Om El Saiyid

photo: Aline Sagrabelny

The 1991 bay stallion Om El Saiyid, bred in the United States by Om El Arab International, represented a thoughtful blending of major Arabian bloodlines. He was exported from the United States to Germany in 1993, where he remained for the rest of his life. Though he was not widely used as a sire, Om El Saiyid was appreciated for his functional conformation, making him an ideal riding horse. His pedigree—uniting Crabbet-Polish and Egyptian-Spanish lines—stood as a deliberate experiment in combining beauty with athleticism.
Om El Saiyid was sired by the celebrated Carmargue, a grey stallion foaled in 1975 in the United Kingdom. Carmargue’s pedigree drew from Crabbet and Polish lines—his sire White Lightning descended from the famed Skowronek over the Naziri-Burkan sire-line, while his dam Velvet Shadow brought in the Polish-bred Nabor, an influential son of Negatiw. Carmargue achieved international acclaim as World Champion Stallion in Paris (1985) and Spanish National Champion (1986). He was admired for his strong, well-coupled body, elegant neck, and overall balance—traits he consistently passed on to his offspring.
Om El Saiyid’s dam, Bint Shaker, was a grey mare of Egyptian-Spanish heritage and the product of a father–daughter inbreeding between Shaker El Masri and his daughter Estasha. Shaker El Masri, an Egyptian stallion imported to Om El Arab in Germany, had a significant impact on international breeding, especially through his son El Shaklan. Bint Shaker was a beautiful mare, with much female expression and elegance. She inherited her elegance and refinement to her offspring. Besides, Om El Saiyid, she produced 2 colts and 4 fillies before she died in 2003.
Om El Saiyid matured into a well-balanced stallion of moderate height. He was not only 'showy' but also was an excellent riding horse. His shoulder was well-sloped, contributing to a comfortable stride, good legs with correct alignment and well-set joints. His head, while not extreme, was dry and expressive, with a broad forehead and large eyes reflecting his Egyptian roots.
Om El Saiyid may not have shaped the breed on a grand scale, but he left behind an example of how beauty and riding-oriented conformation can coexist.