The Story So Far...
Alkara Arabians is a small stud run by Karen & Alistair, situated near the heritage coast in Suffolk just a few miles from the A12 and A14, and only an hour from the M25. Our goal is to consistently breed beautiful, correct purebred Arabians with great dispositions and presence.
| It all began the way it usually does, a young girl with "a head full of horses". Karen arrived at Laburnum Farm as a pony-mad 13 year old looking for something to ride thats when Karen met Amy, Alistair's mother, who of course had "the perfect pony". Gypsy was a 13.2hh skewbald cob who taught her more about horses (most of it, the hard way!) than any other equine since, but it was Amy's two homebred Arab x Welsh ponies that really caught her eye and fuelled her admiration of the Arabian horse. |  |
It wasn't until Juney's owner went to university that Karen was actually allowed to ride one of these spirited, beautiful ponies and she enjoyed a year with the little mare, jumping, hacking, and (Juney's favourite) galloping!
A ten-year break from horses followed when Karen moved to USA, but on her return a pure bred mare came into her life that shaped the future. Karen met Shelley Edwards who owned Zillion bred by Gillian Lancaster (out of Zaphelia by Shurgar).
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Laburnam June Suprise (Juney) |
Zillion |
Karen showed her locally in-hand and started to research her bloodlines which led to Aboud and his fabulous progeny. Although the years that followed were spent mainly jumping, and competing on her Sec D and TB geldings, Arab Shows and Stud Open Days gradually became a regular weekend activity.
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Karen & Ty competing |
Toad (TB Gelding) |
One of these Stud Open Days in 2004 was more than a little influential! Karen had admired Psynergy for 2 years before finally seeing him in the flesh at Bychan. She knew immediately that here stood a stallion that possessed all the traits (both physically and temperamentally) that she wanted to use to breed her “perfect ridden horse”. Alkara Arabians was born with the purchase of Rose Aboud and that is where the stud name comes from (AL – Alistair, KA – Karen, RA – Rose Aboud). The cross to Psynergy very sadly resulted in Rose Aboud slipping a much wanted filly foal. This was a crushing disappointment at the time, and came only months after a horrific accident in which Karen prematurely lost her beloved Section D Bwlchllan Telynor. In hindsight however, those events were the catalyst that turned Alkara Arabians from a childhood dream into a reality. |
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With the loss of Ty came the loss of interest in riding, but the in-hand shows were addictive and the fledgling stud set about looking for a quality broodmare as Rose Aboud was approaching 20 years old. The realisation that quality proven broodmares were not affordable hit home at about the same time the phone rang. “I’ve found your chestnut Pysnergy filly” necessitated a trip to Mirage Arabians in Wales. Two delightful fillies were purchased that weekend aged 5 & 10 days old respectively (Psophistikate & Psyncerity) – OK the stud can wait for them to blossom into quality broodmares!
The icing on the cake came later on that year when the stud became the very proud owners of their long awaiting “top class” broodmare. Zillion’s half sister, Ziadah (out of Zaphelia by Aurelian) in foal to Master Design joined the merry band!
We look forward to the future …
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Alkara Arabians would like to thank Sally & Ryan for their endless patience, advice & ongoing support; and to Magic Marlene without whom the workload would be overbearing!
