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“Aja Arabians – just imagine what your
dreams can do…”
by Samantha Mattocks
Found after twisting through the country lanes of middle
England, Aja Arabians is as romantic as its name suggests:
a long driveway with elegant Arabian mares and foals
quietly grazing in paddocks either side; stables filled
with beautiful, ethereal mares who define “perfection”;
and a husband and wife who take their horses very much to
the heart of their family.
Owned and run by Jane and Malcolm Hickford, Aja Arabians
offers visitors a place where dreams can be realised and
expectations exceeded. Having been owners and breeders of
Arabian horses for over a decade, Jane and Malcolm
epitomise breeding innovation at its very finest: they
were among the first to recognise the superiority of FS
Bengali**** (Kubinec***** x Om El Sanadiva) and bring him
to the
UK,
changing a country’s breeding direction in the process.
Now embracing the depth that WH Justice*** (Magnum Psyche*
x Vona Sher Renea) can add to a solid foundation stock of
mares, Jane and Malcolm are, again, entering a new phase
of their stud’s breeding plans.
FS Bengali**** was first seen by Jane and Malcolm at the
All Nations’ Cup, Aachen, in 1996 and they were so
enamoured of him that they brought him to England for two
years. During this time, they bred an outstanding
collection of horses that are now central to the stud’s
future. While some studs can be defined by specific
stallions, Aja Arabians is defined by its superior herd of
broodmares, which are among the finest in Europe. Now a
decade on from that historic decision to bring FS
Bengali**** to English shores, the third generation of his
legacy is being born to Aja, taking their Arabian horses
to new heights.
While the influence of this great stallion cannot be
denied, it is Jane and Malcolm’s careful consideration of
the female lines which has, perhaps, had the greatest
impact on Aja Arabians. US-bred Bey Santeyna (Simeon
Sanegor x Bey Teyna by Bey Shah) was one of the stud’s
first broodmare purchases and she has proved herself to be
a powerful dam; she is the mother of World Champion
stallion Aja Sangali** and Supreme British National
Champion and World Top Ten stallion Aja Sanagor** (both by
FS Bengali****).
The arrival of another US-bred mare, the
ethereally-beautiful Sanadina (Sanadik El Shaklan** x
China Moon), also proved a potent addition to Aja
Arabians. With a 2006 colt foal by Psytadel** (Padrons
Psyche*** x Bint Bey Shah) already causing ripples,
Sanadina is creating a great legacy for future
generations. Sanadina is full sister to Jane and Malcolm’s
multiple-champion and World Top Ten stallion, Sandhiran*,
and the arrival of these siblings underlined Jane and
Malcolm’s belief in the El Shaklan** lines, with Sanadik
El Shaklan** also appearing in the pedigree of FS
Bengali****.
Aja Arabians began to flourish, especially after the
purchase of G Estarreja (Carmargue** x Estasha Bint Masri)
and, perhaps the most important purchase of all, the El
Shaklan** daughter AR Kioki Lace (ex x Brummels Lace).
With her lineage, her daughter Aja Anouska (by FS
Bengali****) defines the Aja dream; a beautiful, elegant
mare with renowned bloodlines, a strong tail-female line
and the pre-potency to produce beautiful
children.
Continuing Jane and Malcolm’s insightfulness into the
changing Arabian market, they began to look at new
bloodlines to introduce to their stud, who could then
produce sons and daughters to breed to their FS
Bengali**** children. Lovin Psyche (Padrons Psyche*** x
Lovin Spoonful) was purchased and, in 2005, she produced a
FS Bengali**** daughter who combines the old and new
breeding plans in one beautiful package: Aja First Love.
With the undeniable quality that First Love, Aja Angelica
(ex FS Anastasia) and Aja Sanstorm (ex Aja Shadiva) all
offer, there is little doubt that Aja Arabians will
continue to be at the forefront of innovation in Arabian
breeding for many years to come. With WH Justice***,
Psytadel** and FS Bengali**** as the stallions behind
future progeny, exciting times continue to lie ahead for
Jane and Malcolm.
Aja Arabians have worked hard at their dream and invite
you to their 18th century home to enjoy looking
at one of the finest breeding programmes this side of the
United States. The Aja revolution may have started in
middle England but it has been readily embraced by many
and is constantly being admired worldwide.
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