Arabian Horse Magazine | N_2 2017

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WADEE

AL SHAQAB

AL SHAQAB’S NEXT TRHRILLING CHAPTER Written by Sonja Smaldone - Photos by Gigi Grasso

Al Shaqab has been breeding the world’s finest Arabian horses for long enough to have created a dynasty. The Al Shaqab name is synonymous not only with excellence, but also with the expectation that the newest generation will somehow eclipse the near perfection of their forefathers. At the core of its breeding programme is the triad made up of Gazal Al Shaqab, his son Marwan Al Shaqab and Marwan’s son Kahil Al Shaqab and Hariry Al Shaqab and many others, a unique case of generations achieving World Champion titles and international reputation as sires of champions all across the world.

There is a young stallion that has already set out to follow the path traced by his predecessors. His name is Wadee Al Shaqab.

At just seven years of age Wadee Al Shaqab already has an impressive show record. He was Qatar National Gold Champion Colt as

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WADEE AL SHAQAB

AL SHAQAB’S NEXT TRHRILLING CHAPTER

a yearling. As a two-year-old, he was named Al Khalediah Silver Champion, Qatar International Gold Champion, Menton Gold Champion and to crown it all, World Gold Junior Champion 2012 in Paris with Giacomo Capacci. In his first appearance as a senior stallion in 2014, he was named Qatar International Gold Champion Stallion with very tough competition of other World Champion stallions.

Arabian Horse literature is crawling with essays and stories celebrating the mighty Marwan Al Shaqab.

So, it is worth concentrating more on OFW Mishaahl, the mare who made it possible to bring about 4

this living wonder called Wadee.

Bred by Harold and Dolly Orr, OFW Mishaahl was acquired by Al Shaqab Stud from Sheikh Hamad bin Ali Al Thani. At the time, she was only four years old. She was not the most successful show horse nor was she particularly exotic, but, Sheikh Hamad envisioned something special in her. OFW Mishaahl was just an elegant looking and athletic horse. She may not have had the pretty little dished head that is so popular among today’s show crowds but she had the fundamentals to be an exceptional producer, proving that a great breeding mare does not necessarily have to be a show

champion herself. After all, her pedigree looks outstanding. Sired by the imposing Canadian National Futurity Champion and U.S. National Top Ten Stallion Mishaah and out of the black OFW Balarina

by RSD Dark Victory, OFW Mishaahl boasts six crosses to the legendary Bask, she was a double greatgranddaughter of Bey Shah and has additional lines to such great horses like Khemosabi, Bandos, Serafix and Naborr. Of these, Bask, Bey Shah and Naborr also feature in Marwan al Shaqab’s pedigree.

We had recently the chance to ask famous handler Giacomo Capacci what are his thoughts about Wadee since their ‘strong

and exceptional friendship’ is not secret to anyone in the sector!

Giacomo remembers well the time when Michael Byatt informed him that another exceptional foal from Marwan and Mishaahl was born in America; as well the staff at MBA was excited about this fancy super refined colt. No need to mention Giacomo was very anxious and looking much forward for Wadee›s Al Shaqab arrival in Italy. For Giacomo, Wadee is a very special animal:” He is very fun to train and work with”, he says; shows and winnings went past but their relationship grew strongly until an unexpected health issue occurred.

Wadee had to go through a life 5

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“Refinement, Elegance and show attitude...”

risking surgery, it happened around Christmas time and doctors were not so positive about it. That period they spent it at the clinic every day, hoping and praying that he would be fine, and he did came out fine! It was decided to give him complete rest after such a serious surgery and let him grow into the beautiful stallion that he is today. In the meantime, some of his brothers by Marwan Al Shaqab were shown and became World Champion stallions.

Wadee’s career as a sire started then and from his babies, Giacomo argues, one can see that he is very consistent in many of the aspects that he represents: Refinement, Elegance and show attitude; additional features that he often passes are: his short head, small ears and his incredible shoulder.

They already could see last year his winning offspring in the show ring and this year there will be 8

even more competing on the world stage. Together with Al Shaqab and

Sheik Hamad, Giacomo Capacci and his wonderful Team are very excited to show Wadee Al Shaqab once more to the public starting from Menton 2017! The time has come for this stallion to write the next awe-inspiring chapter in the unending Al Shaqab Stud’s legend…

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ear Breeders and Friends of the Arabian horse, Welcome to our traditional rendezvous with Arabian Horse Magazine. At the height of the breeding and show season, breeders from all over the world are having the chance to present their horses to international spectators and to receive decorations. We would like to cast a spell on the charisma, the beauty and the nobility of today’s best representatives of the most beautiful horse breed worldwide: Shael Dream Desert, Excalibur EA, Wadee Al Shaqab, Fuerte, Emerald J., and Muranas Jassher. Just to mention a few of them. These rare Arabian specimens are simply wowing the international audiences with their stunning performances.

The Menton issue comes out is in a very interesting and vivacious part of the year.

The numbers of entries with the plethora of horse events in Europe, the U.A.E., Qatar, and U.S.A. have exceeded all expectations in 2017. There has been a big number of members of the world Arabian community, whether breeders, handlers, trainers, amateur, open riders or just loyal visitors, moving around the globe to join in the most popular shows of the season: the 25th Qatar International Arabian Horse Show, the International Arabian Horses Championship in Dubai, the 11th Annual Arabian Breeders World Cup Show in Las Vegas, the Wels Arabian Horse International B Show.

So far, Arabian Horse Magazine crew has not missed one single date on the “Al Shaqab-Italian Show Tour 2017”. We flew to Palermo, Milan and Pietrasanta. Having so many

breeders participating actively in the shows is a very positive development for our Magazine as well as for the whole international Arabian horse community whose members are having ever-growing opportunities to meet each other, exchange ideas, and gain valuable insights for their breeding program. In the context of an increasingly globalised world, this support is also helping us advancing with our review on the international scene. Our greeting applies to all of you, who remained loyal to our magazine and to the horses and who, even in hard times, spare no pains to invest time, money and enthusiasm to be prepared to meet in the various fair contests.

Our special thank applies to the judges, the organizing teams and the many assistants.

Thank you so much to all the sponsors; due to their generosity t h e s e wonderful and dignified s h o w s are made possible at all.

Beauty and performance should not be mutually exclusive. The Arabian horse is sensitive, powerful and noble; may it find an equivalent rider. For 2017, we do hope for a harmonically togetherness and would like to wish the exhibitors good success, all visitors interesting and long lasting impressions and deeply hope that you will enjoy the noble Arabian horses! Let us forget about the sometimes unnecessary quarrels of our everyday life.

May the beauty and the charisma, the nobility and the special flair that comes from this most beautiful horse breed of the world cast a spell on all of us!

CONTACT FOR ITALY Gianluca Martino - Publisher/ Public relations/ Art Director Ph: +39 335 82 62 907 - email: info@arabianhorsemagazine.it CONTACT FOR EUROPE, US, MIDDLE EAST NOEMIE ZELLER - Publisher/ Public relations/ Photographer Ph: +41 764 12 00 93 - email: noemie_zeller@hotmail.com 26

INDEX

Cover: Wadee Al Shaqab Owner: Al Shaqab Stud N_2 2017 Editor/Publisher/Art Director GIANLUCA MARTINO Publisher/Public relations NOËMIE ZELLER Photographer/Graphic Designer GREGOR AYMAR Journalists SONJA SMALDONE DOMENICO TOCCHI NAKASHEN VALAITHAM SAMANTHA MATTOCKS Graphic Designer NAZARIO BIZZOCO Official Photographers JOELLE MÜLLER ANTONIO CARACCIOLO NOËMIE ZELLER Translations SONJA SMALDONE Account GIANLUCA MARTINO NOEMIE ZELLER DEBORA MARTINO Special Collaborators ANTONIO DE MARTINO IGNAZIO MANCINI Print

BACKGROUND MEDIA - SALERNO CGM INDUSTRIA LITOGRAFICA

Wadee Al Shaqab..................................................................

Dubai Arabian Horse Stud.................................................

Excalibur EA.........................................................................

Dubai Arabian Horse Stud - Open Day............................

QR Marc................................................................................

Albydayer Stud.....................................................................

Fontanella Magic Arabians.................................................

Emerald J...............................................................................

Fuerte.....................................................................................

Shael Dream Desert.............................................................

Qatar International Show....................................................

Riding Couple - Elisa Grassi & Frank Spönle..................

The Arabian Horse in Spain................................................

Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship........

Dubai Arabian Horse Stud - 10 years together.................

Al Zobair Stud - Open Day.................................................

Handler Interview - Bernat Tolra......................................

Al Khor Stud.........................................................................

Elegantica Training Center..................................................

Palermo Cup.........................................................................

Muranas Jassehr....................................................................

Las Vegas Arabian Breeders World Cup...........................

Milan Cup.............................................................................

L’arte del Cavallo Show - Marina di Pietrasanta..............

Breeder Interview - Dana Al-Meslemani..........................

A New Judge Generation.....................................................

Lebanese National Arabian Horse Show...........................

Asil & Straight Egyptian......................................................

Safeer......................................................................................

Riding Model........................................................................

Wels International Show.....................................................

RFI Farid................................................................................

Albaydaa Stud.......................................................................

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Adv/Redaction ARABIAN VIBE mobile: +39 335 8262907 info@arabianhorsemagazine.it www.arabianhorsemagazine.it N. 406/016 - N. 1844/16 Direttore Responsabile: Oreste Mottola Iscritto al Registro della Stampa Periodica presso il Tribunale di Salerno il 15/12/2003 al numero 1158 Edito da: vibe arabians via irno 175, - 84133 Salerno iscritta al tribunale di salerno in data 18/02/2016

Arabian Horse Magazine non risponde della veridicità e dei contenuti dei testi pubblicitari.

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Written by Sonja Smaldone - Photos by Nawaf Al Johani, Gregor Aymar

n ancient legend narrates that Excalibur was the magical sword of King Arthur associated with the rightful sovereign. The magic of the Sword is still alive today in different ways.

It has conquered the desert in form of the shimmering white stallion named Excalibur EA. Owned by Princess Laetitia d’Arenberg, Excalibur EA has accomplished the great goal of becoming the European Triple Crown Champion 2014, winning the Aachen Championship, the European Championship and the

Paris World Championship. His father, SHANGHAI EA won several international awards and he almost achieved the same glorious goal of a Triple Crown. In 2011 he won the silver in Paris and he repeated the second place in 2013 in Aachen and in Paris.

The same year he conquered the Gold Medal at the European Championships. However, that was not enough to win the Triple Crown and we all had to wait 2014 to admire E x c a l i b u r ’s triple victory.

E x c a l i b u r ’s dam line makes of this horse an extraordinary rare specimen.

SHANGHAI EA 2008 (WH JUSTICE * SALYMAH EA)

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While his type and charisma are clearly marks of WH Justice’s influence, his mother ESSENCE OF MARWAN has given Excalibur EA his athletic body, his almost perfect legs and a really unique movement, making of him an extraordinarily well balanced and astoundingly captivating horse.

Essence of Marwan is a chestnut daughter of the legendary Marwan Al Shaqab out of Elizja

by Esta-Ghalil, infusing the pedigree with more Polish and Spanish influence. Excalibur EA made his debut at the Sharjah Arabian Show, achieving the second place in his class. In the United States, he conquered the US National Champion Yearling Colt Title. For a long time Olivia Strauch, the manager of Las Rosas Arabians in Uruguay, the farm owned by Princess Laetitia d’ Arenberg, had been searching for a breeding horse to increase the stud’s quality. Since Excalibur EA had won the US National they have been following his path. In 2013, a week before the Scottsdale show, Princess Laetitia and her farm manager Olivia

ESSENCE OF MARWAN E.A. (MARWAN AL SHAQAB* ELIZJA)

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Strauch arranged a visit to the Ted Carson’s Butler Farm Stalls at the Scottsdale show grounds in the USA where Excalibur was being trained. The young stallion revealed himself at his best, leaving the visitors simply daunted.

Princess Laetitia and Olivia already imagined a future with Excalibur EA at the farm in Uruguay and decided to buy him before the show. Excalibur against strong contenders was named Scottsdale International Arabian Breeders Classic Two Year Old Champion Colt, giving the first great satisfaction to Las Rosas Arabians.

Just two months after Excalibur competed in Las Vegas for Uruguay and confirmed his supremacy. He was named Silver Supreme Junior Stallion indeed.

Princess Laetitia and her manager have perfectly planned and orchestrated Excalibur’s career.

After a demanding show season the young stallion finally went back to Uruguay where he relaxed and began to breed the mares of his own new Stud. In the first year Excalibur bred 24 mares giving impressive results: the new born foals were all strong in type, movement and charisma.

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Excalibur met the European reality for the first time at Menton 2014 Show, where the competition level was very high: there he was third in class. After that first appearance the horse began his incredible show season winning the Gold at

Strohen, the Gold at West Coast and the Gold in Aachen. Nobody will forget the exceptional score of 95.33 gained in Aachen, the highest score ever given in an Ecaho show ever. His successful year went on with a Gold Medal at

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the European Championships concluding with the title of World Champion in Paris.

Excalibur EA has continued his global success story and achieved the 2017 Abu Dhabi International Unanimous Gold Champion Senior Stallion title and just one month later he was Gold Champion Stallion at the 2017 Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship. The fame of this World Champion will last forever in the Arabian horse history and the myth of Excalibur EA will always live through his offspring, in particular, the handsome grey colt EXXALT born in 2014 (out of the bay mare Vesperra by SF Veraz) and owned by the Exxalt Partnership U.S. and the amazing

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EXXALT (EXCALIBUR EA x VESPERRA)

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ALEXXANDERR (EXCALIBUR EA x AR MOST IRRESISTIBLE)

grey colt ALEXXANDER born in 2014 (out of the refined grey mare AR Most Irresistible

by ML Mostly Padron) and owned by Alsayed Stud in Saudi Arabia. These two horses are exceptional on their own and have already proved to be great champions and worthy successors of their fabulous sire. Excalibur EA has recently made his return to Europe. He is now standing at Paolo Capecci’s Training Center and, exactly with Paolo, he will be competing on the 2017 edition of the show in Menton. Moreover, Mr. Woody Gubbiotti will be dealing with the stallion’s promotion while Mrs. Susy Gruschler will be taking care of him supporting Excalibur in all his daily activities.

A few ending lines to give right honor to the owner of this magnificent Arabian specimen: Mr. Bassam Al Saqran Stud of Al Saqran Stud.

Bassam is before anything a man of passion.

Among his horses at Al Saqran Stud he has no favorites. Just like a father who is not able to give preferential treatment to any of his children, so isn’t Bassam with his horses. He loves them all with the same intensity, but, time, we think, has come for Mr. Bessam to have a special thought about Excalibur EA competing on the much-awaited show in Menton!

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MARCH 27TH, 2017 WRITTEN BY GIANLUCA MARTINO & SONJA SMALDONE

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ast March we were delighted to see up close some of the most beautiful Arabian horses in the world at the stunning Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Dubai Stud 10th annual Open Day that was held straight after the 2017 Dubai International Championships. Appointment scheduled at 8:00 am for all attendants, breeders, judges, handlers, groomers, insiders or simply visitors at the ‘Novo Hotel Trade Center’ in Dubai where the majority of the people of the show had been comfortably accommodated for the stay.

Three buses were waiting for us; many other guests got there by

photos by Joelle Müller

car, taxi, planes etc..We left at 8.15 am. Place of destination: Dubai Arabian Horse Stud!

For many years now, Dubai Stud has been best known for being home to a group of incredible stallions and top class mares to date. Eventually, we got to the Stables. Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by General Manager Eng. Mr. Mohammed Al Tawheedi and Executive Manager Mr. Abdelaziz Al Marzooqi who kindly invited us to have a ceremonial breakfast with them. They put great effort to make this day an exceptionally successful event. When all guests had finally showed up, it was time to tie the shoes and make our way to the presentation area. The entrance to the arena and the commentator side were overcrowded. As those equine giants made their way into the arena, the sounds of Arabian music sounded out, heralding the start of this year’s Dubai Stud’s Open day. The Show was opened by the mares with their respective foals; a ‘real treat’ for

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all spectators but also a unique anticipation of the most promising foals produced at Dubai Stud. For sure, we will be seeing many of these foals in the show-ring in the coming years. This year the focus was especially on the new production by the stallion FA EL

and breeder Joel Desmarteau who was also at the event. Elle Flamenca is a great example of Dubai Stud’s breeding programme and it will be interesting to watch her improve the Farm next generations. And for sure, there appeared the Queen of the stud, the

Rasheem, (Fa El Shawan x Virtuosa MLR) the unbeatable champion producer on the Farm.

After this lovely groups – and we just wished we had more time to admire them - we saw parading the exquisite mare Elle Flamenca (AJMAN MONISCIONE x ALLAMARA MA), current Bronze Champion at the 2017

wonderful grey mare Ft Shaella (Shael Dream Desert x Soul Pretty) who seduced everyone with her beautiful feminine attitude. Her daughter, D Shahla (Marajj x Ft Shaella) has already won several titles besides the Gold Champion award at the Dubai International A Show 2014 and, in 2015, World Gold

DUBAI International Championship. She is a gleaming chestnut mare, very showy with a lovely dished head and cute muzzle. She gave a stunning performance of beauty and class under the enchanted gaze of ex-owner

Champion Junior Filly in Paris. She has the same beautiful attitude as her mother. Later in the afternoon, other wonderful young horses from different top producing stallions and mares were presented at the event.

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FA EL RASHEEM

FA EL SHAWAN X VIRTUOSA MLR

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Colt Foal (FA El Rasheem x D Shahla)

Colt Foal (FA El Rasheem x Ladi Veronika)

Colt Foal (FA El Rasheem x D Shroud)

Colt Foal (FA El Rasheem x Ladi Veronika)

Colt Foal (FA El Rasheem x Royal Emira)

Filly Foal (FA El Rasheem x D Mazaia)

Filly Foal (FA El Rasheem x D Shahira)

Filly Foal (FA El Rasheem x D Shahla)

Filly Foal (FA El Rasheem x FT Shaella)

Filly Foal (FA El Rasheem x D Shahla) 49

D FEDDAH

(SHANGHAI EA X D JOWAN)

D KHAIR

( BS RAEED X MAGIC MON AMOUR)

D SERAJ

(FA EL RASHEEM X LADI VERONIKA)

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D JERNAS

(SG LABIB X NEFERTARJI)

D KHATTAF

(ROYAL COLOURS X D JOWAN)

D MASAH

( FA EL RASHEEM X ANGELICCAH )

D NAWAL

( ROYAL COLOURS X D NOOR )

FT SHAELLA

(SHAEL DREAM DESERT X SOUL PRETTY TGS)

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D MUMAYYAZAH

(FA EL RASHEEM X M RANDY)

D SHAHLA

(MARAJJ X FT SHAELLA)

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D REEM

(AJMAN MONISCIONE X KASTILIA MAF)

D SHALLAL

(FA EL RASHEEM X D SHAHLA)

FILLY FOAL

(D KHATTAF X JUMILLA)

COLT FOAL

(HARIRY AL SHAQAB X D AZIZA)

COLT FOAL

(D MSHARY X JULIANNA Z)

D AYAYEB

(RFI FARID X LADI VERONIKA)

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ROYAL COLOURS

TRUE COLOURS X XTREME WONDER

ELLE FLAMENCA

AJMAN MONISCIONE X ALLAMARA MA 54

The two-year grey filly D Ajayeb (RFI Farid x Ladi Veronika), GOLD CH. at PARIS 2016 YEARLING FILLIES CHAMPIONSHIP; GOLD CH. at MENTON 2016 YEARLING F I L L I E S

CHAMPIONSHIP; 1st at MENTON 2016 - YEARLING FILLIES and GOLD CH. at DUBAI 2016 - YEARLING FILLIES CHAMPIONSHIP. The two-year grey colt D Seraj (FA EL Rasheem x Ladi Veronika), GOLD CH. at PARIS 2016 - YEARLING COLTS CHAMPIONSHIP; GOLD CH. at MENTON 2016 - YEARLING COLTS CHAMPIONSHIP; GOLD CH. at DUBAI 2016 - YEARLING COLTS CHAMPIONSHIP; GOLD CH. at AJMAN 2016 - YEARLING COLTS CHAMPIONSHIP. Then, it was the turn of the five-year handsome chestnut stallion D Khattaf (Royal Colours x D Jowan) the son of champion sire Royal Colours. He was BRONZE CH. at SHARJAH 2017 - STALLIONS CHAMPIONSHIP; SILVER CH. at DUBAI 2016 - COLTS CHAMPIONSHIP; GOLD CH. at SHARJAH

2016 - COLTS CHAMPIONSHIP; SILVER CH. at SHARJAH 2015 – CHAMP. JUNIOR COLTS; BRONZE CH. at ALL NATIONS CUP 2014 - CHAMPIONSHIP JUNIOR STALLIONS. Last but not least came into view the legendary stallion FA EL Rasheem presented by his handler Paolo Capecci. Right in front of our eyes, El Rasheem’s exotic beauty was simply jaw dropping with his dished face, refined body and spirited movement. But the horse who added an exceptionally beautiful end to Dubai Stud Open day 2017 was Royal Colours on the lead of Mohanna. He is a real stallion, a real legend in the Arabian horse world who - on that day - blew us with an incredible eye-catching ‘mini-show’ on which he did everything to make his presence known and spared no charm to flatter the public. After that hugely successful horses’ presentation, we could share our emotions and thoughts with all the members of the Dubai Stud team at the bountiful banquet they kindly offered to all attendants. We lingered over multiple courses biting into various Arabian local specialties. Later on, we went to see the Stables, which was an ‘outing’ by itself.

It was a little day-dreaming, looking at how our Arabian ‘neighbours’ are doing it, how they organize things. You can always learn something. After the tour we did have more insight and we got a few tips. Breeders who choose a Dubai Stud horse can ask highly practical and concrete questions about their choice and how to handle the rest. The reason why Dubai Stud horses are so popular and in demand today is because of the correct information and honest presentation. Every breeder knows what they can do and what they are able to do. Top-quality is their line of action as these days only the very best is good enough! It was an unforgettable Open day with all these ‘Arabian beauties’ around us.

There is simply one single place in the world where you can see all these extraordinary horses at once. This place is called Dubai Arabian Horse Stud. We are looking forward to seeing which surprise Dubai Stud will have for us in 2018!

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Written by Gianluca Martino - Translation by Sonja Smaldone

Mrs. Ria and Paul Gheysens and their typey horse’s vision have been progressing successfully over the time. For many years, the spouses have been focusing on Polish mares ; since the beginning of their ‘adventure’ they have bought many daughters of WH Justice and Marajj, thereby, bringing into play bloodlines

other than Polish and it is acknowledged that QR Marc is producing very well with these mares. In addition to QR Marc, the Gheysens have included into their breeding program another stallion which belongs to them, Equiborn KA who is himself a gorgeous son of QR Marc x Espadrilla , the latter a beautiful daughter

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EQUIBORN KA

QR Marc x Espadrilla

Unanimous Gold Champion Senior Stallion + Best Male of the Show - Breeders Cup CHANTILLY 2016 Silver World Champion Junior Colt PARIS 2015 Bronze Champion Junior Colt MENTON 2014 Silver World Champion Yearling Colt PARIS 2013 60

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2012 Dubai International Gold Champion Stallion

of the legendary Polish stallion Monogramm and out of the mare Emanacja by Eucaliptus.

Additional important stallions included into their breeding program are: Trussardi, Psytadel, Ajman Moniscione and, lately, the Legendary WH Justice who has covered the pretty daughters of QR Marc. As early as this year, Knocke Arabians have witnessed in the barn the birth of excellent foals sired by these

important stallions, and the Gheysens are more than pleased with these outcomes, as well as their General Manager, Walter Franco, who expresses all his satisfaction for what it has been achieved. Clearly enough, the entire Knocke Arabians breeding program revolves around the Gheysens who have been benefiting from the consultancy and precious collaboration of famous breeder and international judge 2012 World Gold Champion Stallion

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www.knocke-arabians.com 66

Mr. Richard Philstrom. Throughout the years, Knocke Arabians have enjoyed lots of satisfaction and great international success, thanks to their products, but the most striking achievements have been those pursued in 2012 with their top stallion QR Marc. In 2012, under the impeccable lead of Mr. Paolo Capecci, QR Marc garnered plenty of victories and titles on all the world’s most important shows. He was: Abu Dhabi International Gold Champion stallion; Dubai International Gold Champion stallion; All Nations Cup Gold Champion stallion until he managed to conquer one of the most ever coveted trophies being crowned as World Gold Champion stallion in Paris. To date, Knocke Arabians avail themselves of the support and collaboration of some of the most renowned Handlers and Training Centers in the world such as: Capecci Training Center, where Paolo, Susy and Woody are looking after Knocke Arabians’ horses also taking care of their promotion in Europe and the results so far have not at all disappointed, actually, they have been just so great. Another center of excellence is the ‘Schoukens Training Center, where brothers Tom & Glenn are also dealing with Knocke Arabians horses, following the Gheysens’ horses throughout Northern Europe.

Last but not the least, another famous Handler, Mr. Philippe Hosay who has joined in the Knocke team where he has been entrusted with some horses for the 2017 show season.

proudly owned by Mr. & Mrs. Paul & Ria Gheysens Knocke Arabians - Belgium 67

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Championship Medals BRONZE JUNIOR FILLIES MAGIC EL JADIDA

MAGIC FARAONE X MAGIC OHARA

GOLD SENIOR STALLION ENGULO EEA

SHANGHAI EA X ENJORA E

GOLD FUTURITY COLTS MAGIC MAGNIFICAT

MAGIC MON AMI X SULTAN VENUS

BRONZE JUNIOR COLTS HANAYA KARAM

KENZ AL BAYDAA X HANAYA ELISSAR

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By Nakashen Valaitham With its hypnotic, intense green colour, alluring beauty and royal appeal, the emerald has been a gem of fascination in many cultures for over six thousand years. By combining beryllium, aluminium, silicon and oxygen, Mother Nature brings these brilliant gems to life depositing them mainly in Colombia, Brazil and Zambia among other countries.

Using her vast years of experience and discerning eye for beauty, Christine Jamar of Jadem Arabians, like Mother Nature, combined two of the industry’s greatest specimens to bring forth a ‘Belgian emerald’ of equal value and beauty, but different in nature.

Christine’s emerald, just like the piece Richard Burton gave Elizabeth Taylor, has traveled the world and earned admirers all over and his name is Emerald J. Born in 2010, Emerald J is genotypically and phenotypically one of the most valuable additions to the global Arabian horse industry.

Emerald J’s authentic Arabian type,

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head that looks like it was cut by the finest lapidaries and distinct refinement has earned him 20s in rings all over the world. His neck, long and elegant like that of a swan, flows into a strong shoulder. A short and level topline and correct tail set all produce a picture of balance and harmony, one so close to the breed standard.

An outrageously correct and gorgeous exterior like this is due to superior genetics that are made up of layers of beauty, aristocracy and downright great breeding. Emerald J is made in the image of his World Champion sire, QR Marc (Marwan Al Shaqab x Swete Dreams). QR Marc is undeniably one of Marwan Al Shaqab’s most accomplished sons in both the show ring and breeding barn. Being a son of the living legend and three-time World Champion Marwan Al Shaqab, QR Marc inherited a sire line to the great Nazeer through the archetypal stallion, Gazal Al Shaqab. QR Marc’s

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Qr Marc - Emerald J’s Sire

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Emandoria - Emerald J’s Dam

dam, Swete Dreams, is a daughter of one of the leading living sires of broodmares, Magic Dream CAHR (Ali Jamaal x The Dreamspinner). Through U.S. National Champion Ali Jamaal, Magic Dream CAHR adds the second cross to straight Egyptian legend Ruminaja Ali. As a sire, QR Marc has shattered records and it is what he produced with the Polish mares, horses like Wieza Mocy and Equator, that garnered him global success. Emerald J was also the result of the QR Marc x Polish mare cross and as we can see, the result is outstanding. The Polish mare that Emerald J proudly calls dam is praised as being one of the most beautiful, near perfect and most winning mares to grace the face of the breed; and she is none other

than twice Polish National Champion, twice Dubai International Champion and European Triple Crown winner, Emandoria (Gazal Al Shaqab x Emanda).

Whether it be on paper, photo, video or real life, Emandoria’s authentic Arabian type, ethereal presence and record-breaking list of achievements has made us all swoon over her time and time again.

Just like her son, Emandoria is the combination of two World Champions and has proven to be better than the sum of them. It is through the glorious Emandoria that Emerald J gets a second cross to the celebrated Gazal Al Shaqab, which in turn brings the second cross to the U.S. National Champion Kajora and Egyptian Event Champion Anaza El Farid as well as a third cross to Ruminaja Ali. Emandoria’s dam, 87

Polish National and World Champion Mare, Emanda is an ‘old world’ goddess who is daughter of the 1995 Polish National Champion Stallion, Ecaho. Ecaho’s iconic dam, twice World Champion, Etruria, was one of Director Krzyształowicz’s most cherished mares and the very first Polish horse shown at the Salon Du Cheval in Paris. Apart from huge doses of type and depths of cosmic beauty, Emandoria has blessed Emerald J with a tail female line that has stood the test of time; one synonymous with aristocracy of the highest level. From Emanacja-Emigracja-EmisjaEspada-Eskapada-to the foundress of the famed Michalow E-line Estokada, this string of Michalow Polish National Champion pearls found through Emanda are some of the most valuable and sought after mares in Polish breeding history. They add substance, depth, quality, appeal and a breeding prowess to this pedigree that is second to none.

It is evident that Emerald J’s pedigree is layered with legends, encrusted with icons and topped to the brim with defying beauty. All of this has made him a gem of the finest cut, clarity, colour and carat. Like the many famous gems that have been sold to kings, queens and other elite individuals, Emerald J has been on a journey, passing through the hands of some of the most famed studs and shining bright at show rings around the globe.

In 2012, under the Al Jalawiya Stud name, owned by HRH Prince Turki bin Fahad bin Jalawi Al Saud, Emerald J dazzled the crowds and was named Gold Champion Junior Colt at the prestigious Al Khalediah Arabian Horse Festival in Saudi Arabia and Elran Arabian Cup in Belgium. He culminated that year with Top Ten honors at the Salon du Cheval in Paris. In 2014, Emerald J embarked a on a new journey when he was acquired by Al Muawd Stud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and what followed was pure magic. Emerald J made his show ring debut for Al Muawd Stud at the 2015 Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship where he created a stir and left a lasting impression on the industry. Like an emerald that is worn by royalty or displayed in premier jewellery houses, Emerald J was the main attraction and his flawless, spinechilling display of beauty had almost everyone lauding over him.

Dubai International titles are a common commodity in Emerald J’s family as QR Marc took home the gold in 2012 and Emandoria, being the glorious mare that she is, took home the gold in 2013 and 2014. Emerald J continued this ‘golden’ family tradition by being named Dubai International Gold Champion Senior Stallion for his elated entourage. What made this win both significant and monumental was the fact that Emerald J’s son, Gallardo J, was named Gold Champion Junior Colt at the show and proved that Dubai International Gold is a must-have in this family. After this, Emerald J took a break from the show ring so that his genetic power could be harnessed in the breeding barn. Almost two years after this, however, Emerald J made his comeback at the 2017 Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Arabian Horse Festival (PSAIAHF) bringing with him a handful of his finest foals to show off his exquisite creations. Not only did Emerald J take home the Gold Champion Senior Stallion title, but four of his foals took home titles at the show as well.

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Emerlad J and Gallardo J with Christine Jamar

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Gomera J

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Paris J Emerald J is phenotypically and genotypically any breeder’s dream and the gems he is turning out are priceless and of the same cut, colour, clarity and carat as their sire– if not better. Back at his mother stud, Emerald J has given Christine Jamar a collection of foals that are out of this world. When crossed with Christine’s genetically powerful Polish herd, in his first foal crop of 2013, Emerald J brought to life European Gold Champion Mounira J (x Magnficent Lady J), St. Oedenrode Gold Junior Filly and Best In Show Dalia J (x Danuta), AHO Breeder’s Championship Gold Champion Paris J (x Palabra) and of course, his most famous and accomplished foal to date, Gallardo J (x Gomera J). The twice Menton Gold Champion, ultragorgeous, Gallardo J made history last year at the European Championships when he was awarded his third consecutive gold title at the show, becoming the first horse to achieve this feat. He ended the year with a bang and in turn elevated the name of his sire by winning the coveted European Triple Crown consisting of gold at the All Nations Cup, European Championships and World Dalia J 93

Gallardo J

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Championships for proud owner HH Sheikh Ammar Bin Humaid Al Nuami of Ajman Stud.

The 2014 foal crop also gave rise to priceless gems all over the world, some of which include Manebrio Silver Champion Grace J (x Gomera J), Qatar International Bronze

Grace J (Emerald J x Gomera J)

Gaudi J full brother to Gallardo J and Grace J Unanimous Gold Champion Colt in St. Oedenrode 2017.

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Hajer Al Muawd

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Badawia Al Muawd

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Marakech J ( x JA Ultima) Champion Hajer Al Muawd (x Primera), Verona Silver Champion Melody J (x Maya J) and AHO Breeder’s Championship Gold Champion Marrakech J (x JA Ultima). With everyone wanting to have their

Melody j ( x Maja J) own valuable gems in their barns, Emerald J was in high demand and being used on a global scale. The foals were meeting expectations and making dreams

a reality for the connoisseurs who used Emerald J. The 2015 foal crop included superstars like Sultan AM (x Abha Sabiya), Ghibli J (x Gabriella J), Ottilah JJ (x Oivia K) and Agmal Emeralda (x Elita).

General Al Muawd Like every year the 2016 foal crop was just as stunning as the previous ones and the superstars were evident from day one. Two very special stars, in glorious 99

Emerlad J with Frederik Van Sas

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Mansour Al Jalawiyah shades of bay, born at Al Muawd Stud, Badawia Al Muawd (x Mistill Al Muawd) and General Al Muawd (x E.S. Mahuba), flew the Emerald J flag high at the 2017 PSAIAHF; they were named Silver Champion Yearling Filly and Gold Champion Yearling Colt respectively. Two more foals from the 2016 foal crop, as well as his 2013 son, Mansour Al Jalawiyah (x Gypsy Love NA) took home titles at this show, proving the inherent capabilities of Emerald J as a sire.

The 2017 foal crop is, as usual, of the highest quality and is promising to bring forth dazzling individuals that will continue in their father’s winning ways. One to keep an eye out for in the future is a beautiful colt born at Al Muawd Stud out of the Marquis CAHR daughter Maysaa Al Khalediah.

Harry Winston is known for their affinity for the rarer, more sought after things in life, like the world’s largest known flawless vivid blue diamond. And in 2014, when the company purchased this gem for a record-breaking price, they knew that they were adding one of the most desirable and most unique gems to their collection and that it would ultimately set them apart and put them in a league of their own.

In the same way, Christine & Guy Jamar knew that Emerald J is indeed a one of a kind gem that they 102

truly needed back. In an industry that is flooded with “duplicates,” Emerald J is a rare and valuable find for the discerning connoisseur; the unfathomable genetic prowess that he possesses is a quality seen in very few and has beyond doubt put him in a league of his own. And so, in April 2017, Christine and Guy bought their priceless creation back; Emerald J was going home; the crown jewel of Jadem Arabians has returned to his birthplace.

Now set on a pedestal in a glass cabinet, also known as the stallion barn at Jadem Arabians in Belgium, Emerald J is on display for the world to witness beauty in its finest, to know greatness of the highest level and to experience perfection in the flesh. Emerald J is poised and ready for this new chapter with his creator. A chapter that we can undoubtedly believe will be filled with more priceless gems being born around the world, more history making moments, more spectacular success, and more dazzling displays of unaltered, authentic Arabian beauty; a chapter we all await with bated breath and one we will definitely read over and over; a chapter where the crown jewel will shine brighter than he ever has before.

