World Arabian Horse Championships 2023 Day One

All photography by Julie Adams

Day two – males, click here
Day three – female champions, click here
Day four – male and platinum champions, click here

There was much anticipation for the World Arabian Horse Championships in December. They relocated the show from Paris to Doha in Qatar for the first time in 42 years. While at the time of the decision, there were rumblings within the Arabian horse world that the Championships being in the Middle East negated the smaller breeder the opportunity to compete, it is often good to allow a refresh and bring change to an institution. Sometimes this can infuse much needed positive energy and a fresh perspective to an event. The Qatari’s are very proud of their country, and there was much excitement to hold such a prestigious event on Qatari soil.

Weeks before the show, held 7-9 December, I watched the stand being constructed in Old Doha Port. This is a delightful part of Doha, with dwellings constructed in traditional Arabic style, painted in bright colours, nestled on twisted cobbled streets, allowing glimpses of the extraordinary West Bay skyline beyond. The dwellings are, in fact, the accommodation for the Mina Salam Hotel. There were many restaurants and cafés in the port, and it is absolutely worthy of a day’s visit if you are in Doha.

From the first day of the show, it became apparent this was going to be a truly extraordinary event. The venue was so impressive, with newly constructed tiers of tables and seating flanking two sides of the arena, plus the media and general admission area occupying the third side. Open on the fourth side, the arena offered the West Bay skyline in full view. The tables sold out in a matter of hours of their release, and they were worth the high price tag. The show had some of the finest hospitality I have seen, and they spared no expense. While the general admission area was small, people quickly snapped up the tickets released each day of the show for the public in a matter of minutes. It might be a positive recommendation to the organisers to increase the public seating area for the next show as I am aware many people could not attend the show because of limited general admission. This is a very positive accolade for Qatar and for the Arabian horse, so it would be good to create the opportunity to capture a wider audience.

Prior to the show, the media received an invitation to a special announcement, which was for the prestigious Global Champions Arabians Tour (GCAT). The tour introduces a brand-new format, featuring events held in iconic locations across Europe and the Middle East. GCAT begins with the opening leg in February at the Katara Show in Doha. The series will then move to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, also in February, and then Muscat, Oman, in April. The Tour then moves to Europe – Cannes, France, in June; Valkenswaard, Netherlands, in July; Rome, Italy, in September; and then concluding in Paris, France. At the 2024 World Championships in December. The prize fund for the Tour is an incredible €17,000,000. This is certain to increase the interest and popularity of the Arabian breed globally.

Shortly after the announcement, the show got underway. The guest Judges were Ali Ghanem Almazrouei (UAE), Ali Mohammed Ali Sharawi (Egypt), Anna Stojanowska (Poland), Christina Valdes Colon De Carvajal (Spain), Elyas Ebrahim Faraj (Bahrain), Eric Gear (France), Ferdinand Huemer (Austria), Francesco Santoro (Italy), Gideon Reisel (Netherlands), Irina Stigler (Russia), Joanne Lowe (Great Britain), Joao Oscar Guardia (Brazil), Manfred Hain (Germany), Martine Van Hee (Belgium), and Scott Benjamin (Canada).

Yearling fillies

SHAHBRYS HVP

After the impressive opening ceremony involving the Qatari National Band, the yearling fillies opened the show, split into two sections. The first section was the strongest overall with seven forward and Shahbrys HVP (Royal Asad x Rebecca HVP) took the win with a phenomenal 93.29 points. An exceptional filly, she was very difficult to fault, being refined and balanced, as well as very pretty. She scored six 20s for type, another seven for head/neck, and two for movement. Bred by Agropecuaria Vila Dos Pinheiros, she is owned by Agmal Stud. Second with 91.64 points was a super typey filly with a good head, neck and movement. This was Amirah Alymeen (Sultan Alenaya x Semsem Al Enaya), bred by Ayman Hassan Hamdi Aljohani and owned by Abdullah Mawsim T Alotaibi. Farida Muhdar (Farid al Hawajer x ALR Aseela) claimed third with 91.36 points. She is a very impressive filly with an extraordinary stand up who has enjoyed a successful season in Qatar. She is bred and owned by Sheikh Hamad Ali Al-Thani.

