Jewell Cantrell bred horses since the mid-1940’s. At a show in Sacramento in 1966 she first met Ben Rabba, and knew at once she was looking at a horse she would never forget. “He was a very tall, lanky colt with a long and beautiful neck set on high and with a most gorgeous head.” It was only two years later when she again crossed paths with Ben Rabba and his owner Ed Hubbert  at a show in Watsonville, California. Remembering this encounter, Jewell wrote “At the noon break there was a presentation of the stallion AURAB, who indeed was a magnificent animal and who just happened to be the sire of that beautiful colt I had seen at the show two years before.  Following the presentation of Aurab there was a parade of broodmares with foals at side. In front leading the parade of mares and foals was the young stallion Ben Rabba himself, who was the sire of all these foals. I could not believe my eyes because in this group of mares was every imaginable type from Walking Horse to pinto and Morgan, as well as Arabian, and the foals were absolutely the most beautiful creatures I had ever seen. They were big bold, beautiful, and typy foals out of some unattractive mares.” Because of Jewell’s love of Ben Rabba, Ed bequeathed her this beautiful stallion when he passed away. Ben Rabba lived out the rest of his years being cared for by Jewell.