Silver Maple Farm attends the 2011
Pyramid Societys Annual Egyptian Event
By Christie Metz
During the first week in June there is a wonderful gathering of straight Egyptian Arabian breeders that takes place in Lexington Kentucky at the Kentucky Horse Park. These breeders come together to celebrate and showcase their horses plus enjoy the company of other like minded individuals. In addition they have the opportunity during this week to learn more about the legacy, history and traditions that surrounds this amazing horse as well as market the horses.


Jasoor SMF (*Simeon Shai x Jade Lotus SMF by Ali Saroukh)
2011 Two Year Old Straight Egyptian Champion Futurity Colt

Friends & Clients
Left to right; Jeff Linn. Marty and Ken Counts, Christie and Henry Metz with Sylvia Linn

The beautiful Horse Park

People come from all over the world; representatives from the Mideast, Australia, Europe, Egypt and Morocco attend and contribute to the excitement of this show. Whether or not it is a beautifully tooled saddle that King Mohamed VI of Morocco has donated as a prize or Al Shaqab a member of the Qatar Foundation sponsoring a  Guest Speakers event such as Princess Alia Hussein of Jordan and Peter Upton (artist from the U.K.) sharing about the new book they have co-authored on the horses of the Royal Stud of Jordan and their history. Marion Richmond of the famous Simeon Stud also was a featured speaker on the history of her farm in Australia.

Live Art Auction painting by Ali Mi Mar


Left to right, Christie Metz, Princess Alia of Jordan, Bridgette Orwig, Majid Alsayegh and Athala King

Over 325 horses participate in this four day show; professionals and amateurs display the horses in a kind and gentle manner either ridden or in hand. Besides the seminars that target both adults and youth there is the Khan El Khalili Bazaar filled with donated items that are auctioned silently with the top bidding ones moving on to a live auction during the Friday night Gala. The dinner dance Gala this year featured a Venetian theme. It was obviously embraced as evidenced by the many authentic masks seen that evening. As one entered the ball room tables were decorated with feathery palm trees and lights reflecting off watery looking center pieces, with graceful stilt walkers’ entertaining guests while they seemed to  float around the room. The live art auction featured unique items other than art such as a trip sponsored by a breeder in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to visit his farm and this sold quite well. The Pyramid Society Trustees awarded a very surprised Anna Bishop the Trustees Award via a “Karnack the Great” skit put on by Trustees President Howell Wallace and Pat Moseley. This special award is given to a person who has donated countless hours and time for the benefit of the straight Egyptian Arabian horse; no one is more deserving than Anna Bishop, Director of the Pyramid Society.

Henry Metz, President of the Pyramid Society Board of Directors with 2011 Trustees Award recipient Anna Bishop, Pyramid Society Director and Trustees Christie Metz and Jody Cruz

Pyramid Society Board of Trustees in Attendance
Left to right Christie Metz, Judith Forbis, Jody Cruz, Sherry Moseley and Howell Wallace

At the Pyramid Society booth in the covered arena, Anna Bishop along with her very capable Staff made sure that all books and clothing with the PS  logo were tempting to buyers as they strolled to their seating. To insure that you came to the booth it was strategically placed across from the hospitality cart where you could have your first cup of morning coffee, eat a roll and then during the day partake of lemonade, iced tea and popcorn. Vendors came from all over the USA and even Egypt to display their wares, from tack, jewelry, clothing and art of any medium including paintings to sculpture. The arena featured farm flags and these flags of the many countries represented made a festive backdrop for showing the horses. The judges were from Saudi, Italy and the United States. A European format for judging was utilized with a point category scoring system that awards the horses for their good qualities. The Egyptian Breeders Challenge Auction once again exceeded expectations in sales of stallion services and everyone had a great time bidding and afterwards celebrated this success by line dancing and a good old fashioned barbeque right on the floor of the area.

PS Vice President , Bob Miers, Pyramid Foundation Board member Polly Schaeffer and PS Board President Henry Metz

A wonderful backdrop to set the mood in the arena

Judges Stand in Center Ring

Jasoor SMF (*Simeon Shai x Jade Lotus SMF)

Henry and Christie Metz showed a two year old straight Egyptian colt, Jasoor SMF (*Simeon Shai+ x Jade Lotus SMF by Ali Saroukh) to champion in a very competitive fourteen horse class. Jasoor was also awarded the perpetual trophy plaque for:

"FROM GREAT MOTHERS COME GREAT SONS"*
Awarded to the winner of the Straight Egyptian Futurity Colts of 2009, and in memory of Vincent Fortuna’s son, Thomas; commissioned by Barbara Griffith and Barbara Vallee.
JASOOR SMF (Simeon Shai+ x Jade Lotus SMF by Ali Saroukh) owned by Henry and Christie Metz of Silver Maple Farm
Jasoor’s dam, Jade Lotus SMF was the 2009 Supreme Reserve Champion mare at the Egyptian Event and his sire, *Simeon Shai+ is a quadruple crown winner of the US, Canadian Nationals, Scottsdale and Salon De Cheval shows.

