AMIRA SAFADY

The art of judging Arabian horses' conformation takes some practice, but anyone who has spent time with these beautiful creatures can learn. A judge usually looks at balance, structure, muscling, gait, as well as breed-specific characteristics. Mrs Amira Safady from the Netherlands was the subject of my interview for the Dubai issue of 2022. I appreciated her taking the time to walk me through some of the key aspects of her professional experience judging Arabian horses. 1. Hello, Amira! Thank you very much for accepting our invitation so kindly. Just to set the scene with our readers, give us some background about you, to your family and your education, please. 1. It was very soon that my parents realized that I had a great passion for horses. The stables would be the place to find me in my free time ! Having competed both in Jumping and Dressage, I began my Equine career at the age of 4 practising Equestrian vaulting. With time, my passion grew into a specialism, graduating in Equine Studies. 2. When did you start getting interested in the pure-bred Arabian horse? 2. When I was introduced to the Arabian Horse breed in 2008, it marked the beginning of something that has become an important part of my life. 3. At what age have you become a judge? What specific preparation did you get? 3. Since the beginning of 2016, I have been listed as a National Judge after I completed an internal course organised by the Dutch Federation, AVS. I conducted several probations under the supervision of several experienced judges before accepting my first invitation to judge. 4. What do you feel has been your most recent rewarding experience as a judge? 4. The most rewarding experience as a judge was without a doubt the unforgettable experience at the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival 2022 in Doha... It was an honour to be a part of the amazing judges' panel at the world's most prestigious show. 5. What horse or horses have you judged that have left the greatest impression on you? 5. During my judging career, I have seen quite a few beautiful Arabian horses, but two have left a lasting impression on me. A massive number of 450 Arabian horses took part in the Kuwait Purebred Arabian Horse Show. Upon reaching the Mare classes, I was in awe. The quality was amazing with very impressive mares. One of them was so special as if looking at a portrait and yet something very real. Definitely, a moment to remember... 6. What are, in your opinion, the strengths of the breed and how do you tackle the concepts of 'beauty' and 'functional correctness'? 6. The strength of the breed is answered when asking what distinguishes Arabian horses from other breeds. Besides their high intelligence, sensitivity, and charisma, their looks capture the heart. Their beauty comes from their expressive features, highlighting 'the eyes'. The eyes speak a thousand words... I believe this to be of major importance in my breeding program. Both as a breeder and a rider, I place a high priority on conformation and the effect it can have on the motion. Arabian horses should be functional in multiple disciplines, thus finding the right balance between beauty and quality. For a healthy, functional horse, whether it will be shown or ridden, functional correctness is mandatory. 7. Which particular skills are necessary to become an accountable judge? 7. Judges must have the ability to evaluate and educate. This is particularly important to maintain the integrity of the Arabian Horse Breed. A good judge has a thorough knowledge of the standards that are the basis of all forms. As a prerequisite to qualifications, experience with horses is imperative to understand the importance of conformation, genetics, movement, etc. In theory and practice, I have built my knowledge of Arabian Horses and wish to convey the importance of maintaining quality and type and contribute to the development of the breed worldwide. 8. Amira, are you also a breeder? If so, tell us about your breeding program? Which bloodlines do you breed? My greatest love I share with Arabian Horses is being a breeder. I share this passion together with my husband Eiad Safady. Our horses symbolize our Stud, Royal Dutch Arabian Stud in the Netherlands. It is home to 20 Arabian horses. Over the years, we have collected a diversity of bloodlines, but they all share a lot of characteristics. Each is a strong mover with big eyes and a strong body. I and my husband aim to find harmony between beauty and quality in our breeding program, which has led to international competitions in 3rd generations. Our homebred RDS Exquisite is out of the Ajman Moniscione daughter Angelica KS. Angelica has another important stallion in her dam line, the straight Egyptian Al Hadiyah AA, which brings outstanding Arabian type. RDS Exquisite is owned and bred by Al Orasia Stud under the Bahraini flag. She got crowned Bronze World Champion Junior Filly 2021. She made a spectacular debut, and in our hearts, we hope that she will return to the world one day so that everyone could see her beauty once more. As Arabian Horse breeders, a filly of such high quality embodies all we could hope for. 9. To what extent has the current global health crisis been affecting the industry? Has it impacted your job? 9. Everyone in the world has been affected by the pandemic, shows have been rescheduled or even cancelled because of it. I agreed to judge the Al Jassimya Online show during the lockdown. This was a great initiative during this difficult time! 10. Amira, would you like to leave a final message to the readers of this interview? 10. The Arabian horses have led me to meet so many people all over the globe who share the same fascination for this breed. The horses are something I am very grateful for having as a part of my life. Amira, thanks for your kind words. Best of luck with your