Written by Sonja Smaldone | Photos by Gianluca Martino & Paola Drera
E
ver since H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan opened her eyes to the world, the love for the Arabian horse has been an indispensable part of her and her very first horse was an Arabian. Her vision is to pass on the legacy and dream of her grandfathers to spread the interest in the pure Arabian horse internationally. H.H. Sheikha Fatima Hazza Bin Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyaan really spares no efforts to promote the importance of this noble animal because it truly reflects the long history of equestrianism and horsemanship in the UAE and the values that the Arabian horse symbolizes. In mid-February this year she launched and kindly patronised the first edition of the Al Shira’aa Arabian Horse Show which took place from 11th to 14th February at “Al Forsan International Sports Resort” in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Organized by Al Shiraa Team the Championships witnessed the very best of purebred Arabians from around the world competing for a mind-blowing prizemoney of AED 6.000.000. The Higher Organizing Committee was composed by: H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President; Mr. Mohamed Al Owais; Mr. Sultan Al Yahyaie; Mr. Omran Ahmad Al Owais; Mr. Mohammed Ahmad Al Harbi, Ms. Antonia Bautista; Mr. Khalifa Al Muhairi and Mr. Yabr
Al Suwaidi. The Technical Committee could count on the expertise of Mr. Sultan Al Yahyaie (Show Director); Mr. Biju Peter (Show Assistant); Ms. Martina Boor; Ms. Samantha Kettle; Mr. Karim Hussien; Mr. Luqman Hassan; Mr. Hany Fahmy and Mr. Tareq Ayoub. An international panel of judges was composed by: Mr. Hegazy Nashaat (Egypt); Mr. Machmoum Mohamed (Morocco); Mrs. Schibler Renata (Switzerland); Dr. Aragno Gianmarco (Italy); Mr. Bialobok Jerzy (Poland); Mrs. Weidner Michaela (Germany); Mr. Gear Eric (France) and Mr. Trela Marek (Poland). Disciplinary Commissioners: Mr. Mohammed Ahmad Al Harbi (Head of Disciplinary Committee); Ms. Line Brunsgaard (Denmark); Dr. Abdelwahab Ben Ali Amira; Mr. Kaies Ben Hadi Ouelhazy; Dr. Umar Raza Gill and Dr. Sujeet Bhaskar Suryawanshi. Ringmaster: Dr. Jean-Bernard Kupaj. Official commentators: Mr. Mohammed Musaad Taher Al Hajajhji (Arabic language) and Mr. Eric Blaak (English language). A Platinum Partnership was set up by Bulgari and Ajman Stud; while a Gold Partnership featured
in Athbah Stud, Dubai Arabian Horse Stud and Al Aryam Stud. The Al Shira’aa Concierge service allowed the many guests to have an itinerary in place for their trip in whilst attending the Al Shira’aa Arabian Show, so no-one had to worry about where to book or stay. The four-day Championships started on Tuesday 11th February and ended on Friday 14th February with the following results: In the Yearling Fillies Championship, Gold medal
winner the grey Al Aryam Banafsaj (Dominic M x Al Aryam Basma) bred and owned by Al Aryam Arabians Stables. Silver medal winner the bay Ward Al Bidayer (D Seraj x Juri Al Bidayer) bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Saoud Al Qassemi. Bronze medal winner the grey D Sireen (D Seraj x D Ra’afah) bred and owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud. In the Junior Fillies Championship, Gold medal winner the bay Aj Samara (Aj Mardan x Sama Am) bred and owned by Ajman Stud.
Silver medal winner the grey D Nawahel (Fa El Rasheem x D Noor) bred and owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud. Bronze medal winner the grey D Gharam (Fa El Rasheem x Ft Shaella) bred and owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud. In the Senior Mares Championship, Gold medal winner the grey Al Aryam Abla (Marwan Al Shaqab x Sf Hossana) bred and owned by Al Aryam Arabians Stables. Silver medal winner the bay D Seeneyyah (Fa El Rasheem x Royal Emira) bred and owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud. Bronze medal winner the grey E.S. Sheikha (S.M.A. Magic One x Mahjesty) bred and owned by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Majid Al Qassemi. In the Yearling Colts Championship, Gold medal winner the bay Exagon Os (Cyclone Os x Strastya Os) bred and owned by Stockle Gbr Gestut Osterhof. Silver medal winner, the bay Ghaly Al Hawajer (Dominic M x Ghalyah Al Hawajer) bred and owned by Dr. Ghanem Mohamed Obaid Al Hajri. Bronze medal winner, the chestnut Arjuwan Al Bidayer (Aj Marzan x Allezandra Albidayer) bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Saoud Al Qassemi. In the Junior Colts Championship, Gold medal winner the bay Mutabahi Al Hawajer (Fa El Rasheem x Zt Magrumi) bred and owned by Dr Ghanem Mohamed Obaid Alhajri. Silver medal winner the bay Sq Shaddad (Fa El Rasheem x Aj Lailac) bred by Al Saqran Arabian Horse Stud and owned by Abdullah Mohamed Khalaf Ahmed Alotaiba. Bronze medal winner, the grey Emar Avi (Empire x El Medisa) bred by Czeslaw Josef Galaszewski and owned by Abdulrahman Mohamed Sharif Albaidhaei. In the Senior Stallions Championship, Gold medal winner the grey E.S. Prince (E.S. Sarab x Raghad Al Nasser) bred and owned by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Majid Al Qassemi. Silver medal winner the grey E.S. Sarab (Marajj x Mahjesty) bred and owned by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Majid Al Qassemi. Bronze medal winner the grey Al Aryam Bare’e (Al Bilal x Al Aryam Balkeas) bred and owned by Al Aryam Arabians Stables.
