EXPRESSIONS ART & CULTURE TALK IN HOUSTON, TX

EXPRESSIONS IN HOUSTON, TX

“The Arabian Horse: Lore & Legend” – A conversation with Michael Byatt

On January 28th, 2020, the Qatar America Institute hosted Houstonian and renowned Arabian horse breeder, Michael Byatt, at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Michael Byatt was invited to speak to a sold-out audience in his capacity as an internationally known Arabian horse breeder and rider who helped develop the Arabian horses at Qatar’s Al Shaqab Equestrian Center. The program was moderated by Diana Untermeyer, the cultural advisor to the Qatar-America Institute (QAI).

The discussion centered around the importance of horses within both American and Qatari societies. The conversation delved into the role of horses in the development of the various nations, the uniqueness of the Arabian Horses and their physiology, the impact of Arabian horses in historical military figures, and the overall state of the modern equestrian community. The event received national coverage through the American media outlet Horse & Country, as well as local coverage in the magazine “Covering Katy” and through the ABC News local affiliate (ABC 13).

Prior to January 28th

The production behind this event began in December of 2019. A series of graphics and mailing lists were compiled to maximize the footprint of both QAI and the event itself within the city of Houston. Equestrian

“When I first went [to Qatar] in 1994, there were two roundabouts getting from what was then the only hotel, the Sheraton Hotel, to the equestrian club and it took about 15 minutes to get there…. 20 years later it took 3 hours to get across the town because it had grown so much and the skyline was so amazing. And then now it’s back to 15 minutes because they’ve managed to build a superhighway system … because their ability to say that their narrative is ‘we can do it.’ And that’s the way they embarked in the Arabian horse too. They were determined to tour the world, to buy the best blood stock that was available in the world, and they did with great taste because you can’t always do it with just money…”

—Michael Byatt, January 28, 2020

Michael Byatt (middle) introducing Platinum World Champion Hariry Al Shaqab to Houstonian philanthropist and icon Lynn Wyatt (right).

“Both Doha, Qatar, and Houston, Texas, share a thriving equestrian scene that is rooted in each cities’ culture and traditions,” said Diana Untermeyer. “Houston and Qatar interact beyond the petroleum industry with the Arabian horse playing a central role. Many Qatari horses, including three-time world champion Marwan Al Shaqab, have lived in Texas. Artificial insemination allows the sought-after Al Shaqab pedigree to be shared world-wide. In the tradition of royal and diplomat giftgiving, these breedings build ties of friendship between individuals and nations that treasure the Arabian horse.”

—“The Qatar-America Institute hosts its Expressions Artist Talk in Houston on Arabian Horses with internationally renowned Arabian horse breeder Michael Byatt”, CoverKatyNews.com; January 29, 2020 organizations, local media outlets, and select individuals were contacted to inform them of the upcoming event.

Part of this effort was the calculated social media campaign that was constructed through the usage of images, videos, and outreach. A 30-second promotional video was created and disseminated through specific channels targeting unique communities within the Houston area to maximize the public’s interest. In conjunction with the video advertisement, several graphics promoting the event were also employed to gain traction.

On January 15th, a week before the event, a public relations event was hosted featuring Houstonian philanthropist and community icon Lynn Wyatt and the Platinum World champion Hariry Al Shaqab trained by Michael Byatt. At the event, Qatar’s General Consul for the State of Texas Rashid Al-Dehaimi and former U.S. Ambassador to Qatar Chase Untermeyer were also in attendance.

This public relations event was covered by PaperCity Magazine – a 25-year-old Texas-based cultural media outlet that reaches more than an estimated 2.7 million readers. According to the outlet’s

Michael Byatt showing a guest one of the saddles used to ride Arabians such as Hariry Al Shaqab.

website the organization reaches a niche set of the Texas demographic that is both wealthy and primarily female. The website states that “Texas’ top influencers, power players and aspirational spenders know PaperCity is where Lone Star State luxury lives. With an average household income in excess of $235,000, PaperCity readers are the prime, discerning consumers that any advertiser covets. With more than 60 percent of its audience women, PaperCity is also the rare print and digital publication that consistently reaches the true decision makers.”