Phara Heritage Society - History part 2

HISTORY ~ Golden Pharao

La Flag x Bint Maaroufa

To put the Phara Farm breeding program together the Patti’s had to find the best possible individuals with similar breeding. Since Lewisfield Sun God was the product of inbreeding the full siblings, Aaraf and Aarafa by *Raffles (Skowronek x *Rifala) and out of Aarah (Ghadaf x Nadirat), they began their search looking for a horse of this breeding with the most classical characteristics they could find. The Patti’s visited farm after farm, stopping all across the country to see every horse they could with similar lines. After months of searching and still not finding what they were looking for, they visited the La Rue’s in Indiana. There the Patti’s saw a yearling colt that was for sale who was an Aaraf grandson. Even though his dam line was not what the Patti’s were looking for, this colt was EXCEPTIONAL and had every one of the qualities they were looking for. This colt, originally named Ibn La Flag, was purchased by the Patti’s and renamed Golden Pharao.

Golden Pharao’s show career began with him winning his first time out - a two-year-old being shown against Champions and sons of Champions. At the Wisconsin State Arabian Show the judge took a good look at Golden Pharao, and, after walking away from him came back to look at him again. He spent an unusually long time looking at Golden Pharao’s head, and finally ran his hand down Golden Pharao’s foreface, taking note of his extreme jibbah. The judge was obviously impressed (not just with Golden Pharao’s head) and needless to say Golden Pharao did very well at that show. In fact, Golden Pharao seemed to win at every show he went to - he was truly a great show horse, he loved to be in the arena. Golden Pharao attracted a huge following right from the get-go.

Golden Pharao made a lasting impression on everyone who met or knew him. He was genuine - a good guy, a fun horse to be around, a real sweetheart. In whole, Golden Pharao was an excellent individual - he had incredible sensibility, always knew what you wanted before you asked him. In the eyes of his long-time owner/trainer Annette Weber, Golden Pharao really set the standard, and a high one at that - as an individual, a show horse, and as a sire.

After finding Golden Pharao the Patti’s continued their search - this time for a mare related to Lewisfield Sun God that would also fit their strict guidelines for conformation and type. In time they would find Aazkafra - an exquisite mare bred by Ben Hur. She had been sold to Lewisfield in a package of horses (one of the youngest mares Ben Hur had ever sold to Lewisfield), and the Patti’s first saw her at Heritage Hills, who had acquired her from Lewisfield. She looked amazingly like Sun God - she had a beautiful head, four white stockings, and some roaning in her coat. Annette was quite taken with her, and knew that she had to have her. It took some maneuvering, but finally Annette was able to acquire her.

Aazkafra was a mare of great beauty and motion. There was no comparison to Aazkafra’s extreme, sensational action - her movement was extraordinary. In addition to her glorious beauty and breathtaking way of moving, Aazkafra was so very smart. Annette remembers how once a gate had accidentally been left open and she came walking out of the barn with one of her foals. Annette called to her out of the window to get back into the barn, and Aazkafra simply turned around and went straight back into her stall. On another occasion, even though Aazkafra had not been trained to ride, Annette decided to take her riding with some friends. Annette put a bridle on Aazkafra and rode her bareback, the mare willingly went along with the others without issue.

But Aazkafra is remembered most not for her stunning appearance, phenomenal movement, or for how smart she was, but for the amazing results that came from breeding her to Golden Pharao. This was truly a golden cross, as the resulting foals would stand out for decades to come not only as individuals, but even more so as superior breeding horses through future generations.

There were three foals from this cross - all were double Aaraf and triple Aarah: Golden Reflection (chestnut stallion foaled February 6, 1968), Phara Lucia (chestnut mare foaled March 18, 1970), and Golden Cavalier (chestnut stallion foaled March 24, 1971).

The first foal from this cross, Golden Reflection, was the first born foal of the Patti’s new breeding program - Phara Farm.

Click HERE to read History Part 3 ~~ Golden Reflection