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JADEM ARABIANS BVBA Guy & Christine Jamar-Demeersseman Berkensingel 24, 2490 Balen - Belgium Tel: 0032 (0) 14.81.24.62 - Fax: 0032 (0) 14.81.24.22 www.christine-jamar.be

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Written by Sonja Smaldone Photos by Nawaf Al Johani This jem of a colt has emerged as a masterpiece of Mr. Sami Ben Saad’s Al Aalia Stud breeding programme and despite his young age – he is now only 3 years old - he has already wowed the show audiences throughout the world and boasts many show titles to his credit. He was: Gold Champion, Junior Stallion Dubai international 2017 9 times 20; Gold Champion, Polska Arabian Horse Festival B Int’l. 2015, Warsaw Poland; Silver Champion, Al Khalediah European Arabian Horse Festival B Int’l. 2015, Warsaw; Bronze Champion, AHO Breeders Cup Europe 2015, Chantilly; Bronze Champion, KAAHC A Show 2015, Saudi Arabia; Bronze Champion, PSAHF Title Show 2016, Saudi Arabia; Gold Champion, Bialka Show 2016, Poland; Gold Champion, Radom Show 2016, Poland; Gold Champion, Polish National Show 2016, Poland, and Gold Champion, Al Khalediah European Arabian Horse Festival B Int’l. 2016, Poland. No doubt FUERTE is a very stylish and handsome grey colt with very nice movement. He is a son of the milky white Spanish stallion Shanghai E.A and carries in his veins one of the most powerful bloodlines of all time that was infused to him by his grand-sire WH Justice, his great grand-sire Magnum Psyche and his great-great grand-sire the legendary Padrons Psyche. Shanghai EA is not only an amazing horse because of his beauty but also because of his personality. When talking about him, owner Sheik Ammar Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, of Ajman Stud, says he will always think of Shanghai as a quiet and sweet little boy, a real classic horse, not too tall, not too heavy, just very ‘Arabian’, a trait that’s the most important and since the beginning, Shanghai has always been better than better, and so ‘chic’. He embodies the dreams of every breeder: correctly built, full of type, with an extremely exotic head and a black, large eye. When in 2013 he appeared in the arena and was crowned Gold Senior Stallion at the Paris World Championships crowds of photographers, both in the VIP 106

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sector, as well as on the tribunes, almost started pushing and shoving each other to get the best shot…The most recent winning at the 2017 DUBAI INTERNATIONAL ARABIAN HORSE CHAMPIONSHIP has done nothing but prove before the eyes of the world Arabian community Fuerte’s supremacy on the international arena.

He was deservedly crowned Gold Champion Junior Colt under the lead of Mr. Paolo Capecci.

Shanghai’s offspring are tall, sporty with a very long neck, short body and great movement. In all cases he has provided breeding progress.

None of Shanghai’s foals are worse than their dam and some even present the highest worldclass quality just like Fuerte does. Fuerte’s dam is Frymuszka one of the archetypal Polish brood matrons and a wonderful daughter of the classic Polish grey stallion Ekstern (by Monogramm); her mother Fabryszka is an excellent broodmare herself. She also boasts an immensely desirable pedigree as one of the premier daughters of champion-maker GAZAL AL SHAQAB. Gazal

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Al Shaqab has proven himself as the most influential foreign sire utilized in Polish breeding over the last decade. During his two year lease to Poland he has gifted the breed with many champion winners and even more valuable breeding prospects. Fabryszka fits into that description perfectly, regularly being acknow ledged with “19s” or “9s” for overall type, as well as garnering total scores of over 90 or 40 points more than once. Today, the family’s distinguished members also include the sensational Fuerte. Though is still an extremely young colt and of course it is too early to ascertain such a thing for sure, it seems that Fuerte may contribute to making the next step on the road to improving the Arabian breed just as his predecessors have done before him. This exquisite colt is now standing at Paolo Capecci’s Training Center, Italy, where he is being trained, treated and spoiled like a prince by all the team, especially by Mrs. Susy Gruschler who is being taking of him like he was her own little baby child, while Mr. Woody Gubbiotti is being in charge of Fuerte’s promotion and image. Go ahead little Fuerte! Nobody makes it like you do…

OWNER MR. SAMI BEN SAAD’S AL AALIA STUD

CAPECCI ARABIAN TRAINING CENTER Paolo Capecci - mobile: +39 3356499739 Gianpaolo Gubbiotti - mobile: +39 3358301574 Susi Gurschler - mobile: +39 3939620285 arabiantrainingcenter@gmail.com - www.capecciatc.it 113

Written by Sonja Smaldone - Photos by Gigi Grasso

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HAEL DREAM DESERT is a dream horse.

Giacomo Capacci Arabians farm team is very proud to have him at their farm in Cortona, Italy for the 2017-2018 breeding season.

so elegant and majestic when he strikes the pose‌ In Giacomo Capacci’s view he could be what every European breeder needs on to their breeding program. The opportunity of a complete outcross and amazing type source.

He is pearl-grey, typey, an incredible Arabian beauty.

His temperament is mind-boggling.

He was born in Italy in 2001 by the Egyptianbred Ansata Shaamis (Ansata Halim Shah x AK Faressa by Prince FA Moniet) and out

One can hardly ever see a stallion as gentle and as placid as Shael Dream Desert, all without losing a bit of any of the traits every breeder wants in a stallion. He is extremely magnetic and always the perfect gentleman,

of Elettra (Hadidi x Afrodite by Andoy and out of Papele who, in her turn, is by Prizrak and out of Parijanka). Shael Dream Desert has therefore come into being as an extraordinary blend of powerful Straight

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Egyptian, Crabbet, Polish and Russian blood lines.

Born in 1994 in the USA, Ansata Shaamis is a grey straight Egyptian stallion belonging to the Saklawi Jedran Ibn Sudan strain, the Moniet El Nefous branch, the Mouna family, and to the Roga El Beida dam line. He is bred by Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Forbis, in the USA and owned by Haras Cruzeiro Farm in Brazil.Yet, when looking even more closely at Ansata Shaamis’ pedigree, one can realize how this sire has endowed Shael Dream Desert with one of the greatest gift a father could ever give a son in breeding engineering: one of the most ancient and prestigious sire lines dating back to the legendary and champion producer of all times, the stallion Nazeer.

Shael Dream Desert’s dam is Elettra, a wonderful Russian bred grey mare born in 1995 with a strong Egyptian influence through Aswan. In 1996 Elettra was Champion Filly at the Reggio Emilia International Show and Reserve Champion at the Città di Castello International Show. That year,

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she won her class at the Italian National Championships in Rome. She was Champion Filly at the Biella International Show in 1997, and two years later was Top Five at the European Championships in Verona. Elettra is the daughter of Paris World Champion and multi-awarded Hadidi (1990), a grey straight Egyptian Arabian stallion of striking presence and conformation whose powerful

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genes have been infused by some of the most remarkable straight Egyptian stallions in history such as the grey Norus (1984), the black Gharib (1965) back to his greatgrandsire, the unforgettable chestnut Anter (1946). The latter was a son of Hamdan, a full brother to Shaloul, who together with their full sister, Samira, were part of the group which Judi Forbis’ called ‘THE

FABULOUS FOUR’. These horses were sired

by Ibn Rabdan and out of the mare Bint Radia, whose mother, Radia, was not only an important mare for the Royal Agricultural Society but also for the Inshass Stud of King Farouk.

Elettra’s mother is the Pure Russian bay mare Afrodite (1991), today one of the founding mares standing at Bigotti Barbara’s breeding farm in Italy. She is sired by Andoy x Papele out of Parijanka by Aswan x Prekrasnaja, who all have been authentic Russian pearls in breeding industry of past times. In light of this, what could we ever obtain from merging the historic strata of

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straight Egyptian exquisiteness and genetic power with the sportivity and the soundness of the great Russian bloodlines? The answer to this question can only be Shael Dream Desert!

For all stallions, honors and titles are certainly a measure of success, but it is in producing the next generation that a stallion’s mettle is taken. Shael Dream Desert’s foals record is just unbelievable.

To date, it shows something like 166 foals overall!

Knowledgeable breeders from around the globe have chosen Shael Dream Desert to elevate their programs, and he has not disappointed.

As a sire, Shael Dream Desert holds his own in international competition. FT Shaella, owned

by Dubai Stud, boasts an impressive show titles evidence. She has just been crowned 2017 Gold Champion Mare at the Dubai Int. Arabian Horses Championship; 2013 Bronze Champion - Dubai International Championship, Dubai; Gold Champion - Prince Sultan Festival, Saudi

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Arabia; 2012 Silver Champion - World Championships, Paris; Silver Champion - Abu Dhabi Int. UAE; Silver Champion - Dubai Int, UAE; Gold Champion, Best head - Menton, France; Unanimous Gold Champion, Best Female & highest score Italian Class A Show, Cattolica, Italy; Gold

Felicia RLC, owned by Ajman Stud, in Las Vegas was named Reserve Champion Junior Filly; Van Katalina was National Supreme Champion Mare in Argentina; Shannan El Madan was World Bronze Medal in Paris plus many others…More recently, the striking success of his grand-daughter,

Champion, class winner - All Nations Cup, Aachen; 2011 Silver Champion - Dubai, UAE; 2010 Silver Champion mare - Ajman, UAE; Gold Champion - Dubai Int. UAE; Silver Champion - Menton, France; Gold Champion - Aachen, Germany; Gold Champion - Paris, France; 2009 Gold Champion & Sheikh Zayed Award - Abu Dhabi Nat, UAE; 2008 Junior Female Champion - Città Di Castello, Italy; Bronze Champion - World Championship, Paris.

the gorgeous grey D Shahla (MARAJJ X FT SHAELLA) who was crowned Gold Champion Junior Filly at the 2015 Paris World Championship did not but confirm Shael Dream Desert’s proven ability when it comes to first class genetic power. In early 2017, this big boy made his return to Italy from Saudi Arabia and he is now standing at Giacomo Capacci Arabians for the 2017 and 2018 breeding season!

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he State of Qatar is a sovereign country located in Southwest Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the A r a b i a n Peninsula.

Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its territory surrounded by the Persian Gulf. A strait in the Persian Gulf separates Qatar from the nearby Island of Bahrain, as well as sharing sea borders with the United Arab Emirates and Iran. Following Ottoman rule, Qatar became a British protectorate in the early 20th century until gaining independence in 1971 and it has been ruled by the House of Thani since the early 19th century.

Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani was the founder of the State of Qatar. Nowadays Qatar is a hereditary constitutional monarchy and its Head of State is

Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, a man with a strong personality and great charisma. He is described as friendly, confident, and open by those who know

him. But, he is also described as savvy, careful, and calculating. In addition, he is considered to be a pragmatist, and to have excellent relations with the West including the United States and France.

Sheikh Tamim has always promoted sport as part of Qatar’s bid to raise its international profile. In 2005 he founded Qatar Sport Investments, which owns Paris Saint-G er main F.C. among other investments. In 2006, he chaired the organizing committee of the 15th Asian Games in Doha. Under his leadership, all member countries attended the event for the first time in its history. That year Egypt’s Al Ahram voted Tamim ‘The best sport personality in the Arab world’. Under his guidance,

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Qatar won the rights to host the 2014 FINA Swimming World Championships and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Tamim is a member of the International Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Committee chairman.

He headed Doha’s bid for the 2020 Olympics. The country will host the football World Cup in 2022.

Qatar is expected to spend about $100 billion on infrastructure to prepare for the event. But it

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does not stop there! A great rider himself, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has also founded the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club which nowadays is a major source of pride of everyone in the country. Its facilities represent a unique architectural masterpiece that is in continuous and accelerated development through the efforts and guidance of the visionary leadership of Tamim and, more recently, of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Faleh Al Thani.

Both spare no effort in bringing Qatar on equal footing with the world’s leading countries in terms of equestrian sport.

Today, the country hosts numerous regional and international equestrian events such as the spring Qatar International Horse Festival. The latter combines the Qatar International Show and the Qatar Egyptian Event and, this year, has been held around half of March. Governed by the Constitution and Rules of the European Conference of Arab Horse Organizations (ECAHO), this muchawaited Event is an International (Category A) Show organized and

supervised by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) and chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh Al Thani. For the 26th edition, the Organizing Committee was ably comprised of: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh Al Thani; Mr. Nasser Sherida Al Kaabi, Chairman of Show Organizing Committee; Mr. Fahad Ali Al Sulaiti, Show Director and General Co-coordinator of Horse Show Festivals; Mr. Abdulaziz Abdulrahman Al Subaie, Show Committee Officer; Mr. Salem Fadgham Amer Al Hajri Security and Safety Committee Officer; Mr. Saleh Ghanim Al Ghanim, Public Relations Committee Officer; Mr. Jaber Ali Saleh Al Marri General Services Committee Officer; Ms. Latifa Ahmed Al Amri, Financial Committee Officer; Ms. Jawaher Sultan Al Suwaidi Media, Committee Officer.

Outstanding the work done by the Jury composed by 7 international

judges: Mrs. Norden Ann (SWE); Mrs. Darius Claudia (DEU); Mr. Moschini Christian (ITA); Mrs. Stigler Irina (RUS); Mr. Lacina Jaroslav (CZE); Mrs. Tengstedt Marianne (DNK) and Mr. Machmoum Mohamed (MAR).

With renewed excitement and jubilation of all attendants who flocked in Doha, the 2017 Qatar International Purebred Arabian Horse Show was held on three exhilarating dates, on Friday 10th, on Saturday 11th and on Sunday 12th March at the Al Shaqab Ar-Rayyan Indoor Arena, showcasing some of the most beautiful Purebred Arabians from across the Middle East. The Final Championships kicked off with the Yearling Categories. As for the Fillies, HADBA AL SHAQAB a delightful daughter of MARWAN AL SHAQAB and out of OFW MISHAAHL, clinched

the Gold medal. She is bred and owned by Al Shaqab Stud. Silver medal winner the bay HAIFA ED (KAHIL AL SHAQAB x PRESTIC) bred by NASSER BIN ABDUL LATEEF AL FOWZAAN and owned by ABDUL AZIZ IBRAHIM ABDUL AZIZ AL BARGASH. Bronze medal winner the grey HATTAN AL NASSER (KAHIL AL SHAQAB x LUBNA AL SHAQAB) bred and owned by AL NASSER STUD. Fantastic was also the Yearling Colt Category.

Gold medal winner, the gleaming chestnut HAGRAS AL SHAQAB (FADI AL SHAQAB x WIND KAMELIA) bred and owned

by Al Shaqab Member of Q.F. Silver medal winner the bay GENERAL ( EMERALD J x

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E.S. MAHBUBA AE) bred by the SONS OF ABDULLAH BIN MUHAMMED AL SUBAIEE and owned by Al Muawd Stud. Bronze medal winner the bay SAWFAN NAYAAR (FAYAD ALFAYYAD x STARLIGHT BY SISSI) bred

by NAYAAR STUD and owned

by ABDULLATIF AHMAD ALKANDARI). Wonderful Junior Fillies and Colts fought in a thrilling competition. It would have been a challenge for everyone choosing a winner. As for the Fillies, Gold medal winner the grey MALIKAT AL MOLUK (MAMELUCK x ASALAT AL HALA) bred by Halawa Khader and owned by Al Khashab Arabians – Mubarak Al

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Khashab.

Silver medal winner the bay MADEEHA AL SHAQAB (KAHIL AL SHAQAB x QR ANNAH FERRARI) bred and owned by Al Shaqab Member of Q.F. Bronze medal winner the grey SAFIAT AL SHAQAB (KAHIL AL SHAQAB x SHALIMAR PRESTIGE) bred and owned by Al Shaqab Member of Q.F. As for the Colts, Gold medal winner the handsome grey MEDAN AL SHAQAB (FARHOUD AL SHAQAB x ABHA MYRA) bred and owned by Al Shaqab Member of Q.F. Silver medal winner the grey MOAID AL SHAQAB (FADI AL SHAQAB x HADEEL AL SHAQAB) bred and owned by Al Shaqab Member of Q.F. Bronze medal winner the bay SHARAF AL SHAHANIA (FA EL RASHEEM x

M A RWA N CRISTAL RCA) bred and owned by Al Shahania Stud. The Seniors Categories gave goose bumps to everyone. It was a parade of champions with proven charm, each of which could have easily won thanks to their peculiar gifts.

As for the Mares Category, Gold medal winner the aristocratic grey TEHAMA BALLALINA (TEHAMA NA SIDAQA x JJ SHAI MAJESTIC QUEEN) bred by L Ferguson and owned by Al Zobair Stud. Silver medal winner the grey FARIDA AL NASSER (SHAGRAN AL NASSER x MARHA AL RAYYAN) bred and owned by AL NASSER STUD. Bronze medal winner the stunning chestnut FARAH AL SHAQAB (ADEED AL SHAQAB x SWF VALENCIA) bred and owned by Al Shaqab Stud. As for the Stallions, the most spectacular one - needless to say -

was a stunning son of the legendary MARWAN AL SHAQAB and out of ZT LUDJKALBA, the chestnut ABHA QATAR. He is bred by Marieta Salas and owned

by Al Mohamadia Stud. Silver medal winner the grey EKS MANSOUR (EKS ALIHANDRO x EKS PHATEENA) bred by Elkasun Arabians and owned

by Al Shahania Stud.

Bronze medal winner the majestic grey MOUNTASSAR AL ZOBAIR (KHIDAR x FALHA AL SHAQAB) bred

by Al Zobair Stud and owned by Khalil Ebrahim Ali Muktar. So the 26th and spectacular

edition of the Qatar International Purebred Arabian Horse Show in Doha drew to a close, a fundamental stage for the Qatar International show

circuit.

Top prizes were awarded to the Championship winners.

The rendezvous is for next year together with other great champions!

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Yearling Fillies

HADBA AL SHAQAB

MARWAN AL SHAQAB X OFW MISHAAHL

GOLD Points | 24.00

OWNER: AL SHAQAB BREEDER: AL SHAQAB

HAIFA ED

KAHIL AL SHAQAB X PRESTIC

SILVER Points | 12.00

OWNER: ABDUL AZIZ IBRAHIM ABDUL AZIZ AL BARGASH BREEDER: NASSER BIN ABDUL LATEEF AL FOWZAAN

HATTAN AL NASSER

KAHIL AL SHAQAB X LUBNA AL SHAQAB

OWNER: AL NASSER STUD BREEDER: AL NASSER STUD

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BRONZE Points | 8.00

Yearling Colts

HAGRAS AL SHAQAB

FADI AL SHAQAB X WIND KAMELIA

GOLD Points | 26.00

OWNER: AL SHAQAB BREEDER: AL SHAQAB MEMBER OF Q.F.

GENERAL

EMERALD J X E.S. MAHBUBA AE

SILVER Points | 11.00

OWNER: AL MUAWD STUD BREEDER: SONS OF ABDULLAH BIN MUHAMMED AL SUBAIEE

SAWFAN NAYAAR

FAYAD ALFAYYAD X STARLIGHT BY SISSI

BRONZE Points | 5.00

OWNER: ABDULLATIF AHMAD ALKANDARI BREEDER: NAYAAR STUD

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Junior Fillies

MALIKAT AL MOLUK

MAMELUCK X ASALAT AL HALA

GOLD Points | 20.00

OWNER: AL KHASHAB ARABIANS – MUBARAK AL KHASHAB BREEDER: HALAWA KHADER

MADEEHA AL SHAQAB

KAHIL AL SHAQAB X QR ANNAH FERRARI

SILVER Points | 9.00

OWNER: AL SHAQAB BREEDER: AL SHAQAB MEMBER OF Q.F.

SAFIAT AL SHAQAB

KAHIL AL SHAQAB X SHALIMAR PRESTIGE

OWNER: AL SHAQAB BREEDER: AL SHAQAB MEMBER OF Q.F.

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BRONZE Points | 9.00

Junior Colts

MEDAN AL SHAQAB

FARHOUD AL SHAQAB X ABHA MYRA

GOLD Points | 22.00

OWNER: AL SHAQAB BREEDER: AL SHAQAB MEMBER OF Q.F.

MOAID AL SHAQAB

FADI AL SHAQAB X HADEEL AL SHAQAB

SILVER Points | 11.00

OWNER: AL SHAQAB BREEDER: AL SHAQAB MEMBER OF Q.F.

SHARAF AL SHAHANIA

FA EL RASHEEM X MARWAN CRISTAL RCA

BRONZE Points | 9.00

OWNER: AL SHAHANIA STUD BREEDER: AL SHAHANIA STUD

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Senior Mares

TEHAMA BALLALINA

TEHAMA NA SIDAQA X JJ SHAI MAJESTIC QUEEN

GOLD Points | 28.00

OWNER: AL ZOBAIR STUD BREEDER: L FERGUSON

FARIDA AL NASSER

SHAGRAN AL NASSER X MARHA AL RAYYAN

SILVER Points | 12.00

OWNER: AL NASSER STUD BREEDER: AL NASSER STUD

FARAH AL SHAQAB

ADEED AL SHAQAB X SWF VALENCIA

OWNER: AL SHAQAB BREEDER: AL SHAQAB

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BRONZE Points | 5.00

Senior Stallions

ABHA QATAR

MARWAN AL SHAQAB X ZT LUDJKALBA

GOLD Points | 22.00

OWNER: AL MOHAMADIA STUD BREEDER: MARIETA SALAS

EKS MANSOUR

EKS ALIHANDRO X EKS PHATEENA

SILVER Points | 13.00

OWNER: AL SHAHANIA STUD BREEDER: ELKASUN ARABIANS

MOUNTASSAR AL ZOBAIR KHIDAR X FALHA AL SHAQAB (2000)

BRONZE Points | 4.00

OWNER: KHALIL EBRAHIM ALI MUKTAR BREEDER: AL ZOBAIR STUD

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HELLO ELISA, HELLO FRANK! FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ACCEPTING OUR INTERVIEW FOR THE ‘RIDING COUPLES’ DEDICATED SECTION. LET’S START FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. When and where did you first meet?

Elisa: We met first time in Italy at a show in 2012. Frank was there to show horses for Giuseppe Fontanella.

Frank, how did you declare your love to Elisa?

Frank: There wasn’t a real declaration. We grew closer together quiet quickly. Elisa and her family sent a two year old filly to me for the show season, Felicja Galaa (who, by the way, is still with us today, grazing the fields at the farm). So the contacts got more and more frequent until finally we both realized there was more than just a friendship.

Elisa, what was your first reaction?

Elisa: In all honesty, I was a bit surprised. I always saw Frank at shows, and he is known not to be the most social guy around. So I initially had the impression he was a bit cold and liked to be on his own. But as I got to know him I completely changed my mind and realized how wrong I was.

What are in your opinion the most important elements for a successful relationship today?

Elisa: It’s not always easy to keep a relationship successful. Couple life is made of ups and downs, I believe. But it is the good times, the fond memories and the everyday joys that make you go through the tougher times. Plus we have two wonderful kids that make our life whole.

To what extent is ‘communication’ important within a couple?

Elisa: Very! I believe in every relationship communication is of the essence. Even more in a couple. I think it helps both to express their feelings and face the problems, or the joys, together.

‘Men come from Mars, and Women are from Venus? Do you agree?

Elisa: Oh yes… We do come from different planets! We could not be more different… but that’s the beauty of it.

Elisa, how does it feel to be the partner of one of the most respected and successful Arabian horses’ horsemen on the international stage?

Frank’s success and accomplishments are really impressive. But I see every day how much passion, dedication and hard work he puts into it. I respect his strength and motivation so much. It is great to witness still so much devotion after so many years.

Frank, same question to you. How does it feel to be the companion of a business woman like Elisa?

When I met Elisa her gifts and talents were quite obvious to me. She is just the person today I always knew she was.

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So, where did this passion for Arabian horses you both share so intensively arise from, and what role has it played in building your relationship?

Elisa: my dad brought me into this world. He’s always had horses, and so I’ve grown up with them. His first Arabian came when I was a little girl… maybe 9 or 10 years old. He’s the one to blame for this crazy love I have for this breed.

Frank: I was born and raised in a small village of the Black Forest, only a few kilometers away from famous Om El Arab. There I started working with Arabians for the very first time, and to this time and the people there I owe most of what I am today. They taught me so much, and especially I learned a great working method.

Virginia e Francesco How long have you been training Arabian horses for? Did you start together or separately?

Frank: I started over 30 years ago, as an employee at Om El Arab. In 2018 I will celebrate the 30th anniversary from my very first World Champion win.

Why are you so fascinated by the world of the Arabian horse?

Frank: It’s been my life for so long, I could not picture it any different.

Horses are in my thoughts 24/7.

I really enjoy what I do. I like the farm life more than anything. Being surrounded by horses, trying to give them the best possible life… it’s what I like the most. Of course shows are important, often exciting… and the success has always a sweet taste.

But it does not come on its own. I learned to never give it for granted and to keep giving my best every day.

Elisa: It is difficult to answer to this question. Sometimes I think it’s some kind of fever that once you catch it, it never leaves. If you are so lucky to experience the Arabian horse in all its beauty, you will never be able to be without it.

What’s your daily routine at your Training Center? Do you have specific different tasks?

Frank: I like to have things organized… as much as possible. So we have pretty much the same routine at the farm since many years. We feed early in the morning, if I am home I try to be there before the rest of the staff and feed myself. Then we start bringing horses out, cleaning stalls, exercising and schooling the show horses, 138

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and continue with the regular chores. Of course, when you deal with animals, it is difficult to have a too specific plan, but I try as much as I can to give my people and the animals too a routine they can follow.

Elisa: I am not involved with the actual work at the farm. But I do go every day there. Just to see the horses, look at the new babies, and exchange some words with the people.

How has the Arabian horse enriched your lives?

Frank: It gives us the chance to travel the world, meet new people, experience new cultures. We are fortunate and privileged to be able to do what we do.

Frank, what does your dream horse look like?

It has to be pretty. It is mandatory for me. Throughout all my career I looked for pretty horses… If I go back some years I could mention Tiffaha, she was such a beautiful feminine creature.

More recent I would mention Wh Justice and Ekstern. Both powerful stallions but with a very pretty look, nearly feminine…

Heinz Rüdiger Merz used to always tell me that every great sire has a bit of a feminine touch… Now I have a yearling filly in my stable, Aj Norah, sired by Aj Mardan and out of an Ajman Moniscione daughter… she truly is the epitome of pretty.

Elisa, who was the first Arabian horse you laid eyes on and what was this experience like?

I was a little girl when my dad bought his first Arabians. It was a group of mares and one stallion. Among them there was a chestnut young mare, her name was RA Argentina. She was so beautiful and with such a sweet disposition. She is the grand dam of Felicja Galaa, the filly that kind of brought Frank and I 140

together.

What are, in your opinion, the most important qualities to become a good, mindful trainer/handler?

You need to be sportive… there is lots of running in our business.

You need to be open minded towards all different blood lines and types of horses. Not always you get to show your “dream” horses. You need to be respectful, towards the horse and your clients. Honest and fair. You need to be a good looser, as well as a good winner.

What advice would you give to a young person eager to undertake activities as a proper trainer?

I don’t really know if I would advise a young person to undertake this activity. The Arabian Horse show scene worries me a bit. The shows get smaller and smaller. More and more breeders leave the business, and not many people attend the shows anymore.

It is sad to witness and I don’t know whether “our world” has a bright future.

What are your plans for the future? Any new dream in life?

Frank: I plan to continue doing what I do still for some years.

I like my job and the people I deal with. New dreams? Well, our daughter Virginia started riding dressage around 3 years ago. Since then she keeps us very busy with riding lessons and competitions. Once I dreamed about my success… now it’s the success of my children I dream of.

Could you please tell us about a horse who has particularly distinguished himself morphologically?

We both agree on this one. There is one horse that has been for the breed a game changer. And that is Wh Justice. He brought

to Europe a whole new look. The “Justice” look. He brought extreme Arabian type and gifted the breed with traits that were not there before and that will hopefully continue to stay, even when the shows seem to be going a bit of a different direction.

To what extent is ‘marketing’ relevant in this sector?

Frank: Sometimes good marketing is the key for successful sales.

Some stallions could sell hundreds of breedings just because of great marketing campaigns. The right set of ads or web blasts can create lots of excitement around a show horse. So I do think that marketing is important, but first hand experiences are still my favorite.

Elisa: Well… this is my job! I love to prepare campaigns for some special horses, as well as watching other people creativity turn into extraordinary adverts. It is a very interesting world.

Who are your best friends in this field?

Frank: people who know me, know that I have a very precise definition of friendship. I think acquaintances are many, but true friends are very few.

Elisa: I agree with Frank. True friends are very few. But I think we are both lucky enough to count some good friends in our lives.

Could you tell us a story you are particularly fond of?

A story what I will never forget is when I drove alone with a colleague of mine with 7 horses to Paris. It was 1988. That was the year I had my first world champion, Ibn Estopa. I was a young boy, my boss was in the States at the time, and he sent me to Paris, competing against some of the biggest trainers, Michael Byatt, David Boggs and some of Europe’s top trainers.

It’s one of my most fond memories.

What are the objectives you both would like to reach in your career?

Frank: I think we both are at a great place with our career.

We both have the luck to work with amazing clients, that have become along the years very good friends and that entrust us with their beautiful horses.

What more should we ask for?

In your opinion, who are today some of the most accomplished available stallions? Why? Frank: For me it is clearly AJ MARDAN. What he has done in such a short amount of time is so remarkable. What I believe makes him to such a great sire is his pedigree. There are no holes there, only great horses. And that is why he is so consistent as a sire.

Elisa, Frank…Will you both leave us one last message please?

It is thank to the Arabian horse that we met and built our family.

Horses fill our lives and the lives of our children, and we truly love what we do. They brought us together, and they gave us the chance to meet some incredible people as well. We’ll always be thankful for that.

Thanks so much for your contribution Elisa and Frank. It has been very nice to have you both with us today and we sincerely wish you all the best in your future endeavors!

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WRITTEN BY SONJA SMALDONE - PHOTOS BY JOELLE MÜLLER

he legendary grace, beauty and power of genuine Purebred Arabians are displayed every year at the Dubai World Trade Center, in Dubai, on the occasion of the Dubai International Arabian horse Championship. This is the biggest horse show in the Middle East and is run over three days in March, culminating in the Championship classes for the most exquisite horses. Held under the patronage of HH Sh. Hamdam bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and UAE Minister of Finance, the Dubai Arabian Horse Championship is nowadays the most prestigious competition of its kind in the world. It is a beauty competition for Purebred Arabian horses, from the very young to the elderly horse stars of the Arabian equine world.

The 2010 Championship was

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promoted to ECAHO ‘Title Show’ status; only few Shows in the world hold this prestigious award and bought high class competition from 24 countries and 5 continents. The 2014 Event was a huge success with 400 horses entered from 21 countries and competing for prizes valued at USD 4,000,000 and bought high class competition from 5 continents.

In March 2015, the Show was run for the 12th time and enhanced with the staging of the Dubai International Horse Fair, which opened alongside the Championship. The Horse fair is the largest equestrian exhibition in the region and caters to everyone in the equestrian world from trade to consumers. At its 14th edition this year, the 2017 Dubai International Championship started on Thursday 16th of March at 10:30 am Asia/ Muscat (07:30 - Europe/Rome)

and terminated on Saturday 18 of March at 19:00 Asia/Muscat (16:00 - Europe/Rome) with the Final Championship Classes. About 343 horses were registered in the Stud Book from more than 20 countries.

The most beautiful Purebred Arabian horses participated in this amazing and fascinating worldwide competition and were contending for a Prize Money of USD 4.000.000.

The Higher Organizing Committee was composed by: Mr. Ziad Abdullah Galadari, Chairman; Mr. Sultan Mohammed Khalifa, Board Member; Mr. Essam Abdalla al Hameeri, Board Member; Mr. Abdulrahman Obaid Belshawareb, Board Member; Mr. Mohammed Al Tawheedi, Board Member.

As many as ten judges were called to manage a competition that appeared compelling just by reading

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the program. The many prestigious names in the ring made us predict a fierce competition for the top places, and that is exactly what happened.

Therefore, it is only fair to praise the judges who carried out their task impeccably.

They were, in order: Mr. Fausto Scanzi

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(Italy); Mr. Marc Veray (France); Mr. Luiz Rocco (Brazil); Mr. Cedes Bakker (Netherlands) Mrs. Irina Stigler (Russia); Mr. Koenraad Detailleur (Belgium); Mr. Nikolaus Jung (Germany); Mr. Tomasz Tarczynski (Poland); Mr. Terry Holmes (United States); Mrs. Cristina Valdes (Spain).

The work done by the Disciplinary Commission was outstanding. Its members were: Mr. Essam Abdulla Al Hameerie, (UAE); Dr. Abdel Wahab Ben Ali Amira (UAE); Mr. Kais Ben Hadi Quelhazi (UAE); Dr. Umer Raza Gill (UAE); Dr. Sujeet Bhaskar Suryawanshi (UAE); Dr. Haitham Babiker Tayfour (UAE); and Dr. Mandouh Fouad Hassan (UAE).

Impeccable in his role and ability to make handlers adhere to the two minutes allocated through a highprecision chronometer was the Ring Master appointed for this occasion, Mr. Jean-Bernard Kupaj from

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France. He timed the competition correctly despite the large number of participants in almost every category.

The appointed speakers were: Miss.

Amna Suroor and Mr. Abdulla Rashid both from the United Arab Emirates, while the official photographers were: Mr. Morhaf Assaf (Syria); Miss.

Joelle Müller (Switzerland) and Mr. Wieslaw Pawlowski (Poland). A warm sun and excellent daytime and evening temperatures accompanied the entire show. For the spectators sitting on the VIP tables, the catering was excellent and above expectations. Worth mentioning is the participation of the public and the owners throughout the entire show, which made the atmosphere truly unique. From the royal gallery and the guest stands, the view was really befitting. The Final Championship of Purebred Arabians, with its usual good deal of anticipation, certainly did not disappoint. Actually, it was

amazing! The title of Gold Champion Yearling Filly was awarded to the beautiful bay GHADEER AM (AJ MARDAN x GHAZALAT AL MOHAMADIA) bred by MOHAMADIA STUD and owned

by Ajman Stud. Silver medal winner the grey SD MUMAYYAZAH (FA EL RASHEEM x M RANDY) bred and owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud. Bronze medal winner the grey MADINAT AL BAYDAA (RFI FARID x TS MADELEINE) bred by Ahmed Fathy Al Talawy and owned by Al Baydaa Stud. As for the Yearling Colts category, Gold Champion winner the gleaming chestnut D SHALLAL (FA EL RASHEEM x D SHAHLA) bred and owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud. Silver medal winner the grey AJ KAFU ( SHANGHAI EA x AJ KAHAYLA) bred and owned by Ajman Stud. Bronze medal winner the bay YAS BHM (KAHIL AL SHAQAB x CATERINA FM) bred and owned by ALI GHANEM ALI HUMAILA ALMAZROUEI.

The Gold medal for the Junior Fillies went to the wonderful grey D AYAYEB (RFI FARID x LADI VERONIKA) bred and owned

by DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD. Silver medal winner the chestnut ARIA AL BAYDAA (AJMAN MONISCIONE x RA MARWANS ELYGANCE) bred by Premier Breeders LLC and owned

by Al Baydaa Stud. Bronze medal winner the grey KAMOUNEH AL ZOBAIR (RFI FARID x NESJ EL KHIDOUNA) bred by Al Zobair Stud and owned by SHEIKH ABDULLA BIN MOHAMMED ALI ALTHANI. The Gold medal for the Junior Colts was awarded to the handsome grey FUERTE (SHANGHAI EA x FRYMUSZKA) bred by JAN DOBRZYNSKI and owned by SAAD, SAMI MOHAMMAD S. Silver medal winner the bay PHARAOH HBV (PSYCHE HBV x RFI SOPHIE ALMAKTUB) bred by Cury Luciano and owned by Al Baydaa Stud. Bronze m e d a l

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winner the bay OMEAR AL HAWAJER (SH-HAB AL HAWAJER x GHARSHOUB AL HAWAJER). The Senior mare winning the Gold medal was the already multi-awarded grey pearl FT Shaella (SHAEL DREAM DESERT x SOUL PRETTY TGS) bred and owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud. Silver medal winner the grey NORMA (GAZAL AL SHAQAB x NINA) bred by SK MICHALOW STUD and owned by the SONS OF ABDULLAH BIN MOHAMED AL SUBAIE. Bronze medal winner the beautiful chestnut ELLE FLAMENCA (AJMAN MONISCIONE x ALLAMARA MA) bred by Markelle Arabians and owned by Dubai Arabian Horse 218

Stud.

