By Ali Jaafar Daily Star 21 June, 2004 Last week one of the biggest events in the world of horses was held at Lingfield Park racing course in East Grinstead, England - and it had everything to do with the Arab world.
The Arabian International Horse Festival, organized by the Arabian Racing Organisation, comprised an in-hand show, a cultural fair and, of course, Arabian horse racing.
Now in its second year, the event was attended by more than 4,000 people over two sun-soaked days.
"We're hoping to make this a landmark fixture of the Arabian calendar in Europe, as well as one of the world's biggest events for Arabian horses. It's a unique concept," explained the festival organizer, Fahed al-Attiya. "We've brought together the three disciplines of endurance, racing and the Arabian show under one umbrella. No one's ever done this before."
Arabian horses have historically attained a near mythical status in the Middle East, and subsequently around the world. The oldest known breed of racing horse, the pure blood Arabian horse is famous for its endurance, intelligence and gentle disposition. Bred by Bedouin for thousands of years, the horse's great beauty was seen as a gift from God, its forehead, or jibbah seen as blessed with the divine, its great arching neck, or mitbah a sign of courage.
As if further evidence of its significance was needed, Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, Napoleon and George Washington all rode Arabian horses. Often sharing food and water with their owners, the bond between the Arab man and his horse created a special and unique kinship, as Qatari national Attiya was keen to point out.
"There are still tribes in the Middle East that have inherited the horses from their fathers and grandfathers. They can't live without them, even with the modernity which came in," he explained. "There is a great connection between the Arab and his horse throughout history."
As with so many examples of Arabian heritage, though, a glorious history cannot mask the fact that the Arabian horse has seen its stock fall in recent years. Overtaken in the modern era of horseracing by the Thoroughbred, itself a cross breed with the Arabian horse and other warm-blooded horses, the Arabian horse has struggled recently to live up to its illustrious past. With events such as the Arabian International Horse Festival, however, the tide appears to be turning once more in its favour.
"There was a phase when the Arabian horse lost its glamour," Attiya confirmed. "In Qatar, for example, in the 1970's and 1980's, only thoroughbred horses used to race. There were very few Arabian horse races. But if you look now at the country, almost all the races are Arabian. The public mood has changed back toward its heritage."
An indicator of the importance with which Arabian horses are still viewed can be seen in the fact that all the horses at the event were bred in both the United Kingdom and the Middle East, and all the racing horses were trained in the UK.
Furthermore, a measure of the affection and interest in which the Arabian horse is still held could be seen in the quality of the audience at Lingfield Park, with the likes of the Jordanian Ambassador to Britain, the Algerian Foreign Minister, various Arab MPs, as well as businessmen both from the West and the Middle East.
Princess Alia of Jordan, the eldest daughter of the late King Hussein, was also in attendance. As the head of the National Stud in Jordan, she was keen to state the importance of events such like the Arabian Horse Festival.
"Personally (and) as an Arab, the horses are very much a part of our history, heritage and culture. There is a regeneration currently going on. It's nice to have something positive which is called Arab. It's nice to have something to be proud of," she said.
"You find that these type of shows transcend all the other differences that are going on in the world. A lot of negative images of the Arabs are due to ignorance but we propagate it in a way because sometimes we don't have the confidence in ourselves to actually give the real picture. We shouldn't be intimidated. We should have the courage and the sense to promote ourselves, especially to young people."
Attiya is certainly keen to see the festival grow. This year has already seen its audience double from last year's inaugural event, with 146 entries from 32 countries, including Germany, Argentina and the Arab world. Despite establishing an Arabian cultural village, that runs side by side with the actual races, which includes trade stands, tourist boards and art, music and fashion from around the Middle East, he confessed that there had been a discernible lack of support from certain sections of the Arab world.
"Unfortunately we don't have the support from the Arab media to promote such events in the UK. You always see them covering thoroughbred events but when it comes to Arabian events they don't seem to be present as they should be to promote awareness. I hope that eventually this awareness will extend to our friends in the media in the Middle East, as well as Arab audiences in the West and in the Arab world."
Promoting awareness of Arabian horses is a key element of Attiya's plans. Even for those with no real interest in horses or racing there is plenty on offer, whether in terms of information or simply with the horses themselves. Up close they are magnificent creatures. Legend has it that the empires of the Hurrians, Hittites, Kassites, Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians have all risen and fallen under the thunderous hooves of the Arabian horse.
As the winning horses are led through the winner's enclosure here at Lingfield Park, their trademark wide nostrils flaring and panting for breath, they still manage to retain a seemingly effortless air of grace and nobility, their eyes revealing a knowingness that comes with the timeless wisdom of the ages.
At a time of so much uncertainty and strife in the Middle East, it is refreshing to be reminded of indigenous beauty, and events such as the Arabian International Horse Festival can only help in constructing new dialogues between East and West. |