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From
our Arieana Notebook: When we see or hear the name Rabiyat,
we think of the word TROT ~ not only for her own bold, free moving
style, but as an ability she passed on to her produce. A film of her in action
was used by Mr. Herbert Reese to illustrate, frame by frame, the preferred style and way of
going for an Arabian horse under saddle ~ her freedom of shoulder
movement, good flexion of knee and hocks, and great length of stride,
with comment on how well her snappy action illustrated how such movement
made the horse less inclined to over-reach or forge than one
with a lazy or dwelling action.
Considered by those who remember
Rabiyat as the greatest natural action mare of all time, we treasure these words of
Herbert H. Reese in his book The Kellogg Arabians as writes of
her: "On my third trip to Maynesboro I saw several mares in
a large corral and was greatly impressed by a large bay mare which had
an elastic, well-balanced trot even though unshod. Mr. Brown said that
his son had used this mare at Andover College for a polo mount for two
years and had also used her for jumping. A smart-headed mare whose rich
bay color was set off by her narrow strip and four socks, she took my
fancy so forcibly that I immediately decided I wanted her at Kellogg's
for shows as well as for a broodmare. This was Rabiyat."
Mr.
Reese goes on to relate: "She was shipped to Pomona in a carload
of other Arabs and unloaded on a Saturday night [September 7, 1935]. First thing Sunday
morning Rabiyat was shod and tried out in the show ring in
English tack. She went up into the bridle so well, and showed such a
bold, square trot and "rocking chair" canter that she
appeared in the two afternoon exhibitions that day. Talk about adaptability,
this mare had it."
Rabiyat lived out her days at The
Kellogg Ranch, Pomona, California serving not only as a treasured broodmare,
but also performing year after year as a dynamic,
brilliant, and popular three-gaited
star in their Sunday Shows, never sour or even temporarily gimpy.
(Edwards, p. 42)
"On the morning of April
13 [1950], Rabiyat was destroyed and buried in the horse
cemetery at the Kellogg Unit. An appropriate marking was to be placed
on her grave. This action was taken in accordance with the decision of
the Arabian Advisory Committee at the February 25 meeting."
(Parkinson, p. 341)
Rabiyat was the dam of 13
registered purebred Arabian foals (5 colts and 8 fillies), 11 of them born
during her 15 years at the Kellogg Ranch. We at Arieana Arabians still see
and greatly appreciate her influence in our bloodstock today as it comes down
to us through her son
Rabiyas and his son Abu Farwa.
~Suzi Morris (revised and updated 08/11/2012)
Sources:
Catalogue:Maynesboro Arabian Stud: Season 1927. Berlin,
New Hampshire, U.S.A. 1927.
Edwards, Gladys Brown. Know The Arabian Horse. Farnam Horse
Library, Omaha, Nebraska. 1971. p. 42
Parkinson, Mary Jane. The Kellogg Arabian Ranch: The First
Sixty Years. Cal Poly Kellogg Unit Foundation, Inc, California
State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California Third edition,
1984.
Reese, Herbert H. in collaboration with Edwards,
Gladys Brown. The Kellogg Arabians: Their Background and
Influence. Borden Publishing Company, Alhambra, California. 1958. pp.
85, 165-166.
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Rabiyat 