As for the Senior Stallions, Gold medal winner the majestic, imperious grey EXCALIBUR EA (SHANGHAI EA x ESSENCE OF MARWAN EA) bred by Equus Arabians and owned

by Las Rosas Arabians - who this year took over World Champion in Paris and Silver medal winner BAANDEROS (MARWAN AL SHAQAB x HB BESSOLEA) bred and owned by Al Khalediah Stables.

Bronze medal winner the grey AJA ANGELO (WH JUSTICE x AJA AAISHA) bred by Mr. & Mrs. J. Hickford and owned by Al Baydaa Stud.IWith Classes full of beautiful

Arabians, the Dubai International Arabian Horses Show was - also this year - ‘rich’ from every point of view, starting from the large number of people who swarmed in, the exquisiteness of the facility hosting this lovely three-day event, the generous prize money and, last but not least, the excellent job done by the organizers. The appointment is renewed for next year with other extraordinary upcoming champions!

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GHADEER AM

AJ MARDAN x GHAZALAT AL MOHAMADIA OWNER: AJMAN STUD BREEDER: MOHAMADIA STUD

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Points | 32.00

D MUMAYYAZAH FA EL RASHEEM x M RANDY

OWNER: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD BREEDER: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD

Points | 20.00

MADINAT AL BAYDAA RFI FARID x TS MADELEINE

OWNER: AL BAYDAA STUD BREEDER: AHMED FATHY AL TALAWY

Points | 17.00

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D SHALLAL

FA EL RASHEEM x D SHAHLA OWNER: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD BREEDER: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD

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Points | 38.00

AJ KAFU

SHANGHAI EA x AJ KAHAYLA OWNER: AJMAN STUD BREEDER: AJMAN STUD

Points | 15.00

YAS BHM

KAHIL AL SHAQAB x CATERINA FM OWNER: ALI GHANEM ALI HUMAILA ALMAZROUEI BREEDER: ALI GHANEM ALI HUMAILA ALMAZROUEI

Points | 13.00

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D AYAYEB

RFI FARID x LADI VERONIKA OWNER: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD BREEDER: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD

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Points | 40.00

ARIA AL BAYDAA

AJMAN MONISCIONE x RA MARWANS ELYGANCE OWNER: AL BAYDAA STUD BREEDER: PREMIER BREEDERS LLC

Points | 10.00

KAMOUNEH AL ZOBAIR RFI FARID x NESJ EL KHIDOUNA

OWNER: SHEIKH ABDULLA BIN MOHAMMED ALI ALTHANI BREEDER: AL ZOBAIR STUD

Points | 8.00

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FUERTE

SHANGHAI EA x FRYMUSZKA Owner: SAAD, SAMI MOHAMMAD S Breeder: JAN DOBRZYNSKI

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Points | 38.00

PHARAOH HBV

PSYCHE HBV x RFI SOPHIE ALMAKTUB OWNER: AL BAYDAA STUD BREEDER: CURY LUCIANO

Points | 15.00

OMEAR AL HAWAJER SH-HAB AL HAWAJER x GHARSHOUB AL HAWAJER

OWNER: DR. GHANEM MOHAMED OBAID AL HAJRI BREEDER: DR. GHANEM MOHAMED OBAID AL HAJRI

Points | 11.00

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FT SHAELLA

SHAEL DREAM DESERT x SOUL PRETTY TGS OWNER: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD BREEDER: FLAVIA MARIA RAMALHO TORRES

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Points | 33.00

NORMA

GAZAL AL SHAQAB x NINA OWNER: SONS OF ABDULLAH BIN MOHAMED AL SUBAIE BREEDER: SK MICHALOW STUD

Points | 13.00

ELLE FLAMENCA AJMAN MONISCIONE x ALLAMARA MA

OWNER: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD BREEDER: MARKELLE ARABIANS

Points | 13.00

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EXCALIBUR EA

SHANGHAI EA x ESSENCE OF MARWAN EA OWNER: LAS ROSAS ARABIANS BREEDER: EQUUS ARABIANS

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Points | 35.00

BAANDEROS

MARWAN AL SHAQAB x HB BESSOLEA OWNER: HRH PRINCE KHALID BIN SULTAN BIN ABDUL AZIZ AL SAUD BREEDER: TAYLOR HICKMAN ARABIANS

Points | 19.00

AJA ANGELO WH JUSTICE x AJA AAISHA

OWNER: AL BAYDAA STUD BREEDER: MR M. & MRS J. HICKFORD

Points | 9.00

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Text by Sonja Smaldone - Soad Badwan Photos by: Gregor Aymar - Erwin Escher - Nicoletta Abelli Abdulrhman Damrah - Jan Kan - Irina Filsinger

S

ince its inception in 2007, Dubai Arabian Horse Stud fast became one of the world’s most successful Straight Egyptian and Pure Bred horse farms.

Dubai Arabian Horse Stud has left their mark on International Arabian horse shows, producing Champion after Champion and gaining respect from around the world, as leaders in the industry. Managed, by Mohammed Al Tawheedi and Abdelaziz Al Marzooqi, they acquired top quality horses that have enhanced Dubai Stud, both in the

show arena and their breeding programs. Creating good relationships with many breeders and studs around the world, with their support, Dubai Stud is making important contributions to the growth of breeding worldwide. In few years Dubai Arabian Horse Stud has collected many important International Awards such as: the European Championship, All Nations Cup in Aachen, Menton and several shows in Europe, mastering a prestigious achievement- in only two years - in

the World Championship in Paris 2009, with the stunning bay stallion Royal Colours.

The accurate research, great planning, passion and commitment of Mohammed Al Tawheedi and Abdelaziz Al Marzooqi have allowed Dubai Arabian Horse Stud to take a very important step forward by introducing in their breeding program the technique of Embryo Transfer. This innovation has made it possible for Dubai Stud to try up all their wonderful mares faster, thereby accelerating their breeding process. This way they have managed to produce a wide array of Champion horses raised and bred by them.

In the last few years, in particular, their discovery of the American born stallion FA El Rasheem (Fa El Shawan x Virtuosa by Versace) has proved to be a fundamental crossing with their mares producing many Champions in shows, among which the World Champion Yearling Colt 2016 D Seraj (Fa El Rasheem x Ladi Veronica). Last year 2016 Dubai Stud has crowned one of their most important dreams by gaining the most coveted ‘Award as Best Breeder’ in the world at the World Championship in Paris. Thanks to the introduction of the amazing technology of Embryo Transfer, Dubai Arabian Horse Stud will produce even more astonishing Arabian horses and unquestionably more stellar Champions. When you think about Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, there is no doubt that their slogan rings true –‘Born to Lead...Bred to Excel’ 238

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Eng.Mohammed Al Tawheedi - General Manager Abdelaziz Al Marazeeq - Executive Manager 241

Middle: H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Left: H.E.Mohammed Al Gurgawi Right: Eng.Mohammed Al Tawheedi

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Middle: H.H Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Right: Eng. Mohammed Al Tawheedi Left: Abdelaziz Al Marazeeq

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Middle: HH Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum Right: Eng. Mohammed Al Tawheedi Left: Abdelaziz Al Marazeeq

Middle: H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Right: H.H Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Left: Eng. Mohammed Al Tawheedi

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From left: Giampaolo Gubbiotti - Paolo Capecci - Susy Gurschler - Steve Dady

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www.dubaiarabianstud.com 257

WRITTEN BY NOEMIE ZELLER PHOTOS BY GLENN JACOBS

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n the 19th of March 2017, late in the afternoon, we flew to one of the world most beautiful places where you can find some of the finest Arabian Horses. This place is the amazing Stable of Al Zobair. The team of Micheal Van Den Elsken and Margot Chazel arranged a wonderful evening with nice food, great music and a lovely atmosphere – accompanied by a presentation of some of the most beautiful Arabian Horses in the world.

Early in the evening, we saw some of the straight Egyptian foals by Egaab Al Rayyan, a very refined stallion going back to Ansata Nile Echo.

There was the white mare Tamima Al Zobair out of Tammam Albadeia going back to Simeon Sharav and her grey filly foal by Egaab Al Rayyan, Maryanah Al Zobair by Al Mamunah going back to Maysoun and her grey colt by Egaab and a half-sister to Maryanah, the beautiful Bint Al Mamunah Al Zobair by nothing else than Al Adeed Al Shaqab and her grey filly by Egaab.

It was stunning to see an exceptional foal crop by the amazing Cavalli, DA Valentino son out of Aspyn a daughter of Padron Psyche. He covered for sure some of the most beautiful mares and we saw some very promising babies like the beautiful Ammoriah Al Zobair a daughter of the incredible producer S.M.A. Magic One and she proved that the Magic One’s daughters are fabulous producers too, just like her half-sister Taghreed Al Zobair with her grey filly by Cavalli. They presented to the public also a wonderful white mare. her name is Nesj El Khidonna and she impressed us with a very pretty filly also her by Cavalli. We were lucky to see also a daughter of the very special mare Tehama Bllalina that was named Silver World Champion mare in Paris 2016; her daughter whose name is Belbelah Al Zobair is also by Magic One and she was presented with a very elegant filly by Cavalli on her side.

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HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Thani

www.alzobairstud.com 259

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During that evening, there were many highights but a very special one was that when we saw once more the World Gold Champion mare Salwa Al Zobair who in my opinion is getting more beautiful every year. On her side, there was a little bay filly and she nothing else than a daughter of the well-known and highly appreciated FA El Rasheem. There was presented also another very beautiful daughter of Salwa. Her name is Jareen Al Zobair by S.M.A. Magic One, also this an exceptional cross.

We got to see also some pearls form Al Zobair and

one of them is the Polish beauty Pistoria and it’s every time a pleasure to see her and the two Klass daughters, Klassical Presence MI and Klassical Devotion MI, both very special mares.

At the end of this very nice evening we got to see the temporal sire of Al Zobair - Fakhr Al Khalidiah

by World Champion Marquis Cahr and Barah Al Khalediah.

We like to tell thank you to the whole team of Al Zobair. It was a wonderful event and a special thank you to his Highness Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Ali Al Thani.

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Photos by JOELLE MĂœLLER

Pistoria (Gazal AL Shaqab x Palmira)

Ghanadir Al Zobair (MCA Magnum Gold x Thoraya Al Zobair)

Colt Foal (Cavalli x Ammoriah Al Zobair)

Kamouneh Al Zobair (RFI Farid x Nesj El Khidouna)

Jareen Al Zobair (SMA Magic One x Salwa Al Zobair)

Mahassan AL Zobair (SMA Magic One x HW Egyptian Art)

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Filly Foal (Cavalli x Helky Morab)

EGAAB AL RAYYAN (Ansata Nile Echo x Nadrah Al Rayyan)

Barjass Al Zobair (SMA Magic One x FM Gloriaa)

Suhaila Al Zobair (SMA Magic One x HCE Magdonna)

Nawal Al Zobair (SMA Magic One x Fakhira Al Zobair)

Tasneem Al Zobair (SMA Magic One x Tamryia Al Zobair)

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ood morning Bernat! First of all thank you very much for agreeing to be interviewed by our Magazine. Let’s start from the very beginning.

• How and when did this passion you nurture for the Purebred Arabian horse and Morphology arise?

I think I was 4 or 5 years old when my father first came home with an Arabian colt. The colt soon became part of the family and we started to visit studs and shows to know more about Arabian horses.

• To what extent has this love you have acquired for the Arabian horse influenced your life?

I love them and I can’t imagine my life without Arabian horses, new babies, show seasons and the nice people of this world.

• As we know, you have been working with Arabian horses for long time by now. How’s your feeling about the market for these horses and how did it use to be like in the past? Can you see any changes?

Yes, I can… There has been a big change from the past, the market for Arabian show horses is always going on because everybody likes to be the best breeder, so there is always a new stallion or filly that we will need in our breeding program to mix and get better babies.

• What do the words ‘training/handling’ mean to you?

For me, training and handling is like all disciplines. I train horses to get them at the best of their physical and mental conditions so that they can perform better than the others but always with respect, never with cruelty, simply playing with them.

• What feelings do you receive by training/handling Arabian horses?

Training and Handling a horse is something really special! From the very first day they arrive, you start a relationship with the horse and it’s something amazing to be part of the evolution process of the Arabian horse.

• Is there any particular symbiosis between a handler and his horse?

Yes of course, that is necessary! If there is a symbiosis with the Arabian horse, a handler will always do the best he can for him.

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• In your opinion, what are the qualities needed to become a good handler?

The most important quality you need to be a good Handler is PASSION for the beauty of the Arabian horse.

• What would an experienced handler tell a layman of this world?

Never be too timid to travel far away to meet the best Handlers and take time to learn everything you need from them.

• Out of all horses you have been entrusted to, which is the one you had to bear a greater commitment with?

One of my first horses was Tarok D from Belgium; he was International Champion and Top Ten in Paris.

• Are you also a breeder?

My father and I used to breed a lot of horses but, after his death, I had to stop for many years. Recently, I have been breeding just a little bit and never more than 4 foals.

• Which is your favorite bloodline? Why? Actually, I really like the mix between the lines, but the mix I like the most is between Marwan al Shaqab line and WH Justice line.

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• How should your ideal type of Arabian horse look like? And which features he should have?

I always look at the paintings of Arabian horses as in those works they look well-balanced and display good conformation. There is always a good shoulder, a long neck with a classic Arabian head and a nice body.

• Do you remember your first show?

Yes, of course I do! I joined my first show as an amateur. I was only twelve years old; I was in Spain and participated in the competition with a three years old filly we had bred.

• How did you expand your theoretical and practical knowledge on handling and training show horses?

I will always be grateful to everyone who gave me the chance to learn.

I was in too many professionals places. The first place I was it is Ca’ Di Gianni under the guidance of Paolo Capecci, Woody Gubbiotti and Toader. I had also the honor to learn from Rinaldo Loguini and many other professionals who all helped me improve myself and the quality of my job.

• Do you miss past times contests or do you prefer the atmosphere we see at today’s festivals?

There has always been a nice atmosphere in the Arabian horses events and, I think, it is getting better today.

• What’s your message to today’s breeders?

Thank you for the good breeding programs they have; without their contribution, it would be just impossible for the Arabian horse world to develop and expand.

• What really got you into Morphology competitions?

It was my father who got me started with Morphology.

• In which country did you experience a better quality of the organization of a show?

I am happy to say that in all countries where I showed my horses there was always a super organization.

• Is there any victory you feel particular close to?

All victories are important to me and I can remember all of them but one that always comes to my mind is my first French National Championship and that was with the horse Ainhoa le Basque many years ago.

• Do the most deserving horses in terms of today’s standards really win?

They close up wins because it’s the standards which tell us how the morphology of the Arabian horse is and also what we need to produce next. But there are different ways to understand the standards and, all judges, they judge as they understand these standards.

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• What are the conformation differences you can notice between today’s Arabian horses and those in the past?

The biggest differences for me are: nicer shoulders, necks in a better position and more refined.

• How important are the Fairs of Arabian horses?

They are really important as they are the place where people come from all over the countries to talk about horses and see the new generations…

• Bernat, we do know that your job keeps you away from home even for extended periods of time…How do you cope with your family and friends? Are they all Arabian horses’ lovers?

It is true that we are away from home some periods, but my beloved ones are also lovers of the Arabian horse so, sometimes, they come with me. We are never estranged for a long time.

• What advice would you give to those who approach the world of Purebred Arabian horse for the first time?

I will tell them to take time to learn and visit the studs and don’t be shy to ask to Breeders or Training Centers for information.

• What are your expectations for the future?

To be able to enjoy the passion for Arabian horses my whole life.

• Bernat, will you please leave a final message for our affectionate readers?

It is a big world for Arabian horses and there is a lot to learn every day about Arabian horses and enjoy them.

Thanks a lot Bernat…It was an honor talking to you. We feel to wish you all the best in your future endeavors…

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WRITTEN BY SONJA SMALDONE - Photos by ANTONIO CARACCIOLO

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T

he sea sparkled in the sun. From the car windows it looked like a shimmering blue blanket.

However, that was not the only breathtaking sight on display. Next to the crystal waters there appeared majestic landscapes, in a spellbinding panorama embodying what Goethe called ‘the harmonious union of the sky with the sea and the sea with the land’.

This spectacular scenery almost felt like a loving embrace before we arrived in the city of Palermo. Once we finally got to the ‘Parco della Favorita’ we were warmly welcomed by Antonio Culcasi as the organizer of the Palermo Arabian Horse Cup, Michele Trapani as the creator of the Event, (both Purebred Arabian horse breeders) and the incredible Monte Erice Equestrian staff. We were showed around this spectacular property that stretches for almost 400 hectares of land on the slopes of the ‘Monte Pellegrino’. The ‘Parco della Favorita’ was created in 1799 by Ferdinando III of Borbons whom was forced to leave the Kingdom of Naples, already taken by the French Army. Once moved to Sicily, he succeeded to dispossess 400 hectares of land from the aristocratic families of that time to create the Royal Park of Favorita, a name which reminded of the homonym Reggia dei Portici. At the beginning, it was born as a field for agricultural experiments and private hunting reserve, garnished by statues and fountains in mythological style. Indeed, the two most important boulevards are dedicated

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l mare luccicava baciato dal sole. Dal finestrino della macchina, apparve come un tappeto blu scintillante. Il mare era il protagonista indiscusso ma non il solo. Accanto alle acque cristalline si estendevano paesaggi maestosi, in un panorama mozzafiato che racchiudeva in sé ciò che Goethe definì “L’unione armoniosa del cielo con il mare, e del mare con la terra”. Questo scenario straordinario sembrava quasi volesse avvolgerci in un caloroso abbraccio di benvenuto prima di giungere nella città di Palermo. Finalmente arrivati al ‘Parco della Favorita’ fummo calorosamente accolti da Antonio Culcasi, organizzatore della Palermo Arabian Horse Cup, Michele Trapani, ideatore della manifestazione, (entrambi allevatori del Purosangue Arabo), e l’incredibile team equestre Monte Erice.

Fummo così accompagnati alla scoperta di questa spettacolare proprietà che si estende per quasi 400 ettari di terreno alle falde del ‘Monte Pellegrino’. Il ‘Parco della Favorita’ venne creato nel 1799 da Ferdinando III di Borbone il quale fu costretto a lasciare il Regno di Napoli, già espugnato dall’esercito francese. Una volta trasferitosi in Sicilia, il Re riuscì a spodestare 400 ettari di terra da alcune delle famiglie aristocratiche del tempo per creare il Parco Reale della Favorita, nome che ricorda l’omonima Reggia dei Portici. All’inizio, era nato come campo per gli esperimenti agricoli e riserva di caccia privata, guarnita da statue e fontane in stile mitologico. Infatti, i due viali più importanti furono dedicati alla Dea della caccia Diana e a Ercole, l’eroe mitologico delle dodici fatiche. All’interno del parco, visitammo la Palazzina Cinese, una residenza di caccia in stile esotico del Re Ferdinando IV di Borbone, e la settecentesca Villa Valguarnera di Niscemi, oggi sede legale del Sindaco di Palermo Leoluca Orlando, che fu

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to the Goddess of hunting Diana and to the 12 struggles-hero Hercules. Within the park, we visited the Palazzina Cinese, an exotic-style house of hunting of King Ferdinando IV of Borbons, and the eighteenth-century Villa Valguarnera di Niscemi, nowadays registered address of the current Mayor of Palermo, Leoluca Orlando who was there as the official Sponsor of the event together with Salvatore Orlando, President of the Palermo Municipal Council. The welcoming dinner strictly reserved to the guests of the show – gallantly offered by the Presidency of the City Council and held at the beautiful Massimo Theatre - was above all expectations.

The conversation and the food (and wine, of course!) were wonderful. We lingered over multiple courses, sipping several bottles of local wines, biting into voluptuous cakes and typically Palermo flavored pastries, a whole ceremonial banquet for us where all sorts of dishes and local specialties were generously - and proudly - exposed and served in front of our lustful eyes: ‘Bread with panelle’, ‘Bread with potato croquettes’, ‘Bread with fried spleen’, ‘Pasta with Sarde’,’ Cassata cake’, ‘Cannoli ‘pastries…Whatever you wanted was there! With excellent food and company, the evening moved on in a really friendly and familiar atmosphere. We got back to the hotel late at night, after an unforgettable stroll in downtown. Everywhere we looked, there was only so much beauty to see. Palermo is a ‘living theater’, where it is still vibrant the Arabic-Norman influences that perfectly blend with the Mediterranean landscape of Palermo. In Sicily the layers of history are many and they tend to refuse to lie buried. Some buildings have their historical roots in the glorious age of the Norman Kings, when Arab and Byzantine artists and craftsmen worked in fruitful harmony in the trilingual capital of the Mediterranean. And there stood the Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio, known as La Martorana, and the Church of San Salvatore, founded in 1072 by Roberto il Guiscardo, the Cathedral, the Church of San Cataldo, the Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti. We were told that some Churches such as Sant’ Agostino, San Francesco, San Domenico, recall the glorious past of the great religious orders that dominated social life, the universities and culture in Medieval Europe. Some sacred sites are authentic Baroque 294

lo Sponsor ufficiale della manifestazione insieme al Presidente del Consiglio Comunale di Palermo, Salvatore Orlando. La Cena di Gala riservata strettamente agli ospiti dello Show – gentilmente offerta dalla Presidenza del Consiglio Comunale e tenutasi nel bellissimo Teatro Massimo – fu al di sopra di ogni aspettativa.

La conversazione e il cibo (e il vino, ovviamente!) semplicemente meravigliosi. Indugiammo su portate multiple, sorseggiando numerose bottiglie di vini locali, addentando dolci voluttuosi dai sapori tipicamente Palermitani, un intero banchetto cerimoniale tutto per noi dove ogni sorta di pietanza e specialità del posto venne generosamente – e orgogliosamente - esposta e servita davanti a nostri occhi concupiscenti: Pane con le Panelle, Pane con le Crocché, Pane con la Milza, Pasta con le Sarde, Cassata siciliana, cannoli … Ogni ben di Dio era lì. Con cibo e compagnia ottimi, la serata trascorse in un’atmosfera davvero conviviale e familiare. Ritornammo in hotel a tarda ora, dopo un’indimenticabile passeggiata per la città. Ovunque volgessimo lo sguardo, c’era solo tanta bellezza. Palermo è un teatro vivente, dove ancora forte vive l’impronta Arabo-Normanna che perfettamente si sposa con il paesaggio mediterraneo di Palermo.

Qui gli strati della storia si sono sovrapposti l’uno all’altro e spesso sono compresenti. Ci sono edifici che poggiano le loro fondamenta e la loro storia sull’età gloriosa dei normanni, quando maestranze arabe e bizantine lavoravano in operosa concordia nella Palermo trilingue capitale del Mediterraneo. E lì sorgeva Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio detta La Martorana, San Salvatore fondata nel 1702 da Roberto il Guiscardo, la Cattedrale, la Chiesa di San Cataldo, la Chiesa di San Giovanni degli Eremiti. Ci fu inoltre spiegato che altre Chiese come Sant’Agostino, San Francesco, San Domenico, testimoniano la gloria dei grandi ordini religiosi che dominarono la vita sociale, l’università, e la cultura nell’Italia e nell’Europa nel Medioevo. Alcuni luoghi sacri sono autentici teatrini barocchi, come Santa Maria della Pietà e Santa Maria degli Angeli detta La Gancia. Assolutamente spettacolari il Ponte dell’Ammiraglio del 1130, il Castello della Zisa del 1190 dell’Arabo ‘Al-Aziz’ tradotto ‘Il Glorioso’ e il Palazzo Reale dell’XI secolo, oggi sede del Parlamento siciliano. Sabato

little theaters, such as Santa Maria della Pietà and Santa Maria degli Angeli, known as La Gancia. Absolutely spectacular the Ammiraglio’s Bridge of 1130, the Zisa Castle of 1190 built by the Arabic ‘Al-Aziz’ translated into ‘The Glorious’, and the Royal Palace of the eleventh century, and now seat of the Sicilian Parliament. On Saturday 1st April, the show began in the obstacle field named ‘Giuseppe Di Matteo’ within the Park.

The atmosphere was electric. We met several local important personalities of the sector, members of the town council and could gather relevant information. In Sicily, the Arabian horses breeders are almost 200, more than in any other region of Italy and most of them were registered at the VIII Palermo Arabian Horse Show. An extraordinary beauty contest expressly devoted to the Arabian horse where power, elegance, harmony between head and neck, and a distinctive high flagged-tail are a ‘must’ for both judges and breeders alike. For this VIII edition, some of the most beautiful Arabian horses turned up from Italy and

1 Aprile, lo show ebbe inizio al Campo Ostacoli “Giuseppe Di Matteo”, all’interno del Parco della Favorita. L’atmosfera era esilarante. Incontrammo alcune importanti personalità locali del settore, e fummo in grado di raccogliere informazioni rilevanti.

In Sicilia, gli allevatori dei cavalli arabi sono quasi 200, più che in ogni altra regione d’Italia e la maggior parte di essi erano stati registrati all’ VIII edizione della Palermo Arabian Horse Cup. Un concorso di bellezza straordinario espressamente dedicato al cavallo arabo dove la potenza, l’eleganza, l’armonia tra testa e collo, e una caratteristica coda alta a bandiera è un ‘must’ sia per i giudici che per gli allevatori in egual modo. Per questa VIII edizione, alcuni tra i più bei cavalli arabi allevati in Italia e all’estero sfilarono in trotto lungo il Ring, per poi fermarsi a mettersi in posa davanti a un Comitato di sette g i u d i c i internazionali composto da: Bakker Cedes (Paesi Bassi); Kedar Chen (Israele); Moschini Cr i stian

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abroad and paraded along the ring in trot, then stopped to strike a pose in front of an international seven-judge panel composed by: Mr. Bakker Cedes (The Netherlands); Mr. Kedar Chen (Israel); Mr. Moschini Cristian (Italy); Mrs. Stigler Irina (Russia); Mr. Tarczynski Tomasz (Poland); Mr. Sorroca Albert (probationer); Mrs. Nasr Amira (Probationer). The Disciplinary Commission was represented by: Mr. Frezza Marco; Mrs. Raso Barbara; Mr. Betti Walter and Dr. Vet. Fantauzzo Giuseppe. Excellent the job done by: Mr. Bonomi Mario in his qualities of Ring master; Mrs. Boschini Mirjam as official commentator of the show and by Mrs. Alinovi Marzia as general secretary. There were 150 registered horses divided in 18 categories according to sex and year of birth: fillies, colts, mares and stallions. The categories 15-18 were dedicated to the Straight Egyptian breed. For two unforgettable days, we watched the competition together with the breeders from the VIP tables. Screams and shouts of encouragement were being launched to the horses in the ring. Later on, on those same tables, the coveted trophies were eventually put on display with unbridled proud of the winners! Due to rainy weather, the Final Championships were entirely showed on April 1st and they gave the following results: As for the Yearling Fillies Championship, gold medal winner the very pretty chestnut MC CHANEL BY DAVIDE (AG NOBEL DAVIDE x DANUBIA EL AZIZ) bred and owned

by Mario Cerveglione. Silver medal winner the bay GRETA MAA (MONNTRACHET x FARAH BY SHALOM) bred and owned by Tenuta Agricola Poggio Binaia. Bronze medal winner the bay ESTROVERSA (LBA AVALON x ESSTROSA AAS) bred and owned by Moscarelli Michele. The Yearling Colts Championship was won by the bay ARETUSA KING (ARETUSA Shamir x FARIDA PC) bred and owned by Aretusa Arabians of Pippo Palumbo.

Silver medal for the gray ELYSEO (LBA x AVALON LADY ELIXIR) bred and owned

by Gallina Salvatore. Bronze medal for the bay NAHID (LEBANON MPE x AMANDA

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(Italia); Stigler Irina (Russia); Tarczynski Tomasz (Polonia); Sorroca Albert (Probationer); Nasr Amira (Probationer). La Commissione Disciplinare era costituita da: Frezza Marco; Raso Barbara; Betti Walter e Dr. Vet. Fantauzzo Giuseppe.

Eccellente il lavoro svolto da: Bonomi Mario in qualità di Ring master; Boschini Mirjam come speaker ufficiale dello show e da Alinovi Marzia in qualità di segretaria generale. C’erano circa 150 cavalli registrati suddivisi in 18 categorie in base al sesso e anno di nascita: puledre, puledri, fattrici e stalloni. Le categorie 15-18 erano dedicate esclusivamente alla razza pura egiziana.

Per due giorni indimenticabili, guardammo la competizione dai tavoli VIP in compagnia degli allevatori. Urla e grida d’incoraggiamento erano lanciate ai cavalli sul ring. Più tardi su quegli stessi tavoli, i trofei tanto ambiti fecero finalmente la loro comparsa con orgoglio incontenibile da parte dei vincitori!

A causa della pioggia, i Campionati finali furono tutti disputati sabato 1 Aprile e avevano dato i seguenti risultati.

Per quanto riguarda il campionato puledre Yearling, vincitrice della medaglia d’oro la graziosissima saura MC CHANEL

BY DAVIDE (AG NOBEL DAVIDE x DANUBIA EL AZIZ) allevata e di proprietà di Cerveglione Mario. Medaglia d’argento per la baia GRETA MAA (MONNTRACHET x FARAH BY SHALOM) allevata e di proprietà della Società Agricola Tenuta Poggio Binaia Srl. Medaglia di bronzo per la baia ESTROVERSA (AVALON LBA x AAS ESSTROSA) allevata e di proprietà di Moscarelli Michele.

Il Campionato puledri Yearling fu vinto dal baio ARETUSA KING (ARETUSA SHAMIR x FARIDA PC) allevato e di proprietà di Aretusa Arabians di Pippo Palumbo.

Medaglia d’argento per il grigio ELYSEO (AVALON LBA x LADY ELISIR) allevato e di proprietà di Gallina Salvatore.

Medaglia di bronzo per il baio NAHID (LIBANO MPE x GS AMANDA) allevato e di proprietà di Griffo Matteo.

Per quanto concerne il Campionato puledre Juniors, vincitrice della medaglia d’oro l’incantevole grigia OBAYANA KA

GS) bred and owned by Griffo Matteo.

As for the Juniors Fillies Championship, winner of the gold medal the lovely gray OBAYANA KA (ESPRESSIVO x ODALIS DE NAUTIAC) bred and owned by Knocke Arabians.

Silver medal winner the bay DAPHNE (ARETUSA SHAMIR x LUMIAR BACHIANNA) bred and owned by Aretusa Arabians of Pippo Palumbo. Bronze medal winner the gray EL JADIDA MAGIC (MAGIC MAGIC PHARAOH x OHARA) bred and owned by Fontanella Magic Arabians.

Winner of the Junior Colts Championship the handsome gray ALEXANDER PC (SHANGHAI EA x FARIDA PC) bred and owned by Capizzi Francesco Paolo. Silver medal for the bay QS MARZIO (EMERALD J x NAWAL BY APOLO) bred and owned by Morando Giovanni from Qirat Stud. Bronze medal for the gray Hanaya KARAM (KENZ AL BAYDAA x HANAYA ELISSAE) bred and owned by Hanaya Stud.

To drew the Final Championships to a close, as always, the Seniors Categories. As For the Mares Category, Gold Champion medal a beautiful daughter of the stallion QR MARC and out of ESPADRILLA, the gray ELAN DE MARC K.A bred and owned by Paul Gheysens NV Zoutekreken. Silver medal for the bay SOLEIKA AS (FS MICHELANGELO x SUOLI) bred and owned by Le Quercette Farm. Bronze medal for the gray PAPAYA (EKSTERN x PSYCHE ) bred by Janow Podlaski and owned by Brugman Arabians.The grand entrance of the fabulous gray stallion Engulo EEA (SHANGHAI EA x ENJORA E.) into the arena burst into a general elation among the spectators. On that day, this wonderful Arabian specimen gave us a stunning performance that left everyone in suspense and earned him the title of Gold Medal Champion!

Engulo EEA is bred by Enzo LTD and owned by Fontanella Magic Arabians.

Silver medal for the gray TF STAR IBN PSEQUEL (PSEQUEL x TF LUNA) bred and owned by Tripodi Francesco. Bronze medal for the gray SUMMUM MARC K.A. (QR MARC x L SERENELLA) bred by Nv ZOUTEKREKEN- Knocke Arabians and

(ESPRESSIVO x ODALIS DE NAUTIAC) allevata e di proprietà di Knocke Arabians. Medaglia d’argento per la baia DAFNE (ARETUSA SHAMIR x LUMIAR BACHIANNA) allevata e di proprietà di Arestusa Arabians di Pippo Palumbo. Medaglia di bronzo per la grigia MAGIC EL JADIDA (MAGIC FARAONE x MAGIC OHARA) allevata e di proprietà di Fontanella Magic Arabians. Vincitore del Campionato puledri Juniors, il bellissimo grigio ALEXANDER PC (SHANGHAI EA x FARIDA PC) allevato e di proprietà di Capizzi Francesco Paolo.

Medaglia d’argento per il baio QS MARZIO (EMERALD J x NAWAL BY APOLO) allevato e di proprietà di Qirat Stud di Morando Giovanni. Medaglia di bronzo per il grigio HANAYA KARAM (KENZ AL BAYDAA x HANAYA ELISSAR) allevato e di proprietà di Hanaya Stud. A chiudere il Campionato, come sempre, le Categorie Seniors. Campionessa medaglia d’oro, una bellissima figlia dello stallone QR MARC e da ESPADRILLA, la grigia ELAN DE MARC K.A allevata e di proprietà di Paul Gheysens NV Zoutekreken. Medaglia d’argento per la baia AS SOLEIKA (FS MICHELANGELO x SUOLI) allevata e di proprietà di Soc. Agricola Le Quercette. Medaglia di bronzo per la grigia PAPAYA (EKSTERN x PSYCHE) allevata da Janow Podlaski e di proprietà di Brugman Arabians.

L’entrata in arena del favoloso stallone grigio Engulo EEA (SHANGAI EA x ENJORA E.) suscitò un tripudio generale tra gli spettatori. Quel giorno, questo meraviglioso esemplare arabo ci regalò una performance davvero strabiliante che lasciò tutti col fiato sospeso e che, infine, gli valse il titolo di Campione medaglia d’oro! Engulo EEA è allevato da Enzo LTD e di proprietà di Fontanella Magic Arabians. Medaglia d’argento per il grigio TF STAR IBN PSEQUEL (PSEQUEL x TF LUNA) allevato e di proprietà di Tripodi Francesco. Medaglia di bronzo per il grigio SUMMUM MARC K.A. (QR MARC x L. SERENELLA) allevato da NV ZOUTEKREKEN- KNOCKE ARABIANS e di proprietà di Knocke Arabians.

Domenica 2 Aprile furono poi disputate le

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owned by Knocke Arabians.

