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Update 01/2010: Shah is now 32! He spent his birthday this year scarfing down a 5 lb bag of carrots, and a nice hot sloppy bran mash. He is now teaching Sabrina's filly, Misty the ropes. He's mostly retired now, only going out for short walks on nice days. I take him out to keep him happy and feeling useful, which makes him feel good. He's earned his retirement, and I'm doing my best to make sure he's enjoying himself. He's been one heck of a horse, and there will never be another one like him as far as I'm concerned.
Update 3/2008: Shah is 30! He truly is the "Old Man" on the farm, and has lived up to my expectations of playing "Uncle Shah" to the foals. He taught Dharby and Thimaar about life as a horse in general. As in "If You Don't Eat That NOW, It's Mine". And "What Are You Spooking at THAT For??" "And People Bring Food and Goodies". I'm sure you get the picture....He's taught Belle the same things, and for his long suffering patience with the babies, I am profoundly grateful. He has been with me for just about half of my life so far. He's beginning to show his age now, and I take him out once in a while for a gentle walk on our local trails. If I don't, he sulks and pouts. He has me well trained. He's not only taught the foals well, he's taught me well, too. I got him as a newly gelded 4 year old. At that point in my life, I believed (like we all do) that I was bullet-proof and invincible. And boy, was I over-horsed! LOL. He taught me what it meant to ride and be owned by an Arab. He may not be Asil, but in his veins up close runs the blood of some truly grand old Arab lines. He gave me lightning reflexes, and showed me that it was much more fun to ride something that thought for itself rather than just taking orders, and I have never considered any other breed since then. I owe my dreams and a goodly chunk of this farm to Shah, and I can honestly say I have never been sorry for the decision.
Update 2/2004: Shah has been semiretired due to his arthritis. He still gets to go out on nice easy trail rides from time to time, mostly in good weather, and to keep the peace here. I'm looking forward to his reaction to the coming foals. My only concern is what he might teach them, given his sense of humor and intelligence. I'm sure if he can, he'll give them all some pointers on the art of how to keep me on my toes. ;-) If ever there was a horse with an opinion, I think it's Shah. If something can be manipulated with interesting results, he'll do it. His best escapade to date would have to be letting himself out of a stall with a dutch door. This door has a handle that had to be grasped and turned. Since I had figured he wouldn't be able to get out of that, I didn't bother with a snap or lock of any kind. I went out to feed, only to find Shah standing in the paddock, giving Bitty, who was about a week away from foaling, the eye over her door. Knowing that my husband had been out earlier that morning with our dogs, I asked if he had let the old man out of his stall, only to get that look that says "Are you nuts? Why would *I* do THAT?" Further investigation of the door showed no damage, so I returned Shah to his stall, and this time put a snap on the latch, returned to the house and took up watch with a pair of binoculars to watch. What I saw confirmed my thoughts--namely that Shah had grabbed the handle, and turned it to let himself out. Sheesh.....:-) Maybe I need to rethink his role as a possible baby-sitter!
Xanadu Shahwan, affectionately known as The Old Man or Shah, is the horse originally responsible for my entry into the Arabian breed. He is > Arabian, a bay and white Tobiano Pinto with blue eyes. It was the eyes that I saw first the day I bought him.
He was only 4 years old, gelded for all of one week, and so full of himself. He has the Arab sense of humor as well as the intelligence. Over the years he has been the mainstay of our farm, acting as a babysitter to 2 legged as well as 4 legged things. He will play with the farm dogs, being careful not to step on them, or grabbing them with his lips and grooming them from head to tail. He will pack a child all day long, taking care that the rider doesnt fall if needs be, but hell also be spirited enough to challenge an experienced rider. You can add the sense of humor here as needed.
He is getting up there in age now, looking at 25 years, and has been the pasturemate for RB Bellagio for the last 9 years. He tolerates the stallion with pretty good grace, administering retribution if called for. We are looking for his babysitting abilities once again this spring when the new foals are due to arrive. Shah will be an invaluable aid to easing the weaning pangs when the time comes for the youngsters.
He has been an integral part of my life for over 21 years, and is dearly loved
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