th International 6Arabian Horses Festival “A TREE IN LIBYA” During a visit in May of this year to the Arabian horse races in Casablanca, Dr. Mohammed Machmoum mentioned that I would get an invitation to attend the sixth international Arabian horse show in Tripoli, Libya. Dr. Machmoum is the organizer for that show and I had the pleasure of meeting him during the World Cup Show in Las Vegas, where he was one of the judges. Libya? I thought, how interesting! Are there Arabian horses? How come I’ve never heard of that country in the context of breeding Arabian horses? I would mention the idea of this trip to my friends and they would ask: “Where do you plan on going? To Libya? WHY?” My sense for adventures awakened and I felt ready to take on this challenge. After all, I had moved my family and my breeding program years ago from one continent to another so to travel to Libya did not seem like such an obstacle. I also traveled to Saudi Arabia and Oman by myself earlier this year, knowing that I would meet many of my friends and fellow Arabian horse breeders there. However, I was not aware of anybody I knew besides Dr. Machmoum who would be in Libya. I mentioned this to my longtime friend and famous photographer Gabriele Boiselle and her answer was: “You will have friends after your trip!” I applied for a visa at the Libyan Office of Foreign Relations in Washington. The visa was entirely written in Arabic and I assumed that that was enough to allow me to travel to Libya. When I checked in with the airline in Frankfurt they informed me that my passport had to be translated into Arabic. I had incorrectly
August 14-15, 2009 Tripoli, Libya Story and photos by Sigi Constanti
believed the Arabic visa was the translation! Fortunately an official translator was found at the airport and I was finally allowed to board the plane to Tripoli. On arrival at the airport in Tripoli I noticed that EVERYTHING was written in Arabic, NOTHING in English! At the gate an officer told me that there was some confusion with my passport because a woman with my name had traveled to Tripoli the day before and the officials had to make sure I was really me. I had never heard of anybody else with my name — how strange that was! I had to wait for quite a while on a bench while the officials decided upon my fate. They finally let me through and I was driven by a private driver to the Corinthia Hotel in Tripoli. I was very happy not to have to drive a car because all the street and traffic signs were written in Arabic. Westerners can get around on their own only if they are familiar with Arabic. The city looked attractive and clean, and the hotel was a beautiful five-star hotel. I felt immediately relieved when I entered the hotel to find people I knew. Three of the five show judges were visiting in the lobby: Claudia Darius from Germany, Pilar Cavero Pino from Spain, and Anna Stojanowska from Poland. I quickly left my suitcase in my beautiful room and joined the ladies for a stroll to the souk in the old part of Tripoli. The souk resembled souks I had visited in Morocco and
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Egypt. Vendors were selling everything from jewelry and clothes to groceries. The gold and the precious stones were expensive and bartering is apparently not customary in Libya. The whole country was in a celebratory mood, the streets decorated with colorful posters and flyers. It has been 40 years since the present government of the Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi came to power and there were yearlong festivities to mark the occasion. Back at the hotel we were treated to a wonderful buffet dinner. Many breeders had made the journey to Libya, hailing from France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Egypt, Morocco, and one from the U.S. — me. We were transported the next morning to the showgrounds in a luxury bus. The seats were arranged along the side of the bus so that we all faced one another. This encouraged socializing with the other breeders, and the atmosphere in the bus was always cheerful. The horse show was organized by the Libyan Arabian Horse Breeders Society. Its president, to General Khuwaylidi al-Humaidi, is a very involved and passionate breeder of Arabian horses. The show was judged under the European point system by judges from Morocco, Poland, Germany, and Spain. The quality of horses was high. Many of the Arabian horses shown could compete very successfully in other countries. The stands were full and the spectators thoroughly enjoyed watching the show. The classes all took place on the first day and the championships the second day. Festivities included an all-women marching band, and 40 riders carrying flags symbolizing the last 40 years in Libya. The general, who received standing ovations from the crowds, is clearly popular and it is apparent that he truly loves his Arabian horses. His two stallions that were not exhibited in the show were paraded for everyone to enjoy during breaks in the show. At the awards ceremony for the champions, the successful competitors received money and gifts, and all foreigners received a gift from the general. I was surprised when my name was called and I received a gift for having
Number of horses present: 70 Judges: Mrs. Christiane Chazel, France; Mrs. Claudia Darius, Germany; Mrs. Anna Stojanowska, Poland; Mr. Omar Khatib, Morocco; and Mrs. Pilar Cavero Pino, Spain Champion Senior Stallion: Revelations ASA (Thee Asil x Pimlicos Ghilan), El Sheruk Stud, Egypt; Reserve: Maghribi (Imperial Mashhoor x Hamissa), Anas Jamal Ghizlani, Morocco Champion Senior Mare: Aydah (Esseyed x Sumaya), Gamhioun Said, Morocco; Reserve: Ballerinah (Gilly J x Boliviah), Emhemed El Mosrati, Ain Zara Champion Junior Colt: Hypnotic Ibn Eternity (Eternity Ibn Navaroone-D x WH Marisa Rose), El Kheir Arabian Stud, Surman; Reserve: Ameer Alyassoub (Marjane x Konouz), Rasheed Salah Jebril, Benghazi Champion Junior Filly: Magna Alwazir (Magnum Psyche x Faiqa Alwazir), El Kheir Arabian Stud, Surman; Reserve: Pearl S (Dubai Pasha x Bent Al Giza), El Kheir Arabian Stud, Surman Stallions Ten Years and Over (6): 1. Nabaa Alkher (Najm x Fayza), Faisal Khalifa Zarzour, Gasser bin Ghashir; 2. Al Aaz (Najm x Hamama), Fatehie Emheemmed El Ghool, Al Ghiran; 3. Kacim (Sirahalima x FF Falih), Ranch Addrouch, Morocco Six- to Nine-Year-Old Stallions (5): 1. DHS Mabrouk (Al Lahab x Ma-Ajmala), Miloslava Khamis, Egypt; 2. Maghribi (Imperial Mashhoor x Hamissa), Anas Jamai Ghizlani, Morocco; 3. Donchoway (Badran Albadia x Farhana), Ayman Ibrahim El Ghwel, Tripoli Mares Seven Years and Over (13): 1. Aydah (Esseyed x Sumaya), Gamhlon Said, Morocco; 2. Chajart Eddor (Imperial Madori x Houbaba), El Kheir Arabian Stud, Surman; 3. Fayza (Ansata Ramsses x GG Dominique), Emhemed Elhadi El Mosrati, Aln Zara. Four- to Five-Year-Old Stallions (5): 1. Revelations ASA (Thee Asil x Pimlicos Ghilan), El Sheruk
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Show organizer Dr. Mohammed Machmoum of Morocco, center, looks on while Sigi Constanti graciously receives her gift from General Khuwaylidi al-Humaidi, far left, for having traveled so far to take part in the show.