On Sunday, April 2nd there were exhibited the Futurity Categories, the III Egyptian Event solely dedicated to the Egyptian breed, and the III Sicily Cup, reserved for those horses born and bred in Sicily. Futurity Female Champion, the gray LEENA (ARETUSA Shamir x LEYLA PC) bred and owned by Capizzi Francesco Paolo. Futurity Male Champion, the gray Magnificat MAGIC (MAGIC MON AMI x SULTAN VENUS) bred and owned by Fontanella Magic Arabians. The III Egyptian Event was won by the gray Hanaya JAZEEBAH (KENZ AL BAIDAA x IMHAJAA) bred and owned by Hanaya Stud as regards the Fillies Category and by the handsome gray colt Hanaya Kamill (KENZ AL BAYDAA x DESHA MALIKAH) bred and owned by Hanaya Arabians and Nayla Hayek as for the Males Category; by the beautiful SULTAN VENUS (AL Maraam x Sharifa AL KADIR) bred by Bolzieri Roberto and owned by Fontanella Magic Arabians as for the Mares Category and by the bay AL ANEED LDA (ALIXIR x ILLA Magidaa) bred by LD Arabians and owned by Hanaya Arabians and Nayla Hayek as for the Stallions Category.

The Third Sicily Cup was won by the pretty chestnut MC CHANEL BY DAVID (AG NOBEL DAVIDE x DANUBIA EL AZIZ) bred and owned by Cerveglione Mario as regards the Females Category, while the bay ARETUSA KING (ARETUSA SHAMIR x FARIDA PC) bred and owned by

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Categorie Futurity, il III Egyptian Event, dedicato alla razza egiziana, e la III Sicily Cup, riservata ai cavalli nati e allevati in Sicilia. Campionessa Futurity Femmine, la grigia LEENA (ARETUSA SHAMIR x LEYLA PC) allevata e di proprietà di Capizzi Francesco Paolo. Campione Futurity Maschi, il grigio MAGIC MAGNIFICAT (MAGIC MON AMI x SULTAN VENUS) allevato e di proprietà di Fontanella Magic Arabians.

Il III Egyptian Event fu vinto dalla grigia HANAYA JAZEEBAH (KENZ AL BAIDAA x IMHAJAA) allevata e di proprietà di Hanaya Stud per quanto riguarda la categoria delle puledre femmine; dal grigio HANAYA KAMILL (KENZ AL BAYDAA x DESHA MALIKAH) allevato e di proprietà di Hanaya Arabians and Nayla Hayek, per quanto concerne la categoria dei puledri maschi; dalla bella SULTAN VENUS (AL MARAAM x SHARIFA AL KADIR) allevata da Bolzieri Roberto e di proprietà di Fontanella Magic Arabians per la categoria fattrici e, infine, dal baio AL ANEED LDA (ALIXIR x ILLA MAGIDAA) allevato da LD Arabians e di proprietà di Hanaya Arabians e di Nayla Hayek per la categoria stalloni.

La III Sicily Cup fu vinta dalla saura MC CHANEL BY DAVIDE

Aretusa Arabians and owned by Pippo Palumbo grabbed the trophy for the Males Category.

Two collateral initiatives, always themed, further enriched the days of Saturday and Sunday thanks to the collaboration of the Arabian’s Ranch Valle del Belice. In fact, the Regional Arabian Saddled Horse Competition and the first stage of the Sicily Regional Fitetrec-Ante Championship took place at the B and C fields inside the ‘Parco della Favorita’. A spring sweetsmelling weekend thoroughly devoted to the immortality of the Arabian horse who those days only rode ‘back’ home… in Sicily. The beauty, elegance, power and irresistible charisma of such a ‘creature’ so close to our hearts were being celebrated there, in Palermo, at the ‘Parco Della Favorita’, in a breathtaking landscape which only could be worth a Show of this magnitude. And that, it could only be born - and made possible - thanks to the joint effort and extensive mobilization of institutions and people. Heartfelt thank you to the organizer of the event Antonio Culcasi, its creator Michele Trapani, the equestrian team Monte Erice, the members of the ‘Italian National Association of the Arabian Horse’ (Anica); the official photographers: Joelle Muller, Anna Marino, Miky Milazzo, Antonio Caracciolo, Giorgia Anselmo; handlers and breeders, their families and the many sponsors which intervened!

(AG NOBEL DAVIDE x DANUBIA EL AZIZ allevata e di proprietà di Cerveglione Mario per quanto riguarda la categoria femmine; mentre per la categoria maschi il trofeo fu assegnato al baio ARETUSA KING (ARETUSA SHAMIR x FARIDA PC) allevato e di proprietà di Aretusa Arabians di Pippo Palumbo.

Due iniziative collaterali, sempre a tema, arricchirono ulteriormente le giornate di sabato e domenica grazie alla collaborazione dell’Associazione Arabian’s Ranch Valle del Belice.

Infatti nei campi B e C del Parco della Favorita si svolsero il 1° Concorso Regionale del Cavallo Arabo Montato e la prima tappa del Campionato Regionale Sicilia Fitetrec-Ante. Un weekend odoroso di primavera, dedicato all’immortalità del cavallo arabo che in quei giorni era soltanto ritornato a ‘casa’, in Sicilia. La bellezza, l’eleganza, la potenza e il carisma irresistibile di questa ‘creatura’ così vicina ai nostri cuori furono celebrati lì, a Palermo, al ‘Parco della Favorita’, in un paesaggio naturale mozzafiato, degna cornice di uno spettacolo di tale portata. E, che, soltanto, poteva nascere – e fu reso possibile - grazie allo sforzo congiunto e al coinvolgimento capillare di istituzioni e persone.

Eccezionale davvero il lavoro svolto da tutti. Ringraziamo di cuore: l’organizzatore della manifestazione Antonio Culcasi, il suo ideatore Michele Trapani, il team equestre Monte Erice, i membri della ‘Associazione Nazionale Italiana del Cavallo Arabo’ (Anica), i fotografi ufficiali: Joelle Muller (Svizzera), Anna Marino, Miky Milazzo, Antonio Caracciolo e Giorgia Anselmo; gli handlers, gli allevatori, le loro famiglie e i tantissimi Sponsors intervenuti!

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The Palermo Cup Staff with the judges, ring master, disciplinary commission and the Mayor of Palermo Leoluca Orlando

LEOLUCA ORLANDO

Sindaco di Palermo

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ANTONIO CULCASI

Organizzatore Palermo Cup

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From left: Town Hall Responsible (Michele Trapani); Mayor of Palermo (Leoluca Orlando), Organizer (Antonio Culcasi), Judges Fausto Scansi e Irina Stigler

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From left the judges Cristian Moschini , Tomas Tarczynsky and Eyad Safadi awarded by Mayor Leoluca Orlando

The famous breeder Albert Sorroca from Equus Arabians (Spain) as judge assistant in Palermo

The judge assistent Amira Nasr with the international judge Cedes Bakker

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Yearling Fillies

MC CHANEL BY DAVIDE

AG NOBEL DAVIDE X DANUBIA EL AZIZ

OWNER | CERVEGLIONE MARIO BREEDER | CERVEGLIONE MARIO

GRETA MAA

MONNTRACHET X FARAH BY SHALOM

OWNER | SOCIETA’ AGR. TENUTA POGGIO BINAIA SRL BREEDER | SOCIETA’ AGR. TENUTA POGGIO BINAIA SRL

ESTROVERSA

AVALON LBA X AAS ESSTROSA

OWNER | MOSCARELLI MICHELE BREEDER | MOSCARELLI MICHELE

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Points | 16,00

Points | 7,00

Points | 5,00

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

Yearling Colts

ARETUSA KING

ARETUSA SHAMIR X FARIDA PC

OWNER | ARETUSA ARABIANS BREEDER | ARETUSA ARABIANS

ELYSEO

AVALON LBA X LADY ELISIR

OWNER | GALLINA SALVATORE BREEDER | GALLINA SALVATORE

NAHID

LIBANO MPE X GS AMANDA

OWNER | GRIFFO MATTEO BREEDER | GRIFFO MATTEO

Points | 360,00

Points | 355,00

Points | 350,50

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE 309

Junior Fillies

OBAYANA KA

ESPRESSIVO X ODALIS DE NAUTIAC

OWNER | KNOCKE ARABIANS BREEDER | KNOCKE ARABIANS

DAFNE

ARETUSA SHAMIR X LUMIAR BACHIANNA

OWNER | ARETUSA ARABIANS BREEDER | ARETUSA ARABIANS

MAGIC EL JADIDA MAGIC FARAONE X MAGIC OHARA

OWNER | FONTANELLA MAGIC ARABIANS SRL BREEDER | FONTANELLA MAGIC ARABIANS SRL

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Points | 16,00

Points | 7,00

Points | 5,00

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

Junior Colts

ALEXANDER PC

SHANGHAI EA X FARIDA PC

OWNER | CAPIZZI FRANCESCO PAOLO BREEDER | CAPIZZI FRANCESCO PAOLO

QS MARZIO

EMERALD J X NAWAL BY APOLO

OWNER | QIRAT STUD DI MORANDO GIOVANNI BREEDER | QIRAT STUD DI MORANDO GIOVANNI

HANAYA KARAM

KENZ AL BAYDAA X HANAYA ELISSAR

OWNER | HANAYA STUD BREEDER | HANAYA STUD

Points | 12,00

Points | 10,00

Points | 4,00

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE 311

Senior Mares

ELAN DE MARC K.A.

QR MARC X ESPADRILLA

OWNER | ..

BREEDER | PAUL GHEYSENS NV ZOUTEKREKEN

AS SOLEIKA

FS MICHELANGELO X SUOLI

OWNER | SOC. AGR. LE QUERCETTE SRL BREEDER | SOC. AGR. LE QUERCETTE SRL

PAPAYA

EKSTERN X PSYCHE

OWNER | BRUGMAN ARABIANS BREEDER | JANOW PODLASKI

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Points | 16,00

Points | 6,00

Points | 5,00

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

Senior Stallions

ENGULO EEA

SHANGHAI EA X ENJORA E

OWNER |FONTANELLA MAGIC ARABIANS BREEDER | ENZO LTD

TF STAR IBN PSEQUEL

PSEQUEL X TF LUNA

OWNER | TRIPODI FRANCESCO AZ. AGR. BREEDER | TRIPODI FRANCESCO AZ. AGR.

SUMMUM MARC K.A.

QR MARC X L SERENELLA

OWNER | KNOCKE ARABIANS BREEDER | NV ZOUTEKREKEN KNOCKE ARABIANS

Points | 12,00

Points | 8,00

Points | 3,00

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE 313

Futurity Fillies

LEENA PC

ARETUSA SHAMIR X LEYLA PC

OWNER | CAPIZZI FRANCESCO PAOLO BREEDER | CAPIZZI FRANCESCO PAOLO

KATIA BY ZAHARA

EB JAMAL X ZAHARA BY EXCEL

OWNER | RAGAZZO CORRADO BREEDER | RAGAZZO CORRADO

AG NOBEL ODISSEA

AG NOBEL DAVIDE X AG EXPSYTE

OWNER | AG NOBEL ARABIANS BREEDER | ..

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Points | 20,00

Points | 9,00

Points | 6,00

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

Futurity Colts

MAGIC MAGNIFICAT

MAGIC MON AMI X SULTAN VENUS

OWNER | FONTANELLA MAGIC ARABIANS BREEDER | FONTANELLA MAGIC ARABIANS

ADAMANTIO

AG NOBEL MARCUS X MG MALIKA

OWNER | VIRGA FRANCESCO BREEDER | ..

Points | 20,00

Points | 10,00

GOLD

SILVER

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Sicily Cup Female

MC CHANEL BY DAVIDE

AG NOBEL DAVIDE X DANUBIA EL AZIZ

OWNER | CERVEGLIONE MARIO BREEDER | CERVEGLIONE MARIO

DAFNE

ARETUSA SHAMIR X LUMIAR BACHIANNA

OWNER | ARETUSA ARABIANS BREEDER | ARETUSA ARABIANS

GRETA MAA

MONNTRACHET X FARAH BY SHALOM

OWNER | SOCIETA’ AGR. TENUTA POGGIO BINAIA SRL BREEDER | SOCIETA’ AGR. TENUTA POGGIO BINAIA SRL

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Points | 12,00

Points | 6,00

Points | 2,00

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

Sicily Cup Male

ARETUSA KING

ARETUSA SHAMIR X FARIDA PC

OWNER | ARETUSA ARABIANS BREEDER | ARETUSA ARABIANS

ALEXANDER PC

SHANGHAI EA X FARIDA PC

OWNER | CAPIZZI FRANCESCO PAOLO BREEDER | CAPIZZI FRANCESCO PAOLO

QS MARZIO

EMERALD X NAWAL BY APOLO

OWNER | QIRAT STUD DI MORANDO GIOVANNI BREEDER | QIRAT STUD DI MORANDO GIOVANNI

Points | 10,00

Points | 8,00

Points | 3,00

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE 317

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written by Sonja Smaldone

uranas Jassehr, in an Egyptian type, is the ‘apple of the eye’ of Michaela Weidner from Murana Arabians in Germany. This Koheylan Adjuz grey stallion was born at Murana Stud in 2007. He is sired by the stallion Major. A stallion formerly leased by Murana Stud and now a very successful show horse in the Middle East.

Major is sired by the Straight Egyptian stallion El Allah Abu (Thee Desperado) and comes out of the fantastic broodmare Marischka (Plakat) – who was awarded with the title of ELITE mare in Germany. A title some broodmares or stallions receive for their outstanding offspring.

The dam of Jassehr is one of the most successful broodmares of Murana Stud, the beautiful Jana el Bri. Jana el Bri came to Murana Stud as a yearling and has produced some fantastic foals, which gave her the ELITE title as well. The sire of Jana is the exotic CH el Brillo. A son of El Shaklan and out of AZH Basknaborra. The dam of Jana is Julliana el Jamaal who is by the legendary Ali Jamaal and out of one of the best broodmares in Brazil: NV Justa Dream, who is also the dam

of the unforgettable Jullye el Ludjin. Muranas Jassehr is a great representative of his exotic pedigree. His big dark eyes, his exotic face, well shaped neck, smooth body and spectacular movements have gathered him fans all over the world. Also the judges have always been charmed by this exotic stallion. In 2008 he achieved the gold medal unanimously at the show in Exloo, The Netherlands. That same year he was also chosen as the National Champion of Germany.

In 2009, Jassehr won the gold medal at Kauberplatte again unanimously and also won the Breeders Cup. At the stallion license that same year, he took home again the Gold. In 2010 he went to the International A-show in Wels, Austria, to compete against the big boys. He did well and got awarded with the bronze medal. In Ströhen that same year he took home the gold again, which he repeated at the Breeders Cup in Chantilly, France in 2013. In 2015, Jassehr conquered a second place in Menton, France and he has been named Silver Champion Stallion at the Al Khalediah Arabian Horse Festival in Poland in 2016, he has been brought just from Home for fun.

Now at the age of ten, Jassehr has reached a respectable breeding sire age and some of his babies have already conquered the show scene. One of the first foals of Jassehr was the impressive grey colt Muranas Hacin (out of Hacinas Gloria).He was sold to Iran at a young age and won many shows there. One of the most 323

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Muranas Majeed, colt foal

recent success of Jassehrs offspring is the 2013 grey colt Muranas Majeed (out of Muranas Mamuschka) – who claimed the silver medal at the German Nationals in Aachen in 2013. Just to name additional Jassehr’s progeny: the 2013

colt chestnut Muranas Nadir out of Muranas Nasheetah. He had his first Show in Frankfurt and he made it, Class winner and gold champion on the Intern. B-Show in Frankfurt; junior gold champion in Jericho in 2015 and

Muranas Marwanah (*Muranas Marquesa)

Multichampion Colt Muranas Nadir

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1st place at the Israeli Nationals in 2014. The 2013 bay filly Muranas Marwanah out of Muranas Marquesa who was sold to Bahrein.

The 2013 chestnut colt Muranas Nebraska out of Nioba who was sold into Germany. The 2013 black colt Muranas Nasr out of Nirwana Jamaal who was sold into Germany. The 2013 grey colt Muranas Eliah out of El Arba who was sold to China. The 2013 grey colt Muranas Eldor out of Muranas Emira who was sold to Israel. The 2014 grey filly Muranas Nabila out

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Muranas Nour

of Nioba. The 2015 grey filly Muranas Nour out of Muranas Nasheetah. The 2015 grey colt Muranas Emir out of Muranas Emira.

The 2015 grey filly Muranas Nemrah out of

Muranas Magic (Muranas Mutharah) colt foal

Nirwana Jamaal who was sold to Bahrein.

The 2016 chestnut filly Muranas Nasirah out of Muranas Nasheetah. The 2016 black colt 328

Muranas ADL (Muranas Jassehr * Muranas Azeezah)

Muranas Nadeer out of Nirwana Jamaal who was sold into Germany.

The 2016 grey filly Muranas Ela’Iza out of Muranas Emira. The

2016 grey colt Muranas ADL out of Murana’s Azeezah.

The 2016 grey filly Muranas Maha out of Muranas Mooneerah who was sold to France. To finish up the list, we shall mention few little individuals of Jassehr’s 2017 latest crop: the chestnut colt Muranas Nadeem out of Muranas Nasheetah. The chestnut colt Muranas Magic out of Muranas Muhtarah. The grey filly E.S. Amarah out of Lady Amarisa. The chestnut filly E.S. Djenna out of E.S. Darifa and the chestnut colt E.S. Majazz out of Muranas Marquesa.

To name are also three client horses that they did really well like the charismatic Pharouk Al Amaar (*) he was Gold champion Colt at the international

Amurath Mona Lisa

Muranas Jassehr in Aachen

Muranas Jassehr at Al Khalediah Show 2016

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Show in St. Oeddenrode in the Nederland’s.

The multiple Junior Champion mare Czelina S owned

by Alle Arabins in the UK, is not only a very pretty show horse, no she is also very successful presented under saddle. And last but not least the beautiful Amurath Mona Lisa (* Amurath Mofeedah) multiple champion filly and already as a three year old awarded by the German studbook VZAP.

Muranas Jassehr however, is more than just a goodlooking and prolific stallion who has produced wonderful foals. He also has a great temperament, something which is very important to his breeders Michaela Weidner and Michael Verhoeven. ‘Arabian horses need to love people’, they both explain. Jassehr is also being ridden on a daily basis, which is a great test not only for his bodies but also his mind.

Some other Jassehr’s Foals

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Malik colt by Muranas Jassehr

Muranas Majesta (* Mamuscka)

Muranas Nooryiah

Muranas Nadir (* Muranas Naseetha) - Multi Champion

Muranas Nooryiah (* Nirwana Jamaal)

Parys Al Amar, colt foal

Phantasie Al Amar

Pharouk Al Amaar (*Panamerah Al Amar) 2015

Muranas nabila

AJ Nadira, owned by Ajman Stud

Czelina S (*Czelina S)

Mare by Muranas Jassehr

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“

WRITTEN BY SONJA SMALDONE

LAS VEGAS, AN EVERCHANGING FANTASYLAND OF A CITY, HAS SEEN UNBELIEVABLE EXPANSION SINCE IT EMERGED FROM THE DESERT JUST OVER 100 YEARS AGO. THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF LAS VEGAS ARE ENJOYED BY MILLIONS OF VISITORS EVERY YEAR. THEY STAY IN SOME OF THE MOST GLAMOROUS, UNIQUE HOTELS IN THE WORLD. THEY EAT AT FIVE-STAR RESTAURANTS AND EXPENSIVE BUFFETS. THEY PLAY AT CASINOS, POOLS, HEALTH SPAS AND GOLF COURSES. SOMETIMES – MANY TIMES ACTUALLY - THEY EVEN MARRY EACH OTHER! EVERYONE WILL JUST BE DAZZLED BY LAS VEGAS AND ITS SHEER NUMBER OF THINGS TO SEE AND DO CAN SEEM OVERWHELMING….”

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The ‘Silver City’ prides itself in its rich Western history, preserving and heavily promoting its plethora of ‘western’ activities and events. The Arabian Breeders World Cup has taken place in Las Vegas since 2007 and, also this year, it has been a blowout celebration.

From 12th to 15th April 2017, the event returned to the South Point Equestrian Complex for the tenth consecutive year.

A judged competition, it showcased the natural beauty, nobility, excitement and unique characteristics of the Arabian horse breed while providing a lively and entertaining experience for both breeders and those new to Arabian horses.

Presented by the Arabian Horse Breeders Alliance, the Board consisted of Directors: Scott Bailey, Robert Boggs, Jay

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Constanti, Kimberly M. Jarvis, Lawrence Jerome, Murray Popplewell, Robert North, James Swaenpoel and Jeff Sloan.

The ABWC show committee members were Executive Directors: Phyllis LaMalfa; Show Manager, Taryl O’Shea; Sponsorships/VIP Coordinator, Scott Bailey; Commercial/Corporate Coordinator, Kelly Charpentier and Public Relations Director, Riyan Rivero.

The six-person panel of Internationally renowned judges included: Leslie Connor – USA; Terry Holmes – USA; Klaus Beste – KUWAIT; Jack Maritz SOUTH AFRICA; Dr. Nelsom Moreira – BRAZIL; Irina Stigler – RUSSIA and judges Coordinator: Beth Hunziker. In their role of Ringmasters: Juan Stuckey

and Dennis Eikenberry; Show Secretary Mary Kanaga; Show Announcer: Tony Shubert while the music could only be that played by Kristoff Heymans.

The breeding classes were conducted in the European style using the World Cup Scoring System, similar to the one used at the All Nation’s Cup in Aachen, Germany and at the World Championships at the Salon du Cheval in Paris, France.

Entries represented the United States and 25 other countries and included world champions, previous World Cup champions and dozens of US National, Scottsdale and international champions.

The excitement and energy you could feel at the 2017 World Cup was electric!

When each class entered the arena, hearts were pumping and hopes were high…

As the gates opened for the Yearling Fillies Supreme Championship, the crowd responded to the entrance of the beautiful OM EL Erodite (EKS Alihandro X Om El Excella) - bred by Om El Arab International, owned by Patricia M Dempsey and presented by Handler Ted Carson - with an approving roar. Silver medal winner Kareemah Albidayer (Kanz Al Bidayer X Khaleifa) bred and owned

by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Saud Al Qasimi and presented

by Handler Michael Byatt. Bronze medal winner Seranza (Kanz Al

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Bidayer X E v e n i n g Serenade) bred by Michael Byatt , owned by Annelie Jonker and presented by Handler Michael Byatt.

As for the Yearling Colts S u p r e m e Championship, the remarkable little star Enzino (Enzo X Maria PCF) grabbed the Gold medal.

He is bred and owned by Sam Peacemaker and was presented by Handler Sandro Pinha. Silver medal winner Lucius GA (JJ Bellagio X Duchess Of Marwan) bred by Jim and Sally Bedeker, owned

by The Empire Group and presented

by Handler Rodolfo Guzzo. Bronze

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medal winner RD Harenaado (Hariry Al Shaqab X DM Endless Romance) bred by Murray and Shirley Popplewell, owned

by Bassam Al Saqran and presented by Handler Paolo Capecci.

As for the Junior Mares Supreme Championship, Gold medal winner the very lively FANATICAA (Al Raheb AA X Faleenah El Masr) bred by Raymond Mazzei, owned by Owaidah Arabian Stud and presented by Handler David C Boggs. Silver medal winner Juhaina Aljassimya (WH Justice X Toscana Pga) bred and owned by Aljassimya Farm and presented by Handler Giacomo Capacci.

Bronze medal winner DIYANNAA (ZT Marwteyn X Diya Forx) bred and owned

by Psynergy Enterprise Developments LLC and presented by Sandro Pinha.

As for the Junior Stallions Supreme Championship, Gold medal winner Royal Asad (El Tino X Lumiar Ethna Breeder) bred by Michel Alberto Morelato, owned

by Cindy McGown and Mark Davis and

showed by handler Rodolfo Guzzo. Silver medal winner NADEEM EL ARAB (WH JUSTICE X OM EL EUPHORIA) bred by Om El Arab International, owned by Aljassimya Farm and handled

by Giacomo Capacci. Bronze medal winner DOMINUS ARABCO (El Tino X Shavanna El Madan) bred by Sylvio Barbosa Neto, owned by Pedro Gonzalez Toledo and Roxana Zambrano and presented by handler Sandro Pinha.

To draw the Show to a close were - as according to tradition - the Seniors Supreme Categories. Crowd favorites included the beautiful Senior Mare, Ghazala Al Shahania (Marwan Al Shaqab X Majalina), who took the Gold Championship and was shown by handler Michael Byatt. She is bred and owned by Al Shahania Stud. Silver medal winner Arwa Aljassimya (Besson Carol X Athina El Jamaal) bred and owned

by Aljassimya Farm and beautifully presented by handler Giacomo Capacci.

Bronze medal winner FT Havanna El

Keav (Hk Keav Power X Hillary Vcm) bred by Flavia Maria Ramalho Torres and owned by Cindy McGown and Mark Davis and handled by Rodolfo Guzzo.

Charmed FF (SF Sir Real X Bremervale Charmed) bred by Future Farms, owned

by Kate Or Doyle Dertell and A Hardwick and handled by Rodolfo Guzzo.

The beauty and magnificence of the performance stallions was truly magical to watch in the ring and breathtaking against the lights of the South Point Equestrian Center. Captured in a breathtaking moment by Avalon show photographers, Senior Stallion Fadi Al Shaqab (Besson Carol X Abha Myra) handled by Michael Byatt to a Gold Championship seemed to float on air through the ring. His ears and wide nostrils took in the sights and sounds of the onlookers with his proud tail carried high. Silver medal winner the multi-decorated champion LD Pistal (Magnum Psyche X Halana) bred by Allen and Marian Corrow Rogers owned

by Midwest Station Inc. and showed by David C Boggs. Bronze medal winner the tall, smooth bodied, with lots of movement and a ton of type stallion SIR

Through the use of the European style of showing, the 2017 Arabian Horse World Breeders Cup Show emphasized a more natural way of preparing, presenting and showing the horses so that their true Arabian spirit could shine in the arena! All efforts of the AHBA were concentrated on creating an event that was to be irresistible to the public -- one that touched the attendees’ heart and soul and made them think: ‘I want an Arabian Horse’. For years to come, Las Vegas will whisper about those wonderful days of Arabian horses at the South Point Equestrian Center. Some will share that time as the moment they fell in love with the breed; others will express how their passion for horses was rekindled. All will remember the magic…

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WRITTEN BY SONJA SMALDONE - Photos by ALESSIO AZZALI

n the 29th and 30th April the much-awaited International B competition ‘MILAN ARABIAN HORSES SHOW’ took place in Gorla Minore near Milan. Organized by Arabite Organization, the show involved the participation of some of the most beautiful Arabian horses in the world. The event was an important stage of the “Italian Show Tour 2017” along with Palermo, Roccalumera, Pietrasanta, Manerbio, Rome, Montefalco, Capo d’Orlando, Bergamo, Città di Castello and Brescia. This year too the manifestation dedicated to this noble creature was held within the equestrian complex ‘EQUIEFFE’. After the great success back in 2016, Arabite Organization selected - for its second consecutive year - this beautiful and super equipped structure that boasts 400 boxes provided with water fountains and night lighting, hot showers, restaurant, self-service, bar, an indoor field and two outdoor fields in order to host as it did – also the fourth edition of the ‘ITALIAN NATIONAL STRAIGHT EGYPTIAN CHAMPIONSHIP reserved to specimens of the straight Egyptian breed, and that, unfortunately, could not be held last year on the archaeological site of Paestum for reasons well known to everybody... The competition was open to all holders of a WAHO passport.

A

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l 29 e il 30 aprile il concorso tanto atteso ‘Milan International B Arabian Horses Show’ ha avuto luogo in Gorla Minore nei pressi di Milano.

Organizzata da Arabite Organization, la kermesse ha visto la partecipazione di alcuni tra i più bei cavalli arabi al mondo. L’evento è stato una tappa importante dello ‘Show Tour Italiano 2017’ con Palermo, Roccalumera, Pietrasanta, Manerbio, Roma, Montefalco, Capo d’Orlando, Bergamo, Città di Castello, Brescia. Anche quest’anno, la manifestazione dedicata a questa nobile creatura si è svolta all’interno del complesso ippico ‘EQUIEFFE’. Dopo il grande successo dello scorso 2016, Arabite Organization ha scelto - per il secondo anno consecutivo - questa splendida struttura super attrezzata che dispone di 400 box forniti di beverini, illuminazione notturna, docce calde, ristorante, self-service, bar, un campo coperto e due campi all’aperto per ospitare anche la quarta edizione del ‘CAMPIONATO NAZIONALE ITALIANO STRAIGHT EGYPTIAN’ riservato agli esemplari della razza egiziana pura, e che, purtroppo, non fu possibile disputare lo scorso anno 2016 nel sito archeologico di Paestum, per ragioni ben note a tutti ... Al concorso hanno potuto partecipare tutti i possessori di un pa ss apor to WA H O

new addition was the inclusion of the ‘Milan Cup Trophy’ that was awarded to the horse getting the highest score in ‘type’ and ‘movement’.

The event took place outdoor in the 5-star central field made of sand which to date is one of the best in Europe. The Contest was governed by the E.C.A.H.O. rules, it was affiliated with A.n.i.c.a. and hosted an international panel of five judges. There intervened: Mr. Rota Pierluigi (ITA); Mrs. Stefaniuk Anna (POL); Mr. Everars Josy (BEL); Mr. Daniels Jason (USA); Mr. Ceddes Bakker (NDL). Excellent the job done by the Disciplinary Committee ably composed by: Dr. Vet. Teobaldelli Gian Paolo; Mr. Manerba Alberto and Mrs. Raso Barbara. Impeccable in his role of Ringmaster, Mr. Ludi Ivo; Official speaker and General Secretary, Dr. Vet. Mascagna Laura. The participating Categories were all fascinating. The Final Championships entertained the audience on the edge of their seat throughout the show until the best champions of each category were awarded. As for the Yearling Fillies Category, Gold medal winner the refined gray D FEDDAH (SHANGHAI EA x D JOWAN) bred and owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud.

Silver medal winner the chestnut ODISSEA D E L

(open). Una bella novità di questa edizione è stato l’inserimento del ‘Trofeo Milan Cup ’assegnato al cavallo che ha raggiunto il punteggio più alto per ‘tipo’ e ‘movimento’. L’evento ha avuto luogo all’aperto, nel campo di sabbia a 5 stelle che, ad oggi, risulta essere uno dei migliori in Europa ed è stato regolamentato dalle norme E.C.A.H.O., affiliato A.n.i.c.a. e ha ospitato un comitato di cinque giudici internazionali. Lì sono intervenuti: Sig. Rota Pierluigi (ITA); Sig.ra Stefaniuk Anna (POL); Sig. Everars Josy (BEL); Sig. Daniels Jason (USA); Sig. Ceddes Bakker (Paesi Bassi). Eccellente il lavoro svolto dalla Commissione Disciplinare abilmente composta da: dott.

Vet. Teobaldelli Gian Paolo; Manerba Alberto e Raso Barbara. Ringmaster di questa edizione 2017: Ludi Ivo; Responsabile speaker e Segretaria generale: dott.ssa Vet. Mascagna Laura. Le Categorie sono state, come sempre, tutte molto avvincenti. Il Gran Finale ha tenuto tutti col fiato sospeso per gran parte di esso fino a quando sono stati insigniti i campioni definitivi di ogni categoria. Per quanto riguarda la Categoria Yearling Fillies, vincitrice della Medaglia d’oro la graziosissima grigia D FEDDAH (SHANGHAI EA x D JOWAN) allevata e di proprietà di Dubai Arabian Horse Stud. Medaglia d’argento per la saura ODISSEA DEL FALCO (AMG DALII x ZARA BY MIAL) allevata e di proprietà di AZIENDA NARDINI MARCO. Medaglia di bronzo per la bellissima nera MARNICA (MARTICE x MARNI BY WINDSPREES MIRAGE) allevata e di proprietà di Sax

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FALCO (AMG DALII x ZARA BY MIAL) bred and owned by AZIENDA NARDINI MARCO. Bronze medal winner the gorgeous black MARNICA (MARTICE x MARNI BY WINDSPREES MIRAGE) bred and owned by Sax Arabians. As for the Yearling Colts, the Gold medal went to the gray TF ANDRUS (FADI AL SHAQAB x TF LADY ROYAL) bred and owned by TRIPODI FRANCESCO. Silver medal winner the bay LAZEEZ AL SHAHANIA (EKS ALIHANDRO x ZT MAKBEY) bred by Al Shahania Stud and owned by MICHAEL COMBETTE. Bronze medal winner, the bay GW AMADEUS (AL MARAAM x FAVOLA LC) bred and owned by GONDOLA VILMA. Next to go were the Juniors Categories. Gold Champion Junior Fillies the bay PALTONA K.A. (TRUSSARDI x PROXIMA WHITE) bred by NV ZOUTEKREKEN & GHEYSENS PAUL and owned by BLOISI FRANCO. Silver medal winner the bay AZIZA DOMITIC (EKS ALIHANDRO x MG SWEET FANTASY) bred by Flavie and Scott Allman and owned by SHIREEN AL MUTAWA. Bronze medal winner the chestnut HAJER AL SHAQAB (MARWAN AL SHAQAB x LUBNA AL SHAQAB) bred and owned by Al Shaqab Stud. Entirely dominated by the ‘bay color’ the Junior Colts Championship was won by the very handsome MABEL STAR K.A. (PSYTADEL x MARC’S STAR K.A.) bred and owned

by KNOCKE ARABIANS. Silver medal winner, QS MARZIO (EMERALD J x NAWAL BY APOLO) bred and owned by MORANDO GIOVANNI’S QIRAT STUD. Bronze medal winner, EL SHAAN (MARSHAN 346

Arabians. Per i Maschi della medesima Categoria, l’Oro è andato al grigio TF ANDRUS (FADI AL SHAQAB x TF LADY ROYAL) allevato e di proprietà di TRIPODI FRANCESCO AZ. AGRICOLA. Campione Medaglia d’argento il baio LAZEEZ AL SHAHANIA (EKS ALIHANDRO x ZT MAKBEY) allevato da Al Shahania Stud e di proprietà di MICHAEL COMBETTE. Campione Medaglia di bronzo il baio GW AMADEUS (AL MARAAM x FAVOLA LC) allevato e di proprietà di GONDOLA VILMA. Campionessa Oro Junior Fillies la baia PALTONA K.A. (TRUSSARDI x PROXIMA WHITE) allevata da NV ZOUTEKREKEN & GHEYSENS PAUL e di proprietà di BLOISI FRANCO. Campionessa Argento la baia AZIZA DOMITIA (EKS ALIHANDRO x MG SWEET FANTASY) allevata da Flavie and Scott Allman e di proprietà di SHIREEN AL MUTAWA. Campionessa Bronzo la saura HAJER AL SHAQAB (MARWAN AL SHAQAB x LUBNA AL SHAQAB) allevata e di proprietà di Al Shaqab Stud. Un Campionato dominato interamente dal colore ‘baio’ quello dei Junior Colts vinto dal bellissimo MABEL STAR K.A. (PSYTADEL x MARC’S STAR K.A.) allevato e di proprietà KNOCKE ARABIANS. Medaglia d’argento per QS MARZIO (EMERALD J x NAWAL BY APOLO) allevato e di proprietà di QIRAT STUD di MORANDO GIOVANNI. Medaglia di bronzo per EL SHAAN (MARSHAN x ELENA BINT EUROPE) allevato da REINHARD SAX e di proprietà di Sax Arabians. Lo Show si è concluso come di consueto con le Categorie Seniors Fattrici e Stalloni.

x ELENA BINT EUROPE) bred by REINHARD SAX and owned by Sax Arabians. The Show drew to a close with the Seniors Mares and Stallions Categories whose performances appeared so awe-inspiring under the evening lights of the arena. The beautiful gray mare NESJ EL MARKHISA (MARWAN AL SHAQAB x NESJ EL KHISAYA) bred by MR. & MRS. EVERARS - VAN DEN BROEK and owned by Said Khair Stables won the Gold medal in a blaze of glory! Silver medal winner the gray CA LEENA (WH JUSTICE x CA ZASPA) bred by Calbar Arabians and owned by FALCON ARABIANS AND ULRICASDAL ARABIANS. Bronze medal winner the bay AV DOHASSAI (MASSAI IBN MARENGA x AV DOIMHA) bred by VALLE ARABA DEI F.LLI SANCHI S.S. and owned by Woody Arabians. The Stallions Championship was won by the outstanding bay SA FAEZ SIMBAD (AJMAN MONISCIONE x ALTAM NUR SIMBAD HEC) bred and owned SCIPIONI ANGELO. Silver medal winner the chestnut MP RITZIUS (AJMAN MONISCIONE x BF ANUSKA) bred and owned by PITTALUGA MARCO. Bronze medal winner the gray BEBARS FARID (IMPERIAL BAAREZ x SALMA) bred and owned by El Farida Stud. The 2017 edition of the Milan International B Show also hosted the fourth edition of the Egyptian Event and the Futurity Championships.

