Arabian Horse World WORLD CHAMPION MARES
W O R L D
C H A M P I O N
by Emma Maxwell
1984 Penalba (Kilimandscharo x Pionga by Nuri Schalan), 1979 grey, bred by Fritz Koenig, Germany; owned by Bob Stratmore, U.S.
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n 1980, having received regular entries from Europe including Poland (then behind the Iron Curtain), the U.S., and North Africa, the Salon du Cheval first upgraded its International Championships to the title of World Championships and has held onto this accolade ever since. Thirty-one mares have now been awarded the title of World Champion Mare in front of what has consistently been the largest audience of any Arabian halter show. While it is true that the competition is deeper now than
1980 Hezina (Jacio x Cartama by Uzacur), 1974 grey, bred and owned by Diego Mendez, Spain
it was in the early years, and the whole top ten now would have been capable of winning a title twenty years ago, the full lineup of individuals is a truly glorious array of mares who were the peak of Arabian breeding in their era. Just as all can picture last year’s winner, radiant white CR Jasmeenah, the epitome of structural elegance combined with heart-melting Arabian type, I can still clearly remember the regal Pilarka, only the second winner in 1981 — a mare who would still bring the crowd to their feet today with her
1981 Pilarka (Palas x Pierzga by Negatiw), 1975 grey, bred and owned by Janow Podlaski, Poland
1982 Etruria (Palas x Etna by Faher), 1975 grey, bred and owned by Janow Podlaski, Poland
commanding air and floating movement. There has been a fairly dominant theme throughout the three decades of rewarding classic type, preferably in a grey package as 22 of the 31 titleholders have been. In fact, to be terminologically incorrect, white mares have had the best record whatever bloodline they come from, possibly an effect of the artificial light, which reflects so luminously from a pure white coat. The whitest of white mares I can recall was the upstanding 1991 winner, Julia Bea, whose enormous
1983 El Masra (Shaker El Masri x Estasha by Shaker El Masri), 1978 chestnut, bred and owned by Om El Arab, Germany
1985 Canila (Nil I x Casablanca by Shaker El Masri), 1980 chestnut, bred by Dr. Friedrich Immisch, Germany; and owned by Nile Arabians, Switzerland
black eyes contrasted perfectly. Fleabitten and nearly white mares also get a strong look in — who could forget the delicate desert type of heavily flea-bitten 1995 winner Tiffaha? It must, however, be noted that the color best described as “dead rat grey,” does not get you so far and for darker mares, waiting is the only option. Seven of the champions have been chestnut, and notably so the only double winner so far, the unique Kwestura who combines dramatic refinement with even more dramatic movement. Kwestura had
1988 Aliha (Indian Silver x AK Attallah by Ansata Ibn Halima), 1977 grey, bred and owned by Maxwell, Great Britain
1986 Elsissa (Figuroso x Etica by Tabal), 1971 grey, bred by Christiane Egger, Germany; and owned by Scheerder, Holland
several shots at the title including runnerup as far back as 2000 but finally she got her reward both in 2007 and 2009. Bays have been few and far between with one win in each of the three decades, the most recent the extraordinary beauty Pianissima, a champion who proved as invincible as Usain Bolt. Pianissima, Kwestura, and two other mares, Zagrobla and Amber Satin, share the distinction of winning the ultimate title on both sides of the pond, with all four awarded the U.S. National
1989 Bint Estasha (El Shaklan x Estasha by Shaker El Masri), 1982 grey, bred by Om El Arab, Germany; owned by Paolo Gucci, Great Britain
1987 Orinda (Hoekhorst Shiraz x Nephrim by Neptun), 1977 bay, bred by MW A. DirkxLavrijsen, Netherlands; and owned by Suzy Piraud, Belgium
Champion title as well. Notably this combination, which is getting more possible overtime as European and American tastes and horses start to mirror each other more evenly, with the U.S. placing more emphasis on extreme type and Europe more focused on a streamlined, posed-up structure. Pianissima is also one of six mares who won the title as a junior as well, with two in the eighties, the multi-decorated El Masra and exotic Penalba. Two mares completed the double in the nineties:
1990 Atlantica (El Shaklan x Aliha by Indian Silver), 1986 grey, bred and owned by Maxwell, Great Britain
1991 Julia Bea (Ponomarev x Nairobi by Aswan), 1986 grey, bred by Tersk Arabian Associates, U.S.; owned by Shamilah Arabians, France