Championship celebrates versatility of Arabian horses

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This article was published 01/08/2019 (2260 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hundreds of horses will be at the Keystone Centre in early August celebrating the rich history of the Arabian equine breed.

The Canadian National Arabian & Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show is a sight to behold, chairman of the Canadian National Show Commission Gerald McDonald said.

He has been in the role for 24-years and has seen the range and type of class nearly double over the years, with new disciplines added to the docket at nearly every event.

He cited the creation of Ranch Riding classes as an example, and the breakdown of the classes to reflect the experience of riders as opposed to their age.

The show will feature Select, Choice and Elite levels and teams are placed based on their winning history. Select is for entry-level riders, followed by Choice and Elite for those more experienced in the saddle.

Competitors can ride higher than the designated level but not lower, he added.

“We’re trying to attract more people so they feel they’re riding against people of similar experience and level of skill,” McDonald said.

A major focus has been placed on participants’ levels of expertise, he said, explaining that the group is working to place competitors on equal footing.

“By going to the leveling we try and even out that area,” McDonald said.

The show in Brandon marks the first year the group has offered leveling classes, he said, and it has been encouraging to see the number of participants that have registered.

The championship organizers expect more than 740 horses to compete over the weekend, but this number could go higher as the date draws nearer, he said.

Entries officially closed in June for qualified horses, but additional horses can late-qualify up to two days before the show starts.

Arabians are an incredible breed of horse, McDonald said, and the championship is the perfect opportunity to learn more about their epic place in the equine world.

“They are the foundation breed for the majority of the light horse breeds in the world,” McDonald said.

Arabians are special, McDonald said, because they are people-oriented and have historic roots in the deserts of Saudi Arabia as companions to the Bendoins.

Their status and versatility in the horse world are legendary, he said, and makes them the perfect horse to take on almost any horsemanship trial.

“With one horse people can go into several types of classes,” McDonald said.

The show will have both arenas running throughout the week in the Keystone Centre.

“Everybody has different types of interests within the horses,” McDonald said.

The event will showcase English, Western and Hunter classes, along with specialty classes that include reining, trail, ranch riding, dressage and more. An especially exciting class to take in is the costume class where riders dress in the traditional garb of the Bendoins, McDonald added.

“The class is judged both on the costume, but on the performance of the horse as well,” McDonald said.

One highlight for guests is the Arabian Horse Association T.A.I.L. tours where visitors can tour the barns and meet the athletes.

Tours are a chance to see the horses up close and get a personally guided walk through the barns to learn more about the horses, their history and what they do now. Guests need to register in advance to participate in the T.A.I.L. tours.

“I encourage people to come out and see the horses. They’re very versatile and beautiful animals,” McDonald said.

The Canadian National Arabian & Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show will be in Brandon from Aug. 11 to 17.

 

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