The world of Arabian horses lost one the most reliable and consistent sources of world class type and quality when *Sanadik El Shaklan passed away. Om El Arab lost the stallion that embodied all of its breeding goals: exotic type, balance and strength, correctness of structure, athleticism, and a kind and willing personality. *Sanadik El Shaklan passed away on August 24, 2008. He was twenty-five, but neither he nor anyone who visited him at his home at Om El Arab, would have guessed it. At the time of his passing *Sanadik was arguably the most successful living sire of national, international and world champions. That was title he earned all by himself, one champion foal at a time.

It can be a mixed blessing to be the son of famous parentage. At the time of *Sanadik’s birth in 1983, his sire *El Shaklan was only seven, and was one of the most celebrated and talked about international sires in the world. Many breeders around the world proclaimed that *El Shaklan was single-handedly shaping and inspiring the modern look of the Arabian horse. *El Shaklan was the headliner for the Om El Arab breeding program.

In 1986, through tragic circumstances, *El Shaklan was sold to a breeder in South America. The Om El Arab breeding program was left without a great stallion to carry on the breeding program and the main attraction to bring visitors to the farm.

*El Shaklan, the sire of *Sanadik El Shaklan

Though there were many mature and successful sons of *El Shaklan available, Om El Arab placed all their hopes and dreams for their future on an exotic but relatively unknown grey four-year-old stallion. In 1987, *Sanadik El Shaklan moved into the big empty stall that had once housed *El Shaklan. *Sanadik was tall and exotic like his sire, but he was more finely made and very elegant. Like his sire, Sanadik’s pedigree was an equal blend of Egyptian and Spanish bloodlines: the Golden Cross.

In 1988, the very first foal sired by *Sanadik for Om El Arab was a colt they named Om El Azadik. The colt was ultra typey, well balanced, charismatic and tall. Within a short time, Azadik captured the hearts of spectators and judges alike as he was shown to titles that included World Reserve Champion Stallion, World Cup Champion Stallion, European Junior Champion Stallion and Middle East International Junior Champion Stallion.

A procession of champion-winning get sired by *Sanadik soon followed suit. One was Om El Sanadiva, who became World Junior Champion Female, and reins over her own dynasty today as one of Germany’s most successful producers of champions. *El Dorada, born in Poland via frozen semen, earned the coveted titles of Polish National Champion Mare and U.S. National Champion Senior Mare. *Sanadik has a long list of national champions sired around the world. The countries include England, Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Australia, Chile, the Czech Republic, and the U.S.

*Sanadik more than filled the shoes of his illustrious sire. He became the headliner who attracted visitors from all over the world. *Sanadik lifted the Om El Arab program to a new and higher dimension. His achievements as a sire of international champions not only eclipsed those of his sire, but any other sire of his time.

*Mohena, the dam of *Sanadik El Shaklan

The enduring qualities about *Sanadik for those who knew him was not his abilities as a sire, it was his charming easy character and affectionate personality. But at times, *Sanadik could be all macho. When we would show the stallions to visitors we would start with the youngest and end with *Sanadik, our oldest. We bring the stallions into the mare barn so that they can show off their qualities and personalities themselves. The young stallions would parade into the barn arching and strutting. The visitors admired them. Then it was *Sanadik’s turn. He knew we saved the best for last. As he walked to the mare barn he grew tall and grand and commanding, neck arching and tail carried high and proud. In a nicker powerful and deep he talked to the mares in a way that proclaimed I am King. His regal presence and extraordinary type brought tears to visitor’s eyes. Yet *Sanadik was truly sweet, kind and affectionate. He loved interacting with all people. He would stop eating and walk over for a scratch or nuzzle. He loved carrots more that anything. In his younger years *Sanadik would spend hours on frequent journeys into the mountains around the farm. He was sure-footed, nimble and powerful as he climbed the narrow steep trails or crossed rocky creek beds.

Forever we will miss his sensitive yet commanding presence. Forever we will miss being greeted with a soft look from those big black eyes. Forever we will miss peeking into his stall and watching him with his head down munching dreamily on his hay. Forever we will miss the time shared on rides into the mountains.

Happily, in many ways *Sanadik will live on forever at Om El Arab. The great stall that first occupied his sire, *El Shaklan, and then was home for twenty years for *Sanadik El Shaklan, is not empty. It is now the home of his son, Om El Shahmaan, who is carrying on the Shaklan legacy. And like *Sanadik, Shahmaan has big shoes to fill, to carry the breeding program to a new and higher dimension. True to his illustrious heritage, it looks like he will. In the stall next to Shahmaan is his very special son, Om El Bellissimo.

We at Om El Arab have been profoundly touched by the many breeders and admirers of *Sanadik El Shaklan around the world who have sent e-mails expressing how he has affected their lives. Here is one such e-mail:

"Though I never saw the horse in person, I thought that you would like to know that, for the past year or so, I have had his picture on my refrigerator door so that I could see it every day. I believe you had sent it to me when I inquired about your horses. I have never seen a more perfect Arabian anywhere, of any bloodline, and his face was truly angelic. I am an Anglican priest, Vicar at St. Michael and All Angels, which is located at my horse farm, Reveillon Lodge Arabians, near Raymond, Mississippi. What a marvelous thought that I will meet him in Heaven – I firmly believe that the Lord has a special place for his beloved animals there, too – certainly for Arabian horses. Truly, *Sanadik was and still is the ideal of his breed!"

