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Brazilian horse breeders want to guarantee closer ties with the Arab market in coming months. The 24th National Arabian Horse Exhibition will include the presence of judge Deirdre Hyde, from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
Representatives of the Saudi royal family are also expected. The show will take place between November 10 and 15 at the Ribeirão Preto Permanent Fair and Exhibition Park, in the interior of the southeastern Brazilian state of São Paulo.
"The international judges always visit horse breeding farms after the end of the fair and make many contacts with Brazilian breeders. This is excellent commercial exchange which justifies investment in a foreign judge," explained José Alves Filho, the marketing vice-president of the Brazilian Association of Arabian Horse Breeders (ABCCA).
The judges will be Antonio Afonso Archilla Filho, from the southeastern Brazilian state of São Paulo, Bill Melendez, from the United States, Gian Marco Aragno, from Italy, as well as Hyde.
According to Alvez Filho, as Brazil currently has the second most qualified herd in the world, losing only to the United States, the presence of foreign investors has already become a trademark of the exhibition.
"In 2004, the fair counted on the participation of 50 foreigners. This year there will be over 100 foreign visitors from various countries," stated Alves Filho.
"In this year's edition importers from the United States, Italy, England, France, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Venezuela have already confirmed their presence."
During the exhibition, around 800 pure breed Arabian horses will be exhibiting beauty, ability and versatility in various different competitions, including the demanding resistance competition, the equestrian endurance.
Apart from that, the public may accompany the grand finals of the animal performance championship, ridden by Brazilian and foreign jockeys.
Horses for Sale
According to Alves Filho, among the differentials of the national exhibition are the events that take place in the sidelines and whose objective is to create opportunities for breeders to sell their animals.
One of them is the Arabian Horse Market Place to be established for the first time during the national fair. At this place, horses that were not classified for the finals of the championship or are not participating in the competitions will be exhibited for sale.
Another opportunity for purchase of an Arabian horse will be the Hall of Fame auction, to take place on November 12, at 8 pm, where 41 animals from the main Brazilian horse breeding farms will be shown. At the 2004 auction, each animal was sold for around US$ 20,000. "This year we should maintain the same average," stated the president of the ABCCA.
The Covering Auction, to take place on November 13, at 09:30 pm, at JP Hotel, in Ribeirão Preto, will offer possibilities for improvement of herds.
"This will be a good opportunity to purchase semen from the main Arabian stallions, donated by the main breeders," stated the ABCCA delegate.
The income will be included in the Jackpot 2006, a fund that grants cash awards to the best animals of the year. However, only the descendants of stallions whose semen was purchased in this auction will be able to compete.
The organizers estimate that around 8,000 people, among them breeders, exhibitors and visitors should visit the Permanent Fair and Exhibition Park during the event. Admittance is for free.
This article appeared originally in Anba – www.anba.com.br.
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