Stud, Egypt; 2. Alsakeeb (Marrakech x Fayza), Hamdi Khalifa Shkanti, Tajoura; 3. Moataz (Elmador x Sarja), Anas Jamal Ghizlani, Morocco Four- to Six-year-old mareS (11): 1. Ballerhinah (Gilly J x Bolivia), Emhemed Elhadi El Mosrati, Ain Zara; 2. Alwaha (Marrakech x Jamila), Najib Mohammed El Amammi, Benghazi; 3. Glayed Alkher (Najm x Jamila), Abdul Latif Hamid Jebril, Benghazi tWo- to three-year-old ColtS (5): 1. Hypnotic Ibn Eternity (Eternity Ibn Navaroone-D x WH Marisa Rose), El Kheir Arabian Stud, Surman; 2. Ameer Alyassoub (Marjane x Konouz), Rasheed Salah Jebril, Benghazi; 3. Bessat Arrih (Alyateem x Konooz), El Kheir Arabian Stud, Surman three-year-old FillieS (12): 1. Magna Alwazir (Magnum Psyche x Faiqa Alwazir), El Kheir Arabian Stud, Surman; 2. Desperados Layla (Thee Asil x Desperados Chanel), Noor Al Sabah Stud, Egypt; 3. Ellipse De Lafon (Perfect De Lafon x Las De Lafon), Anas Jamai Ghizlani, Morocco tWo-year-old FillieS (5): 1. Bent Jebil (Najm x Nedal), Emad Emhemed El Arifi, Tripoli; 2. Pearl S (Dubai Pasha x Bent Al Giza), El Kheir Arabian Stud, Surman; 3. Loaloh Al Fagr (Rowah x Monalisa Hedaya), Al Fagr Stud, Egypt yearlinG ColtS (5): 1. Bader (Verdi Du Paon x Tassabeeh), Wael Fatehie Wael, Benghazi; 2. Seef Bonkhila (Alrayyan x Alihas Legacy), Al Bonkhila Stud, Egypt; 3. Bondok Rabab (Imperial Madori x Zahrat Rabab), Al Hamdan Stud, Egypt yearlinG FillieS (9): 1. Awwasf (Maz Alcaraz x Ajaibe), Ahmed Khaled Elgargni, Tripoli; 2. Retag Bunekhela (Alrayan x Menwa), Al Bunkheila Stud, Egypt; 3. Nmark (Prince x Jamila), El Kheir Arabian Stud, Surman
traveled from afar, the only representative of the United States to carry the banner for the Arabian horse, a truly international breed. This is when I met General Khuwaylidi al-Humaidi. The next day we were all transported to a remote place in the desert. The discovery of underground water has enabled the government to make amazing progress in developing fertile land for agriculture. General al-Humaidi proudly showed us this huge area, what one can only call an oasis. He explained that he wanted each foreign visitor to plant a tree. I was given a shovel and a tree and started digging a hole Broadcasted on television, Sigi was the first in the ground. I planted my tree and American to plant a tree in Libya in a newly discovered “oasis” in the remote desert. felt very proud. The general invited me to sit with him during dinner and I asked him to make sure that my were made directly after the judges scores in Arabic and tree would always be cared for. He smiled and promised that it English, and excellent music was enjoyed by all, prepared and would. My name has been placed on the tree, and I have been arranged by Mr. Hassan Valsan (France). The showgrounds invited to visit Libya to watch the tree grow and bear fruit. This were well designed, spacious and clean, and accommodated was the very first tree planted by an American in Libya and optimal movement. The stalls were also clean and well designed. broadcast on television. A highlight was the exhibition of local riders in traditional ECAHO member and disciplinary committee costumes, held in between the female and male classes. representative Dr. Ali Younes Abbassy, Morocco, summarized “This was the best organized Tripoli horse show I’ve the festivities, held at Tripoli’s School of Equestrian Sports. attended,” Dr. Abbassy continued. “The efforts made by the “The event was well organized. Thorough veterinary services Libyan Arabian Horse Breeders Society are enormous, making were performed by local equine veterinary surgeons, aided by each year’s Tripoli show more successful than the previous one.” a veterinary clinic installed inside the school. Announcements 3 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD