Dubai: Over a hundred of the region’s best show horses will compete for top honours in the Sharjah Arabian Horse Festival, ‘Straight Egyptian’, which starts on Thursday.
The three-day event aims to showcase the beauty and highlight the status of the Arabian horse and to encourage more generations of breeding of this noble animal that is close to Arabian heritage.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Dr. Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The competition is organised by the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club in cooperation with the Emirates Arabian Horse Society. Sharjah Airport international Free Zone (SAIF Zone) is the principal sponsor.
Horses representing the leading clubs, stables, farms and studs in the UAE will compete for four championship prizes — stallions, mares, colts and fillies.
Horses will be judged by a panel of five judges, who will assess five principal aspects of the horse’s conformation.
The assessment method relies overall shape, body, head and neck and leg movement. Points will be given on a scale of 1-20 by each member of the jury. To qualify for the championship classes horses must finish first or second in all the various age groups.
The gold champion will receive four points, the silver champion two points and the bronze champion one point and the champions will be selected according to the points given by the jury.
Horses from the Dubai Arabian Horse Stud were big performers at last year’s championship and are expected to be strong challengers in this year’s edition as well. Previous champions were D Jawaher, Elle Flamenca, D Khattaf and D Maraksh.
In addition the Sharjah Arabian Horse Auction will be held in the club’s indoor stadium. The number of horses participating has reached 74 horses.
The organising committee thanked the sponsoring companies, led by SAIF Zone for their sponsorship that added to the growth and status of the festival.
The Judging Committee includes Abdelmohsen Elgabry, Dr. Nikolaus Jung, Pekka Paakkonen and Francesco Sanchi.
Scoring system
Mark from (1 — 20) For Type
Mark from (1 — 20) For Head & Neck
Mark from (1 — 20) For Body & Topline
Mark from (1 — 20) For Legs
Mark from (1 — 20) For Movement
