The first chapter of Imperial Mistilll's story was set at Ansata Arabians. In the mid 1960s, Don and Judith Forbis leased a number of mares from Henry Babson, including Imperial Mistilll's great grandam Fa-Habba (Fadl x Bint Bint Sabbah). The Babson mares were selected for breeding to the up-and-coming stallion, Ansata Ibn Halima - and in 1965 Fa-Habba produced Ibn Halima's first filly: a captivating beauty Mrs. Forbis named Falima, combining the names of Fa-Habba and Ibn Halima. The bay Falima founded the famous Nile dynasty at Ansata and her few daughters became valuable broodmares.

One of those priceless daughters, Ansata Nile Mist (Ansata Ibn Sudan x Falima) was chosen as a foundation mare by Doug and Barbara Griffith for their Imperial Egyptian Stud in Maryland. She produced internationally acclaimed horses like Imperial Madaar (by Imperial Madheen), an Australian National Champion Stallion and sire of champions. But her most notable contribution to the family was her daughter Imperial Mistilll, sired by the German import Jamil (or Jamilll, his registered name in the US). "Mistilll had all the physical attributes we looke for in a mare - beauty and conformation - plus the personality traits (a loving nature and a keen interest in interaction with people) that we considered essential," said her owner Barbara Griffith. "A very refined mare, Mistilll had the typical 'Jamilll eyes' and beautiful symmetry." She always had symmetry. And beauty. Some Arabian horses just always look good. All their lives. No awkward stages. No periods of see-saw growth. No times of doubt in their owners' minds about their worth. Just always beautiful. Imperial Mistilll was one of those horses. And she never looked better than heavy in foal. "Most people were first attracted to her exotic looks," says Barbara Griffith. "But once they got to knew her, it was her personality that captivated them."

Imperial Saahoura (Ibn Safinaz x Mistilll) won the Reserve Supreme Champion Mare title at the Egyptian Event in 1991

Imperial Mistilll was one of the premier broodmares at Imperial Egyptian Stud. She always has kept good company in the breeding shed and was bred to some of the finest Egyptian stallions. First came her Ibn Safinaz foals, in what appears to be a never-fail nick. "Mistilll's first foal - Imperial Saahoura - was born in 1989 and looked awfully good," Barabra Griffith remembers. It was an appropriate beginning: At the tender age of two years the sweet little lady won the Reserve Supreme Champion Mare title at the Egyptian Event! The year before the show she was purchased at the Pyramid Society Yearling Filly Sale by the owners of Montebello Farms in Canada for $ 50,000. She was entered in the "Filly Fantasia" (where the Sales horses were judged) and won it. The result was a check of $ 40,000 for her new owners - a real bargain! Imperial Saahoura has the look and elegance of her sire. She has size and type, and is lovely to look at from any angle. Her full sister Imperial Dakilah was also sold to Montebello and both mares have produced very promising get. Their dam would be proud.

Photo: Judith Wagner

Imperial Saturn won championships in performance classes as well as in halter

 
Photo: Carol Maginn

Imperial Safillla (Ibn Safinaz x Imperial Mistilll)

Imperial Safillla was foaled in January 1992 - another grey filly of the Ibn Safinaz-Mistilll design. Before being retired to the Imperial broodmare band, she made her mark in the show world as a halter champion at the Egyptian Event, at Class A and Regional shows. Her first foals are special and show promise that they will live up to their heritage of beauty and class. Safillla is now proudly owned by Anne-Louise Toner of Al Atiq Arabians in Germantown, MD.

 
Photo: Victor Steel

MB Mistaz (Ibn Safinaz x Mistilll) is a far more exotic version of his sire

A grey colt, MB Mistaz (by Ibn Safinaz) foaled in 1993, was next for Mistilll. Barbara Griffith remembers: "We already had his three full sisters and one full brother, all of them of the finest quality. We knew: this is going to be an absolute superstar!" By this time the Mistilll offspring were hot items on the market, and MB Mistaz was snapped up at the age of nine months - again by the owners of Montebello. Championships run in the family, so it came as a little surprise that MB Mistaz won several Class A shows as a youngster. He was frequently seen at the Egyptian Event and won the Reserve Junior Champion Colt title there in 1994. But when he turned three the National Show was calling. Imperial Saturn had started the trend in 1994 and MB Mistaz followed on the path of success. Imperial's former manager and trainer Eileen Verdieck, who has worked with MB Mistaz all his life, led him to his 1996 U.S. National Futurity Top Ten. The smooth carriage, faultless legs, and powerful action are hallmark traits of MB Mistaz. A long neck, level topline, an excellent well laid-back shoulder, and a beautiful head characterize this stallion. Like his full siblings, MB Mistaz has matured slowly and now - as a mature stallion - he looks like a million dollars. So refined, so handsome that he attracts mare owners from all over the country. He is now owned by Melissa Huprich.

