The Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club’s 23rd Sharjah Arabian Horse Festival for Local Bred Horses runs from 16 to 18 October with 223 horses bred in the United Arab Emirates entered, Sharjah 24 reported on 15 October. The three-day show follows the club’s Sharjah International Arabian Horse Festival for Egyptian-Bred Horses, set for Thursday 15 October in the club’s indoor arena with 48 purebred Egyptian Arabians entered.

According to Sharjah 24, the Egyptian-bred festival is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Its official sponsor is Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF Zone), and it is run in collaboration with the Emirates Arabian Horse Society.

Four classes for Egyptian bloodlines

The Egyptian-bred programme was set out in four classes, each split into sections A and B: 14 fillies aged one to three, 15 mares aged four and over, 12 colts aged one to three and seven stallions aged four and over. Gold, silver and bronze titles were to be presented in each of the four championships. Sharjah 24 says the festival reflects the club’s commitment to preserving purebred Arabian lines, encouraging breeders and owners, and promoting Egyptian Arabians in Arabian horse beauty shows. The report was published before the competition and gives no results.

Three days of UAE-bred horses

The local-bred festival is run with the European Conference of Arab Horse Organisations (ECAHO) and the Emirates Arabian Horse Society. Sharjah 24 lists its sponsors as the Sharjah Sports Council, Al Bidayer Stud, Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, Sharjah Equine Hospital, Sharjah Sports Channel, Centro Sharjah Hotel and Al Marwan Group, and says the 223 entries represent studs, stables and horse owners across the country.

The first day belongs to the fillies: 26 yearlings, 38 two-year-olds and 22 three-year-olds, 86 in all. Day two brings 24 mares aged four and over, 23 yearling colts, 34 two-year-old colts and 17 three-year-old colts in a single section, a total of 98. The final day opens with 39 stallions aged four and over. By Equanine’s count, 160 of the 223 entries are aged three or under.

The report does not give prize money, entry fees, spectator arrangements, the judging panels or the value of the sponsorships for either festival.

Equanine’s reading

  • With 160 of 223 local-bred entries aged three or under, the Sharjah festival works as a shop window for young stock. Breeders selling at auction or privately will have show results to point to.
  • The local-bred sponsor list includes two studs, an equine hospital, a hotel and a sports channel alongside the Sharjah Sports Council. For vets, transporters and feed and tack suppliers working in the UAE, a three-day show with 223 entries is a place where breeders and owners gather.
  • A separate show for Egyptian-bred horses points to a bloodline market large enough to support its own championships, which matters to breeders outside the region with Egyptian lines to sell into the Gulf.