Narav Ibn Aswan
February 28, 2026, Photo © Gudrun Waiditschka
Narav Ibn Aswan
In 1963, a young Egyptian stallion named Raafat left his homeland for the Soviet Union. Renamed Aswan, he arrived at Tersk Stud as part of a diplomatic exchange between Egypt and the USSR. Few could have anticipated the scale of his influence. Aswan would go on to reshape Russian Arabian breeding, blending classical Egyptian type with the athletic and structural priorities of the Tersk program. Among these representatives was Aswan's son, Narav Ibn Aswan.
Foaled in May 1978 and registered in the Russian Studbook as Nrav, Narav Ibn Aswan was bred grey out of the mare Naina (1961) who was by the Egyptian-born Nil (1951). His pedigree represents a concentrated Egyptian inheritance: Aswan was a son of the legendary Nazeer, while Nil contributed further lines tracing to the Egyptian state stud program.
Naina's tail-female line traces to the "Treasure of Tersk" Mammona (over Nomenklatura). Mammona was a Polish bred mare, linking Narav to established Polish dam families. This combination of Egyptian sire power and structured Russian-Polish maternal heritage typifies the breeding philosophy that defined Tersk in the second half of the twentieth century.
The Aswan x Naina cross proved successful. Narav Ibn Aswan belonged to a notable group of full siblings that demonstrated the reliability of this genetic pairing. Among them were Nevada (1970) and Normandia (1977), both grey mares; Nairobi (1981), later dam of the 1991 World Champion Senior Mare Julia Bea; and the stallion Nankin, exported to North America and a Canadian National Top Ten Stallion. Within this distinguished sibling group, Narav emerged as the most internationally decorated, earning titles including World Reserve Champion Stallion and All Nations Cup Champion Stallion.
Exported to Germany in 1981 and standing stud at Gut Alemich, Narav Ibn Aswan became an important representative of Russian breeding in Western Europe. He was leased to Sweden from 1983 to 1986 and to England from 1987 to 1988, before returning to Germany, where he was later designated a German Elite Stallion. Contemporary accounts describe him as exceptionally beautiful, with a refined grey coat and a notably gentle disposition.
Although Narav sired successful sons—including Ibn Narav and Marengo, a sire of endurance horses in France—his principal influence emerged through his daughters.
The mare Nikita became a multi-champion and, despite her early death, established a lasting legacy. Bred to Kubinec, she produced three important stallions: Davidoff, Tibet, and Shir Khan. Through Davidoff and Tibet in particular, Narav’s genetic contribution was consolidated within modern European show breeding programs.
Madeira (1990, out of Menascha) became a foundation mare at Darius Arabians, where her daughter DA Massai Mara continues the line. Another daughter, Naravna (1991), produced Nijem Ibn Eternity VI, World Champion Stallion in 2008 and Triple Crown winner as a junior in 2004 (All Nations Cup, European Championships, and World Championships).
Foaled in May 1978 and registered in the Russian Studbook as Nrav, Narav Ibn Aswan was bred grey out of the mare Naina (1961) who was by the Egyptian-born Nil (1951). His pedigree represents a concentrated Egyptian inheritance: Aswan was a son of the legendary Nazeer, while Nil contributed further lines tracing to the Egyptian state stud program.
Naina's tail-female line traces to the "Treasure of Tersk" Mammona (over Nomenklatura). Mammona was a Polish bred mare, linking Narav to established Polish dam families. This combination of Egyptian sire power and structured Russian-Polish maternal heritage typifies the breeding philosophy that defined Tersk in the second half of the twentieth century.
The Aswan x Naina cross proved successful. Narav Ibn Aswan belonged to a notable group of full siblings that demonstrated the reliability of this genetic pairing. Among them were Nevada (1970) and Normandia (1977), both grey mares; Nairobi (1981), later dam of the 1991 World Champion Senior Mare Julia Bea; and the stallion Nankin, exported to North America and a Canadian National Top Ten Stallion. Within this distinguished sibling group, Narav emerged as the most internationally decorated, earning titles including World Reserve Champion Stallion and All Nations Cup Champion Stallion.
Exported to Germany in 1981 and standing stud at Gut Alemich, Narav Ibn Aswan became an important representative of Russian breeding in Western Europe. He was leased to Sweden from 1983 to 1986 and to England from 1987 to 1988, before returning to Germany, where he was later designated a German Elite Stallion. Contemporary accounts describe him as exceptionally beautiful, with a refined grey coat and a notably gentle disposition.
Although Narav sired successful sons—including Ibn Narav and Marengo, a sire of endurance horses in France—his principal influence emerged through his daughters.
The mare Nikita became a multi-champion and, despite her early death, established a lasting legacy. Bred to Kubinec, she produced three important stallions: Davidoff, Tibet, and Shir Khan. Through Davidoff and Tibet in particular, Narav’s genetic contribution was consolidated within modern European show breeding programs.
Madeira (1990, out of Menascha) became a foundation mare at Darius Arabians, where her daughter DA Massai Mara continues the line. Another daughter, Naravna (1991), produced Nijem Ibn Eternity VI, World Champion Stallion in 2008 and Triple Crown winner as a junior in 2004 (All Nations Cup, European Championships, and World Championships).