Photo: Ferrara

In 1993 Barbara Griffith made a decision. It was time to give her stallion Imperial Al Kamar (El Hilal x Imperial Sonbesjul) a chance. The pedigree and type of "Mr Prepotent" (as Imperial Al Kamar is known for his many admirers) and Mistilll harmonized and they produced a charismatic colt named Imperial Kamilll. He is the fourth generation of Imperial breeding and he is everything Barabra Griffith has planned and hoped for as the logial "next step" in the Imperial breeding program. "This stallion embodies the best characteristics from both sides of his pedigree," she says. But enough about pedigree and conformation! What matters most is a horse's disposition. No problems with Kamilll: You can ride him bareback and just cruise around. "He's a wonderfully sweet horse," Barbara says. "Just gorgeous!" Imperial Kamilll hit the show trail much in the manner of his siblings. As a three-year-old he debuted at the New Jersey HAHA Show and Steve Dady showed him to Champion Stallion. Just a few months later he was made East Coast Champion Stallion - by unanimous decision! What gave him the championships? In my opinion, his abundance of type. Plus his incredible balance, a quality in which he excels. Walk around him. Stand back and capture his silhouette or watch him walking on the rail. He just makes your eyes feel good. And add his huge doe-like eyes for a championship look. The next move for Kamilll and Steve was the U.S. National Futurity. "Kamilll has a heart as big as he is," Steve Daday says. "He'll show all day and all night for you. He's very kind, but very fiery, and enjoys the show arena." But it was not meant to be. An untimely injury prevented Kamilll from being presented in the finals of the U.S. National Futurity Colt Class. He was, however, first on all four judges' cards in the qualifying class! Today Imperial Kamilll is owned by Donald Duke of Great Britain and was seen successfully in the European showring (Paris, Malvern). His first "European" foals have arrived and tehy are everything Kamilll's owner has hoped for.

 
Photo: Scott Trees

Imperial Misterin (Say Amen x Imperial Mistilll)

The pretty gelding Imperial Mistaal (PVA Kariim x Imperial Mistilll)

Mistilll's last significant foals were both sired by Imperial Baarez. Her daughter, Imperial Baarillla, became a wonderful broodmare for Imperial who gave birth to two fillies by Imperial Al Kamar. After Imperial Egyptian Stud closed its doors in 2007, Baarillla was sold to "El Farida Stud" in Egypt. Her new owners sent her to Europe where Baarilla was named Senior Champion Mare of the Italian Egyptian Event in 2007.

 
Photo: Joanna Jonientzl

Imperial Baarillla (Imperial Baarez x Mistilll)

Imperial Baarillla's fullbrother was born on June 2, 2002. A bay stallion as beautiful and elegant as his siblings. Some say he is Mistilll's masterpiece and her most refined son. His name: Imperial Mistaar. His destiny? Who knows - but chances are that one day we will see him at the Nationals. Just as his three older brothers. Meanwhile he is busy in the breeding barn - some breeders sent him their best mares already. Owned by the Imperial Mistaar Partnership LLC, this classically beautiful stallion is standing at Omni Arabians in Pennsylvania.

Photo: Suzanne Sturgill

The crown prince, Imperial Mistaar (Imperial Baarez x Imperial Mistilll)

To her breeder and owner Barbara Griffith, Imperial Mistilll was the ultimate producer - one who delivered excellent foals year after year. She kept the flame of the famous Nile family alive.
Her name in a pedigree immediately suggests beauty and type. In the breeding barn, she almost always settled with one breeding, and foaled easily. "She was absolutely beautiful," Barbara Griffith said. "And beeing in foal seemed to make her even more beautiful. That's what she was best at - being a superb broodmare."

Sadly, Imperial Mistill passed away in December 2005

Daniel Hölzel