AHS Centenary events 2018
This year, the oldest Arab horse society in the world reaches 100, and we would like you to join in the celebrations.
We list below a 2018 wall planner, illustrated with a few of the many activities our members enjoy. They breed, ride, show and race pure Arabs, part Arabs and Anglo Arabs.
The 2017 winners and finalists of the AHS ridden Performance Horse Awards will be announced shortly, along with the High Points winners in the individual disciplines: Eventing, Show Jumping, Ridden Showing, Dressage, Endurance and Racing who will parade at the Arab Horse Society National Championship Show at Malvern next July.
We have marked the dates of this three-day show on your wall planner below and also that of the British Arabian Championships in September. Please add the Arab Racing Seminar on Saturday 7 April at the National Horse Racing Museum in Newmarket, with a parade of race horses in the outside arena, to put some rippling flesh on the bones.
The first of the Centenary Stud Open Days will be hosted by Silverdale Arabians in East Sussex, in conjunction with the South East Arabian Horse Group on 20 May, followed by Spirit Arabians Open Day near Saltash in Cornwall on Bank Holiday Monday 28 May.
Pure Arab Flat racing, run by the Arab Racing Organisation, takes place on most weekends throughout the summer, with longer endurance races, up to 160kms in a day, organised by Endurance GB. This presents the ultimate challenge for horses – those with Arabian blood are always at the forefront!
A team of keen riders at Eastworth Arabians is putting together a series of elegant Quadrille Displays with pure Arabians to take to major shows during our Centenary year.
Some AHS members and their Arabians will form groups to join the Charity Fun Rides at Burghley and Blenheim next September.
The ‘Ridden Arabian of the Year’ at the Horse of the Year Show, and the finals of the new BD Arab Dressage Championships, follow in early October.
The AHS competition year rounds off with the Centenary Marathon, to be run over 26 miles on Sunday 7 October, on the hallowed turf of Newmarket, by kind permission of The Jockey Club and supported by the Kingdom of Bahrain.
A fully-illustrated comprehensive AHS Centenary book will be published by Medina in the spring. HRH Prince Charles, who is the proud owner of four Arabians, has sent an encouraging message of goodwill, and HRH Princess Alia of Jordan has written the book’s Introduction. The rapid gallop through all the shows and studs, imports and exports, events and personalities in each chapter attempts to encapsulate the Society’s 100-year history.
Early orders for the “AHS Centenary” book via the AHS web-shop will attract a 10% discount off the £40 price.
To promote our Centenary Year, we have introduced a limited collection of Centenary merchandise, including a range of clothing, through to mugs and coasters, available on-line via: http://www.arabhorsesociety.org/apps/webstore/ The site also has details of our 2018 calendar featuring the champions from the 2017 National Arab Show, costing £10.
We have initiated a “Founders’ Day” photo project to capture a moment in time. We are inviting AHS members to take a photo with their horse on April 1 and e-mail it to us so we can see the breadth of activities our members enjoy. These photos will be available free of charge to illustrate any features the media may require.
Our Honorary President for the year, Peter Upton, the renowned artist, author and specialist on the Middle East, will attend many of the Centenary events.
Centenary wall planner
New Year’s Day Parade, London – 4AHS Premium horses paraded – as zebras! (circus-themed parade)
Late March – CENTENARY book launch of 300-page fully illustrated celebration of the AHS, its members, horses and events = £40 (£35 to AHS members)
Thursday 22 March – evening opening of ARAB HORSE EXHIBITION at the National Horse Racing Museum (NHRM), Newmarket, to Friday 13 July (sponsored by AHS patron HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum)
Easter Sunday April 1 – AHS Founders’ Day photo project – ‘a moment in time’ captured by members with Arab horse; pics to be published in AHS summer magazine, posters etc
Saturday 7 April – ARAB RACING SEMINAR, National Horse Racing Museum, Newmarket (sponsored by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum) £50 incl lunch and chance to win a share a race horse for a season! Parade of Arab race horses at 3pm
Saturday 28 April – 2.30pm PARADE OF AHS PERFORMANCE HORSES, National Horse Racing Museum, Newmarket
Monday 28 May – CENTENARY CELEBRATION at Spirit Arabians Open Day, Cornwall
26- 28 July, National Arab Championship Show, Three Counties Showground, Malvern – SILENT AUCTION of Arabian memorabilia and donated items in aid of equine charities
Sunday 7 October – AHS MARATHON, Newmarket , sponsored by Kingdom of Bahrain)
Further information: Chairman of AHS Centenary committee: anne@gadebrookstud.com or Tel; 01832 358269
