at Madison Square Garden, on the Today Show, and has been awarded numerous Championships in the show ring.
In February 1999, our dream was born. CCS Hilm Tahakkak - Arabic for “Dreams Came True” - was foaled just outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico, a strong red colt with straight legs and a curious nature. We showed him once as a weanling, where he took Reserve Champion colt. We knew what we had!
Watching him grow, we were amazed at his disposition - he ran with the mares until he was two, always a gentlemen. He was never studly or unmanageable. With the tent temperament that Arabians of old were cherished for, Hilm has shown us what it means to own a gentle stallion. He has always loved hugs and kisses – curling his lips with pleasure when we scratch and caress his coat.
Hilm was a two year old in our barn in New Mexico when he managed to put his left rear leg through the fence going between pipe and horse panel. It had been tied in tight at the bottom to the pipe, but with horses, if they can, they will. He managed to go through the muscle at the fetlock and some of the nerves. We feared for our dream!
The vet was summoned quickly, x-rays were taken and treatment began with stall confinement for several weeks. A few month's down the road we had a scar, but no impairment to his movement. Hilm was a great patient and did not complain of the bandage changing and medications used. At three, he began his real training. Hilm never bucked. With true Crabbet mentality, he loves to work, is a quick study, and enjoys learning new things.
Hilm also likes to play with things in his stall - specifically his ball and feed tub. You normally find the ball in his water or feed bowl or out the window if open. He has also been known to toss it over the stall partition into his neighbors stall.
As a mature stallion, Hilm is taken out to work or turnout six days a week. He cannot be outside for too long or the sun will damage his coat - which is a deep liver chestnut. His workouts begin with lunging, then a saddle (Western or English depending on the discipline we are working with) with a good training session, followed by a warm bath and fresh hay in his newly mucked stall.
Hilm has been in professional training since March, 2003. For that reason, we only see him once a week now. As a five year old, we began his show career in March 2004 at the Spring Classic Region 15 where Hilm qualified for Region 15 Western Pleasure Jr Horse. We will also show him in Hunter Pleasure Jr. Horse this season. He easily transitions from one to the other.
Upcoming shows are scheduled at Shenandoah I & II in Lexington, Virginia, June 18 thru June 21, 2004, then it is onto Regional July 8 through July 11, 2004 - where Hilm will make his bid for Nationals 2004.
The dream continues to unfold with the arrival of Hilm’s first foal May 3, 2004. A filly out of “Gina” - Sufi Gee (Avatar Al Sufi x Bamboozle by Drambui) – the mare named for the daughter we lost but who remains to this day, heart and soul, in our breeding program and in our dreams. This filly, Hasna Halima (Beautiful Dreamer in Arabic), is the fourth generation of our breeding program. We know both Gina’s are proud! “Halima” is already handled daily, in preparation for her first show in August of 2004 at the Eastern Crabbet Arabian Horse Society Futurity. We cannot wait to show the world how our dreams are coming true!
We look forward to the future for Hilm as a breeding stallion. He is booked to a mare in Virginia, Texas and Minnesota this year, and will breed Camelot Farms Mares: Sufi Gee, CCS Fille DuReve (Al Marah Garcon x AM Dreamtime by Dreamazon+++) and GHA Gai Caprice
(Gai Gaspacho x Adventuress by Gai Adventure) on lease from Boardman Arabians in Denton, Texas. We invite you to share in our Dream – and watch your own come true. Our new facility, scheduled to open in Fall 2004, will feature ten stalls, a feed and tack room, as well as a washrack, grooming area, breeding area and storage facility. Plenty of room for visiting mares!
Hilm is SCID clear. $1,000.00 LFG shipped semen available. Hilm is 86.45% Crabbet Certified and 96.875 % CMK. Inquiries invited on upcoming foals.
Text by Rebecca Boardman.