The EGYPTIAN EVENT was won by the elegant gray RAJA DE PIGALL (FA NILE SAFIR x GREA RAYANA) bred and owned by Az Ortof of Pigato Graziano as for the Junior Fillies Category; by the bay ROYAL

La bellissima fattrice grigia NESJ EL MARKHISA (MARWAN AL SHAQAB x NESJ EL KHISAYA) allevata da MR. & MRS. EVERARS - VAN DEN BROEK e di proprietà di Said Khair Stables si è aggiudicata la Medaglia d’oro suscitando un tripudio generale tra gli spettatori. Medaglia d’argento per la grigia CA LEENA (WH JUSTICE x CA ZASPA) allevata da Calbar Arabians e di proprietà di FALCON ARABIANS AND ULRICASDAL ARABIANS. Medaglia di bronzo per la baia AV DOHASSAI (MASSAI IBN MARENGA x AV DOIMHA) allevata da VALLE ARABA DEI F.LLI SANCHI S.S. e di proprietà di Woody Arabians. Il Campionato Stalloni è stato vinto dal baio SA FAEZ SIMBAD (AJMAN MONISCIONE x ALTAM NUR SIMBAD HEC) allevato e di proprietà SCIPIONI ANGELO. Campione Medaglia d’argento il sauro MP RITZIUS (AJMAN MONISCIONE x BF ANUSKA) allevato e di proprietà di PITTALUGA MARCO. Campione Medaglia di bronzo il grigio BEBARS AL FARID (IMPERIAL BAAREZ x SALMA) allevato e di proprietà di El Farida Stud. Nell’ambito di questa edizione 2017 del Milan International B Show si sono disputati anche L’Evento Egiziano e il Campionato delle Categorie Futurity, femminile e maschile.

L’EGYPTIAN EVENT è stato vinto dalla grigia RAJA DE PIGALL (FA NILE SAFIR x GREA RAYANA) allevata e di proprietà di Az Ortof di Pigato Graziano per quanto riguarda la Categoria Puledre Femmine; dal baio ROYAL ALABINA (AL AYAL AA x PRINCESS ALABINA) allevato da Hiflel AvI & Yehezkel Yaron Bat Yam e di 347

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ALABINA bred by Hiflel AvI and Yehezkel Yaron Bat Yam, owned by Hiflel AvI and Yehezkel Yaron Mizrahi Meir Kazaz Shom as for the Junior Colts Category and by the stunning straight Egyptian stallion NASSER FANA (AL ADEED TO SHAQAB x SL PHARIDA) bred and owned by DIONISI ANTONIO AZ. AGR. as for the Stallions Category. The Championships dedicated to the ‘new promises’ of the breed - the Futurity Categories - gave the following results. As for the Females, Gold medal winner the very pretty chestnut TF AMELIE (EKS ALIHANDRO x ZT SHAKLIE) bred and owned

by TRIPODI FRANCESCO AZ. AGR, whilst the adorable little bay QATAR DI MAR (PSYRASIC x PRINCIPESSA OF MAR) owned by Cristina C.’ SOC. AGR. TRE STELLE S.A.S. grabbed the Gold medal as for the Males. The Best in Show Trophy was assigned to the already Gold Champion grey mare NESJ EL MARKHISA (MARWAN AL SHAQAB x NESJ EL KHISAYA) bred by MR. & MRS. EVERARS - VAN DEN BROEK and owned by Said Khair Stables.

Again this year, the Milan International B Show has given us goose bumps on two fabulous days surrounded by the sensational beauty, elegance and charisma of our beloved Arabian horses. Thanks to Mr. Emanuele Fiorelli, International Knight and Federal Instructor whose hard work, endless dedication and passion has made it possible again in 2017 the availability of a fantastic equestrian center such as Equieffe Equestrian Center. Therefore, many thanks to Arabite Organization directed by Claudio Mazza who dealt with the whole technical and organizational part of the event. Thanks also to photographers Mrs. Torrazza Francesca and Mrs. Petix Paola whose precious shots will always enable us to revive the most beautiful moments and highlights of the Show!

proprietà di Hiflel AvI & Yehezkel Yaron Mizrahi Meir Kazaz Shom per quanto riguarda la Categoria Puledri Maschi e dal bellissimo stallone egiziano puro NASSER FANA (AL ADEED AL SHAQAB x SL PHARIDA) allevato e di proprietà di DIONISI ANTONIO AZ. AGR. per quanto concerne la Categoria Stalloni. Il Trofeo Best in Show è stato appannaggio della già premiatissima Campionessa Oro della Categoria Fattrici, la grigia NESJ EL MARKHISA (MARWAN AL SHAQAB x NESJ EL KHISAYA) allevata da MR. & MRS. EVERARS - VAN DEN BROEK e di proprietà di Said Khair Stables. Il Campionato dedicato alle ‘nuove promesse’, le Categorie Futurity, ha dato i seguenti risultati. Vincitrice Medaglia d’oro per la Categoria Femmine, la graziossima piccola saura TF AMELIE (EKS ALIHANDRO x ZT SHAKLIE) allevata e di proprietà di TRIPODI FRANCESCO AZ. AGR, mentre il vincitore della Medaglia d’oro per la Categoria Maschi è stato il baio QATAR DI MAR (PSYRASIC x PRINCIPESSA DI MAR) di proprietà di SOC. AGR. TRE STELLE S.A.S. di Cristina C. Anche quest’anno il Milan International B Show ci ha regalato due giornate esilaranti all’insegna della bellezza, dell’eleganza e del carisma del nostro amatissimo cavallo arabo. Grazie quindi al Sig. Emanuele Fiorelli, Cavaliere Internazionale e Istruttore Federale, che con tanto lavoro, dedizione e passione ha messo a disposizione anche per questa edizione 2017 un fantastico centro equestre come l’Equieffe Equestrian Centre. Grazie ad Arabite Organization di Claudio Mazza che si è occupata egregiamente di tutta la parte tecnico-organizzativa.

Grazie anche ai fotografi presenti, Torrazza Francesca e Petix Paola che con le loro foto ci permetteranno sempre di rivivere i momenti più belli e salienti di questo show!

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GOLD

YEARLING FILLIES

Points | 20.00

OWNER: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD BREEDER: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD

SILVER

D FEDDAH SHANGHAI EA X D JOWAN

Points | 8.00

OWNER: AZIENDA NARDINI MARCO BREEDER: AZIENDA NARDINI MARCO

BRONZE

ODISSEA DEL FALCO AMG DALII X ZARA BY MIAL

MARNICA MARTICE X MARNI BY WINDSPREES MIRAGE 350

Points | 6.00

OWNER: SAX ARABIANS BREEDER: SAX ARABIANS

GOLD

YEARLING COLTS

Points | 16.00

OWNER: TRIPODI FRANCESCO AZ. AGR. BREEDER: TRIPODI FRANCESCO AZ. AGR.

SILVER

TF ANDRUS FADI AL SHAQAB X TF LADY ROYAL

Points | 14.00

OWNER: MICHAEL COMBETTE BREEDER: AL SHAHANIA STUD

BRONZE

LAZEEZ AL SHAHANIA EKS ALIHANDRO X ZT MAKBEY

GW AMADEUS AL MARAAM X FAVOLA LC

Points | 4.00

OWNER: GONDOLA VILMA BREEDER: GONDOLA VILMA

351

GOLD

JUNIOR FILLIES

Points | 13.00

OWNER: BLOISI FRANCO BREEDER: NV ZOUTEKREKEN & GHEYSENS PAUL

SILVER

PALTONA K.A. TRUSSARDI X PROXIMA WHITE

Points | 10.00

OWNER: SHIREEN AL MUTAWA BREEDER: FLAVIE AND SCOTT ALLMAN

BRONZE

AZIZA DOMITIA EKS ALIHANDRO X MG SWEET FANTASY

HAJER AL SHAQAB MARWAN AL SHAQAB X LUBNA AL SHAQAB 352

Points | 6.00

OWNER: AL SHAQAB BREEDER: AL SHAQAB

GOLD

JUNIOR COLTS

Points | 14.00

OWNER: KNOCKE ARABIANS BREEDER: KNOCKE ARABIANS

SILVER

MABEL STAR K.A. PSYTADEL X MARC’S STAR K.A.

Points | 9.00

OWNER: QIRAT STUD DI MORANDO GIOVANNI BREEDER: QIRAT STUD DI MORANDO GIOVANNI

BRONZE

QS MARZIO EMERALD J X NAWAL BY APOLO

EL SHAAN MARSHAN X ELENA BINT EUROPE

Points | 5.00

OWNER: SAX ARABIANS BREEDER: REINHARD SAX

353

GOLD

SENIOR MARES

Points | 16.00

OWNER: SAID KHAIR STABLES BREEDER: MR. & MRS. EVERARS - VAN DEN BROEK

SILVER

NESJ EL MARKHISA MARWAN AL SHAQAB X NESJ EL KHISAYA

Points | 7.00

OWNER: FALCON ARABIANS AND ULRICASDAL ARABIANS BREEDER: CALBAR ARABIANS

BRONZE

CA LEENA WH JUSTICE X CA ZASPA

AV DOHASSAI MASSAI IBN MARENGA X AV DOIMHA 354

Points | 6.00

OWNER: WOODY ARABIANS BREEDER: VALLE ARABA DEI F.LLI SANCHI S.S.

GOLD

SENIOR STALLIONS

Points | 20.00

OWNER: SCIPIONI ANGELO IMP.IND. BREEDER: SCIPIONI ANGELO

SILVER

SA FAEZ SIMBAD AJMAN MONISCIONE X ALTAM NUR SIMBAD HEC

Points | 7.00

OWNER: PITTALUGA MARCO BREEDER: PITTALUGA MARCO

BRONZE

MP RITZIUS AJMAN MONISCIONE X BF ANUSKA

BEBARS AL FARID IMPERIAL BAAREZ X SALMA

Points | 5.00

OWNER: EL FARIDA STUD BREEDER: EL FARIDA STUD

355

GOLD

FUTURITY FEMALES

Points | 18.00

OWNER: TRIPODI FRANCESCO AZ. AGR. BREEDER: TRIPODI FRANCESCO AZ. AGR.

SILVER

TF AMELIE EKS ALIHANDRO X ZT SHAKLIE

Points | 11.00

OWNER: ZOPPELLARO ANTONIO LUIGI BREEDER: ZOPPELLARO ANTONIO LUIGI

BRONZE

NAARA MATRIX DI MAR X NAMIRA

MARIKA LUANARABIANS

SAFEER X SHAKIRA BY ESPIRIA

356

Points | 6.00

OWNER: AL. LUANARABIANS DI OLIVIERI VITTORIO BREEDER: AL. LUANARABIANS DI OLIVIERI VITTORIO

GOLD

FUTURITY MALES

Points | 18.00

OWNER: SOC. AGR. TRE STELLE S.A.S. DI CRISTINA C. BREEDER: ..

SILVER

QATAR DI MAR PSYRASIC X PRINCIPESSA DI MAR

Points | 11.00

OWNER: RE PIETRO BREEDER: RE PIETRO

BRONZE

MICHELANGELO REGALIS SA FAEZ SIMBAD X NASHIRA BY CHAWY NA

HADJM ANTAR FG X NAIMA BY FANA

Points | 3.00

OWNER: MELNYCHUK HALYNA BREEDER: ..

357

358

359

360

361

AL KHOR STUD

HORSE

362

STUD

363

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WRITTEN BY SONJA SMALDONE - Photos by Marianna Francesconi

O

nly a few meters away from the beach of Marina di Pietrasanta, bathing site of the city of Pietrasanta lies the ‘Versiliana Park’, one of the greenest areas of Versilia. This area is not only dear to the people who live there, but it has also become a major tourist attraction: along with the beautiful pinewood and picturesque natural landscape, a treasure chest of cultural attractions and leisure activities does exist inside there. This park, stretching between the conurbations of Marina di Pietrasanta and Forte dei Marmi, is the green lung of the Versilia coast; it has a very large surface with a very long coastal side. It is home to many types of landscapes: from the ancient dunes where there are oaks and pine trees to the dense and gloomy undergrowth; from the scenic riverside rich in cane lines and animated by water turtles and moorhens, to the multi-changing forest in the seasonal cycle or, even, to the most unexpected semi-marshy landscape of ‘blade-plants’, the very last ones remaining in Versilia. In that peaceful frame of the pinewoods stands the ‘Theater’, famous for hosting the ‘Versiliana Festival’, an event which covers the entire summer season. On the stage, all possible forms of theater: drama, dance, music and cabaret. Very important is the ‘Villa’ which, besides being an architectural and historical beauty, is constantly hosting exhibitions of paintings or sculpture. Walking through the pine trees you may come across the ‘Pine Nuts Factory’: a building located not far from the Villa where, in ancient times, local villagers used to process native pine trees nuts that would be then sent out across the world. This building always strikes the tourist for the presence, inside of it, of some outlandish tanks and a quite odd ‘machine’.

Today, it houses arts exhibitions of all kinds. This pine grove was also very dear to the great Italian poet Gabriele D’Annunzio. He loved riding his own horses along the coastal area. From the greenwoods the poet took inspiration for many of his works and spent most of his summer holidays at the Villa inviting other fellow writers. For about seventeen years now, the ‘Versiliana Park’ has also been home to the much-awaited show

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solo pochi metri dalla spiaggia di Marina di Pietrasanta, località balneare della città di Pietrasanta, si estende il ‘Parco della Versiliana’, una delle zone più verdi della Versilia. Quest’area non è soltanto cara agli abitanti del posto, ma è diventata una méta turistica ambita da molti: oltre alla bellissima pineta e al particolare paesaggio naturale, il turista potrà scoprirvi uno scrigno ricco di attrazioni culturali e attività ricreative. Tale parco, che si allunga tra gli agglomerati di Marina di Pietrasanta e Forte dei Marmi, è il polmone verde della Versilia; ha una superficie molto grande con un lungo lato costiero. Ospita molti tipi di paesaggi: dalle antiche dune dove si ergono lecci e pini al fitto e cupo sottobosco; dalla scenica riva del fiume ricca di cannucce e animata da tartarughe e gallinelle d’acqua, alla foresta multi cangiante nel ciclo stagionale o, addirittura, al più inaspettato paesaggio semipalustre di lame, le ultime rimanenti in Versilia. In questa pacifica cornice del pineto sorge il ‘Teatro’, famoso per ospitare il ‘Festival della Versiliana’, un evento che include tutta la stagione estiva.

Sul palco, tutte le possibili forme di teatro: dramma, danza, musica e cabaret. Molto importante è la ‘Villa’ che, oltre ad essere una bellezza storico-architettonica è costantemente sede di mostre di pittura o scultura.

Passeggiando tra i pini ci si può imbattere nella ‘Fabbrica di pinoli’: un edificio situato non lontano dalla Villa dove, in tempi antichi, gli abitanti del posto solevano estrarre i pinoli che sarebbero poi stati inviati in tutto il mondo.

Questo edificio colpisce sempre il turista per la presenza, al suo interno, di alcune vasche stravaganti e una ‘macchina’ alquanto obsoleta. Oggi ospita mostre di arte di ogni genere. La pineta era molto cara anche al grande poeta italiano Gabriele D’Annunzio. Egli amava molto cavalcare i suoi cavalli lungo l’arenile. Da questa pineta il poeta trasse ispirazione per molte delle sue opere e soleva trascorrere la maggior parte delle sue vacanze estive alla Villa invitando altri colleghi scrittori. Da circa diciassette anni, il ‘Parco della Versiliana ospita anche lo spettacolo tanto atteso dedicato al nostro amato Purosangue Arabo.

In due magiche date, dal 13 al 14 maggio 2017, lo show di morfologia ‘Internazionale ECAHO ‘B’ ha avuto prima

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dedicated to our beloved Purebred Arabian. On two magic dates, from the 13th and 14th May 2017, the International ECAHO ‘B’ morphology show, was first and foremost, intended to project and bring Versilia back to its being the ‘Land of Horses’. The wonderful pinewood hosted also another enjoyable event, ‘L’Arte Del Cavallo’, (The Art of the Horse) an equestrian show that has always attracted a great deal of horse lovers and spectators. Hundreds of Purebred Arabians took part in the competition providing the spectators with great entertainment and exhilarating moments. After the Preliminary Categories, there rose the tension surrounding the Final Championships. Gold medal

winner of the Yearling Fillies Championship was the gorgeous bay MDS SHEIKHA (RFI FARID x AJ METHAEL by GHAJARIY) bred by QUSAI MOHD SAEED AL OBAIDALLA (UAE) and owned by AL SAQRAN STUD (UAE). Silver medal for the chestnut ODISSEA DEL FALCO (AMG DALII x ZARA by MIAL

by MIAL) bred by AZIENDA NARDINI MARCO and owned by GAITO FRANCESCO. Bronze medal for the chestnut MALENA (MAKISA ADAGGIO x SA KARIMA by SHAEL DREAM DESERT) bred and owned by BONA DAVIDE. Gold Medal winner of the Yearling Colts Championship the handsome gray D ZEIDAN (FA EL RASHEEM x RENZA EL YLLAN

by YLLAN EL JAMAAL) bred and owned by DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD (UAE). Silver medal winner the bay WHAT ELSE SA (WADEE AL SHAQAB x ASIA AL TIGLIO by SANADIK EL SHAKLAN) bred and owned by Solstice Arabians & Tchaata Arabians.

Bronze medal winner the gray HENDRICKS (JAMIL IBN MAGNIFIQUE x EA SHAH AJMANIA by PRINCE MICHAEL MPE) bred by CECCARONI ROBERTO and owned by ANTONIO PRISCO. Gold medal winner of the Junior Fillies Championship was the refined gray JUMANA DEL PALAZZOTTO (WH JUSTICE x ZB LAMANTE) bred by Azienda Agricola DEL PALAZZOTTO of Capecci Paolo and owned by AL SAQRAN STUD. Silver medal for the chestnut FALHA AL SHAQAB (FADI TO SHAQAB x JOSEPH JUST EMOTION) bred and owned by Al Shaqab Stud Member of the Qatar Foundation. Bronze medal winner the gray AB FARIDAH (DF MALIK JAMIL x BINT FARID NILE MOON) bred and owned by AL BABTAIN OMAR. Gold medal winner of the Junior Colts Championship, the beautiful chestnut PERSEUS

di tutto lo scopo di proiettare e riportare la Versilia al suo essere ‘Terra di cavalli’. Centinaia di Purosangue Arabi hanno partecipato al concorso regalando al pubblico grande divertimento e momenti esilaranti.

Alla competizione hanno aderito anche il puledro di Andrea Bocelli e lo stallone del ministro saudita della scuderia Dubai Arabian Horse Stud. Dopo le Categorie Preliminari, è salita la tensione che di solito circonda il Campionato finale.

Vincitrice del titolo di Campionessa Oro Yearling Fillies è stata la graziosissima baia MDS SHEIKHA (RFI FARID x AJ METHAEL by GHAJARIY) allevata da QUSAI MOHD SAEED ALI OBAIDALLA (UAE) e di proprietà di AL SAQRAN STUD (UAE). Medaglia d’argento per la saura ODISSEA DEL FALCO (AMG DALII x ZARA

BY MIAL by MIAL) allevata da AZIENDA NARDINI MARCO e di proprietà di GAITO FRANCESCO. Medaglia di bronzo per la saura MALENA (MAKISA ADAGGIO x SA KARIMA by SHAEL DREAM DESERT) allevata e di proprietà di BONA DAVIDE. Vincitore del titolo Campione Oro Yearling Colts, il bellissimo grigio D ZEIDAN (FA EL RASHEEM x RENZA EL YLLAN by YLLAN EL JAMAAL ) allevato e di proprietà di DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD (UAE).

Medaglia d’argento per il baio WHAT ELSE SA (FR) (WADEE AL SHAQAB x ASIA AL TIGLIO by SANADIK EL SHAKLAN ) allevato e di proprietà di Solstice Arabians & Tchaata Arabians. Medaglia di bronzo per il grigio HENDRICKS (JAMIL IBN MAGNIFIQUE x EA SHAH AJMANIA by PRINCE MICHAEL MPE) allevato da CECCARONI ROBERTO e di proprietà di PRISCO ANTONIO. Vincitrice del titolo di Campionessa Oro Junior Fillies è stata la graziosissima grigia JUMANA DELPALAZZOTTO (WH JUSTICE x ZB LAMANTE) allevata da Azienda Agricola Il Palazzotto di Capecci Paolo e di proprietà

di AL SAQRAN STUD. Medaglia d’argento per la saura FALHA AL SHAQAB (FADI AL SHAQAB x JOSEPH JUST EMOTION) allevata e di proprietà di Al Shaqab Stud Member of Qatar Foundation. Medaglia di bronzo per la grigia AB FARIDAH (DF MALIK JAMIL x BINT FARID NILE MOON) allevata e di proprietà di AL BABTAIN OMAR. Vincitore del titolo di Campione Oro Junior Colts, il bellissimo sauro PERSEUS K.A. (ESPRESSIVO K.A. x PHIROUETTE BY QR MARC) allevato e di proprietà di KNOCKE ARABIANS. Medaglia d’argento per il baio MYSTICA KAMAL (MARWAN AL SHAQAB x CAMAYA) allevato da MYSTICA ARABIANS (AU) e 369

di proprietà di ANDREA BOCELLI. Medaglia di bronzo K.A. (EXPRESSIVE K.A x PHIROUETTE BY QR per il grigio MOHAI (EKS ALIHANDRO x AJMA DL) MARC) bred and owned by KNOCKE ARABIANS. allevato da GLAUDICH FAUSTO e di proprietà di Silver medal winner the bay MYSTICA KAMAL PRISCO ANTONIO. (MARWAN AL SHAQAB x CAMAYA) bred by In ultimo, come da rituale, le Categorie Seniores.

MYSTICA ARABIANS (AU) and owned by ANDREA Campionessa Oro BOCELLI. Bronze per la categoria medal winner the Fattrici, l’eterea gray MOHAI (EKS grigia NESJ EL ALIHANDRO x M A R K H I S A AJMA DL) bred (MARWAN AL by GLAUDICH SHAQAB x NESJ FAUSTO and EL KHISAYA BY owned by PRISCO KHIDAR) allevata ANTONIO. Last to da EVERARS VAN perform were the DEN BROEK e di Seniors Categories. proprietà di SAID Gold medal winner KER. Medaglia of the Seniors d’argento per la baia Mares Category, the AV DOHASSAI ethereal gray NESJ (MASSAI IBN EL MARKHISA MARENGA x AV (MARWAN AL MASAI MONISCIONE & FUERTE DOLIMHA) allevata SHAQAB x NESJ da VALLE ARABA EL KHISAYA BY DEI F.LLI SANCHI S.S. e di proprietà di WOODY KHIDAR) bred by EVERARS VAN DEN BROEK ARABIANS. Medaglia di bronzo per la baia MYSTICA and owned by SAID KER. Silver medal winner the ANTASIA (WH JUSTICE x LL ALBUFERA) allevata da bay AV DOHASSAI (MASSAI IBN MARENGA x AV STONERIDGE ARABIANS OR OAKRIDGE ARABIANS DOLIMHA) bred by VALLE ARABA DEI F.LLI SANCHI (USA) e di proprietà di MUBARAK AWAAD MUBARAK S.S. and owned by WOODY ARABIANS. Bronze medal ALI. winner the bay MYSTICA ANTASIA (WH JUSTICE x Il grigio SUMMUM MARC K.A. (QR MARC x L LL ALBUFERA) bred by STONERIDGE ARABIANS SERENELLA) allevato e di proprietà di KNOCKE OR OAKRIDGE ARABIANS (USA) and owned by ARABIAN ha conquistato nuovamente, dopo la recente MUBARAK AWAAD MUBARAK ALI. The gray medaglia di Bronzo vinta alla Palermo Cup 2017, il SUMMUM MARC K.A. (QR MARC x L SERENELLA) cuore di giudici e spettatori grazie al suo ‘tipo’ ed è bred and owned by KNOCKE ARABIANS conquered stato nominato Campione Oro della Categoria Stalloni again, after the recent bronze medal won at the 2017 Seniores. Chi ha occupato sul podio il secondo posto è Palermo Cup, the heart of judges and spectators thanks stato un bellissimo figlio di LAHEEB x JOWHARA AL to its ‘type’ and was named Gold Champion of the OKAB, il grigio ZAIN AL DEAN allevato e di proprietà Senior Stallions Category. Who occupied the second di ABUTALASH TALAAT. Mentre il baio OCEAN OS place on the podium was a beautiful son of LAHEEB (AJMAN MONISCIONE x NATALIA BY NARYM) si x JOWHARA AT OKAB, the gray ZAIN AL DEAN è aggiudicato il terzo posto. Quest’ultimo è allevato da bred and owned by ABUTALASH TALAAT. While the GESTUET OSTERHOF e di proprietà di AMICUCCI bay OCEAN OS (AJMAN MONISCIONE x NATALIA ANTONIO. BEST IN SHOW, la già Campionessa

BY NARYM) was 3rd in place. The latter is bred by Medaglia d’oro NESJ EL MARKHISA (MARWAN GESTUET OSTERHOF and owned by AMICUCCI AL SHAQAB x NESJ EL KHISAYA BY KHIDAR) ANTONIO. BEST IN SHOW, the already Gold Medal

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Champion mare NESJ EL MARKHISA (MARWAN AL SHAQAB x NESJ EL KHISAYA BY KHIDAR) bred

by EVERARS VAN DEN BROEK and owned by SAID KER. And so ended the seventeenth edition of the Show in Marina di Pietrasanta. The Organizing Committee and the Tourism and Sports Office of the Municipality of Pietrasanta led, for the technical part by Luciano Borzonasca, did everything to ensure a perfect performance of the show, combining the grace and beauty of the Arabian horse with the charm of the horses ridden in Western style. The Judges called upon to score our Purebred Arabians were: Scanzi Fausto (ITA); EBERHARDT SYLVIE (GER); HAIN MANFRED (GER) and PITTALUGA MARCO (ITA). Impeccable the work done by the elegant Dr. Vet. TEOBALDELLI GIAN PAOLO in his role of ring master; by Mrs. Barbara Raso, Mr. Roberto Ceccaroni and Mr. Massimo Meldi as Disciplinary Commissioners. Not to forget the presence at the show of Danish sculptor Jorgen Haugen Sorensen who has been living and working in the city for over thirty years, but he is well known both in Italy and abroad. Next to the competition, there were held performances by Andalusian horses ridden in Spanish style, a specific area devoted to the equestrian culture, the exhibition “The Echo of Gabriele d’Annunzio’s galloping in Davide Dall’Osso’s sculptures”. It was a ‘journey’ through striking sculptures depicting the pride, strength and elegance of the horse translated into iron wire and polycarbonate derived from industrial scraps. Dall’ Osso then rewarded with one of his sculptures the Best in Show horse, the most beautiful horse of the event. Congratulations to the winners and organizers, in particular, to the Versiliana Foundation and the Municipality of Pietrasanta which continue to make considerable efforts to prepare the first morphology contest of the year. The team of Arabian Horse Magazine takes here the opportunity to wish everyone good luck for a good start of the Italian show season dedicated to our beloved Arabian Horse!

allevata da EVERARS VAN DEN BROEK e di proprietà di SAID KER. E così si è conclusa anche la diciassettesima edizione dello Show di Marina di Pietrasanta. Il Comitato Organizzativo e l’Ufficio del Turismo e dello Sport del Comune di Pietrasanta diretto, per la parte tecnica da Luciano Borzonasca, hanno fatto di tutto per assicurare una perfetta riuscita dello spettacolo, coniugando la grazia e la bellezza del cavallo arabo al fascino dei cavalli montati in stile occidentale. I giudici chiamati a valutare i nostri Purosangue Arabi sono stati: Giuria: Scanzi Fausto (ITA); EBERHARDT SYLVIE (GER); HAIN MANFRED (GER) e PITTALUGA MARCO (ITA). Impeccabile come al solito il lavoro svolto dall’elegante Dott. Vet. TEOBALDELLI GIAN PAOLO in qualità di ring master; dalla Sig.ra Barbara Raso, il Sig. Roberto Ceccaroni e il Sig. Massimo Meldi in qualità di Commissari Disciplinari. Da non dimenticare la presenza allo show di Jorgen Haugen Sorensen, scultore danese che da più di trent’anni vive e lavora in città, molto noto in Italia ma anche all’estero.

A fianco della gara, ci sono state anche le esibizioni di cavalli andalusi in monta spagnola, un’area incentrata sulla cultura del cavallo, la mostra “L’Eco del galoppo di Gabriele d’Annunzio nelle sculture di Davide Dall’Osso”.

Si è trattato di un percorso tra sculture raffiguranti la fierezza, la forza e l’eleganza del cavallo, tradotte con filo di ferro e policarbonato derivato da scarti industriali.

Dall’Osso poi ha premiato con una delle sue sculture il Best in show, il cavallo più bello della manifestazione.

Complimenti ai vincitori e agli organizzatori, in particolare, la Fondazione Versiliana e il Comune di Pietrasanta che continuano a compiere notevoli sforzi per la preparazione del primo appuntamento di morfologia dell’anno. Il Team di Arabian Horse Magazine, pertanto, coglie l’occasione di augurare a tutti tanta fortuna per un buon inizio della stagione di spettacoli italiani dedicati al nostro amatissimo Cavallo Arabo!

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Luciano Borzonasca - Organizer

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Davide Dall’Osso - Sculptor

Judges, DC’s, Ring Master and Organizeer

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MDS SHEIKHA

RFI FARID x AJ METHAEL BY GHAJARIY Owner: AL SAQRAN FARM Breeder: QUSAI MOHDSAEED ALI OBAIDALLA

GOLD MEDAL

ODISSEA DEL FALCO AMG DALII X ZARA BY MIAL Owner: FRANCO GAITO Breeder: AZIENDA NARDINI MARCO

SILVER MEDAL

MALENA

MAKISA ADAGGIO X SA KARIMA

BY SHAEL DREAM DESERT

Owner: BONA DAVIDE Breeder: BONA DAVIDE

BRONZE MEDAL 376

D ZEIDAN

FA EL RASHEEM X RENZA EL YLLAN by YLLAN EL JAMAAL Owner: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD Breeder: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD

GOLD MEDAL

WHAT ELSE SA

WADEE AL SHAQAB X ASIA AL TIGLIO by SANADIK EL SHAKLAN Owner: SOLSTICE ARABIANS & TCHAATA ARABIANS Breeder: SOLSTICE ARABIANS & TCHAATA ARABIANS

SILVER MEDAL

HENDRICKS

JAMIL IBN MAGNIFIQUE X EA SHAH AJMANIA by PRINCE MICHAEL MPE Owner: PRISCO ANTONIO Breeder: CECCARONI ROBERTO

BRONZE MEDAL 377

JUMANA DEL PALAZZOTTO WH JUSTICE x ZB LAMANTE Owner: AZ. AGR. IL PALAZZOTTO DI CAPECCI PAOLO Breeder: AZ. AGR. IL PALAZZOTTO DI CAPECCI PAOLO

GOLD MEDAL

FALHA AL SHAQAB

FADI AL SHAQAB x JOSEPH JUST EMOTION Owner: AL SHAQAB ‘MEMBER OF QATAR FOUNDATION Breeder: AL SHAQAB ‘MEMBER OF QATAR FOUNDATION

SILVER MEDAL

AB FARIDAH

DF MALIK JAMIL X BINT FARID NILE MOON BY FARID NILE MOON

Owner: ALBABTAIN OMAR Breeder: AHMAD ABDULAZIZ AL BABTAIN

BRONZE MEDAL 378

PERSEUS K.A.

ESPRESSIVO X PHIROUETTES BY QR MARC

Owner: KNOCKE ARABIANS Breeder: KNOCKE ARABIANS

GOLD MEDAL

MYSTICA KAMAL MARWAN AL SHAQAB x CAMAYA

by DREAM QUEST Owner: ANDREA BOCELLI Breeder: MYSTICA ARABIANS

SILVER MEDAL

MOHAI

EKS ALIHANDRO X AJIMA DL

BY AJMAN MONISCIONE Owner: PRISCO ANTONIO Breeder: GLADICH FAUSTO

BRONZE MEDAL 379

NESJ EL MARKHISA

MARWAN AL SHAQAB X NESJ EL KHISAYA

BY KHIDAR Owner: SAID KER Breeder: EVERARS VAN DEN BROEK

GOLD MEDAL

AV DOHASSAI

MASSAI IBN MARENGA X AV DOLIMHA

BY HALIM RAQUIM Owner: WOODY ARABIAN Breeder: VALLE ARABA DEI F.LLI SANCHI S.S.

SILVER MEDAL

MYSTICA ANTASIA WH JUSTICE x LL ALBUFERA

Owner: MUBARAK AWAAD MUBARAK ALI Breeder: STONERIDGE ARABIANS OR OAKRIDGE ARABIANS (USA)

BRONZE MEDAL 380

SUMMUM MARC K.A. QR MARC X L SERENELLA

BY TURKI AL RAYYAN Owner: KNOCKE ARABIANS Breeder: NV ZOUTEKREKEN KNOCKE ARABIANS

GOLD MEDAL

ZAIN AL DEAN LAHEEB X JOWHARA AL OKAB

Owner: ABUDAHASH TALAAT Breeder: ABUDAHASH TALAAT

SILVER MEDAL

OCEAN OS

AJMAN MONISCIONE X NATALIA

Owner: AMICUCCI ANTONIO Breeder: GESTUET OSTERHOF

BRONZE MEDAL 381

TF AMELIE

EKS ALIHANDRO x ZT SHAKLIE

Owner: TRIPODI FRANCESCO AZ. AGR. Breeder: TRIPODI FRANCESCO AZ. AGR.

GOLD MEDAL

HANIMA MCA

KANZ AL BIDAYER X NAJAA ASHIRAF

BY AMIR ASHIRAF

Owner: Emanuela Scaramella Breeder: Claudio Mazza

SILVER MEDAL

JOY STYLE AMON JOY X SA MONISA

BY MONOGRAMM JM

Owner: STORTI GABRIELE Breeder: STORTI GABRIELE

GOLD MEDAL 382

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Paola Drera

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Paola Drera PHOTOGRAPHY

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Paola Drera PHOTOGRAPHY

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Paola Drera PHOTOGRAPHY

paulined87@icloud.com facebook.com/paoladreraphoto instagram.com/paoladreraph

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2017 STALLIONS

Rayyan Fana

STRAIGHT EGYPTIAN STALLION

by Hadidi

ANSATA SHAAMIS X LEGYPTIAN DEA

Owner: Dionisi Antonio

Legyptian Hadeel

STRAIGHT EGYPTIAN STALLION

AJMAL MAGHREB X LEGYPTIAN LAHEEBA

by Laheeb al Nasser

Owner: Mezzasoma Fabrizio

Nil Del Guado STRAIGHT EGYPTIAN STALLION IBN EL NILE X FASYLA by El Fasar Bronze Medal Champion Italian Championship - Milan (Straight Egyptian 2017) Owner: Simona Orvieto

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Nasser Fana

STRAIGHT EGYPTIAN STALLION

AL ADEED AL SHAQUAB X SL PHARIDA

by Imperial Paraj Gold Medal Champion Italian Championship - Milan (Straight Egyptian 2017) Owner: Dionisi Antonio

Prince Nile del Guado

STRAIGHT EGYPTIAN STALLION

NIL DEL GUADO X FR EGYPTIAN PRINCES

BY HADIDI OWNER : DEL GUADO ARABIAN DI BETTI WALTER

Amg Dalii WH JUSTICE X ABHA LA LUNA BY EL PERFECTO

Leased to: Arabian Training Center Luca Maccabei

Available for Breeding Season 2017 ARABIAN TRAINING CENTER LUCA MACCABEI

Tel: +39 3923721303 - E-mail: atc.lucamaccabei@gmail.com 399

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WRITTEN BY SONJA SMALDONE

Hello Dana! Thank you very much for accepting our interview. Let’s start from the very beginning.

