Day one focus on harmonization of rules governing
Purebred Arabian racing

Breeding Session

A range of issues starting with the need to woo the younger generation to Purebred Arabian racing to the challenges facing the creation and adoption of an international agreement to harmonize rules including those on transport of horses and an acceptable pattern race format were highlighted on the opening day (May 28) of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s fifth World Arabian Horse Racing Conference at the St James Theatre in London, UK.

Derek Thompson moderated  the opening session on Breeding  with the participants being Sheikh Hamed Al Hamed (UAE), Bill Smith, Rene Koch ( France), Linda Otermans (Netherlands)  Mamdouh Al Baraqi (Saudi Arabia), Salim Al Quraini ( Oman), Jean Pierre Deroubaix( France), Richard Lancaster and Michelle Morgan (US).

While almost all speakers agreed that a sound foundation mare was important to breeding there was also a unanimous nod to the present system of using artificial insemination which ensured a wider choice in breeding.

However on the aspect of Embryo Transfer, which some national laws permitted, some of the speakers felt that if not curtailed or regulated it would result in a few bloodlines dominating at the peril of a larger base.

The UAE’s Sheikh Hamad said that with support from His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, land was being given free to breeders of Purebred Arabian horses, feed at subsidized rates while veterinary care was almost free.

The need to woo the younger generation to the sport was also voiced with France and Oman already having taken steps in this direction. An upcoming auction in the UK was also a move in this direction, the conference was told.

Racing and Training Session

In the afternoon a session on ‘Racing and Training’ with  Pat Buckley as moderator Faysal Al Rahmani (UAE), Jean Pierre Totain (FR), Yves Plantin ( FR), Yasir Mabrouk ( Sudan / UAE), Karin Van Den Bos ((Netherlands), Ernest Ortel (South Africa / UAE), Mohammed Al Hashemi ( Oman) and Susanna Santesson ( Germany) participated.

Dutch trainer Karin Van Den Bos told the conference on her holistic approach to training which included preventive measures to reduce injury to race horses, the UAE’s champion trainer Ernst Oertel wanted  horses to be treated as individuals. “Training Purebred Arabian horses are a bit more challenging than Thoroughbreds but in both cases every horse is different so you can’t apply any common formula while training them,” Oertel said.

Yasir Mabrouk recalled the flexible approach during the early stages of organized racing in the UAE and highlighted the high standards that now prevail in the UAE.

Faysal Al Rahmani (UAE) pointed out the success he had achieved in organizing auctions of Arabian horses in the UAE and said, “The local Purebred Arabian breeding industry has progressed so much that over 500 foals are born in the UAE in a year.”

Mohammed Al Hashemi (Oman) said the move to buy 200 horses from Europe and distribute it to Omani citizens had created a huge base and Arabian racing was all set to open its doors to international racing soon.

Vetting, Nutrition and Legal Aspects Session

The session on  ‘Vetting, Nutrition and Legal Aspects’ moderated by Philip Brenan (UK) was a lively session with Mohammed Al Machmoum (Morocco),  Alberic Thiery ( FR), Ahmad Al Badi (UAE), Jerard Habibian (Lebanon), Izeta Sulemanjin ( Croatia), Graham Walcroft (UK) and Kathy Smoke (US) contributing.

Izeta outlined the efforts to formulate and implement the Pattern Race Committee’s rules, Graham Walcroft (UK) said a panel was putting together an International Agreement which will involve a series of articles that member countries could sign either in part or full to coordinate Purebred Arabian racing around the world.

Ahmad Al Badi (UAE) of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department and Jerard Habibian (Lebanon) representing the Court of Arbitration on Sport (CAS) urged the harmonization of rules regulating the sport while US representative Kathy Smoke warned that national legislations in many countries could be a huge hurdle in the way of the ‘International Agreement’ adopted by Arabian racing bodies.

Alberic Thiery (FR) sought a coordinated approach in implementing dope testing while Al Machmoum admitted harmonization of rules was a challenging task as even basic issues like transport of horses in a region like the Middle East was hindering the sport’s progress.

Most of these issues will be raised in the Workshop on the final day of the three-day conference which continues at the St James Theatre in London with over 350 delegates in attendance.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with Arabtec Holding PJSC as the Official Partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC),  Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Rashid Investment, Al  Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE's General Women's Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2014, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and Racing Post.

Source: HH SH Mansoor Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival / Satya Narayan
Photo: Cidinha Franzão