AMIRAH ALYMEEN

FARIDA MUDHAR

SHAHALEL AL SHAQAB

The second section of yearling fillies had six forward, and the winner was truly outstanding. This was the unbeaten Shahalel al Shaqab (Na’mous al Shahania x Siwar al Shaqab), bred by Al Shaqab – Member of Qatar Foundation. She is arguably the finest filly to come from Al Shaqab with her incredible type, beauty, build, and movement. She almost scored straight 20s for type and head/neck, with just one judge disagreeing, finishing with 93.36 points. The incredibly elegant Farida Aljassimya (RFI Farid x Taleed el Qardabiyah) took second with 91.21 points for owner/breeder Al Jassimya Farm. Third went to Noor Mudhar (Emerald J x MC Antonela), bred by Mauricio Cuesta and owned by Shekh Hamad Ali Al-Thani, with 90.93 points.

FARIDA ALJASSIMYA

Two-to-three-year-old fillies

TM BELLA

The two-to-three-year-old fillies followed, also split into two sections. Both were truly outstanding. There were nine forward in the first section, with good scores throughout. The win went to the extremely beautiful and balanced TM Bella (TM Tpaipu x TM Fahdeelah) with a score of 93.07, bred by Jose Fernado and Teixeira Junior and owned by Al Jumail Stud. She scored seven 20s for type and a further two for head/neck. Second was the strong moving Hamat Alkhashab (FA el Rasheem x Hadaya Alkhashab), bred and owned by Al Khashab Stud. She gave a fabulous show, scoring 92.07 points with seven 20s for movement. Rayyanah al Nasser (Marwan al Shaqab x Remal al Nasser) scored 92 points to secure third for breeder and owner Al Nasser Stud. She is a pleasing filly with a very beautiful head, strong front, and body.

HAMAT ALKHASHAB

D BEISAN

The second section saw two extraordinary fillies stand first and second. The winner was D Beisan (D Seraj x Rah Rosahalia), an incredibly beautiful and well put together filly who charmed judges and audience alike. She scored 93.86 points with almost straight 20s for type and head/neck, with just one judge awarding half a point less in each category. The charismatic and flamboyant Nourah al Khalediah (Hilal al Khalediah x Ghazalat al Khalediah) was second for Akmal Stud. Bred by Al Khalediah Stables, she flagged her tail and moved as though she had wings! Scoring six 20s for movement, eight for type, and a further three for head/neck, she finished with a total of 93.14 points. The pleasing Motara al Enaya (Sultan Alenaya x Tabasheer Alkhalediah) scored 91.93 points to secure third. Bred by Tarig Bin Mohammed E Enaya, she is owned by Ayman Hassan Aljohani.

NOURAH AL KHALEDIAH

MOTATRA AL ENAYA

There followed the public announcement of the Global Arabians Champions Tour with an exceptional presentation, including an impressive drone display in front of the West Bay skyline. It was a breath-taking sight.

Mares

D SHIHANAH

The last classes for the day were the mares, split into two sections. There were 10 forward in the first section, with the win taken by the exceptional D Shihanah (FA el Rasheem x D Shahla). She scored an outstanding straight 20s across type and head/neck to finish with a score of 93.57 points. Bred and owned by Dubai Arabian Stud, she is an extraordinarily beautiful mare. Taking second with 92.43 was Najla Umm Aludham (Wadee al Shaqab x DA Magic Moment), bred and owned by Nasser Mohammed Mesfer al Hajri. She is a delightful mare who has charmed at the Qatar shows this season, scoring four 20s for type, three for movement and two for head/neck. Another Dubai Stud-bred mare claimed third, the expressive D Shafah (FA el Rasheem x D Shroud), a strong, well-balanced, good moving mare. She scored six 20s for movement to score 92.14 points for her owner Al Jumail Stud.

NAJLA UMM ALUDHAM

D SHAFAH

BASMAH ALBIDAYER and lead photo 

The second section of mares had eight forward with the top three scoring very well. The feminine Basmah Albidayer (Fadi al Shaqab x Bidayer) took the win for breeder and owner Sheikh Mohammed Saoud Sutan S Al Qassimi. This mare gets more beautiful every time I see her, and she scored well to earn six 20s for type and eight for head/ neck from the judges to score 93.5 points. Bashaier al Nasser (WH Justice x Rihab al Nasser) took second with 92.36 points for breeder and owner Al Nasser Stud. Third went to Anoud al Jalawiyah (Shael Dream Desert x Day Dream J) with 92.14 points, bred by Al Jalawiyah Stud and owned by Al Ramha Stud.

BSHAIER AL NASSER

ANOUD AL JALAWIYAH

The first day had come to a close, and the standard was very definitely set!

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