Henry and Christie wish to congratulate the owners of the *Simeon Shai+, BB Thee Renegade and Majestic Noble SMF progeny and grandget shown at the Egyptian Event.

Abraxas Nejd Moon
(Abraxas Moon struck x Cashai by *Simeon Shai+)
World Class Stallions- 10 years and older

Boccioni
(*Simeon Shai x Minstrils Jewel)
World Class Stallions- 10 Years and Older

DWA Shahin
(*Simeon Shai x Imborsia)
Egytpian Halter Championship- ATH
Egytpian Halter Stallions AATH- 3 Years and Older
World Class Stallions- 3 Years Old

Etaya Sudan Amirah
(Imperial Mistar x Etaya Amirah by *Simeon Shai+)
Straight Egyptian Futurity Finals- 2 Years Old

LGR Shai Karess
(Extremely Shai x HMT Karisa)
Produce of Dam

Mai Shai Prince
(*Simeon Sha x HF Allure)
Straight Egyptian Futurity Finals – 1 Year Old Colts
Egyptian Breeders Challenge Yearling Colts
World Class Yearling Colts

My Shai Princess
(*Simeon Shai+ x Shameera)
Straight Egyptian Futurity Fillies
Egyptian Breeders Challenge Fillies

Rakassah Anikah
(BB Thee Renegade x Akkasha)
World Class Mares- 6-7 Years Old

 WS Morning Glory
Botswana x Romanaa Shai- *Simeon Shai+ granddaughter
Egyptian Halter Fillies –AATH- 2 Years & Under
Straight Egyptian Futurity Finals – 1 Year Old Fillies

Until Next Year!!

Arabian Breeders Celebration 2010
Santa Ynez, California

Welcome to SMF

The World Cup Arabian horse show ended in Las Vegas on Sunday April 18th. Many traveled from the show on to the Santa Ynez Valley in California for The Arabian Breeder’s Celebration of Farm Open Houses. On Tuesday April 20th at the midmorning mark the farm tours were kicked off; SMF was happy to be the first in this series. Even though the day began rainy, gray and cold it changed just in time! As the guests arrived the sun began peeking out and was backed by a dramatic sky of racing clouds as storm systems swirled in and out of the valley. In this dramatic setting Christie and Henry Metz, the owners of Silver Maple Farm welcomed everyone and introduced event hosts, Scott Benjamin (Canada) and Anette Mattson (Sweden). For the second year this dynamic duo leant their organizational expertise to the Arabian Breeder’s of the area. After the introductions the horses of SMF were presented in mare family groups by the staff. First the stallions were shown for a reference so that when the mare family groups were displayed the audience would then be able to note their unique contributions. “It is a measurement of the successes and the direction of our breeding program if each succeeding generation is an improvement on the previous one”, Henry commented. Christie and Henry firmly believe the strength of a breeding program is based on the strength and qualities of the mares. The stallion’s characteristics are not meant to overpower the mare but to add to her qualities.

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Egyptian Event 2009

Join the SMF Team and experience
this unique “Arabian Horse Event”

Once a year our farm gears up for the annual trek to Lexington, Kentucky for the Pyramid Society’s Egyptian Event. The Kentucky Horse Park is a truly beautiful and unique setting; owned by the State of Kentucky and dedicated to horses of all breeds. The Pyramid Society, a member’s organization dedicated to the preservation of straight Egyptian blood lines for all Arabian horses holds a show there that is unlike any other show for Arabian horses. It includes an exhibition in hand of breeding stock, showing under saddle plus mini educational seminars. Speakers this year were Dr. John Shelle, Coordinator of Animal Science teaching programs at Michigan State University, Trainer Joe Pollo, Joe Ferris and Anita Enander, Arabian historians, magazine contributors and book authors. The show began Monday June 1, 2009 and ran through the finale on Saturday evening, June 6th.  Most barns decorated the horse stalls with vignettes representing the individual farms and displaying information on their horses.

Above is the SMF stall decor proudly showing the ribbons and garlands won during the week of the Egyptian Event. 

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*Simeon Shai’s 24th Birthday Party

Celebration at Silver Maple Farm October 4, 2008

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