The Arabian Magazine is now 18 years old – a huge achievement that has evolved from a small dream. When the idea to start a magazine first came up, on a dark October evening back in 2004, we never dreamed that it would become one so widely respected, or so well-travelled. If The Arabian Magazine had a passport, it would be well stamped.
We have always vowed to celebrate the true heart and soul of the Arabian horse – a phrase that has been our strapline for over a decade now. We love everything that is organic about this beloved breed – the way the Arabian bonds with their humans; the way they go from half asleep to full of snort and blow in a nano-second; the way they instinctively know if all is right in your world – and will gently breathe with you if it is not.
In 18 years, we have maintained a high editorial standard, capturing the joie de vivre of this enchanting animal, just as it captured our hearts, time and time again, as the years have gone by.
The thing I love most about being with the Arabian horse is how small they make the world. The current decade aside, we live in times where we can watch shows on the other side of the world, can share news of horses with the click of a button, and even if you travel alone to an event, it is always easy to make new friends as you are there for one collective reason. It is all quite magical when you think about it.
Anniversaries have a habit of making you pause and think, reflecting on all that has gone by, while looking to the future. This is such a time for me, and I am excited to announce some new changes to The Arabian Magazine and The Arabian Breeders’ Magazine as we go into 2023 and beyond. You can read more about the continued evolution of publication here, and I look forward to continuing this journey with you.
Our immediate focus, as ever, is on the City of Lights as the Paris World Championships comes around once more. With surgeries and pandemics, I haven’t been to the World Championships since 2019, and I am very much looking forward to being back with everyone this month and seeing who will win those coveted crowns.
This editorial would not be complete without mention of WAHO. The 2022 Conference has just been held in Jordan, and it was an amazing get together of like-minded people who all have one thing in common – the welfare and heart of the Arabian horse. WAHO is an event where there are no egos, just a determination to ensure that our most beloved breed is not exploited, plus you get to see the country and its horses at length. The next event is in Abu Dhabi in 2025 – plenty of time to start planning!
With that, I will wish you all a wonderful end to 2022 and may the coming year be filled with things that make your heart full – Arabian horses, four-legged family, sunshine and friends, and a sprinkle of magic.
Samantha
Pictured: Lulwah Al Sawary (Marwan al Shaqab x Monalisa al Sawary) from the Armada Open Day photo report; click here for the video. Photography by Emma Maxwell.
