Sometimes you go to a horse show with the very highest of hopes; but when something goes wrong, then everything seems to go wrong...
We went to the World Championships in Paris with our filly My Vision AA, who was Yearling Champion Filly at Menton this year; and with our straight Egyptian mare Labibah AA, who was Reserve Champion at the International AHO World Cup in Chantilly. My Vision competed under the Egyptian flag for Al Baydaa Stud, and Labibah under the flag of Qatar for the Al Thumama Stud; both of them are products of the Ariela breeding program.
It wasn't a good week for My Vision; this time, in contrast to the show in Menton, she did not show well at all. Yes, as horse breeders of so many years' experience we already know that horses have their good and their bad days. This time it was a bad day! But no one can deny her quality and forget the fact that she won a prestigious Top Ten in the World Championships.
Labibah is a naturally-born show horse. She has never disappointed us in the ring; always garnering at least 92 points. We noticed just before her first appearance in the ring in Paris that both front feet were hurting her, and so Labibah did not take place in the judging whatsoever. She was examined by two veterinarians at the show, and shipped within two hours to a clinic just outside Paris to receive continued care. As of this time she is doing better and we hope that she will recover completely over the next coming weeks.
So, this certainly wasn't our week and not the best week for our two horses. But, as horse breeders we know to take the long view and in spite of the fact that this week was so difficult, we will not let it break us. We hope to see everyone again in Paris next year and for now we wish to sincerely thank the following people: Mr. Ahmed Talawy of Al Baydaa Stud and Dana Al-Meslemani of Al Thumama Stud, Tom Oben, Raphael Curti, and to the wonderful teams of Privilege Arabians and Obi Training Center for all the hard work and dedication. Thank you!
Photo of Labibah AA, by Ricard Cunill.
