On 16th February one of the most important shows in US began – the 52 Annual Scottsdale Show. The Scottsdale’s (Arizona) event gathers nearly 2000 Pure Bred and Half-Arabian horses every year (at the first edition of this show only 50 horses took part!).
This year Poland is represented there by two horses being on lease – Janów Podlaski bred Piaff leased to Aria Arabians and Michałów-bred Wkra on lease to Palmetto Arabians. Besides Wkra also Michałów-bred Elandra, sold to US in 2005, competes in Halter at Scottsdale this year.
Three years old Wkra, after qualification to the finals was placed second there that made her qualified further – to the Senior Mares Championships on Saturday 25th February. Elandra will be competing for the first time on Saturday, 24th February.
The most exciting was Piaff’s start at the Sport Horse in Halter class that was new for him after his halter career. In SHIH class the following components are judged: head & neck, shoulder & saddle position, back, loin & hindquarters, legs & feet, walk, trot, expression, willingness and manners, overall balance & harmony, suitability.
Piaff’s start turned the discussions on – not only at Polskiearaby.com discussing forum but on foreign websites too! People are commenting Piaff’s condition, the way he was presented comparing to the other horses and about judges’ scores. For many of Arabian horse enthusiasts condition of Piaff during his competition in SHIH was too bad comparing to his form in Halter classes.
This is how Piaff’s start at this exotic for many of us competition comments Marsha Parkinson – a long time Pure Polish Arabian horses lover, breeder and propagator, owner of Canterbury Farm stud in US:
“It was a good idea to show Piaff in Sport Horse in Hand, rather than in the main ring halter class. For my eye, he is more suited to that venue than “main ring” halter in the US. The former is based on motion, cadence, manners, correctness of conformation with an emphasis on usability. Most of the time, the latter is based on how long the neck is, how flat the topline, how exotic is the head, and often who is at the end of the lead. There is not much consideration to a life after halter classes.
Piaff is a very nice stallion and was Reserve Champion by only two-tenths of a point. On another day the awards could easily be reversed with the stallion who was Champion for both are quality horses. To be placed so high in overall score is high praise indeed” – says Marsha.
Piaff as well as Wkra is being trained at Greg Gallun center and he was presented by Kristen Hardin. He won SHIH 6 years old and above stallions and Reserve Stallion Championships.
This is his great success though many of Piaff’s fans miss him being like on this video
Worthy to mention is that the other Polish Arabian horses being in US won some of the classes that has been judged so far: Kornwall (Monogramm – Kawalkada) born in US, owned by Susan Copeland and J. Keeler was first at Arabian Western Pleasure (AATR), and Janow Podlaski bred Pilaster (Europejczyk – Pipi), owned by Wilett family won Western Seat Equitation Riders 13 years old and under.
More comments about 2007 Scottsdale Show just after the weekend in our special correspondent’s report straight from the US!
More pictures by Edward V. Azuar can be found here
