Kuwait 2017

A small Emirate nestled between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Kuwait is situated in a section of one of the driest, least-hospitable deserts on earth. Its shore, however, includes Kuwait Bay, a deep harbor on the Persian Gulf. There, in the 18th century, Bedouin from the interior founded a trading post—the name “Kuwait” is derived from the Arabic diminutive of the Hindustani kūt (“fort”). Since the emirate’s ruling family, the  l Ṣabāḥ, formally established a sheikhdom in 1756, the country’s fortunes have been linked to foreign commerce. In time and with accumulated wealth, the small fort grew to become Kuwait city, a modern metropolis mingling skyscrapers, apartment buildings, and mosques. Kuwait city has most of the country’s population, which makes Kuwait one of the world’s most urbanized countries. Massive oil revenues have enabled the government to support sports generously, and the country boasts a number of stadiums capable of hosting international competitions. Kuwait’s sports culture, like that of other gulf states, combines the traditional sports of nomadic Arabian society with contemporary sports of Western origin. Traditional sports of enduring popularity include camel and horse racing; Arabian horses are held to be among the finest in the world. On the beautiful grounds of the Arabian Horse Center Bait Al Arab, Kuwait State Stud, the 6th Annual International Arabian Horse Championship took place from Friday 3th to 4th February 2017 under the patronage of H.H Emir of Kuwait Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al- Sabah. The show attracted thousands of owners, breeders of the Arabian horse, but also guests and tourists from Europe to see 238 horses of the finest purebred Arabian breed competing for various prizes and recognition. This gave the finishing touches to a really well organized and time-managed show. As many as eight judges were called to manage a competition that appeared compelling just by reading the program. The many prestigious names in the ring made us predict a fierce competition for the top places, and that is exactly what happened. Therefore, it is only fair to praise the judges who carried out their task impeccably. They were, in order: Mr. Jerzy Bialobok (Poland); Mr. Koenraad Detailleur (Belgium); Mrs. Sylvie Eberhardt (Germany); Mrs. Deirdre Hyde (United Kingdom); Mr. Pekka Paakkonen (Sweden); Mr. Marco Pittaluga (Italy); Mrs. Anna Stefaniuk (Poland); and Mr. Marc V e r a y (France). They were delighted by the overall quality of the horses they witnessed during the two days of this event, and avowed they had enjoyed judging and working with the organizing team of the show and expressed their respect for the Arabian horse breeders and owners in Kuwait for their enthusiasm and passion. The Disciplinary Committee made every effort which rendered this event a great success. Its members were: Dr. Thomas Stohler (Switzerland); Dr. Gianpaolo Teobaldelli (Italy) and Mrs. Reinhild Moritz (Germany). Impeccable in their role the Ring masters: Mr. Ronny Vosch (Belgium); Mr. Waleed Al Haddadi (Saudi Arabia) and Dr. Hayati Eroz (Kuwait). The Final Championships did highlight la crème de la crème of the local breeders, who have brought into play global bloodlines to enhance their program. In the Yearling Fillies category, the victory and the title of Gold Champion medal went to the exquisite bay YAMAMA AM (MAHRANI HDM × YULANA PSY) bred by AL MOHAMADIA STUD and owned by HH PRINCE ABDULLAH BIN FAHD AL SAUD. Silver medal winner the grey BINT WAFY ALFAISAL (WAFY NAJD N. × ELEGANT MOON MP) bred by AL FAISAL ARABIAN and owned by FAISAL ALENEZI. Bronze medal winner the bay HW MONEFA (AJ FENJAN × ASHIRA OF ROHAN) bred by HAMAD AL WAWAN and owned by HAMAD MATAR AL WAWAN. In the Yearling Colts category, the victory and the title of Gold Champion medal was awarded to the chestnut HAGRAS AL SHAQAB (FADI AL SHAQAB × WIND KAMELIA) bred and owned by AL SHAQAB MEMBER OF QATAR FOUNDATION. Silver medal winner the AL SHAQAB × RUMAITHA AL ZOBARA) bred by AL KHOR STUD and owned by NASSER AL MESNAD. Bronze medal winner the chestnut MISHAAL AM (ABHA QATAR × SARA AL MOHAMADIA) bred by AL MOHAMADIA STUD and owned by HH PRINCE ABDULLAH BIN FAHAD AL SAUD. In the Junior Fillies category, the victory and the title of Gold Champion medal was assigned to the gorgeous bay RAHAF AL ZOBARA (KAHIL AL SHAQAB × A.J. MASHKORA) bred by AL ZOBARA STUD and owned by SHEIKH MOHAMMAD ALI AL SABAH. Silver medal winner the bay SATEENA LNJ (ZT MARWTEYN × SATEEN LAROUGE MP) bred by OTHMAN BIN ABDULLAH LINJAWI -AL LINJAWI STUD and owned by MUBARAK HAMDAN ALKHASHAB – AL KHASHAB STUD. Bronze medal winner the beautiful grey SAFIAT AL SHAQAB (KAHIL AL SHAQAB × SHALIMAR PRESTIGE) bred and owned by AL SHAQAB MEMBER OF QATAR FOUNDATION. The Junior Colts category witnessed the triumph of the Gold Champion bay ZAHER AL MUAWD (EQUATOR × ESPINILLA) bred by AL MUAWD STUD and owned by MUBARAK HAMDAN AL KHASHAB. Silver medal winner the bay SAFWAN NAYAAR (FAYAD ALFAYYAD × STARLIGHT BY SISSI) bred by NAYAAR STUD and owned by ABDULLATIF ALKANDARI. Bronze medal winner the bay VIVALDI REGALIS (RFI FARID × NATISSE REGALIS) bred by RE PIETRO and owned by SHEIKH MOHAMMAD ALI AL SABAH. In the Senior Mares category, the victory and the title of Gold Champion medal was exclusive preserve of the flamboyant chestnut ALIAH IA (EDEN C × ALIA PSYCHE IA) bred by RICHARD DEWALT and owned by ABDULLAH HUSSAIN SADAH. Silver medal winner the bay SYLVATICA K.A. (QR MARC × SHARM DS) bred by KNOCKE ARABIANS and owned by ALI MATAR AL WAWAN. Bronze medal winner the grey SA MINERVA (ROYAL COLOURS × CICILLA) bred by ANGELO SCIPIONI and owned by MUBARAK HAMDAN AL KHASHAB. In the Senior Stallions category, the victory and the title of Gold Champion medal went to extraordinary grey MARSAL AL SHAQAB (MARWAN AL SHAQAB × MISS EL POWER JQ) bred and owned by AL SHAQAB MEMBER OF QATAR FOUNDATION. Silver medal winner the grey MOUNTASSAR AL ZOBAIR (KHIDAR × FALHA AL SHAQAB) bred by SHEIKH ABDULLA KHALID AL THANI and owned by AL NASEEM STUD AND ALBABTAIN STUD. Bronze medal winner the bay ALFONZO (AB MAGNUM × SAN JOSE ALFONSINA) bred by AL QASSIMI MOHAMMED BIN SAOUD and owned by ALI MATAR AL WAWAN. Following the show, a stud tour including a visit to Bait Al Arab Kuwait State Stud and to some well known private breeders who presented their breeding programs provided another highlight and attracted many Arabian horse lovers from Kuwait, the Middle East and abroad. Visitors from the USA, Italy, France, Poland, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia attended the show, enjoyed Kuwait hospitality and watched a remarkable event. Eventually, everybody offered their compliments on the success of the 6th International Arabian Horse Championship of Kuwait 2017. A success which was only made possible by the excellent cooperation of the breeders and horse owners who entered their valuable Arabians for the show, and with the generous support of H.H. the Emir of Kuwait, Sabah al- Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, the Hunting & Equestrian Club’s board of Directors as well as numerous sponsors. We in the Arabian Horse Magazine team would like to express our heartfelt congratulations to everybody who supported the 2017 Kuwait International Arabian Horse Festival and helped to make it a booming and memorable event.