Special MOMENTS

by Alenka Slavinec

The art of judging Arabian horses’ conformation and movement takes some practice, but anyone who has spent time with these beautiful creatures can learn. A judge usually looks for a combination of balance, structure, muscling, gait, and breed-specific characteristics. Judge Eric Gear from France is the interesting subject of my interview for the Middle East issue of 2023. I appreciated his taking the time to walk me through some of the main stages of his professional experience judging Arabian horses.

Hello, Mr Eric Gear! It is a pleasure to have you aboard. Tell us a little bit about you, your family, and your education to help set the stage for our readers. Before everything, I would like to thank the Arabian Horse Magazine and their team working for the Arabian horse promotion throughout the world. This interview will be my first one for I don’t particularly like to speak about me. I live with my wife Patricia and our two daughters close to Angoulême in France.

I studied Metallurgy and then had commercial schooling which allowed me to be in a retail sector for 25 years, selling building materials.

In the last six years, we opened three Beauty Institutes for Women’s nails, plus a consulting firm.

When did you start getting interested in the pure-bred Arabian horse?

I started to ride in jumping competitions when I was a 13-year-old boy. I discovered Arabian horses by reading a magazine on my 18th birthday, that was like a thunderbolt, an exceptional discovery. It became the direction and goal of our life. One year later, we bought our first broodmare, Bouria Des Meures (Maklouf x Rilka by Masan). Then, we started our breeding program with her. She produced tremendous foals. Especially one of her daughters, Maroutssia (Bouria de Meures x Estaman ibn Estopa by Ibn Estopa) that happened to be Champion in France; International Multi Champion; Eu-

At what age have you become a judge? What specific preparation did you get?

I became a French National judge in 2012 at the age of 42. I had to follow several courses organized by ACA. The instructors were also senior judges like Mrs Christianne Chazel, Mr Richard Philstrom and Mr. Willi Poth. They are references for me in the panel of ECAHO judges. I followed the ECAHO Curriculum to obtain the list of B judges in 2019.

I think my breeding experience helps me iden- tify the morphology of the Arabian horse with its qualities but also its faults.

What are, in your opinion, the strengths of the Arabian breed? How do you tackle the concepts of ‘beauty’ and ‘functional correctness’?

The Arabian horse is an exception among the other horse breeds. It is really a beautiful horse, a splendor… Even people who are not knowledgeable about them can discover their potential. Their standard breed is set. We should find a very peculiar head, large and short, expressive small ears, big black eyes, well-designed eye arches, large opened nostrils, and other morphological criteria that should be in all bree- ding programs in order not to lose the Arabian horse ADN identity.

What do you feel has been your most rewarding show as a judge?

As far as I am concerned, all shows are rewarding. This interview is a way for me to express my gratitude to all the organizations of different countries that believe in me.

In order for a show to be successful, it must have good organization, quality horses, a good judge panel, and a good atmosphere. This last point is very important to me for judging at my best. Of course, judging in a big show is very interesting for judges for we are in the presen- ce of the elite of Arabian horses and our judgments are made from pleasure and emotions.

Which horse or horses have you judged most recently that has left the strongest impression on you? Why?

That’s a difficult question to answer. There are many good and beautiful horses on display at the shows, so making a choice is not easy. Often, we judge horses who will certainly become champions in the future, but nothing emanates from them. It also happens that you come across an animal, a colt or a filly, and you’re captivated by a glance, a shade in the coat, or the smoothness of the skin texture, and you become emotional and grateful for the opportunity to be a judge. There is nothing I love more than Arabian horses. I am personally touched by horses of the very much in breed type. There are many memories I have of Imperial Phanila at the World Championship in Paris many years ago, and others as well...

What particular skills are necessary to become an accountable judge in front of the public? What judging (evaluation) system do you prefer? How come?

An accountable judge must respect the breeders and their work when presenting their horses. He must be honest and fair and attribute the right points to each horse. All horses cannot win, but every horse has strong points. You must judge with a positive attitude, and give the same time and attention to each horse, whether in classes or the championship. Overall, you must be able to explain your notes to the breeder when he is asking. I do like the current points system, but maybe evolution could be reconsidered after all these years of practice. The comparison judging system also suits me.

In what ways has the global health crisis affected the Arabian horse industry? Has it affected your job?

It has been a tough time for everyone during the crisis. There are some of our friends who are no longer with us. A lot of companies have been in trouble, and thousands of people have lost their jobs... things have not been easy for all of us. Horse shows were banned throughout the world. Some breeders quit their activities during this time, resulting in a decrease in participation in European shows. A positive note is that I always believe better days will follow accidents or disasters!

Besides judging at shows, and breeding Arabian horses, what else do you do in this industry?

I have been active on the ACA Board for many years. I have accepted the position of vice president for the second time. In 2022, we promoted the Arabian Horse at several equestrian shows with the new team. Arabs can be mounted horses or competition horses. We intended to recruit new breeders, new riders, and new members to assist our breeders in selling their horses.

I like to invest myself in the organization of the shows. I have been organizing 3 times the National of France and my International Salon of Deauville for 4 years. In 2023 with the ACA Association, we will organize the National Show in France, an International -C in Vichy, and we will receive the European Championships of the Egyptian Arabian Horse for the first time in France. We are very happy that Pyramid Society Europe has chosen us this year. We have succeeded in re-motivating a few people to create six national exhibitions in 2023, and an Internatio - nal—C exhibition. Not to mention the exceptional and unmissable Menton Championships of Mrs Christianne Chazel and Mrs Dominique Briot.

In 2023 and 2025, the World Arabian Horse Championship will probably be held in Qatar. How do you feel about this?

I believe that change is important for everyone, finding solutions but also innovating to break habits to restore interest in a project and I really think that the World Championships like other shows need a new breath. It is therefore a very good thing that Qatar organizes the World Championships, it will help to promote the Arabian horse in another dimension and perhaps with new proposals. At the end of the contract with Qatar, CENECA the organizer of the Arabian Horse World Championships, will think about the continuation of the show! But one could imagine that the World Championship will get a new start after Qatar in another country, why not? I know that it is difficult for European breeders, including myself, to imagine that the World Championships are no longer organized in Paris. Let’s wait and see what will be proposed to us in the coming years to come. What else would you like to accomplish at this stage of your career? How do you picture your future?

First and foremost, I want to be efficient in running my businesses to leave strong businesses for my daughters. Then, perhaps, start some breeding again at home. In January 2022, we lost our last broodmare, it was a huge pain for the whole family but we are thinking of buying a new mare this year to start breeding again. I could share my experience as a breeder and judge breeders who are just starting out and want to understand how to look at a horse.

Maybe become the manager of private breeding, I’m not closed to anything if it comes to me!

Regarding the Arabian horse, I am aware that we will have difficult times to go through in the future. Once again, it is important to reflect on the whole process and to bring new proposals to the breeders. We need to find new Arabian horse lovers to ensure the sustainability of our dear Arabian horse.

Mr Gear, do you feel like leaving a concluding message to the readers of Arabian Horse Magazine?

Thanks for this interview and thanks to those who will take the time to read it. Just to tell you, my implication as an Arabian horse judge is powerful, and it will never change. We all must hold the tasks in front of us. We must keep together for the coming years in order to transmit the ADN Arabian horse to future breeders with all its breed criteria. I am looking forward to seeing you again!

I truly appreciate your contribution, Mr Gear. Wishing you a happy and prosperous 2023!