(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Superb stallions and mares along with junior colts and fillies were in the spotlight as the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival (KIAHF-2023) continued to showcase finest purebreds in the Arabian Peninsula Horse Show on the third day of the 11-day extravaganza at the brilliantly lit-up arena at the Katara Esplanade Friday.
The third day of Arabian Peninsula qualifying classes had purebred Arabian mares and stallions on show in six categories from ages 4 to 11+ years old. The amazingly beautiful horses were applauded by the horse-owners, breeders and equestrian aficionados.
Doha Stud's mares Safiya Al Rayyan and Zawaher Fila claimed the first places in the Mares 4-6 years and Mares 7-10 years old categories respectively.
Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser al-Thani's Maisa Al Nasser, of Al Nasser Stud, was declared as best in the Mares 11+ years old category. D Omnia of Dubai Arabian Horse Stud was a close second. Mesfer Mohamed M A Al Hajri-owned Deema Al Nasser finished third.
Excelling in the day's show among stallions was D Memzer of Dubai Arabian Horse Stud - in the Stallions 4-6 Years Old category.
HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Noah al-Thani, secretary-general of the Qatar Equestrian Federation and Modern Pentathlon (QEF&MP) in a statement applauded the large participation of horse owners from within and outside Qatar during the qualifying which saw strong competition with top positions being decided by close margins.
Sheikh Ahmed stressed that KIAHF has become one of the largest and largest festivals in the region, and carries a high reputation.
The QEF&MP official explained that the success achieved by the festival in the past two versions had had a great impact on the owners' keenness to be present in this edition which has also achieved success since the very first day.
He also praised the great cooperation between the parties organizing the festival, foremost of which is the Katara - Cultural Village, with the Qatar Equestrian Federation and the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC), appreciating the efforts of the Qatari cadres who oversee the organisation of the festival.
Sheikh Ahmed also appreciated the supervision of the international arbitration committee which has a long experience in the field of horse shows.
Horses at KIAHF 2023 are judged by a team of international judges of ECAHO (European Conference of Arabian Horse Organization) according to international rules and standards.
The KIAHF-2023 Arabian Peninsula Show team of judges includes Elyas Ebrahim Faraj (Bahrain), Martine Van Hee (Belgium), Ahmed Sobhi Hamza (Egypt), Klaus Beste G (Germany), Maria Annaratone Ferraroni (Italy), Majed Al Mehyawi (KSA), Mohamed Machmoum (Morocco), Sufian Taha Al Husseini (Palestine), Alicja Poszepczynska (Poland), Anna Stefaniuk (Poland), Irina Stigler (Russia) and Basil Jadaan (Syria).
The excellence of purebred Arabian horses at KIAHF are judged based on type, body structure, head and neck, legs, muscles and movement. While the mares should have amazing balance, poise and beauty; the stallions must have good structure, strength and excellent type.
Saturday will see the championship classes of the Arabian Peninsula Horse Show starting at 3.30pm in the following order: Yearling Fillies Championship (Class YFC); Yearling Colts Championships (Class YCC); Junior Fillies Championship (Class JFC); Junior Colts Championship (Class JCC); Senior Mares Championship (Class SMC); and Senior Stallions Championship (Class SSC).
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