*Nefison (Mag x Nefisa)

As also published in The Canadian Arabian Horse News, January 2011

The history of the Arabian breed has been shaped by the right people and horse being brought together at the right time, whether by fate or just good timing, and such was the case with a straight Russian stallion named *Nefison and the mother-daughter team of Donna Hanson and Nadia Allison at Kakagi Arabians. Their five-year journey together would be a life-changing one for all and integral to the breeding program that Kakagi Arabians is today.

*Nefison was born at the world-famous Kossack Stud in Holland and imported to the US in 1983. His sire, the well-known Aswan son *Mag, was a full brother to 1981 US National Champion Stallion *Marsianin and during the early 80's was 'stranded' in Europe by piroplasmosis, going through the often-fatal treatment six times before his own eventual importation to the US. *Mag's time in Europe however was not unproductive as he became a successful show horse in Holland and France and sired offspring in both countries, many like *Nefison who preceded him to the US. *Nefison's dam Nefisa was of the renowned Russian dam line to Mammona through Nomenklatura, and founded her own dynasty through her sons, also including *Pattrone and *Othelloo, and her grandsons Neposzar+ and Marykov+/.

*Nefison was well promoted as a young stallion, siring his first foal crop in 1985 and joining the ranks of the Lasma Star Stallion program. During the late 80's and early 90's he amassed a show record in halter, pleasure driving, and English pleasure before a broken foreleg left him with a permanent limp. The offspring he produced during his early years were also shown successfully, highlighted by the multi-Regional winner HA Momentum+, and his daughter Yala Habibi would go on to produce two daughters with multiple wins at the Regional and National level.

By the late 90's, like many other Arabians of his time, *Nefison had almost disappeared from sight. Then in 2005, a young dream united with an old Russian stallion and a new phase of *Nefison's legacy began. Kakagi Arabians, a small breeding farm in the corner of Northwestern Ontario, had begun their journey with the Russian Arabian in 2000 with the purchase of their first broodmare. The next five years were spent building a small broodmare band and attempting to create the elusive first generation of straight Russian offspring to carry on for the aging Russian foundation horses they had fallen in love with. Multiple setbacks and a personal tragedy almost stopped their young program in its tracks, and then they found *Nefison offered for sale at an Azraff/Ferzon breeder's in Indiana. The pieces quickly fell into place, and in April 2005 the 23-year-old *Nefison came home to Northwestern Ontario. Despite a close call with EPM after arrival, *Nefison settled his first four mares in Canada in 2005, and from there no time was wasted in building him a worthy broodmare band. He would go on to sire 16 foals for Kakagi Arabians in addition to outside foals during his time with them. The oldest, born in 2006, are now beginning their own careers, while his youngest are still on the way in 2011.

It was a cold night in November when, at the age of 28, that inevitable day came for *Nefison and it was time to say good-bye. Knowing the day would come eventually did not make the good-bye any easier for Donna and Nadia, but *Nefison lives on through the strength of his offspring in the program he helped build, and through their memories of the incredible horse and character he was.

*Nefison sired well beyond our expectations, each year giving us more to be excited about. Congratulations to the breeders who have chosen *Nefison sons as future sires for their programs! It is with great anticipation that we look forward to his continuing influence in years to come. We have been thrilled with what Riurik kgi has produced for us to date, and extremely proud of Krasimir's success at Sport Horse Nationals for his owner Daniel Sudilovsky. The excitement will continue into the future as we continue to utilize Riurik kgi as well as Merzifon kgi as sires in our program, and begin to use *Nefison's daughters as our next generation of broodmares. Leszek kgi has also been producing very well for his owner Jolene Kunkel.

Congratulations to these *Nefison descendants on their recent showring successes:

Krasimir (*Nefison x Novaya by *Novator)
2018 Sport Horse National Champion Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand Hunter Type ATH
2018 Sport Horse National Reserve Champion Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand Hunter Type
2018 Region 16 Champion Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand Hunter Type
2018 Region 16 Champion Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand Hunter Type ATH
2018 Region 16 Champion Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand Dressage Type
2018 Region 16 Champion Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand Dressage Type ATH
2017 Sport Horse National Reserve Champion Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand Dressage Type
2017 Sport Horse National Top 10 Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand Dressage Type ATH
2017 Region 16 Top 4 Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand Hunter Type
2017 Region 16 Top 3 Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand Hunter Type ATH
2017 Region 16 Champion Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand Dressage Type
2017 Region 16 Champion Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand Dressage Type ATH
2014 Region 16 Champion Arabian Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand Hunter Type
2014 Region 16 Champion Arabian Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand Hunter Type ATH
2014 Region 15 Reserve Champion Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand Dressage Type
2014 Region 15 Champion Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand Dressage Type ATH
2014 Region 15 Top 4 Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand Hunter Type
2014 Region 15 Reserve Champion Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand Hunter Type ATH
2013 Sport Horse National Top 10 Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand
2013 Sport Horse National Top 10 Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand AT
2013 Region 15 Champion Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand
2013 Region 15 Champion Sport Horse Stallions In-Hand AT

