- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Horse "beauty contest" in Saudi Arabia
- Date: 26th January 2012
- Summary: VARIOUS OF ARABIAN HORSE PERFORMING TO AUDIENCE COMPETING HORSE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE JURY PRINCE KHALED BIN SULTAN ORGANIZER OF THE CONTEST AND OWNER OF THE AL KHALEDIAH STABLES WATCHING THE SHOW PRINCE KHALED TALKING WITH HIS GUEST OWNERS OF THE WINNING HORSE (MAKISA TILARIA) STANDING TO RECEIVE THE AWARD PRINCE FAISAL BIN KHALED BIN SULTAN AWARDING THE WINNING HORSE OWNERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUD AL-SUBAI, OWNER OF THE WINNING HORSE (MAKISA TILARIA), SAYING: "I feel like a victorious knight, and thank God, the effort and hard work has all paid off." GROUP OF HORSES ON DISPLAY PHOTOGRAPHERS AUDIENCE WATCHING THE HORSE SHOW CLOSE OF SPECTATOR TRAINER ENTERING PADDOCK WITH A COMPETING HORSE SUPPORTERS WHISTLING AND CLAPPING HANDS TO ENCOURAGE THE HORSE HORSE ON DISPLAY JURY RAISING EVALUATION MARKS FOR THE HORSE INTERNATIONAL HORSES JUDGES FROM THE 'EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION FOR ARABIAN HORSES' (ECAHO) WATCHING THE CONTEST (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAROSLAV LACINA, PRESIDENT ECAHO, SAYING: "I judged this show last year and it is always a big pleasure to be here, it is one of the best shows in the world, also the best horses from the whole world are here and it is very nice to see all of them. Very good organisation here is normal. I think Saudi Arabia is really growing with their interest and also the quality of horses and that is really nice to see, so it is a big pleasure for us to be here and to enjoy the show." TRAINER ENTERING THE SHOW WITH HIS HORSE AND SUPPORTERS WHISTLING FOR THE HORSE HORSE PERFORMING SCREEN SHOWING THE HORSE PERFORMING JURY RAISING THEIR SCORE HORSE STANDING FOR THE JURY JURY SHOWING MARKS FOR NECK AND HEAD OF HORSE COMMENTATOR ANNOUNCING THE JURY MARKS FOR THE HORSE TRAINER ENTERING PADDOCK WITH NEW ARABIAN HORSE VARIOUS OF OWNERS OF THE HORSE WHISTLING AND SHOUTING TO ENCOURAGE THEIR HORSE HORSE PERFORMING JURY SHOWS THEIR SCORE SUPPORTERS OF THE HORSE CHEERING JURY RAISING MORE SCORES FOR THE SAME HORSE BEAUTY SIDES OF HIS BODY MORE OF HORSE PERFORMING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MUTEB AL-SHAMMARI, DIRECTOR OF MEDIA DEPARTMENT AND MEMBER OF ORGANIZING COMMITTEE AT AL-KHALEDIAH STABLES, SAYING: "The festival is five days long. Most festivals in the world are no more than two or three days but Khalediah had made its mark internationally, and has also gained an international reputation by winning the equestrian World Cup 10 years in a row. Qatar is in second place having won eight world cups, and Poland won seven world cups. So everybody wants to participate in al-Khalediah because it is well known for thoroughbred Arabian horses." VARIOUS OF ARABIAN HORSE PERFORMING HORSE STANDING IN FRONT OF JURY
- Embargoed: 10th February 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVADVL609IO8PJZD3I9B35IH13BQ
- Story Text: The cream of the crop of Arabian horses took centre stage on Wednesday (January 25) on day three of the Khalediah Horse Festival in Saudi Arabia. The prestigious five-day-long festival gives buyers the opportunity to snap up thoroughbred horses, which often sell for many thousands of pounds.
Galloping into the paddock, the Arabian horses took part in a show where they were judged in categories which included their body, legs and movement. Each horse is awarded a score out of twenty for each aspect of their physique.
Winning a prize at the world-renowned event is a great honour for competitors.
"I feel like a victorious knight, and thank God, the effort and hard work has all paid off," said Saud al-Subai, owner of a winning horse called 'Makisa Tilaria'.
The event itself attracts horse traders, trainers and tourists who come to enjoy the spectacle.
"I judged this show last year and it is always a big pleasure to be here, it is one of the best shows in the world, also the best horses from the whole world are here and it is very nice to see all of them. Very good organisation here is normal. I think Saudi Arabia is really growing with their interest and also the quality of horses and that is really nice to see, so it is a big pleasure for us to be here and to enjoy the show," said Jaroslav Lacina, President of the European Organization for Arabian Horses (ECAHO).
This is the fifth year of the Khalediah Arabian Horse Festival, the largest show of its kind in the Arab Peninsula. The event is already considered one of the most important for Arabian horse fans internationally.
"The festival is five days long. Most festivals in the world are no more than two or three days but Khalediah had made its mark internationally, and has also gained an international reputation by winning the equestrian World Cup 10 years in a row. Qatar is in second place having won eight world cups, and Poland won seven world cups. So everybody wants to participate in al-Khalediah because it is well known for thoroughbred Arabian horses," said Muteb al-Shammari, Director of the media department and member of the organising committee at al-Khalediah stables.
The Khalediah festival, named after the sprawling farmland that stages the event, is sponsored by Saudi Prince Khaled bin Sultan and takes place in the town of Tebrak, around 90 kilometres southwest of the Saudi capital Riyadh.
The festival includes horse racing, horse shows, horse auctions and festival stalls selling and displaying items related to the desert kingdom's equine history and culture.
The owner of the horse that won fourth place in the beauty contest dedicated his victory to lovers of horses everywhere.
"First, I dedicate this victory to every horse-lover, because horses are very loveable, everybody loves them," said Rida al-Hubaibi.
Saudi Arabia has been known to produce Arabian horses which are carefully bred and trained.
The Arabian horse is deeply ingrained in Arab history and culture and has a known history which spans 5,000 years. It is considered one of the purest equine breeds and is known for its beauty as well as endurance, courage, strength and loyalty.
Since the 16th century, European royal families and aristocracy have sent emissaries to the deserts of Arabia to bring back the thoroughbreds to breed in their stables. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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