Saynuk Egyptian Arabians at Saynuk Family Stables

Our Egyptian Arabian Story

Nestled in Northern Virginia, Saynuk Egyptian Arabians at Saynuk Family Stables is an Arabian Horse Association Discovery Farm devoted to preserving the timeless beauty and spirit of the Egyptian Arabian. Schedule to visit our farm to meet the horses, learn, and connect.

The journey of Saynuk Family Stables began back in 1984 with an after-school job as a stable hand at a Colorado Arabian horse ranch. It took years to reach a point in my life where I could own a horse of my own, but finally, in 2011, a 15-month-old colt named WDR Justa Asifa changed everything. We learned together, raising him from a young colt into the steady trail gelding he is today. In 2014, we made the cross-country move together from Arizona to Virginia.

WDR Justa Asifa, affectionately known as Sonny, initially boarded at Blue Ribbon Stables in Stafford, VA, until we were ready to bring him home to our own property in Spotsylvania. Because horses are such social creatures, we began working with local rescues to find Sonny a pasture companion. In February 2015, just before a massive snowstorm hit Virginia, we stumbled across Nutmeg (a.k.a. Meg)—an unassuming 1996 pony who desperately needed a home. We offered to foster her to get her out of the impending weather. By the time the vet arrived five days later to check on our new resident, Sonny had already fallen deeply in love with the older mare. I immediately reached out to the rescue to let them know that Meg wasn’t just a foster; she was officially part of our family.

Our dream took a major step forward in September 2021, when we acquired a property in the equestrian estates of Seven Lakes in Stafford, Virginia, officially establishing Saynuk Family Stables. The new facility opened up a world of possibilities, and within a year, a unique opportunity arose: Sonny’s older half-sister, WD Qadar Bint Fahiim, became available. Known as Queenie, this 2007 Egyptian-sired black Arabian mare possessed the conformation and legacy bloodlines we felt compelled to preserve. With guidance from Sonny’s breeder, we began researching compatible stallions to continue her exceptional lineage.

Our preservation efforts began in earnest in 2023. Queenie was sent to Amethyst Acres Equine Center in Buchanan, VA, to be bred with the Straight Egyptian stallion RA Nocturne. However, after a full breeding season, she did not conceive. The reproductive veterinarian explained that as an older “maiden mare” (a mare who has not yet had a foal), Queenie would likely face challenges carrying a pregnancy to term. The recommendation was to pursue a specialized process called Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) the following season.

In 2024, our commitment was put to the test. Queenie traveled to Select Breeder Services in Chesapeake City, MD, to undergo the advanced procedures necessary to retrieve oocytes for the ICSI process. After two unsuccessful attempts with the initial sire, we knew we had to pivot.

A new hope emerged in the form of Atum, a stunning Straight Egyptian black stallion from Bear Creek Ranch in Lockhart, TX. We selected him as the new sire for Queenie’s foal. The meticulous process resulted in the creation of two viable embryos. In the end, one of these embryos was successfully transferred to a surrogate mare, finally putting us on the path to welcoming the next generation of Saynuk Family Stables.

Even as we navigated the ICSI process for Queenie, our discussions with RA Nocturne’s owners about the unused stud fee opened an unexpected door. The opportunity arose to acquire ABH Khurrem Al Abhar, a striking 2019 Straight Egyptian chestnut mare already known by her barn name, Roxy. We purchased her and successfully bred her to RA Nocturne. Roxy arrived at our farm in October 2024, and by November, we received the wonderful news that she was in foal.

The following year was filled with anticipation. In June 2025, Tulip—the gentle 15.3-hand Thoroughbred mare carrying Queenie’s precious foal—arrived at our property to settle in for her foaling watch.

A historic moment for Saynuk Family Stables arrived in the early morning hours of July 17, 2025. Tulip, despite being a maiden mare herself, had a remarkably quick and easy delivery, giving birth to a healthy, stunning black Arabian filly. This first foal, born from our perseverance with Queenie, was officially registered as SEA Obsidian Ice, and she quickly captured our hearts as “Nova.”

Just over a month later, on August 19, 2025, Roxy gave birth to our second foal. The handsome Straight Egyptian colt arrived early after a difficult 317-day gestation. We named him Jazz, but his fight was far from over. He tragically fell ill and passed away in October 2025, before we had the chance to officially register him. Though his time with us was heartbreakingly brief, his memory remains a poignant part of our journey.

The year 2026 marked a new chapter of growth and activity for Saynuk Family Stables. Our homebred filly, Nova, alongside her aunt Roxy, began their professional training at Emmanuel Equine. While Roxy had received foundational saddle work during her stay at Amethyst Acres, this next phase was designed to build upon that training and fully prepare her for a career under saddle. In parallel with their schooling, both mares embarked on their show careers, successfully competing in in-hand halter classes throughout the 2026 Virginia show season.

While Nova and Roxy were making their debut in the show ring, we were busy planning for the future of our breeding program. We entered into negotiations with Bear Creek Ranch for another breeding to the magnificent stallion, Atum. This led to an exciting new partnership.

Bear Creek bred Atum to their proven 2016 Straight Egyptian black mare, Sawdah. A veteran broodmare with two exceptional colts to her name, Sawdah was confirmed to be carrying a 2027 foal for our program. Once she was safely cleared for travel, we transported her (affectionately known as Dolly) to our facility to monitor the remainder of her pregnancy. According to our agreement, Dolly will be a cherished guest at our farm until her foal is born and weaned, at which point she will return home to Bear Creek.

Our story is always unfolding. We invite you to follow along with the daily activities, training progress, and future foals of Saynuk Family Stables. Keep up with our journey on our official website and join our community on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.