HA Momentum+ (*Nefison x Shoaleh by *Aladdinn)
2007 Region 13 Top 4 Arabian Sport Horse Geldings In-Hand AT
2006 Region 13 Reserve Champion Arabian Sport Horse Geldings In-Hand
2005 Region 13 Top 4 Arabian Sport Horse Geldings In-Hand
2005 Class A Winner Arabian Gelding In-Hand

HA Garnys Rose+++// (Garnizon x Yala Habibi by *Nefison)
2010 Region 14 Reserve Champion Dressage First Level AT
2010 Region 14 Top 5 Dressage Second Level
2010 Region 14 Top 4 Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle AT
2010 Region 14 Top 3 Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle
2010 Region 14 Top 3 Arabian Sport Horse Show Hack
2010 Region 11 Top 5 Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle
2010 Region 11 Top 5 Arabian Sport Horse Show Hack
2010 Region 11 Top 3 Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand
2010 Region 11 Top 4 Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand AT
2010 Region 11 Top 5 Dressage Second Level
2009 Sport Horse National Top 10 Arabian Sport Horse Show Hack
2009 Region 14 Champion Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand
2009 Region 14 Top 3 Dressage Training Level AT
2009 Region 14 Top 3 Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle AT
2009 Region 14 Top 4 Arabian Sport Horse Show Hack
2009 Region 14 Top 5 Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand AT
2009 Region 11 Top 4 Dressage Training Level
2009 Region 11 Top 5 Dressage Training Level AT
2009 Region 11 Top 4 Dressage First Level
2009 Region 11 Top 5 Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand
2009 Region 11 Top 5 Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand AT
2009 Region 11 Top 3 Arabian Sport Horse Show Hack
2008 Region 14 Top 4 Dressage First Level AT
2008 Region 14 Reserve Champion Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle AT
2008 Region 14 Top 3 Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle
2008 Region 14 Reserve Champion Arabian Sport Horse Show Hack
2008 Region 11 Champion Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand AT
2008 Region 11 Top 3 Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand
2007 Region 14 Top 5 Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle
2007 Region 14 Top 3 Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand
2007 Region 11 Reserve Champion Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand
2007 Region 11 Top 4 Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand AT
2007 Region 11 Top 4 Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle
2006 Region 9 Champion Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand
2005 Sport Horse National Top 10 Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand

Rosehill Savannah (Garnizon x Yala Habibi by *Nefison)
2007 Sport Horse National Top 10 Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand
2007 Region 15 Champion Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand AT
2007 Region 15 Top 5 Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand
2006 Region 15 Champion Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand AT
2006 Region 15 Reserve Champion Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand
2005 Region 14 Top 5 Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand

Tazmyn Afir (Afir LV x Oreotookie H C by *Nefison)
2006 East Coast Championship Top 3 Arabian English Show Hack
2006 Class A Winner Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand AT

Anske Vrijdon+ (Caletino x BB Bey Dancer (Balajkar Bey V+/ x ER Nefawna by *Nefison))
2011 Region 11 Champion A/HA/AA Dressage Training Level
2011 Region 13 Reserve Champion HA/AA Sport Horse Under Saddle
2011 Region 13 Reserve Champion A/HA/AA Dressage First Level
2011 Region 13 Top 5 A/HA/AA Dressage Training Level

Khalia Shahar (King Ahearts x BB Bey Dancer (Balajkar Bey V+/ x ER Nefawna by *Nefison))
2012 Region 11 Top 3 Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle Jr Horse
2012 Region 11 Reserve Champion Arabian Sport Horse Mares In-Hand

Pedigree research by Arlene Magid

View some of *Nefison's foals and grandfoals

A short video of *Nefison at age 25, still showing the effects of his old leg injury: *Nefison Video
Also see video of *Nefison's sire, *Mag

Straight Russian

**Pedigree**
			Nazeer	Mansour
		Aswan		Bint Samiha
			Yosreia	Sheikh El Arab
	Mag			Hind
			Arax	Amurath Sahib
		Magnolia		Angara
			Mammona	Ofir
*Nefison				Krucica

			Negativ	Naseem
		Salon		Taraszcza
			Sonata	Skrzyp
	Nefisa			Odaliska
			Priboj	Piolun
		Neposeda		Rissalma
			Nomenklatura	Naseem
				Mammona

*Nefison in his younger days, from old magazine ads:

From Arabian Horse World, November, 1984

From Arabian Horse World, November, 1985

From Arabian Horse World, November, 1991