Sandhiran

photo: Aline Sagrabelny

The grey stallion Sandhiran entered the world in March 1997 with a pedigree rooted in some of the most influential lines in modern Arabian breeding. Bred in the United States by Doug Dahmen, the grey colt would mature into a stallion whose presence echoed the greatness of his lineage—while carving a legacy distinctly his own.
Sandhiran’s sire, the legendary Sanadik El Shaklan, was a stallion whose name had become synonymous with exotic beauty, structural correctness, and international excellence. Born of the famed “Golden Cross”—an equal blend of Egyptian and Spanish bloodlines—Sanadik brought together the elegance of El Shaklan and the refinement of Mohena, producing a type that was at once timeless and arrestingly modern. His story is woven into Arabian horse history: World Champion Junior Colt at the Salon du Cheval, sire of champions on nearly every continent, and a horse celebrated as much for his charismatic, affectionate nature as for his extraordinary athleticism and regal bearing.
Sanadik’s get were known for their balance, presence, and unmistakable refinement. Names such as Om El Sanadiva, El Dorada, and Eagleridge Passionata testify to his global impact. Into this lineage Sandhiran was born.
On his dam’s side, Sandhiran carried a legacy every bit as meaningful, anchored by the remarkable China Moon, one of the most distinctive and admired daughters by El Hilal. China Moon was out of Butterfly (by Nadirs Sedjur). Under the ownership, vision, and devotion of breeder Doug Dahmen, China Moon was not merely appreciated—she was elevated. Dahmen promoted her, bred her, and believed in her with the kind of commitment that shapes entire branches of a pedigree.
El Hilal daughters were renowned for their quality as both show and breeding mares, and China Moon stood firmly within that tradition. She contributed a powerful blend of structure, femininity, and authentic desert heritage through her tail-female descent from the Syrian-bred Davenport import Abeyah. This depth of lineage, combined with Dahmen’s vision, produced a family of distinction—of which Sandhiran became the most internationally celebrated representative. As a result, Sandhiran is the full sibling to Sahina, Sanadina, Sanadivina and Shahina.
With such a pedigree behind him, Sandhiran quickly proved himself in the show arena. In 1999, he won Junior Champion Colt titles at both the UK International Arabian Horse Show (UKIAHS) and the prestigious All Nations Cup, setting him firmly among Europe’s finest young colts. The momentum continued into 2000, when he earned European Reserve Champion Colt and a place among the Top Ten Colts at the World Championships.
A decade later, Sandhiran demonstrated the enduring strength of his quality. In 2009, he captured Gold Champion Stallion at Arabesque in Baden-Baden, followed by Bronze Champion Stallion at the All Nations Cup, reaffirming his lasting presence among top international stallions.
In the mid-2000s, he entered the ownership of Selman Arabians in Morocco, where he stood at stud and continued to be shown before ultimately retiring there.