Davenport horses can be easily divided into several different but related breeding groups by AHR registrations. Some groups are strain-related, such as Kuhaylan-Haifi, Saqlawi-al 'Abd, Kuhaylan-Kurush. Others are based on relationship to some key animal, such as Ceres, Dharebah, Dhalana, Antan, Maedae or Asara. As Davenport breeding progresses, new breeding groups develop. Some older ones contribute and some drop out.

        As far as we know at Craver Farms, all breeding groups of Davenport horses can be bred together successfully. We tend to classify our horses in separate breeding groups. Each mare is usually bred within her own group. We think this gives individual mares enhanced opportunities to make their best contributions to Davenport breeding. Some mares fit into more than one breeding group and so may have progeny in more than one group.

        Historically, some of the best Davenport horses represent crosses between the major breeding groups. One of the benefits of having separate but related breeding groups of Davenport horses is that it gives the continuing option of crossing between groups.

        Each Davenport breeding group is fine for what it is and tends to have its own distinguishing characteristics which seem to become more consistent and attractive with successive generations. We enjoy the variety which expresses itself in the different breeding units of beautiful horses.

        In Davenport breeding, the Kuhaylan strain tends to produce individuals which are balanced, athletic, muscular, of intermediately high head cariage and with powerful rear quarter structure. The bulge of the forehead tends to be placed high on the facial profile, mostly above the eyes. Frequent features of Davenport Kuhaylans are fine skin, large eyes, a sensitive and noble nature, and a gleam of coat having a mother-of-pearl cast in greys and a metallic sheen in bays and chestnuts.

        Where Kuhaylan influence is concentrated by systematic breeding, there is a tendency for accentuated Kuhaylan type to result. The features of refinement, fine coat and "classic" appearance are increasingly expressed on a muscular and compact Kuhaylan frame

        The Haifi substrain of the Kuhaylat was one of the premium bloodlines of desert Arabia. We are fortunate that it is strongly represented in living Davenports, both as a frequent element throughout pedigrees and as a major tail-female family descending from the mare *Reshan 38 of the 1906 importation. *Reshan was the dam of Hasiker 268 by *Hamrah 28. Hasiker's bay daughter Antarah 834, by Antez 448, was the dam of five major animals upon which modern Davenport breeding -- except for a few Saqlawis -- is based. These were El Alamein, Dharantez, Dharanah, Dharebah and Tara. To these were added three daughters of Dharanah: Dhalana and Saranah, both by Salan(Antez/Fasal), and Dhanad by Hanad (*Deyr/Sankirah).

        Horses who have the added presence of the Kuhaylah-Kurush foundation mare, *Werdi, are included in the Kuhaylan-Haifi section with the additional bloodline noted. Horses of the Kuhaylan-Haifi strain but in either the non-Tripoli or non-Fasal sub-groups are shown separately and identified as belonging to these sub-groups of their primary Kuhaylan-Haifi strain and substrain.

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