SPECIAL AWARDS Best Handler: Ms. Katrien Vandycke from Brugge, Belgium. Best Head Female: Aj Samara (Aj Mardan x Sama
CONCLUSION The inaugural Al Shira’aa Arabian Horse Show was a joyful and successful celebration of the beauty and heritage of wonderful Arabian horse in the United
Best Handler of the show
Am) bred and owned by Ajman Stud. Best Head Males: Ghaly Al Hawajer (Dominic M x Ghalyah Al Hawajer) bred and owned by Dr. Ghanem Mohamed Obaid Al Hajri. Best In Show: E.S. Prince (E.S. Sarab x Raghad Al Nasser) bred and owned by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Majid Al Qassemi.
Arab Emirates. The safeguarding of these ancient bloodlines is something that the Royal Family and H.H. Sheikha Fatima Hazza Bin Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, going back many generations, are extremely passionate about. Yet, they also seek to spread the word about these magnificent animals that have so greatly formed their heritage and growth as a Na-
tion. From the ancient Bedouin people of the desert, who lived alongside the Arabian horse, to the show arenas of the fast-paced modern world, they have always had time to appreciate equine beauty in its
took part in the pageantry in Abu Dhabi and worked hard for its success: breeders, judges, disciplinary commissioners, handlers, ringmaster and ring stewards, commentators, media coordinators and
Best Photographer of the show
most natural state. We feel that it is up to us to thank all the members of the Royal Family and the officers of the Organising Committee who were involved in this spectacular event, as considerable work was undertaken at this first edition. It is also our duty to thank those who in various ways
the entire staff personnel involved in the show. We on the AHM team are so pleased to have enjoyed a genuine and authentic Arabian atmosphere, and we hope that many other people in the sector will have the opportunity to meet the unique welcome and the magic of the Al Shira’aa Arabian Horse Show in year 2021!
YEARLING FILLIES | FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP
WARD AL BIDAYER
SIRE: D SERAJ DAM: JURI AL BIDAYER BREEDER: SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN SAOUD AL QASSEMI OWNER: SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN SAOUD AL QASSEMI
AL ARYAM BANAFSAJ
BREEDER: AL ARYAM ARABIANS STABLES OWNER: AL ARYAM ARABIANS STABLES
DOMINIC M X AL ARYAM BASMA
D SIREEN
SIRE: D SERAJ DAM: D RA’AFAH BREEDER: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD OWNER: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD
YEARLING COLTS | FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP
GHALY AL HAWAJER
SIRE: DOMINIC M DAM: GHALYAH AL HAWAJER BREEDER: DR GHANEM MOHAMED OBAID ALHAJRI OWNER: DR. GHANEM MOHAMED OBAID AL HAJRI
EXAGON OS
BREEDER: STOCKLE GBR GESTUT OSTERHOF OWNER: STOCKLE GBR GESTUT OSTERHOF
CYCLONE OS X STRASTYA OS
ARJUWAN AL BIDAYER
SIRE: AJ MARZAN DAM: ALLEZANDRA ALBIDAYER BREEDER: SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN SAOUD AL QASSEMI OWNER: SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN SAOUD AL QASSEMI
JUNIOR FILLIES | FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP
D NAWAHEL
SIRE: FA EL RASHEEM DAM: D NOOR BREEDER: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD OWNER: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD
AJ SAMARA
BREEDER: AJMAN STUD OWNER: AJMAN STUD
AJ MARDAN X SAMA AM
D GHARAM
SIRE: FA EL RASHEEM DAM: FT SHAELLA BREEDER: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD OWNER: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD
JUNIOR COLTS | FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP
SQ SHADDAD
SIRE: FA EL RASHEEM DAM: AJ LAILAC BREEDER: ALSAQRAN ARABIAN HORSE STUD OWNER: ABDULLAH MOHAMED KHALAF AHMED ALOTAIBA
MUTABAHI AL HAWAJER FA EL RASHEEM X ZT MAGRUMI
EMAR AVI
BREEDER: DR GHANEM MOHAMED OBAID ALHAJRI OWNER: DR. GHANEM MOHAMED OBAID AL HAJRI
SIRE: EMPIRE DAM: EL MEDISA BREEDER: CZESLAW JOSEF GALASZEWSKI POLAND OWNER: ABDULRAHMAN MOHAMED SHARIF ALBAIDHAEI
SENIOR MARES | FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP
D SEENEYYAH
SIRE: FA EL RASHEEM DAM: ROYAL EMIRA BREEDER: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD OWNER: DUBAI ARABIAN HORSE STUD
AL ARYAM ABLA
BREEDER: AL ARYAM ARABIANS STABLES OWNER: AL ARYAM ARABIANS STABLES
MARWAN AL SHAQAB X SF HOSSANA
E.S. SHEIKHA
SIRE: S.M.A. MAGIC ONE DAM: MAHJESTY BREEDER: SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN MAJID AL QASSEMI OWNER: SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN MAJID AL QASSEMI
SENIOR STALLIONS | FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP
E.S. SARAB
SIRE: MARAJJ DAM: MAHJESTY BREEDER: SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN MAJID AL QASSEMI OWNER: SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN MAJID AL QASSEMI
E.S. PRINCE
BREEDER: SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN MAJID AL QASSEMI OWNER: SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN MAJID AL QASSEMI
E.S. SARAB X RAGHAD AL NASSER
AL ARYAM BARE’E
SIRE: AL BILAL DAM: AL ARYAM BALKEAS BREEDER: AL ARYAM ARABIANS STABLES OWNER: AL ARYAM ARABIANS STABLES