Page 101 - Exploration10LLR

Although the Salas were inexperienced, as soon as the foal was born, they realized they were looking at a
very special foal. Marieta remembers she was the most beautiful Arabian
she had ever seen. In only a few minutes she was up running around her
mother and looking at the World with her huge black eyes! Her presence
and behavior was exceptional; they named her Abha Hamir. The prefix Abha,
means Salas in Arabic.

In 1974 the Spanish Arabian Association, AECCA organized the first Spanish
Nationals. Marieta and Zourab were on their honeymoon in California but
Perico insisted on showing Abha Hamir at the Nationals. The judge was Dr.
Pesi Gazder, famous for his investigation on Arabian pedigrees, our filly was
only a yearling, but he chose her as the first Spanish National Champion
Female. Junior and Senior prizes did not exist in our former Championships
and his decision was not very well accepted by many of the spectators. His
evaluation was confirmed a few years later.

From that point onwards, Marieta and Pedro Salas, were very serious about
the breeding of the purebred Arabians at Ses Rotes. Another exceptional
mare was born, a daughter of Uzacur x Garbi, Abha Jarca. She was beautiful
and immediately exported to Oman. A mistake, “realizes Marieta” since she
knew nothing more about her.

In 1972 the second convention of the WAHO took place in Sevilla and
Marieta was one of the organizers. It is at this conference that Marieta first
met the WAHO President and his wife, Jay and Dorothy Stream. A friendship ensued and on another visit to
Spain the Streams came to Mallorca where they first saw Abha Hamir. Their opinion of her was that she
could be a US National Champion. Bobby Hart, their trainer, came some months later and agreed with their
assessment. Shortly afterwards, Abha Hamir departed for the United States.

“This proposition was very tempting and several months later, my father and I decided it was worthwhile to
try the great adventure.” says Marieta. “In the meantime, my husband, (I am divorced now), decided to
purchase a farm in California near the Streams’ which was named La Lomita.

They began breeding Spanish Arabian Horses in North America.

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