The intelligence, elegance and beauty of the Arabian horse belies it’s history as a war horse. Arabians are the horse of the desert Bedouin, the Arabian Horse Registry offers this quote, “An Arabian will take care of its owner as no other horse will, for it has not only been raised to physical perfection, but has been instilled with a spirit of loyalty unparalleled by that of any other breed.”
There are numerous legends about the beginnings of the Arabian horse, they differ slightly, but all agree on one thing, the Arabian horse was formed by the Divine with magic and gifted to the people of the desert. The mares were considered to make the best, most courageous war horses, and lived directly in the tents of their Bedouin owners. They started keeping the lineage of each horse over 4,500 years ago, as an oral tradition.
Today,the horses are no longer used for war, but are accomplished sport horses. However they are still cherished, especially in horse shows today such as the annual Arabian Horse International Show.
An annual event, the Arabian Horse International Show season started off this year with a bang in January with the AJMAN 2012 Arabian Horse Show. Ajman Stud was founded in 2002, by Sheikh Ammar Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, whose passion and dedication for the Arabian horse began as a child. The equestrian facility is built in traditional Arabic style and is about 30 kilometers from the city of Ajman in the United Arab Emirates, according to HH Ammar’s website.
The gala presentation offered not only the classes for the elite Arabian horses, but an entertainment production extravaganza. The judges for the show included Khalifa Salem Alforah/ UAE and Dr. Mohammed Machmoun/ Marocco;HH Sheikh Abdelaziz bin Humaid Al Nuaimi; and Abdel Raouf Abbas & Abdul Mohsen Al Jabri, both from Egypt.
57th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Show
The first Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show was back in 1955. Held on the grounds of the prestigious Arizona Biltmore Hotel, it had just 50 entries. Today the show has grown to international proportions, with people coming from all over the United States, Canada, Qatar, the AJMAN Stud from UAE, Australia and many other countries.
Approximately 2,000 entries were on the showgrounds for the 10 days (February 16-26) of the event this year. A win at Scottsdale speaks to the world of the excellence of the farm and can bring prosperity to the winners. These well-bred Arabian horses often cost into the millions of dollars.
This year, the show grounds offered a varied and spectacular group of over 300 vendors featuring gourmet eateries, wine tasting, lobster, diamonds, exquisite jewelery, world famous artists and more to delight the audience between their favorite show classes.
Among the unique items on display were hand-tooled (made and decorated by hand) saddles, which are a traditional art and a rarity, costing well over $6,000. There are also the show saddles for Western Pleasure and Equitation which are adorned with sterling silver. In addition, custom-made furniture as well as horse vans (fit for a king) are available on the show grounds.
Each barn has their own guest area, which includes lounges for potential clients, old friends, and of course a place for owners and trainers to relax in. Attention to detail is evident with these show structures. Some bring their own sod and plants, and everyone brings comfortable, elegant furniture, while others have custom made, hand-carved bars and stools to provide lovely places for people to meet with them to discuss business or entertain old friends. They must begin setting up in the week before the horse show opens.
Continued on next page: The show classes ...
The show classes cover almost every equestrian event from driving, reining, and cutting to side-saddle classes and dressage, which most people consider the highest form of riding. Other fun classes for children, and adults, are the native costume classes where horse and rider are dressed in elaborate, beautiful native costumes of the desert.
More than 30,000 people streamed through the gate in just one day of the 10-day horse show. Some of those attending have never even been near an Arabian horse or any other horse. This one-of-a-kind family event offered something for everyone!
An international favorite, the Scottsdale Arabian show was seen by people from 86 different countries watching on IEquine’s live feed.
The next big Arabian horse event in Scottsdale, Arizona is the American Cup Championship Arabian Horse Show, November 8-11, 2012 at WestWorld Equestrian Event Facility.
