Judging Arabian horses’ conformation takes practice, but anyone who has spent time around these beautiful creatures can learn to do it. Judges usually look for a combination of balance, structure, muscling, gait, and bre- ed-specific features. For the summer edition 2020, I had the honour to interview Echao A-Judge list Cristina Valdes from Madrid, Spain. She was pleased to give her point of you and walk me through the main aspects of her profes- sional experience in judging Arabian horses. Hello Mrs. Cristina Valdes. Just to set the scene with our readers, give us some background to you, to your family and education please. I was born in Madrid, but before I turned two years old my father was posted as Spanish Ambassador, so from that date onwards - and for the next 18 years - we travelled around the world. My education in those years was quite a salad, I was taught at home by teachers, I went to school in Spain, then in France, and the last was an American scho- ol. I started the University in AUB in Beirut, and finally I graduated from Madrid University in Political Sciences with a major in International Relations. When did you start getting interested in the purebred Arabian horse? If any, which are your favourite bloodli- nes? Why? I was very luckily born with Arabian horses! I come from a family that started breeding in 1920, first the well know breeder, Cristobal Colon Duke of Veragua, then my mother Piedad Colon Marchioness of Avella continued, and I am myself following my mother as is doing my youngest sister who also breeds. My favourite lines are those that breed good and beautiful horses. However, I personally continue with the Pure Spanish lines. I do so for several reasons, first of all because I like them; second, because even if they are not in fashion as they used to be, I believe that they must be preserved because they have a lot of good things to of- fer, and that can be clearly seen when they outcross with other lines, the final outcome is fantastic! Last not the least, while fashions come and go, good tradition persists. When did you become a Judge? What specific prepa- ration did you get? I became a judge in the first course done in Europe, whi- ch was done in Spain in the late 80 ́s and it was the basis for the courses Ecaho does now. After this course or- ganized by AECCA, I joined the Spanish Association. We were supposed to do some probation shows with senior judges, and that was how it all started. What do you look for in an Arabian horse when judging? What are, in your opinion, the strengths of the breed and how do you tackle the concepts of ‘beauty’ and ‘functional correctness’? The first is to have a total look at the horse on the first rounds, which gives you an idea of the level of the whole class and an approximate idea of those that would look as the best of the class; then when you come down to details, the placing may change. For me, besides the type and walk of the first look, all the rest is as important: body is extremely important, legs are a must and of course movement. Beauty and correct- ness? A very beautiful horse with wobbly legs is no longer so beautiful, and the other way around - great legs with a coarse look cannot be a beautiful hor- se. Therefore, at the end it is a balance between both, unless you are fortu- nate to find a per- fect horse! What horse or horses have you judged that have left the greatest impres- sion on you? I must say that I am always much more impressed when I see one of those be- autiful ma- res, normally of a certain age, with a feminine calm look, big expressive eyes, long flexible neck and that as they start trotting, the ground sounds under their hooves. Those for me are the real representatives of the breed. Beautiful good stallions are easier to see, but these mares are the ones that touch my heart. Names? It is a long list and I would not like to forget any. What do you feel has been your most rewarding experien- ce as a Judge so far? I have been very lucky to judge some great shows with a fantastic display and facilities, with horses difficult to judge because they were all so good. As well small shows where the love for the horses, and the willingness to do well com- pensated the many things missing in the show. Both cases are equally impressive for me. Which particular skills are necessary to become an ac- countable judge? I suppose a good judge must have the qualities needed for any good professional, that is knowledge, which is an en- dless endeavour because you are always learning, and of course being fair with your appreciations. You are also Chairman of Ancalpe -Asociación Nacional de Caballos Árabes de Líneas Puras Espaňolas. When was the association founded? What was the main thought behind it? A group of breeders in Spain thought they should keep and preserve their lines that they saw were somehow disappeMrs. Cristina, what does the Arabian horse means to you exactly? Passion, love, sometimes joy, so- metimes sadness. The Arabian Horses is what I like to breed and see and enjoy, and I feel very fortunate to be able to do so. Do you feel like leaving a messa- ge to the readership of Arabian Horse Magazine? Love and enjoy this fantastic bre- ed, it will never disappoint you. aring with the outcrosses to other lines. Now, we are a reasonable number of bree- ders that strive for recovering old lines and look for good stallions for our mares. The loss of Yeguada Military and all its wonder- ful horses made us get together and help each other. Do you think that the Arabian World has been a bit in a downtrend lately? Not exactly downtrend, it has simply chan- ged a lot. Before there were breeders and trainers, traders and organizers and asso- ciations etc. etc. as it is today. The diffe- rence is that nowadays all these are deeply mingled so it makes it more difficult for those of us who are just in one category to swim in that sea. If you were empowered to effect change in the Arabian Horse World, how would you go about it? I would make it easier for the small breeder to participate, it has become almost unre- achable for whom before was the normal breeder. That is narrowing the scope of the breed. Mrs. Cristina, thank you very much for your contribution. It was an honor to interview you. May the Arabian horse cast a spell on us and keep us together forever and ever!