When Hallany Mistanny was 18 years old, in 1956, McGowan developed a heart condition. One night, so the story goes, Marks received a phone call. "If you want Hallany Mistanny, come tonight." Marks wasted no time hitching up a trailer.
In Marks hands Hallany Mistanny took California by storm. Everyone was simply in awe of his world-class type, his wonderful disposition, and his outstanding athletic ability. Marks stood Hallany Mistanny at stud, and once the foals started to arrive everyone was even more impressed. Out of the most mediocre mares the foals were good; out of good mares the foals were superior. Hallany Mistanny's sons and daughters literally dominated the show ring through thru 60's and into the 70's. He sired six national halter and English pleasure champions. Thirteen Hallany Mistanny daughters and five sons produced national winners, too. One of the greatest show horses of all time was the Hallany Mistanny daughter Habina++. As a three-year old she was a Nationals Top Ten mare in 1960, a title she would win a second time, then Canadian National Champion Mare in 1966. Habina++ produced thirteen foals, five of her foals collected a total of 20 national titles.
Another measure of Hallany Mistanny's influence; Only 12 Arabians have ever been inducted into the Arabian Horse Trust Hall of Fame; one is Hallany Mistanny's dam, *Roda, and another is his daughter, Habina++.
Hallany Mistanny's Get and Grandget
Starting at 18 years of age through the last year of his life at age 28, Hallany Mistanny sired 151 registered progeny 26 ( 7 stallions 19 Mares ) of whom were Al Khamsa. Nine of the 26 left no progeny, 17 horses ( 4 stallions 13 mares ) were to carry on his legacy. He sired his first registered Al Khamsa offspring when he was 19 years old.
Two additional breeders, Lois Kinney, and Paula Fatjo, also sought to perpetuate the blood of Hallany Mistanny. Kinney was the breeder of the most productive Hallany Mistanny son, Mista Bin, and of Mista Bin's daughter Mistara. Fatjo bred the Hallany Mistanny daughter, San Luis Bint Dorzah, to Kinney's Mista Bin and produced the double Hallany Mistanny grandson San Luis Marc Antony. San Luis Marc Antony would become the popular herd sire at Ruby and Darrell Perdue's Rudalaro Arabian Ranch and founder of their famous *Zarife, *Roda, *Hamida family.
Although there are many living horses who carry Hallany Mistanny blood, those carrying high percentages are few. For example, Hallany Mistanny grandson San Luis Marc Antony and granddaughter Mistara had a total of 95 grandget with only 37 who carried more than 20% Hallany Mistanny blood.
San Luis Marc Antony's son, Ru Marab, became the heir apparent. He produced 21 foals, 20 of whom carried more than 20% Hallany Mistanny blood. Since Marab himself was 25% this was quite a feat and due to the Perdue's breeding program. Most of these 20 horses have continued on in producing higher percentage offspring and there are now 70 descendants of Marab containing more than 20% Hallany Mistanny blood.
Hallany's Dahmah and HMR Roda
Hallany's Dahmah, and HMR Roda granddaughter of Hallany Mistanny, deserve special mention. Hallany's Dahmah is the only representative of Hallany Mistanny's son Mistlany, (through Zarlan and his daughter Zahlya ) who carries a high percentage (31.25%) of Hallany Mistanny's blood today. She is the last surviving San Luis Marc Antony offspring and she is still in production. There is something about Hallany's Dahmah: Once people have met her, they never forget her. Certainly she has produced well, and her family is recognized as being exceptionally beautiful, but it is more than that. I have come to believe that it is the quiet force of her personality, indefinable charisma.
Howard Marks considered HMR Roda and her full sister HMR Dorzah Talal to be the type of Arabian he was striving to breed. Roda was his favorite for riding. At about 15.2 hands she was a big mare but possessed all the elegance associated with this family.
Babson Brown Breeding
There exists a Hallany Mistanny straight Egyptian family that is so endangered few may even know of it the family of Hallany Mistanny's great granddaughter Masada Saafaana. Saafaana did not produce a replacement until she was 15 years old in 1990. Currently there are only 12 members in this little family. The numbers are indeed few but considering that Masada Saafaana was the last of her line only nine years ago and that her first two replacement daughters met untimely deaths, this family is making a tremendous come back.
Howard Marks regretted that he did not breed more straight Egyptian mares to Hallany Mistanny. But there were not that many straight Egyptian mares in the U.S. in the mid-to-late 50's and most were at the Babson farm in Illinois. The Babson farm tried to lease Hallany Mistanny, as did the Otts; that deal, too was not to be. Ironically it was left up to a non-breeder, or even a non-horse person, David Ensign, to save Hallany Mistanny for straight Egyptians. Ensign went to the Babson farm to purchase a riding horse. He came away with the green, unbroken Fa Aana. At the urging of the Otts he sent her to be bred to Hallany Mistanny. Fa Aana thus produced her daughter Mist Aana, the only straight Egyptian line to Hallany Mistanny today. Babson breeder Walter Schimanski leased Mist Aana from David Ensgin and bred her to Saafaddan, producing the filly Masada Saafaana
Conclusion
Marks called Hallany Mistanny "His Majesty" and certainly he held court as no stallion before him. Marks was an advocate of the pure Arabian and thought the Blue Movement was "the greatest thing ever." He owned other renowned Arabians, too, including  the great Gulastra. But Hallany Mistanny was his all time favorite. If you look at Hallany Mistanny's life in historical perspective it seems almost miraculous that he left any descendants at all. From near obscurity as an aging stallion, he rose to the pinnacle of his breed. He gave us some of the most beautiful and athletic horses the world has ever seen.