KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: The First Kuwait National Arabian Horse Championship Show organized by Bait Al Arab Kuwait State Stud, will take place on Feb 17-19, 2010 at the Arabian Horse Center in Subhan. The show will feature the biggest number of participants of any such event anywhere in the world with an unprecedented 230 entry horses and will be held under the auspices of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah and the presence of Sheikh Ahmad Fahed Al Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of State for Housing and Development, along with the expected attendance of a large number of horse lovers and equestrian enthusiasts from the Middle East, Europe and America.

From left: Abdullah Al-Haddad, Abdullah Al Breihi show director and Klaus Beste, event
manager.

This was announced during a press conference held at the Bait Al Arab Head Office at the Arabian Horse Center in Subhan presided by Show Director Abdullah Al Breihi, with Abdullah Al Haddad, Administration/Marketing Manager and Klaus Beste, Event Manager.
The 230 horses and over 85 horse breeders participating in the championship surpassed all expectations, according to Mohammed Jassim Al Marzouq, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, during an interview with reporters during a preview of some of the horses coming from center’s stables.
“The leading role taken by Bait Al Arab in organizing local as well as regional events, I think, is largely the reason for the confidence shown by local horse breeders in taking part in the coming championship, which is the first of its kind to be held in Kuwait,” he said in reaction to the exceptional turnout of both horse lovers and breeders in Kuwait.

Abdullah Al Haddad, on his part, said that because of the unprecedented turnout of participants, the supreme committee of the championship decided to extend the event to three days instead of two, as originally set. He also added that as a result, the competing horses’ categories was also increased, with the competition final taking place on the third day where the “Hero of all Heroes” for the four categories will be named.
Explaining the categories, Abdullah Al Breihi, Show Director said the participants were divided into four main categories based on age and gender, and secondary categories where each entry compete with each other to choose the best horse based on: Type, Conformation, and Movement.

On the final day, the first and second placers in each category will advance to the final stage of the championship with the best horse in each category in the female junior and senior, and male junior and senior horses will be accorded the title “Hero of all Heroes.”
Al Breihi also went on to explain that the judging will be based on criteria followed globally and in accordance with the European Conference of Arab Horse Organizations or ECAHO.
Explaining the entry rules, Klaus Beste, Event Manager, said that all horses participating in the championship should be registered in the Kuwait Registry for Arabian Horses. Additionally, only horses that won junior championships in 2009/2010 and joined the senior category will be allowed to participate.

He also reiterated that the event complies with the rules and regulations of the European Conference of Arab Horse Organizations.
Explaining the mechanics, he said that the first place winner is chosen according to the number of granted scores. If two horses figure in a tie for first place, first place is given to the horse with more scores according to ‘Type.’ Should another tie ensue, the higher mark is given to the horse which scored highly in ‘Movement;’ and in case of yet another tie, one of the referees will be chosen by lot and given the right to decide the winner.
Best also stressed that all participating horses are subject to a full medical test to ensure that they are free from  infectious diseases that could affect other participating horses; and added that random will also be carried out to check for the presence of steroids in the horses.

The Championship Rules:
1. With the exception of shows judged under the single judge system, the championship will be judged as follows:
a) The horses placing first in the class will be lined up in order according to age, and the second placer will line up behind the first placer.
b) The first placed horses will be judged individually, standing and then trotting.
c) Judges are not allowed to discuss their assessments of the horses.
d) The Champion and gold medal winner will be selected from amongst the horses that placed first in their class by individual written votes from each judge. The best horse will be declared the Champion Gold Medal winner. In the event of a tie, the horse that received the highest number of points in its class will be declared Champion. Should another tie ensue, the “Rules for Ties in Qualifying” will apply.
2. The Silver Medal winner will be chosen according to the following system which must be clearly stated in the schedule: the Silver medal winner will be selected in the same way as the Gold medalist.
3. The Bronze medalist will be selected using the same system used in selecting the Silver medal winner.
The judges’ votes in the Championship will be announced and then published at the front office immediately after the judging has finished.
4. A fourth horse will be selected to be named as Bronze medal winner should any of the three medal winners is disqualified. If no suitable candidate can be found from among the votes cast, the judges will be asked to nominate one but the horse will not be announced. In the event that two or more of the medal winners are disqualified, no further substitutions will be made.
5. If a horse that placed first in its class is not able to take part in the finals, the second place horse will be moved up and will be judged along with the other first placers. Should a horse that placed first is sent out of the ring by the judges for any reason, it will be deemed to have taken part in the championship thus, the second place horse will no longer be considered for judging along with the other first placed horses. Substitutions for absent first placed or, second placed horses by either third or lower ranked horses, will not be permitted.
6. All horses that qualified for their respective categories must  take part in the championship, unless a certificate from a DC veterinarian is produced, failure to compete will mean disqualification of the horse from the show, with its record of scores and class placing deleted and the horse will be banned from any ECAHO-sanctioned event for a period of one year from the date of the Championship. In the event of disqualification, horses that placed behind the disqualified horse will move up in the class but will not be entitled to enter the finals.

A number of horses at the Bait Al Arab State Stud stables were then taken out for a show preview for the benefit of the media. The said horses will not be taking part in the championship, however.
The First Arabian Horse Championship Show will kick off Wednesday until Friday, Feb 17-19, 2010 at the Arabian Horse Center in Subhan. The show starts from 2:00 pm until 9:00 pm daily.