New Zealand: The WAHO Trophy

Mary and Chris Tylden with Cyden Sun

WAHO.org

CYDEN SUN Chestnut Stallion, 1982. (Ngapa Joussif / Ngapa Ayda). Breeders and Owners: Mary and Chris Tylden. Strain: Dahman Um Amr of Ibn Hemsi (Dahma, 1876).
The New Zealand Arab Horse Breeders Society Inc. has awarded their 2009 WAHO Trophy to the veteran 27-year old stallion, Cyden Sun. He was bred Mary & Chris Tylden at their Cyden Arabian Stud in Morrinsville in 1982, and is still owned by Cyden Stud, being their senior Stud Sire. He is of ‘Ngapa Arabian Stud’ Colonial Crabbet bloodlines and is by the well known Endurance sire 'Ngapa Joussif' (born 1977, died aged 31 in 2008) who was himself awarded New Zealand’s WAHO Trophy in 2006.

Cyden Sun himself has earned a reputation for siring correct and very athletic, free moving determined progeny with an excellent work ethic and all-round ability for various equine disciplines and in particular Endurance competition, with a "Will to Win". He has definitely helped to lift the overall profile of purebred Arabians in Open competition in NZ with progeny competing in Pony Club events, In-hand at Arabian, A&P and All-breed Shows, under saddle at A&P shows, Open Pony and Hack Championships, Eventing, Dressage, Equine Sports days and especially Endurance competition.

Cyden Sun has a delightful gentle honest personality. He has been a very important part of the Tylden family since his birth and his bloodline is greatly valued at Cyden Arabians. He has always been a very active horse who enjoys keeping himself fit ~ he is very free moving and agile and is still in very good health with no signs of arthritis at all and still fertile at 27 years, with two mares due to foal to him in August 2009. He always enjoys following his owners along the fenceline to check out what they are doing and is interested in anything new happening on the farm, in any visitors to the stud and is always keen to see if there are any "treats" being offered. Sun is a very quiet gentlemanly stallion and always easy to handle, very well mannered and kind with his mares and visiting mares, he runs with his own mares all year round. His herd mares foal with him and he is very protective of them, very kind and good with foals ~ he also enjoys playing with the foals.

He was broken in at 3 years old, then ridden on the 560 acre drystock farm as a working stock horse, a role he really enjoyed and he was a smooth and energetic ride with a very willing "go anywhere" attitude to work. He has always had a natural ability and aptitude for working stock and in particular cattle. Unfortunately his own riding career was limited due to no fault of his own as there were always other youngsters needing to be ridden and exercised and he was usually assigned to Stud duties.