Don’t Miss the All-Nations Cup in Aachen!
Join the best Event for Straight Egyptians in 2025
An Interview with Klaus Beste by Monika Savier
Arabian shows were originally intended as a guide for breeders and customers to better assess the breeding potential of mares and stallions. The connection between different matings and the quality of the offspring was made visible and evaluated at a show. Arabian horse shows were traditionally social events, such as the All-Nations Cup in Aachen, a marketplace, a MUST GO for anyone interested in Arabian horse breeding. After all, no one is so independent of their environment or social network that they could not care what others think of their own horses. We probably agree that nothing in life is fun if it does not also involve the risk of failure. Happiness and success arise from excitement and are an expression of relief at having escaped defeat, bad luck or loss of face. In the past, breeders considered participation in Aachen a recognition in itself, even without winning. They saw the judges’ scores and some of their recommendations as useful information. Today, the show ring is more a place where some earn money directly or indirectly and others say, “Nothing but expenses.” Nevertheless, we need the show ring more than ever. Our digital media world has reached a level of uncontrollable influence that real-life meetings have become irreplaceable for breeders, owners, and their horses. So, we should participate again and bring our horses. But as breeders of Straight Egyptians, we are hoping for a change.
We find it tragic that the personalities of our horses are increasingly being retouched away by panda eyes and clipping. In addition, they are made excessively hot in the pre-ring instead of being given the opportunity to show their movements with pride, nobility, and balance. The “American stand-up” can also go, can’t it?
Yes, we should show our Straight Egyptians in Aachen. We should stand together again around the ring, or even at the comfortable VIP tables, and talk about the state of affairs, about beautiful and less beautiful horses that (should) float past us. And about exceptional horses, whether they really live up to their iconic claim or are an artificial product of the media and their rich origins. We want to know whether it would be possible to tweak this world-famous high-end VZAP event in Aachen in favour of the Straight Egyptians.
That’s why we asked Klaus Beste, a veteran of the All-Nations Cup in Aachen, former managing director of the VZAP, spokesperson and organizer of the event, and himself a breeder of Straight Egyptians.
Savier: Hello Klaus, how did you link the All-Nations Cup for Straight Egyptians with the title show “All Nations Cup”? Is this niche politics or a fully-fledged show?
Beste: With the ever-growing interest in horses that can win shows, a separate breeding and usage direction has developed within purebred Arabian breeding with the aim of winning championship titles at prestigious international A, GCAT, and title shows. To achieve this, successful show horses were bred together. The breeding significance of mare lines and stallion lines has been subordinated to the success of the offspring at shows. Today, in purebred Arabian breeding, we hardly have any horses that are immediately recognizable as representatives of the Polish, Russian, Spanish, English, or Weil-Marbach breeding concepts based on their type, conformation, exterior, and movement dynamics. Instead, we have a subdivision according to intended use – show, performance (racing, endurance) and the Arabian horse as a leisure partner.
The breeders and lovers of Straight Egyptians have largely not gone along with this development towards show Arabs because they are committed to the preservation and promotion of the strains, mare families and stallion lines, and are interested in the cultural and historical development and significance of the breed. Show successes are not the main focus for most breeders of Straight Egyptians. Nevertheless, it is important to present representatives of these bloodlines to an international audience. Aachen offers the best conditions for this. The connection with the All-Nations Cup - Title Show reaches a larger audience than events organized exclusively for Straight Egyptians.
The concept of combining the All-Nations Cup - Straight Egyptians with the AllNations Cup - Title Show made sense and was very well received by the audience. However, the number of starters fell well short of expectations. The task now is to improve and promote the concept.
Savier: The horses in the open classes are characterized by the “Privileged Sire Syndrome,” i.e., champion stallions that have been used extensively and have very similar offspring at shows. The focus of selection seems to be on an extreme head and long neck. The judges are aware of this and are attuned to this look. What happens when they have to judge straight Egyptians, which fortunately still exist in relatively large diversity and do not fit into a single winning pattern?
Beste: The organizers have decided that both All Nations Cups will have their own teams of judges. The judges of the Straight Egyptians are aware that these horses are generally slower maturing than Arabian purebreds that have been bred specifically for shows. They know that Straight Egyptians are not bred according to specific beauty criteria, but rather that nobility, dryness, harmonious conformation, correctness, and dynamic, elastic movement are the main criteria.
Savier: Are the judges briefed in advance with regard to broader and more tolerant scoring, especially with regard to makeup, show presentation, and stand-up?
Beste: In general, the organizers attach great importance to compliance with the ECAHO principles of horse welfare and fair play. All horses and their handlers are inspected and observed by members of the disciplinary committee in the collection ring and as they enter the show arena. The horses enter the show ring at a walk – excessive ‘waking up’ and ‘making them alert’ before the starting point will be penalized.
The All-Nations Cup is known worldwide for being a fair and honest show. This also applies to the All-Nations Cup - Straight Egyptians. It’s not about glitz and glamour, it’s all about the Arabian horse! This is also evident in the connection between the ANC & VZAP tournament and internationally advertised equestrian competitions according to FN and ECAHO guidelines in the disciplines of dressage, jumping, and some western tests.
Savier: What could be particularly motivating for small breeders and trainers to come to Aachen with their horses? What special prizes can the Straight Egyptians win?
Beste: Presenting themselves to a large, enthusiastic, and open-minded audience of experts and lovers of these noble horses is a unique opportunity for the Straight Egyptians to promote themselves and showcase their special characteristics.
The All-Nations Cup - Straight Egyptians also has a Nations Cup ranking for both, horses and exhibitors. In addition to the championships, awards are planned for the most successful participating stud farm, the most successful sire, and the highest-rated mare and stallion in all age groups.
Savier: Are the media sufficiently informed about the Straight Egyptians at the show? After all, the presentation of the horses via live stream and magazines is free advertising for the breeders.
Beste: The organizers have many years of successful cooperation with print media such as Tutto Arabi, Desert Heritage Magazine, Arabian Horse Times Abroad, Arabian Horse Magazine, as well as with social media such as Arabian Essence, Arabian Insider, Gulf Horse, Instagram (allnationscup.official), Facebook, etc. There will also be a live stream. Information is available on the websites www.vzap.org and www.all-nations-cup.org.
Savier: Thank you very much for your initiative in favour of Straight Egyptians in Aachen. We look forward to seeing you there.
August 17, 2025, is the registration deadline for participation in both shows. An extension of the registration deadline for latecomers is planned and will be announced.
Please send registrations to Viola Speier speier@vzap.org or online www.all-nations-cup.org.