The UK International Arabian Horse Championships is the UK’s only A title show and is the most popular show on the circuit. With its friendly, end of season feel, the UK International is held annually over the August bank holiday weekend, and is popular with judges, competitors, and exhibitors alike.
Held at the brilliant Addington Manor Equestrian Centre in Addington, Buckinghamshire, the UK International is run under Show Director Janet Court. It is in this arena that dreams have become reality, and with the show perpetually offering classes for foals, geldings and the ridden Arabian, there really is something for everyone who attends.
Over the years, with the show originally held at Towerlands Equestrian Centre in Essex, the show has grown in depth and structure. For over 25 years now, the UK International Championship title has been coveted by many, and won by an elusive few. The tension in the Ridden Championship is especially palpable, with horses who win here often going on to take the even more precious Horse of the Year Show Ridden Arab title.
This show is also the benchmark for the European title shows that follow; many trainers choose to bring their horses to the UK International as their first outing before campaigning them in the autumn across Aachen, the Europeans and the Paris World Championships. Indeed, two horses spring instantly to mind who debuted here at the UK International before going on to be European Triple Crown winners – Essteema (Essteem x Menascha) and Aja Justified (WH Justice x Aja Beneja). The UK Interational is truly the show of dreams…
This year’s event will be held on 25-27 August, with the final Ridden Arabian Star Series taking place on the Friday. Judging this year’s UK International are Marek Trela from Poland, Judy Kibler from the United States, Cristina Valdez from Spain, Christian Moschini from Italy, Ali Shaarawi from Egypt, and Helen Hennekens from Belgium.
To find out more, please e-mail Janet Court and you can follow the show at www.thearabianmagazine.com as well as livestream through Arabian Horse Results. We look forward to seeing you there!
