[Featured Equine] Khemosabi

Name:	Khemosabi++++
Breed:	Arabian
Date of Birth:	May 9, 1967
Place of Birth:	Salem, Oregon
Sire X Dam:	Amerigo X Jurneeka
Current Barn:	Rancho Valle Del Sol, California

On a warm May night in Salem, Oregon in 1967, people gathered in a one and a half-acre backyard and witnessed a miracle. No one knew it at the time, but they were witnessing the birth of one of the all-time greatest Arabians of the world. His name, Khemosabi; His life, extraordinary.

Khemosabi was actually a last change foal. Trainer Jeff Wonnell had brought several horses to a Salem horse show. Among them were Amerigo, a striking gray stallion, and Jurneeka, a 1964 champion at both English and western pleasure. Jurneeka had been bred to Amerigo the spring before and was assumed to be in foal. To the dismay of Wonnell, she began to show signs of being in season. After the classes were over Wonnell made one last effort for a 1967 Amerigo foal. He took the two horses to the only desolate place, the fairgrounds' racetrack, where the breeding took place. Eleven months later, a wonder of the Arabian world was born.

After Khemosabi's birth only one person put faith into him that he would be a champion. This was Jurneeka and Khemosabi's owner, Bert Husband. The only real distinguishing factor about Khemosabi was his personality. He was more inclined to be found nuzzling the humans than being coddled by his mother. For a name the Husbands turned to "The Lone Ranger". Selecting the name Indian Tonto used for his masked name, Khemosabi's name was determined. It is said to mean "faithful friend".

The first few shows were not what the Husbands' expected. Khemosabi's first show was in May 1968 in a conformation class. The Husbands' son Paul took the honors of showing the yearling and came away with a third place finish. That fall, he was shown in another show. This time his owner, Bert Husband, did the honors. Through the whole class Bert and Khemosabi took turns falling all over each other, but they still managed a win. After the show Sheila Varian, a breeder from Varian Arabians located in Arroyo Grande, California, approached the Husbands'. She had been so astounded by the colt that she asked permission to breed one of her mares to him as soon as he turned two. The Husbands' agreed and gradually the agreement came to include "a few more mares".

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