When did you start taking an interest in the Arabian horse breed?

My parents have always instilled in me a love and mutual respect for all living beings, so the love for horses came naturally for me. My first memory of Arabian horses is from when I used to take horseriding lessons as a child (I was about five or six years old). The horses I used to ride were not Arabians, but I remember seeing a herd of grey mares in the paddocks every time I left the riding school and I was so enamored by them. The image of this group of mares has stayed in my mind ever since and I guess that is what has started my interest in the Arabian breed.

What’s so special about this breed and how long have you been breeding it?

I’ve always been enamored by Arabian horses, I honestly don’t know what it is. They just have this extra ‘something’ that I haven’t seen or felt with any other horse breed before. As for how long I’ve been breeding, it has been about four years now.

What does the word ‘breeding’ mean to you? And which are your favorite bloodlines?

I personally feel like it would not be fair to single

out one or two specific bloodlines mainly because I think each one has certain contributing factors that are necessary to use when breeding. Also, because in this current age in Arabian horse breeding, I personally believe that there is a need to be open to using different bloodlines.

What’s your typical day like at Al Thumama Stud in Qatar?

Although I would love to spend day after day at the

Emara AT (Kahil Al Shaqab x TF Exotikah by Botswana)

farm, I unfortunately don’t have the luxury to do so because I have a job that is completely separate from the horses. Also, almost all the horses are in Europe and I live in Qatar so I don’t get the chance to see them or visit as often as I would like to.

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What is most rewarding about what you do?

The most rewarding is definitely when the foals are born and you get to see the results of the breeding plans, and then watching those foals grow up. It gives such an amazing feeling that I can’t even put into words!

What’s your relationship with your horses? Is there any horse holding a particular place in your heart?

Why? It’s definitely GC Pashmina! She’s the first mare we purchased and she’s the one who basically started it

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all… Without her there would probably never have been an ‘Al Thumama Stud’.

In your opinion, what specific qualities or skills do you need to become a good breeder?

I think that one of the most important things is to be subjective about your own horses. Just because I own or have bred a particular horse does not mean that I should see them as the most beautiful of all – basically what I’m saying is that one shouldn’t be barn blind. In my opinions, to breed for what you want to achieve in the resulting foal, you need to be aware of the flaws

your own breeding stock has in order to know how to move forward.

8. How would you advise a young person eager to undertake a breeder career?

I’m not really sure that I’m in a position to answer this, but I’ll give it a try anyway. I would say that it is extremely important to educate yourself, and to never stop doing that. Keep reading, researching, looking up photos and videos and don’t be afraid to ask others for help.

Dana, do you breed Pure-bred Arabians for show purposes? If so, where did this passion for morphology contests arise from?

I don’t breed for show purposes at all. I have an image in my head of the ideal Arabian horse, and that’s what I strive to breed– with every single breeding decision.

If the resulting foal displays potential for horse shows then we give it a shot, but it isn’t my main focus or goal.

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Do you miss the shows of the past or do you prefer the atmosphere of today’s exhibitions?

I don’t really think that I am in a position to answer this question since I only started attending horse shows about six years ago.

What’s the most important breeding stallion in the barn and in what ways has he matched your expectations in terms of ‘reproduction’?

This is really difficult for me to answer because, like I’ve previously said, I’ve only been breeding for around four years so I feel like it’s too early to single out one mare who has been or currently is the most important or influential.

Among the most ‘recent births’ in your herd, is there a little colt / filly who has truly embodied your ‘vision’ in terms of morphological standards?

I do have a few foals born this year that I like a lot, but, as we all know, foals change over time (and sometimes not for the better). So, I hope that they will stay the same and/or improve over time, but it could also go the complete other direction (which hopefully doesn’t happen).

What are the objectives you would like your breeding barn to reach in the future?

As a personal goal of mine, I would like to reach a point where I have bred a horse who, in my eyes, is the ideal Arabian horse.

Belladonna AT (Wadee Al Shaqab x Om El Bellatrix

by Om El Shahmaan) 404

How important is ‘marketing’ in this sector?

Whether you are selling a horse, promoting a breeding stallion, bringing awareness to your farm or publicizing your show horses (among other things), marketing is definitely important in ‘getting the word out there’ and generating maximum impact (when done correctly, of course).

Several Italian breeders are selling abroad many of their top horses. What do you think about this trend?

I don’t really feel like it is my place to comment on what other breeders are doing/selling.

Thanks a lot for your interview Dana! It was a great pleasure talking to you. On behalf of the entire Team, I wish you all the best in your future endeavors…

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WRITTEN BY SONJA SMALDONE When asked to write an essay on the horse judge profession I had to get myself into much reading about this captivating profession of which I had always heard and seen a lot during the various shows, but, that I had never had the chance to study in greater depth and write about. So I thought I’d put some interesting ‘living statements’ - made by current Arabian horses judges -inside our Menton edition since, yes, becoming a judge is not at all a ‘cakewalk’… First of all, we must understand that judging horse shows is much harder work than we might think. A judge does not simply sit in the judge’s box or stand in the ring and watch the pretty horses. There are some very definite skills required. Not only does a judge need to have a good eye from experience riding and showing the discipline he or she wishes to judge

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but a judge also has to stay current on rules governing his/ her chosen discipline. Then there must be very accurate and well learned symbols of shorthand that a judge can go back and recount minutes, hours and even days later, weeks sometimes. Judging a show is hard work both mentally and physically. You must be ready for chapped lips, sunburns, cold winds, mosquitoes, rickety chairs, no chair, dusty rings, sometimes awful food, no food, few and far between breaks, cussing and fussing breeders, trainers, exhibitors and even sometimes, managers. A judge needs to be able to focus on the class or exhibitor in the ring while distractions constantly try to taunt his/her attention away from the performance at hand. Sometimes the distractions are accidental, incidental, all the way to the well planned purposeful. A judge has to be

able to ignore being spoken to by one party, while he/she is attempting to judge someone else in the ring. A judge cannot stop judging because someone asks him/her a question, he or she cannot stop judging to go potty, get something to eat or drink, etc until they coordinate it with show staff. Above and beyond what a judge is really required to do is to be able to state his/her reason based on rules and experience and explain why he or she placed this or that horse in the classes.

Of course, a judge will be asked. As a judge, you can never lose your focus or temper. National or International shows with or without preliminary classes can go on for more than 10 or 12 hours and a judge must be ready to fulfill his/her duties without fail, regardless. So, who is it this article for? I wrote this paper thanks to the testimony of current Arabian horses

judges who are men and women indistinctly and love horses immensely, but also for those affectionate readers who want to better understand this career and maybe undertake it as their life profession. Why not? It is enriched by various stories of judges and shows, narrated directly by the protagonists. We have asked 3 national judges what really led them to choose this career, how it has evolved over time and what they think about the judgment system of today’s shows and to what extent judgment criteria have changed from those adopted in the past. This article, we think, can offer a valuable insight into this fascinating career and it intends to confirm our commitment in wanting to be promoters around the world of a new way of understanding ‘horse riding and showing’ that gifts the horse with the dignity he deserves...

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National Judge, Bahrein

I have been involved with purebred Arabian horses since 2004. My love for these noble creatures has always taken a very big part of my life as I devote most of my time to improving myself in this field, traveling worldwide to meet the breeders and attending the shows, making new friends to get more and more knowledge. I became

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a national judge at age 34. It all started when I was with a friend who at the time was already a judge himself. He asked me why I did not take the judging course as I was very interested in the field.

In the beginning I was not sure about it, but, after a great deal of thought, I decided to start the course to get a

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greater understanding of the breeding sector. Then I got the chance to attend courses in the State of Kuwait; from the first course I passed my course, and I eventually became an E.c.a.h.o. National Judge.

In my opinion to be a good judge you need to be deeply informed about the Arabian horse’s specific features, his body parts and head and, of course, have a good eye. The most important thing while judging is ‘type’ of the Arabian horse. I love horses which attract me at first sight and catch my attention with their Arabian type. With reference to today’s judging system, I think it is quite fair with the various kinds of judging which are under the E.C.H.A.O. system, and it’s 410

mostly applicable to assess both strong and weak parts of the Arabian horse.

One thing. I maybe miss the quality of horses which there existed in past times, especially in the Stallions & Mares classes. A judge should be always aware that he/she bears a big responsibility, that of assuring the preservation and the advancement of correct horses only.

In conclusion, to all those who maybe are thinking they want to become a judge, I would suggest love Arabian horses above all, and always keep in mind that as a judge you shall always make the best choice to enhance and improve the quality of the breed.

Khalil Mukhtar with his stallion Mountassar Al Zobair

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National Judge Amsterdam, Netherlands

My inspiration when it comes to horses is my mother, whom I am thankful to everyday. I grew up being around these creatures who I admired most. As soon as I was able to ride, I started my journey. I soon discovered my passion for horses, this has only grown since.

Before I had discovered the Arabian horse breed I was more into sports, Dressage and Jumping on different horse breeds, mainly thoroughbreds.

In 2008, I have been introduced to the Arabian horse breed. It was for me as love at first sight. Being overwhelmed by the beauty and, above all, their incredible intelligence it is indeed the most pleasant aspect to work with.

In the beginning, I started breeding only Straight Egyptian bloodlines as I mostly love the type of the Straight Egyptian. However, conformation is for me a very important feature. I own several Egyptian mares who have the type but also are built correctly, have a strong movement, good tale carriage and a charisma which blows me away.

To find stallions which I can add to my breeding program to only improve and not to lose the strong points I see in my 412

foundation mares it is very limited to find. Last year, it was the first year I bred my mares to pure bred Arabians. I believe the combination can create a more complete Arabian, but my aim is to stick with the beauty of the Egyptian type.

The Arabian horse has influenced my life in many ways actually. The moment I had been introduced to the Arabian horse world, I got to know people who shared the same passion from all around the globe. I have been traveling to places I would have probably never gotten to know and, above all, it is through the Arabian horses that I met my husband Eiad Safady. To see my Arabian horses at home enjoying the fields makes me feel blessed every day. To own an Arabian is not only gaining an incredible horse, but also having the opportunity for an exceptional lifestyle.

Since the beginning of 2016 I have been honored to say I have joined the panel of great judges among us. I have followed Equine Studies about the evolution, anatomy and genetics of the horse, and have had the chance to visit many farms and see hundreds of horses from all breeds. From the moment I had been introduced to the Arabian horse breed, I felt eager to learn more about them. I have realized this noble creature distinguishes itself in many ways from any other breed. I have been reading about the qualities of the different strains and the vision of great breeders. Putting my knowledge into what was my ideal Arabian horse has made me the breeder I am today.

There is nothing more beautiful than doing what you actually love doing the most. Growing up around these fascinating creatures has created an obsession, their intelligence, character and beauty is something that makes every one of them unique in its own way.

With reference to my judge career, first and foremost, I would say that it takes a lot of responsibility when judging a horse as your judgement indirectly evaluates the breeding program. I hope to be part of passing on the importance of maintaining the quality, type and to have influence on improving the Arabian breed in the world.

During the practice of my study, Veterinary Medicine, I have been studying every detail when speaking of Morphology.

Understanding every part of the exterior is very interesting, especially when speaking in practically about (Equine) the Arabian horse breed as this species is exceptional in many ways.

Judges have the purpose of evaluating and educating not only future judges but also horse owners, breeders etc. Their knowledge of the standards which provide the fundamental basis of all forms has high importance when it comes to the purpose for the Arabian horse. Judges must maintain the integrity of the Arabian breed and it is very important we don’t go down on the quality we have built over many years and the modern Arabians we see these days. Besides the part of education necessary to become a good Arabian horse judge, you must be gifted with an eye that catches the beauty of the Arabian horse.

The first thing when a horse enters the ring is the overall impression, every component of conformation must be in balance. Every horse can be built differently, but seeing the size and shape of every individual must be in proportion to the overall structure.

Followed by the correctness of the structure of the horse, the exterior of the horse is extremely important. Therefore knowing the angles and the way the bones are connected will results in the flexibility, athleticism of the horse.

Above all, not only will the structure of the horse be judged, 413

also the condition is a major importance when presenting the horse. The ideal muscling would be overall equal definition of muscle. This will be observed during the assessment. That all said leaves the judges with the overall quality of the horse and the movement which is taken into consideration by the Strength, Straightness, Impulse, Cadence, Rapidity and the Balance.

The breed standards are followed by all judges; besides that every judge has different preferences and opinions resulting in the final scoring of every participant.

To those who want to embark on this adventure of becoming a Judge, I would suggest starting educating yourself by reading many books written by great people who are well known in the Arabian horse world as, for example, the book known well among us: ‘The classic Arabian horse’

by Peter Upton. Study the horse inside and out as it is important as a judge to explain details in a professional way. Also important is to visit farms: every breeder has an impact of different bloodlines which are important to recognize in terms of the differences. The more horses you see the better ‘eye’ you get.

When referring to the current system of judgment, making a change will have for sure it’s pro’s & con’s. If there would be an option in having a larger scale of scoring, we could perhaps make a bigger difference when needed. The main question is than, how do we make the difference without outbalancing the final ranking. It is a long search to create the best way of judgment.

As I mentioned before, I feel truly blessed to have the Arabian horses be a part of my life. Having the opportunity to travel to different continents and see all these beautiful creatures on one spot is simply overwhelming. In some cases it for sure isn’t easy especially when traveling a long way and the show can take very long when many competitors are involved. As a judge you must stay always focused and give attention the same way you do to the first entering as you do to the last. As for my plans for the future, my husband and I have just recently purchased some mares that will be an addition to our breeding program. We are very excited to welcome them to their new home. My dream in life is to pursue the life I am 414

blessed with and to enjoy every moment being around my beloved ones. In conclusion, I wish everyone the best of luck with their Arabian horse friends. May we all work together on mainting the importance of the Arabian horse breed. Most importantly, follow you heart!

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National Judge, (FN) Germany

My love and dedication to the Arabian Horses started many years ago. Already as a young child I was involved with horses – my parents used to say I loved horses before I even started to walk. When I bought my first Arabian mare in 2000 it was soon obvious that these amazing creatures would play an important role in my life forever. That was the foundation of my Stud Shalimar Arabians I soon knew that I wanted more than just to ‘own’ these horses, my interest in the breeding object of the Arabian horse grew and in 2003 the first foal was born at our farm in Brandenburg, not far from Berlin. Today we own about 20 horses from all different breeding lines of the Arabian horse – we have a straight Egyptian mare Layla Ajiba by Ashhal Al Rayyan, a Russian mare Anjuscha (by Vympel), a straight Spanish Arabian mare called CC Edina Pearl by LM Perlamor and a mare of sensational bloodlines - AJ Angelina by WH Justice and out of World Champion Mare Psyches Amber Gem – just to name a few of them. We are proud to say that we bred many premium foals and our chief sire Juss Perlito (Aja Justified x CC Edina Pearl) is an international show champion as well as a wonderful riding horse. Right now our homebred Juss Angelo (Juss Perlito x AJ Angelina) is starting his breeding career owned by Beatrice Bigotti in Italy. A very special add on to our breeding program is our collection of part-bred Arabian horses with a very high percentage of Arabian blood – and most of them with special colors! We are the breeders of a very rare cremello pinto mare ‘Shalimar Ice Queen’ with more than 90 percent of Arabian blood and also own a few more 416

Palominos and Pintos of high quality all with that special Arabian look.

During the development of our stud I started to study all details about the Arabian and the Arabian part-bred horses. I wanted to understand more about the breeding lines, their history as well as their phenotype and genotype.

I attended countless breeding shows and foal shows in Germany, as well as many international shows in the world. Learning more about the breed I got more and more interested in the evaluation of the individual horse and the scoring systems – which are a lot different at the regional shows in Germany than they are at the national and international shows of the ECAHO. In 2013 I decided the time had come to strengthen my skills and I started my education to become a National judge of the German Horse Federation FN. It was important for me to learn from the bottom up about how to judge a horse correctly – and the German System of education for horse judges met my requirements perfectly.

I passed my judges exam 2015 and I am proud to have started my judging career at the international C show for Arabian and Arabian part-bred horses in Vlotho/Germany in 2016. Right now my judging career focuses on regional shows and foal shows of the German Horse Association VZAP. It is a perfect way to get an overview of the Arabian horse breed in Germany.

At these shows a different system is used compared to the international shows. We have 11 criteria and a big part of the show is that each horse gets commented by the judges. That gives the breeder and owner a chance to really learn about the strengths and the weaknesses of their horse and is a great evaluation for any stud-farm.

If I look at today’s show world at the Arabian horse shows, there are many different thoughts coming into my mind. First of all, I can see a young and active group of judges coming up in all different countries. That is great because we need more and new people to get involved with this wonderful breed and they will be a great addition to the already existing very good and very experienced judges panel of the ECAHO. But what I also see is a big difference in the education of the horse judges in general – talking about the national level. Speaking for Germany, I can say that it is a long and hard way to go, with many seminars, at least 10 horse 417

country. It may be worth a thought if we can find a way to adjust the requirements for national judges in different countries – similar to the ECAHO judges test.

The second thing I would like to point out is the 10- or 20- point system. From my point of view, I can only encourage the judges to really use the full 10-points-range.

Many shows today seem not to make a difference between the horse scores – almost everything is an 18. Not only could we use a real lower point if a horse really has a weakness in one of the criteria – but also the horses with exceptional quality could be rated better because a 20 would really have its worth.

I am still a neophyte in the judging world, but I am sure it is the right place for me and I look forward to all the adventures to coming in the following years! I think that together we can move the business on and bring out the best for our Arabian horse world that we all love so much to be in – and of course for the horses that we cherish and love!

shows as an assistant, and two days of a very hard exam with a theoretical part and a practical part judging all kind of horses of different breeds to be able to get on the national judge list of our association. Personally, I think that it is very good to put all judges through such a long and hard education because it assures you of the quality of judges for all breeds. But this kind of education for national judges differs a lot in every 418

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National Judge, Switzerland

Since I was 5 years old, I have been crazy about any kind of animal as we couldn’t have any at home. So, on every occasion, I tried to go up to all the animals I was able to find. So I guess I was 5 years old when my mother took me to an animal park and there was a donkey. Of course I wanted to caress him, but he thought that my hand was a carrot and he did bite my hand… I was crying like hell and went back to my mother, but I guess just two minutes later I was back again to this donkey…

When I was 10 years old we went to live close to my godmother and I had my first contact with Arabian Horses. I fell in love with them, and I guess I have been so wild that nothing could stop me for not riding them ever since.

At 18 I bought my first own Arabian horse with my own earned money. A very pretty small chestnut Arabian mare with the biggest eyes I have ever seen. Those beautiful eyes saw many of my tears and made me smile again, her name is Fhamina. Because of an accident we had, I couldn’t ride her 420

for some time and a friend of mine pushed me to cover her and show her at the National in Switzerland which is exactly

what I did and this little mare with a very plane face, small ears and her wonderful big black eyes got Gold awarded.

Today, I still love her so much and I still have her daughter

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with me.

This love I have acquired for the Arabian horse has changed my life completely. I guess if I was not so totally brainless I would not live here in Italy with a stable full of horses going from one show to the other and talk form the morning to the evening only about horses (smile).

Today, I am also a very young judge. I made my probation for the national list in 2015 and in 2016 I judged my first show in Morocco. Honestly, I don’t remember how it started – maybe because I am so inside the Arabian Horse like many others before me.

In my opinion, everyone can be a judge as the most important thing is to be honest with yourself and have a little bit of taste for harmony and beauty.

An Arabian Horse should always be an Arabian – so for me it means big dark eyes, small ears, big nostrils, short face, blowing and bouncing around, that’s for me the first thing I like to see when there is entering a horse in the ring. Of course, the type of our Arabian Horses changed a lot in the last years. Now we have longer necks, longer faces and longer croups and longer legs – if it is better I don’t know…

As far as I am concerned, I love all the bloodlines and in our days they are all so mixed up that you can’t really see any difference anymore (smile). But I like the Spanish influence the most and I will always choose a horse with big eyes – always. To me, judging means to refresh a bit my opinion about the Arabian Horse in the first place, as it makes a big difference to stand outside the ring or stand inside close to the horse – it’s not the same. Until now, I didn’t have any bad experience. I just got to know nice people and seeing interesting horses. To those who would maybe like to become a judge, I would simply suggest to see as many horses as possible and to understand 422

how a horse works. I am a rider first of all, I like wellbuilt horses, this can help!

If you wish to judge, just try it and after when you stand in the ring you will see if it is what you like to do, as it is not so easy like it seems from outside.

As for my future plans, I would say that for the time being I am just enjoying my young age, I am going through a wonderful time with many adventures and I try to face my future with kindness, with an open heart and a smile.

To conclude I would like to recall everyone in the Arabian horse community that the Arabian horse will always be one of the world’s finest breed with all the good and all the bad things – like the world it is – but I hope I can follow it until my old age as it makes me happy every day seeing all our beautiful Arabian Horses and live with their spirit around.

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F

rom time immemorial, Lebanon has been thanks to its Bedouin ancestors in the region whether from Syria or Iraq and other desert areas, a country where many ancients once invested in the tradition of breeding Arabian horses to reproducers coming from such tribes as: the Feidhan near Palmyra, the Sbaa with their Managiéh, Abou Arkoub, Touaissan strains, the Chammar, Haddiyine of El Hamra, alongside with the Anezeh, Roallas region of Damascus, the Mawali from the near harsh desert who preserved such strains as KoheiletAdjouz (Krouch, Rodan), Seglaoui (Seglaoui Djedran, El Abd, Obeiri, IbnS’beni, Sebeh, El Geetnieh), Abeyan (Cherrack, Obeideh, Djoulan), Habdan (Enzahi, El Fert, Ghafil, Es Zaite), Hamdani (Simri, Djafelavant). All of them kept the ‘oriental’ purebred Arabian.

Long before the suffering endured by the Lebanese people

an Egyptian resident; a French delegation acquired more than fifteen specimens including the famous chestnut colt El Sbaa born in 1910 by Ma’anaghi Sbyeli x El Ghermith A Kuhaylah Juatany ( he was declared the most beautiful horse from the Orient which was assigned to Haras de Pompadour - France); then Hamdani, who following the tragic events of the civil war in 1982, which battered the country and disfigured Beirut, the local livestock had for decades enjoyed a good reputation for possessing genuine subjects of the Arabian breed; in fact they became suppliers of very fine oriental ‘Asil’ specimens bought at good prices during European missions whose obligation was to give blood under the mass of war horses or services, the internal market of Lebanon not being one of the most active at the time.

One must remember the success of the Oriental stockbreeding of bygone days: a Japanese commission acquired the best specimens in 1930, in 1937 thanks to the assistance of a great merchant Ahmed Ibish,

Ahmed Ibish

was winner of all the great races in Beirut belonging to the then President of the Lebanese Race Department, Omar Beyhum; the chestnut colt Dahman born in 1904 in the Shammar tribe by Dahman Amer x Kuhaylah Rabdah (father of the AngloArabian Ninon who was twice medalist at

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the Olympic Games); and Munswer who was exported into the U.S.A. in 1947. Many other countries imitated them; that is the reputation of the equine production in Lebanon.

The first race field in Lebanon was inaugurated in 1884, prior a change of place, a reconstruction was initiated by the Ottomans in 1916 for what would then become the emblem of the center of Lebanon, of the equestrian activities maintained by the French protectorate from 1920 to 1943. It was an important construction element representing the line of demarcation whose outrages of the war are still visible despite the determination of Henri Pharaon who wished, in his time, it could be restored despite serious doubts for its future.

Following the previous events organized in recent years, the 2012 event at the Al Rehab Equestrian Club in Zahle was the bearer of a great ambition of recognition with the participation of sixty-five horses; yet, the 2015 event did not leave a strong impression of the gathering

Byblos

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although it was useful to local breeders; interests were different that year.

It is at the heart of the emblematic B e i r u t Racecourse that is managed with obstinacy by Nabil Nasrallah - who deals with the availability of this thousandyear-old place, that the 2017 Competition was held to present this time forty-nine purebred Arabian horses; the hope of the new organizers is that a projector is pointed at the new equine heritage, which, for lack of regard, may drop below international radars coverage, having myself once had the mission to represent Lebanon at the W.a.h.o. Congress in the United States, where it was not at all easy to face the hostility of some member countries which were contesting the purity of the blood of Lebanese Arabian horses, a herd largely made up of reproducers mainly from the tribes of Syria or Iraq.

As in any sector, time is needed to restart with the business ; the history of the choice of partners to set up breeding competitions did not give sufficient

hope to the new breeders / owners who have just invested at great expense in horses coming from fashionable strains by importing reproducers of certified quality from Europe or the United Arabian Emirates, having the ambition to be able to enter the concert of nations very quickly and compete at very high level of competitions.

With the number of horses recorded in the 2017 Stud Book, caution is advised because this is too fast in practice given the predominance assured for years by the Gulf countries, which have themselves been experiencing overproduction for years; today they are trading profitably with Lebanon.

While the tragic events that occurred have disrupted the Arabian horse industry in Lebanon, the relevant question has to be asked about what has happened to the large number of imported subjects in the 1970s and 1990s from both Qatar, Jordan,

England, Morocco and France, noting that famous specimens of the Egyptian strains of the E.A.O. must have given a good contribution to the local strains when crossed with them; so a production did exist there, maybe small, but real, of what they became.

In the important breeding background of the country of this age, it is clear that many small-scale breeders are scattered around places, sometimes too far-off, often next to mountainous regions that are difficult to access; however not all of them have disappeared; they must still have old oriental bloodlines which have been protected and are still valuable

for the breed of the Asil Arabian horses.

New savvy breeders / owners such as, Samjad Arabians whose facilities are remarkable and Ghosn Arabians with their original style of horses breeding at Al Qoubaiyat on the Mount Lebanon, Okli Stables in West Bekaa, have each of them made wise choices in order to re-create an Arabian horse breeding sector in Lebanon, which is commendable, nevertheless the whole herd still remains a little too small in terms of pure breed. There is such an urgent need to ensure the establishment of a basic fund for stockbreeding paralleled by a national developmental policy that would allow, in two or three years time, to compete with pride before the eyes of the world, mainly using ‘born and bred h o r s e s ’, which will

Danny Ghosn-Sami Wardy-Nasser Marei

undoubtedly shape the true identity of the work of the new breeders.

It is also worth to mention Haras Hoch Sneid farm in the region of Bekaa, led by Nabil de Freige who is carrying on the success of racing horses breeding set up by the faithful passionate of the breed, the Marquis Moussa de Freige who was one of the founders of the W.a.h.o. and whom I had once the pleasure to meet.

The certainly compose a highly-motivated team - Danny Ghosn, Sami Wardy, Ali Ftouni

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who set out to bring together good horses that can meet the traditional assessment criteria with a panel of three foreign judges chosen for the occasion and that have unanimously pointed out the ‘too high body condition’ of the specimen whose little leanness may be due to the absence of pastures necessary for a more natural athletic development; they are in some ways fed ‘without grazing land’ with very rich

Baalbek Bacchus Temple 428

foods into an area where heat is the main cause of hoof diseases.

Undoubtedly, the 2017 show represents a crucial stage of the work so that Lebanon may be in no time recognized as a land of purebred Arabian horses with the aim of ‘producing oriental subjects’ to create new strains in the global sector; thanks to its geographical location, it could become a bridge between

Europe, Africa and the Middle East, an exchange value that can grow up strongly if there is a common objective.

The development of the breed in Lebanon is due to the patience and cohesion of all the actors in the country; the suggestion would be that a gathering of male reproducers be considered in autumn as a means of information proposed by the sympathetic leaders of the Lebanese Arabian Horse Association (LAHA) to all local actors. Lebanon is a wonderful country that must drive with reason and modernity its future, without obscuring its prestigious past in the equine sector. Its population is welcoming and generous, but it must be free from external contingencies to limit new imports, to produce purebred Arabian horses with temperament and type, and not ‘clones’ already known on all continents, all so different from the original standard.

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2017 RESULTS Judge Panel: Abbas Raouf -Egypt - Schibler Renata - Switzerland - Julie Maden - Belgium

AJ DINA GOLD

JUNIOR FEMALES

(U.A.E.) chestnut 2016 Strain Seglawieh Jedranieh ibn Sudan

by Eks Alihandro by Marwan Al Shaqab & OFW Psylhouette & Aj Amber’s Ajman by WH Justice & Psyche Amber Gem breeder Ajman Stud, U.A.E. owner Samjad Stud, Lebanon

JOLENE SILVER chestnut 2015

by Aj Mardan by Vervaldee & Felicia RLC & Felicja Galaa by Kir Galla & Alicja Galaa breeder Elisa Grassi, Italy owner Mohammed Al Ouraibi, Lebanon

AJ EJDRESSA BRONZE (U.A.E.) bay 2014 Strain Kehaileh Moradi

by Vervaldee by Versace & Giovanna & Ejrene by Gazal Al Shaqab & Emocja breeder Ajman Stud, U.A.E. owner Adnan Mazloum, Lebanon

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MAHITY JOLLY GOLD

LAGONDA ALFABIA SILVER grey 2013

by Alfabia Sheib by WH Justice & Prishta SF & ZT Fantlie by ZT Shakfantasy & Countess Amelie breeder SP Domilano, Italy owner Samjad Stud, Lebanon

SENIOR FEMALES

(Bel) bay 2013 Strain Hamdanieh Semrieh

by WH Justice by Magnum Psyche & Vona Sher Renea & Mahity al Jamaal by Dakar Al Jamaal & Mackenzie breeder Jean Mattens, Belgium owner DG Arabians, Lebanon

ALFABIA KIYAMA BRONZE grey 2006

by Phaaros by ZT Faaiq & Bint Atallah & April Carol by Parys El Jamaal & BA Niketa breeder Agricola Damiliano, Italy owner Samjad Stud, Lebanon

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RIYADH AM GOLD (K.s.a) bay 2014 Strain Seglawi Jedran ibn Sudan

by Abha Qatar by Marwan Al Shaqab & ZT Ludjkalba & Dana Al Mohamadia by Ajman Moniscione & Felicia Psyche breeder Al Mohammadia Stud, Kingdom Saudi Arabia owner Samjad

JUNIOR MALES

DG AMIRAL SILVER bay 2016

by Fadi Al Shaqab by Besson Carol & Abha Myra & Alisha Bint Bengali by FS Bengali & Aida V breeder – owner Ghosn Arabians, Lebanon

AJ MAROUGE BRONZE (U.A.E.) chestnut 2016

by AJ Mardan by Vervaldee & Felicia RLC & Galinka Royal Rouge breeder Ajman Stud, U.A.E. owner Samjad Stud, Lebanon

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TM POKER GOLD (At) chestnut 2013 Strain Seglawi Jedran

by TM Aikor by Mirok Monpelou & Aillura & Passionata by Psynergy & Sibiria breeder Gabrielle Hammerer owner Adnan Mazloum, Lebanon

SILVER (U.s.a) bay 2004

by Falcon BHF by Bey Shah & Bey Serenade SF & Bay Oaks Psyrignet by Magnum Psyche & Kishaj breeder Richard Freeland owner Mohammed Al Ouraibi, Lebanon

SENIOR MALES

FF FALCONS PSYGNATURE

MOATAZ BRONZE (U.A.E.) grey 2005 Strain Kehailan Rodan

by DF Amlik Jamil by NK Hafid Jamil & Amouva & DF Shahdira by Dalia Halim & Rawayeh breeder Ali Al Gergawi owner Khaled Zarour, Lebanon

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The Arabian horse got used to desert hard living, the environment in which he was born and where he grew up.

When tackling the issue of purity, we must ask ourselves what would happen if the Asil horses of the desert were crossed with our Western races. Cross-bred subjects generally do not fit well into their parent’s native environment, so although hybrids are very prolific, selection weighs them down and restricts their spread. If for any reason the environment changed dramatically it could, in turn, create an advantageous situation for hybrids which could then reproduce themselves easily. Arabian horses brought to the West have faced radical changes in the environment; they have been brought to humid and warm climates from a drought and famine-like land, from places with extreme thermal changes which, in a quarter of an hour, may also vary by thirty degrees centigrade. These creatures who were used to living outdoors in every season become, in our regions, spoiled inhabitants of stables , who have food at will in paddocks rich in good grass; foals in particular have significantly benefited because of this and their mortality that used to be about 50% in the Bedouin horses herds - has been cut down by almost 10%. The very strict selection due to the environment, in the extreme desert living conditions, does not occur in our Western world and the automatic selfrestoration process does no longer take place, so that even the weaker subjects manage to survive and reproduce themselves.

We could even argue that by crossing the Asil Arabians with Western races in our environment, selection could harm the Arabian horses itself.

The belief of many European breeders - who have a preference for certain specific physical characteristics that do not correspond to those of the desert horse - does not just fit well to the Arabian horse thereby adversely affecting the selection of this breed as in the case of a longer back and rounded rump or when seeking for a larger size. Many people mistakenly think that a light bone structure is a sign of weakness. Cold and humid climate affects the selection in Europe where there are diseases unknown in Arabia, such as ‘pulmonary emphysema’: the Polish stock-breeding before the 1930s can be considered emblematic of such a situation. On the so-called Polish farms put in ‘purity,’ many Arabians from the desert went crossed with many half-blood Arabians and half-blood Anglo-Arabians. An example of the way the pure Arabians were obtained in those days in Poland is the famous stallion Dardziling 1903 (Mazepa x Omega) who carried 90% of certified Arabian blood. We also know other horses who carried lower percentages of pure Arabian blood, even down to 37%, including the mare Arabella 1898 (Vasco de Gama x Irena), grand-mother of the stallion Adamas 1930 (Kohejl Ibn Mazepa x Arabella 1914) and of the mare Arabeska 1931 (Kohejl Ibn Mazepa x Arabella 1914); on the other hand, there were also some Polish Arabians who carried 100% of certified Arabian blood and they were Asil.

A deeper analysis of the pedigree of the stallion Dardziling 1903, of his paternal grandparents Achmet-Ejub 1881 (Ezrak436

Il Cavallo Arabo si è adattato alla dura vita del deserto, ambiente, nel quale è nato e dove si è forgiato. Nel trattare il tema della purezza, dobbiamo chiederci cosa accadrebbe se i cavalli Asil del deserto fossero incrociati con le nostre razze occidentali. I soggetti derivati da incroci generalmente non si adattano bene all’ambiente nativo dei loro genitori, pertanto, anche se gli ibridi sono molto prolifici, la selezione pesa a loro svantaggio e ne limita il diffondersi.

Se per qualsiasi motivo l’ambiente cambiasse radicalmente, si potrebbe al contrario, creare una situazione vantaggiosa per gli ibridi, che potrebbero quindi riprodursi con facilità.

