Not long ago the ECAHO pyramid of shows was joined by some new shows of lowest rank: D Regional Shows. A kind of shows one day long, closed for the horses that won a class at C show or upper rank. These shows are being judged by one judge only by comparison or with the point system 0-10. There must be at least one DC member speaking local language present. The affiliation fee is 90 €. This kind of show was run during the XXIVth Championships of Balearic Islands (9-12.10) at Inca, Mallorca. The whole event took 4 days with 120 entries of Pura Raza Espaňola, 11 Pura Raza Aá, 6 Pura Raza Menorquina (pure breds of Menorca, as P.R.E., but always black), and 31 Pure Bred Arabians with 28 taking part. Thursday, Friday and Saturday were dedicated to the three breeds first mentioned as well as the dressage championships for P.R.E. stallions. On Sunday the Arabian show was run with liberty class and championships – also for P.R.E. horses. The additional attractions were special awards for best breeder, exhibitor, handler etc. Unusually, the awards were presented in the evening and it must be pointed out that the organizers didn’t save their money spent on these trophies which is a good point – no matter what rank of show it’s always a nice reminder of the event – even for 3rd place.
Arabian horses competed in 9 classes. Yearling fillies class was attended by 6 horses sired by ELART, ELTON, OM EL EXTREEM and ALFABIA DAMASCUS. The winner was the outstanding ANJELINA B.V. (ELTON – AVENIDA/EUROPEJCZYK) with Polish backgrounds in front of NOOR EL EXTREEM (OM EL EXTREEM – FLAVIA/THAMIL), both bred and owned by Yeguada Bautista Vich. Amongst 3 yearling colts the best was KAROLUS MAF (MAF ROMULUS – KASTILIA MAF/ELART) – bred and owned by Ingalil Martensson – who became Reserve Junior Champion. Second placed was his stablemate KAVALIER MAF (ELART – KATUN/CRUSADER).
Amongst two year old fillies 5 competitors appeared, sired by MARWAN AL SHAQAB, ABHA ELJI, ELART and GLADYSZ. The winner was beautiful grey KANKAN MAF (ELART – KATUN/CRUSADER) – full sister to KAVALIER MAF and Junior Champion Mare at the end of the day. Second was AM QAHI (ABHA ELJI – AM HIMYARI/EL PERFECTO), br/o. L’Eresta S.L. She was also Junior Reserve Champion elected. There was only one 2 year old colt to compete – well matured ABHA PUNJAB (MARWAN AL SHAQAB – ABHA JAWHARAH/EL PERFECTO), b/o. by well known Ganaderia Ses Planes S.L., who became Junior Champion Colt later that day. In three year old fillies group there were two to compete: ZINGARA PSYCHE (PADRONS PSYCHE – ZGUBA/ENRILO), b/o. Yeguada Bautista Vich and GUAL HAMMURABI (ABHA ELJI – GUAL VAIRA/BENI-HAMUD), br. Antonia Comas Llabres, o. Mª Teresa Gual De Pons. They were placed the same as mentioned.
LIBERTY class was divided into 2 groups: two stallions and four mares. The best male was ASTON, and female AM QAHI. The horses were running free on the space of the whole show arena of dressage paddock size. On Saturday it was a showground for dressage competition. For the halter classes it was reorganized and flowers decorated. The whole event was well and economically organized without any pointless costs. Even the fact that the event combined four pure breeds was economical itself. The same accumulation of shows for different breeds I saw in Italy as well: why to do one show only when few events can take place each weekend at the same ground? There is no need to move the show facilities, tables, boxes. The atmosphere was nice and peaceful. Classes were starting when all the competitors were ready so not exactly with the time schedule but of course everybody knows that the good preparation needs some time and a lot of work and too much rush is undesirable…
The people there are very nice and open but their life is much more different than we used to in Poland. In the mid day there is a long lunch break and the social life starts late in the evening. This is probably why the prize giving ceremony took place at 8 pm on Sunday. The spectators made quite a big crowd though most of them seemed to be more interested in Spanish breeds with characteristic high-up movements then Arabian. About these last ones – good bodies and big Polish and best foreign stallions influence should be mentioned. It seems that Spanish breeders love their home breeds very much and sometimes it looks like they want their Arabians to resemble them a bit. They take very good care of their horses that causes also „too good” condition of Arabian ones. It also seems to be a very good idea to join the dressage test for P.R.E. stallions that makes 25% their final score. Maybe it would be a good idea to introduce this method for Pure Bred Arabian stallions.
The Arabian halter classes were judged by Anna Stojanowska.
