Palermo 2019

Once we got to the ‘Parco della Favorita’ we were warmly welcomed by Antonio Culcasi as the official organizer of the 10th annual edition of the Palermo Arabian Horses Cup. We also met the incredible New Monte Erice Equestrian team. Then, we walked across this huge property that stretches for almost 400 hectares at the foot of the Pellegrino Mountain. Inside of the park, we visited the Palazzina Cinese, an exotic-style house of hunting of King Ferdinando IV of Borbons, and the eighteenth-century Villa Valguarnera di Niscemi, headquarters of current Mayor of Palermo, Leoluca Orlando who was there as the official sponsor of the event together with Salvatore Orlando, President of the Palermo Municipal Council. Saturday 6th April, the show began in the steeplechase field named ‘Giuseppe Di Matteo’ inside of the Park. During the two days, it was celebrated also the V Sicily Cup’, reserved for Sicily-born and bred horses. An international five-judge panel was composed by: Rota Pierluigi (Italy);Jamar Christine (Belgium); Weidner Michaela (Germany); Reisel Gideon (The Netherlands) and Safadi Eiad (The Netherlands). Members of the Disciplinary Commission were: Fazeli Farhang (Iran); Capelli Marco (Italy) e Fantauzzo Giuseppe (Italy). Excellent the work done by: Mr. Bonomi Mario Alessandro as Ringmaster and by Mrs. Mascagni Laura as official speaker of the show. Over two sunny days, we watched the competition together with breeders and old friends. From the VIP tables, screams and words of encouragement were being launched to the horses performing in the arena. The Final Championships were showed on April 7th. Sunday, April 7th went on with the V Sicily Cup reserved for Sicilyborn and bred horses, which reported the sole participation of the female fillies category. A wonderful spring appointment thoroughly devoted to the immortality of the Arabian horse. The beauty, elegance, stamina and irresistible charisma of this creature so close to our hearts were celebrated in Palermo, at ‘Parco Della Favorita’, in a breathtaking landscape which only could be worth a show like this. And that, it could only be born - and made possible - thanks to the joint effort and extensive mobilization of institutions and people. Heartfelt thank you to the Organizer of the event Antonio Culcasi, the Town Hall of Palermo and its officials, the New Monte Erice Equestrian team, the members of the Italian National Association of the Arabian Horse; the official photographers Caracciolo Antonio, Azzali Alessio and De Martino Antonio; as well as handlers and breeders, their families and the many sponsors which intervened!