I Cavalli Arabi portati in occidente, hanno affrontato radicali cambiamenti dell’ambiente; sono stati portati in climi umidi e caldi da una terra soggetta a siccità e carestie, da luoghi con estreme escursioni termiche, che in un quarto d’ora possono variare anche di trenta gradi centigradi. Queste creature che erano abituate a vivere all’aperto in ogni stagione, nelle nostre regioni diventano viziati abitanti di scuderie, che hanno cibo a volontà nei paddock ricchi di buona erba, in particolare, i puledri hanno avuto un notevole beneficio e la loro mortalità che era pari a circa il 50% nei branchi di cavalli dei beduini, si è ridotta a circa il 10%. La selezione molto severa dovuta all’ambiente, nelle massacranti condizioni di vita del deserto, nel nostro mondo occidentale non avviene e il processo automatico di auto-risanamento non si compie più, sopravvivono e si riproducono anche i soggetti più deboli.

Potremmo addirittura affermare che incrociando gli Arabi Asil, nel nostro ambiente, con le razze occidentali, la selezione potrebbe nuocere agli stessi Cavalli Arabi.

Alcune convinzioni di molti allevatori europei, che prediligono alcune specifiche caratteristiche fisiche, che non collimano con quelle tipiche del cavallo del deserto, non giocano a favore del Cavallo Arabo, arrivando a influenzare negativamente la selezione di questa razza, come un dorso più lungo e la groppa arrotondata, o la ricerca di una taglia maggiore.

Molti pensano erroneamente che la leggerezza dell’ossatura sia indice di debolezza. Il clima freddo e umido condiziona la selezione in Europa, dove ci sono malattie sconosciute in Arabia, come l’Enfisema Polmonare: emblematico di questa situazione è l’allevamento polacco prima del 1930. Nei cosiddetti allevamenti “in purezza” polacchi, dove nonostante fossero messi in razza molti Arabi del deserto, con questi erano incrociati molti mezzosangue Arabi e mezzosangue Anglo-Arabi. Un esempio di com’ erano ottenuti a quei tempi gli Arabi puri in Polonia è il famoso stallone Dardziling 1903 (Mazepa x Omega) che aveva il 90% di sangue Arabo accertato. Si conoscono anche altri cavalli che avevano percentuali di sangue Arabo perfino inferiore, addirittura del 37%, tra questi troviamo la fattrice Arabella 1898 (Vasco de Gama x Irena), nonna dello stallone Adamas 1930 (Kohejl Ibn Mazepa x Arabella 1914) e della fattrice Arabeska 1931(Kohejl Ibn Mazepa x Arabella 1914); d’altra parte, vi erano anche alcuni Arabi Polacchi che avevano il 100% di sangue Arabo

Bairactar – Asil Arabian stallion imported from the Orient to Weil on 1817 together with 7 mares by Hungarian Baron von Fechtig, here ridden by King William I of Wurttemberg (1781 – 1864) (by Albrecht Adam).

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Seglawi x Pusta), Delia 1884 (Rymnik x Galicja) and maternal grandparents Antar-OA (imp.1891), Dulcynea 1894 (Rymnik X Utopja) tells us that only Antar-OA is an original Arabian of the desert, while the other three ones must be considered half-blood Anglo-Arabians, since among their ancestors they have 8 half-blood Arabians and 9 half-blood Anglo-Arabians.

Between 1899 and 1929, in order to assess the morphological type, people used to measure height at the withers level, the passage through the belts and the bone size; it could be seen that - by crossing these half-blood horses among themselves breeders would achieve variable results in the Polish breeding; various final products came out with a plain Arabian type, but there were also a good number of subjects that were correspondent to the type of non-Arabian ancestors. Around 1930, three stallions bred in the desert were introduced into the Polish breeding farm: Koheilan Haifi DB, Koheilan Afas DB and Koheilan Kruszan, alongside with additional French- Arabian

accertato ed erano Asil.

Verificando in modo più approfondito il pedigree dello stallone Dardziling 1903, i nonni paterni Achmet-Ejub 1881(EzrakSeglawi x Pusta), Delia 1884 (Rymnik x Galicja) e i nonni materni Antar-OA (imp.1891), Dulcynea 1894 (Rymnik x Utopja) ci dicono che soltanto Antar-OA è un Arabo originale del deserto, mentre gli altri tre devono essere considerati mezzosangue Anglo-Arabi, poiché nei loro ascendenti hanno 8 mezzosangue Arabi e 9 mezzosangue Anglo-Arabi.

Tra il 1899 e il 1929, per valutare il tipo morfologico si misurava l’altezza al garrese, il passaggio delle cinghie e la misura delle ossa, si costatò così che incrociando tra loro questi mezzosangue, nell’allevamento polacco si ottenevano risultati molto variabili; diversi prodotti ottenuti erano del tipo nettamente Arabo, ma vi era anche un buon numero di soggetti che erano rispondenti al tipo degli antenati non Arabi.

Intorno al 1930, nell’allevamento polacco furono introdotti tre stalloni allevati nel deserto: Koheilan Haifi DB, Koheilan Afas DB e Koheilan Kruszan, oltre ad altri stalloni Arabi Asil francesi, come Khartoum e Nemur, entrambi figli di El Sbaa; così nelle misurazioni effettuate tra il 1936 e il 1956, si vide che il tronco si accorciava da 147 cm a 145 cm e il passaggio delle cinghie aumentava da 170 cm a 176 cm, l’influenza del sangue straniero è certamente visibile e ben lontana dall’essere eliminata.

Questi dati verificati sugli Arabi Polacchi, provano definitivamente il grande valore che gli allevatori di cavalli Arabi attribuiscono alla purezza del sangue.

In Polonia c’era l’allevamento statale centralizzato, così negli

Amourath 1829 (Bairactar x Saady III – D.B.), Asil Arabian stallion born in Weil (by Emil Volkers 1856)

Asil stallions, such as Khartoum and Nemur, both sons of El Sbaa; so the measurements carried out between 1936 and 1956 showed that the trunk got shorter from 147 cm down to 145 cm and the passage through the belts increased from 170 cm up to 176 cm; the influence by foreign blood was clearly visible and far from being eliminated. These results carried out on Polish Arabians definitely prove the great value that Arabian breeders attribute to blood purity. In Poland there was a centralized state farm, so in the years to come, with the smart use of Arabian Asil stallions, they were able to significantly reduce the damage caused by crossing different bloodlines.

I have here outlined the case of the Polish breeding industry because it is a representative one just as it is like in many other nations where, unfortunately, farms are all private and widely scattered so it has then been more difficult to bring the original desert horse’s features back into the genetic pool. In many countries, even in recent years, there have been used stallions which are certainly not pure Arabians; among them there are also some who have been used to making show products, including a multi-celebrated show champion who shall remain nameless for obvious reasons since he is in full swing being born approximately around year 2000. In the sire line of this stallion we find several crosses with Shagya horses. To get competitive products intended for plane racing, they even use real half-blood Anglo-Arabians recognized as Arabians by W.A.H.O. (World Arabian Horse Organization), such as the lines of the French Manganate or even some stallion coming from North Africa mistakenly considered as a Desert Bred. Another practice that in the modern era has dramatically reduced the number of Asil 438

Zarif – Asil Arabian stallion imported from the Arabian Penisula in 1840/1845 to East Prussia by Furst von Pueckler-Muskau who purchased him from the Roala bedouins, at the age of 15 years he was purchased by King William I of Wurttemberg for his Stud of Weil (by Emil Volkers).

anni a seguire, con l’uso oculato di stalloni Arabi Asil, sono riusciti a diminuire notevolmente il danno causato da incroci con linee di sangue diverso.

Ho portato come esempio l’allevamento polacco perché rappresentativo, purtroppo in molte altre nazioni, dove gli allevamenti sono tutti privati e molto frammentati, è stato più difficile riportare i caratteri originali del cavallo del deserto nella base genetica. In diverse nazioni anzi, anche negli ultimi anni sono stati usati stalloni che certamente non sono Arabi puri, tra questi c’è anche qualche stallone che si usa per fare prodotti da show, tra cui spicca un pluricampione di shows, del quale non faccio il nome per ovvie ragioni, poiché è in piena attività, essendo nato negli anni 2000. Nella linea paterna di questo stallone troviamo diversi incroci con cavalli Shagya.

Per fare prodotti competitivi nelle corse in piano, usano addirittura veri mezzosangue Anglo-Arabi riconosciuti come

Arabians is ‘Embryo Transfer’; in fact, there is scientific evidence that the RNA of the recipient mare does contaminate the fetus’ one given that we usually use broodmares of other breeds as recipients, especially Trotter horses; therefore, we can realize how many foals may have come to birth with an Asil Arabian horse pedigree although they should not to be considered as such at all. All breeders who think they are ‘purists’ should be more concerned with not having in their pedigrees the blood of horses like Nasralla (Shahriar), Tifla or others - who are absolutely Straight Egyptian Asil Arabians - rather than just getting the tools to detect horses born via ‘Embryo Transfer’ so to exclude them from their breeding programme. In order to protect the Asil Arabian the Executive Committees of the various Arabian Horses National Breeders’ Associations should have always made a request for a direct line of descent from the Arabian horses bred in the desert when it came time to develop articles and various regulations to determine a definition of the pure Arabian Horse. In the ‘Memorandum and Articles of Association’, the Arab Horse Society of the United Kingdom founded in 1919 states that: ‘The term Arabian or Arabian horse must define the subject whose pedigree comes exclusively from pure Arabian blood.’ Also Mr. R.S. Summerhays Chairman of the Arab Horse Society, in his book ‘The Arab Horse in Great Britain ‘(1967, p. 55), emphasized very clearly this definition of the pure Arabian. No line of different blood was to be recognized; if that had happened, the product would have been invariably either an Anglo-Arabian or a half-blood Arabian.

Even in the English Stud Book, unfortunately, there were several foreign-blood horses among the first subjects, and the most striking example was the famous Skowronek, who was very handsome, registered as a pure subject despite his mother Jaskolka had in her pedigree: 5 times English Purebred subjects, twice Turkmen subjects and 16 times Polish native broodmares.

Many other examples could be made, but this happened not

Manganate 1972 (Saint Laurent x Mandragore) – Looking at this picture of the stallion Manganate, we can see clearly that he is a Selle Francaise and not an Asil Arabian horse (pure)

only in the United Kingdom, but also in many other European countries, for example in Germany, precisely in Weil, where the stallion we talked about earlier, Dardziling 1903, operated successfully; or more recently, also in Italy, there has been the much debated ‘Sardinia Line’, which today is the producer of all half-blood Anglo-Arabians recognized by WAHO as Arabians and which are employed in racecourses. In 1968 the book of Guttman and Klynstra was published and it was shown that the registrations of some Polish Arabians were invalid, so in September of the same year the Arab Horse Society decided to change the definition of pure Arabian in order to legitimize the whole thing. The new definition is as follows: ‘In accordance with breeding purposes, pure Arabian horses are said to be

Arabi dalla W.A.H.O. (World Arabian Horse Organization), come le linee del francese Manganate o anche qualche stallone che viene dall’Africa settentrionale, erroneamente considerato Desert Bred.

Altra pratica che nell’era moderna sta riducendo sensibilmente il numero degli Arabi Asil, è l’Embryo Transfer; infatti, è provato scientificamente che l’RNA della fattrice ricevente inquina quello del feto, se pensiamo che come riceventi, di solito si utilizzano fattrici di altre razze, in particolare cavalli Trotter, potete rendervi conto di quanti puledri possono nascere con il pedigree di Cavallo Arabo Asil, che puri non sono affatto. Tutti gli allevatori che si reputano dei puristi, invece di preoccuparsi di non avere nei loro pedigree, il sangue di Nasralla (Shahriar), Tifla, o altri, che sono con certezza

Orashaan 1988 (Maysoun x Orasha) - Asil Straight Egyptian Arabian stallion from the family of Tifla - 1996 German National Champion Stallion.

assoluta Cavalli Arabi Asil Straight Egyptian, si preoccupino di avere gli strumenti per riconoscere i cavalli nati da “Embryo Transfer”, al fine di poterli escludere dall’utilizzo per i propri allevamenti.

Per tutelare l’Arabo Asil, i Comitati esecutivi delle varie Associazioni Allevatori Nazionali di cavalli Arabi, nello sviluppare gli articoli e le varie voci dei regolamenti, quando determinavano la definizione di Cavallo Arabo puro, avrebbero dovuto richiedere sempre una linea ininterrotta di discendenza dagli Arabi allevati nel deserto.

L’Arab Horse Society del Regno Unito, fondata nel 1919, nel “Memorandum and Articles of Association”, stabilisce che: “Il termine Arabo, o Cavallo Arabo, deve definire quel soggetto nel cui pedigree si trova esclusivamente sangue Arabo puro”.

Anche chi fu presidente dell’Arab Horse Society, Mr. R.S. Summerhays, nel suo libro “The Arab horse in Great Britain” (1967, p. 55), poneva l’accento molto chiaramente su questa definizione di Arabo puro.

Non era riconosciuta nessuna linea di sangue diverso; se ciò fosse accaduto, il prodotto sarebbe stato immancabilmente o un Anglo-Arabo o un Arabo mezzosangue.

Anche nello Stud Book inglese purtroppo, tra i primi soggetti iscritti c’erano diversi cavalli con sangue straniero e l’esempio più clamoroso fu il famoso Skowronek, che era bellissimo, registrato come soggetto puro, nonostante la madre Jaskolka, avesse nel suo pedigree: 5 volte soggetti Purosangue Inglese, 2 volte Turcomanno e 16 volte fattrici native Polacche.

Si potrebbero fare molti altri esempi, questo non è accaduto soltanto nel Regno Unito, ma in molte altre Nazioni europee, 439

only those who are recognized as such in their country of origin (place of birth) and they are, or were, registered in such registers as Pure Arabians ‘, so the other National Stud Books also aligned with this definition. The most serious thing was that the very World Organization born in 1972, in order to maintain the purity of the blood and to safeguard the existence of the Arabian Horse, that is, W.A.H.O. (World Arabian Horse Organization), accepted this position. Therefore, the official definition is as follows: ‘By Purebred Arabian Horse is meant a horse whose pedigree can be traced back into the genealogical

in Germania per esempio, precisamente a Weil ha funzionato lo stallone di cui abbiamo già parlato, Dardziling 1903, oppure anche in Italia, in epoca più recente, c’era la molto discussa “Sardinia Line”, che oggi è la produttrice di tutti i mezzosangue Anglo-Arabi riconosciuti come Arabi dalla W.A.H.O., che corrono negli ippodromi.

Nel 1968 fu pubblicato il libro di Guttman e Klynstra, dove si dimostrava che le registrazioni di alcuni Arabi Polacchi non erano valide, così nel Settembre dello stesso anno l’Arab Horse Society decise di modificare la definizione di Arabo puro, in modo da legittimare il tutto.

La nuova definizione è: “In accordo con gli scopi dell’allevamento, sono detti Cavalli Arabi puri quei soggetti che sono riconosciuti come tali nel loro paese d’origine (luogo di nascita) e sono, o erano, registrati in quei registri come Arabi puri”, di conseguenza anche gli altri Stud Books nazionali si sono allineati a questa definizione. La cosa più grave fu che proprio l’organismo mondiale nato nel 1972, allo scopo di mantenere la purezza del sangue e di salvaguardare l’esistenza del Cavallo Arabo, cioè la W.A.H.O. (World Arabian Horse Organization), accettò questa posizione. Pertanto la definizione ufficiale è la seguente: “Per cavallo puro sangue arabo s’intende un cavallo la cui genealogia possa rintracciarsi nei libri genealogici riconosciuti dalla WAHO”.

Non dobbiamo lasciare che sia messa in pericolo, o che addirittura scompaia una delle più belle opere fatte dalla natura. Mi auguro che ammiratori e sostenitori del Cavallo del Deserto, rifiutino l’immagine forviante che è stata costruita

Thee Desperado 1989 (The Minstril x AK Amiri Asmarr) at age 20, June 2009 - Asil Straight Egyptian Arabian stallion, who in his pedigree has the blood of Nasralla (Shahriar) - 1994 US Reserve National Champion Stallion, 1994 Scottsdale Unanimous Grand Champion Stallion. Passed away on July 26, 2013, together with Ashhal Al Rayyan, Thee Desperado is the best Straight Egyptian stallion of the last generation.

books as recognized by WAHO. We shall not jeopardize, or even let disappear, one of nature’s finest achievement. I hope that admirers and supporters of the Desert Horse will reject the misleading picture that was built on this creature, causing in some ways her decadence. Quite the opposite, they should unite and undertake the commendable and difficult task of saving at all cost the pure Arabian Horse because tomorrow it might be too late. We must return to the determination of its early days when extraordinary measures were taken to save the classical Arabian horse from decadence with the establishment, by a few courageous breeders, of associations which were concerned with the preservation of pure subjects and their selection according to the old Bedouin breeding methods.

The pure Arabian cannot be preserved unless we make a clear distinction between Asil Arabians and Arabians with foreign blood.

The first step in this direction was made by American Mrs. Jane L. Ott, who in 1961 published the first of the two volumes of the Blue Arabian Horse Catalogue. It was a very important work for the Arabian Horse World, in which all American Asil Arabians were listed out alongside with Asil subjects imported into the United States. However, this work would have been way more valuable if it had included many horses that were not in the U.S. but got incorporated later on. Following discoveries made by Carl Reinhard Raswan (Schmidt), Ursula Guttman, Foppe Bonno Klynstra and Jane L. Ott, two associations took 440

Ashhal Al Rayyan 1996 (Safir x Ansata Majesta) - Asil Straight Egyptian Arabian stallion, ridden by Mr. Bart van Buggenhout. Senior Champion Stallion, International Show Doha, Qatar 2004. Passed away in 2015, together with Thee Desperado, Ashhal Al Rayyan is the best Straight Egyptian stallion of the last generation.

su questa creatura, determinandone per alcuni aspetti la decadenza e si uniscano, per intraprendere il lodevole e difficoltoso compito di salvare ad ogni costo il Cavallo Arabo puro, perché domani sarà troppo tardi.

Dobbiamo tornare alla determinazione che ci fu in passato, quando furono prese misure straordinarie per salvare dalla decadenza il Cavallo Arabo classico, con la costituzione, da parte di pochi allevatori coraggiosi, di associazioni che si

preoccuparono di conservare i soggetti puri e selezionarli tornando ai vecchi metodi allevatoriali dei Beduini.

L’Arabo puro non può essere conservato se non facciamo una chiara distinzione fra Arabi Asil e Arabi con sangue straniero.

Il primo passo in questo senso fu fatto dall’americana Mrs. Jane L. Ott, che nel 1961 pubblicò il primo dei due volumi del catalogo “Blue Arabian Horse”. Era un’opera di grandissima importanza per il mondo del Cavallo Arabo, dove sono nominati tutti gli Arabi americani Asil, oltre ai soggetti Asil importati negli Stati Uniti. Quest’opera sarebbe stata molto più meritoria se comprendeva molti cavalli che non erano in U.S.A. e in seguito sono stati oggetto d’integrazione.

Acquisendo le scoperte fatte da Carl Reinhard Raswan (Schmidt), Ursula Guttman, Foppe Bonno Klynstra e Jane L. Ott, due associazioni si assunsero il compito di tutelare il Cavallo Arabo puro, impiegando i soggetti Asil nell’allevamento del cavallo Arabo e dichiarando di avere come obiettivo lo stesso traguardo. Queste due associazioni erano l’ASIL CLUB con sede in Germania e l’AL KHAMSA Inc. negli Stati Uniti. In definitiva, per essere chiari, queste due

Carl Reinhard Raswan (Schmidt) - born on March 7, 1893 in Dresden, Germany; he passed away on October 14, 1966 in Santa Barbara, California.

on the task of protecting the pure Arabian Horse by employing Asil subjects in the Arabian horse breeding and claimed they were pursuing the same goal. These two associations were: the ASIL CLUB with its headquarters in Germany and AL KHAMSA Inc. in the United States. Ultimately, to be clear, these two associations only accept horses that always show an uninterrupted line of descent from the Arabians bred in the desert and free from the contamination of different bloodlines.

The Asil Club was founded on September 10th, 1974 by Dr. W. Georg Olms who gathered a certain number of breeders interested in the issue in Freiburg, West Germany, in order to promote purity in the Arabian Horses’ pedigree. The term ‘pure’ was replaced by the Arabic expression ‘Asil’ (feminine noun Asal, plural Asayil) whose meaning is pure, original and genuine. In our case: authentic Arabian horse which is pure at his ‘roots’. Today, the Asil Club includes 400 members from 39 nations, including the King of Saudi Arabia, important state breeding farms such as those owned by the Emirs of Bahrain, of the U.E.A. and of Qatar, the Royal Cavalry of Oman, the Egyptian state breeding in El Zahraa, Bait Al Arab in Kuwait, Dirab in Saudi Arabia and Basel al Assad in Syria, Babolna State Stud in Hungary, Marbach in Germany, Topolcianky in Czech Republic and many other important private farms.

Drawing upon partners’ information and detailed news provided by various horses specialists’ publications, they highlighted all features and performances provided by the classical Arabian horse. Therefore, already in 1977, this international association was able to publish the ‘Documentation

Shuwaimeh 414 (1983) (Jellaby x Shuwaimeh 165) – Asil Arabian mare of the strain Shuwayman, bred by The Amiri Arabian Stud of Bahrain of H. H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Isa Alkhalifa.

associazioni accettano soltanto quei cavalli che hanno sempre una linea ininterrotta di discendenza dagli Arabi allevati nel deserto, senza inquinamento di altri sangui.

L’Asil Club fu costituito il 10 Settembre 1974 dal Dr. W. Georg Olms, che radunò a Friburgo, nella Germania occidentale, un certo numero di allevatori interessati all’argomento, per promuovere la purezza nei pedigree dei Cavalli Arabi.

Il termine “puro” fu sostituito con l’espressione araba “Asil” (femminile Asal, plurale Asayil) il cui significato è puro, originale, genuino. Nel nostro caso: Cavallo Arabo autentico, conservatosi puro dalla “radice”.

Oggi l’Asil Club comprende 400 membri di 39 nazioni, tra questi troviamo il Re dell’Arabia Saudita, importanti allevamenti statali come quelli degli Emiri del Bahrain, dell’U.A.E. e del Qatar, la Cavalleria Reale dell’Oman, l’allevamento statale egiziano di El Zahraa, Bait Al Arab del Kuwait, Dirab dell’Arabia Saudita e Basel al Assad della Siria, il Babolna State Stud in Ungheria, Marbach in Germania, Topolcianky in Repubblica Ceca e molti importanti allevamenti privati.

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on the Asil Arabian,’ whereupon an increasing number of open-mined breeders got convinced that the pure Arabian horse does correspond – under all his best aspects - to his ancestor i.e. the Arabian of the Desert, both for his performance and his temper and he has retained all his qualities of endurance, intelligence and frugality. Since its inception, the Asil Club has been publishing ‘Asil Arabians: the Noble Arabian Horses’, providing information and raising awareness thanks to the help of Dr. W. Georg Olms, who is its author as well as its publisher.

From the first edition, periodically, and within few years of each other, a new issue is being published; at this time the seventh volume is being prepared. Published in English, German and Arabic, this work has collected the only convincing

Tufail 4.16.1970 (Kaisoon x Faziza) – Asil Arabian stallion - Best in training and second of his age group at stallion performance test, Medingen, Germany 1974.

testimony that witnesses the great importance of the Asil breeding, describing Bedouin people’s traditions in raising their horses, and that highlights all those factors that characterize the Arabian horse and the importance of this subject in building up other horse breeds. The value of tradition, the Bedouin’s essence, the influence of ancient culture and Arabian science on the Western world are here highly emphasized. Over the years, the Asil Club has also been concerned about organizing morphology and aptitude competitions to test subjects according to the Asil horse’s standards and assessing their aptitude and resistance. With regard to morphology and attitude, I would like to dwell on the “Three types theory”. Undoubtedly after General Tibor Pettko Von Szandtner, Carl Reinhard Raswan (Schmidt) - who had spent many years with the Bedouins and, therefore, had had the opportunity to study their customs and traditions, and especially their horses - was the most competent twentieth century Arabian horse expert. Raswan supported the ‘Three types theory’ and these were: the Saqlawi, Kuhaylan and Mu’niqi (Maneghi). As it generally happens for other horse breeds, the Arabians fall into two different types: those who carry more refined characters to convey beauty, refinement, tenacity, expressive intensity, and those who have more practical qualities to convey strength, chest width, solid bone structure and a high capacity to benefit from nutrition. The first example is the sophisticated Saqlawi, while Kuhaylan is the second type.

Raswan added a third type to the two basic models: the Mu’niqi 442

Usufruendo delle informazioni dei soci e delle notizie dettagliate da varie pubblicazioni di esperti di cavalli, erano messe in risalto le caratteristiche con le prestazioni di cui era capace il Cavallo Arabo classico. Così già nel 1977, quest’associazione internazionale, era in grado di pubblicare la “Documentazione sull’Arabo Asil” e un numero sempre maggiore di allevatori dalla mentalità più aperta, si convinse che il Cavallo Arabo puro corrisponde, sotto tutti i suoi aspetti migliori, al suo antenato, l’Arabo del Deserto, sia per le sue prestazioni, sia per il suo carattere ed ha mantenuto tutte le doti di resistenza, intelligenza, frugalità. l’Asil Club, fin dalla nascita, facendo opera d’informazione e divulgazione, avvalendosi dell’aiuto del Dr. W. Georg Olms, che ne è autore e editore, ha pubblicato “Asil Arabians: the Noble Arabian Horses”. Dalla prima edizione, periodicamente, a distanza di alcuni anni, è pubblicato un nuovo numero, in questo momento è in preparazione il settimo volume.

Quest’opera, pubblicata in Inglese, Tedesco e Arabo, ha raccolto l’unica testimonianza convincente che documenti la grande importanza dell’allevamento Asil, descrive le tradizioni dei beduini nell’allevare i loro cavalli, mette in risalto tutti quei fattori che caratterizzano il Cavallo Arabo e l’importanza di questo soggetto nella costruzione di altre razze di cavalli. Vi è rimarcato il valore della tradizione, l’essenza del Beduino, l’influenza d e l l’a nt i c a cultura e scienza araba sul mondo occidentale.

Negli anni l’Asil Club si è anche preoccupato di organizzare concorsi di morfologia e attitudinali per testare i soggetti secondo lo standard del cavallo Asil e provarne l’attitudine e la resistenza.

A proposito di morfologia e attitudine, vorrei soffermarmi General Tibor Pettko Von Szandtner - born on sulla “Teoria dei June 20, 1886 in Pezinok, Slowakia; he passed tre tipi”. away on January 6, 1961 in Leutstetten, Starnberg, Dopo il Generale Germany.

Tibor Pettko Von Szandtner, indubbiamente Carl Reinhard Raswan (Schmidt), che aveva trascorso molti anni con i Beduini e perciò, aveva avuto la possibilità di studiare i loro usi, abitudini e specialmente i loro cavalli, era il più competente esperto del Cavallo Arabo del ventesimo secolo.

Raswan sosteneva la teoria dei “tre tipi” e questi erano il Saqlawi, il Kuhaylan e il Mu’niqi (Maneghi). Come generalmente accade in altre razze di cavalli, negli Arabi si differenziano due tipi: quelli che portano caratteri più raffinati per trasmettere bellezza, raffinatezza, tenacia, efficacia espressiva e quelli che hanno qualità più pratiche per trasmettere robustezza, ampiezza del torace, solidità dell’ossatura e un’alta capacità di sfruttare l’alimentazione. Il primo esempio è il raffinato Saqlawi, mentre il Kuhaylan rappresenta il secondo tipo.

(Maneghi), a horse that for his elongated lines had qualities of higher speed in short races; a subject who still shows an unconvincing type and that when crossed with Saqlawi and Kuhaylan, rarely achieves the results we want. The Arabian horses to whom we are accustomed today are mostly mixed subjects and morphology contests taking place around the world are impacting considerably on the selection for a single model. This also applies to pedigrees since the artificial fertilization is impoverishing the genetic variability of bloodlines. Aware of this responsibility, every true Arabian horses breeder should be concerned with the preservation of

Raswan aggiungeva un terzo tipo ai due modelli di base: il Mu’niqi (Maneghi), un cavallo che con le sue linee allungate, disponeva le qualità per una maggiore velocità nelle corse brevi, un soggetto che comunque ha un tipo non convincente e che incrociato con Saqlawi e Kuhaylan, raramente realizza i risultati desiderati. I Cavalli Arabi ai quali siamo abituati oggi, sono in massima parte soggetti misti e i concorsi di morfologia che si svolgono in tutto il mondo, stanno condizionando la selezione verso un unico modello. Questo vale anche per i pedigree, con la fecondazione artificiale che sta impoverendo la variabilità genetica delle linee di sangue.

Ogni vero allevatore di Cavalli Arabi, consapevole della sua responsabilità, dovrebbe preoccuparsi della conservazione di questi tre tipi nelle loro forme distinte, invece di ricercare un unico modello come tipo ideale.

L’altra associazione che si assunse il compito di tutelare il Cavallo Arabo puro, è l’Al Khamsa Inc. negli Stati Uniti, che come l’Asil Club, ricerca senza possibilità di dubbi, la discendenza Asil con la certezza che non vi sia inquinamento di sangue straniero.

Nei primi anni 70, in America settentrionale, un gruppo di persone appassionate, iniziò a porsi il problema di creare un’associazione allo scopo di preservare il Cavallo Arabo dei Beduini, nel 1975 ci fu il primo meeting nazionale e fu scelto il nome “Al Khamsa” per il suo significato storico. Da allora furono tenuti meeting annuali che dettero la possibilità agli appassionati di incontrarsi, oltre a vedere cavalli di tutti i gruppi di allevamento e si dette subito il via a pubblicazioni

Serr Maariner 1970 (Ibn Fa Serr x Maarena) – Asil Straight Egyptian Arabian stallion, bred by Henry B. Babson, U.S.A. – Three times National Champion through 4th Level Dressage. Twice National Reserve Champion. Four times U.S.A. Dressage Federation of the Year. The first Arabian to win U.S.D.F. Horse of the year at the F.E.I. (International) Level among all breeds. Six times Eastern States Dressage Champion through the F.E.I. Level.

these three types in their distinctive forms instead of searching for a single model as the ideal type. The other association that took responsibility for protecting the pure Arabian horse is Al Khamsa Inc. in the United States which like the Asil Club strives for the Asil bloodline making sure that no foreign blood contamination is there. In the early 1970s, in North America, a group of passionate people began to wonder about the settingup of an association to preserve the Bedouin Arabian Horse; in 1975 there was the first national meeting and the name ‘Al Khamsa’ was chosen for its historical significance. Since then, annual meetings have been held allowing passionate breeders to join together and see horses from all breeding groups, and, ever since that moment there have been plenty of publications for general information that continue still to these days. In about 40 years of historical research, Al Khamsa has grown from about 1,500 horses to almost 50,000. This association served well the Asil horse when in 1983 published the book ‘Al Khamsa Arabians’, followed by others up to the present day. Al Khamsa is primarily interested in the Arabian horses of the Bedouin tribes, by definition, those that descend entirely from horses raised in the desert. In the lists made by Al Khamsa are being recognized as Asil horses all Straight Egyptian Arabian Horses, divided into Egypt I and Egypt II, because they belong to a long and complex historical period. Out of thousands horses imported into Egypt before 1900, only a few have been included into the breed and recognized by Al Khamsa. These are the horses of Egypt I, which are those belonging to Abbas Pasha Hilmi I, Ali Bey Pasha Sherif and other Egyptian breeders who imported Foundation Horses between 1840 and 1900. In Egypt II, there are horses associated with the breeding program

Naheed 1984 (Madkour x Nagha) – Asil Straight Egyptian Arabian stallion - Baden-Baden, Germany 1992 - Champion stallion performance test at Medingen 1988, Champion of riding class in E-dressage in Leipheim 1989 and Augusburg 1990, Reserve Champion of riding class in E-dressage at Baden-Baden 1990 and 1992.

informative che continuano fino ad oggi.

Nei circa 40 anni di ricerca storica, l’Al Khamsa è passata dagli iniziali circa 1.500 cavalli ai quasi 50.000.

Quest’associazione fece un ottimo servizio al cavallo Asil, quando nel 1983 pubblicò il libro “Al Khamsa Arabians”, al quale ne seguirono altri fino ai nostri giorni.

I cavalli che in primo luogo, interessano l’Al Khamsa, sono gli Arabi delle tribù Beduine, considerati per definizione, quelli che discendono completamente dai cavalli allevati nel deserto.

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Negli elenchi dell’Al Khamsa, riconosciuti come Asil, figurano tutti i Cavalli Arabi Straight Egyptian, divisi in Egitto I ed Egitto II, perché fanno parte di un lungo e complesso periodo storico. Delle migliaia di cavalli importati in Egitto prima del 1900, soltanto pochi sono entrati in razza e riconosciuti Al Khamsa. Questi sono i cavalli dell’Egitto I, che comprende quelli di Abbas Pasha Hilmi I, Ali Bey Pasha Sherif e altri allevatori in Egitto che importarono Cavalli Fondatori tra il 1840 e il 1900. Nell’Egitto II vi sono i cavalli associati al programma di allevamento della Royal Agricultural Society (R.A.S.), oltre a cinque soggetti che furono importati in Egitto da privati e utilizzati dalla Royal Agricultural Society. La R.A.S. ha provveduto anche a fornire informazioni genealogiche con il nome dei genitori di una fattrice importata negli U.S.A. e questi sono inseriti nell’Egitto II. Ovviamente sono riconosciuti anche tutti i cavalli di quello che oggi chiamiamo “Inshass Stud” in Egitto.

Troviamo i soggetti delle vecchie linee dei Blunt, allevati a “Sheykh Obeyd” in Egitto.

Lady Anne e Wilfrid Blunt fecero tre viaggi nel deserto tra il 1877 e il 1881 per ottenere cavalli.

Durante il 1913 loro acquisirono altri cavalli fondatori attraverso agenti e comprarono anche soggetti compresi in Egitto I per inserirli a Crabbet in Inghilterra e a “Sheykh Obeyd” in Egitto.

Vi sono cavalli di recenti allevamenti Sauditi.

La famiglia dei Saud, da tempi lontani è nota per i propri cavalli, che sono tenuti nei vari allevamenti proprietà dei membri della famiglia Reale. Di quelli usciti dalla penisola araba, Al Khamsa riconosce come Saud soltanto i cavalli andati in America settentrionale che erano negli allevamenti dei membri della famiglia Reale dei Saud.

Discendenti dello stallone Leopard 1873, il primo cavallo dello Stud Book Americano.

Nel 1888, Randolph Huntington creò il primo allevamento americano, dove si allevavano unicamente Cavalli Arabi, principalmente Hamasa Khazzan 1984 (Kasr El Nil x Nafteta) - Asil Straight Egyptian Arabian stallion at the Stallions Performance Test 1988, Munchen-Reim, Germany – Champion Junior Stallions, Asil con uno stock che veniva dall’Inghilterra, ma Cup International, Dillenburg, Germany 1985. Reserve Champion Junior Stallions, Asil Cup era incluso anche Leopard, che fu regalato al International, Dillenburg, Germany 1986. Top Ten Stallions, Asil Cup International, Mannheim, Generale Grant dal Sultano Abdul Halim II di Germany 1990.

Turchia.

Figurano soggetti che derivano dall’importazione del 1893 into Crabbet in England and into ‘Sheykh Obeyd’ in Egypt. della Hamidie Society.

There are horses from more recent Saudi herds. The Saud family Nel 1893, il Sultano Ottomano Abdul Hamid II concesse a has long been known for their horses which are stabled on un gruppo di uomini d’affari Siriani, il permesso di portare various farms owned by members of the Royal Family. Among autentici Cavalli Arabi alla Fiera Mondiale di Chicago, con il those who left the Arab peninsula, Al Khamsa recognizes as solo scopo di esibirli. Dell’importazione di 40 cavalli si occupò Saud only the horses that went to North America and that were la Hamidie Society, ma problemi finanziari e di altro tipo, previously standing on the breeding farms of members of the impedirono il ritorno dei cavalli nel deserto.