We at Om El Arab have been profoundly touched by the many breeders and admirers of *Sanadik El Shaklan around the world who have sent e-mails expressing how he has affected their lives. Here is one such e-mail:

"Though I never saw the horse in person, I thought that you would like to know that, for the past year or so, I have had his picture on my refrigerator door so that I could see it every day. I believe you had sent it to me when I inquired about your horses. I have never seen a more perfect Arabian anywhere, of any bloodline, and his face was truly angelic. I am an Anglican priest, Vicar at St. Michael and All Angels, which is located at my horse farm, Reveillon Lodge Arabians, near Raymond, Mississippi. What a marvelous thought that I will meet him in Heaven – I firmly believe that the Lord has a special place for his beloved animals there, too – certainly for Arabian horses. Truly, *Sanadik was and still is the ideal of his breed!"

The sons and daughters sired by *Sanadik El Shaklan far exceeded our expectations and they continue to be among the most sought after progeny world-wide.

Om El Azadik: World Reserve Champion Stallion, World Cup Champion Stallion, European Junior Champion Stallion and Middle East International Junior Champion Stallion.

Om El Sanadiva: World Junior Champion Filly Paris / FR 1992

All Nations Cup Junior Champion Filly Aachen 1992

Euro-Masters Junior Champion Filly Fontainebleau / FR 1992

Int. Junior Res. Champion Filly Paris / FR 1992

Int. Junior Res. Champion Filly Paris / FR 1991
Dam of:
FS Bengali - Scottsdale and US National Champion Stallion
Bay Diva - European Champion Filly
Sweet Sanadiva - German National Champion Filly
Shakaar Ibn Sanadiva - National Reserve Champion Stallion, three time European champion

El Dorada: Polish National Champion Mare and U.S. National Champion Senior Mare.
2000 Spring Show Junior Champion Mare, Bialka (PL)
International Junior Champion Mare, Blommeröd (SE)
Polish National Junior Champion Mare, Janów Podlaski (PL)
European Junior Champion Mare, Vilhelmsborg (DK)
2002 Polish National Senior Champion Mare, Janów Podlaski (PL)
Senior Champion Mare, Poznan (PL)
All Nations Cup Senior Champion Mare, Aachen (DE)
European Reserve Champion Mare, Moorsele (BE)
World Senior Top Ten Mare, Paris (FR)
2004 European Champion Mare, Moorsele (BE)
World Senior Reserve Champion Mare, Paris (FR)
2006 Scottsdale Arabian Show Senior Reserve Champion Mare, Scottsdale, AZ (US)
Region VII Champion Mare, Scottsdale, AZ (US)
Region III Pre-Show Champion Mare, Reno, NV (US)
Region III Champion Mare, Reno, NV (US)
US National Senior Champion Mare, Louisville, KY (US)
2007 World Senior Top Ten Mare, Paris (FR)

Om El Shahmaan: 2004 U.S. National Champion stallion AAOTH, 2003 U.S. National Reserve Champion AAOTH and Top Ten in Junior Stallions, where he placed third in the class. He also was Pacific Slopes Reserve Champion Futurity Hunter in 2004, which is a highly competitive riding class.

Kameron Bey (x Katrina Bey) Canadian and U.S. National Champion Gelding (1993 and 1994).

Om El Jimala (x Om El Jazira) 2003 and 2004 U.S. National Reserve Senior Champion mare,

Om El Shadina (x Om El Shaina) 2004 Top Ten mare and Elran Cup Reserve Champion Mare.

Om El Extreem (x Om El Bint Shaina) 2008 Arabica Show Frankfurt Champion Stallion, National Champion Stallion of Spain, Elran Cup Junior Champion stallion, World Champion Most Classic Head;

Eagle Ridge Passionata (x River Oak Dimity) 2008 Qatar International Show Reserve Champion Mare and Elran Cup Champion Mare and 2010 US National Champion Senior Mare and Arabian Breeders World Cup Supreme Senior Mare Gold Champion

El Sanadika IA (Sanadik El Shaklan x Magnalina)
 2011 Arabian Breeders World Cup Supreme Senior Mare Bronze Champion

ADDITIONAL INTERNATIONAL WINNERS BY *SANADIK EL SHAKLAN INCLUDE:

Sandrian (x China Moon) 1999 Baden‐Baden Show Junior Champion Colt
Om El Shaheen (x Om El Shaina) 2004 U.K. Gold Arabian Horse Show Champion Stallion
Ffatal Attraction (x Falling in Love) 2004 British National Champion Show Champion Stallion
Sirocco (x Ziti) 2004 Finnish National Champion Stallion
DA Sandala (x The Grand Passion), 2004 Egyptian Event U.K. International Champion Mare
Om El Tanam (x Aabacus Shacara), 2004 Swedish National hampion Stallion.

SIGNIFICANT *SANADIK EL SHAKLAN GRANDGET INCLUDE:

FS Bengali (x Om El Sanadiva) Scottsdale and US National Champion Stallion
Bay Diva (x Om El Sanadiva) European Champion Filly
Sweet Sanadiva (x Om El Sanadiva) German National Champion Filly
Shakaar Ibn Sanadiva (x Om El Sanadiva) National Reserve Champion Stallion and 3x European Champion
Om El Shadream (x Om El Shadina) US National Champion Mare AOTH
Om El Bernadette (x Om El Benedict) 2007 Las Vegas World Cup Junior Champion Filly and 2008 Sharjah Junior Champion Mare
Om El Beshaan (x Om El Benedict) 2008 Las Vegas World Cup Champion Stallion Four Years Old and Older ATH
Om El Sanadeed (x Om El Jinaah) 2011 AHBA Breeders World Cup Champion Futurity Yearling Colt and Scottsdale International Champion Yearling Colt