Saudi Royal Family. We can also find descendants from the Cavalli dell’importazione del 1906 fatta da Homer Davenport, stallion Leopard (1873), the first horse of the American Stud che in quell’anno andò nel deserto ad acquistare cavalli Book. In 1888, Randolph Huntington created the first American direttamente dai Beduini. breeding farm, where only Arabian horses were being raised Nove cavalli di fondazione importati in Argentina da Don together with a livestock coming from England, but, the stallion Hernan Ayerza nel decennio del 1890. Questa linea è presente Leopard was also included and he was donated to General in U.S.A. attraverso la fattrice Aire importata nel 1934.

Grant by Sultan Abdul Halim II of Turkey. There are subjects Tra i cavalli riconosciuti da Al Khamsa vi sono anche coming from Hamidie Society’s 1893 import. In 1893, Ottoman discendenti dello stallone del 1919 Mirage, di proprietà di Sultan Abdul Hamid II gave a group of Syrian businessmen Lady Wentworth in Inghilterra prima di essere esportato permission to bring authentic Arabian horses to the Chicago negli Stati Uniti; Turfa, una fattrice grigia di stirpe Obeyyan World Fair with the sole purpose of performing them. Hamidie Al Hamrah, allevata dal Re Ibn Saud dell’Arabia e importata Society dealt with the 40 imported horses, but financial and dall’Inghilterra in U.S.A. nel 1941 da Henry B. Babson; other different problems prevented the horses from returning enacted by the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS), as well as five subjects that were imported into Egypt by private individuals and were used by the Royal Agricultural Society. R.A.S. has also provided genealogical information with the name of the parents of a broodmare imported into the U.S. and they have been included into Egypt II. Quite clearly, all the horses of what we call today “Inshass Stud,” in Egypt, are also recognized. We find subjects of the old Blunts’ lines raised at “Sheykh Obeyd” in Egypt. Lady Anne and Wilfrid Blunt made three trips to the desert between 1877 and 1881 in order to get horses. During 1913 they acquired other foundation horses through agents and also bought subjects included in Egypt I to introduce them

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to the desert. We find horses coming from an import made by Homer Davenport in 1906 that during that year went to the desert to buy horses directly from the Bedouins. We also find nine foundation horses imported to Argentina by Don Hernan Ayerza in the decade of 1890. This line is still present in the U.S. through the mare Aire which was imported in 1934. Among the horses recognized by Al Khamsa there appear also descendants of the 1919 stallion Mirage owned by Lady Wentworth in England before being exported to the United States; Turfa, a gray mare of the Obeyyan Al Hamrah strain bred by King Ibn Saud of Arabia and imported from England into the U.S. in 1941 by Henry B. Babson; Exochorda 1922/1924 (Aiglon X Laila), a chestnut Saqlawiyah Jidraniyah broodmare bred by R.A.S. in Egypt, where she used to be called “Laileh II (Leila II)” and was imported into the U.S. in 1931 by Dr. Henry Herbermann but also Sunshine, Naomi and many more horses.

Among the Asil Arabians in Europe, Al Khamsa recognizes many foundation horses on private breeding and state farms such as Weil in Germany, Babolna in Hungary, three horses belonging to Polish state farms and three in Lipica in Austria.

We shall emphasize the great work done by “Al Khamsa” organization which has been able to test a group of Asil horses so as to give a safe orientation to breeders around the world and in order to find Purebred Arabian horses with no contamination with foreign blood. Among the Asil horses, a further distinction was made by the ‘Pyramid Society’, an organization born in the United States in 1969 thanks to a small group of breeders who shared a common interest in the Egyptian Arabian Horse. To qualify as a Straight Egyptian, as defined by the Pyramid Society, a horse must: Be registered or eligible by pedigree for registration by the Arabian Horse Registry of America AND Trace in every line of its pedigree to horses born in the Arabian Desert; and Trace in every line of its pedigree to a horse which falls within one or more of the following categories: (a) Owned or bred by Abbas Pasha I or Ali Pasha Sherif; (b) Used to create and maintain the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) / Egyptian Agricultural Organization (EAO) breeding programs, with the exclusion of Registan and Sharkasi and their lineal descendants; (c) A horse which was a lineal ancestor of a horse described in (a) or (b) above; OR (d) Other than those excluded above, a horse conceived and born in a private stud program in Egypt and imported directly to the United States and registered by the Arabian Horse Registry of America prior to the extension of the EAO’s supervision to private Egyptian stud programs as reflected in Volume 4 of the EAO’s Stud Book.

Of course, those horses which did not go to the United States are not included in the Arabian Horse Registry of America but we shall refer to a Stud Book recognized by W.A.H.O. (World Arabian Horse Organization). In recent times, the Pyramid Society Europe was also established with its headquarters in Germany. Just for the sake of clarity, an Arabian Horse cannot be considered as a Straight Egyptian even if he has just one ancestor who does not fall into the categories recognized by the Pyramid Society and even if the only not accepted one was an Asil horse. We must acknowledge that the main creator of the Egyptian breeding fortune was General Tibor Pettko Von Szandtner who developed a breeding program with outstanding results - appreciated all over the world - so that in the following years there was a considerable demand for Egyptian Arabian horses world-wide, so much to impoverish the genetic foundations of El Zahraa’s breeding state farm later on. In spite of the depletion that El Zahraa has experienced in

Exochorda 1922/1924 (Aiglon X Laila), una fattrice saura Saqlawiyah Jidraniyah allevata dalla R.A.S. in Egitto, dove si chiamava “Laileh II (Leila II)” e importata in U.S.A. nel 1931 dal Dr. Henry Herbermann e ancora Sunshine, Naomi e molti altri.

Degli Arabi Asil europei, Al Khamsa riconosce molti cavalli di fondazione di allevamenti privati e di allevamenti statali come Weil in Germania, Babolna in Ungheria, tre cavalli degli allevamenti statali Polacchi e tre di Lipizza in Austria.

Dobbiamo rimarcare il grande lavoro che ha fatto l’organizzazione “Al Khamsa”, che è riuscita a verificare un gruppo di cavalli Asil, così da dare un orientamento sicuro agli allevatori di tutto il mondo, per trovare Cavalli Arabi sicuramente puri, dove non vi è mai stato inquinamento di sangue esterno.

Tra i cavalli Asil, è stata fatta un’ulteriore distinzione dalla Pyramid Society, organizzazione formata negli Stati Uniti nel 1969, da un piccolo gruppo di allevatori che condivideva l’interesse per il Cavallo Arabo Egiziano.

Per essere qualificato come Straight Egyptian, come definito dalla Pyramid Society, un cavallo deve: Essere registrato o avere un pedigree registrabile all’Arabian Horse Registry of America.

Derivare in ogni linea del suo pedigree da cavalli nati nel Deserto Arabo.

Derivare in ogni linea del suo pedigree da cavalli che rientrano in una o più delle seguenti categorie: a) Di proprietà o allevato da Abbas Pasha I o Ali Pasha Sherif; b) Usato per creare e mantenere i programmi allevatoriali della Royal Agricoltural Society (RAS) / Egyptian Agricoltural Organization (EAO), con l’esclusione di Registan e Sharkasi e le loro linee di discendenza; c) Un cavallo che era un antenato in linea di un cavallo descritto in (a) o (b) sopra; oppure d) Diversamente da quelli esclusi in precedenza, un cavallo concepito e nato in un programma allevatoriale privato in Egitto e importato direttamente negli Stati Uniti e registrato presso l’Arabian Horse Registry of America prima dell’applicazione della supervisione da parte dell’ EAO dei programmi allevatoriali egiziani privati come scritto nel volume 4 dello Stud Book dell’EAO. Naturalmente, per i cavalli che non sono andati negli Stai Uniti, non si considera l’Arabian Horse Registry of America, ma la registrazione in uno Stud Book riconosciuto dalla W.A.H.O. (World Arabian Horse Organization).

In epoca recente, è nata anche la Pyramid Society Europe con sede in Germania.

Per maggiore chiarezza, un Cavallo Arabo, anche se dovesse avere uno solo degli ascendenti che non rientrano nelle categorie accettate dalla Pyramid Society, non può essere considerato Straight Egyptian, nemmeno se l’unico soggetto non accettato, fosse un cavallo Asil.

Dobbiamo riconoscere che l’artefice principale della fortuna dell’allevamento Egiziano fu il Generale Tibor Pettko Von Szandtner che sviluppò un programma allevatoriale con risultati eccezionali, apprezzati in tutto il mondo, così che negli anni seguenti si sviluppò una notevole richiesta di cavalli Arabi Egiziani di livello mondiale, tanto da impoverire in seguito, anche le basi genetiche dell’allevamento di El Zahraa.

Nonostante il depauperamento che El Zahraa ha avuto nei decenni recenti, passando anche da diverse traversie, in questi ultimi anni, le maestranze sono riuscite a selezionare dei cavalli di tutto rispetto, che comunque non hanno ancora l’eco mondiale che gli dette il Generale Pettko-Szandtner.

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recent decades – going through many troubles in recent years their workforce have managed to select horses of all respect but they have not reached the fame they had under General Pettko.

We shall remember all the enthusiasm that the progenitor of the last Egyptian Monarchy, Mohammed Ali Pasha (1769-1849) put in gathering Arabian horses at his Dar El Beyda breeding farm. For this purpose, he had not only spent four and a half million pounds in gold, but it looks like he did not hesitate to even blackmail, steal or kill to get the best Asil horses. When the Wahabbi were defeated in war in 1813, the Emir Abdullah had to hand over - as a tribute - more than 200 of his most beautiful horses. The value of each specimen of these precious animals is comparable to what for Westerners is an important piece of ancient art and Mohammed Ali Pasha had managed to group over 1,100 stupendous horses in his luxurious stables.

When he was struck with dementia, the men working in the barn - who until then had always feared for their lives - took a vengeance upon the poor horses letting them starve in their luxurious stables. The first son of Mohammed Ali Pasha, Ibrahim Pasha (1789-1848) managed to save some of these Asil horses, but the most important of these precious subjects were preserved by Ahmet Tusun Pasha’s son and nephew of Mohammed Ali Pasha, Abbas Pasha Hilmi I (1813-1854) on his breeding farm of Abassieh. Abbas Pasha Hilmi I entrusted his breeding farm to a staff of knowledgeable Bedouin Arabians who strictly complied with the rules of their tradition, bringing his Asil Arabian Horses herd to the highest quality level.

Probably Abbas Pasha Hilmi I was the most extraordinary man who dealt with the preservation of the ‘Asil treasures’ and even today, his legendary manuscript, translated also into English, remains the source of the most important information on the Arabian Asil breeding. Following the assassination of Abbas Pasha Hilmi I, his horses were inherited by the only living son, Ibrahim El Hami Pasha who drowned in the Bosphorus River in 1860. His horses were auctioned the following year and the main buyer at this auction was Ali Bey Pasha Sherif. Besides Lady Anne Blunt for her Sheikh Obeyd breeding farm, other members of the Egyptian Royal family were able to acquire Ali Bey Pasha Sherif ’s horses; after several successions many horses of these bloodlines, at different stages, went to R.A.S. (Royal Agricultural Society) established in 1908. After a golden age in the 1920s and 30s under the lead of H.R.H. Prince Mohammed Ali Tewfik (1875-1955), and later on under R.A.S. there came another dark period until 1949 when H.R.H. Prince Mohammed Taher Pasha (1879-1970), who at the time was running RAS, entrusted the management of Kafr Farouk Farm (El Zahraa) to the Austro-Hungarian General Tibor Pettko Von Szandtner, who brought the farm back to its ancient splendor; in Egypt, in those years, the Monarchy had fallen apart and the Republic had been installed; RAS was transformed into E.A.O. (Egyptian Arabian Organization) and Pettko-Szandtner was left in place until the late 50’s. I am going to end up this chapter by pointing out that breeding Arabian horses only for their beauty – putting emphasis simply on their aesthetics - will inevitably result in a degeneration of the breed. This concept applies to all kinds of breeding and it will never be reminded enough by the breeders in this sector. In order to preserve the purity of an Asil Arabian Horse, we not only need a pedigree free of other bloodlines contamination, but, we must apply the selection criteria that have been handed down from the Bedouin tribes, carrying on the features that the desert has given to this Noble Creature.

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Dobbiamo ricordare con quanto zelo, il Capostipite dell’ultima monarchia Egiziana, Mohammed Ali Pasha (17691849) radunava i cavalli Arabi nel suo allevamento di Dar El Beyda. A questo scopo, non solo aveva speso quattro milioni e mezzo di Sterline in oro, ma sembra che non esitasse a ricattare, rubare o uccidere, per impossessarsi dei migliori cavalli Asil. Nel 1813, quando i Wahabbi furono sconfitti in guerra, l’Emiro Abdullah dovette dare come tributo più di 200 dei suoi più bei cavalli. Il valore di ogni esemplare di questi preziosi animali, era paragonabile a quello che per noi occidentali è un’importante opera d’arte antica e Mohammed Ali Pasha era riuscito a raggruppare nelle sue lussuose scuderie oltre 1.100 stupendi cavalli. Quando fu colpito da demenza senile, gli uomini di scuderia, che fino allora avevano sempre avuto paura per la loro vita, si vendicarono sui poveri cavalli, lasciandoli morire di fame nelle loro lussuose scuderie. Il primo figlio di Mohammed Ali Pasha, Ibrahim Pasha (17891848) riuscì a salvare alcuni di questi cavalli Asil, ma il numero più importante di questi soggetti preziosi fu conservato dal figlio di Ahmet Tusun Pasha e nipote di Mohammed Ali Pasha, Abbas Pasha Hilmi I (1813-1854) nel suo allevamento di Abassieh.

Abbas Pasha Hilmi I affidò la sua scuderia a uno staff di Beduini Arabi molto capaci che si attennero rigidamente alle regole della loro tradizione, portando il suo allevamento di Cavalli Arabi Asil a un livello qualitativo altissimo.

Probabilmente, Abbas Pasha Hilmi I fu l’uomo più straordinario che si sia occupato della conservazione dei tesori Asil e ancora oggi, il suo leggendario manoscritto, tradotto anche in Inglese, è la fonte delle notizie più importanti sull’allevamento degli Arabi Asil. Con l’assassinio di Abbas Pasha Hilmi I, i suoi cavalli furono ereditati dall’unico figlio vivente, Ibrahim El Hami Pasha. Affogato nel Bosforo nel 1860. I suoi cavalli furono venduti all’asta l’anno seguente e il principale compratore a quest’asta fu Ali Bey Pasha Sherif.

Oltre a Lady Anne Blunt per il suo allevamento di Sheikh Obeyd, altri membri della famiglia Reale Egiziana poterono acquisire cavalli di Ali Bey Pasha Sherif, dopo alcune successioni molti cavalli di queste linnee, in diverse fasi andarono a finire nella R.A.S. (Royal Agricoltural society) costituita nel 1908.

Dopo un’epoca d’oro negli anni venti e trenta, sotto la direzione di H.R.H. Principe Mohammed Ali Tewfik (1875-1955), in seguito per la R.A.S. ci fu un altro periodo buio, fino a quando, nel 1949 H.R.H. Prince Mohamed Taher Pasha (1879 – 1970), che era alla guida della R.A.S., chiamò a dirigere la fattoria di Kafr Farouk (El Zahraa) il Generale Austro-Ungarico Tibor Pettko Von Szandtner, che riportò l’allevamento agli antichi splendori, in quegli anni in Egitto cadde la monarchia e fu instaurata la repubblica, la R.A.S. fu trasformata in E.A.O. (Egyptian Arabian Organization) e Pettko-Szandtner fu lasciato al suo posto fino alla fine degli anni 50.

Termino questo capitolo, ricordando che allevare Cavalli Arabi solo per la bellezza, occupandosi unicamente del lato estetico, comporta una degenerazione della razza. Questo concetto si applica a ogni genere di allevamento e non sarà mai ricordato abbastanza agli allevatori di questo settore, perché per conservare la purezza di un Cavallo Arabo Asil, non basta un pedigree senza inquinamenti di altri sangui, ma dobbiamo applicare i concetti di selezione che ci derivano dalle Tribù Beduine, portando avanti i caratteri che il deserto ha trasmesso a questa Nobile Creatura.

Monera Siptah 1986 (Moneef x Shaheera) - Asil Cup International 1993, ridden by Mrs. Dorothee Faltesjek - Top Ten Stallions, Asil Cup International, Ludwigsburg, Germany 1988.

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WRITTEN BY SONJA SMALDONE - Photos: Gregor Aymar Tina Martucci met Gianni Daga some years ago and since then she has been sharing with him an endless love for Arabian horses. Gianni is a show jumping expert from Sardinia – a land of horses for centuries – and carries a ‘sacred fire’ for these beautiful creatures deep in his heart. Their ‘adventure’ started in 2007 and from that moment on they have achieved many goals, with great e f f o r t , sacrifice and passion.

To d a y, t h a n k s to their tenacity they are well known also abroad and there is not one single VIP table that has not hosted Tina and Gianni. In 2009 they eventually founded Nejd Arabians near Milan in north Italy. This farm does not yet have its own structure, but it stables their horses in Dalmine at Luca Oberti’s Arabian Training Center Show. In 2009, once again thanks to their friend Luca, Tina and Gianni decided to purchase 452

SAFEER (AJMAN MONISCIONE x MO SAJFA) who, to date, is the most important stallion at their Stud. His father, Ajman Moniscione is one of the most exotic stallions the breed has ever seen as well as a son of the legendary WH Justice who, in his turn, is a son of the multi-celebrated Champion stallion Magnum Psyche. His mother, MO SAJFA is a beautiful daughter of the Straight Egyptian grey stallion Neshan, a son of A n s a t a H a l i m Shah and, through his grand-sire Ansata Ibn Halima, a great grand-son of Nazeer. Given her dam-lines (Mamura, Ma Yetla, Shakra, Rissad, Risseefa), MO SAJFA embodies the very best of the CRABBET & Old English Arabian lines with their well balanced morphologies, their sportive power and their movements which she passed onto her son Safeer. Because of this jem of a colt, Tina and Gianni started

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having success in shows, conquering important international awards under the lead of Scott Allman, American trainer currently based in France at his training center of Mas de Monpezat.

In 2012, Safeer participated in several shows that were held in France and was awarded Gold Champion at Itterwiller, Silver Champion in Saint Lo and Bronze Champion in Bordeaux, winning his

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category on all three events. During winter 2012, on the advice of Scott Allman, Tina and Gianni sent Safeer to ‘Select Breeders Services Italia’ in order to produce frozen semen that could be exported internationally. Given the intense sporting activities Safeer had to bear in 2012 and the period spent at ‘SBSItalia’ to produce frozen semen, Tina and her husband decided to let

him rest till the end of 2013 and get him back in the international show rings in 2014. In 2014, under the lead of handler Giacomo Boscarino, Safeer was Gold Champion Stallion in Travagliato, 2014 Class Winner & Silver Champion Stallion at the National Championships; 8th at Menton 2014 - Stallions 4-7 Years (Class 9); 11th at WAHC PARIS 2014 Senior Stallions (4 to 6 Years Old) (Class

6A); 6th at Arezzo 2015 - Stallion 4-6 Years Old (Class 10). At the beginning of 2016, Tina and Gianni decided to move Safeer to Belgium, at Tom Oben’s Training Center where he was conditioned and then he was presented during the 2016 Deauville show where he placed himself 3rd in class. Thanks to the excellent preparation provided by Tom Oben, and only after few months,

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Safeer - Bronze Medal Stallions - European Championship - Lier 2016 (Belgium)

Safeer was shown at the 2016 European Championship in Lier where he was crowned Bronze medal winner. This year 2017, he has once again delighted all his admirers with a well deserved silver medal at Sint-Oedenrode under the lead of his handler Tom Oben.

All these great achievements have come about with no surprise. Safeer is a stunning Arabian champion stallion, he is a responsive and well behaved big ‘boy’, very intelligent and mild. His

Owner: Nejd Arabians

chestnut coat is slick as satin and just as shiny. He has foot and leg bones to continue to be a great and elegant horse.

He has small curly ears on a deeply dished head, a classic Arabian head.

A flat, long croup over correct legs that finish the picture of one the most attractive Arabian stallions in breeding and show history. Still today, Safeer is in the capable hands of Tom Oben and he is now ready to set out for the 2017 European Show Season.

Standing at: Obi Training Center Contact: obentom@hotmail.com www.obi-training-center.be

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BOOK YOUR 2017 PROMOTIONAL PACKAGE TODAY! Ajman Arabian Horse Show | Jan. 5-7 | Ajman, U.A.E. Kuwait - 5th Arabian Breeder’s Show | Jan. 12-14 | Kuwait, Kuwait UAE National Championships | Jan. 16-20 | Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. Prince Sultan Arabian Horse Festival | Jan. 25-27 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Kuwait - Int’l Arabian Championships | Feb. 3-4 | Kuwait, Kuwait Abu Dhabi Int’l Arabian Championships | Feb. 11-15 | Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. Bahrain 1st Int’l Arabian Show | Feb. 14-15 | Zallaq, Bahrain Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show | Feb. 16-26 | Scottsdale, AZ U.S.A.

Region 14 Championships | June 29 - July 2 | Lexington, KY U.S.A. Menton Arabian Horse Championships | July 1-2 | Menton, France Region 15 Championships | July 5-9 | Lexington, VA U.S.A. Region 11 Championships | July 6-9 | Lake St. Louis, MO U.S.A. Region 3 Championships | July 9-12 | Rancho Murieta, CA U.S.A. Region 16 Championships | July 12-15 | W. Springfield, MA U.S.A. Elran Arabian Cup | July 15-16 | Bilzen, Belgium Scandinavian Open Championship | July 22-23 | Flyinge, Sweden

Kuwait All Nations Cup | Feb. 17-18 | Kuwait, Kuwait

Vichy International B-Show | July 22-23 | Vichy, France

Sharjah Int’l Arabian Horse Festival | Mar. 2-4 | Sharjah, U.A.E.

Youth Nationals | July 22-29 | Oklahoma City, OK U.S.A.

Dubai Int’l Arabian Horse Championship | Mar. 16-18 | Dubai, U.A.E. Arabian Breeders World Cup | Apr. 12-15 | Las Vegas, NV U.S.A. Region 7 Championships | Apr. 27-30 | Scottsdale, AZ, U.S.A. Holland Tulip Cup | Apr. 29-30 | Ermelo, Netherlands

Region 12 Championships | May 8-13 | Perry, GA U.S.A. .

DAHA Spring Horse Show | May 18-21 | Elk Grove, CA U.S.A. Arabian Horse Weekend | May 20-21 | St. Oedenrode, Netherlands Bordeaux Arabian Masters | May 20-21 | Bordeaux-Lac, France British Breeders Alliance | May 20-21 | Coventry, U.K. Buckeye Sweepstakes | May 25-28 | Columbus, OH U.S.A. Wels Austrian National & International B-Show | May 27-28 | Wels, Austria Region 9 Championships | May 31 - June 3 | Ft. Worth, TX U.S.A.

West Coast Cup Egyptian Event | July 29 | Koksijde, Belgium West Coast Cup Int’l Arabian Masters | July 30 | Koksijde, Belgium.

AHO World Cup | Aug. 3-4 | Chantilly, France AHO Breeders Championship | Aug. 5-6 | Chantilly, France

Spa Amateur Int’l Show | Aug. 11-13 | Belgium Pride of Poland | Aug. 11-13 | Janów Podlaski, Poland Canadian Nationals | Aug. 13-19 | Brandon, Manitoba, CA Al Khalediah European Arabian Festival | Aug. 18-19 | Poland UKIAHS Addington A Show | Aug. 26-27 | Addington, U.K. Egyptian Event Europe | Aug. 26-27 | Jüchen, Germany Prague Intercup | Sept. 2-3 | Praha, Czech Republic Sport Horse Nationals | Sept. 5-10 | Raleigh, NC U.S.A.

Egyptian Event | June 7-10 | Lexington, KY U.S.A.

National Show Horse Finals | Sept. 14-16 | Springfield, IL U.S.A.

Arab Horse Festival | June 9-11 | Lage, Germany

German National Championships | Sept. 21-22 | Aachen, Germany

Region 10 Championships | June 14-18 | St. Paul, MN U.S.A. Nordic Open Denmark | June 16-18 | Omme, Denmark Bruges National Arabian Event | June 17-18 | Sint-Michels, Belgium Region 4 Championships | June 20-24 | Nampa, ID U.S.A Region 2 Championships | June 22-25 | Santa Barbara, CA U.S.A. Warsaw Championships | June 23-24 | Warsaw, Poland

Arabian U.S. Open | Sept. 23 | New York, NY All Nations Cup | Sept. 23-24 | Aachen, Germany Arabian National Breeder Finals | Sept. 27-30 | Scottsdale, AZ U.S.A. Minnesota Breeders Fall Festival | Sept. 29 - Oct. 1 | St. Paul, MN U.S. National Championships | Oct. 20-28 | Tulsa, OK U.S.A. *Schedule subject to change

ADD YOUR SHOW/EVENT TO OUR 2017 COVERAGE CALENDAR! Contact Lara Ames | 612 210 1592 | lara@ahtimes.com Michaël Steurs | +32 (0) 497 54 99 44 | michael@arabianhorseresults.com

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I

was born in a small town about 4 hours East of Prague in the Czech Republic. I was discovered through a competition that I won called the ‘Elite Look’ of the year in Prague. I moved to Milan, Italy, when I was 15 years old with a contract from Elite Models and ended up living there for about 6 years while travelling to other countries for modeling assignments. At 21 years old I moved to America and

started modeling in New York City and Miami while I still travelled to Europe for work. I now live on my ranch in Palm Beach, Florida with about 16 of my horses, my 3 dogs, cat and a marmoset monkey called Chi Chi. I am a HUGE animal lover and I volunteer with a couple animal charities but mainly with a charity called Fashion Tails that uses Celebrities and models to do photo shoots with Fashion photographers and rescue animals to help find them homes

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, raise money and create more awareness.

My first experience with horses was in Italy where a good friend of mine had a couple horses that we would go visiting and riding. It was then that I learnt

to ride and started my passion for horses. I would go riding whenever my job would allow and I wasn’t travelling. I especially loved to groom the horses and do their manes, even if I didn’t ride that day. Italy is such an amazingly beautiful place and I got spoiled being able to ride in such landscapes.

Unfortunately when I moved to America I did not get to ride for a while since I had no horses and lived in big cities with little opportunities to be around horses. It was while I lived in Miami Beach that I met my now partner who always wanted to have Arabians.

I was not so familiar with Arabians but the first time I met one I knew they were the only horse for me. So about 6 years ago my partner and I bought our first horse a very Exotic chestnut flaxen

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Straight Egyptian filly by Ashtar Dark Ali and a Dalul granddaughter. We bred her that year to a black True Colours’ son and she gave us an incredible colt who is now our lead junior stallion and why I love breeding so much. Within 2 years we had acquired 6 new horses and had 4 babies, you could say that was when I really knew I was addicted to Arabs!

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WRITTEN BY SONJA SMALDONE Photos by Ronay Juane & Paola Petix

T

he Wels Arabian Horse International Show has been a standing date on many people’s calendars since more than twenty years as this event opens its doors for the new show season in Europe. Wels, a small village on the slopes of the Alps, near Linz in Austria, welcomes Arabian horse celebrities from all over the world to compete in front of an exclusive board of judges. During this weekend, Wels transforms into an equine capital as the show always takes place on the premises of the Pferd Wels Fair. Arabian Horse Magazine has been present at the event also this year. We never miss Wels show, first of all for the great and incessant job Mrs. Anne Heiloo and Susanne Werth have always done for it.

They have really chipped away tirelessly at this monumental task during the year to let the people enjoy this contest with a perfect organization. We really have to eulogize the show’s main organizers Mrs. Anne Heiloo, the President of the Austrian Arab Horse Society (VVÖ) and the Vice-President, Mrs. Susanne Werth, who have dealt with this duty impeccably. Nearly 100 horses entered the competition and the quality was great. Each Class and Championship had different sponsors. The show was fantastic and the tribunes were full.

Many visitors, breeders and VIPs from worldwide arrived to see one of the best shows of the year. The speaker for the occasion was Jaroslav Lacina, President of E.c.a.h.o. The group of judges did a very good job. The show was judged

by Dr. Gianmarco Aragno (Italy); Mrs. Claudia Darius (Germany); Mr. Cedes Bakker (Netherlands); Mr. Christian Moschini (Italy); Mrs. Anna Stojanovska (Poland) and from Belgium Mr. Koenraad Detailleur.

As Ringmasters Mr. Gerard Oben (Belgium) and in the pre-ring Mr. Peter Hegemann (Germany) and Wolfang Auer (Austria). The Disciplinary Committee did a great job as well

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thanks to the cooperation of Mrs. Laura Mascagna (Italy); Mrs. Elisabeth Chat (Austria); Mrs. Isabella Auer (Austria).

International Finals.

Among the Yearling Fillies, the ‘petite’ bay D Wasayef (Wadee Al Shaqab × Royal Emira) chosen later as Best in Show, was unconditionally the prettiest one and got the Gold medal. She is bred and owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud. The Silver went to the bay AJ Norah (AJ Mardan × Inspired Najla) bred and owned by Ajman Stud, Sh. Ammar Bin Humaid Al-Nuaimi, while the Bronze to the Austrian chestnut DA Ariyana (EKS Alihandro × DA Miss Justice) bred and owned by Diamond Arabians, Cornelia Kolnberger. Among the Yearling Colts , the chestnut AJ Radman (AJ Mardan × AJ Rahifa) bred and owned by Ajman Stud, Sh. Ammar Bin Humaid Al-Nuaimi was crowned Gold medal winner. Silver medal winner the grey My Star K.A. (S.M.A. Magic One × Marc’s Star K.A. ) bred and owned by Mr. & Mrs. Gheysens.

Bronze medal winner the bay Mahil Al Marenga (Kahil Al Shaqab × Miss Marenga) bred by Reinhard Sax and owned by Sax Arabians.

Honored as Gold Champion Junior Filly, the refined pearl-grey DA Alihandra (EKS Alihandro × DA Miss Justice) bred and owned by Diamond Arabians, Cornelia Kolnberger. The Silver was taken by the bay D Yara (FA El Rasheem × Frasera Mashara) bred and owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, while Al Shaqab Stud succeeded in placing the grey SAFIAT AL SHAQAB (KAHIL AL SHAQAB × SHALIMAR PRESTIGE) with the Bronze medal. Among the Junior Colts, Gold medal winner the gleaming chestnut Lamandro (EKS Alihandro × Lamana) bred by Monika Sax and owned by Sax Arabians. Silver medal winner the American-born Vesuvius DPA (EF Kingston × Psymply) bred

by Jane & Kristi Hopp and on lease

at Aretusa Arabians. Bronze medal winner the grey AV Cloud Dancer (WH Justice × OML Belusenadream) bred and owned by Caroline Reid.

Among the Senior Mares, Gold medal winner the stunning grey Elan De Marc K.A. (QR Marc × Espadrilla) bred and owned by Knocke Arabians. Silver medal winner the grey Esskhija Bint Essteema (Khidar × Essteema) bred by Reinhard Sax and owned by Sax Arabians. Bronze medal winner the grey M.M. Eluise (WH Justice × Esfera) bred and owned

by Mario Matt Arabians. In the Senior Stallions Category, Gold medal winner the handsome grey Mahder Al Jamal (Nader Al Jamal × Mahity El Jamaal) bred and owned by Jean Mattens. Silver medal winner the chestnut D Khattaf (Royal Colours × D Jowan) bred and owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud.

Bronze medal winner the snow-white Kavalier MAF (Elart × Katun) bred and owned by Martensson Johnson Ingalil.

There were also additional trophies to be assigned during this edition of the WELS ARABIAN HORSE INTERNATIONAL B SHOW. The Best Mover Int. award went to the bay Grace J (Emerald J × Gomera J) bred by Jadem Arabians, Christine Jamar and owned

by VA-Gestüt Emaj, while the Best in Show title with the highest score of judges was taken by the bay D Wasayef Wadee Al Shaqab × Royal Emira) bred and owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud. Also this year, as usual, many countries joined with excitement this competition that is always fair and impartial as much as very well thoughtout. This time of the year – in the spring and in this part of Europe, we have one significant show: Wels, a sort of warmup arena before the autumn title shows.

That’s why it would be good for breeders to always come here, especially with their young horses, to gain experience in the show arena.

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GOLD

D WASAYEF

WADEE AL SHAQAB x ROYAL EMIRA

Breeder: Dubai Arabian Horse Stud Owner: Dubai Arabian Horse Stud

SILVER

AJ NORAH

AJ MARDAN X INSPIRED NAJLA

Breeder: Ajman Stud Owner: Ajman Stud, Sh. Ammar Bin Humaid Al-Nuaimi

BRONZE

DA ARIYANA

EKS ALIHANDRO X DA MISS JUSTICE

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Breeder: Diamond Arabians, Cornelia Kolnberger Owner: Diamond Arabians, Cornelia Kolnberger

GOLD

AJ RAMDAN AJ MARDAN x AJ RAHIFA

Breeder: Ajman Stud Owner: Ajman Stud, Sh. Ammar Bin Humaid Al-Nuaimi

SILVER

MY STAR K.A.

SMA MAGIC ONE x MARC’S STAR K.A.

Breeder: Mr. & Mrs. Gheysens, Knocke Arabians Owner: Mr. & Mrs. Gheysens, Knocke Arabians

BRONZE

MAHIL AL MARENGA KAHIL AL SHAQAB x MISS MARENGA

Breeder: REINHARD SAX Owner: Sax Arabians

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GOLD

DA ALIHANDRA EKS ALIHANDRO x DA MISS JUSTICE

Breeder: Diamond Arabians, Cornelia Kolnberger Owner: Diamond Arabians, Cornelia Kolnberger

SILVER

D YARA

FA EL RASHEEM x FRASERA MASHARA

Breeder: Dubai Arabian Horse Stud Owner: Dubai Arabian Horse Stud

BRONZE

SAFIAT AL SHAQAB KAHIL AL SHAQAB x SHALIMAR PRESTIGE

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Breeder: Al Shaqab Stud Owner: Al Shaqab Stud

GOLD

LAMANDRO

EKS ALIHANDRO x LAMANA

Breeder: MONIKA SAX Owner: ARABIAN SAX

SILVER

VESUVIUS DPA EF KINGSTON x PSYMPLY RED VF

Breeder: JANE OR KRISTI HOPP Owner: Aretusa Arabians

BRONZE

AV CLOUD DANCER WH JUSTICE x OM EL BELUSENA DREAM

Breeder: AV Arabians, Caroline Reid Owner: AV Arabians, Caroline Reid

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GOLD

ELAN DE MARC K.A. QR MARC x ESPADRILLA

Breeder: KNOCKE ARABIANS Owner: KNOCKE ARABIANS

SILVER

ESSKHIJA BINT ESSTEEMA KHIDAR x ESSTEEMA

Breeder: REINHARD SAX Owner: Sax Arabians

BRONZE

M.M. ELUISE WH JUSTICE x ESFERA

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Breeder: Mario Matt Arabians Owner: Mario Matt Arabians

GOLD

MAHDER AL JAMAL NADER AL JAMAL x MAHITY EL JAMAAL

Breeder: JEAN MATTENS Owner: JEAN MATTENS

SILVER

D KHATTAF

ROYAL COLOURS x D JOWAN

Breeder: Dubai Arabian Horse Stud Owner: Dubai Arabian Horse Stud

BRONZE

KAVALIER MAF ELART x KATUN

Breeder: Ingalil Martensson, Martensson Arabians Owner: Ingalil Martensson

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Photos by Ronay Juane

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